Wesley UMC Hibbing

Wesley UMC Hibbing Find online worship services and announcements for Wesley United Methodist Church on this page. Visit the Wesley UMC website at: www.unitedmethodisthibbing.org

Monday MusingI was recently entertained watching Bingo try to catch a grasshopper on one of our morning adventures. Bing...
09/07/2026

Monday Musing

I was recently entertained watching Bingo try to catch a grasshopper on one of our morning adventures. Bingo would pounce and the grasshopper would jump ahead. Unfazed by Bingo's size, the grasshopper was completely at home in the endless sea of grass. As I watched this unfold, it almost seemed like the grasshopper was teaching Bingo to move like a grasshopper—a good game of follow the leader. In the end, the grasshopper disappeared in the tall grass and Bingo turned to me for a treat, wanting to be rewarded for his efforts.

Later in the day, while spending a few minutes deadheading the dahlias, I noticed another grasshopper resting peacefully on top of one dahlia. This time, the grasshopper was not trying to jump away. Unfazed by my presence, it was taking time away from jumping to enjoy a few moments napping with a red dahlia bloom for a pillow. I decided I would also imitate the grasshopper and went inside the house for a midafternoon nap.

One of my philosophical heroes, Maurice Blondel, also had a fascination with nature and specifically, grasshoppers. Blondel once wrote about the plight of the human spirit, "that means letting go of one's egoism and entrusting oneself to the forces of the universe, gambling on them and speculating on what they will do, almost like a grasshopper leaping with abandonment, without seeing where it will land."

I think both grasshoppers and Blondel might be on to something! Today, we live in a world focused on the individual. We are taught to rely only on ourselves or cling to what serves us well, oftentimes ignoring the plight of our neighbors. My prayer is that we ask God to help us let go and entrust ourselves to the forces of the universe which for me are Jesus, the power of the Holy Spirit, and a community that embraces the unconditional love of Christ.

"You were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only don’t let this freedom be an opportunity to indulge your selfish impulses, but serve each other through love." Galatians 5:13

We are celebrating a big milestone! The Community Caring Corner has been serving the Hibbing community for 1 year this S...
09/02/2026

We are celebrating a big milestone! The Community Caring Corner has been serving the Hibbing community for 1 year this September. Our next open date is Tuesday, Sept 22nd from Noon-3pm.

Donations are always welcomed ❤️

09/01/2026

Wesley Worship - August 30, 2026

Monday MusingCall me old-fashioned, but I still like reading a newspaper. As a kid, I remember when the local weekly new...
08/31/2026

Monday Musing

Call me old-fashioned, but I still like reading a newspaper. As a kid, I remember when the local weekly newspapers, the Ely Echo and the Ely Miner would appear in our mailboxes. They had great local news, covered all school events—from sports to band and choir concerts—and included obituaries. I can hear my mother's voice today asking my dad if he knew that so-and-so had died, and then explaining how they were related to this person or that person. For the daily paper, there were the Mesabi Daily News and the Duluth News Tribune. On Sunday, the big thrill was getting the Minneapolis Star and Tribune! We frequently fought over the comics. My grandfather, sitting back in his recliner after a day of work at the store, would light his pipe, and we could see smoke waft above the pages of the Wall Street Journal. Back then, we looked forward to the news, especially the news printed on paper.

Even so, today I only receive one newspaper in the mail. Ironically, it is a small but vibrant weekly newspaper from a small town I have never visited. Until I started receiving the newspaper, the only two people I know in this town are the ones who gave it to me as a gift. However, after a year of reading the Kerkhoven Banner, when I open its pages, I feel like I know the wonderful folks who live there. I follow their sports teams, community events, and even read the obituaries. When I read the letters to the editor, I often picture the person who penned them. This gift has introduced me to people I would never have met otherwise.

In a very similar way, the Bible is also a gift. It is a library of many stories, letters, parables, and even has an obituary. The Bible has introduced me to people I would have never met otherwise and includes a talking donkey. Not unlike the Kerkhoven Banner but with wider circulation, the Bible expands my mind and helps me know not just about where I live but about the whole world and the universe. Its editor is loving and kind, full of mercy, compassion, and justice. The Bible is not a book about punishment, even though there are some harsh stories within its pages. Rather, it is a collection of stories about possibilities and promise. The best part of the Bible is that within its pages, you can find the Good News: The Gospel of Jesus Christ. My prayer is that just as I now have a relationship with the good folks of Kerkhoven, even though we have never met, we can also be in a relationship with Jesus Christ when we read, proclaim, and share Christ's message of hope and unconditional love found in the book called the Bible.

Monday MusingRecently, and after a great deal of thought, I decided to put my house up for sale. I had been in conversat...
08/24/2026

Monday Musing

Recently, and after a great deal of thought, I decided to put my house up for sale. I had been in conversation with a realtor for many months but finally decided to list it after coming home one evening from Hibbing and almost hitting a deer. I met with the realtor, who appraised the value and then offered suggestions to make the house more appealing to prospective buyers. I needed to recaulk the bathtub, vacuum up as much of Bingo's dog hair as possible, and, most importantly, get rid of clutter. When I first moved into the house several years ago, I had few possessions, mostly the essentials like a bed, a kitchen table and chairs, and a couch. Over time, however, there are now three couches and two beds. three desks, a piano, a china cabinet, a buffet, and much more. For example, there is a very large bookshelf with books stuffed into every shelf, and in some places, double-stacked with some perched so precariously they could come crashing down at any time.

Taking the realtor's suggestions seriously, I set about the task of caulking, vacuuming, and, of course, decluttering. After just a day or two, the house now looks just like the house I fell in love with in the first place. As I took down some drapes, opened windows, and organized my bookshelf, I started having second thoughts about selling. To be honest, if it does not sell, I would not be heartbroken. The good news is that If company arrived unexpectedly tonight, I could seat them at the table, provide them a clean bed for the night, and fix them breakfast in the morning using clean plates.

Today, as I sit in my living room with Bingo curled up at my feet, I think that I need to consider decluttering not just my house, but my life to create space for a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. In John's Gospel, Jesus says, "In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?"

It leaves me to wonder: If Jesus is willing to make room for us, what are we doing to prepare and make room for not only Jesus but also the stranger, the orphan, and the widow?

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Revelation 3:20

08/24/2026

Wesley Worship- August 23, 2026

It was a good start to confirmation. We walked the neighborhood and explored, did a bit of singing, and had a good time!
08/20/2026

It was a good start to confirmation. We walked the neighborhood and explored, did a bit of singing, and had a good time!

Confirmation students are busy. We just read Genesis 1-2:4. They are drawing what they heard.
08/20/2026

Confirmation students are busy. We just read Genesis 1-2:4. They are drawing what they heard.

Confirmation is getting ready to start! This amazing young people will be confirmed in the spring at the Easter Vigil S...
08/20/2026

Confirmation is getting ready to start! This amazing young people will be confirmed in the spring at the Easter Vigil Service. More puctures to follow!

08/17/2026

Wesley Worship- August 16, 2026

Address

303 E 23rd Street
Hibbing, MN
55746

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 1pm
Tuesday 9am - 1pm
Wednesday 9am - 1pm
Thursday 9am - 1pm
Sunday 9am - 11:30am

Telephone

+12182633653

Website

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