Musings from Pastor Kim
Dear People of God at Silverbrook,
St Theresa's prayer for you:
May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you
are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite
possibliites that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have
received, and pass on the love that has been give to you. May you be confident
knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and
allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise, and love. It is there for
each and every one of us. Amen.
Upcoming date to put on your calendars: March 27th from 12:30 to 4:30 pm the
Alexandria District is hosting a Lenten Retreat at St. Matthews UMC. We will
have a labyrinth workshop and have the labyrinth open for walking prayer. There
will be three or four other workshops on lectio devina, body prayer, some prayer
stations, and such. Register on the Alexandria district UMC website.
Sunday March 14 is day light savings time. So we will spring ahead one hour
that day.
Don't forget your Lenten coin box collection for Society of Saint Andrew (the
potato drop and gleaning people). If you have given up something for Lent -
that extra cup of coffee or chocolate or desserts - whatever - you can place the
money you are saving into the box to feed hungry people.
Remember we have had to close down one Sunday due to snow this year (and one
last year). Due to the snow we had to have the parking lot plowed several times
(which despite a break by snow plow people is an unexpected expense) and we
still had to heat the church etc so don't forget to bring your offering up to
date to cover these extra church expenses.
Is there anyone out there feeling called to work in our retreat ministry?
Pastor Kim could use a few 'idea' and 'brainstormer' people to help her select
topics and do some hands on work (either stuffing retreat brochures in
envelopes, organizing lunch, or leading a session or two). If you are feeling
called to this ministry please let her know.
Sabbath homework: If you are going to say yes to Sabbath you have to say no to
something else. Here is a reflection on that principle by the Rev. Barbara
Brown Taylor: BARBARA BROWN TAYLOR COMMENTS ON SABBATH IN HER BOOK ENTITLED:
"AN ALTAR IN THE WORLD" IN A CHAPTER ON SABBATH ENTITLED: THE PRACTICE OF
SAYING NO: "THE FIRST TIME I REALLY TRIED THIS WAS THE SUNDAY AFTER MY LAST
SUNDAY AS A PARISH MINISTER. AFTER MORE THAN TWENTY YEARS OF BEING IN CHURCH
MOST SUNDAY MORNINGS, I FOUND MYSELF SUDDENLY FACED WITH A WHOLE DAY AT HOME
ALONE. I COULD NOT GO TO THE CHURCH I HAD JUST RESIGNED FROM. I DIDN'T WANT TO
GO TO CHURCH ANYWHERE ELSE. I THOUGHT ABOUT GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE, BUT I
LIVE IN A SMALL TOWN WHERE SOMEONE WAS BOUND TO REPORT THAT I HAD BEEN SEEN
BUYING COLD CUTS ON MY FIRST SUNDAY MORNING AWAY FROM CHURCH. SO I STAYED HOME
INSTEAD, WHERE I CONFRONTED GRAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT MY PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY, MY
HUMAN WORTH, AND MY STATUS BEFORE GOD.
BUT THAT ONLY LASTED ABOUT AN HOUR. AFTER THAT, I WENT OUT ON THE FRONT PORCH
AND SAID MORNING PRAYER WITH THE BIRDS. THEN I READ UNTIL LUNCHTIME. THEN I
MADE AN EGG SANDWICH. THEN I TOOK A NAP. BY THE TIME THE SUN WENT DOWN, I
REALIZED THAT I HAD JUST OBSERVED MY FIRST TRUE SABBATH IN MORE THAN TWENTY
YEARS. IN THE YEARS SINCE THEN, I HAVE MADE A PRACTICE OF SAYING NO FOR ONE
WHOLE DAY A WEEK; TO WORK, TO COMMERCE, TO THE INTERNET, TO THE CAR, TO THE
VOICE IN MY HEAD THAT IS FOREVER WHISPERING, "MORE". ONE DAY EACH WEEK, MORE
GOD IS THE ONLY THING ON MY LIST."
HOW FREEING.
This week say no to something for a day - like the computer, or the washing
or......as a way to begin a Sabbath practice and spend that extra time with God.
God bless,
Shalom, salaam and peace to
you and to the world, Pastor Kim
Rev, Kimberly Barker-Brugman
Phone 703-339-3948
E-Mail PastorKim1@cs.com
www.Silverbrook-umc.org
Tiny churches have giant hearts for giving
The Tiny churches have giant hearts for giving
The Rev. Jim West serves two congregations near St. Louis. Caledonia United Methodist Church boasts an average attendance of 70, Bismarck UMC 30. They may be small, but they are mighty.
“They have a history of always paying their apportionments,” West said. “It is important to their ethos.”
He is quite sure Caledonia and Bismarck were the first two congregations in the Missouri Annual (regional) Conference to pay their 2010 apportionments, which in 2009 totaled nearly $10,000. West delivered the check to the conference office Jan. 1. After that, they contributed more than $2,000 for Haiti earthquake relief.
West said the Caledonia UMC food pantry assists 55 to 60 families per month. “They are highly motivated to be in ministry.”
He stressed the importance of paying apportionments before tackling other projects. “Second-mile giving (such as supporting UMCOR and The Advance) is important,” he said. “But you really can’t walk the second mile until you walk the first mile (apportionments).”
Joining Caledonia and Bismarck churches in paying apportionments in full by early February were some 30 other Missouri congregations.
Lay pastor Bonnie Menough serves 36-member Atherton UMC in Lee’s Summit and 75-member Sugar Creek UMC in Independence. “They are faithful in their giving,” she said. “When money is needed, it is not unusual for someone to write an extra check to take care of it.”
Stretching beyond the church walls is important, Menough added. “They’re very good at hospitality. They’ve been welcoming and reaching out for years.” One example is a clothing ministry that aids needy schoolchildren.inister Rick Matson said members “feel good about the work of the denomination. I tell them ‘thank you’ for the giving they have done and its accomplishments in the connection. People are delighted when apportionments are paid.”
We have Sunday school classes
for everyone at 9:45. Bring your friends and neighbors. You do
not need to participate in class (we would love you to but you don't have
to) so no excuses - the coffee is even ready at that hour!!
102 Years New
Open Heart- Open Minds- Open Doors
Come share the journey with the people of
Silverbrook United
Methodist Church
Established in 1907, Silverbrook UMC is a faith community, welcoming
visitors, engaged in making disciples of Christ and working to reconcile the
world to the love of Jesus Christ.
For More pictures of Silverbrook Folks
having fun!
Click Here
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Retreat Ministry
Retreat
Brochure
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There are thousands of ways to be church in the world, and UMs do not want
to miss any of them in an innovative Web site inviting a new generation into
a life of faith and service. The UMC on April 20 launched
http://www.tenthousanddoors.org.
RegistrationForm
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The site is part of the Rethink Church campaign using
nontraditional methods to reach young adults and others in relevant ways.
There are more ways to enter church and begin a spiritual journey than just
coming into the front door of a building. “Faith itself is a bridge by which
we see God and the work of God present in our world,” says the Rev. Larry
Hollon, General Secretary of United Methodist Communications (UMCOM).
“God is not contained in the walls of our sacred buildings. God is in the
streets, at the well, in the least expected places.”