Dear Minooka UMC Found Family, Traditionally, we call today Good Friday as we gather to enter once again the story of Jesus’ death. It is, if we’re honest, a brutal story—as are all execution stories. So reasonable people ask, “What’s good about Good Friday?” First, most of the rest of the world calls today Holy […]
What’s good this Easter weekend? Read More »
Dear Minooka UMC Found Family, As you likely know, we are about to enter what we call Holy Week— beginning this Sunday with what we call Palm Sunday and moving through the intense, confounding, mysterious, stirring story of the last week of Jesus’ life. But before we dive into what is happening during worship, let’s
Welcome to Holy Week Read More »
Dear Minooka UMC Found Family, St. Patrick’s Day was a few days ago, but it’s definitely one of those holidays that extends for at least a week before and after the actual day, right? Right?? I hope so because I really enjoy Irish folk music—and especially Irish punk music. I’m still thinking about St. Patrick
An ancient prayer that still connects Read More »
Dear Minooka UMC Found Family, Remember a few weeks ago when we played with the meanings of the common biblical themes salt and light? Our Bishop Dan Schwerin (pictured left) recently offered some thoughts on those themes as well. I encourage you to read the whole letter, but here’s a piece of it: “I have
Our Bishop would like a word Read More »
Dear Minooka UMC Found Family, Way back in 1787, Sarah Mallet was a preacher in the Methodist Church. She was appointed by no less than John Wesley. (Wesley was a main leader in the movement that would come to be known as Methodist.) Minooka UMC has been led by many incredible female clergy over the
Without women preachers, there is no Easter Read More »
Dear Minooka UMC Found Family, I just discovered The United Methodist Church released a brand new resource that I think you might very well find helpful and enlightening. It’s called The Handbook of the United Methodist Church. This Handbook is designed to help you understand who we are, how we are connected, and how we
A new UMC Handbook Read More »
Dear Minooka UMC Found Family, John Wesley, the person credited with starting the movement that would become the United Methodist Church, refused to limit his ministry to private, individual spiritual matters. Quite the opposite—he famously declared, “I look upon all the world as my parish.” Wesley understood the inherent, inescapable connection between our faith in
Take up advocacy for Lent Read More »
Dear Minooka UMC Found Family, Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love. —Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The United Methodist Church is a
Dear Minooka UMC Found Family, What is the essence of Jesus’ message? To be honest, most of my clergy friends and I would balk a bit at that question and respond with something like: Jesus’ message is meant to be more than a mere soundbite! The beautiful complexity of his birth, life, teachings, death, and
Jesus’ elevator pitch Read More »
Dear Minooka UMC Found Family, In my letter here last week, I shared our denomination’s new vision statement: The United Methodist Church forms disciples of Jesus Christ who, empowered by the Holy Spirit, love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in local communities and worldwide connections. Let’s explore that a bit further. How did we
Arriving at boldly, joyfully, courageously Read More »
Christmas Eve at Minooka UMC
Wednesday, Dec. 24
4:00PM featuring Pop-up Pageant
9:00PM featuring Communion
