Dear Friends,
The Fall Programs at MUMC are ready to start! Are you? Recommit yourselves to spiritual vitality and growing your faith!
Sunday, September 5, is a Traditional Worship Service at 9:00am. Lectionary Readings are:
Jeremiah 18:1-11
Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18
Philemon 1-21
Luke 14:25-33
Starting on Sunday, September 12, we return to our regular worship schedule: 9:00am, Traditional; 10:45am, Jazz. Lectionary Readings are:
Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28
Psalm 14:1-7
1 Timothy 1:12-17
Luke 15:1-10
Reading these Lectionary Readings during the week leading up to Sunday will help you prepare for worship. Also, beginning this week and continuing for six more weeks, the sermons will focus on the readings from 1 & 2 Timothy. These Pauline letters address issues of leadership and congregational life. Consider reading both of these letters to get a better context for each week’s passage.
The YOUTHof MUMC are serving a Pancake Breakfast/Brunchthroughout Sunday Morning, September 12, 8:30am to 12:30pm. Your support of this Youth Group activity is appreciated. Funds that are raised will be used to buy supplies for their goal of making 5,000 sandwiches for the 363 Program for Homeless People.
There will be a Blood Driveat the church on Tuesday, September 14. Please sign up on the Mission Board in the Coffee Area to give the gift of life.
Wednesday Evening Dinnersbegin on September 15, 5:30pm, in Fellowship Hall. Help the cooks plan by making a reservation. (Use a form in the coffee area or call the church office. Prices are the same as last year, making this the best deal in town: $6—Adults; $4—Children 12 and under; $0—Children 3 and under; $20—Maximum per family.)
Wednesday Programming for all ages begins September 15, 6:30pm. (This includes, but is not limited to, Chancel Choir rehearsals, Adult Education, Adventure Club, Senior High Hang Out, and Confirmation Class.) Wednesday evening at Minnetonka United Methodist Church is a way for the whole family to strengthen its commitment to Christ and this community of faith.
Sunday, September 19, 4:00pm – A Open Time for Statements Concerning Becoming a Reconciling Congregation. Everyone who wishes to share their thoughts/feelings about Minnetonka United Methodist Church becoming a Reconciling Congregation, open to people of all sexual orientations and identities, will have an opportunity to share a statement. This is not a debate. The expectation is that people respectfully will listen to one another. Members of the Church Council will be present to listen to the statements. At its September 21 meeting, the Church Council will decide whether to refer becoming a Reconciling Congregation to a Church Conference. If the decision to refer is positive, the Church Conference will be on Sunday, October 17, 4:00pm. ALL members have voice and vote at a Church Conference.
On Saturday, September 25, 9:00am, Barbara Hannah will present “Preparing for the Unexpected.” This is being offered because of the popularity of the Wednesday Evening Lenten Series that Barbara led this past spring. For those who missed the Lenten Series, this would be a good experience. For those who would like a refresher course, this is it!
On Sunday, September 26, 4:00pm, the United Methodist Women are sponsoring a thought provoking speaker from Emma Norton Services, addressing the “Language of Poverty.” Coffee & snacks will be served and an offering will be taken. Look for the box in the coffee area next week to collect paper goods and cleaning supplies for Emma Norton.
The Bible is a wonderful resource for spiritual vitality and growth. But it’s not always easy to understand and for many folks, that makes it difficult to read and study. In fact, I’ve learned that for many people, the only time they read the Bible (or hear the Bible read to them) is during worship on Sunday mornings! That bums me out. So Minnetonka United Methodist Church wants to address this situation. That’s why Mondays will soon be BIBLE STUDY MONDAYS at MUMC!!! My expectation and hope is that everyone will participate in at least one of three levels of Monday options for Bible Study that will be offered this fall and into next year.
Level 1: Bible 101 – Introduction to the Bible and basic understandings of the scriptures in three sessions: October 4, November 1, & December 6, 7:00pm to 8:30pm (unless people want to continue meeting beyond three sessions).
Level 2: The Bible and the Holy Land – The role of the Bible in the history and tradition of Israel and contemporary Palestine/Israel. This study begins on Monday, September 27, 7:00pm to 8:30pm, and will continue every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month through January 2011.
Level 3: Disciple I Bible Study – Every Monday; a thorough, in-depth study that will last into May 2011. Each session lasts 2½ hours and preparation/reading is required during the week.
Even though these opportunities won’t begin for a few weeks, I expect and hope that you will think about your participation in BIBLE STUDY MONDAYS at MUMCnow.
And while you’re thinking about it, consider joining the 6:45am Monday Morning Bible Study held in the Coffee Area. We study the Lectionary Reading that will be the basis for the sermon on the following Sunday. (Yes…coffee is provided!)
The Dignity Center (a mission project of Hennepin Avenue UMC which is supported by the MUMC Mission Team) is in need of a volunteer(s) to work the office portion of the Center on Wednesday and Friday, 8:30am to 12:30pm. If you are able to volunteer, please contact Mary Martin, Dignity Center Volunteer Coordinator, 612-435-1337.
Keep the faith,
Ken
