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Weekly Memo: Guest Contributor Don Prestly

9/27/2018

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By Don Prestly, Director of Worship and Music
​
As Deb wrote last Thursday in the Weekly Memo, Pastor Dan suggested that both she and I take a turn writing the Memo to share our thoughts about the retirement announcement made in worship Sept. 16. Since I was on vacation starting on the 17th (a vacation that was scheduled well before we decided on the announcement date), I was fortunate to have some additional time to reflect.
 
I was asked at Wednesday’s Cantata Choir/Chancel Choir rehearsal how long I have been leading the choir and the music at EPUMC. I started as part of the music staff in 2001 directing the Handbell Choir and co-leading the Praise Band with Martha Christiansen, our organist/accompanist at the time. However, my helping to direct the choir started several years before that. A bit of history and a time reference point will help to tell how long our family has been a part of EPUMC and my connection with the music groups.
 
Karen and I have been members since 1980. Our two children, Kate and Derek, were both baptized here – Kate in early 1983 in the then Sanctuary, now the Fellowship Hall, and Derek in early 1988 and the first baptism in the new Sanctuary. Karen and I joined the Chancel Choir and the Handbell Choir in the mid-1980s and Karen has continued in both groups, even if her husband is the director! 
 
My first time directing the Choir happened while rehearsing for Christmas Eve in the early 1990s when the Choir Director, Nadia Johnson, was running late in getting here to lead the warm up and rehearsal for the 7 p.m. service. Martha Christiansen was doing her best at playing the accompaniment and trying to direct the choir. After she had stopped a couple of times while trying to do both, I moved out of the tenor section and walked over to her and quietly asked her, “Would you like me to direct?” She turned to me with a surprised but very relieved look on her face and said, “You can do that?” I said “Yes, I can.”  That’s how I started, first as the unofficial assistant director filling in on vacation Sundays for Nadia and then into the position I currently hold.
 
I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as a staff member. I haven’t worked with as many pastors (five!) as Deb. However, first working with Mike Miller and now working with Dan has been extremely rewarding and especially so over the past three years. Dan, Deb and I have met weekly during this time as we prepared, planned and looked to the future of EPUMC. And these meetings were more than just planning sessions. Over the past three years, I’ve seen us become a strong, collaborative team, yet not afraid to ask each other the hard questions. We listen to each other’s ideas and suggestions, always putting “what’s best for EPUMC” first. It’s this collaboration that is the reason I have the utmost respect for Dan and Deb. They are the perfect teammates!
 
With that said, even the best “teams” change and often changes come via retirements. For me, the time is right. As many know, I’ve had my share of physical issues for over 10 years. Three back surgeries, one with severe complications that I still deal with, have taken their toll. However, once the announcement date was decided and the announcement finally made, I felt more energized then I have in quite a while. Dan stated it well in the sermon about what, I believe, has re-energized me – The announcement is out, and now I can put all my energy into making my last year as Director of Worship and Music a great one!
 
The best example I can give to my re-energizing is this year’s Advent Cantata – it really is going to be great! So great, in fact, that I have to tell you I found it last year when I was selecting our 2017 Cantata, and I knew this year’s work was the one that I would use as my last Cantata. And speaking of my LAST Cantata, we had our FIRST Cantata Choir rehearsal last night, and five new singers joined us! We filled 32 of 36 chairs in the choir loft, but there’s room for more. Rehearsals are Wednesdays, following the Wednesday Night Live meal. I’d love to have you join us.
 
So, what do the next nine months look like for me? Yes, I am looking forward to retirement, and please feel free to talk with me about my retirement. I am looking forward to this life change and would enjoy sharing with you. But until then, I will continue to work to create wonderful music for worship. I will also celebrate these final months always remembering how blessed we are as a church family to have so many talented musicians who share their musical gifts with us and how truly blessed I have been with their dedication and commitment to EPUMC.
 
As Dan preached Sept. 16 and Deb wrote about last week, the church is moving into a new life cycle, and you can be part of the life cycle by doing something that is very easy – BE PRESENT! Be part of what’s going on with our church and in our church family. Be here as often as you can. Finally, I’m confident that whoever takes the director’s podium after me will have our church family’s support and will also have our talented musicians to continue to “make a joyful noise to the Lord” as you experience this new life cycle.
 
Peace, Don! 
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Weekly Memo: Guest contributor deb soderholm

9/20/2018

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By Deb Soderholm
Director of Children's Ministries

As we prepared for last Sunday and our announcement of multiple retirements in 2019, Pastor Dan suggested that Don and I each take a turn writing the Weekly Memo and sharing our thoughts and feelings with you, so here goes.
 
First of all, for those of you who possibly don’t know, I and my family came to EPUMC 34 years ago. We were looking for a local church where our daughter, Kristen (then 10 years old), would be with school friends. We shopped around a little and then Kristen mentioned that the dad of one of her classmates was a pastor in Eden Prairie. It was EPUMC.  We decided to visit here and we found a home.  I joined the Education Committee and after a time became chair of the Committee and later still was hired part-time as Children’s Ministries Director. That was July of 1992. Over the years my responsibilities have increased and my hours increased to three-quarter time.  
 
My time here on staff has been wonderful!  I have worked with five pastors over the years and all have been great, but these past few years with Dan have been unique and amazing. The three of us, Dan, Don and I, have been a team like I have never experienced previously. The camaraderie, connection, mutual respect, and vision for the church have been energizing, humbling and FUN!!
 
Why am I retiring now? By the end of next June, I will be about 68. Its’ time—time to have more flexibility in how to spend my days with family and friends and time to let another person lead our children’s program. By the way I DON’T have a rocking chair yet!!
 
I am so glad that we shared our news now. It gives all of us a chance to absorb it and to enjoy our time together. For me it is a chance to cherish every moment, every encounter, every occasion, every relationship this year. I’m here until the end of June and will do Vacation Bible School!  
 
The first week of our church year with Celebration Sunday and our first Wednesday Night Live was unprecedented.  The atmosphere at each event was so positive and so many people participated. Connect Club was great, too. It is the biggest group I have ever had and they are wonderful!  I have been” jazzed” ever since!  I have a new a “spring” in my step, new energy and new hope for EPUMC.   You will get my BEST this year in everything I do.  Not that I didn’t give my best before—this is a NEW best! 
 
I know this church will continue to be vital and be the church home that we all love—inviting new folks in the door as family.  This church is my home and my heart.  There is a saying that you might have seen around here that says, “Church is NOT a place you go to, it’s a family you BELONG to.”  That’s EPUMC! 
 
If any of you would like to talk with me about my retirement, I’m very happy to do so.  
 
Dan spoke of us moving onto a new life cycle.  You might ask, “How do we do that?”  It’s easier than you think.  First, be PRESENT.  Be here with your church family as often as you can.  Second, be OPEN—to new things, new ideas, new opportunities.  The Holy Spirit is in this place.  Look for signs—they will be there.   Lastly, CELEBRATE all that EPUMC is and look FORWARD with excitement and anticipation for all that EPUMC will become!
 
 With Love and Blessings, Deb   
 
 
   

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Weekly Memo: Wednesday Night Live

9/6/2018

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“Wednesday Night Live” or WNL begins Wednesday, Sept. 12 and continues most every Wednesday night September – May.  Here’s how it will look.
 
        5:45….Catered Meal…Taco Bar
       This first meal is paid by EPUMC.  Starting the next week (Sept. 19) the meal cost is $5 per person, maximum     
       $15 for families.
                                   
      6:30….Wednesday Programming including, Choir, Youth Programs and Confirmation.

 
WNL is also a new way to think about Wednesday evenings at EPUMC. We have always had several programs that occur on Wednesday evenings. Starting Sept. 12, we want to invite you to think of Wednesday evenings as something more than church program night. What if it is also an opportunity to grow our Culture of Fellowship? 
 
This means not only do you have an opportunity to show up to see your friends, hang out, have a meal and maybe then attend an activity.  It also… and here is the thing I want to stress today…it also means you have the opportunity to show up and to be there for someone who is looking for and needs the fellowship our culture has to offer.
 
We live in a larger culture that is very busy and so whatever our family makeup, we have a lot of choices to make.  Many of the choices we make are based on what is most appealing, convenient. Nothing wrong with that…in fact I think a catered, inexpensive, nutritious meal out of the house where you don’t have to cook or clean up is convenient and appealing, no matter what your family looks like.
 
At EPUMC we are also engaged in a culture that organically invites deeper relationships between each other as way of drawing ourselves closer to Jesus Christ together. Building relationships requires some intentionality, especially from those who have developed those relationships over time. 
 
WNL is a way for you to participate in building those important, sometimes life-altering relationships by just showing up. I’m convinced you don’t really have to talk to anyone if you don’t want to. When you just walk in the door, you tell someone, especially someone who is searching for a community…you are saying by your very presence that this community is important to you… that EPUMC makes a difference in your life and that it can make a difference in their lives also.
 
As I said last week, if enough of us just show up and have dinner together and someone on the margins or even new to our community finds a place to connect…how great would that be?
 
Keep the Faith,
 
Pastor Dan 
 
                       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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