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August Pastor’s Corner
Jimmy Fallon has a running bit that has lasted through both of his late-night television shows, in which he writes thank you notes. Each is written to a flourish of music provided especially for the moment. He’s been writing them for years. They’re funny and sometimes pointed and very occasionally sweet. Mine are none of those things. They are simply sincere. Thank you PPUMC congregation, for encouraging me to take time away from work. David and I traveled some, and…
Creation Justice Tips for Going Plastic Free
You don’t have to look far to see plastic pollution. You don’t have to look far to find alarming research or scary statistics about the harm plastic, especially single-use plastics, are doing to our air, land, oceans, marine life, and even our own bodies. With this Special Edition of 35 Tips, you also don’t have to look far for ideas or inspiration for changing the outcome.Start with love. John Wesley’s General Rules: Do no harm, do good, and stay in…
July Pastor’s Corner
My first Sunday as pastor at PPUMC was July 3, 2011, almost exactly ten years ago today. I’ll take this opportunity to wish us happy anniversary! Congratulations to us! Anniversaries are fine occasions for a quick think back. It’s been a decade. What do I – what might you – remember? You may recall, or this is the way it went: I was appointed – at rather the last minute. None of us knew a change was coming until the…
June Pastor’s Corner
Beloved friends, They say a picture speaks 1,000 words. This little dog stood watch over many a Nativity scene in its time. Its legs cracked years ago. It’s wire-skeleton showed. It stood propped against a cow, the manger, often Joseph for as long as I remember. This past Christmas a leg fell off. She couldn’t stand at all. Me neither. So she guarded me. And I her. And bit by bit well…you see what happened. Her jewels are visible. In…
May Community Concert Series supports Voices for Racial Justice
Twin Cities-based duo My Anchor Holds performs an original song, their reflection on the murder of George Floyd entitled, I Can’t Breathe.The benefitting social service organization is Voices for Racial Justice, committed to building power through collective cultural & healing strategies across Minnesota. To listen to this month’s song and make a donation, visit: https://www.prospectparkchurch.org/calendar-events/community-concert-series/
The Healing Power of Song
As Pastor Chris notes in her Prospectus reflection, this year’s Lenten season is unlike any other as we move toward and through the one-year anniversary of the pandemic ‘lock-down.’ The impact of this collective experience will be felt for years, if not decades to come; yet, we continue to hold fast to each other through our collective gatherings, worship services, meditations…and music. Throughout the ages, music has been at the very heart of helping people survive and persevere throughout countless…
March Pastor’s Corner
We’ve heard about the month of March. It comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb – or vice versa. Accordingly, we are currently in for a lovely April 1st, or may instead end up April fooled. March is a month in which we expect to be either surprised or sideswiped! This is fitting for Lent, a season that calls us to venture out of hibernation into vivid, sensory, renewed life! In fact, we could think of…
February Pastor’s Corner
Beloved community. There is a paraphrase of a Mary Oliver maxim that captures something of communal worship: Show up. Be amazed. Tell about it. There are many ways we worship! Each of us may do so anywhere, anytime, alone or in bundles, and indeed we do. We worship separately in songs and prayers and actions and choices and gifts, every day. And, then, once a week, we gather to worship all at the same time. Of course these days, the…
Holiday Service Projects Update
Holiday Service Projects for the Violence Free MN Women’s Shelter Thank you to everyone who contributed to our two holiday projects for the Violence Free MN women’s shelter. This Christmas 68 people (32 women and 36 children) spent the holidays living in a hotel since all the shelters in the state were full, and safe, affordable housing (especially for families) is hard to come by. To create some holiday cheer, PPUMC took on two projects. Our first project was creating…
January Pastor’s Corner
Beloved Community, A new year has begun, and I am ready to celebrate its unfolding! 2020 was a year of challenges on a global level – a year of resourcefulness and vigilance and constant check-ins for our community. And as strange, fluid, precarious and unexpected as it was, David and I personally crowned the year with a life-changingexperience. As most all of you know by now, on Sunday evening, Dec. 13, we were involved in a serious car accident near…