One last look at 2024

Reflecting on our recently completed year is, perhaps, a bit trite. Yet, it seems to me it is also natural, normal, and even necessary. For us here at Minooka UMC, 2024 was truly an eventful year! Here then is an updated version of my Church Conference report.

The most significant occurrence in 2024 was the realization of a dream at least 20 years in the making: the beginning of our Ridge Road era! After 15 months of wandering in the wilderness (so to speak), we opened our brand new building in our brand new location on Ridge Road with a delightful worship service on Sunday, March 3rd. That day we celebrated Holy Communion and the holiness of community. 

Being in our new building is having the desired effect as we’ve welcomed many new visitors—six of whom we received into membership! Being in our new building has engendered a sense of revitalization and energy in the congregation. Being here has increased our commitment to generosity too. Every day in this place has us praying ‘Wow! We are truly blessed.’ and ‘Thank you, God!’ and ‘Help us continue to be the people of goodness and grace, the inclusive found family, you call us to be.’

How are we engaging in the practice of ministering to one another and the world? Our goal—our challenge to ourselves—is every person in church gathering and growing in a group…with special emphasis on our learning groups and serving groups. “Learning” and “serving” are our terms for small groups focused on exploring faith and caring for people in need. Learning groups include: 

Our weekly youth group for 6th-12th grade students led by Jennifer Ferguson and Katrina Nolan
Weekly Sunday School for Preschool and Elementary School students
Weekly bible studies led by Cindy White and Jennifer Ferguson
Monthly women’s circle
Monthly Skeptic Circle for those with deep questions about faith, God, and life
Monthly book club
Annual VBS

Serving groups include:
Our incredible Prayer Team who surround and empower our mission and ministries with prayer, and pray for our joys and concerns and the needs of the world. This growing group is led by Karen Gaba, and includes Jan Stadt, Mari Kirsch, Cindy Gossen, Jennifer Ferguson, Katrina Nolan, Jerry Morrow, Karen Pubentz, Tammie Patterson, and Chris Vause.

Our Care Team of Karen Pubentz, Ruth Satorius, Mari Kirsch, Gordon McCoy, Jody Moorman, Guy Carlson, and Chris Vause. Sharing God’s love through calls, cards, and visits. They will connect with you in hospitals, care facilities, homes, and anywhere else.

Our Helping Hands Food Pantry team (in collaboration with St. Mary’s Catholic Church) offering food assistance to 48 local families—more families than ever before. 

Our Daybreak Shelter team offering shelter and food to neighbors experiencing homelessness.

Our Annual summer youth mission trip partnering with Appalachia Service Project (ASP) led by Marlin Hartman.

Our monthly Grief Support Group led by Karen Pubentz and Chris Vause.

While all these various ministries are exciting and encouraging, they also require much dedication, creativity, and energy. Being surrounded by a small group of caring people is a great way to replenish our ability to love one another. That’s another reason we ask all folks to practice gathering in a small group. For me, I tend to my own spirit and abilities to lead and serve through a clergy group that meets weekly to pray contemplatively. I also strive to continually learn and grow through the expertise of other leaders and pastors. 

‘1000 experiments for the gospel?’ Inspired by Bishop Schwerin’s sermon at Annual Conference, we’ve been talking about experiments every since. We’ve experimented in new ways of being church in small ways such as occasionally rearranging our seating for worship experiences. We experimented with new language for events such as changing our Open House event to a Block Party. An open house is focused on what you can do for me; whereas an block party is what fun we can offer you. And it worked! We met and played with many new neighbors that day! Other experiments include opening our building for a well-attended pipe organ concert and making space available for a Three Rivers Library meeting. Being at Ridge Road has also enabled us to experiment with staffing the church office every day of the week. Our Office Manager Melissa Candler was brave enough to begin journeying with us during Holy Week and has been an exceptional partner in our experiments for the gospel ever since!

Other than the incredible joy of being at Ridge Road, it is tempting to say a top moment in 2024 was the Sunday in September when new NIC Director of Congregational Development, the Rev. Christian Coon visited and said we were the most welcoming congregation he has encountered! We strive to be inclusive and welcoming, so that really was gratifying. However, from my perspective our top moment was the Sunday in June when Alex Nolan gave an impassioned witness about why he loves this congregation, ways he and his family are all in supporting it, and challenged the rest of us to do likewise. The dedicated and incredible lay leadership in this congregation is truly astounding. That lay leadership remains our greatest strength. 

As we look forward to 2025, we hope to complete construction of our north wing, bringing our kitchen back to life and many ministry possibilities with it. Further, we are experimenting with new language for discipleship as followers of God in the Way of Jesus as we practice opening, praying, serving, gathering, giving, and inviting. Will doing so help us grow? We shall see! Finally, we are participating in NIC’s Good Futures Accelerator as a way to innovate our ministries and building use. Yet, some constants remain:
Minooka UMC’s Purpose: To love God with our whole selves and love our neighbors as ourselves. 
Minooka UMC’s Mission: To form disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world, beginning with us. 
Minooka UMC’s Vision: An inclusive gathering of found family learning to be more like Jesus and serving the community. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Pastor Dave

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash