09/25/2026
Dear Minooka UMC Found Family,
As faithful readers of these letters of mine, I know you are waiting with bated breath [wink, wink] for the follow up from last week, so…What did I experience at Fresh Expressions Garden Day with Rev. Dr. Michael Beck out in Mendota?
Before I get to that, a quick refresher on how we got here. Our Northern Illinois Conference is partnering with Dr. Beck, the Director of Fresh Expressions for the UMC, to help our congregations find new ways to share the love of Jesus; that is, find new ways to thrive.
As a pastor of a church that is experimenting with new ways of reaching our community (that’s you!), last October I was invited to participate in Fresh Expressions Greenhouse Day. No, I did not suddenly transform into a horticulturist. My dad had the greenest of green thumbs; I, sadly, very much do not. What’s that title mean then?
"Fresh Expressions” is an experimental movement within the United Methodist Church—often small ministries in out-of-the-way places using outside-the-box strategies. Dog Park Church and Burritos & Bibles are two examples that get brought up frequently. Here at Minooka UMC, while we haven’t used the Fresh Expressions language all that much, our versions are Skeptic’s Circle and Soccer Sunday. Big THANKS to Katrina Nolan and Amanda Sramek for leading those ministries!
“Greenhouse Day” because that event was a place where new ideas, strategies, and experiments could begin to grow. Since that Greenhouse Day, I’ve joined a couple dozen clergy and laity from across our Northern Illinois Annual Conference in monthly Zoom calls with the Dr. Beck.
Next, a few of us from those monthly calls who have congregations actively engaging in Fresh Expressions of being church (again, that’s you!) were invited to Garden Day. Continuing the theme, after Greenhouse Day, Garden Day is the next step—taking what was planted and tending to it so it will grow and flourish.
There were eight participants, clergy and laity, representing seven congregations at Garden Day. The small group allowed us to really learn from Dr. Beck about removing blocks to creative flow; about seeding and cultivating existing ministries while also carefully grafting in new ministries; about the beautiful blended ecology that is created when fresh expressions of church are intentionally brought together with inherited expressions of church. (And we learned the next step after this is Rainforest Day, where we help equip other congregations to begin their own Fresh Expressions…but that remains a future project.) The question Dr. Beck left us with—a question with which I invite us to wrestle: What does vitality look like for us at Minooka UMC?
As for this Sunday, September 27th, Church Council Chairperson, Marlin Hartman offers the message, The Power of the People: Words and Actions. As you know, Marlin is a passionate, engaging speaker—so don’t miss this!
Participate in our worship experiences Sundays at 9:30 a.m. in person at 1210 S. Ridge Road in Minooka. Or via livestream on our Minooka UMC page or on our Minooka UMC YouTube Channel.
Whether in person or online, all are invited to our welcoming and affirming congregation.
Plotting Goodness,
Pastor Dave
Minooka United Methodist Church is an inclusive gathering of found family learning to be more like Jesus and actively serving the community.
