Dear U Park Family,
Have you ever hard a mentor who was demanding and hard to please? Maybe it was a teacher, or someone who took you under their wing as your career was beginning. People like that can be hard to work with, or for. But they can also change our lives, sometimes to better effect than the constant cheerleader type who always praises us no matter what.
I think of the New Testament letters as being written by demanding mentors. Whether written by Paul or others, it’s pretty rare for a letter to praise a church. The authors always seems to be writing because something’s wrong – sometimes even to the point of alienating the readers. So it’s especially worth noticing when they commend a church for doing well.
This Sunday, we’ll be looking at one of those rare moments from Ephesians, where a congregation is praised for doing church well. This may seem like an academic point, since it’s written in the first century. But I think it’s important – it’s a good way of asking ourselves how our church is doing, and how we might need to grow and change. That could be especially important for U Park, as we continue to work toward achieving the goals we set in our strategic plan and think about our ministry over the next few years. I hope you’ll join us in worship at 9:00 in Wasser Chapel, or 11:00 in our Sanctuary. If you can’t be there in person, you can always watch live on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/UParkumcdenver/) or later in the day on our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@UniversityParkUMCDenver).
Our summer programming is underway, even though school’s not quite out yet. Lauren Cowden, our youth ministry director, has arranged for several of our youth to join with St. Andrew UMC’s youth group on Mission Trips. Bethany Hader Crabbs, our Children’s Ministry and Care Ministry Director, has scheduled outings for our MomCo groups – the first one is on Friday, June 6 to the Littleton Historical Museum. There’s another outing coming up to Lava Island on Sunday, June 22 after worship.
Bethany is also starting a new offering for our church’s and neighborhood children. Beginning Thursday, June 12, we’ll be offering a courtyard story time at 10:00 A.M. Bethany will read a children’s book, then offer snacks and games. It’s a chance for area families to get out and share some time together, as well as to get to know our church.
Of course, the other big event in Children’s Ministry this summer will be our Vacation Bible School, scheduled for July 21 – 24 from 9:00 – 12:00. Watch our Community Connection Newsletter for a list of supplies we can donate, and if you’d like to help out, here’s a link to more information and a volunteer form:
https://loveu2.breezechms.com/form/479834205.
Want a summer reading opportunity? We have several. For one, our Conference is sponsoring a summer scripture reading program, “Read a Chapter a Day: Summer 2025 Challenge”. This individual bible challenge runs June 9 through July 26, where we will journey with 2,000 United Methodists across the country to read one chapter a day in Romans and Corinthians. You’ll receive a daily email beginning June 9 which will include the new chapter, insights, reflections and key verses. Click here to register!
Our Poetry, Psalms, and Seinfeld group is starting a new book as well: they’ll be reading Victor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning. Frankl published this book in 1946 after surviving a Nazi concentration camp, and it’s become one of the most influential books of the 20th and 21st centuries. Frankl contemplates the question of what makes life meaningful and helps us weather hardship. The group meets at 10:00 on Thursday mornings, and everyone is welcome to join. Our Men’s group meets from 10:00 – 11:30 on Tuesday mornings, and we’ve just finished Mike McHargue’s Finding God in the Waves: How I Lost My Faith and Found it Again Through Science. All men of the church are welcome, and we’ll be starting a new book in a week or two.
Finally, what summer would be complete without softball? Our softball league is open to all players ages 15 and up, and the first game is on Sunday, June 8. Contact Larry Roggensack for more information, or just contact me at the church office and I’ll put you in touch: adunning@uparkumc.org.
However you’re spending your summer, I hope that you find the beauty of God’s presence all around you. See you at church!
Grace and Peace,
Andy