“I hope you are ready to be loved—for who you are and for whom you will become,” said Rev. Dr. James Gertmenian, addressing members and friends of Edina Morningside Church. The minister emeritus of Plymouth Congregational Church praised Rev. Oby Ballinger’s great gifts for ministry during his message, “Promise and Peril,” at Pastor Oby’s installation service on Sunday, Oct. 9….
Rev. Janet Parsons Mackey grew up in Morningside during the 1940s and 1950s. Now the retired pastor has published a memoir on E. Dudley Parsons, her “grandfather, his values and his passion for justice.” Not only did generations of town leadership come from her family, but relative Rev. Henry Parsons and wife Sarah helped establish Edina…
Pastor Oby Ballinger kicks off his new role as senior pastor at Edina Morningside Community Church on Rally Day, Sunday, September 11. “Our congregation is thrilled to officially welcome Pastor Oby on Rally Day,” says Sonja Martens, EMC moderator, “and we know he can’t wait to get started, serving our congregation and the greater…
Edina Morningside members cooked and served dinner to families transitioning out of homelessness at Parkway UCC in North Minneapolis. Sharing a table with parents and after-dinner play with children are two of our favorite ways to remember that God loves us and asks us to love others.
Ten EMC members dined on big, perfectly cooked burgers, spaghetti and meatballs, and smothered chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy at Tootie’s on Lowry. The late summer weather was gorgeous, and the conversation over beer and wine was equally warm and breezy. Dining in North Minneapolis is one way that we remind ourselves of the…
Members gathered to celebrate all that Pastor Howard has meant to EMC during his interim calling—from his top-notch administrative skills and attentive leadership to his thoughtful sermons and good humor. Oh, how blessed we have been—we’ll miss you!
EMC is hosting a rummage sale in early August. That means it’s time to haul out those bags of goodies you’ve been saving in your garage and basement. Bring them to EMC during office hours. Or contact Sonja Martens and arrange a time to drop off your treasures. Either way, place them on the stage in the church’s basement, and volunteers—join…
Following a Wednesday-evening worship service, led by Reverend Obadiah Ballinger, EMC’s congregation unanimously selected Pastor “Oby” to become our new pastor. “Our search committee members, and now our congregation members, are thrilled that Oby has accepted our call to become our new pastor,” says Doug Toth, chair of the pastoral search committee. “He is personable, kind, thoughtful…
Once again, Morningside Theatre Company has delivered a tour de force with “Once Upon a Mattress.” Congratulations to all the members of the cast, crew and, of course, the adult leaders: Alex Heetland, Jim Lansing and Jane Williams. Earlier this summer, the team led elementary school-aged children in a stellar production of “Disney Sleeping Beauty.” All…
As a rainstorm thundered outside (like a simile for gun violence), more than 100 people gathered to find a place of light and love inside EMC. “Today, as we stand for the victims of Orlando, we also stand for humanity—against any kind of bigotry,” said Memoona Ghani, a representative of the Islamic Resource Group, who voiced her appreciation…