Proud of our witness

Dear Minooka UMC Found Family,

As a world-wide denomination, the United Methodist Church is very diverse. Way back in the 18th Century, John Wesley (widely seen as the founder of the Methodist movement) preached unity through diversity:


Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt, we may. Herein all the children of God may unite, notwithstanding these smaller differences. These remaining as they are, they may forward one another in love and in good works.

Despite Wesley’s words, sadly—though not entirely surprisingly, given the realities of human history—throughout its 240 year existence, our denomination always had some category of people it officially excluded from some part of its ministry. In the past it was people of color or women. More recently it was our LGBTQ+ siblings. That finally ended two years ago at General Conference in May of 2024.

Thanks be to God for the movement of the Spirit that empowered us to finally be the fully welcoming and affirming denomination that we are called to be! As scripture reminds us, God is love, and wherever we see love we see God. Further:

Those who say, “I love God,” and hate a brother or sister are liars, for those who do not love a brother or sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.” (1 John 4)

Loving our neighbors as we love ourselves is how we follow God in the Way of Jesus. I’m proud that our congregation is, as far as I can tell, the only congregation in the Minooka-Channahon area that publicly proclaims the full inclusion and participation of our LGBTQ+ siblings in our church’s life and ministry. Thank you for living out that vital witness.

As for our worship experience this Sunday, June 7th, we’re exploring the ideas, images, biblical foundations, misunderstandings, and practical applications of pneumatology. As the most nebulous portrayal of God, the Holy Spirit is also the most confounding.

So we are asking questions such as: In what ways is the Holy Spirit present throughout our biblical text? How do we navigate the myriad symbols found there? In other words, just who is the Holy Spirit and what does She do? I’ll wrestle with those questions and more in my sermon, Pentecost: Um…What?!?

Since we are continuing to ruminate on Pentecost and the Holy Spirit this week—the main image for which is fire—I encourage you to have some fun with this theme by wearing flame colors like red or yellow or orange! Finally, as this is the first Sunday of the month, we will celebrate Communion together. If you plan to participate online, I encourage you to have some bread and juice (or other similar elements) ready before worship begins.

Participate in our worship experiences Sundays at 9:30 a.m. in person at 1210 S. Ridge Road in Minooka. Or via livestream on our Minooka UMC Facebook page or on our Minooka UMC YouTube Channel.

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

Plotting Goodness, 

Pastor Dave