Sun Prairie United Methodist Church Podcast

Reflecting on Jesus’ parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great value, Pastor Jenny reminds us that God’s kingdom is worth giving our all to discover and embrace. Like the seekers in the stories, we’re invited to recognize the surpassing value of God’s love and let it shape our priorities, choices, and way of living.

Reflection: What is one thing in your life right now that you treat as most valuable—and how might your priorities change if you saw God’s kingdom as the greatest treasure?

This Word-of-the-Week Devotion from Pastor Jenny Arneson reflects on 2 Corinthians 5:17, which proclaims that in Christ we are a new creation and the old has passed away. Like a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis, we are transformed by the power of Christ’s resurrection into lives of freedom, purpose, and light.

Drawing on Jesus’ parable of the wheat and weeds, Pastor Jenny reflects on how good and evil often grow side by side in our world—and even within ourselves—making judgment complex and calling for patience, discernment, and grace. Rather than rushing to uproot what seems wrong, we’re invited to focus on planting and nurturing good fruit through lives rooted in prayer, compassion, and hope.

Reflection question:
What kind of “fruit” are you growing in your life right now—and how might you stay rooted in what is good even when you feel discouraged by the “weeds” in the world around you?

In this Word of the Week, Pastor Jenny reflects on what it means to be perfect in Christ and how we grow in our faith through our imperfections. 

In this sermon, Pastor Jenny invites us to explore the Lord’s Prayer not just as memorized words, but as a daily spiritual guide shaped by reverence, persistence, and trust in God’s generous love. Through prayer that is both simple and sacred, we’re encouraged to connect with God in all seasons—especially when our own words run dry—and to let this deep practice shape how we live and love in the world.

This Word-of-the-Week Devotion from Pastor Jenny Arneson reflects on Psalm 103:11–12, which proclaims that God’s steadfast love is vast and God's forgiveness removes our sins as far as the east is from the west. Just as east and west have no turning point, God's love and grace are limitless, inviting us to live free from shame and anchored in the promise of complete forgiveness.

🎧 Episode 3: Hope and Voice – Meeting People Where They Are

In this episode, Bill and Sarah sit down with Heather Young, a member of Sun Prairie United Methodist Church who brings over a decade of experience in jail and prison ministry. Heather shares powerful stories from her weekly Bible studies and tutoring sessions inside both Racine and Dane County Jails—stories of deep listening, human connection, and the quiet unfolding of healing and hope in hard places.

Heather reflects on the difference between punitive justice and restorative justice, and how presence, empathy, and Scripture can become tools of transformation. Whether she’s singing through a cell door slot or helping someone rediscover a forgotten dream, Heather’s ministry reminds us what it means to show up with compassion where dignity is often denied.

🌐 Resources & Contact Info
Learn more about the Madison Area Jail Ministry: madisonjailministry.org

📧 Contact Heather Young
Phone: 414-350-9485
Email: heatherusty@myfamily.org

💬 Reflection Question:
Where are you being called to show up—with love, humility, and presence?

🎙️ Subscribe and listen to more episodes at sunprairieumc.org → under Worship Together.

In this message inspired by the story of Mary and Martha, Pastor Jenny encourages us to pause amid summer’s busy rhythms and distractions to choose “the better part”—gracious attention to Jesus’ presence. Through intentional moments of quiet, reflection, and prayer, we’re invited to reset our hearts and listen for God’s voice in the everyday moments of our lives.

 

This Word-of-the-Week Devotion from Pastor Jenny Arneson reflects on Romans 15:13, reminding us that God fills us with joy, peace, and hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Using her decades-long journey to solve a Rubik’s Cube as a metaphor, Pastor Jenny encourages us to persist in life and faith with trust—believing that even in seasons of confusion, God is patiently aligning the pieces.

In this message centered on the parable of the Good Samaritan, Pastor Jenny reminds us that loving our neighbor means taking action—crossing boundaries of fear, difference, or comfort to offer mercy and compassion without judgment. As we spend this summer with Jesus, we’re invited to live a faith that doesn’t just stay in our heads or hearts, but moves through our hands and feet into a hurting world.

This Word-of-the-Week Devotion from Pastor Jenny Arneson reflects on Galatians 6:2, which calls us to bear one another’s burdens as a way of fulfilling the law of Christ. Just as actors need a backstage to rest and be real, we too need safe spaces and relationships where we can be vulnerable—and offer that same grace to others.

Summary:

In this sermon, Pastor Brad compares Peter stepping out of the boat to catch a wave of faith with the daring and fear that come when we face life’s storms. Just like Peter, we’re called to let go of fear, trust Jesus in the chaos, and step boldly toward the One who meets us not in safety—but in the waves.

Reflection Question:
When in your life have fear and faith collided—and what would it look like to step out of the boat and trust Jesus in that moment?

In this Word of the Week devotional Pastor Jenny takes a look at scripture from Matthew 9:36-38. We ponder together what it feels like to be in between things and who God calls us to be in the "mean time". 

As we celebrate John Wesley's birthday, Pastor Jenny takes a moment to reflect on his three simple rules and how they are not so easy to follow all the time. 

In this sermon, Pastor Jenny reflects on three intertwined stories from Matthew 9 where Jesus calls the outcast Matthew, heals a bleeding woman, and raises a young girl—each moment revealing Christ’s power to bring healing and hope through simple presence and compassionate attention. As we enter summer, we’re invited not just to rest and play, but to walk closely with Jesus—looking for him in the overlooked places of our lives, receiving his grace, and sharing his hope with others.