Brood of Vipers

Scott and I visited First UMC in North Kansas City yesterday. We are familiar with that church and the folk that worship there. Scott was the Cub Master there for more years that I care to count and our 3 boys all participated in Troop and Pack 9 activities. It was comforting to see long time friends Audrey Phelps (the original), Katherine Smith, Pam Wark, Phyllis, Ione, and others. Pastor Kate McClain's message was one of the most unique sermons we've heard in quite a while. She focused on Zechariah, undoubtedly one of the lesser known figures in the Christmas Story. To paraphrase her message, why don't our Christmas Cards say, "Wake up you so called Christians and look what God has sent you? God has sent his only son to save you from your sins!" She's right. Merry Christmas (when was the last time you used the word merry from January to November?) doesn't really cut it.

The times they are a Changin'....fast

For the first time in 12 years, the Kincaids are not preparing for a Church Christmas Cantata. Scott resigned from his choir director job at Kearney FUMC on Sunday night, following a meeting with our Pastor and the head of the PPR. By Tuesday morning the news was published in the Church Newsletter and now by today, Wednesday, every trace of our mission in Kearney has been deleted from the FUMC Web Page.
Now, I hope I am not sounding bitter, because I'm not. We had a great run in Kearney. I am proud of the work Scott did Kearney, both as Music Director and as a Sunday School teacher. Most people did appreciate him and he has received dozens of complimentary emails regarding his service. But,I have been in church work long enough to know that there isn't a soul out there that can't be replaced. And, apparently very quickly.
Yesterday, I went up to retrieve our things from the Choir Room. As I struggled to load the stuff in the car (there was a 40 pound hand carved music stand to lift)the staff in the office who saw me, didn't offer to help. It was kind of, so don't let the door hit your backside going out, girlfriend!
Readers, if you know of a place where a couple of harding working, Kansas City United Methodists can pray, teach and sing, let me know. We're in the market for a new church.

Turkey Trot

In spite of the drizzle, spirits were hight at Della Lamb Community Services last Tuesday, the 24th. I had been waiting 12 months for this day. When I arrrived, at 8 a.m., people were already lined up around the corner of the Mabee Gym. Pat, our Board President, was busy handing our doughnuts and hot chocolate to the clients as they waited patiently in line. Rushing inside, I joined the other volunteers who were making last minute additions to the 1500 sacks of groceries lined up on the floor and on tables.
At nine we allowed the first people into the room. Volunteers helped move the families through the line, giving out groceries and a turkey to each, for their Thanksgiving Dinner. Over half of the Lamb's clients do not speak English. So, with heads nodding in thanks and a lot of gesturing, we experienced Operation Thanksgiving. For many of them, it would be there first holiday in the U.S.A.
People came through the line steadily until about 2 p.m. By then I was exhausted, but it was that really nice kind of exhaustion, when you know you have been doing the Lord's work.
I am so thankful for the mission of Della Lamb, and for Judy and her staff. I'm also thrilled and thankful that my Kearney UMC friends Kevin, Rick, Pam, Betty, Lisa, Fred, and Kate, were there to work at the Lamb with me. Special thanks to Eph Ehley and his pals from COR. We all went away truly blessed for the experience.

"...... as long as I keep rollin on."

Miss me? We'll I've been taking a train trip, girlfriends. Scott and I took the Southwestern Chief to Chicago, and then the Capitol Limited to D.C. While there we saw the grands, their parents, and a few of the "off-the-beaten path sights" within the Beltway.
My focus today is Train Travel in 2009. During our time on the train, both ways, no one told us to remove our shoes, wanded my chest looking for the explosives concealed in my underwire bra, or passed us a "free" bag of 3 mini pretzels. Our suitcases were checked to our destination as part of our fare. We ate numerous real meals, served to us warm, in a rolling restaurant, not on our laps. I did not have to read old magazines with previously completed crosswords, and best of all we met some marvelous people.
Dining Car seating, on Amtrak trains, is Community, which means you are seated with strangers until the table is full. Our first meal, right out of KC, was breakfast, which we shared with a young man in his 20s. He was a "gaming" contestant returning home to NYC, from a convention in LA.
Our next meal was shared with a couple from Indiana, who had been on a month long tour of the western states. Every dining experience was a chance to meet and listen to a little bit of another traveler's life story. And, of course we shared our stories, too.
It occurred to me that it's a shame we can't share a meal with strangers more often. If we could really sit and talk to those folk who visit our churches only once and never come back......well, we might open up to them and they might just be open to joining us in our Christian Journey.
Now, I know it would be a risk taking thing. We'd be stepping out of our comfort zones...away from eating those stale pretzels on our own.....we'd be sharing a table.
Sort of like what communion is supposed to be. Fellow Life travelers, that's food for thought.

Almost Ready to Stick a Fork In It

One more month until my stint as Missouri Conference UMW President is over. Since UMW has a strict policy of tenure limits, I finally have to admit that I've been there and done it all (offices that is)and my hat can no longer be thrown into the ring. It has been a most enjoyable four years, however 4 years is enough, girlfriends. I have been able to share my life, my struggles and my shortcomings with the wonderful women of this conference. They know that while I may not have been the most perfect of presidents, I have given them my best.....red outfits, bald head and all.
Many thanks to all of the many churches and pastors who welcomed me over the past four years. And, to the very few who were non-supportive of UMW, and to the several who were downright ugly to me and to the organization......it was your loss.I have learned that you cannot hope to please everyone, but I THANK GOD for the thousands of folk in Missouri, who know that United Methodist Women are at the very core of Methodism and that we are Mission Arm of the United Methodist Church.
Mabel Unser has been elected and duly installed to take over the UMW Presidency, this coming January 1st. She is going to do a great job. Mabel, too, has held lots of UMW positions and she comes well qualified. The women of Missouri will welcome her and her leadership style with open arms.
My last official duty as Pesident comes this weekend with the presentation of
MODOT II, Your Road to A Better UMW. (Missouri District Officer Training) We'll be at Fairview UMC (thank you Rev. Nick Campbell) in Hard Hats and Training Gear.
Oh, by the way, if you know of anyone who is looking for an slightly worn warrior for the Lord, look me up...I need a job!

Over the River and Through the Woods

It is almost time for Della Lamb's Operation Thanksgiving. For many years, now,
The Lamb has given a complete "Thanksgiving Feast" to over 1200 families in their neighborhood. The meal comes ready to prepare in a big brown paper shopping bag. Each family (singles, too) recieve a frozen pumplin pie, dressing mix, a can of green beans, gravy mix, instant potatos, cake mix, eggs, canned cranberry sauce, and margarine. There is also a small turkey or a large hen.
And, early on the morning of the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, the people come! I have seen them lined up all around the block, ready to enter the Gym on the Lamb's main campus.
The Lamb has served immigrants in the Northeast area of Kansas City for over a hundred years. These days the immigrants come mostly from Africa and the Middle East. At Operation Thanksgiving many of the clients will arrive in native dress and more than a few women will carry off their groceries balanced on their heads.
Oh, The Lamb does have a screening process to determine the needs of their clients, but all you have to do is hear the heartfelt thank yous, from the people as they pick up their groceries, to know that God is at work in the Mission of Della Lamb Community Services.
You can bet that there will be smiling volunteers helping Judy Akers and her staff
give out those groceries on November 24, 2009. I'll be there and Pastor Gustavo will be helping. Folks from COR, and other churches have promised to help.
If you would like to donate your time or your cash just let me know.

I Saw the Light.

Yesterday, our trusty handyman came to install a couple of new lights in our old 50's ranch house. One of the drawbacks to owning what is fashionably called a "mid-century dwelling" is that things die very ungraceful deaths. The light at the bottom of our basement stairs stopped operating one day last month. Click! Just like that.
We decided that we needed to replace that one and while we were at it, we would have a second light added at the top of our basement stairs. It was definitely a safety issue. Along with those two fixtures, I wanted a new light-fan in the hall bathroom.
Well, today I have light. Lots of light. And, with the new sources of light, I can see "all things new." Or should I say, lots of old things in a new way. The carpet on the stairs is filthy. I could weave a new rug with the cobwebs that I am seeing for the first time. The bathroom is in dire need of a new coat of paint and the towels are beginning to show their age. I'm not even going to talk about the old lady who stared back at me in the mirror this morning!
There is of course a purpose to this musing. When we finally choose to see life in the light of the Lord, so much is made clear to us. Scripture, reason, tradition, and experience become the way.
Precious Lord: Take my hand and show what needs to be done. I want to do it in your name. Amen.