Hear from Bishop Schwerin

Dear Minooka UMC Found Family,

I know I shared this previously, but I’m convinced it bears repeating. We need to get used to seeing and hearing and feeling this:

Love boldly
Serve joyfully 
Lead courageously

Again, that terrific triumvirate is the heart of the vision of the United Methodist Church. That vision was featured prominently at our Northern Illinois Annual Conference last month and will be the focus of an upcoming sermon series. That vision will be on the new t-shirts designed for our 170th Anniversary Celebration Saturday on October 3rd.

Here’s where we diverge from last week’s letter. Previously, we quoted and linked to Northern Illinois Conference Co-Lay Leader Eugene Peterson’s Laity Address to Annual Conference. Today we turn to our Bishop Dan Schwerin and his Episcopal Address at Annual Conference. Bishop’s theme was refugia: the biological idea of a pocket of safety that allow species or populations to survive hostile conditions on their way to their next phase.

In the time of Jesus, God opposes the Roman empire not with an impressive army and not with toxic power, but the hidden in plain sight work of Mary and Elizabeth—enter stage left the nonviolent power of a baby, one that survives the empire’s slaughter of the innocents, life in an occupied land, who with a small band of women and men cast for us a mustard-seed gospel vision for the flourishing dream of God. God uses the remnant, the refugia, as a third way to create a minority presence to live toward becoming a kin-dom of mutual flourishing. God uses the refugia season to practice hope.

Further, this is a season for the church to “let go of Christendom, with its domineering and dominating, with its colonialism, Christian nationalism, and coziness with toxic power, sucking up to empire so that we may be healed by Jesus.”

I encourage you to watch his full address here. What stands out to you? How are we here at MUMC offering refugia already? How might we be better?

Finally, in the United Methodist tradition, July 1st is the beginning of the clergy appointment year. Meaning, we’ve officially begun year four of our pastor and parish relationship! I’m thrilled and honored to continue to be your pastor.

Whether in person or online, all are invited to our welcoming and affirming congregation.

Plotting Goodness, 
Pastor Dave