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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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:

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.