After the Grand Jury Decision

As I was waiting to hear the Grand Jury decision, I found myself reading scripture and praying,  I found a Psalm that is deeply precious to me, it is Psalm 46.

 

God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
³ though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.^[c]

⁴ There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.
⁵ God is within her, she will not fall;
    God will help her at break of day.

 

It is clear to me that we are in a time of trouble and that we also hold the potential to become a city who makes God glad.  So I hope that these words can bring comfort, hope, healing, and whatever else is needed you each of you personally as well as for our community.  We are not alone and God is helping.

 

One of the things that I deeply cherish about the people of Lafayette Park is that we can be on two opposite sides of a situation and still roll up our sleeves and serve God together.  It is one of the reasons that each Sunday I say, “Christ is our peace who has broken down the walls that divide us so we are no longer strangers we are family.”  Every family has members who see issues one way or the other and they talk them through (sometimes with loud voices and frustrations) however, they know that they can talk the issues through because the bond of love is stronger than the disparity of view point.  I am so proud of the bond of love we have for one another and God at Lafayette Park UMC.

 

As we walk together through this time after the Grand Jury decision, we all have many feelings, denial, fear, anger, hope, loneliness, sadness, and so many more that I can’t even begin to name.  There are a few things that I hope we can remember.

 

1. There are honorable people on all sides of this issue.
2. There are police and national guards who are working hard to provide safety in a tenuous atmosphere.
3. There are people who need to cry out for a change and they have a right to protest.
4. There is a difference between those who protest and those who commit crimes.
5. Those who commit crimes often try to hide in the midst of those who are trying to peacefully protest.
6. Truth and Light will reveal the intentions of each one’s heart by their actions.

There are a couple of churches that in the areas where these is the most unrest.  These churches have agreed to extend their hours in ministry to the community.  They provide a safe spot for people who live in the area to be safe, to have prayer and counseling, to provide drinks and food for those who do not feel safe to be in their own homes.  They are not places that are harboring people who want to do criminal acts.  Maria has forwarded an email of various items they need to help support the people who are living at ground zero in our community.

 

I am available to pray, talk, visit with you during this time.  It doesn’t matter what you think my view point or your view point is on this situation, we can join together in prayer for truth, light, healing, and a vision that helps our community truly become one that is built upon God’s foundation of peace, truth, grace, and love.

 

I hold you in my prayers and give thanks to God for the amazing people of Lafayette Park.  I hope that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.  I look forward to seeing you Sunday as we begin Advent and we wait for the coming of Christ, Emmanuel, God with us.

 

Deep peace of Christ be with you.

 

Pastor Kathleen

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

Happy New Year!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your amazing support of the ministry of Lafayette Park United Methodist Church in 2011. Each of you has made a significant impact in our ministry within the church, in our community, and in our world. Thank you for your commitment to our ministries with your prayers, your presence in worship, your financial tithes and gifts, your service in mission, and your witness in our community. Our church is stronger and our community is healthier because of you.

Thank you for faithfully committing to be part of passionate worship, intentional faith development, radical hospitality, risk taking mission, and outrageous generosity. Thank you for the many ways you live out your commitment to follow and serve Christ in our community. You truly epitomize our vision statement of being ‘a church without walls creating Christ’s presence in our community.’

On a personal note, there are no words to convey my deep gratitude for the many ways you have supported me and my family through our season of health challenges. You have taught me an extremely important lesson about the power of community. I am truly humbled and overwhelmed by the many ways you have helped sustain my family. I have seen many people over the last several months at both St. Mary’s and the VA who did not have a church family. I don’t know how anyone can survive without one… I know I couldn’t have without you. Thank you for being my family.

God has truly accomplished many wonderful things through you this year. Thank you for participating in the journey. Thank you for the many things you will do this year to share God’s love and grace with the world around us.

Pastor Kathleen

The Wilder View - June 2011

I was raised in a faith tradition that did not observe the full Christian calendar year…we celebrated Christmas and Easter, period.

As a Methodist, I have found richness in my spiritual journey by marking the different seasons of the year, Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, and Kingdom time.

I am sure when I was younger, I must have heard the word Pentecost, and probably my understanding of Pentecost was based on hearing about our brothers and sisters of the Pentecostal Church fellowship.

I know that from their descriptions, Pentecost seemed a bit scary. It wasn’t an accurate description of the celebration of Pentecost.

Pentecost as you may know is celebrated after Easter. Many people refer to Pentecost as the Birthday of the church. Not a specific church, but rather, the church universal, or the body of Christ. It is the day when a group of really scared followers of Christ encountered the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives and began to speak out and act as people who followed a resurrected Christ. The color for Pentecost is red to symbolize the tongues of fire that came upon the people in the upper room.

I invite you to join us for a Birthday Party on June 12! The theme is celebrating the life and work of our church as a part of the body of Christ. The preferred attire is red. Please invite all of your friends and family to the party!

Happy Birthday!
Pastor Kathleen

Greetings to Pastor Francisco Rungo

March 2, 2011

Francisco Rungo
Pastor in Charge
Catembe United Methodist Church

Congratulations on your appointment as pastor of Catembe UMC. We are very interested in learning more about your ministries and your vision for the people of Catembe?

We have heard of issues completing the chapel. I understand that the roof is the next priority towards completing your chapel. We hear stories nightly about children and HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Our church works with our local schools to provide reading tutors, success bags and a community garden. We were wondering about the children, what are the educational opportunities? What barriers exist for your children to be educated?

Our church is also very passionate about HIV/AIDS ministry. We have had programs over the years of focused on inclusion and comfort. Has the disease impacted Catembe?

We pray for your success and the success of your congregation. We want to hear more of your vision and how we can be engaged in your ministries.

Yours in Christ,
Rev. Kathleen Wilder
Lafayette Park United Methodist Church

The Wilder View - April 2011

I remember the first time Jim and I visited Lafayette Park UMC. We were active members at another church and I guess someone from Lafayette Park just asked us to come one Sunday and worship with them. I was working in corporate America at the time, never dreaming that one day I might be a pastor serving at Lafayette Park. I remember walking in the door at the front of the church and seeing two people standing in the area by the sanctuary door. There was a big sign that had a bunch of name tags on it, and the two people had name tags as well. They were smiling at us and greeted us warmly when they handed us a bulletin. I thought wow, these people have their stuff together.

We found a seat towards the back and before we could really sit down, someone came up and talked with us. They let us know where the bathrooms were just in case we needed it at some point in time. They also introduced us to someone else and we had several lovely conversations before worship began.
The service began and then there was the passing of the peace and we watched as the whole church jumped up and starting walking around and hugging each other. People walked from one side of the sanctuary to the other and there was such a great energy in the room. I remember thinking how great it was to be greeted so warmly. I left that day thinking, you know if I were looking for a church to be part of, Lafayette Park would be a great church.

Sometimes we can get busy on Sunday taking care of the various ministries we are involved in. Dare we confess that sometimes the passing of the peace is the time that we connect with various people on our ministry teams to work out logistics of the next activity? Dare we confess that we might just miss the opportunity of greeting that new visitor who is looking for a place to belong, a place where they can plug in and make a difference in the world?

We have been having new visitors each Sunday and I anticipate that as we draw closer to Easter we will continue to have more and more visitors. Easter Sunday I hope and pray that we will be a full church with people who want to connect with God but really haven’t had an opportunity to find a community where they feel welcomed and wanted.

I invite you in the next several weeks to be intentional about praying for God to draw new people to worship with us during the week. I ask you to be sensitive to new faces and ask that you be intentional about connecting with them. Who knows, what might look like a new face to you might be someone that has been worshipping here for a few months! Perhaps you might consider volunteering to be one of those smiling faces at the door who greet people and welcome them. Or perhaps you might be intentional about greeting the new folks who are visiting each week.

Lafayette Park UMC is a great church and we can extend God’s grace to people by how we greet them. Let’s be intentional to reaching out on Sunday mornings and welcoming people so that when they leave us they say, “Wow, it was great to connect with God today. If I were looking for a church, Lafayette Park UMC would be a great church.”

~Pastor Kathleen

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

The Wilder View - November 2010

I don’t know if you have noticed it yet, but it seems to me that we now have a new ‘currency’ here at Lafayette Park United Methodist Church, and that currency is nets! It has been just a few weeks since we began our challenge to generate enough nets to cover the city of Catembe, Mozambique with ‘bed nets’ also known as ‘mosquito nets, and we have already made great strides towards that goal. It will take a total of 2000 nets to cover Catembe and at this point we have raised enough for 485, so we only have 1,515 to go.

However, the most exciting thing for me is not only hearing people talking about nets, but finding out what they are doing to raise ‘net money.’ We are receiving donations for nets for many different reasons. Here are a few; “We can’t buy that…it is half a net.” “Just because I can give.” “I am going to match my daughter’s donation.” and “From our cuss jar.” People are baking and serving and giving the profits towards nets. One of our children gave a net from his birthday money. We have received donations from the sales of Cheesecakes, pumpkin bread, and pumpkin crochet hats. People have turned in money from substituting and babysitting. “I held off shopping for souvenirs in Mexico.” One of our children has their classroom that is taking this on as their project and a whole school that is going to collect money for nets during Lent. It is downright exciting!

Yet, the most exciting thing to me at this point, is to hear people talking. Here are some of the conversations that I have heard. “This will sell at the Christmas Bazaar and it will be 1 net, and this will be one 10th of a net.” It is like we no longer have dollar bills but we have denominations of nets! I am also hearing people say, “Let’s not do a ‘drive through’, that would be a couple of nets. Let’s just eat at home.”

God is truly doing a great work within our lives and the life of our church. We are thinking about ways to live more simply so that we can give the simple gift of a healthy life to our Sisters and Brothers in Catembe.

I have no doubt that we will successfully meet our goal. Lafayette Park is a church that listens for God’s voice and direction and then follows that voice. Please do include a note with your donations so we can all see what ways our goal is reached. These will be faith stories that will encourage and excite our congregation.

Thanks for all of your faithful support as we work together to change and save lives in Catembe!

The Wilder View . . . October 2010

Can you believe it? I was in a store the other day and saw Christmas decorations already…Christmas in October! It seems like the focus on Christmas and buying gifts happens earlier and earlier each year. There is a great pressure to find the perfect gift and to be able to purchase the newest technical gadget possible. Yet, the real meaning and purpose of Christmas is pushed into the background.

At Annual Conference this year, Michael Slaughter the pastor of Ginghamsburg, UMC spoke about something they began several years ago. The idea was simple… “Christmas is not your birthday.” Pastor Michael invited the congregation to begin to celebrate Christmas by recognizing that Christmas is the Christ’s birthday and that our giving and our focus should be on Christ versus seeing how many gifts we can buy for everyone else or for ourselves. He challenged the church to give as much to missions that Christmas as they spent on Christmas gifts. Over the next years, amazing things have happened through this church’s focus; wells have been built in the Sudan, schools built, and many lives have been saved!

At the last council meeting, I asked Lafayette Park to make a commitment this year to celebrate Christmas by giving the gift of health and life. Malaria is a horrible disease that greatly impacts many people in Africa. It is estimated that it kills 800,000 children each year in Africa.

You might remember that last summer God placed upon my heart a call to provide mosquito nets for the people of Catembe. We quickly raised enough money to provide nets to the members of our sister congregation. I have since come to understand that the call was for us to provide nets for everyone in Catembe.

Carol Kreamer, our mission coordinator for the Mozambique Initiative, told me recently about work that is happening with the United Nations Foundation. They have been piloting a mass deployment of mosquito nets to specific areas. 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. Catembe is targeted to be one of six locations in Mozambique to have nets deployed.

The council agreed that our focus for Christmas this year will be to raise money for mosquito nets for the entire area of Catembe. The nets only cost $10 and they save many lives. I am asking you to become intentional about ways that you can raise money between now and Christmas that can go towards the mosquito nets. The day after council, I heard from members of the church who have pledged towards the nets. Jim and I will be making and selling pumpkin pies during the holidays with the proceeds going towards nets. The Wilder children will be hosting a yard sale in the future to raise money towards the nets as well. As you have opportunities to make a donation towards the nets, jot down what you did to raise the money. I think the stories behind our creative endeavors will provide an additional blessing to our brothers and sisters in Mozambique. Our total goal is 2,000 nets we have already sent in the funds for 200 nets from last year. We are already 10% there!

This Christmas the people of Lafayette Park will give gifts that reflect our gratitude for the gift of life we have received through the birth of Jesus. Let the creativity, planning, and excitement begin!

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Kathleen

Wilder View - August 2010

Don’t you love the sounds of summer… children laughing as they splash in a swimming pool, the ice cream truck driving down your street, and conversation at backyard BBQs? Yet, there is one summer sound that I would venture to say, we all hate to hear – the sort of hum/buzz that sweeps around our head, the sensation of a tiny soft landing which prompts us to slap the mosquito that is threatening the calmness of the moment. I have yet to find someone that likes mosquitoes. Yet, for the majority of us in St. Louis, mosquitoes are just pests. For our brothers and sisters in Catembe, Mozambique, mosquitoes are deadly.

Many of you might remember last summer that I had this God experience at 3:15 in the morning. I was in a dead sleep when a dialogue of questions and answers went through my mind;

“Does the pastor of Catembe have mosquito nets for her family? To which I replied, “I don’t know.
“Well shouldn’t they?”
“Well, yes.”
“How are they going to get them?”
“Well I should get them.”
“What about the United Methodist Women at Catembe? Do they have nets?”
“I don’t know.”
“Well…“
“Ok, we will take care of them as well.”
“What about the men’s group?"
"Yes, of course”
“And what about the whole church of Catembe?”
“What if the people of Catembe could have some way to tangibly show the love of God to their whole community?”
“Ok, ok, I get it… we should get mosquito nets for all of Catembe.”

Then I was back to sleep. The next morning, my sermon changed half way through and I shared this dialogue with you all and some of you probably thought, “There she is, going crazy again.” Others of you thought “Wow, what a God moment!” In a very short time we were able to raise enough money to purchase a mosquito net (220 nets) for every family of Catembe United Methodist Church in Mozambique.

We found out as we began to send in our money in that there wasn’t a structure in place to get our nets directly to Catembe, so we slowed down in our efforts to get nets to cover the entire peninsula of Catembe, Mozambique.

Recently we found out that the United Nations Foundation has been conducting pilot programs of mass deployment of mosquito nets in an area to greatly reduce malaria in that area. They have received a success rate of 82% in the reduction of malaria in those pilot locations. Carol Kreamer our Missouri Mozambique Coordinator, along with many other people in Misri, and Mozambique are meeting weekly through Skype to discuss the mass distribution project for six areas of Mozambique. Catembe will be one of the areas!

For this to happen, they will need to find community groups that will go and survey the needs of the community so that they identify what each family will need. Then they will distribute the nets, and help install them. They will have to stop by several times during the next year to determine the effectiveness of the project. What a great mission project for the Catembe church to save the lives of many people in their community and tangibly show the love of God! The goal for this new distribution will be to get an 85% reduction of malaria in an area.

The nets that will be deployed are not just repellent nets. A mosquito will die within 10 minutes of landing on the net. The nets will help protect young children, elderly family members, and reduce the devastating reoccurring illness of malaria. On average, $10 provides for the net. If the Spirit nudges you to sponsor a net, or two, or more just note it on the memo line of your check or put it on the offering envelop.

Although God hasn’t nudged me at 3:15 am again, I think the original question remains, “Shouldn’t we help if we can?” I think the original answer remains as well, “Yes, of course.”

Shalom,
~Pastor Kathleen

Wilder View - June 2010

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” - Ecclesiastes 3:1

I have had the privilege of sharing many seasons with Sharon. Our first season was when we were both in the exploration and wonder of going into ministry. We were both part time staff members at Webster Hills UMC and were filled with wonderment that God could call us and use us in ministry. It was a season of newness.

We shared another season as I was first appointed to Lafayette Park and Sharon served as our intern while she was in seminary. A season of questions – why do you do this, have you thought about doing this. What is the story behind… what if we tried this? This was a season of experimentation and learning.

And then we shared another season… a season in which we served the people of Lafayette Park. Time was spent on how we could better care for those we serve. This was a time of perfecting pastoral skills and learning administration. It was a season of preparing to be a seasoned pastor.
Now a new season begins. A season of soaring above the clouds! Shortly, Pastor Sharon will begin a new season, a season of serving as pastor to two churches. She will start the season of falling in love with more of God’s people. She will learn the unique gifts that are within those churches and will help those gifts become nourished and begin to grow.

We at Lafayette Park UMC also enter a new season. This will be a season of discernment as we seek out specific areas where we would like to grow. We will call forth gifts of ministry within the congregation so that we all may grow into using the gifts that God has placed within us.

Every season contains joys and sorrows, life and death, tears and laughter. Let us enter into this new season with the expectant hope of the God that is the giver of life and love, and ask God to plant within us the new growth we hunger for in our churches.

May God bless Pastor Sharon and her two new churches as they enter into this new season of hope and growth. May God bless Lafayette Park as we enter into this new season of hope and growth.

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

~Pastor Kathleen

Wilder View - May 2010

During the month of April our sermons have focused on ‘playing in God’s garden.’ We have been challenged to sow seeds of God’s love and justice wherever we go in the world. We have also been encouraged to look at the weeds in our lives differently – to find the value that they might bring to our lives and community. Finally, we were challenged to dream of what God’s vision for our community might look like.

What dream has God planted in your mind? Is it ending violence? Protecting children? Stopping hunger? Ending homelessness? Growing mature, spiritual youth and children? Do these dreams seem too big? Do they seem too impossible? The truth is that with God all things are possible.

We are in the midst of creating a community garden with McKinley Classical Leadership Academy. (The big school located on Russell Blvd. between Missouri and Mississippi) In the days and weeks to come, we will be tilling ground at the school, building raised bed gardens, and planting plants with the students, staff, and neighbors of McKinley. We will also create container gardens at Centenary that will be used for food at the Bridge and possibly even start a social entrepreneurship from our garden. Everyone is invited to participate in this exciting adventure.

This is only the beginning. We have been invited to sow seeds of tutoring in each of the schools we are connected to McKinley, Sigel, and Hodgens. There are construction projects we will be doing this summer in our various schools to create more nurturing learning environments.
Most importantly, we have been invited to sow life changing seeds through the process of mentoring one child at a time for a school year (or longer) if it is a good match. Just imagine meeting with a boy or girl for a year and building trust with them. Think about the power of cultivating dreams in young people who may have had their dreams crushed out of them.

It is exciting and great fun to play in God’s garden. So, roll up your shirt sleeves, and dig in! The harvest is great, and laborers are needed.

See you at the Harvest Party!
Pastor Kathleen

Wilder View - April 2010

Some of my fondest childhood memories were watching my Grandparents look through their jars and envelopes of seeds on cold winter evenings. Looking at tomato, lettuce, cucumber, and watermelon seeds seemed to create a sense of hope on long winter nights. I remember both the joy of feeling the dirt in our hands each spring as we planted those same seeds in the garden, and the anticipation of the vegetables breaking through the dirt.

My grandfather and I would play pirates as we dug for the potatoes, finding buried treasures. We would share wonderful conversations as we hulled the peas, and snapped the green beans. They are all rich, wonderful memories, and all are connected to life in the garden.
Someone asked me recently how many times garden is mentioned in the Bible, and the answer is 52. It seems only proper to have a garden for each week of the year. The gardens range from Eden, to Gethesemene, to the resurrection. God is actively working through gardens that are planted throughout the Bible.

In April we are going to do a three week sermon series on Life in the Garden. Each week we will explore a part of the garden and how it impacts our lives with God and each other. I invite you to come and roll up your sleeves, dig in, and see what amazing fruit God can grow in your life as you putter around in your spiritual garden. The series will culminate in an Earth Day celebration on April 25.

Happy digging!
~Pastor Kathleen

Wilder View - March 2010

Putting God First Update!

In January’s newsletter we told you that as a faithful congregation, we are putting God First in every part of our daily church life. Thus, we have faithfully written a tithe check each week to ministry beyond our church. As of February 28, 2010 we have contributed $2,973.00. This completes our commitment to World Service. World Service funds a large number of ministries; theological education in Africa, age level programs, camps and retreats, Christian education, colleges and universities, media, global mission, as well as peace and justice issues to name a few.

This past December, I heard about a young 18 year old woman from Kenya who was helped by the World Service fund. She is the oldest of three children who had lost their father to AIDS when she was 12 years old and their mother to AIDS when she was 14. World Service provided missionaries who supported her family through the loss of their parents. They taught her how to farm, raise goats, and care for her two younger brothers. This Christmas, as a result of the efforts of those World Service Missionaries, she was able to provide Christmas dinner for other AIDS orphans in her village. World Service is dramatically touching lives and changing communities. Thank you for your support of ministry around the world.

"And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, . . . They . . . pooled their resources so that each person’s need was met.”--Acts 2:44-45

As of February 28, 2010 we have sent $3,402.25. for Haiti relief through UMCOR – United Methodist Committee on Relief. 100% of this money will go directly to Haiti. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of millions.

~Pastor Kathleen

Wilder View - January 2010

s our finance team met to plan for the New Year, the decision was made to put God First. What you may ask, does that mean? We always put God first don’t we?

In the simplest terms, for our church, it means that as a faith community we will begin by writing our tithe check of 10% of our budget gifts for God’s ministry beyond our walls (including apportionments). This check will be written first, each week, without fail. We will schedule our church building and activities with the focus of God First. Worship, faith development and small groups will be our first priorities. We will look for additional ways that we can give God the first of our time in service.

What might God First look like in our own home? Perhaps it might be that before we get out of bed we stop and give the day to God. “God, I want to put you first today. Show me ways that I can organize my time, and resources that put you first in my life. Help me to live so that others will see you active in my life.” It could be that you try a new spiritual discipline such as reading a devotional book each day, or reading a few verses of the Bible each day. It could be starting the day with a family devotion. It could also mean that when we get paid, the first check we write is for our tithe or pledge for God’s ministry.

I wonder what God First looks like in your life. I wonder what would happen if everyone in our church committed for one day, or one week, or one year in one way to put God First? Just imagine the impact we might have in our church and community.

I pray that 2010 is a great year for you. I pray that you encounter God’s presence and power in your life in dramatic and wonderful ways every day and I pray that you will join me in this adventure to put God First. God First,
Always In All Ways,

~Pastor Kathleen

Wilder View - December 2009

Luke 2:7 …and she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

It wasn’t a special day. I was living out my normal schedule. Running from one meeting to another, making phone calls as I traveled, and thinking about the things I needed to do in the free moments at stop lights. I pulled up to the church. Really quick now, I told myself, “you need to get in, get out, pick up ____, ____, ___, and get to the next place. Hurry!”
Then this verse came to my head. “…there was no room for them in the inn.” Wow, what an odd verse to run through my head when I am thinking about getting things accomplished. After all it isn’t even Thanksgiving yet! Why am I already thinking about Christmas? (maybe because it was getting close to the deadline for this article?)

“…there was no room for them in the inn.” The words came to me again. Hmm, I wonder… no, gotta fly, people are waiting on me. I need to get in, get out, and go.

“…there was no room for them in the inn.” Once again, these words floated through my mind. Finally I realized that it was probably the Holy Spirit working on me. So I stopped just a moment and wondered… could it be possible that there was no room in my inn? Well at least in my day? Wait a minute, I already had my personal devotional and prayer time, God; I made room for you this morning…what do you mean, there is no room?

Yet those words swirled around me once again.

My friends, we are entering a time when the world just gets faster and faster. Our calendars are getting fuller and fuller. Our commitments are becoming greater and greater, and maybe, just maybe, we are not making room for the real meaning of Christmas. Maybe the ‘inn’ is the place in our daily lives that we stop to invite the Christ child to help us see the world from the perspective of innocence and fun. How much room have we set aside in our calendar to experience the wonder of birth and life? How much room do we have in our day to be quiet and reflect upon the joy of God’s greatest gift?

This advent, I invite you to stop and intentionally make room…make room in your day; make room in your schedule, and in your life to encounter Emmanuel, God with us!

Happy Advent!
~Pastor Kathleen