Eden Prairie United Methodist Church
Connect with Us!
  • Home
  • Being Church
    • Crops For PROP
    • Serving Our Neighbors
    • Fellowship >
      • Women's Retreat
      • Church Directory
  • Children | Youth
    • Nursery
    • Sunday School (Preschool through 7th grade)
    • Especially for Families
    • Rooted (3rd - 4th grade)
    • Vacation Bible School
    • Middle School Youth (Grades 7-8)
    • Confirmation (8th-9th grade)
    • Higher Ground (10th-12th grade)
  • Music
    • Adult Music Opportunities
  • About EPUMC
    • Worship
    • Staff
    • Notes from Pastor Becky Jo
    • Lay Leadership
    • A Reconciling Congregation
    • Tumbleweed Newsletters
    • Videos
    • Annual Report
    • Sermons
    • Calendar
  • Prayer
  • Online Giving
  • Contact Us

Weekly Memo: A 'Hand-Delivered' Invitation

7/11/2019

Comments

 
Picture
Dear Friends in Christ,
 
When I was a young child, we had epic birthday parties, or at least that's how it seemed to me.  I was born 11 months and 9 days after my brother. My late August birthday and his mid-September meant that we were in the same grade in school.  My mom, being the practical and fair lady that she is, would host one epic combined birthday party with all the boys and girls in our grade.  (Did I mention we grew up in a small town and one grade was about 20-30 kids.)  We would have the party on the farm where we could run everywhere and not make a mess.  Mom would prepare food and games and prizes so that each kid would "win" something to take home.
 
I was excited about the people and the food and the games and the prizes to be given away.  In my age-appropriateness, I was also excited about the gifts coming my way!  But I was as excited about the inviting as I was about the event. It was so much fun to start the school year by hand-delivering an invitation to every classmate to come and join us for the party.  No one was left out.  I got to do the inviting (along with my brother).  People were excited to get the invitation and talked about it for days.  Their anticipation created a deep joy within me.
 
Trying to put words to how I am feeling about coming among you reminds me of these childhood birthday parties.  It's not about gifts and food and games and prizes anymore, though I am excited about the ice cream social after worship!  Rather, the most exciting thing for me is the joy of being with the people - you!  I have anticipated this coming Sunday for months now, as you have, and am beyond excited for it to have finally arrived.  Your anticipation and extravagant welcome has created a deep joy in me that I hope you’ll see in our collective ministry.
 
So, like I did when I was a kid, I would like to “hand-deliver” this invitation to worship on Sunday.  I don't think my mom will plan any prizes for the winner of the "drop the clothespin in the jar" game like she used to do.  Rather, the deep joy will be in us being together!
 
I am honored to start my journey with you as your pastor.  I am excited to see what God has in store for us in ministry together.  I firmly believe that the best years of ministry for Eden Prairie United Methodist Church are yet ahead of us.  I hope you will join the community of faith as we come together this weekend and begin our time as ministry partners for the work of the kingdom of God. 
 
If you're in town this weekend, I'll see you in worship!
 Blessings!







Comments

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    October 2012

    RSS Feed

Connect with us!
office@prairiechurch.org
(952) 937-8781

15050 Scenic Heights Road
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Picture
Picture