Welcome to the first official publication of renewal reflections, a newsletter by Melanie Eccles. My mission is to join Jesus in the renewal of all things. This means calling attention to the ways in which I’m glimpsing goodness, peace, and restoration in our ordinary lives. In upcoming editions of renewal reflections I will write about my work as a […]
settle down
After weeks and months of discernment, prayer, interviews, and resumes, and more hours of conversation than we can count, Kevin and I are ready to “settle down…cultivate gardens…and seek the peace and prosperity of the city” (Jeremiah 29:5,7). In deciding to #ChooseYpsi, my family and I are living as everyday missionaries and placemakers in our […]
Why the Bible?
sermon preached at Ypsilanti Free Methodist Church, April 10, 2022 We’re in the final week of our series on the FM Way. As we have explored the values that make us distinct, I pray you have found these weeks both helpful and challenging to you: helpful as you gain a greater understanding of the denominational […]
Law of Love
Happy New Year, everyone! I think God has a thing for newness, for fresh starts. It was in the vision of John we read together from Revelation 21 – He saw the new earth, the beautifully remade Holy City coming down out of heaven from God. And God was thrilled to be dwelling among his […]
On The Way
Sermon preached Sunday, August 8, 2021 at Ypsilanti Free Methodist ChurchAudio recording available here We are in the middle of a fantastic series called The Table, where we’ve been exploring how to follow in the way of Jesus by practicing hospitality. This is one of my absolute favorite topics to learn and read about, to […]
A Service of Shadows
Good Friday 2021 Download the free Zoom app and click this link on Friday a little before 7pm: http://bit.ly/3tdDqpt OR you can call in from your phone (even a landline! Remember those?) Dial this number 646-558-8656 and enter this Meeting ID: Meeting ID: 816 9025 417 Passcode: 923188 If you dial in and need to un-mute […]
God With Us: Mary’s Story
Take a deep breath and close your eyes for a just a moment. Travel with me back in time to a place of dusty roads and leaky roofs, a small town where everyone knows everyone’s business. The homes are fashioned from mortar and stone, the windows let the night sounds and biting bugs inside, the […]
Not my will
On this final week of Advent, we are invited to be a silent participant in the annunciation, the story of Gabriel’s visit to Mary announcing that she would conceive and bear the Son of God. I want us to pay close attention to Mary’s response to this life-altering news and invite us to consider how […]
A different sort of power
What comes to mind when you think of Kingdom? A monarchy, an all-powerful king or queen. Castles and guards and strong walls of protection. Separation from the working people. Infinite wealth: money, jewels, crowns, heirlooms, priceless art, entire lands under one authority. All of these simple examples and so many more are precisely what humanity […]
Make a Choice
The story of humanity at every point in history is about finding our place in the world. Some of you are applying for college, discerning God’s place for you in a community of learners for the next 4ish years. Some of you are scouring the internet for job postings, trying to find the right fit […]