As I write this article Thanksgiving is still a few days away. Yet, it has already begun in my home. Has it started in yours? If you have children, you know what I am talking about. “Mom, I know what I want for Christmas.” “Could I have a (insert fantasy gift here) for Christmas?” “Mom, I just have to have a … for Christmas.” And on and on it goes. It isn’t even Thanksgiving yet and the Christmas wish list is already growing very long!
In a matter of days, the rush of our materialistic world will come crashing in on us and we will start the quest to find the perfect Christmas gift for everyone we care about. The stress of the current economic situation in our world will become magnified. We just have to find the perfect gift!!! I’d like to suggest an idea for this year. Take a moment and give your heart to those you care about. Write them a letter, or sing them a song, or make a special dish. Do we really need one more thing that eventually will end up in the church’s boutique? (Of course the UMW ladies will gladly receive all unwanted gifts for their rummage sale scheduled for January 31st.)
I am reminded of a Christmas Carol, “In the bleak midwinter.” It is one of my favorite carols, but it isn’t sung very often.
When I was a younger woman at Centenary it seemed that whenever this hymn was scheduled to be sung in worship we would have a horrible snow storm and only a very few people would make it to church that day. It isn’t that I am superstitious but, I have to admit that I am somewhat reluctant to schedule it for us sing, just in case it really does cause blizzards. The third verse in the carol is my favorite. “What shall I give him, poor as l am? If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb. If I were a wise man, I would do my part. What I can, I give him; give him my heart.”
And that is exactly what I think is on God’s wish list for this Christmas…not the fancy new games, or toys, or jewelry, or gift cards. Just something simple that each of us can give no matter the status of our bank account. God would just like our heart.
May this Advent season be full of the giving of your heart to God and to those you love. I bet that you will find it to be one of your best Advent seasons ever.
Blessings on your journey.
Pastor Kathleen
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Time with Sharon: The Drama of Advent
The Drama of Advent, What are we waiting for?
December 2008
This year, the Season of Advent begins November 30th. Similar to how businesses start their fiscal years on January 1st, Advent is the theological start of the Church Year for most churches in the Western tradition. It runs for four Sundays before Christmas Day, and ends at midnight on Christmas Eve.
Advent is marked by a spirit of expectation, of preparation…and of longing, not unlike getting ready for the arrival of a cherished, long-awaited visitor to your home. Spiritually, there is a yearning for deliverance from the evils of the world, first expressed by Israelite slaves in Egypt over 3000 years ago as they cried out from their bitter oppression. It is grounded in the hope that was once anticipated by our Hebrew ancestors, and now experienced anew in our day, of the reign of an Anointed One, a Messiah, who will bring peace and justice to the world. Today, we still long for God’s Kingdom to come, when God’s will shall be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Through the four Sundays of Advent, the excitement builds as our anticipation grows for the coming of the Christ Child. We traditionally begin the First Sunday with the Hanging of the Green, decorating the Sanctuary with evergreen wreaths, boughs, and a tree twinkling with lights that help to symbolize the new and everlasting life brought through Jesus the Christ. Each Sunday, a candle of the Advent Wreath is lit, and the emphasis moves from hope, to peace, joy, and then love. On Christmas Eve, the Christ Candle is lit, and the light of Christ breaks through the darkness to bring new light to the world!
Just as we prepare the Sanctuary, the experience of each week in worship is important in our soul’s preparation. Together, we will study the ancient scriptures, share the music of the season, and eat lots of Christmas cookies. All are invited to give the Christ Child gifts of warm hats and mittens shared with our neighbors, gifts of clothes and toys for the families of the south city through Kingdom House, and a delicious meal for the ladies of Shalom House. If you miss even one week, you will miss out on the joy of learning, decorating, sharing, munching, and giving that are the hallmarks of this special season of the year. I challenge you to make it your Advent gift to yourself and others to be present in worship every Sunday during Advent and to participate in the sharing the light of the world during our Christmas Eve Worship Service.
What are we waiting for? We’re waiting for God. Be there.
Peace be with you,
Pastor Sharon
December 2008
This year, the Season of Advent begins November 30th. Similar to how businesses start their fiscal years on January 1st, Advent is the theological start of the Church Year for most churches in the Western tradition. It runs for four Sundays before Christmas Day, and ends at midnight on Christmas Eve.
Advent is marked by a spirit of expectation, of preparation…and of longing, not unlike getting ready for the arrival of a cherished, long-awaited visitor to your home. Spiritually, there is a yearning for deliverance from the evils of the world, first expressed by Israelite slaves in Egypt over 3000 years ago as they cried out from their bitter oppression. It is grounded in the hope that was once anticipated by our Hebrew ancestors, and now experienced anew in our day, of the reign of an Anointed One, a Messiah, who will bring peace and justice to the world. Today, we still long for God’s Kingdom to come, when God’s will shall be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Through the four Sundays of Advent, the excitement builds as our anticipation grows for the coming of the Christ Child. We traditionally begin the First Sunday with the Hanging of the Green, decorating the Sanctuary with evergreen wreaths, boughs, and a tree twinkling with lights that help to symbolize the new and everlasting life brought through Jesus the Christ. Each Sunday, a candle of the Advent Wreath is lit, and the emphasis moves from hope, to peace, joy, and then love. On Christmas Eve, the Christ Candle is lit, and the light of Christ breaks through the darkness to bring new light to the world!
Just as we prepare the Sanctuary, the experience of each week in worship is important in our soul’s preparation. Together, we will study the ancient scriptures, share the music of the season, and eat lots of Christmas cookies. All are invited to give the Christ Child gifts of warm hats and mittens shared with our neighbors, gifts of clothes and toys for the families of the south city through Kingdom House, and a delicious meal for the ladies of Shalom House. If you miss even one week, you will miss out on the joy of learning, decorating, sharing, munching, and giving that are the hallmarks of this special season of the year. I challenge you to make it your Advent gift to yourself and others to be present in worship every Sunday during Advent and to participate in the sharing the light of the world during our Christmas Eve Worship Service.
What are we waiting for? We’re waiting for God. Be there.
Peace be with you,
Pastor Sharon
Thursday, November 13, 2008
From the Wilder View - November 2008
I write this article in the middle of October with so many unknowns surrounding us. The stock market is continuing to ricochet up and down; reaction to the bail-out or ‘rescue plan’ is not what anyone anticipated, 6,500 homes in the St. Louis area are in some stage of foreclosure (1 in 188 homes), and gas prices are staggeringly high. Several families in our own congregation are experiencing challenging times with their financial situations, we have people who are sick in the hospital, and the uncertainty of who will sit in the Oval office in 2009 is still upon us. I should write about Thanksgiving because this is the November newsletter and ‘every pastor writes an article about being thankful in November, don’t they?’ J Yet you will receive this article in early November and some of these very transient situations will have changed several times since I have penned this note. You might say, “Pastor, what do we have to be grateful for – the world is in such a mess!” And yet, we do have so very much to be thankful for. We just have to look at all of the blessings in balance with the challenges that every day brings us.
In November we will start a sermon series entitled ‘Creating an Attitude of Gratitude.’ The first Sunday will focus on being grateful for our past, the second Sunday is for the present, and the third is for our future. My personal goal for the sermon series is for all of us to begin to look at everything with a new attitude, an attitude of gratitude. The Bible says in Habakkuk 3: 17-19 “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the field produces no food, though there are no sheep in the pens and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will rejoice in God my Savior. The Sovereign God is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, God enables me to go to the heights.” You see, our gratitude shouldn’t be dependent upon the ever changing situations of our world. Rather, we are encouraged to focus on God our creator, the God who created everything, the God who loves us with amazing, overwhelming care. When we focus on God and the wonder of God’s love for us then all of the things that we normally think of as being important become less and less important.
You see, we each choose how to look at every situation in our life. We can approach these times from an anxious, waiting for the other shoe to drop feeling, wondering how long we will be able to avoid total disaster, or we can live life expectantly, trusting God, knowing who God is and remembering how God has acted so faithfully in our lives in the past. If we look at the stock market through these eyes, it doesn’t matter if there is fruit on the vine or not because God will provide as God has provided in the past. We are just walking through another faith adventure and you just never know when God will show up with one of those uncanny miracles.
So here is the challenge to us for November (and maybe for the rest of our lives) Let us try always to look for something good to come from any situation that we are currently experiencing. Let us live life knowing that God is active in our life and in our world. Let us approach each situation expectantly with the knowledge that God is not only still active, but is still doing miracles.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Kathleen
lppastor@sbcglobal.net
In November we will start a sermon series entitled ‘Creating an Attitude of Gratitude.’ The first Sunday will focus on being grateful for our past, the second Sunday is for the present, and the third is for our future. My personal goal for the sermon series is for all of us to begin to look at everything with a new attitude, an attitude of gratitude. The Bible says in Habakkuk 3: 17-19 “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the field produces no food, though there are no sheep in the pens and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will rejoice in God my Savior. The Sovereign God is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, God enables me to go to the heights.” You see, our gratitude shouldn’t be dependent upon the ever changing situations of our world. Rather, we are encouraged to focus on God our creator, the God who created everything, the God who loves us with amazing, overwhelming care. When we focus on God and the wonder of God’s love for us then all of the things that we normally think of as being important become less and less important.
You see, we each choose how to look at every situation in our life. We can approach these times from an anxious, waiting for the other shoe to drop feeling, wondering how long we will be able to avoid total disaster, or we can live life expectantly, trusting God, knowing who God is and remembering how God has acted so faithfully in our lives in the past. If we look at the stock market through these eyes, it doesn’t matter if there is fruit on the vine or not because God will provide as God has provided in the past. We are just walking through another faith adventure and you just never know when God will show up with one of those uncanny miracles.
So here is the challenge to us for November (and maybe for the rest of our lives) Let us try always to look for something good to come from any situation that we are currently experiencing. Let us live life knowing that God is active in our life and in our world. Let us approach each situation expectantly with the knowledge that God is not only still active, but is still doing miracles.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Kathleen
lppastor@sbcglobal.net
Sharing Time with Sharon: Fall Musings
Novmber 2008
November is a month of extremes. As the temperatures cool, the brilliance of life explodes through the colors of the fall foliage and apple harvests. Creation all around us is vibrant in reds, purples and golds. But then… the cold rains come, and the leaves fall. The trees are left utterly uncloaked. The apples are picked, the flower beds turned, and the lovely leaves curl up and turn brown. We go from abundant splendor to…grey. Humpf.
I’m a pretty visual person, so I am not particularly fond of naked trees and brown grass. Thank goodness for Thanksgiving! Here I am referring to more than the annual gathering of feasting until our buttons pop. I mean the whole season of time when our culture gives permission, no-- even encourages us, to stop and remember our blessings. In recalling how I am blessed to have a home (with naked trees in the yard), a family, and a job that brings me deep satisfaction, I am reminded that God has been so good with me. I have my mobility, plenty of clean water at the tap, and friends that insist that I get a flu shot. Yes, God is good.
The splendor of fall is stimulating. Yet, it is during the grey times that I get the most spiritual clarity. Perhaps because of all this talk of blessing counting, I take the time to reflect on what is right with my life. And so much is. With all the recent focus on economic gloom and doom, it is easy to forget that there is still much for which to be grateful. And so as I head out to my yard, rake in hand, I will use this time to remember that God’s blessings are abundant and generous, even when the world is grey. Perhaps even more so. For I know that the grey is but a season that will pass, and God promises the hope of new vitality to come. In a few months, tender green shoots will appear, the earth will put on a new wardrobe again, and thankfully, the trees will get dressed. Like the spring, many await new life to emerge from their lives of grey. Thank God for God’s promises of rebirth, renewal, and resurrection that awaits each one of us. These promises are as real and as faithful as the coming of another spring. For God is good.
God is good indeed.
Peace,
Pastor Sharon
lpassociate@sbcglobal.net
November is a month of extremes. As the temperatures cool, the brilliance of life explodes through the colors of the fall foliage and apple harvests. Creation all around us is vibrant in reds, purples and golds. But then… the cold rains come, and the leaves fall. The trees are left utterly uncloaked. The apples are picked, the flower beds turned, and the lovely leaves curl up and turn brown. We go from abundant splendor to…grey. Humpf.
I’m a pretty visual person, so I am not particularly fond of naked trees and brown grass. Thank goodness for Thanksgiving! Here I am referring to more than the annual gathering of feasting until our buttons pop. I mean the whole season of time when our culture gives permission, no-- even encourages us, to stop and remember our blessings. In recalling how I am blessed to have a home (with naked trees in the yard), a family, and a job that brings me deep satisfaction, I am reminded that God has been so good with me. I have my mobility, plenty of clean water at the tap, and friends that insist that I get a flu shot. Yes, God is good.
The splendor of fall is stimulating. Yet, it is during the grey times that I get the most spiritual clarity. Perhaps because of all this talk of blessing counting, I take the time to reflect on what is right with my life. And so much is. With all the recent focus on economic gloom and doom, it is easy to forget that there is still much for which to be grateful. And so as I head out to my yard, rake in hand, I will use this time to remember that God’s blessings are abundant and generous, even when the world is grey. Perhaps even more so. For I know that the grey is but a season that will pass, and God promises the hope of new vitality to come. In a few months, tender green shoots will appear, the earth will put on a new wardrobe again, and thankfully, the trees will get dressed. Like the spring, many await new life to emerge from their lives of grey. Thank God for God’s promises of rebirth, renewal, and resurrection that awaits each one of us. These promises are as real and as faithful as the coming of another spring. For God is good.
God is good indeed.
Peace,
Pastor Sharon
lpassociate@sbcglobal.net
From the Wilder View - October 2008
Early in my life at Lafayette Park, someone referred to me as their ‘crazy pastor.’ I am not exactly sure who it was that gave me this title, and I’m not even sure they might not have been right. It might have been the idea of the tower climb, or making the sign (and holding it up during a sermon) that said, “No Struggling.” Or it might have been the crazy idea of hosting a pumpkin patch…after all as one of our early customers said…”I saw your patch from my car as I was getting off ’44,’ and I called my brother and told him we had a pumpkin patch in our Hood.” I guess it really did seem like a tremendously crazy idea to host a pumpkin patch five years ago. We were a relatively small church then (averaging 82 in worship). We had never seen a pumpkin patch. We just knew that someone was going to ‘steal our pumpkins’ or take the pumpkins and throw them at our beautiful stained glass windows. Yet, there were a few people who said, “Why not? This could be fun.”
Well, we made it that first year primarily due to the dedication of Debra Crowe and Lynn Chrisler, both of whom spent countless hours in horrible weather, watching pumpkins, and wiping the pumpkins dry every day (no small task considering it seemed to rain every day that year. ) Each year, it seems like we have more help and more people play on our patch. It has become something that the neighborhood looks forward to each year now.
I was talking to a couple of people just last week and they shook their heads at me and said, “Why are you so excited about the pumpkin patch?” I told them, that while our original intention was to be a fundraiser for the church, we never have really made what everyone projected that we would make. However, we have accomplished something so much more important.
You see, the very first year, we hosted the patch, a woman from the Family Resource Center stopped by the patch, and looked at it with great big eyes. She asked if their children could come to the patch and play. The children that are served by the Family Resource Center are children who have experienced great tragedy in their lives at a very young age. She told me that they would have the appropriate number of adults to watch the children but they also mentioned that the children might have emotional reactions to being outside. When she realized that the pumpkins were for sale, she explained that they really didn’t have money to purchase the pumpkins. “Would it still be possible for them to come and play, even though we can’t afford to buy pumpkins?”
I will never forget the first day they came. The children and their caregivers got out of vans, and they were all huddled together. The children had a mixture of excitement and fear, as they wondered what strange place they were being taken to. Then a few moments later, they were playing with chalk, and running around the patch. The air was filled with laughter and joy. For one day, the pain of their past slipped away and they were happy children playing in a pumpkin patch. The best part was that we had talked to various groups in the church and they sponsored a pumpkin for each child! Each year, we reserve time for children who would not be able to go to a pumpkin patch, and we find sponsors to send them home with a pumpkin.
Yes, we probably will never make the kind of money that other churches do on the pumpkin patch. However, the memories we make are priceless. Sometimes it is good to be crazy. Who knows how God’s grace will show up? You just never know what seems absolutely crazy today could become something that is just a part of our everyday life, a few years from now. What crazy thing is God calling you to do?
Grace and Peace,
Reverend Kathleen
lppastor@sbcglobal.net
Well, we made it that first year primarily due to the dedication of Debra Crowe and Lynn Chrisler, both of whom spent countless hours in horrible weather, watching pumpkins, and wiping the pumpkins dry every day (no small task considering it seemed to rain every day that year. ) Each year, it seems like we have more help and more people play on our patch. It has become something that the neighborhood looks forward to each year now.
I was talking to a couple of people just last week and they shook their heads at me and said, “Why are you so excited about the pumpkin patch?” I told them, that while our original intention was to be a fundraiser for the church, we never have really made what everyone projected that we would make. However, we have accomplished something so much more important.
You see, the very first year, we hosted the patch, a woman from the Family Resource Center stopped by the patch, and looked at it with great big eyes. She asked if their children could come to the patch and play. The children that are served by the Family Resource Center are children who have experienced great tragedy in their lives at a very young age. She told me that they would have the appropriate number of adults to watch the children but they also mentioned that the children might have emotional reactions to being outside. When she realized that the pumpkins were for sale, she explained that they really didn’t have money to purchase the pumpkins. “Would it still be possible for them to come and play, even though we can’t afford to buy pumpkins?”
I will never forget the first day they came. The children and their caregivers got out of vans, and they were all huddled together. The children had a mixture of excitement and fear, as they wondered what strange place they were being taken to. Then a few moments later, they were playing with chalk, and running around the patch. The air was filled with laughter and joy. For one day, the pain of their past slipped away and they were happy children playing in a pumpkin patch. The best part was that we had talked to various groups in the church and they sponsored a pumpkin for each child! Each year, we reserve time for children who would not be able to go to a pumpkin patch, and we find sponsors to send them home with a pumpkin.
Yes, we probably will never make the kind of money that other churches do on the pumpkin patch. However, the memories we make are priceless. Sometimes it is good to be crazy. Who knows how God’s grace will show up? You just never know what seems absolutely crazy today could become something that is just a part of our everyday life, a few years from now. What crazy thing is God calling you to do?
Grace and Peace,
Reverend Kathleen
lppastor@sbcglobal.net
Time with Sharon: How to measure fruitfulness
October 2008
For several years now, we have been tracking our hours of service and prayer each week by filling out the brightly colored Stewardship Record sheets that come in our Sunday bulletins and dropping them in the Offering Plate. It has been a way to remind ourselves that our discipleship goes beyond attending worship and putting our check into the plate (two really important commitments), but that we have also pledged to support our church with our prayers and service.
With his emphasis on leading us to grow into more fruitful churches, Bishop Schnase has asked that we track the fruit of our ministries together, including hands-on mission and service, and intentional faith development through study, discussion, and learning. To do that, we have modified the Stewardship Record a bit so that we can name the time spent cooking and driving dinner down to Shalom House, or preparing and attending a Bible study class. These are two examples of the “fruits” of a growing, caring church. Gathering this information will help our bishop (and us) know how we are living out our commitment to God through LPUMC.
It may seem a strange thing to be doing paperwork at church. But I think this is a good thing. Ours is a connectional system, and it will be helpful to the Conference to know which churches in the connection are vibrant and alive, and which ones need some help turning in that direction. It also helps us stay accountable to God, to our church, and to ourselves. To be active in our faith walk is far more stimulating and gratifying than to be a passive participant. Every time I fill out one of those little record sheets, I am reminded that I did something this week (or I didn’t) that contributed to helping build God’s Kingdom in our present and in our future.
Churches that are learning and serving together are exciting places to be. And so I suspect the ultimate measure of our fruitfulness will be felt over time as others are attracted to come and experience God with us through worship and the bevy of great ministries that happen here. In the meantime, please help us with our record keeping. It only takes a moment and is anonymous, so if you’ve had a lousy week, no one will be wagging a finger at you. It will be good for the greater connection, good for our church, and good for each of us in our own walk with Christ.
God bless your walk,
Sharon
lpassociate@sbcglobal.net
For several years now, we have been tracking our hours of service and prayer each week by filling out the brightly colored Stewardship Record sheets that come in our Sunday bulletins and dropping them in the Offering Plate. It has been a way to remind ourselves that our discipleship goes beyond attending worship and putting our check into the plate (two really important commitments), but that we have also pledged to support our church with our prayers and service.
With his emphasis on leading us to grow into more fruitful churches, Bishop Schnase has asked that we track the fruit of our ministries together, including hands-on mission and service, and intentional faith development through study, discussion, and learning. To do that, we have modified the Stewardship Record a bit so that we can name the time spent cooking and driving dinner down to Shalom House, or preparing and attending a Bible study class. These are two examples of the “fruits” of a growing, caring church. Gathering this information will help our bishop (and us) know how we are living out our commitment to God through LPUMC.
It may seem a strange thing to be doing paperwork at church. But I think this is a good thing. Ours is a connectional system, and it will be helpful to the Conference to know which churches in the connection are vibrant and alive, and which ones need some help turning in that direction. It also helps us stay accountable to God, to our church, and to ourselves. To be active in our faith walk is far more stimulating and gratifying than to be a passive participant. Every time I fill out one of those little record sheets, I am reminded that I did something this week (or I didn’t) that contributed to helping build God’s Kingdom in our present and in our future.
Churches that are learning and serving together are exciting places to be. And so I suspect the ultimate measure of our fruitfulness will be felt over time as others are attracted to come and experience God with us through worship and the bevy of great ministries that happen here. In the meantime, please help us with our record keeping. It only takes a moment and is anonymous, so if you’ve had a lousy week, no one will be wagging a finger at you. It will be good for the greater connection, good for our church, and good for each of us in our own walk with Christ.
God bless your walk,
Sharon
lpassociate@sbcglobal.net
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Wilder View - September 2008
Just a few Sundays ago we shared the familiar story known as ‘Loaves and fishes.’ Even if you were not at church that Sunday you probably remember the story from your childhood days. The Bible tells us that there were 5,000+ people gathered that day to listen to Jesus and experience his teaching and healing. Towards the end of the day Jesus told the disciples to feed everyone. When the disciples said they couldn’t, a few loaves and fishes were found, Jesus broke the bread, and everyone ate until they were full and there were leftovers beyond belief.
This story reminded me of a ministry we have here at Lafayette Park United Methodist Church. It is a ministry that has nurtured, healed, and supported untold numbers of people. Some of you may have never heard about it, or you have heard about it and just didn’t know what it was. Others of you were the creators of this ministry.
As I understand the story, many years ago, we had a member in our congregation who was in a really stressful place in their life. They were very ill and unable to work. They didn’t have income enough to cover their housing, their food, or their medicine. Some of our members decided to do something about this situation, and created the ‘Loaves and Fishes’ ministry. This is an account where people can donate money to the church and then as a need arises, there are resources available to help people.
In the four years that I have been at Lafayette Park, this fund has helped people purchase medicine that they can not afford to purchase, pay a utility bill that couldn’t be covered, cover a month’s rent for someone digging out of a disaster, purchase a stove for who was unable to purchase one when their stove died, and even transportation to a family funeral, just to name a few.
Last year Jim and I encountered a young man that we had known for over a decade. He was homeless, unemployed, and had some medical complications based upon his HIV status. He had fled from an abusive relationship which placed him in this situation. After consultation with a few of the church leaders, this fund was used to help him with part of the deposit for an apartment. The impact of this donation enabled him to get a home find employment, and deal with his significant health issues. I am pleased to tell you that he is doing great and has recently received a promotion at his job. Whenever this fund is used, it is used in such a way as to provide the recipient with confidentiality and dignity.
There are countless people that have benefited from the sharing of our resources. I would like to take the opportunity to thank those of you who support this ministry, especially those who make a monthly contribution. Thank you for the way you bless me when I am able to see the look of relief that comes into people’s eyes when I can tell them that we can help them get their medicine, or give them a grocery card to purchase food for their family. Thank you for your faithful support of this ministry. Truly you create a miracle in many lives through your support. Thank you for the way you help our church live out the calls of Jesus in Matthew 25, “I was hungry and you fed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me.” Through the Loaves and Fishes ministry we have fed, clothed, and helped heal members of our church and close community. Thank you for creating this ministry and supporting it all these years. Truly, the miracle of loaves and fishes continues. Thank you.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Kathleen
lppastor@sbcglobal.net
This story reminded me of a ministry we have here at Lafayette Park United Methodist Church. It is a ministry that has nurtured, healed, and supported untold numbers of people. Some of you may have never heard about it, or you have heard about it and just didn’t know what it was. Others of you were the creators of this ministry.
As I understand the story, many years ago, we had a member in our congregation who was in a really stressful place in their life. They were very ill and unable to work. They didn’t have income enough to cover their housing, their food, or their medicine. Some of our members decided to do something about this situation, and created the ‘Loaves and Fishes’ ministry. This is an account where people can donate money to the church and then as a need arises, there are resources available to help people.
In the four years that I have been at Lafayette Park, this fund has helped people purchase medicine that they can not afford to purchase, pay a utility bill that couldn’t be covered, cover a month’s rent for someone digging out of a disaster, purchase a stove for who was unable to purchase one when their stove died, and even transportation to a family funeral, just to name a few.
Last year Jim and I encountered a young man that we had known for over a decade. He was homeless, unemployed, and had some medical complications based upon his HIV status. He had fled from an abusive relationship which placed him in this situation. After consultation with a few of the church leaders, this fund was used to help him with part of the deposit for an apartment. The impact of this donation enabled him to get a home find employment, and deal with his significant health issues. I am pleased to tell you that he is doing great and has recently received a promotion at his job. Whenever this fund is used, it is used in such a way as to provide the recipient with confidentiality and dignity.
There are countless people that have benefited from the sharing of our resources. I would like to take the opportunity to thank those of you who support this ministry, especially those who make a monthly contribution. Thank you for the way you bless me when I am able to see the look of relief that comes into people’s eyes when I can tell them that we can help them get their medicine, or give them a grocery card to purchase food for their family. Thank you for your faithful support of this ministry. Truly you create a miracle in many lives through your support. Thank you for the way you help our church live out the calls of Jesus in Matthew 25, “I was hungry and you fed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me.” Through the Loaves and Fishes ministry we have fed, clothed, and helped heal members of our church and close community. Thank you for creating this ministry and supporting it all these years. Truly, the miracle of loaves and fishes continues. Thank you.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Kathleen
lppastor@sbcglobal.net
Time with Sharon: Healing our Hurting World
September 2008
I recently was blessed to hear a presentation by Gary Haugen, founder of International Justice Mission. He talked about how hard it is for people who are hungry, sick, or imprisoned to believe that God is good. Their lives are full of pain and misery. He asked us, “What evidence can they see about them that there is a good God who loves them?”
Ahhhh, that’s where we come in. You see God has a plan to heal our hurting world. And, my friends, we are it. It is through our loving actions…feeding the hungry, providing medicine and care for the sick, reading books to youngsters who struggle, and advocating for those caught in unjust systems in our culture…that God’s love is seen, heard, and felt. An encouraging word, a listening ear, a ride to the doctor, a net to protect a family that we might never meet from malaria-bearing mosquitoes, getting involved in a grassroots effort to pass legislation to ease the suffering of the voiceless. These, and a million others, are all ways that we participate in God’s plan to bring healing and wholeness to the world. And THAT is how folks begin to experience the goodness of God…through us.
It occurs to me that it is an incredible privilege to be invited to participate in God’s great action plan of healing! Every one of us has received the invitation. As we walk in the way of Jesus, we are responding to that invitation.
One way we can respond is through participation in the feeding program at our sister-church, Centenary UMC. We meet every first Tuesday of the month, from 4:30-6:30. Come join us on September 2nd (Contact Daron Smith, or just show up). Another way is to get involved in supporting the children of our neighborhood through cooperative efforts with Sigel and Hodgen Elementary Schools. There is a great need to provide reading tutors for kids who have learning lags (see me immediately if this idea gooses your interest). Has God’s Spirit put a ministry opportunity on your heart that reaches out in the name of the God of love and justice? Then let’s talk. I would love to hear what God is whispering in your ear.
There’s a hurting world all around us…but God has a plan for healing. And we’re it!
What an amazing and trusting God we love.
Peace,
Pastor Sharon
lpassociate@sbcglobal.net
I recently was blessed to hear a presentation by Gary Haugen, founder of International Justice Mission. He talked about how hard it is for people who are hungry, sick, or imprisoned to believe that God is good. Their lives are full of pain and misery. He asked us, “What evidence can they see about them that there is a good God who loves them?”
Ahhhh, that’s where we come in. You see God has a plan to heal our hurting world. And, my friends, we are it. It is through our loving actions…feeding the hungry, providing medicine and care for the sick, reading books to youngsters who struggle, and advocating for those caught in unjust systems in our culture…that God’s love is seen, heard, and felt. An encouraging word, a listening ear, a ride to the doctor, a net to protect a family that we might never meet from malaria-bearing mosquitoes, getting involved in a grassroots effort to pass legislation to ease the suffering of the voiceless. These, and a million others, are all ways that we participate in God’s plan to bring healing and wholeness to the world. And THAT is how folks begin to experience the goodness of God…through us.
It occurs to me that it is an incredible privilege to be invited to participate in God’s great action plan of healing! Every one of us has received the invitation. As we walk in the way of Jesus, we are responding to that invitation.
One way we can respond is through participation in the feeding program at our sister-church, Centenary UMC. We meet every first Tuesday of the month, from 4:30-6:30. Come join us on September 2nd (Contact Daron Smith, or just show up). Another way is to get involved in supporting the children of our neighborhood through cooperative efforts with Sigel and Hodgen Elementary Schools. There is a great need to provide reading tutors for kids who have learning lags (see me immediately if this idea gooses your interest). Has God’s Spirit put a ministry opportunity on your heart that reaches out in the name of the God of love and justice? Then let’s talk. I would love to hear what God is whispering in your ear.
There’s a hurting world all around us…but God has a plan for healing. And we’re it!
What an amazing and trusting God we love.
Peace,
Pastor Sharon
lpassociate@sbcglobal.net
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Time with Sharon: A Letter to You About Our Children
It seems that everywhere I go, there are BACK TO SCHOOL advertisements, reminding us that soon it will be time for our children to return to their classrooms at school and begin their lessons again. They will be stretching their imaginations, and building their knowledge and skills to prepare for the world.
September also marks the return of Sunday School Class at LPUMC. We have a place for all our children, preschool through 12th grade, with teachers who are glad to be there to share the Bible stories through storytelling, fun games, engaging crafts, music, and thoughtful conversation. The children and youth will be growing their faith through engaging their imaginations and building their knowledge of God’s Holy Word, to prepare for life.
Our children need both kinds of educational experiences. It is my prayer that you will pray about including your children in this important opportunity at church to explore and grow their faith. An Adult Bible Class is also available during the same time to help you grow your faith too.
Class convenes from 9:00am-9:50, Sunday mornings, beginning September 14th, in the lower level of LPUMC. I hope to see you there!
Grace and peace,
Pastor Sharon
September also marks the return of Sunday School Class at LPUMC. We have a place for all our children, preschool through 12th grade, with teachers who are glad to be there to share the Bible stories through storytelling, fun games, engaging crafts, music, and thoughtful conversation. The children and youth will be growing their faith through engaging their imaginations and building their knowledge of God’s Holy Word, to prepare for life.
Our children need both kinds of educational experiences. It is my prayer that you will pray about including your children in this important opportunity at church to explore and grow their faith. An Adult Bible Class is also available during the same time to help you grow your faith too.
Class convenes from 9:00am-9:50, Sunday mornings, beginning September 14th, in the lower level of LPUMC. I hope to see you there!
Grace and peace,
Pastor Sharon
Thursday, July 10, 2008
From the Wilder View … July 2008
What an amazing way to close the month of June! We had a great Vacation Bible School. The children and adults filled this church with creativity and excitement. It was wonderful to hear our children singing and to see them dancing. (I am still hearing VBS songs in my home.) The children learned about God being active in their lives through the stories from both the Old and New Testament. They had a guest appearance from our beloved puppets, and a visit from our new District Superintendent. It is my hope that the energy and excitement that we experienced that week will bubble throughout the summer and just continue to grow.
VBS ended Friday evening, and our participation in PRIDE began Saturday morning. This is our third year of our participation in PRIDE. It was such a joy to hang out with you all in the booth. It was also a joy to hear people say, “Wow, you mean I would really be welcome in your church?” “I have been looking for a church.” “You have a program for my children?” “You mean I can come and share communion with you without being told I have to leave my partner?”
It was great fun to be a part of the Parade again this year. It isn’t like we have an elaborate float. We just drive Jim’s old convertible and a bunch of us walk along side. Yet, it is a powerful experience to go through the parade route and have people clap and shout for us because we are a church that witnesses that God loves us all, and that everyone is welcome to worship God with us. Wow! It just gets me excited about extending the invitation to worship God!
I think my best memory from the month of June involves children. Andy was hanging out at the Pride booth on Sunday afternoon, and he noticed a group of children playing behind the booth. It wasn’t long before he was playing with the children. In the course of the conversation, one of the children asked him if he had two mommies or two daddies. He told him that he had one of each. Then they asked, “Why are you here?” He responded that his church supported gay and lesbian people. Later that afternoon one of the mother’s came to meet me. She explained that she is a part of a group of gay and lesbian families that get together once a month to play together. She explained that Andy had requested to be included in the group, and they had decided that he could be their ‘token’. I am excited that we are building significant relationships with people in our community, and that we are being a witness to God’s grace and love. These are just a few of the ways we live out our vision of being a symbol of Christ’s presence in our community.
Once again this year, Lafayette Park you have made me proud. It is an honor to serve God with you.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Kathleen
VBS ended Friday evening, and our participation in PRIDE began Saturday morning. This is our third year of our participation in PRIDE. It was such a joy to hang out with you all in the booth. It was also a joy to hear people say, “Wow, you mean I would really be welcome in your church?” “I have been looking for a church.” “You have a program for my children?” “You mean I can come and share communion with you without being told I have to leave my partner?”
It was great fun to be a part of the Parade again this year. It isn’t like we have an elaborate float. We just drive Jim’s old convertible and a bunch of us walk along side. Yet, it is a powerful experience to go through the parade route and have people clap and shout for us because we are a church that witnesses that God loves us all, and that everyone is welcome to worship God with us. Wow! It just gets me excited about extending the invitation to worship God!
I think my best memory from the month of June involves children. Andy was hanging out at the Pride booth on Sunday afternoon, and he noticed a group of children playing behind the booth. It wasn’t long before he was playing with the children. In the course of the conversation, one of the children asked him if he had two mommies or two daddies. He told him that he had one of each. Then they asked, “Why are you here?” He responded that his church supported gay and lesbian people. Later that afternoon one of the mother’s came to meet me. She explained that she is a part of a group of gay and lesbian families that get together once a month to play together. She explained that Andy had requested to be included in the group, and they had decided that he could be their ‘token’. I am excited that we are building significant relationships with people in our community, and that we are being a witness to God’s grace and love. These are just a few of the ways we live out our vision of being a symbol of Christ’s presence in our community.
Once again this year, Lafayette Park you have made me proud. It is an honor to serve God with you.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Kathleen
Time With Sharon: Finding Peace in July
July 2008
And the peace of God, which passes all understandings,
shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.”
(Phil. 4.7)
I have this image of a great Christmas picture in my head that came from a Christmas card that we received years ago. The front is a picture of a lovely gingerbread’ish home, nestled among the evergreens. The house and the trees about it are covered in a thick perfect blanket of sparkling snow. Candlelight glows from the windows, and a wisp of smoke curls from the chimney. Picturesque and perfect peace reigns in the moment.
But then you open the card to find an early morning frenzy in progress as three small children tear into their presents under the tree. Buzzing on a chocolate breakfast, another toddler has even crawled up into the tree among the branches, reaching out precariously for the star on top. The parents are bleary-eyed, sitting on the couch, with jumbo cups of steaming coffee in their hands. But they aren’t brain dead from the exertion of the night before. Rather, they have their heads together as they watch the glee of their brood. The look on their faces is one of deep pleasure in the moment. The card says simply… “Peace be yours”.
Peace. It’s that sense of inner contentment and serenity for which we yearn. A feeling that everything, even in the midst of crazy, chaotic, uncertain life, is still in God’s hand, and so will be ok. Peace is the stuff that we pray for and the essence that we “pass” to one another on Sunday morning.
There’s a lot of biblical references to peace. The Old Testament guys believed it would come from God through the King. But after Jesus came, the New Testament writers recognized that deep peace was found in a relationship with God nurtured through knowing Jesus the Christ. Recently, our Vacation Bible Schoolers learned to know God, talk to God, tell others about God, love God, and serve God. Now there’s a path to peace.
Soon, our Worship Team will be helping us celebrate Christmas in July. As we experience the fun of decorating the Christmas tree in our Bermuda shorts and Hawaiian-prints, I invite us all to watch the children. As they model their relationship with God, which will be (if VBS was any indicator) filled with exuberant joy and expectation, may we “catch” some of their peace, their inner assurance that everything, even in the midst of our crazy, chaotic, uncertain lives, is still in God’s hand, and so will be ok…
more than ok.
“Peace be yours”,
Pastor Sharon
Time With Sharon: Jesus Loves Me, This I Know . . .
June 2008
I love glitter. As a kid, it was great fun to drizzle glue here and there, sprinkle a dash of glitter (or a pound of it!) and transform my messy projects from drab to dazzling, with color and light. And the only place I remember getting to use that glue and glitter combo was at Vacation Bible School. VBS leaders are brave people, don’t you know.
I have great VBS memories. When I was a little girl, our church hosted it in the mornings, and I remember learning about how much Jesus loved me through music, stories, games, and those messy projects. I don’t remember wondering why Jesus loved me…only that he did. And knowing that, brought me a deep comfort that has stuck with me always. Jesus loves me…and he loves you. That’s the most important thing I think I ever learned anywhere, and I learned it at Vacation Bible School.
I also met new people, and they became my friends. We laughed, and learned, and shared lots of ice cream. The church grown-ups took care of me, and made me feel special. Yep, I looked forward to that week every summer. I hope many of you have some good memories of Vacation Bible Schools from your early days too.
Lafayette Park UMC continues to carry on that wonderful tradition of welcome and care for the children of our church and neighborhood. This year, from June 23-29, Monday through Friday evenings, we will be exploring the Serengeti in Africa together, where kids are WILD about God! We will start off the evenings at 6:00pm with a family snack supper, and the adults are welcome to stay, eat, play, and visit together. There will be wonderful stories, music that makes your feet dance, and crazy games that tucker everybody out. But best of all, in my humble opinion, will be the messy crafts, those glue and glitter, yarn and bead, paint and popsicle stix creations that give our artistic hearts a chance to express the glory of God that lives deep in our souls.
Our lessons will teach us to Know, Talk, Tell, Love, and to Work for God. This is the whole gospel in one week! But when we are finished, I hope what the kids remember is that God is just crazy about them, and will be with them for always. June 23-27, preschool through Senior High…officially. But it’s a lesson we all need! So YOU are invited too. Come and help us make new Vacation Bible School memories.
See you then, and bring your friends, cousins, and neighbors!
Pastor Sharon
I love glitter. As a kid, it was great fun to drizzle glue here and there, sprinkle a dash of glitter (or a pound of it!) and transform my messy projects from drab to dazzling, with color and light. And the only place I remember getting to use that glue and glitter combo was at Vacation Bible School. VBS leaders are brave people, don’t you know.
I have great VBS memories. When I was a little girl, our church hosted it in the mornings, and I remember learning about how much Jesus loved me through music, stories, games, and those messy projects. I don’t remember wondering why Jesus loved me…only that he did. And knowing that, brought me a deep comfort that has stuck with me always. Jesus loves me…and he loves you. That’s the most important thing I think I ever learned anywhere, and I learned it at Vacation Bible School.
I also met new people, and they became my friends. We laughed, and learned, and shared lots of ice cream. The church grown-ups took care of me, and made me feel special. Yep, I looked forward to that week every summer. I hope many of you have some good memories of Vacation Bible Schools from your early days too.
Lafayette Park UMC continues to carry on that wonderful tradition of welcome and care for the children of our church and neighborhood. This year, from June 23-29, Monday through Friday evenings, we will be exploring the Serengeti in Africa together, where kids are WILD about God! We will start off the evenings at 6:00pm with a family snack supper, and the adults are welcome to stay, eat, play, and visit together. There will be wonderful stories, music that makes your feet dance, and crazy games that tucker everybody out. But best of all, in my humble opinion, will be the messy crafts, those glue and glitter, yarn and bead, paint and popsicle stix creations that give our artistic hearts a chance to express the glory of God that lives deep in our souls.
Our lessons will teach us to Know, Talk, Tell, Love, and to Work for God. This is the whole gospel in one week! But when we are finished, I hope what the kids remember is that God is just crazy about them, and will be with them for always. June 23-27, preschool through Senior High…officially. But it’s a lesson we all need! So YOU are invited too. Come and help us make new Vacation Bible School memories.
See you then, and bring your friends, cousins, and neighbors!
Pastor Sharon
Friday, June 27, 2008
The Wilder View - June 2008
Imagine what it was like back in 1888…120 years ago. A faith community that had lived, learned, and struggled to serve God in the community was finally ready to step out in one gigantic leap of faith. For several years the congregation had not been strong enough to even support a pastor and had to rely on the support of a sister church. Their sister church had encouraged them that they could build upon this new piece of land and grow a stronger church. It must have been so exciting and I’m sure at the same time quite scary.
Just imagine the pride they must have felt as they marched down Chouteau and walked by the park at Lafayette Square. Can’t you just see them walking with a bounce in their step… their heads held high, ready for one great and glorious adventure. Truly these people knew the secret to living out God’s plan in the community. They even etched into the stone above the entrance to the new sanctuary for everyone in the community to see, "Thy way O God is in the sanctuary." You can still it above the big window on the Missouri side of the original building.
Today, we are just like those great pioneers of faith. We have lived through all of the challenges of being an urban congregation, the stress of white flight, and urban sprawl. We have learned how to remain in the community and make a powerful witness through helping rebuild our community. We too have struggled to serve the community around us and to witness to God’s grace no matter what the circumstance, cyclone, or situation we encounter. We are also now ready to step out in one gigantic leap of faith…To once again proclaim to our community, "Thy way of God is in the sanctuary."
My friends, today we prepare the way for the next major milestones of our ministry to the community around us. Today we announce to the world that through our worship of God we find the strength, the hope, and the joy, to sustain all of the challenges and opportunities of being a people of faith. Today we celebrate the fact that we can help our sister churches in realizing the power of God’s Spirit as it moves in our city. Today we too can walk with a bounce in our step, and our heads held high in expectation of the mighty works that God will do in our lives, our church, our community and our world. We begin a new era today, to be part of God’s radical transformation of the world as we continue to live out our vision...
"Lafayette Park United Methodist Church will be a church without walls creating a symbol of Christ’s presence within our urban community, and beyond."
Let us celebrate together!!
Pastor Kathleen
Just imagine the pride they must have felt as they marched down Chouteau and walked by the park at Lafayette Square. Can’t you just see them walking with a bounce in their step… their heads held high, ready for one great and glorious adventure. Truly these people knew the secret to living out God’s plan in the community. They even etched into the stone above the entrance to the new sanctuary for everyone in the community to see, "Thy way O God is in the sanctuary." You can still it above the big window on the Missouri side of the original building.
Today, we are just like those great pioneers of faith. We have lived through all of the challenges of being an urban congregation, the stress of white flight, and urban sprawl. We have learned how to remain in the community and make a powerful witness through helping rebuild our community. We too have struggled to serve the community around us and to witness to God’s grace no matter what the circumstance, cyclone, or situation we encounter. We are also now ready to step out in one gigantic leap of faith…To once again proclaim to our community, "Thy way of God is in the sanctuary."
My friends, today we prepare the way for the next major milestones of our ministry to the community around us. Today we announce to the world that through our worship of God we find the strength, the hope, and the joy, to sustain all of the challenges and opportunities of being a people of faith. Today we celebrate the fact that we can help our sister churches in realizing the power of God’s Spirit as it moves in our city. Today we too can walk with a bounce in our step, and our heads held high in expectation of the mighty works that God will do in our lives, our church, our community and our world. We begin a new era today, to be part of God’s radical transformation of the world as we continue to live out our vision...
"Lafayette Park United Methodist Church will be a church without walls creating a symbol of Christ’s presence within our urban community, and beyond."
Let us celebrate together!!
Pastor Kathleen
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
The Wilder View - May 2008
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because of the many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their numbers those who were being saved.” - Acts 2:42-47
Over the last several weeks I have found myself really drawn to this text about the early church. What a completely different lifestyle they had; worshipping daily at the temple, sharing so that no one had need, and sharing common meals together. It seems pretty farfetched for us these days. Yet, I remember Ju Young (our former music director from Seoul, Korea) telling me about the Korean church. It seems in Seoul, the Methodist church has a prayer service Monday – Friday from 6 am – 7 am and then everyone eats breakfast together and goes to work for the day. I must confess that when I heard about this, I was glad to be in St. Louis. The idea of having my family ready so that I could lead worship every morning at 6 am seemed daunting. Yet, I keep hearing about how the church is growing in Korea and sometimes I wonder what would happen if we were to do at least a weekly early Morning Prayer meeting. Could we experience the awe and wonder that the early church experienced?
I have really struggled with this text and wonder what it might be calling us to do in the frantic paced world we live in. Just think how our productivity might improve if we were to take time each morning to center ourselves with God and seek God’s leadership, direction, and blessing upon our day, our life, our church, and our community. So (watch out, here it comes) I have an experiment for us to try.
- Think of something you do regularly each day. Maybe it is brushing your teeth, or putting on your seatbelt, or combing your hair. Use that activity to be a prayer prompter.
- Say this simple prayer. “Lord, make us one in ministry to the world.” This is part of a prayer that we pray consecrating ourselves as a living sacrifice when we share communion together.
- Watch and see how God will use you to build Lafayette Park and transform the world around you.
I know it isn’t like getting up and worshipping with each other at 6 am, however, maybe if we each individually start asking God to make us one we might experience God’s Spirit knitting us together in ministry. I do believe that we will see with awe the wonders that God will do in our lives.
Please Lord. Make us one in ministry to the world. Glory be to God.
Pastor Kathleen
Time With Sharon . . . New Beginnings
May 2008
May is a month of new beginnings. Usually, there is a slew of graduations to recognize, and this year, we have those in our congregation who will be celebrating the completion of a course of study of one sort or another. Their books will be shut, tears shed, goodbyes said, and their thoughts will turn toward what lies next in their future.
I’ve been thinking a lot about this idea of new beginnings. I think about how God is always shaping and transforming us, and how we often feel that shaping as a new beginning. There’s a hymn that keeps running through my head which holds this verse:
As the author suggests, new beginnings are not always the result of happy celebrations. Many times they are born of pain and struggle, like the healing of a wound, the loss of a loved one, a decision to break free, or a conclusion reached with tremendous difficulty. I am reminded of the scriptural story in Jeremiah of the potter’s house (Jer. 18.1-6). The prophet was told by God to go on down to the potter’s house and await there for the Lord’s message. And so, he went, and there he watched as the potter worked on forming a pot on the wheel. But something went awry with that pot. Maybe there was an imperfection in the clay, or the wheel didn’t turn evenly. At any rate, the pot went to pot, and was spoiled. But even as the prophet watched, the potter gathered up the clay and threw it once again upon the wheel, forming it into a new, sturdy, useful creation. The lesson for the prophet Jeremiah, and for us, is that God is like the potter….forever offering transformation to us, with the hope of a new life…a new beginning.
If you are experiencing the sadness of an ending and the trepidation of a new tomorrow, sort of like a graduation from what you’ve know before and stepping in to the unknown, take comfort that God is the Master Potter, and in God’s hands, our lives will take a fresh shape…and we too can celebrate a new beginning.
I look forward to seeing you Sunday,
Pastor
Sharon
*This Is The Day Of New Beginnings, Words by Brian Wren,
1978; Music by Carlton R. Young, 1984. Hope Publishing Co, 1987.
May is a month of new beginnings. Usually, there is a slew of graduations to recognize, and this year, we have those in our congregation who will be celebrating the completion of a course of study of one sort or another. Their books will be shut, tears shed, goodbyes said, and their thoughts will turn toward what lies next in their future.
I’ve been thinking a lot about this idea of new beginnings. I think about how God is always shaping and transforming us, and how we often feel that shaping as a new beginning. There’s a hymn that keeps running through my head which holds this verse:
This is a day of new beginnings,
time to remember and move on, time to
believe what love is bringing,
laying to rest the pain that’s gone. *
As the author suggests, new beginnings are not always the result of happy celebrations. Many times they are born of pain and struggle, like the healing of a wound, the loss of a loved one, a decision to break free, or a conclusion reached with tremendous difficulty. I am reminded of the scriptural story in Jeremiah of the potter’s house (Jer. 18.1-6). The prophet was told by God to go on down to the potter’s house and await there for the Lord’s message. And so, he went, and there he watched as the potter worked on forming a pot on the wheel. But something went awry with that pot. Maybe there was an imperfection in the clay, or the wheel didn’t turn evenly. At any rate, the pot went to pot, and was spoiled. But even as the prophet watched, the potter gathered up the clay and threw it once again upon the wheel, forming it into a new, sturdy, useful creation. The lesson for the prophet Jeremiah, and for us, is that God is like the potter….forever offering transformation to us, with the hope of a new life…a new beginning.
If you are experiencing the sadness of an ending and the trepidation of a new tomorrow, sort of like a graduation from what you’ve know before and stepping in to the unknown, take comfort that God is the Master Potter, and in God’s hands, our lives will take a fresh shape…and we too can celebrate a new beginning.
Christ is alive, and goes before us,
to show and share what love can do.
This is a day of new beginnings;
our God is making all things new!
I look forward to seeing you Sunday,
Pastor
Sharon
*This Is The Day Of New Beginnings, Words by Brian Wren,
1978; Music by Carlton R. Young, 1984. Hope Publishing Co, 1987.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
The Wilder View - April 2008
I am writing this article in the middle of March Madness (basketball season finals). I have not been much of a basketball fan in the past; however, I have found an interest in learning more about it because of Andy’s participation in the sport. As I have been learning about the game I have (you know me) begun to realize that theology is all around us…even in basketball. So I would like to share a few theological insights that I have received while watching basketball.
- Everyone has a common goal, which is getting the ball in the basket. As Christians we are encouraged to have a common goal of “seeking first the Kingdom of God.” If we live and work together with a common goal, we will find that we can accomplish so much more as a faith community than as individuals.
- Teamwork is valued – everyone has a role, purpose, and function. We are reminded that we are the body of Christ and that each one of us has unique and special spiritual gifts that enable and equip us to do the work of God. We can’t do it alone, we have to work together.
- There is accountability – the referees will blow a whistle if you double dribble, or travel, or other things. (They have hand signals for all that stuff.) In life we are also held accountable for our spiritual formation. We don’t have people blowing whistles around us when we get off the path, but we do have friends that hold us in prayer and invite us to grow in our faith walk.
- It is normal to foul occasionally – it happens in the middle of the heat of the game when someone might just do something that is considered a foul. The reality is that in our daily faith journey we can foul as well. Maybe we say something that is hurtful, or unthinking, or we bump into something or step on someone’s toes without being aware. We create fouls as we live out our daily lives as normal human beings.
- There are moments for reconciliation after a foul through a free throw shot (I think that is what it is called) and the game goes on. It might be a good example of how we can live out forgiveness in our midst. Name the foul, find a way to find justice, and then move on with life.
- Slow the game down – sometimes the speed of the game can get so fast that the players are playing ‘out of control’ and then the team isn’t able to get the right shot in and they aren’t thinking as clearly. There is a signal that someone makes that says, slow down the pace. It makes me wonder if sometimes God might be giving us a signal to say, slow down a little. It’s like God is saying, “I know everything is running pretty fast, but you are not functioning at the level that I created you to be.” Take a few moments, breathe, get in touch with the rest of the team, listen to your coach (the Holy Spirit) and move along at a better pace for the person he created you to be.
Ok, I know some might think it is a character flaw in me that I can’t go anywhere, or do anything without seeing God involved. Maybe it isn’t a character flaw…maybe it’s a blessing…at any rate, whatever it is, I invite you to just think about some of the lessons we can learn from our daily activities…lessons that might help us grow as individuals, and as a faith community…lessons that might help us make the world better place for all of us. Remember, God is all around us and God is constantly trying to communicate God’s plan for our lives. Who knows where we can find lessons from God next? Could it be in a grocery store, or a classroom at school, or possibly doing simple chores around the house? I guess our challenge is to look to see God, listen to hear God, and learn to serve God.
Glory Be to God,
Pastor Kathleen
Time With Sharon…Now what do we do?
April 2008
But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”
Easter is over…and Pentecost, with its fury of fire and outpouring of the Spirit’s unbridled power is still weeks away. We are passing through a strange time, called Eastertide in the early church, and it is a peculiar place to be. We aren’t quite ready to launch into the regular flow of ministry, with our new found passion and fever just yet. It seems emotionally, and metaphorically, we are left standing with our mouths gaping wide open, wondering, “What just happened here?”Over the days of Holy Week, we experienced the poignant last teachings of Jesus, his bloody and cruel sacrifice, and the miraculous resurrection of Christ to new life. But now the festivities are over; the company gone home, the ham leftovers eaten up, and the plastic eggs stored back in the attic. We are like the early Christians, who sat in their Upper Room, some still dazed from the raw experiences of that week of passion, wondering what to do, with what we know, now that we know it.
And what do we know? That Jesus was dead. Good and dead. Not flickering an eyelash, cold and blue dead. And then Christ was alive. In full living color, walking around, traveling and talking to folk, blessing, spirit-instilling, and cooking-them-fish-on-the-beach-for-breakfast kind of alive. How can this be? Because God has the power to bring new life to dead things.
In fact, God delights in bringing renewed vigor to the places in our world and in our lives that seem dead. We witness this miracle every spring when we see the green shoots boring their way through a cover of brown leaves in the flower beds. Imagine that maybe this could be your life, right now. If some part of your life is sloppy brown and dirt dead, God’s power can make the living sap start running again, producing green vitality that leads to new blooms. God can do it. God has done it. God will do it again.So what do we do with what we know, now that we know it? Believe it. Own it. Live it. Share it.
Once, during this same in-between time, I sat with a dear friend who felt like there was nothing more for which to live. I wasn’t sure how to offer him hope. I could have reminded him of his children who still needed their dad. I thought of ragging on him that his presence with us at church had been sorely missed. But none of those things seemed to touch the power of the truth that we had just lived through during Holy Week. Finally I whispered, “God makes life new. I don’t know how, but I know it, and you know it too.” I whispered it, not because I didn’t want the people around us to hear our conversation, but because it seemed like such a sacred and holy message. I didn’t trust my voice to say it with all the meaning that I meant it to have. It was too big. Perhaps my whisper would convey the utter importance of these words of hope.
Soon the Spirit’s power will bust forth, emboldening our voices to stand and shout from the rooftops. But now, while we are still saturated in a sense of shock and awe, let us share, even in a whisper, with great rounded eyes of wonder, what we have experienced to those who need to hear it. God has the power to bring new life to dead things. We know it. Tell someone.
Grace and peace,
Sharon
But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”
Easter is over…and Pentecost, with its fury of fire and outpouring of the Spirit’s unbridled power is still weeks away. We are passing through a strange time, called Eastertide in the early church, and it is a peculiar place to be. We aren’t quite ready to launch into the regular flow of ministry, with our new found passion and fever just yet. It seems emotionally, and metaphorically, we are left standing with our mouths gaping wide open, wondering, “What just happened here?”Over the days of Holy Week, we experienced the poignant last teachings of Jesus, his bloody and cruel sacrifice, and the miraculous resurrection of Christ to new life. But now the festivities are over; the company gone home, the ham leftovers eaten up, and the plastic eggs stored back in the attic. We are like the early Christians, who sat in their Upper Room, some still dazed from the raw experiences of that week of passion, wondering what to do, with what we know, now that we know it.
And what do we know? That Jesus was dead. Good and dead. Not flickering an eyelash, cold and blue dead. And then Christ was alive. In full living color, walking around, traveling and talking to folk, blessing, spirit-instilling, and cooking-them-fish-on-the-beach-for-breakfast kind of alive. How can this be? Because God has the power to bring new life to dead things.
In fact, God delights in bringing renewed vigor to the places in our world and in our lives that seem dead. We witness this miracle every spring when we see the green shoots boring their way through a cover of brown leaves in the flower beds. Imagine that maybe this could be your life, right now. If some part of your life is sloppy brown and dirt dead, God’s power can make the living sap start running again, producing green vitality that leads to new blooms. God can do it. God has done it. God will do it again.So what do we do with what we know, now that we know it? Believe it. Own it. Live it. Share it.
Once, during this same in-between time, I sat with a dear friend who felt like there was nothing more for which to live. I wasn’t sure how to offer him hope. I could have reminded him of his children who still needed their dad. I thought of ragging on him that his presence with us at church had been sorely missed. But none of those things seemed to touch the power of the truth that we had just lived through during Holy Week. Finally I whispered, “God makes life new. I don’t know how, but I know it, and you know it too.” I whispered it, not because I didn’t want the people around us to hear our conversation, but because it seemed like such a sacred and holy message. I didn’t trust my voice to say it with all the meaning that I meant it to have. It was too big. Perhaps my whisper would convey the utter importance of these words of hope.
Soon the Spirit’s power will bust forth, emboldening our voices to stand and shout from the rooftops. But now, while we are still saturated in a sense of shock and awe, let us share, even in a whisper, with great rounded eyes of wonder, what we have experienced to those who need to hear it. God has the power to bring new life to dead things. We know it. Tell someone.
Grace and peace,
Sharon
Monday, March 3, 2008
The Wilder View - March 2008
I think it was my first Lent at Lafayette Park UMC that I realized the depth of Jesus’ words, “I have come that they might have abundant life.” You see for many years my focus during Lent was on the death and suffering of Christ. Suddenly I got it; my focus shouldn’t have been on the death but rather the life of Christ! The purpose of Lent was to look at the places of death in my life and to receive the power of Christ’s life in my own life. I suddenly realized that the real purpose for Lent was to prepare us for Easter. Not the Easter that is filled with bunnies, candy, and special clothes and hats, but the Easter of life! The Easter in which we truly grasp the power of God in our lives – the power that transcends death! For us to experience that power of God intimately, moving and living in our life. For us to know with confidence that there is nothing that can separate us from God’s love. It is through this experience of Easter that we are equipped to find meaning and purpose in our daily lives.
The challenge for us now, as a Church, is that we have experienced so many resurrections over the last few years that they might feel a bit common place. Remember the miracle of becoming cash positive, and the tower climb? Or the miracle of getting the west stained glass window restored. What about the miracle of paying our apportionments for the first time in many decades? Or getting the carpet installed. Or the VIM trips to Juarez, and New Orleans (the way God provided the roofer and the roofing materials was a miracle.) Or the fact that our worship attendance has grown from the low 80’s to 111 last year. Truly God is doing miracles at Lafayette Park. God is showing us how to powerfully live out our faith. Yet, I believe that God would have us experience more miracles. God is using our church to help other churches grow stronger. God is using our church to transform our community. God is using our church to make us stronger disciples for Christ. Truly we are focusing on the life of Christ and the joy that his life brings to us.
It is my hope that during this season of Lent you will take the time to prepare yourself to experience the power of resurrection in your life. That by spending time in reflection or by taking on spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting, meditation, journaling, or even just sitting in God’s presence you may find the Easter that releases you to experience the power of God’s life and love in your life, for nothing can stop God’s love for you…not even death.
Happy Easter,
Pastor Kathleen
The challenge for us now, as a Church, is that we have experienced so many resurrections over the last few years that they might feel a bit common place. Remember the miracle of becoming cash positive, and the tower climb? Or the miracle of getting the west stained glass window restored. What about the miracle of paying our apportionments for the first time in many decades? Or getting the carpet installed. Or the VIM trips to Juarez, and New Orleans (the way God provided the roofer and the roofing materials was a miracle.) Or the fact that our worship attendance has grown from the low 80’s to 111 last year. Truly God is doing miracles at Lafayette Park. God is showing us how to powerfully live out our faith. Yet, I believe that God would have us experience more miracles. God is using our church to help other churches grow stronger. God is using our church to transform our community. God is using our church to make us stronger disciples for Christ. Truly we are focusing on the life of Christ and the joy that his life brings to us.
It is my hope that during this season of Lent you will take the time to prepare yourself to experience the power of resurrection in your life. That by spending time in reflection or by taking on spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting, meditation, journaling, or even just sitting in God’s presence you may find the Easter that releases you to experience the power of God’s life and love in your life, for nothing can stop God’s love for you…not even death.
Happy Easter,
Pastor Kathleen
Time With Sharon…Clothed in Christ Jesus
March 2008
As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free,
there is no longer males and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.”
Galatians 3:27-8
There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free,
there is no longer males and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.”
Galatians 3:27-8
In the month of March, we will be celebrating another Confirmation class at LPUMC. The confirmation experience is a process of growth and introspection...a time of learning about God, about ourselves, and about the United Methodist tradition. Most importantly, it is a time of decision for our young folk.
In the early church, (I mean the church formed in the first 150 years after Jesus walked among us...not the 8:00am service), those preparing to take their vow of membership went through an extended time of instruction in the sacred rites and rituals, of learning the gospel accounted of Jesus and his ministry, death, and resurrection, and of prayerful meditation. Then as the day of their inauguration into the church neared, they would fast and pray, and others would join them in the final stretch. Then, often on Easter morning, these persons would don a robe, which they would drop before entering the pool (don’t get too excited-men baptized men, and women tended to women), and be baptized into “new Life”; Paul described it like putting on the clothes of Christ. Then the newly-baptized would join the faithful in sharing the bread and the cup at Christ’s Table of Grace.
Over the last 8 weeks, our Confirmands have been learning and exploring too. Together, we have explored the character of God, the wisdom and truth found in holy scripture, the elegance of the sacraments of baptism and Holy Communion, and how the way we live our lives can (if we so choose) carry on Jesus’ ministry of compassion and justice. We have come to know about the passion of John Wesley to help people experience the grace of God through reading scripture, prayer, worship, and Christian dialogue. We’ve talked about what we do in worship and why we do it. We’ve met with Bishop Schnase and heard his personal testimony, joined with our Jewish neighbors at Central Reformed Community to experience the worship of our spiritual ancestors, and served our neighbors supper at Centenary UMC.
Yup. We have been exploring what it means to be followers of Christ...and more particularly, to be United Methodist Christians.
As infants, some were baptized into the faith of their parents, and it was the adults and the church congregation who took the vows of discipleship. Now it is our Confirmands’ turn. On March 30th, these young folk will be given the opportunity to stand before their congregations of choice (Lafayette Park and Centenary), and make for themselves the promises of the heart. They will declare whom they will call “Lord” of their lives. And they will choose with whom they will continue their faith journey moving forward, promising to support The United Methodist Church with their prayers, presence, gifts, and service.
As members of the church, I invite you, just as the members of the early church were, to be in active prayer for these young people as they complete their studies, and meditate on God’s claim on their lives. As we do this, may we be reminded what it means in our own faith journey to be “clothed in Christ”. Do Christ’s clothes still fit? Hmmmm....
- Pastor Sharon
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
The Wilder View…February 2008
Remember when you were a young person at church and they would have the annual ‘youth’ Sunday? It was so exciting to plan the worship service and be one of the leaders. Do you remember? They would always position that Sunday as ‘celebrating the future of the church’, it was like we didn’t matter quite yet, but one of these days we would be the future, and then we would really contribute to the ministry of the church.
I am proud to serve at Lafayette Park, a church with a history of investing in their children and youth. I have heard countless stories… about the youth club ministry that was so very important to the church that only funerals had priority in scheduling… about the choir robes we have now are have because the youth club so that the children and youth choir would have matching robes with the adult choir. Or that our church has the privilege of supporting a huge number of Eagle Scouts!
I also celebrate the fact that on the last Sunday of each month for the last 3 ½ years we have been blessed by the leadership gifts of our children and youth on Youth Sundays. We have been blessed by their musicianship, their liturgy, their hospitality, their art work, and their creativity. It brings me great joy to see the pride on everyone’s face on the Sundays when they are leading in worship or when they do the Christmas pageant. I am thankful to serve a church that values the gifts of leadership of their children right now and not sometime in the future. We know that our children are truly a gift from God, and we gladly provide them the opportunity to lead us in worship. In many ways, we live out the verse about a child leading them.
This year has been exciting to see the youth group starting to form. It is great that we have a group that went to a conference youth experience called WOW! Our confirmation group is meeting already and having great discussions.
I periodically share my dreams and hopes with various people for our children and youth ministry so I thought I might just share them with you. One of my dreams is that we continue to grow our youth Sunday until we have the children and youth completely planning this worship service. Eventually, I hope that our youth would actually preach on a regular basis so that we might hear what God is speaking to us through them.
I also dream of Lafayette Park becoming a community youth center. Our building is uniquely equipped to offer great ministry opportunities. We have almost completed the renovation of our bowling alley. We have a wonderful gym, and a great fellowship hall. Maybe one of these days we would be set up so that on Friday nights or Saturday evenings the building would be open as a safe place for teenagers to come and hang out so that they can make new friendships and have a place to talk. Perhaps we could have an evening a week where we have a youth service with a praise band, and we fill our sanctuary with youth from our community worshipping God. I dream about a youth choir that can go touring in the summer. Or what about offering youth club again? Just think of the great ways we can serve our community by extending ourselves to the ministry of reaching out to the youth in our community.
On February 24th we will again celebrate youth Sunday. This month we will be presenting Bibles to our 3rd graders. We also celebrate the expansion of our children’s Sunday school classes and the people who every week prepares lessons to teach our children. We celebrate our children’s church leaders who lead our children in a closer walk with God through worship.
I invite you this month to take time to thank those who are working closely with our children and youth. I also invite you to pray about God’s call on your life. Could it possibly be that God would like your help in building dreams with our youth? You never know what blessings might be in store for you as you support the gifts that God has given us in our children and youth. Let’s work and pray together that the rich history and ministry of celebrating the gifts of our children and youth will continue and expand so that we might realize God’s dreams for our church.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Kathleen
I am proud to serve at Lafayette Park, a church with a history of investing in their children and youth. I have heard countless stories… about the youth club ministry that was so very important to the church that only funerals had priority in scheduling… about the choir robes we have now are have because the youth club so that the children and youth choir would have matching robes with the adult choir. Or that our church has the privilege of supporting a huge number of Eagle Scouts!
I also celebrate the fact that on the last Sunday of each month for the last 3 ½ years we have been blessed by the leadership gifts of our children and youth on Youth Sundays. We have been blessed by their musicianship, their liturgy, their hospitality, their art work, and their creativity. It brings me great joy to see the pride on everyone’s face on the Sundays when they are leading in worship or when they do the Christmas pageant. I am thankful to serve a church that values the gifts of leadership of their children right now and not sometime in the future. We know that our children are truly a gift from God, and we gladly provide them the opportunity to lead us in worship. In many ways, we live out the verse about a child leading them.
This year has been exciting to see the youth group starting to form. It is great that we have a group that went to a conference youth experience called WOW! Our confirmation group is meeting already and having great discussions.
I periodically share my dreams and hopes with various people for our children and youth ministry so I thought I might just share them with you. One of my dreams is that we continue to grow our youth Sunday until we have the children and youth completely planning this worship service. Eventually, I hope that our youth would actually preach on a regular basis so that we might hear what God is speaking to us through them.
I also dream of Lafayette Park becoming a community youth center. Our building is uniquely equipped to offer great ministry opportunities. We have almost completed the renovation of our bowling alley. We have a wonderful gym, and a great fellowship hall. Maybe one of these days we would be set up so that on Friday nights or Saturday evenings the building would be open as a safe place for teenagers to come and hang out so that they can make new friendships and have a place to talk. Perhaps we could have an evening a week where we have a youth service with a praise band, and we fill our sanctuary with youth from our community worshipping God. I dream about a youth choir that can go touring in the summer. Or what about offering youth club again? Just think of the great ways we can serve our community by extending ourselves to the ministry of reaching out to the youth in our community.
On February 24th we will again celebrate youth Sunday. This month we will be presenting Bibles to our 3rd graders. We also celebrate the expansion of our children’s Sunday school classes and the people who every week prepares lessons to teach our children. We celebrate our children’s church leaders who lead our children in a closer walk with God through worship.
I invite you this month to take time to thank those who are working closely with our children and youth. I also invite you to pray about God’s call on your life. Could it possibly be that God would like your help in building dreams with our youth? You never know what blessings might be in store for you as you support the gifts that God has given us in our children and youth. Let’s work and pray together that the rich history and ministry of celebrating the gifts of our children and youth will continue and expand so that we might realize God’s dreams for our church.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Kathleen
Time With Sharon…Our Neighbors' Kids
February 2008
I am worried about the kids.
I have heard from two area elementary school principals in the last week in differing contexts, and learned that there are a lot of boys and girls in our community who are falling behind…or never even getting close to getting started. Some come from area families, and their parents are overwhelmed in trying to pay for the roof over their heads. The reasons vary, but there is a shortage of time, means, or focus to assist their struggling kids with emerging reading and math skills. If these kids have learning disabilities or are just naturally a little behind the curve, they are in jeopardy of falling dramatically behind in just one year, and increase the risks of never catching up. Some are chronically absent because of transportation issues, family instability, health problems, or homelessness. These kids may miss out on large blocks of the presented material, which will remain simply lost to them through the rest of their educational experience.
Some youngsters have the complex burden of being freshly transplanted from another culture. St. Louis has become home to many refugee and immigrant families from Somalia, Bosnia, Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mexico, China, and Thailand. One teacher I spoke with last night told me that some of her students in the second grade had never held a pencil before. These kids are bright, eager to learn, but are caught in the difficulty of trying to learn new skills in a new home, in a new culture, through a new language. They desperately need intensive one-on-one support to help them adapt to their new lives.
The gift of tutoring can give these boys and girls a chance to succeed. If you have an hour or two each week to share with some of these youngsters, your efforts can help to bridge the ever-widening gap that threatens to leave them behind forever. LPUMC has an awesome love for children, expressed through our many children and youth ministries. Here are two opportunities for folks from Lafayette Park United Methodist Church to jump in and get involved in a meaningful way to change the trajectory of the lives of our neighbors’ sons and daughters as well.
You can pick the hours that work for you. Sitting with children and helping them read through a story may be the gift that your soul longs to give. You have the power to offer encouragement, confidence, and ultimately increase their chances for educational success. I would be so happy to facilitate an opportunity to get you plugged into a tutoring program. Please join me in praying for them. And if you are able, offering the gifts of time, patience, and encouragement.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Sharon
I am worried about the kids.
I have heard from two area elementary school principals in the last week in differing contexts, and learned that there are a lot of boys and girls in our community who are falling behind…or never even getting close to getting started. Some come from area families, and their parents are overwhelmed in trying to pay for the roof over their heads. The reasons vary, but there is a shortage of time, means, or focus to assist their struggling kids with emerging reading and math skills. If these kids have learning disabilities or are just naturally a little behind the curve, they are in jeopardy of falling dramatically behind in just one year, and increase the risks of never catching up. Some are chronically absent because of transportation issues, family instability, health problems, or homelessness. These kids may miss out on large blocks of the presented material, which will remain simply lost to them through the rest of their educational experience.
Some youngsters have the complex burden of being freshly transplanted from another culture. St. Louis has become home to many refugee and immigrant families from Somalia, Bosnia, Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mexico, China, and Thailand. One teacher I spoke with last night told me that some of her students in the second grade had never held a pencil before. These kids are bright, eager to learn, but are caught in the difficulty of trying to learn new skills in a new home, in a new culture, through a new language. They desperately need intensive one-on-one support to help them adapt to their new lives.
The gift of tutoring can give these boys and girls a chance to succeed. If you have an hour or two each week to share with some of these youngsters, your efforts can help to bridge the ever-widening gap that threatens to leave them behind forever. LPUMC has an awesome love for children, expressed through our many children and youth ministries. Here are two opportunities for folks from Lafayette Park United Methodist Church to jump in and get involved in a meaningful way to change the trajectory of the lives of our neighbors’ sons and daughters as well.
Sigel Elementary School- 2039 Russell Blvd.
Hodgen Elementary School- 1616 California
You can pick the hours that work for you. Sitting with children and helping them read through a story may be the gift that your soul longs to give. You have the power to offer encouragement, confidence, and ultimately increase their chances for educational success. I would be so happy to facilitate an opportunity to get you plugged into a tutoring program. Please join me in praying for them. And if you are able, offering the gifts of time, patience, and encouragement.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Sharon
The Wilder View…January 2008
On Saturday December 15th we hosted a potato drop. It was snowing as we moved 10 lbs. bags of potatoes into the backs of pick up trucks and vans. It seemed like a really crazy thing to do and then in a burst of craziness the song ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas starting going through my brain and I thought, “I wonder if we could write the 12 months of mission for Lafayette Park?” All of a sudden I could hear us singing ‘…and a pumpkin patch for our community…’ instead of a partridge in a pear tree.
It was pretty easy at first – “twelve shalom dinners, five Sunday dinners, four ice cream socials, three potato drops, two VIMS, and a pumpkin patch for our community.” The problem was with the numbers, 11, 10, and 9. (Ok I might be a little off on my numbers) Oh and there wasn’t a number in the song for our Matthew’s Brown Bag ministry, nor for our children’s ministry, not for the choir, nor for the boutique. I tried really hard to adapt the song so we could sing it together and celebrate all of the amazing things we were able to do in 2007 to live out our vision statement. The problem is that the song just couldn’t contain it all, and truth be told, the reality is that this article can’t either.
God has used us mightily in 2007. We have already accomplished several of our visions from our Vision Quest earlier this year. This is really great because we thought it would take us several years to accomplish just a small percentage of these exciting ideas. I know that God will provide even more opportunities to radically transform the city of St. Louis in 2008. God’s Spirit is alive and active in our congregation! God is opening doors for us to make a difference in our community. God is smiling on the work that Lafayette Park has accomplished. It almost feels like God is excited about what will happen in 2008. I must confess so am I! So I invite you, as we launch this New Year – 2008, to commit to asking God, “What do you want me to do this year? What do you want to do with our church?” Also please put February 23rd on your schedule for our next Vision Quest – Vision Quest 2008. We are planning on extending our understanding of God’s vision into the next decade. This kind of work begins with prayer, and seeking God’s direction.
I invite you into a great 2008! Truly, ‘God Is Doing Great and Amazing Things at Lafayette Park.’
To God Be the Glory!
Pastor Kathleen
It was pretty easy at first – “twelve shalom dinners, five Sunday dinners, four ice cream socials, three potato drops, two VIMS, and a pumpkin patch for our community.” The problem was with the numbers, 11, 10, and 9. (Ok I might be a little off on my numbers) Oh and there wasn’t a number in the song for our Matthew’s Brown Bag ministry, nor for our children’s ministry, not for the choir, nor for the boutique. I tried really hard to adapt the song so we could sing it together and celebrate all of the amazing things we were able to do in 2007 to live out our vision statement. The problem is that the song just couldn’t contain it all, and truth be told, the reality is that this article can’t either.
God has used us mightily in 2007. We have already accomplished several of our visions from our Vision Quest earlier this year. This is really great because we thought it would take us several years to accomplish just a small percentage of these exciting ideas. I know that God will provide even more opportunities to radically transform the city of St. Louis in 2008. God’s Spirit is alive and active in our congregation! God is opening doors for us to make a difference in our community. God is smiling on the work that Lafayette Park has accomplished. It almost feels like God is excited about what will happen in 2008. I must confess so am I! So I invite you, as we launch this New Year – 2008, to commit to asking God, “What do you want me to do this year? What do you want to do with our church?” Also please put February 23rd on your schedule for our next Vision Quest – Vision Quest 2008. We are planning on extending our understanding of God’s vision into the next decade. This kind of work begins with prayer, and seeking God’s direction.
I invite you into a great 2008! Truly, ‘God Is Doing Great and Amazing Things at Lafayette Park.’
To God Be the Glory!
Pastor Kathleen
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