Blessing the community a theme for summer events

By Robert Williams

Editor

The Vergas United Methodist Church will be hosting a free meal on Friday, June 21 starting at 5:30 p.m., as part of a busy summer of planned events.

The church kicked off its summer events with a beach bible ministry that began Wednesday, June 12 and will continue through the end of August.

“We’re going down to the public beach and passing out ice cream treats to anyone who is there,” said Pastor Joyce Slostad. “Just as another way to bless the community.”

The group will also bring art supplies for kids and are offering to read a bible story for kids to sit and listen to while they color a drawing that goes along with that story.

“All of this grew out of something the United Methodist Church is doing in Minnesota called Fresh Expressions,” Slostad.

The Fresh Expressions movement began in England in 2004, and moved to the United States in 2010. It is a simple movement of helping churches see the people in their relationship circles and communities, connect around mutual interests, and be church together. It may happen at a dinner table or through a hiking club or photography group. It blends the best of an existing church with fresh ways of going out of  buildings to meet people in a relaxed and friendly environment and share Jesus in everyday, ordinary ways, according to Cindy Gregorson, Director of Ministries, Minnesota Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.

“It’s fresh expressions of ministry,” said Slostad. “How can we go out in our community and do things for people, have ministry-type events that they might be more comfortable coming to the church for something.”

Church members held a bible study meeting on the Zoom app looking for ways to put the Fresh Expressions movement into action in Vergas.

“We are encouraging kids because we’re short of kids,” said Board Chair Jan Wasvick. “We’re encouraging kids to think it might be fun to come to Sunday school or Bible school.”

United Methodist is hosting a Camp Firelight Summer Camp and Adventure with God Monday July 29-Thursday, Aug. 1, from 5:30-8:30 p.m.  

Supper will be provided each evening and the three-hour sessions will include Bible learning, singing, arts and crafts projects, science experiments, outdoor recreation and more fun.

Online registration will be available later this summer. 

The church wanted to find one way to reach as many people as possible and came up with the free meal idea on June 21. Ditterich Mercantile will be providing portions of a typical summer meal: hot dogs, hamburgers, beans, cole slaw, chips and a beverage and the dinner will be held at Lions Park across Main Street from the church.

“It’s basically just a free meal for the community and anybody who wants or needs it,” said Slostad.

Church leaders are looking for new ways to meet and greet more people in Vergas and share about what the church does, introduce their activities, and bless the community.

The church has bounced back from attendance issues related to the pandemic.

“We lost some people during COVID,” said Wasvick.

The church also saw a dip on Sundays due to live-streaming services. Some members have continued to utilize that online service.

“There are a fair amount of people that just kept live-streaming; they can be in their pajamas with their cup of coffee,” Wasvick said. “I think, overall, we’re a little bit less than before COVID, but it’s come back.”

The congregation also fluctuates up and down seasonally in Vergas.

Fresh Expressions is an ongoing and evolving movement and members of Vergas United Methodist regularly attend online meetings to keep in touch with the latest, one event being dinner church.

“Dinner church has become extremely popular, especially in bigger churches and even some smaller ones where they rent out their community center once a week,” said Wasvick. “They have short church and free dinner.”

According to Pastor Slostad, after witnessing other churches having a variety of different and new services provides multiple opportunities for new and current members.

“It really is an event that is blessed,” she said. “They feel like people come that wouldn’t come to church and they come again and again and get to be friends with people and get to know the pastor.”

“It is a very relaxed atmosphere and usually not in your own church,” said Wasvick.

Members of Vergas United Methodist also have twice monthly pontoon and kayaking fellowship evenings.

For more information on any of the church’s activities or to register for Bible Camp call Pastor Joyce at (763) 742-4241 or Sheri at (218) 329-7465. 

Vergas United Methodist Church Summer Events

• Beach Bible Ministry – June 26, July 10, 24, Aug. 14, 28 – 3:30-4:30 p.m.

• Pontoon and Kayaking – June 13, 23, July 9, 30 – 5 p.m.

• VBS Vacation Bible School Monday July 29-Thursday, Aug. 1 – 5:30-8:30 p.m.