Sun Prairie United Methodist Church Podcast

This Word-of-the-Week Devotion from Pastor Jenny Arneson reflects on 1 Corinthians 3:9, reminding us that we are coworkers in God’s service—God’s field, God’s building. As graduation season celebrates individual GPAs, we’re invited to redefine GPA as God plus People equals Accomplishment, recognizing that true impact comes through partnership with God and one another.

On Trinity Sunday, Pastor Jenny invites us to see the Great Commission not as a burden, but as a grace-filled invitation to share God's love in small, daily steps—trusting that Christ walks with us even when we doubt. Rooted in the image of God (Imago Dei), we are called to reflect divine diversity, equity, and inclusion as we love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in our world.

This Word-of-the-Week Devotion from Pastor Jenny Arneson reflects on Psalm 46, reminding us that God is our refuge and strength, present even in times of chaos and uncertainty. In the spirit of summer and sacred rest, we’re invited to rediscover “recess” as a holy practice—stepping away to play, breathe, and renew in God’s presence.

In this Pentecost message, Pastor Brad tells the story of Jesus calling the first disciples and reflects on why they left everything to follow him—not for comfort, but for meaning. Like the disciples and like Thomas Merton, we’re invited into a deeper journey with Jesus, one that may not be easy but offers peace, purpose, and a life led by the Holy Spirit.

This Word-of-the-Week Devotion from Pastor Jenny Arneson reflects on Acts 2:1–2, describing how the Holy Spirit came suddenly and powerfully on Pentecost, like a rushing wind and wildfire. We’re invited to pray “Come, Holy Spirit, come” with openness and attentiveness, trusting that the Spirit still moves among us—often in unexpected, everyday moments.

As Jesus ascended, he left his disciples not with final farewells but with a blessing and a promise: the power of the Holy Spirit to go out as witnesses of God’s love. Pastor Jenny encourages us to carry that same blessing into our summer journeys—not as a break from faith, but as an invitation to see and share Christ’s presence in the everyday moments of life.

This Word-of-the-Week Devotion from Pastor Jenny Arneson reflects on Proverbs 3:5–6, reminding us to trust in the Lord rather than our own understanding, and God will guide our paths. The phrase “proceed as the way opens” invites us to move forward with prayerful attentiveness and patience, trusting that even small steps can reveal God’s direction.

Reflecting on Jesus weeping over Jerusalem, Pastor Brad Mather reminds us that true peace doesn’t come cheaply—it requires deep forgiveness, self-reflection, and a willingness to break cycles of retaliation. Through stories ranging from global conflict to personal reconciliation, he invites us to embody the costly, courageous kind of peace Jesus calls us to pursue.

Love Requires Engagement: Faith in the Political Community

Description:
In this episode, we sit down with Paul Esser, former mayor of Sun Prairie and longtime member of Sun Prairie United Methodist Church, to explore how faith and public service can work hand in hand. Paul reflects on his years in office, how his moral convictions shaped his leadership, and why vision, compassion, and humility matter in civic life. With honesty and hope, he shares how communities can be both welcoming and forward-looking, and why loving your neighbor often means showing up and staying in the room—especially when it’s hard.

Topics include:

• Carrying Christian values into political leadership

• Navigating disagreement with dignity and focus

• The demographic future of Sun Prairie and why it matters

• Church-community partnerships that meet real needs

• Practical ways everyday people can get involved in public life

Referenced Social Principles 2024 themes:

• Political engagement as neighbor-love

• Justice for marginalized voices

• Community schools and proactive outreach

• Embracing demographic change with hope

• Supporting public servants with grace and accountability

Reflection question:
What’s one small step you can take this week to engage your community with humility, courage, and care?

In this message, Pastor Jenny reminds us that Jesus gave his disciples—and us—one clear command: to love one another as he has loved us. This kind of love is not just a feeling, but a way of living that becomes our most powerful witness to the world of who we are and whose we are.

This Word-of-the-Week Devotion from Pastor Jenny Arneson reflects on Lamentations 3:21–23, which reminds us that God's steadfast love and mercies are new every morning. Inspired by a robin’s faithful return to her nest each spring, we are invited to notice how God's quiet, constant faithfulness shows up in our lives—and to reflect that same faithfulness in our relationships and ministry.

 

 

 

In this message celebrating the commissioning of new Stephen Ministers, Pastor Jenny reminds us that while we don’t generate the light of Christ ourselves, we are called to reflect it—offering care, compassion, and steady presence to those walking through life’s hardest moments. Like appliances connected to their power source, we too are empowered by God’s strength to be who we were created to be: bearers of hope and love in a hurting world.

This Word-of-the-Week Devotion from Pastor Jenny Arneson reflects on Isaiah 43:19, where God declares, “I am about to do a new thing… do you not perceive it?” As Easter people, we are invited to develop new eyes of faith—eyes that notice God’s presence and possibilities springing forth all around us.

In this tender post-resurrection story, Jesus meets his weary disciples with a simple breakfast on the shore, offering nourishment, forgiveness, and renewed purpose—especially to Peter, whose threefold denial is gently undone by love. Pastor Jenny reminds us that even when we retreat to what’s familiar, Christ meets us there with grace, asking only, “Do you love me?” and calling us to care for others without condition.

This Word-of-the-Week Devotion from Pastor Jenny Arneson reflects on Matthew 18:20, reminding us that when two or three are gathered in Christ’s name, God is present among us. Through the shared effort, generosity, and community spirit of the church’s annual garage sale, we witness what Easter living looks like—bringing new life, purpose, and hope into the world around us.