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Weekly Memo:  Listening  Carefully

7/27/2017

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​One reason I push myself to different, even challenging, experiences is for the stories I have to tell afterwards.  We all take on hobbies and pursue pastimes because we are curious and interested, and also for the stories we get to tell. A lot of the stories that we have to tell are of the “you had to be there” genre.  Listening to these kinds of stories is what I want to talk about today.
 
When I listen to someone tell a story about something that is important or funny or interesting, at my best, I try to also listen to what is behind the story, what we sometimes call the “back story.”  The back story is what makes it funny or important or interesting to this particular person.  I do this because anytime we tell a story, we are not just talking about facts or figures or sights or sounds…we are telling another something about us.
 
Let me tell you what I mean… I live with someone who loves to point out different things to me on walks in the woods. Often this person will also have a story or some interesting fact to tell.  Upon seeing certain flower, she will say, “Did you know you can’t pick Lady Slippers in Minnesota because it’s the state flower?”  Or when a bluebird flies by, “Do you remember that day a whole bunch of bluebirds were sitting on the wires outside the house?”  Now I need to say that I love and cherish this person…. But sometimes I’m not at my best…just sayin’.
 
Recently I’ve been reflecting on this, because on our vacation, we take a lot of walks. I’m reminding myself to listen to what is underneath the story my beloved is sharing.  And what I’m coming up with is that it has something to do with wanting to share the beauty of the world with me… and something also about helping me to understand what is important to her.  It’s also a subtle way of acknowledging a little needed space in our relationship.  Like young roots, love sometimes needs space to stretch into.  And so it’s an invitation to stretch myself in order to grow closer to her.
 
Listening carefully to the stories that others have to tell, even stories that acknowledge our differences, can be an important way we strengthen our relationships.  Stories are often an invitation to stretch into a deeper relationship. This is one way to consider the story of our faith that God is telling through the scriptures.  We are being invited to listen not only to the stories about big fish and stables and crosses and wind and fire, but also to the back story…what God is trying to tell us about God’s self.  God will always find a way to reach out to us… to be with us… to inspire and encourage us in the story of our lives and beyond.
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Weekly Memo: Spunk  and  spirit

7/20/2017

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Tuesday afternoon was Betty Kinne’s funeral.  Betty was 98 and had been a member of our church for something like 53 years.  Her funeral was a celebration of her life… Betty had something about her that I admired, and as I prepared my remarks, I was searching for the right word to describe it. I found that word while talking to one of her son-in-laws a few hours before the service.  He said, “Betty had Spunk.” I think it was the first time I’ve ever used the word spunk alongside words like dignity and grace at a funeral…but judging from the comments of her family and friends, it described Betty pretty well.
 
When you look up the word “spunk” on your “Word” synonyms search, you find that words like “Determination,”  “Courage,” and “Nerve” come up.  I often think of someone being playful or energetic or a bit mischievous when I hear the word “Spunk.” 
 
The synonym for “spunk” that surprised me the most and aroused my interest today was the word…“Spirit.”  Spirit can be and is used in many ways and can mean many things.  Spirit is often used to describe something like an attitude. It is also the word we use to attempt to talk about the essence of some person or place or thing.
 
All year long at EPUMC we have been talking about “opening ourselves to the Holy Spirit.” We have defined the Holy Spirit as God’s wind, God’s breath, God’s presence.  The Holy Spirit is the essence of God’s presence.  We’ve said a lot of things about how we can experience the Holy Spirit, but we haven’t yet talked about opening ourselves to “God’s Spunkiness”….”God’s Playfulness.”
 
Although the scriptures do not record much directly about this aspect of God, it certainly is just between the lines.  I mean if God created all that is… what happened with the Giraffe? Even the more stern God of the Old Testament finds time to play around a little with people like Abraham and Sarah…I mean how else do you have the audacity to come up with plan like God did and then to tell people that old that they are going to become parents for the first time?
 
In the gospel, kids are always attracted to Jesus. My guess is that Jesus had more than a bit of spunk and playfulness in him that kids recognized they could trust.  When it comes to other stories of Jesus, I think we’ve cut some of the stories a little short by not being willing to recognize a spunkiness factor. Take for instance the short, rich, old guy who climbs a tree trying to see Jesus.   Jesus’ response to that guy is recorded as, “Zach, come down from the tree.”  My guess: in reality Jesus shouted something like,  “What in the world are you doing up there”…with more than a hint of sarcasm and a smile on his face.
 
Maybe today you’ll run into someone like Betty who does something or says something in a way that is a bit spunky.  If you do…maybe offer a little prayer of thanks for the moment…And if you are of the mind, offer a prayer of thanks also for Betty Kinne and the others who inspire us in their spunkiness. 
 
Keep the Faith,

Pastor Dan

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Weekly Memo: report  from   the  quad  cities

7/13/2017

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We are in Iowa and Illinois this week on the EPUMC youth mission trip. We’re sleeping in Davenport, Iowa, but I’ve personally crossed four bridges 15 times so far into and out of Illinois.

Our crew is having a great time serving, learning and being together. They really are a great bunch. Lots of laughs, caring for each other and more than a few “what was that?!” experiences.

Terri Myers, our youth coordinator and I are not just surviving, we’re thriving. She says, “We can be proud of our youth and it’s our privilege to serve with them. Yesterday, we hardened in the rain, hung out with some great kids, played bingo with some challenged adults and strengthened our bonds.”

We will have lots of pictures and more importantly, stories to tell you this Sunday, July 16, in worship. You won’t want to miss this .This is one of the most inspiring services of the year.

Keep the Faith,
Pastor Dan

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weekly memo:  servant  sunday

7/6/2017

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Servant Sunday is this Sunday. We will gather for worship at our regular time, but that will be just about the only regular thing about worship. We encourage you to come in casual dress, ready to serve.  After a time of singing together and praying together…and of course receiving an offering… we will be sent off to be in service together.  You can choose from several projects. Our time will end with a potluck in the fellowship hall, because after all that hard work you need more than a treat.
 
The youth mission trip will be leading the way as 13 youth and adults led by Terri Meyer, our director of youth ministries, leave the sanctuary and pile in their vans headed for five days in Bettendorf, IA. While in Iowa, they will experience a time of serving and learning together. Next week we will hear about the amazing things that happened.
 
 If you stay here at church, you will have several opportunities to choose where you can serve…
  • Participate in putting together health packs
  • Go to PROP and provide a much needed cleaning of all their coolers.
  • A variety of building and grounds projects including spreading mulch.
  • Children will have special projects, organized by Deb and Jody.
 
Sarah Maloney is leading us for a second year on Servant Sunday.  She has a real gift of organizing, while at the same time being comfortable with a little controlled chaos. “Our experience last year,” she says, “was overwhelmingly positive. People came to this day with a great attitude.” 
 
Servant Sunday is a way of affirming how much we value service to others at EPUMC.  Like the other values we have been talking about this summer, being servants or what we sometimes call being in mission to the world is a mark of our identity as followers of Jesus and as a Christian Community called EPUMC. Like all of these values we have shared, its not the talking about them that makes something a value…it’s the doing….the living out… the practice of our faith through them that brings us closer in relationship with Christ and a deeper understanding of our human connection.

Keep the Faith,

​Pastor Dan
 
 
 
 

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(952) 937-8781

15050 Scenic Heights Road
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
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