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Don Lewis 14.05.2010, 12:59:42
 | Love your web site! Thanks for "directing" me to it! The Lord is really blessing and using you, and I
know all our family, those of us who are still part of the Church Militant as well as those who are
part of the Church Triumphant, rejoice in your miistry and leadership...
So happy to learn about your daughter's commitment. Would love to know more.
Cousin Don
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keijo 29.01.2010, 15:21:23
| Thank you to the Lord for many missionarer and servant at gospel and llet the be more those home who will pray and worship the Lord in gladnes and in faith and believe in miracles of God daily in word of life and power from God ,in Jesus name,thanks and bles andpray,keijo sweden |
Laura 14.12.2009, 17:35:15
| Thanks for writing, Alison. I'm glad you've enjoyed being at ESUMC. We do try to be a warm and welcoming community because that's what we believe God is like.
You ask about scripture and about the children's time, and I'd like to respond.
At ESUMC our worship is guided by readings from the Revised Common Lectionary. This is a 3-yr cycle of 4 possible readings each week, including usually one each from the Old Testament, Psalm, Epistle, and a Gospel. Over time, this cycle of readings draws on all sections of the Bible, and they include even texts we normally wouldn't hear or I wouldn't necessarily choose to use for preaching. We don't always use all the texts each week (sometimes they're connected, sometimes not), but I usually use at least 2 or 3 somewhere in the service. However, one may be in the form of a responsive reading or even a hymn. Generally but not always I preach on the Gospel lesson, usually working in the Epistle reading, too, but again not always. It is my sense that worship is not necessarily the time for studying scripture, that is perhaps better done in a Bible study group where there can be discussion and resources at hand. We do have an adult Bible study on most Sunday mornings at 10:00, and there are other small groups that involve Bible study, too. We would be very glad for you to join us on a Sunday morning. Sometimes in worship, though, we will actually break into smaller groups and discuss our responses to the text or to specific questions Jesus asks. We don't do that very often, but we do sometimes have that opportunity.
Yes, the church is very family-focused - families of some description make up the vast majority of our congregation. And we do have a very large and active Sunday School program. The children's time in the service is, to my mind, done with a 3-fold purpose. Jesus said to let the children come to him, and when we are gathered as the Body of Christ in worship, giving the children their own time and space in the service is letting them do that and letting them know they are important to Jesus and to us. Also, it is a time and place for the children to receive my full attention so they get to know who I am and that I'm (hopefully) an approachable person, because of the timing on Sunday mornings, they cannot be with me in my role as pastor any other time. And, this time is an opportunity to talk in simple and basic ways about who we are and what we do as Christians, many adults 'overhear' these talks and appreciate them, too.
Worship at ESUMC changes from Sunday to Sunday, so we can incorporate lots of different things, and I'm open to most anything. We come from nearly 40 different countries and even more worship traditions, so we do try to stay open to a variety of worship styles. The most important thing to me is that each person leaves feeling they have in some way experienced God's grace, God's love, and perhaps even God's comfort and strength. Not everyone is touched by the sermon or the scripture readings each week, but hopefully each person will have a sense of having encountered and worshiped God.
We certainly don't mean to forget or exclude couples and singles, so if you have suggestions about how we could make them feel more included and involved in worship, I'd be truly grateful to hear them. I'll be happy for you to be in touch with me personally to talk more about this. I want to hear what you have to say. Call me any time - 895 8175 - or email (laura.trent@emk.at) and we can perhaps have coffee or share a meal. Thanks again for writing, and please let me know where I might be able to help.
- Laura
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Alison 05.12.2009, 19:25:05
| I really have enjoyed the three times I have attended your church. Please seem very nice and the music is wonderful. Two things: I wish there was more actual studying and reading of the scripture and, secondly, it is lovely that there is a kind of kids' time at the beginning of the service, but I am not clear why this "conversation with the kids is not done in Sunday School or if it is done during service, why it is given souvh time. It is clear that the church is very, very family focused, but I think it would be great to remember that there are childless couples and single people who come to church to worship the Lord through music and scripture as well. Just a thought. |
Christian 31.08.2009, 09:35:40
| Hi, Becky!
I forwarded your comment about ushering to Jerry and Laura. They told me that they will discuss your feedback in the next worship committee meeting. Thank you a lot for your comment. 
Christian |
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