A Prayer For Ferguson

by Assistant Pastor Dan Shanks
Call to Worship - 8/17/2014

For those who have seen their lives torn apart by violence of all kinds

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For the family of Michael Brown, his friends and his community.

For all those who grieve the loss of life tragically ended.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For those who believe the only response to violence is more violence,

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For those people of faith willing to step out and to lead in times of trouble.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For those who look at a situation from a distance, neglecting to get  involved or too easily passing judgment.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For those in positions of power who work for reconciliation and justice.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For those who hold places of authority but have abused that power towards unjust ends,

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For the people of Ferguson and of St. Louis, city and county—north and south, east and west,

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Easter Greetings

As I have been thinking and praying about what to write in this Easter letter, I found that my experience this past fall kept invading my thoughts. As many of you know, I encountered a heart attack on Oct. 11 of last year. On Oct. 12 it was revealed that I had two blocked arteries. One artery was blocked at 95% and a stent was placed in that artery immediately. I remember feeling a great sensation of when the blood began to go through my body. Life began racing through my body and it was an amazing feeling. I had no idea that my arteries were blocked and impacting my health. On Nov. 21, I received a second stent and now I have no blockages in my heart and I am on my journey to health and wholeness.

In many ways, I believe I had an Easter experience last October. I hadn’t realized that my life and health were in jeopardy. In some ways, the blockage in my heart was like the stone placed upon Christ’s tomb. I experienced the miraculous power of God’s healing through a trained and caring medical team. I also experienced the sustaining grace and love of God through my faith community, you, the people of Lafayette Park UMC. These two experiences transformed my life. I now find that things that used to cause me to lose sleep at night no longer have power over me because in truth they are not life and death issues. They are things that no one will think about or even remember in a month or two.

I realize now that even though I have always considered myself an Easter person I haven’t really lived an Easter life. An Easter life is one that approaches each day knowing that we have already died and are living a resurrected life. Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in Christ who loved me and gave himself for me.” Each day I try to learn more about how to walk around in a healthy body empowered by God. It will be a long journey because I am a Methodist and, as Wesley invites us to do, I am going on to Christian Perfection.

In coming weeks I would like to request a few things for you to consider. First please join us this Sunday, March 25, after worship for a special gratitude fellowship from the Wilders. It is our humble way of trying to say thank you for all of the prayers, meals, rides, gifts, and amazing ways you have supported our family.

Secondly as we approach Easter, reflect on ways that you might be living as I was living, blocked and worrying about things that no one will remember in a month. What are the ways that you too can live in the power of a resurrected life? What habits or thought patterns need to shift to transform your life?

Our Easter offering this year will go to the restoration of the large east stained glass window. At the writing of this letter, we have over $39,000 towards our goal of $60,000 to restore the window. This restoration will give new life to our window and increase the quality of life in our sanctuary. It will care for the window for the next 100 years.

I pray that whatever you do in the next few weeks you may also experience the transforming miraculous power of Easter in your life.
Blessings,

Pastor Kathleen

What Lent Means To Me - 4/1/2012

This is the fifth in a series that will be included in the Sunday Bulletin each week during Lent.

by Cindy Pillow

There were tables in the shape of 3 large crosses, hot cross buns and hot tea. You must behave yourself. You are eating with at least 50 elderly women. There is a Sacrificial Breakfast at church. What fun??? Why call it “Good Friday”, Jesus DIED today. A program that is especially boring for children. Oh no, those are not
raisins in the hot cross buns, it’s that nasty candied fruit, I wonder if I can hide it under my plate?

Dying eggs, new shoes and what’s for Easter dinner? Oh, my it’s Lent, “What should I give up?” Maybe it should be soda, ice cream or CHOCOLATE? Where can I get Easter crosses for the Easter Baskets? No candy for the child with braces. While in a hurry to prepare for Easter the season of Lent is delegated to a mild inconvenience of remembering to deny myself a pleasure, but God’s love is never denied to us.

Now, repentance, self denial and gratitude from Ash Wednesday to Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. We should not be giving up but giving more. I should be giving my time for a letter of thanks or praise of a job well done. Giving my abilities to listen, lead or create. What more can I give when Jesus gave it all?

What Lent Means To Me - 3/18/2012

This is the fourth in a series that will be included in the Sunday Bulletin each week during Lent.

by Daron Smith

When I was asked to share what Lent means to me the first thing that popped into my head was the anticipation of Easter and a really great family dinner with presents and candy. Ok, that was what the kid in me thinks about but now that I'm a little older that has changed a bit. Don't get me wrong; who can resist those Reese's Peanut Butter eggs?! Family memories of Easter time are something I will always cherish and hold close, but now during Lent I reflect on my spiritual development and where my life is going. As Christians we focus on the resurrection and new beginnings so that is what I think about. How can I change and grow and become a better Christian? It's not always an easy thing to do so I'm more intentional about it during the Lenten season and along the way I still manage to sneak a peanut butter egg here and there.

What Lent Means To Me - 3/11/2012

This is the third in a series that will be included in the Sunday Bulletin each week during Lent.

by Lynne Keay

I was raised in a small town southeast of here. There were four churches and Lent was observed by all. There was a community Ash Wednesday service but I don't remember any ashes. Then there was Palm Sunday but I don't remember any palms. We had service every evening of Holy Week. The egg hunt was on Saturday and then Easter Sunrise Service that moved from church to church(PJs and raincoat). It was not until later that I understood that Easter wasn't just a new outfit with hat. In 1998, I was fortunate to walk the Via Dolorsa (Way of Cross) in Jerusalem. The street was rough and uneven, steep, and narrow. It gives you a unusual feeling of awe and amazement. Seeing the street fired my imagination of the sacrifice and pain had by Jesus.

Lent is the time I realize the sacrifice that has been made for us. How I honor it is up to me.