We have celebrated something wonderful: 50 years of ministry through Normandale Hylands. I would say “United Methodist Church” but Normandale Hylands began as Evangelical United Brethren. Then the big church merged AND Normandale Hylands merged with some wonderful folks from Bloomington Ferry. Through it all this has always been Normandale Hylands.
Dave Otto has been out talking to all of the lead Pastors of the church and learning about the early days on through. You can read the full history of this congregation here.
Proverbs teaches us, “Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren.” (Proverbs 13)
There was a day in the late 1960s when families met in the Pastor’s living room. On that day, there was no church kitchen, no Fellowship Hall or Sunday School rooms or Sanctuary. The families prayed and dreamed. The founding members discussed what a faithful church should be. They talked about being focused outward; about giving and serving. They talked about Bible Studies for all ages. They talked about their love of Jesus and how to keep growing in that love.
The course was faithfully set. Then generation after generation lived into and in through the dreams. Each generation made dreams of their own.
Through 50 years, so much personal labor, contact and resources have poured out from Normandale Hylands…through many local groups and international groups. The church has been on Mission and in Missions.
Through the 50 years so many bibles have been opened and given and received and studied.
Through the 50 years God has been glorified in so many musical ways and prayerful ways; through so many playful and somber ways.
The brokenhearted and struggling have been held. The searching have been walked alongside and Jesus has been loved.
Now there is a church kitchen. As I write this, that church kitchen is filled with people cooking wonderful food to be served at a special place called “Simpson” tonight. The 50 years of blessing continues, day by blessed day.
We celebrate our golden anniversary and we continue…
…we continue to feed the hungry, clothe the naked…
…we continue to praise God, to look to God for our direction…
…to love God and our neighbor!
To God Be the Glory! Amen!
God Bless YOU!
Pastor Rhodie