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Fall 2021: Being Church

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  Maximizing Growth with new Governance model by Pastor Elizabeth Macaulay       Epworth is seeking to move into a streamlined governance system.       Streamlined governance maximizes the talents and energies of members while creating a decision-making process that is collaborative and nimble.       This process of working effectively and well together has been under consideration for months at Epworth and is being implemented by many other United Methodist Churches.       Each facet of our shared ministry -- finance, trustees, staff -- has representation at the board level. The Board serves as a governance body, making policy decisions and working with the pastor to keep the ministry focused and effective.       We have an opportunity to learn more about the streamlined governance on September 11 at 9:00 AM. In preparation for the meeting, please read  Winning on Purpose   by John Edmund Kaiser.         Join us on the journey starting September 11 as we learn about this model for min
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Fall 2021: Nourishing Faith

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  Pastor’s Column:  Can you feel it in the air?       The crisp of fall brings with it a sense of new beginnings.       This is a dense time.       Our hearts and prayers are with children and school personnel as they enter the unknown of this school year.        We pray for their safety. We are keenly aware of the vulnerability of their precious bodies. May God bless and keep our children and those who teach and feed and bless them well.       Our nation is feeling yet and still the sense of fracture. The controversies swirling over masks and vaccinations feels surreal.        As followers of the Way of Jesus, we believe that caring for our neighbors as ourselves is non-negotiable core of our being.        May God continue to breathe and bless through those who minister to others as health care professionals, and may God bless each of us as we mask and receive vaccines if we are able. There are children in our midst and those with compromised immune systems that must be protected.    
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Fall 2021: Welcoming All

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  Weeds & Water and Worms ... Oh My!  By Nancy Meisel Youngman and Nan Rice         What a joy to have so many families participate in Weed and Water Wednesdays (WWW) this summer! From planting seeds in early May to picking the harvest in August, the children have delighted in the growth of the garden as well as the flowers in the yard.       They love filling their little watering cans to quench the thirst of each plant, chopping open vegetables to find the seeds inside, splashing in the water table, and especially listening to story time with Nancy.    Wiggling, wriggling worms       Earth worms wriggle through the soil and create tunnels and pathways for air and water. They munch on organic matter and through digestion, leave nutrients deeper in the dirt.        These are a few facts we learned about worms at Weed & Water Wednesday (WWW) on August 4. We examined earth worms with a magnifying glass and watched them wiggle across a wet paper towel before returning them to the
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Fall 2021: Doing Good

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  Living our vision: Taking action for Creation Justice  by Shirley Durr        “Who will join me?” Cindy Saufferer, Minnesota Conference United Methodist Women President, asked in a Facebook post in May. She had attached a notice about the Treaty People Gathering scheduled for June 5-June 8.        United Methodist Women was one of the sponsors to support this Stop Line 3 initiative as part of a grant UMW and Minneapolis Interfaith Power and Light (MNIPL) received from National UMW’s  Just Energy 4 All   campaign.        Enbridge — a Canadian oil pipeline company — began construction in December 2020 of the controversial $9 billion Line 3 pipeline designed to carry 760,000 barrels of tar sands oil per day from Canada to the U.S. for refining so the oil company can export it. If construction is not halted, the pipeline will cross many waterways in northern Minnesota, as well as areas protected by the 1842, 1854, and 1855 treaties.         Knowing Cindy was going to the Gathering gave m
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