Lpumc News & Views Sept 2009

If you are HIV+ or have AIDS, or are the friend or loved one of a person who is HIV+ or has AIDS, you ARE welcome at LPUMC!

Return Service Requested

Homecoming Sunday VIM Trip, Juarez, MX

2300 Lafayette Avenue St. Louis, MO 63104 314.771.9214

Labor Day Sept. 7

Youth Mission team offers helping hands for tornado cleanup

Church Council Sept. 10, 7 p.m.

Homecoming Sept. 13

Adult Confirmation Class Begins Sept. 17

LPUMC News & Views– September 2009

Sept. 13 Oct. 3-9

9:00a Adult Sunday School

LAFAYETTE PARK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Happenings at LPUMC

Adventures in Faith Sept. 17

Save the Date…

Church Council Mission Blitz!



Join us this Sunday…

8:00a Family Friendly Service

On the Web www.lp-umc.org

St. Louis, MO Permit No. 2950

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A monthly publication of Lafayette Park United Methodist Church ◊ September 2009 A church without walls, creating a visible sign of Christ’s presence in our urban community and beyond

Sept. 10 Sept. 26

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Youth and Kids Sunday School

10:00a Traditional Worship 11:00a Fellowship Hour (fellowship hall)

News & Views

Non-Profit U.S. Postage

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As a people of faith, we recognize the diversity of people created in the image of God.

We welcome to this congregation people of any age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, health status, and any element of humanity created by God.

Lafayette Park United Methodist Church A VISIBLE SIGN OF CHRIST’S PRESENCE IN OUR URBAN COMMUNITY AND BEYOND

News & Views

Mission Blitz! Sept. 26 Sun School - 9-9:50 Adult, Kids & Teens classes

This Issue Wilder View

2

Check It Out

4

Earth Care Column

4

LPUMC Classes

6

New Faces

8

Calendar

10

Time with Sharon 11

LPUMC's 2009 Youth Mission Team worked in Theodosia, Missouri, painting and cleaning up after recent season of tornado and ice storms. The team is shown here with Helen Keith after spending the day clearing her yard of downed tree limbs and debris. Shown with Helen is Grace Shortall and Jonah Durbin (front row), and Doug Counts, Pastor Sharon, Kelly Hadley, Joel Kichline, Olivia Isom, and August Jenks (left to right, back row).

Participate in Mission Blitz on September 26 We have been invited to take part in a Mission Blitz coming September 26th. The idea comes from Trinity UMC in Bloomfield, Missouri. Their vision is to organize 10,000 people in mission together, being the hands, feet, and

voice of Christ in our communities. So far, they have over 100 churches that have committed to participate in 9 different states. (continued on page 3)

Lafayette Park United Methodist Church 2300 Lafayette Avenue St. Louis, MO 63104 314-771-9214

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LPUMC News & Views

From the...

CHURCH CONTACTS Church Office Hours Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. 314-771-9214 Pastor Rev. Kathleen Wilder [email protected] Associate Pastor Sharon Kichline [email protected] Church Secretary Maria Lawrence M-F 9:00 a.m. - Noon [email protected] Newsletter Editor Janet DePasquale Whiteaker [email protected] Newsgroup http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lpumc WebMaster Chris Finley [email protected] Preschool Director Edna Coleman [email protected] Youth Director The Gospel Rockers Chad Johnson [email protected]

News & Views Editor Janet DePasquale Whiteaker Newsletter Production Bob & Jeris Beane Sunday Bulletin Production Betty Disbennett Mary Disbennett

Do you feel it? There is an extra energy and a certain excitement in the air, and it happens every year. It is the beginning of the ‘Back to School Season.’ Everyone gets a chance at a new start. With this new experience, there are new changes for everyone. As our children move into new levels of learning at school, we will be offering a new learning opportunity for our adults with our Adventures in Faith experience starting September 17th. We will meet on Thursday evenings for 6 nights and offer several choices of learning opportunities. The goal of this time together is to provide opportunities for people to connect and build relationships with each

other, while strengthening our love relationship with God. There are several choices for you to choose from; Basic Bible Study, an Adult Confirmation Class, and Enough (learning to live simply in a complex world.) Please prayerfully consider participating in one of these three options to develop and strengthen your faith. In October, I will begin a Leadership Development team training time that will help us think beyond our horizons to see how we can reach out to the people in St. Louis. We will read a book a month from October through May. We will gather to discuss the parts of the books that excite and interest us, as well learning how we can apply

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! •

Thank you to all who helped with the Hands in Mission and the Habitat for Humanity projects this summer. You have accomplished a great deal in making the world a better place. • Thanks to all who helped with the youth mission trip. • Thanks to our new youth council for their leadership and excitement. • Thanks to all for your prayerful support, childcare, and wonderful meals, while Jim has been recuperating from his broken vertebrae. • Thank you to the Boutique for your gracious presence during the week. • Thank you to the Richard, John, Mike, Sonny, and George for the great work you have done in highlighting the beauty of the church through the landscaping changes. • Thank you to Bill Byrd and Chad Johnson for your help on our day of weddings. News & Views is published monthly. Submit any information or articles by the 17th of each month to [email protected]. For other information, contact Janet DePasquale Whiteaker at 588-9604 or the Church Office.

Lafayette Park United Methodist Church 2300 Lafayette Avenue St. Louis, MO 63104 314-771-9214

September 2009

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Sharing Time with Sharon: RiskRisk-taking Adventure Recently, my family and I took a vacation to the Great Smokey Mountain National Park in Tennessee. We stayed in a cabin there, and enjoyed the sights and sounds of a beautiful forest. We also did what I will refer to as “The craziest thing I may have ever done in my life”. It has a name. ZORBING. Zorbing is when you dive head-first into a giant rubber ball that is suspended inside another giant ball, and then topple down a hill while sliding around in about 10 gallons of cold water inside. You bounce and slosh, and find yourself swishing around like you’re in a washing machine set on the “super turbo” wash cycle. And yes, you pay for this experience. While I was on my downhill ride, thoughts went screaming through my mind. Mostly, it was “YIKES! WHAT WAS I THINKING?!” But it was exhilarating too, and I felt so alive! When I reached the bottom, the attendant opened my zorb, and found me laughing with delight (ok-and a little relief). What an adventure! You know there just seems to be something both scary and wonderful about adventure. We sometimes take all kinds of risks in our pursuit of experiencing something new and life affirming. That’s what risktaking mission and service in the church is about. Stepping out, taking a risk, putting ourselves in a new place, with new people, doing something that we’re not all together sure about. Our bishop, Robert Schnase, wrote about it in his book, Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations. He said risk-taking ministry “moves us beyond our comfort zone, and presses us to follow Christ into more adventurous encounters with people. As we do so, God’s Spirit changes us, changes others, and changes our church.”

“Adventurous encounters with people”. Lafayette Park UMC engages in “adventurous encounters with people” when we build houses in Juarez, Mexico, send emissaries to build relationships in Mozambique, feed hungry people at The Bridge, and offer our Hands In Mission rehabbing buildings in our local community through the United Methodist connection. But there are also less physical ways that we embark upon mission adventures. When we devote 45 minutes a week to read with a child at the elementary school, or we tell funny stories to children in our Pumpkin Patch, or we assist underprivileged folks as they pick out presents at the Kingdom House Christmas Shop, we are stepping out of our daily routine, and offering ourselves to another, not knowing what will happen, but trusting that God will make something good of it. We can find ourselves feeling closer to God, emotionally exhilarated, and freshly alive! Now that’s an adventure! This September 26th, we will be stepping out in risk -taking mission and service again. As part of Mission Blitz, we will join a vision for 10,000 people of faith to reach out to their community in big and small ways, making a difference for Christ’s sake. Unlike my experience in the zorb, you will be more than just wet and giddy. The adventure of loving God through loving others will leave you drenched in God’s Spirit, filled with wonder, and changed forever. Look for more information for how you can jump into Mission Blitz on September 26th. I hope you will join me in a new “adventurous encounter”! Peace,

Pastor Sharon

Lafayette Park United Methodist Church 2300 Lafayette Avenue St. Louis, MO 63104 314-771-9214

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LPUMC News & Views

Calendar Sept. 7

Labor Day, church offices closed

Sept. 10

Church Council meeting, 7 p.m.

Sept. 13

Homecoming Sunday

Sept. 13

Men’s Breakfast, 9 a.m.

Sept. 17

“Adventures in Faith” begins

Sept. 17

Adult Confirmation class begins

Sept. 26

Mission Blitz!

Sept. 27

Men’s Breakfast, 9 a.m. A Look Ahead...

Oct. 3-9

Operacion HOGAR; Juarez, Mexico

Oct. 19

Leadership Development class begins

Oct. 20

Charge Conference

Scriptures for September September 6 Proverb 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 Psalm 125 James 2:1-10, 14-17 Mark 7:34-37 September 13 (Homecoming Sunday) Proverbs 1:20-33 Psalm 19 James 3:1-12 Mark 8:27-38 Proverb 31:10-31 James 3:13-4:3

September 20 Psalm 1 Mark 9:30-37

September 27 Esther 7:1-6, 9-10, 9:20-22 Psalm 124 James 5:13-20 Mark 9:38-60

Stephen Ministers: The After People •

after the phone call you hoped you’d never get • after the divorce papers have been served and the bottom falls out of your life • after the doctors have said, “There is nothing more we can do.” If you would like to be a Stephen Minister, the application deadline is 9/15. Please contact Becky Mueller with your interest at 314-521-0393. (“Gospel Rockers” continued from page 8) for the pastors and their families, visit shut-ins, and assist seniors with household chores. The day ended with forming a Youth Council. Officers for the youth group were elected; creating the Youth Council. We congratulate Jonah Durbin, President and Andy Wilder, Secretary/ Treasurer on being the first officers of the Youth Council. If you would like to know how you can help with assist The Gospel Rockers, please call Chad Johnson @ 314.602.0318 or email at [email protected].

September Covenant Partners September 6 Union Memorial Rev. Kevin Kosh University Rev. Linda Harris September 13 Valley Park Rev. John Harpole Village Church/ Rev. Michelle McGhee Christ Community September 20 Webster Hills Rev. Scott Hall Zion Rev. Jack DeWees September 27 Arlington Rev. Mary Harvey Asbury/Cleveland Rev. Frances Penn

Lafayette Park United Methodist Church 2300 Lafayette Avenue St. Louis, MO 63104 314-771-9214

September 2009

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Wilder View these lessons to the ministries of the church. I am really excited about these books. I think they can help us make great strides in connecting people with God. Also we have some exciting new people joining us to build stronger ministries at Lafayette Park UMC. Aaron Ban will be joining us as an intern from Eden. He will be focusing on creating our young adult ministry and helping us build a connection between our church and St. Louis University. I have worked with Aaron for the last year over at The Bridge and have found him to be deep, thoughtful and creative. He preached here at the beginning of the summer and many of you told me how impressed you were with him. We have also expanded our

child care staff to make sure that we are always in safe sanctuary compliance of having two safe sanctuary certified people caring for our children during worship and other church meetings. Please welcome Latoya and Marie Claire (you will see more information on them in another article). I am excited also to announce that Maria Lawrence has joined our staff as our new Office Administrator. Her normal hours will be 9am to noon, Monday thru Friday. God truly is doing great and amazing things at Lafayette Park UMC! I hope you join us in this great opportunity to grow and expand the impact we can make in our community. Happy new start!!

Pastor Kathleen

Mission Blitz (continued from page 1) What we do is up to us. We could pick up trash in a park, revisit one of our HIM sites and do some more construction work, go to the fire and police department with treats, or to the nursing home and hospital with cards of care. The possibilities are endless! What do you think we should do? Call me with your ideas! You will be hearing more about this at worship and through the internet. If you haven’t signed up for the yahoo group yet, send an email (no subject line and no message text) to [email protected]/group/ lpumc/ and follow the “join” links. You can also visit our website at www.lp-umc.org. For now, circle September 26 on your calendar, and plan to REACH OUT that day with your friends and family at LPUMC!

~~~ Many more thanks! ~~~ • • • • • • • • • • •

Thank you to the WCDANS for your support of sending our ambassador to Mozambique. Thank you to the WCDANS who make the wonderful banners for our baptisms. They are so very special. Thank you to Steve Coffey, Jeff Jensen, and Jack Hawk for your faithful support of the audio and visual ministry of the church. Thank you to the Stephens Minister for your quiet healing presence in the lives of the people in our church and community. Thank you for the Visiteam who help encourage and support our community in both hospitals and their homes. Thank you for our summer reading tutors. Your impression upon the lives of the children in our community is significant. Thank you to those who contributed desserts to bless the Siegel teachers as they started a new school year. Thank you to all who stepped in to cover for me while I was away on vacation and as I have been working remotely to care for Jim and our family. Thank you to those who have shared their musical gifts with us this summer in worship. Thank you to all who have worked to make our new youth space safe and attractive. Thank you to Bridget Cartwright for her beautiful calligraphy on the Baptismal Certificates. Lafayette Park United Methodist Church 2300 Lafayette Avenue St. Louis, MO 63104 314-771-9214

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LPUMC News & Views

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Inkjet and Toner Cartridges and the parking lot. Cell Phones for Recycling Simple Fundraisers Don’t forget to bring these items Schnucks eScrip Card

2nd and 4th Sundays after 8 a.m. service

to the church office! This helps our environmental fundraiser.

Website Update

Continue to look for updates on the website. Checkout the Yahoo Aluminum cans for Recycling photo pages. Comments? Con- Look for can collection bin in tact Chris Finley at [email protected]. 2

1. Pick up a Schnucks eScrip Community Card at a Schnucks Service Desk or LPUMC office 2. Register the Card 3. Show the Card at Checkout

Macy’s Fundraising Card Register your Macy’s card at

8 a.m. Grace Praise Service Try the early, contemporary service.

https://secure.escrip.com/jsp/supporter/ authentication/password.jsp When you make a purchase, a percentage will be donated to LPUMC as a fundraiser.

Earth Care: Cutting your energy costs nearly in half There is nothing that says being good stewards of the earth can’t benefit you personally! Here are some simple things that any individual can do to realize huge savings on long-term energy costs: 1. Save 10% or more on your energy costs simply by plugging any air leaks around your windows and doors. With Fall coming up now is the

perfect time to check all windows, doors and cracks. Add or replace caulk and weatherstrip cold air outside. 2. Replace your air filters. Dirty air filters will cause your furnace to work harder than necessary, which can increase your energy bills. A clean furnace filter can cut your heating bill by 5% to 15%. It will also improve the air quality in your home.

3. Install a programmable thermostat and you can save up to 15% on your energy. to save up to $180 a year in energy costs. 4. Choose ENERGY STAR appliances and electronics. Products save 20% to 30% less energy than their conventional counterparts to earn an Energy Star label. 5. Upgrade your water heater to save energy. Reducing the use of

Program Youth Ministries: Chad Johnson Education: Marti Latimore Outreach: Robin and Eric Merle Missions: Nancy Thuer; Larry Heugatter Worship: Jeff Jensen; Sue Meyers Stewardship: Brenda Cook Music: Kourtney Strade

hot water will help save energy. Depending on your budget for upgrades, you may consider replacing a water heater with a more efficient one or adding a low cost water heater jacket to help retain heat within the tank for longer periods of time. Depending on the hot water heater, you may have to unhook your unit, drain it and reinstall it, but you'll save 4% to 9% on your water heating bill with the jacket alone. If you need help with any of these items, please contact one of our pastors. Members of the Men’s Group and the Green Team will be glad to help.

OUR WEEKLY SCHEDULE Worship Service: SUNDAY

8 a.m. & 10 a.m. Children’s Church 10 a.m. service Communion: First Sunday of the Month

Sunday School

Other Conference Lay Member: Jim McCorkle United Methodist Women: Historian: Tom Keay Wills and Memorials: Larry Heugatter Wedding Coordinator: Lynne Keay

Lafayette Park United Methodist Church 2300 Lafayette Avenue St. Louis, MO 63104 314-771-9214

9 a.m. Adult. Teen & Kids - summer vacation

Service to our Community Preschool CHARIS Boy Scouts Cub Scouts Girl Scouts Recycling

Centenary CARES’ Mission ...to provide an avenue where human need and available resources can converge. Through a freemeals program and providing access to other nec-

Weekdays at 9 a.m. during school year Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Mondays at 7 p.m. Every other Monday at 7 p.m. Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Aluminum (Blue bin outside) Paper Recycling (Green bin outside) Cell Phones & Print Cartridges (Fellowship

Stewardship for July Brown Bags: 25 for July; 250 YTD Attendance: 401 Ministry Gifts: $ 12,567.30 Designated: $ 4,270.75 Prayer Hours: 70 hours Service Hours: 23 hours

essary services, guests are treated as valuable humans of worth and given opportunity to work toward self-sufficiency through cooperative partner-

(continued on page 9)

Ministry Teams at LPUMC Administrative Church Council: Daron Smith Board of Trustees: Steve Coffey Publicity: Debra Crowe Finance: Bethany Spaulding Treasurer: Sherry Owens Finan. Secretary: Maria Lawrence Lay Leadership: Sharon Domke Parish Relations: Sheryl Smothers

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Earth Care Column

CHECK IT OUT! Men’s Breakfast

September 2009

ships with other community health and service agencies. Centenary CARES is dedicated to seeking paths of justice, dignity and respect for all marginalized people living in the downtown St.

We have paid 100% of our District Apportionments and we are at 49% of our way to our Conference Apportionments.

We are impacting lives in the state of Missouri and around the world!

Louis community. RMN MISSION STATEMENT: Reconciling Ministries Network is a national grassroots organization that exists to enable full participation of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities in the life of the United Methodist Church, both in policy and practice. Lafayette Park United Methodist Church 2300 Lafayette Avenue St. Louis, MO 63104 314-771-9214

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LPUMC News & Views

Our church welcomes new faces

We welcome Maria Lawrence as our new Church Secretary. Maria is a familiar face here at LPUMC. Maria’s daughter and son-in-law, Alicia and Chris Greene and their children, Elena, Jack, and Mimi are long-time members, and Maria and Charlie have joined them in worship with us on many occasions. Maria brings to us her extensive experience in business and office work. We are so pleased to have her with us. Her hours are Monday through Friday, 9am-noon. Come by and see her!

We welcome Latoya Thompson (left) and Mary Claire Kondro (right) to LPUMC. These ladies will be providing childcare for our children as we worship, participate in meetings, and on Thursday evenings during Adventures in Faith. They both come to us with much experience and enthusiasm. Latoya has worked with Girl Scouts of America, providing seminars to promote self esteem and ways to prevent bullying. Mary Claire works with students at the Judevine Center for Autism, supporting individuals in learning life skills. Please offer your greeting as they settle into the life of the church.

Wanted: Reading Mentors Last year, a group of folks from LPUMC went to our neighbor, Hodgen Elementary School, and read with at-risk second graders. Because of the program's great success, we have been invited back again to continue helping kids learn how to read better, and to be "encouragers" of their self confidence in school and life. We'll meeting once a week with our assigned student for only 30 minutes. Training will be in late September, with the program to begin in October, on Tuesday and/or Thursdays from 12:30-1:00 p.m. A group from LPUMC is forming now. You do not need to have teaching credentials. If God is calling you to become an reading mentor and "encourager”, contact Sharon at 566-0332 or at [email protected].

Meet “The Gospel Rockers” - our youth group! On August 16, the Youth Group (6th – 12th grade) of Lafayette Park met in the Keystone Chapel. This was not your ordinary youth meeting. This was where the leadership and the youth planned activities for the year. The group brainstormed about fundraisers, activities, Bible Study topics, and service projects. Before all of the ideas were on paper, everyone thought about a name for the group. Those in attendance came up with eight possible names, just to name a few: St. Peter’s Posse, God’s Gospel Group and The Lafayette Losers. The name that was finally chosen was “The Gospel Rockers.” Two of the areas that the youth want to focus is raising money to attend WOW in Springfield Missouri and service projects. The fundraisers the youth chose to tackle are: a Trivia Night, a Car Wash, a Yasta Dinner and hosting a Valentine’s Day Dinner. Some of the service projects that the youth would like to do include cooking for Shalom House, cook dinner (continued on page 10)

Lafayette Park United Methodist Church 2300 Lafayette Avenue St. Louis, MO 63104 314-771-9214

September 2009

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“Good Sense” Financial Considerations Bethany Spaulding,

Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.

It says we should put our weapons to use – what does that look like? What CCSA, CRP, are our weapons? One is love - it is a powerful force given to us by the One who is Love; our Creator. Walking in The following scripture caught my love means doing things to consider eye this week, from The Message others that might be inconvenient or seem silly. Picking up trash in a parkversion of the Bible: ing lot, or helping pay for someone's Ephesians 6:10-18 And that about grocery bill is walking in love, as is wraps it up. God is strong, and he being kind to someone who doesn't wants you strong. So take every- “deserve” that treatment. When we let thing the Master has set out for the love of God well up inside, we you, well-made weapons of the can't help but share the good news of best materials. And put them to truth, peace, faith and salvation. Love use so you will be able to stand up helps us to use our resources in a way to everything the Devil throws that brings honor to our God. your way. This is no afternoon Truth is an important weapon. What athletic contest that we'll walk happens when you know a truth and away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, you hear someone saying the opposite? If you are like me, you bring it a life-or-death fight to the finish up! It should be the same in our indiagainst the Devil and all his anvidual lives. For instance, it is true that gels. we have been adopted into God's famBe prepared. You're up against far ily. When things look bad financially, more than you can handle on your we can speak out God's Word about own. Take all the help you can the situation - we are family now after get, every weapon God has isall. Would a loving parent hang us out sued, so that when it's all over but to dry? No! If we know the truth the shouting you'll still be on your about God's plan for us, about God's feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, desire to bless us so that we can bless faith, and salvation are more than others, then that can become our battle words. Learn how to apply them. cry instead of complaints or feeling You'll need them throughout your sorry for ourselves. life. God's Word is an indispensaThis scripture makes it clear that we ble weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing must speak up; and take action to warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray choose what God has for us - it's not going to happen on its own. for your brothers and sisters.

Tip of the Month:

CPA, CMA,

Take some time to ask God to bring to your mind an area where you may have been choosing death instead of life - financially or in any other area God brings to mind. Reflect on the truth of God's Word to help understand what it would mean to choose life in that situation, and then decide how/whether you are willing to make a different choice. Deuteronomy 30:15-16 (NLT) “Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy. We can choose a relationship with God leading to life and prosperity – the truth - in our “land” so we can be a shining light to others. One way we can choose to occupy the land around our life is by actively saying what God says about our financial situations. This weapon of truth is powerful, as is another weapon – prayer. It's time to pray for God's plan and God's Word to come to pass for ourselves, our church, our city and our country – both financially and otherwise.

Lafayette Park United Methodist Church 2300 Lafayette Avenue St. Louis, MO 63104 314-771-9214

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LPUMC News & Views

September 2009

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“A visible sign of Christ’s presence in our urban community and beyond” LPUMC hits ‘The Book’ with classes for all ages as a new school year begins Stories of Faith for Our Children As our kids return to school, and our children and youth will learn great new things, how important that we continue to teach them the stories of our faith, too. We will kick off our new year in Christian formation for our children and youth on September 13. Please plan to bring your family to church at 9 a.m. to experience the stories of our faith through multi-sensory learning. We’ll sing some, dance some, paint some, and pray some. This will be a multigenerational experience with kids of all ages. You are welcome to come and experience the stories of our faith!

Leadership Development class offers great opportunities A new opportunity to grow in your personal and church leadership skills will begin on October 19. This year, Pastor Kathleen will start a new leadership development opportunity. We will meet one Monday evening a month to discuss a book we have read that month. We will discuss the interesting things we have learned by reading the book and how we can use some of the information to strengthen and grow our ministry to the city of St. Louis . This will require a commitment to read eight different books and to meet eight times between October and May. We will also have an all-day retreat part of the way through the year to brainstorm and plan how we will implement what we have learned at the church. We will meet at Pastor Kathleen’s home from 6 – 8:30 p.m. on those evenings; food and childcare will be provided. Please contact Pastor Kathleen for more information and to let her know how many to plan for. The eight books have been carefully chosen by Pastor Kathleen. October’s book is How Full is Your Bucket? by Tom Rath and Donald Clifton.

Join the Adventures in Faith Series Starting September 17, we will begin a new series of small groups to enable us to learn, develop relationships, and grow in our faith. We will meet for six weeks on Thursday evenings. We will have a light supper available at 6 p.m. to make it easier for people coming from work. At 6:30, we will share a common devotion and prayer time. Then, from 6:45-8 p.m., you can choose to participate in one small group faith adventure in one of four areas of growth. Your group choices range from Basic Bible, Adult Confirmation, Enough – Living Simply in a complex world, to a Creation group. (Bring a creative project you have wanted to work on and engage in fel-

lowship with others while you work on it.) You will find a sign-up board in the sanctuary, so please let us know where your interests lie so that we can have the appropriate study guides for you. Or you can speak with a pastor or call the church office at 772-9214. Child care will be provided.

Another Confirmation journey begins anew Those currently enrolled in 6th-9th grade (though those parameters are flexible) are invited to consider beginning their Confirmation journey this school year. Through a series of eight gatherings beginning in February 2010, and several field trip experiences (yeah~ road trip!) we will explore the Christian faith, United Methodism, and how to change the world through our church. Do you want to talk about whether this is the right time to be part of this experience? Contact Pastor Sharon at 566-0332 or at [email protected], and we’ll figure it out together.

There’s still time to join the choir… Choir meets every Wednesday from 7-8:30 p.m. and childcare is provided. All kinds of voices are welcome, big and small, deep and high, professional and just-for-fun. Come join us! If you have questions, please contact [email protected].

Lafayette Park United Methodist Church 2300 Lafayette Avenue St. Louis, MO 63104 314-771-9214

Adult Confirmation ClassComing Again! Last spring, we offered an adult version of a Confirmation Class for those interested in learning more about how the United Methodist tradition fits into Christianity, how Lafayette Park UMC fits into our world and community, our understandings of the sacraments, and what it means to belong…to Christ and to this church. It was met with such interest that we’re going to do it again! We will be offering Adult Confirmation/New Member Classes again during the Adventures in Faith evenings that will be meeting on Thursday nights, beginning September 17. If you would like to be a part of this exploring experience, contact Pastor Sharon at 566-0332 or at [email protected] to reserve your place at the

All things are possible with God! Bringing mosquito nets to all in Catembe, Mozambique On Sunday morning August 23, at 3:13 a.m., this thought bolted through my brain, and I think God was poking me. I wondered, ” Do the pastor and her family in Catembe have mosquito nets?” I admit, I do not know the answer. The question and answer dialogue continued to include the UMW of Catembe UMC, and then the whole congregation. Then there was a prompt of something that had to be God, for it was far too big for me. “What if we could show the people of Catembe in a tangible way how much God loves them? What if we could give everyone in Catembe who needs a mosquito net one as an expression of God love?” So, friends, we have begun a new challenge. First, we are going to raise enough money to make sure that everyone at our sister church in Catembe Mozambique has a mosquito net, and then we are going to help them in servant evangelism. After some research, I discovered that we would need 718 nets to cover the congregation and the city. We can do it! So if God prompts you in the near future to donate to our mosquito net challenge, just drop a check to Lafayette Park with “Catembe Nets” or “Catembe Mosquito Nets” in the memo line. I think this will be an amazing experience for all of us. So far, we have received pledges for 103 mosquito nets. We only have 615 to go! Thanks for helping Lafayette Park UMC reduce the risk of malaria for a whole city!

Lafayette Park United Methodist Church 2300 Lafayette Avenue St. Louis, MO 63104 314-771-9214