(from Andrew Hagen, Director of Youth Ministries)
Pausing to Serve, or Settling for Less
As I looked to what this week’s sermon title is, “Settling for Less”, I started to think about a website I love to read when I get the chance: www.becomingminimalist.com There you will find a variety of tips on growing in simplicity in day-to-day life — doing with less, not expecting life to meet the standards set in the latest NBC sitcom. This already seems contradictory to what else is happening this Sunday: the youth Silent Auction and Italian Dinner Fundraiser, but at the same time, it is completely in-line with the spirit of the event.
We are United Methodists. We thrive on community and fellowship. It’s right there in our mission statement: Empowered by God's love, we are a community of Christ's disciples, centered in worship and fellowship. And, we love good food!
So, once a year, we gather together to bid on items donated by those in our congregation, in our business community, and those who just want to help out. I’ve heard stories of years past: “go into the youth room, you’ll find the Amana washer & dryer.” We don’t have anything that big this year, but we do have a lot of great items up for bid: gift certificates to local restaurants of every type, hats and scarves knit with love and care, massages and yoga, and other favorites. And all proceeds from ticket sales, the silent auction, theme basket live auction, and tips go directly to the Youth Mission Trip — this year the youth are headed to Navajo Nation, Arizona. Fort Defiance is a community with a population slightly larger than Eden Prairie High School and nearly a third live under the poverty line.
And we are blessed to have the opportunity, being sent and supported (by prayer and financially) by the loving community of EPUMC.
If you didn’t know, I work full-time for Wayzata Schools. And every time somebody asks me why I take a week of vacation, and why parents take a week of vacation, to travel somewhere with vans full of youth to go and serve, it’s because Jesus said, “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:37)
And it isn’t just me. It’s the youth, too. Last night, youth in grades 5-12, along with the youth from Discovery UMC in Chanhassen, went to Feed My Starving Children. Youth, who don’t always come to Wednesday night Higher Grounds, came. Some brought friends. They paused to serve. They paused to do something for those who have less, far less. And that is the DNA of our community: living in and sharing in God’s grace. Which sounds to me like settling for a lot more than we thought we would ever get!
So, it’s a week of guests as Pastor Dan is on vacation this week. Drake Talbert is sharing with us during Sunday’s sermon, and I am your guest Weekly Memo writer. I don’t know where Dan is, but I hope he’s staying warm on this chilly morning — and I hope that you are, too. And I hope you can join us this Sunday evening for fun and fellowship starting at 5pm, dinner at 6:30 p.m.
Blessings,
Andrew Hagen
Director of Youth Ministries
Pausing to Serve, or Settling for Less
As I looked to what this week’s sermon title is, “Settling for Less”, I started to think about a website I love to read when I get the chance: www.becomingminimalist.com There you will find a variety of tips on growing in simplicity in day-to-day life — doing with less, not expecting life to meet the standards set in the latest NBC sitcom. This already seems contradictory to what else is happening this Sunday: the youth Silent Auction and Italian Dinner Fundraiser, but at the same time, it is completely in-line with the spirit of the event.
We are United Methodists. We thrive on community and fellowship. It’s right there in our mission statement: Empowered by God's love, we are a community of Christ's disciples, centered in worship and fellowship. And, we love good food!
So, once a year, we gather together to bid on items donated by those in our congregation, in our business community, and those who just want to help out. I’ve heard stories of years past: “go into the youth room, you’ll find the Amana washer & dryer.” We don’t have anything that big this year, but we do have a lot of great items up for bid: gift certificates to local restaurants of every type, hats and scarves knit with love and care, massages and yoga, and other favorites. And all proceeds from ticket sales, the silent auction, theme basket live auction, and tips go directly to the Youth Mission Trip — this year the youth are headed to Navajo Nation, Arizona. Fort Defiance is a community with a population slightly larger than Eden Prairie High School and nearly a third live under the poverty line.
And we are blessed to have the opportunity, being sent and supported (by prayer and financially) by the loving community of EPUMC.
If you didn’t know, I work full-time for Wayzata Schools. And every time somebody asks me why I take a week of vacation, and why parents take a week of vacation, to travel somewhere with vans full of youth to go and serve, it’s because Jesus said, “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:37)
And it isn’t just me. It’s the youth, too. Last night, youth in grades 5-12, along with the youth from Discovery UMC in Chanhassen, went to Feed My Starving Children. Youth, who don’t always come to Wednesday night Higher Grounds, came. Some brought friends. They paused to serve. They paused to do something for those who have less, far less. And that is the DNA of our community: living in and sharing in God’s grace. Which sounds to me like settling for a lot more than we thought we would ever get!
So, it’s a week of guests as Pastor Dan is on vacation this week. Drake Talbert is sharing with us during Sunday’s sermon, and I am your guest Weekly Memo writer. I don’t know where Dan is, but I hope he’s staying warm on this chilly morning — and I hope that you are, too. And I hope you can join us this Sunday evening for fun and fellowship starting at 5pm, dinner at 6:30 p.m.
Blessings,
Andrew Hagen
Director of Youth Ministries
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