A message from Rev. Ross Baker, pastor of Eudora UMC:

 Dear Eudora United Methodist Faith Community:

On Thursday June 25th a subgroup of the Church Council and I met virtually to discuss the potential of reopening for “in-person” worship in the next month. A great deal of our conversation centered around current guidelines for reopening released by the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department, and recommendations released by the State of Kansas. After a time of conversation around what it would mean for us to resume in person gatherings inside the building at EUMC, we have decided to keep the current building use policy in place. Until further notice, the building of Eudora UMC will remain closed to all outside groups (excluding Parkwood Day School students and staff). Plans are currently being developed to resume a “Drive-In” worship service. Currently we have scheduled this to begin Sunday July 12th at 8:30 am. (Please see below guidelines for in-person outdoor worship):

Guidelines for Drive-in 8:30 am Worship:

● Please RSVP your attendance prior to the worship service: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/drive-in-worship-service-tickets-111846315340

● Please check the weather: Worship will not take place if there are thunderstorms.

● As you drive into the church parking lot, please check in with a greeter.

● In addition to taking note of attendance Greeters will have the following items: ■ Extra masks, a few worship bulletins, pre-packaged communion supplies (on communion sunday), a notebook to write down any joys or concerns, and a collection box (to collect any offering)

● An "usher" will direct you to your parking space in front of the church.

● Please stay in your vehicle or in lawn chairs by your vehicle. Everyone needs to stay with the people with whom they came.

● Restrooms will NOT be available. The building is closed.

● Please maintain 6' distance.

● All persons who leave their vehicles are asked to wear a mask ○ Exclusions: Those under age 2 & anyone with a Medical Condition in which a doctor has recommended NOT wearing a face mask.

● We will continue to offer weekly connection and participation through Sunday morning worship at 10:45. Available through the following platforms: Facebook, Baldwin 1st YouTube Channel, an Audio Only option over your home or cell phone, and archived services on the EUMC Website.

Stay at home request: Please stay home if you or a member of your household are experiencing or have been experiencing the following symptoms such as cough, fever of 100.4 or higher, sore throat, shortness of breath or other illness within the past 14 days, have been exposed to or are residing with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 14 days, traveled out of the country or to “hot spots,” or you are at a higher risk for severe illness.

What brought about this decision:

1. Since Memorial Day, Douglas County and the state of Kansas have continued to see a rise in positive cases of COVID-19. (This rise in numbers is what brought about a 2 week extension of Phase 3 restrictions in Douglas County and the public mask wearing policy as of July 1st)

2. Numerous studies of in person gatherings of faith communities continue to fall within the high risk category for potential exposure to COVID-19.

3. Current demographics of our faith community fall within the category at highest risk for serious complications and death from this disease.

4. Our theology which asks us to honor God by loving our neighbors as ourselves.

Ways you might remain connected:

1. Online Sunday Morning Worship at 10:45: Available through the following platforms: FaceBook,

Baldwin 1st UMC YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMwpl81KtGg7h9AhRFW9NWQ,

Eudora UMC YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa2egsN3IW7cVVctEkot4cg?,

An “Audio Only” option to join in worship from your home or cell phone (see instructions below), and archived worship services on the EUMC Website: www.eudoraumc.org/sermons

2. Audio Only Worship Connection Information: ● Dial the following number from your home or cell phone: 1 312 626 6799 ● Type in the Meeting ID: 986 1421 2250 (following by the #) ● Type in the Password: 001744 and wait to be admitted by the meeting host.

● Online Sunday School- Preschool thru High School (By ZOOM) ● Virtual VBS from Home- July 20th-23rd (More details coming soon)!

3. Midweek Wed Evening Prayer Service at 6:45 PM (ZOOM)

4. At Home Resources: We will continue to mail your worship packets that will allow you to participate in online worship from home.

5. Continued Financial Support: While the building remains closed, the work of the Church continues. Your continued support of the mission and ministry of Eudora UMC, electronically online: www.eudoraumc.org/give, or by direct mailing of your tithe/offering allows our ministry to continue.

6. Continued Communication: Pastor Ross will do his best to keep you up to date on all activities and “updates” related to Eudora UMC by email, text message, and direct mail.

And finally, we will continue to lift up one another in prayer, checking in by phone, cards and email. While yes, we may not be gathering together in the building the ministry and work of the Church is still continuing.

Please let us know how we can support or keep you in prayer during this time. Please reach out to either Dean Manwaring in the EUMC of ice: eudoraumc@gmail.com or Pastor Ross: rbaker@greatplainsumc.org or by phone: 316-371-1538.

Your brother in Christ, Rev. Ross Baker

 

 

Growing in Our Faith: Racial Justice Resources For White Christians

From Revs. Ross and Amanda Baker.

(Some of the book recommendations, articles, videos, podcasts etc included for adult use may contain strong language. It is our assessment as pastors that their value warrants inclusion here, even though the language may be uncomfortable for some)

As with any area of our faith, each of us is in a different place in grappling with our nation’s historic and current racial injustices. The following resources have been gathered with or Primarily White congregations in mind, recognizing that they may not be a fit for people of color in our community.

First, a major compilation of resources based on the time you’d like to commit to this endeavor over the course of a month, devoting 10, 25, or 45 minutes a day to learning and growing in anti-racism:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1H-Vxs6jEUByXylMS2BjGH1kQ7mEuZnHpPSs1Bpaqmw0 /preview?pru=AAABcppkS48%2AWmo91FkcRICr88LdxGN2Qg&fbclid=IwAR0_vB0Kn9gv34Idl u02p6dd6cZF2qpMJSYfkMkhp8fmav-ukGkrFSWAP6g. There you will find links to books, articles, podcasts, youtube videos and more.

We also have United Methodist oriented resources from Our General Commission on Race and Religion (supported by our mission and ministry shares) www.gcorr.org Here you will find many free, helpful articles,video series to prompt discussion among your family or a small group of friends, and even a course on implicit bias (the bias we don’t think we have) for $20.

There are lots and lots of book lists circulating, this is one I like for doing anti-racist work. If you pick up one of these books, I invite you to find a friend or family member to serve as a conversation partner as you read. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hpub-jkm9cLzJWqZSsETqbE6tZ13Q0UbQz--vQ2avEc/ed it

I will also add that it can be helpful just to increase the voices of black folks you encounter, one way to do this would be to use a Devotional written by a black woman. I have this one, because it was written by a professor of mine from seminary. https://www.cokesbury.com/Bible-Sisters?refq=gennifer%20benjamin%20brooks It is called "Bible Sisters: A Year of devotions with women of the Bible by Dr. Gennifer Brooks.

WITH KIDS: For kids of all ages, start the conversation with questions. What do they know? What have they heard? What are they wondering? Then, find the right resources to learn and grow together. It is ok to let kids know that issues like this are complicated, and that with God’s grace we’re growing together to live in the love God created us for.

Here is a link to the Sesame Street Town Hall on Racism: https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/06/app-news-section/cnn-sesame-street-race-town-hall-app-june6-2020-app/index.html

There is a book on some of the above booklists that can be a good launching point for parents’ self-reflection about race: “Raising White Kids” by Jennifer Harvey. Pastors Ross and Amanda are in a book group about this book right now, and would be happy to be part of your learning journey with it as well, as co-learners. https://www.cokesbury.com/Raising-White-Kids

Here’s a booklist, broken down by age, for reading together with your kids:https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/02/parenting/kids-books-racism-protest.html

As Christians, we are neither helpless nor hopeless, even in the face of tangled webs of inequalities. You’re also not alone as you journey toward God’s vision of Beloved Community. As your pastors, we want to be on this walk with you. Let us know if you’d like to schedule time to talk!

With prayers for God’s Beloved Community,

Pastors Ross and Amanda Baker

 

 

Summer sermon series "Total Request Liveish"

 

Week 1: July 5 "This Is My Song" Deuteronomy 10:12-13, 17-21

For all of you children of the 80s & 90s, some of you may remember the Top 10 Music Video Countdown show by the name of "Total Request Live." This summer you are invited to join Revs. Ross & Amanda Baker as we take a journey with YOUR requests: Favorite Bible Stories, Biblical Characters, Hymns, etc. Join us this Sunday as we continue our series with one of those timeless hymns: "This Is My Song."  

Week 2: July 12 "Philippians 4:13" Psalm 121 & Philippians 4:13

For all of you children of the 80s & 90s, some of you may remember the Top 10 Music Video Countdown show by the name of "Total Request Live." This summer you are invited to join Revs. Ross & Amanda Baker as we take a journey with YOUR requests: Favorite Bible Stories, Biblical Characters, Hymns, etc. Join us this Sunday as we continue our series exploring where we might find our "strength" in life. Focusing upon a scriptural text selected by Bertha Nichols.

Week 3: July 19 "Romans 8:38-39"

For all of you children of the 80s & 90s, some of you may remember the Top 10 Music Video Countdown show by the name of "Total Request Live." This summer you are invited to join Revs. Ross & Amanda Baker as we take a journey with YOUR requests: Favorite Bible Stories, Biblical Characters, Hymns, etc. Join us this Sunday as we continue our series with one of those scriptural texts selected by Baldwin First UMC member, Tara Welch: Romans 8:38-39.

Week 4: July 26 "The Power Of A Great Gap Story" (Guest preacher Bishop Ruben Saenz, Jr.) Acts 1:1-5

For all of you children of the 80s & 90s, some of you may remember the Top 10 Music Video Countdown show by the name of "Total Request Live." This summer you are invited to join Revs. Ross & Amanda Baker as we take a journey with YOUR requests: Favorite Bible Stories, Biblical Characters, Hymns, etc. For the next two Sunday's join us as we hear an inspiring and uplifting sermon from our Bishop of the Great Plains Annual Conference, Ruben Saenz Jr. For these next two weeks he focuses upon the Book of Acts, looking this week to the "Gap Story" between the end of Luke's gospel and the birth of the church in the Book of Acts. 

Week 5: August 2 "Catch Fire For Justice, Mercy and Truth" (Guest preacher Bishop Ruben Saenz, Jr.) Acts 6:1-7

For all of you children of the 80s & 90s, some of you may remember the Top 10 Music Video Countdown show by the name of "Total Request Live." This summer you are invited to join Revs. Ross & Amanda Baker as we take a journey with YOUR requests: Favorite Bible Stories, Biblical Characters, Hymns, etc. Join us for the final of two sermons from Bishop Ruben Saenz as he focuses upon the birth of the Church. How might the early churches call to acts of justice, mercy and kindness be that same call to us in the church over 2,000+ years later. 

 

 


  Welcome

Eudora United Methodist Church is a growing congregation with a wonderful mix of newer attending younger singles/families and older adults that have been part of the church's rich history.   We're a mission and service-oriented church that is constantly striving to grow in understanding God's love for us and in our response of sharing that love with others.  We experience and share the presence of God's spirit in an intentionally blended music worship on Sunday mornings and in a variety of Spiritual Formation opportunities for all ages.  Various Fellowship Groups also bring the congregation together for fun activities that meet through the  year.

Looking for a new church home in which to grow and share? Come visit and discover your place here!