Farmer’s Market will also feature three outdoor worship services. The first one will be held on June 19, the theme’s kickoff date. The second one will be on July 24, and the last one, on August 14, will wrap up the summer theme’s events.
Following these outdoor services will be games and a barbecue. Different groups within the church will take turns hosting it.
“We want people to drive by and say, ‘hey they look like they are having a fun time. I want to be a part of that,’” Dodd said. “We want it to be like a big family reunion. Outdoor worship also breaks things up, and gives us something new to do.”
Much of Dodd’s preaching this summer will center on hospitality and how to welcome strangers. Her goal in all this is to just let people know that God loves them, and that they are not alone.
“John Wesley said, ‘the world is my perish,’” Dodd said. “For Methodists, it’s part of our DNA to really involve people.”
The more visitors there are, the merrier it will be. Don’t worry about bringing food. The food will be provided for you.
“We are going to be making some noise on Sunday, so if you smell some barbecue, come on over,” Dodd said. “Come, you will be welcomed.”
Everyone who walks in the United Methodist church this summer will see things in a new light. Believe it or not, things don’t need to be so serious all the time.
“I know that church needs to be serious, but I really think it should be joyful too,” Dodd said. “There is a lot of pain in our community and congregation. We can either be let down by that or we can be joyful.”
She also wants this farming community to know something else; the food shelf is not just the church’s food shelf, it’s for everyone That distinction must be made very clear.
“We just have this abundance,” Dodd said. “So, the worship committee and I thought how we could give that abundance to the town too.”
