Wilder View - March 2011

Often I hear people saying, “I hate change, why can’t people just leave things as they are?” Or the old classic, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” It just seems as though just when things are getting rolling along, something comes along to make it change.

However, the interesting thing about change is that many times we (with great joy) make choices that make changes. For instance, when you make a commitment to love another person and share a life and home with them…Or when you decide to conceive, or adopt, or even mentor a child. When you accept a promotion or take on another job. All of these are major changes and in most cases, we greet these changes with excitement, joy, and hope. Dan and Chip Heath point out in their book Switch, that while we have generally negative feelings towards changes, if we understand the reason and the purpose behind a change we can embrace the change and change can become a very positive experience.

During Lent, many of us are reading (in small groups) a book called, Changing the World, Recovering the Message and Mission of Jesus. This book invites us to look at the ways we are currently being church in our community, and to consider changes. Changes in the ways we are church; changes that might make our church more relevant to both our personal spiritual needs and the needs of our community. Some of the first groups have already met as I am writing this article and I am excited to hear about the energy that is coming from the discussions. If you are not already reading the book or are not signed up for a group, there is still time to participate. I invite you to take a journey with us this Lent to see how we can change our world for God’s glory. I invite you to read the book or the study guides, and to talk with those around you, or give me a call and share your ideas. Books are available at the communion rail. Please consider joining us.

I am hopeful that this Lenten season will be a time in which we can reflect and dream about what God would have us do to make St. Louis a city that is known for the mighty works that God is doing in our midst. I am hopeful that we will find ways that we can make subtle changes that will enhance our personal relationship with God and each other. God truly is “doing great and amazing things in our midst.”
Blessings on the journey.

~Pastor Kathleen

Wilder View - February

I often notice that on some emails people will have a quote at the bottom of their email. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about…

• "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." Albert Einstein;
• or…‘Little Children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.’ 1 John 3:18.
• There is one that I have thought about several times even after the email has long since been deleted… "Live like Jesus did, and the world will listen." - Mahatma Gandhi

It seems to me that this is a compelling critique of the ‘institutional church.’

There is a hunger that has been stirring in me for sometime about what it would look like if our church were more like the early church. We would certainly have more people visiting with each other in homes. We would have more prayer groups, and we would experience the mighty power of God throughout our community and the world. We would see systems that have oppressed people for centuries fall away and I wonder… could we? ...Just maybe, be more like the early followers of Jesus Christ.

At annual conference last year I heard Rev. Mike Slaughter, the pastor at Ginghamsburg Church, in Tipp City, Ohio, speak about recapturing that passion and purpose of the early Christians. He has written a book called “Change the World, Recovering the Message and Mission of Jesus.”

We are beginning the process of organizing small discussion groups to read through this book together as a Church during Lent. I invite you to begin to pray about this opportunity. Starting the week of February 27th we will have a series of groups meeting at the church, coffee shops, and homes around the St. Louis area. It will be a great time to meet new people and build friendships as well as look at how we can be a stronger Church in 2011.

Please prayerfully plan to join me in this study and upon the next great adventure.

Blessings on the journey,
~Pastor Kathleen

“Nets for Catembe” 100% of Goal!

Friends,

There are no words to express my gratitude at the amazing work you have done to raise 2,000 mosquito nets to help eradicate Malaria in Catembe Mozambique. We have received commitments at this point that will take us to our goal of 2,000 nets or a total of $20,000. These nets will be deployed in the area of Catembe Mozambique. Our church has been able to help and entire community find life giving hope. Thank you.

This is so huge for us to be able to do this, there is no way to calculate the lives that you are impacting through your generous and sacrificial giving to provide nets Catembe Mozambique.

We will keep you posted on the deployment plans and time line.

In the mean time, thank you.
Pastor Kathleen

Mosquito Nets For Catembe - Update

Our Campaign to provide mosquito nets for all of Catembe, Mozambique is exceeding expectations. Simply put, malaria kills. Nets can save lives.

Last year, we raised 220 nets to cover the members of our “sister” church, The Catembe United Methodist Church. This Year’s focus is on providing mosquito nets for everyone in the city of Catembe. We need 2000 nets to protect the women, children and families of Catembe. So far we have raised enough funds for 1239 nets. We are at 62% of our goal.

$10 Saves a Life — Buy a Mosquito Net, and give the gift of a healthy life to our brothers and sisters in Catembe! The nets are treated so that in addition to protecting people from mosquito bites, any mosquito that lands on the net is dead within a few minutes. The result is an 82% reduction of malaria cases in the area that the nets have been distributed.

Congratulations everyone for helping saves lives.
Pastor Kathleen

http://www.nothingbutnets.net/nets-save-lives/

The Wilder View - December 2010

Isn’t it amazing how things change so quickly? Yesterday we were walking around in short sleeves enjoying one more day of Indian summer in St. Louis, and today we are wearing sweatshirts. It seems to me that this year has been a year of extremes. We have experienced great joy as we have grown as a church in our faith walk and in our mission outreach. We have experienced significant pain in walking with each other through sickness, death, and loss of employment. We have shared laughter at the wonderful things that God is doing in our midst, and we have shared tears at the challenges of friends losing jobs, and home.

I confess there have been times this year when I have said, “God, I am ready for it to get easier,” only to find that the next day offers an even greater challenge. There have also been times when I have felt so overwhelmed I couldn’t even make my brain think. And then there have been times when I have said, “God, I can’t take any more of this because it is just so wonderful.” And then the next day offers an even greater blessing from God. Maybe you can relate to those feelings and how quickly everything can change.

There is a popular Christian song called ‘Blink’ by a group call Revived. I think the words of this song can be especially meaningful for us as we embark into a season of holidays and end of the year reflection.

Teach me to number my days
And count every moment before it slips away
Taking in all the colors before they fade to gray,
I don't want to miss even just a second more of this.

When it's all said and done
No one remembers how far we have run
The only thing that matters is how we have loved
I don't want to miss even just a second more of this.

Slow down, slow down
Before today becomes our yesterday
Slow down, slow down
Before you turn around and it's too late.

It happens in a blink,
It happens in a flash
It happens in the time it took to look back
I try to hold on tight but there's no stopping time
What is it I've done with my life
It happens in a blink.

By the time you receive this newsletter we will have celebrated Thanksgiving Day. You might find yourself joyfully looking forward to all of the festivities of the season, or find yourself wanting hide in solitude. No matter how we feel, God is present with us and will sustain us through our joys and sadness’s. I invite you to take time this Advent season to stop and listen to God’s Spirit in your life, so that you don’t miss the beauty that is around you before it flashes by.

Peaceful Advent
~Pastor Kathleen