Youth Ministry Update

by Dr. Troy Doucet

There is a saying that "the more things change, the more they stay the same".  It is a truth I witness each day in working with students in both ministry and collegiate settings.  For us at Kessler Park UMC, it is safe to say that STUDENT MINISTRY AIN'T WHAT IT USED TO BE!!  Students today have an amalgam of activities and programs bidding for their time and consideration-- we are but one of those activities.  Soccer, cheer, and the must maligned "homework" are all important and essential aspects to their growth and development.  But so is church and the community we are offering each and every Sunday night here at KPUMC.  I have made a commitment to these amazing students and their parents that I will be here consistently, willing and ready to love and lead this program-- and whoever comes!  The response from students and their parents has been incredible.

Our Sunday Night Live is averaging about 10 students each evening, and while I know there is room for improvement,  I also know that just being here prepared and ready is HUGE for these guys.  It can and will only grow from here!

We held our very first ever parent information meeting a few weeks ago!  We had 9 families represented and many who (from his own words) Eric had not met yet!  They showed enthusiasm for our church's commitment to investing in the youth program and offered to help in any way possible.  It was really inspiring to hear from them about their concerns, their ideas and their love for their kids' spiritual formation!  

As you might have heard, we hosted an all-night lock-in for our students in January.  And OH MY!! What a turn out!!  We had 28 students attend-- many kids from our neighborhood came to church for the very first time.  We had a BLAST, but boy were we all tired the next morning!!  We had Karaoke contest, played hide and seek in the church, had some amazing pizza and wings and a Harry Potter marathon movie showing!  All in all (in spite of a few hickups in clean-up) it was an enormous success!  Our parent contact list grew from 17 contacts to over 30 from that event, and many were excited about upcoming events that would involve and include their kids!!  

It is an honor to serve here as the student minister.  I am excited and encouraged by the resources the church has committed to our youth program for 2020!  And it will definitely be a year to remember.  

Grace and Peace,

Troy

ALL Are Welcome

Many years ago, during one of the first dinners Dennise ever had with my family, she and my Father shared a moment we talk about still.

It was after dessert. We all had delicious pie. And the table was being cleared. My Father, as was his habit, was in the kitchen washing the dishes. 

Dennise walked in with her plate of half-eaten pie, and asked him “Where do you want this pie?”

Without looking up from the sink, Dad replied, “Just put it there on the counter…”

Dennise paused. “You want the pie right here on the counter?”

Dad responded, “Yes…yes, just put it right there on the counter,” nodding to his left.

Dennise thought for a moment, and said “OK…”

She then proceeded to slide the half-eaten pie off of the plate, and on to the kitchen counter.

Dad looked at it for a moment and realized that, while it wasn’t what he MEANT, it was exactly what he had told her to do.

A moral of the story: It’s always important to be sure the message you send is clear.

I think about that story when I see our new sign on Colorado, that reads: “All Are Welcome.”

This sign is the result of your Church Council’s vote last year, and the ensuing hard work of our Building Trustees for several months after. I thank them for their creative thinking on this issue. I hope you will too.

The reality is that this sign communicates a much more clear and unambiguous message than covering the word “United” ever did, as understandable as that decision was at the time.

It’s important for us not to forget that while our congregation is absolutely welcoming of the LGBTQ community, far too many churches still are not. (This is, of course, a self-obvious and major part in the potential split coming soon to United Methodism…)

Some churches are even still openly hostile. Others, while not hostile, are “don’t ask, don’t tell” where at any moment some negative word about gay people can still be heard. Queer people often are left to “wonder” whether they are truly welcome or not. I have heard this from them privately many times.

They are looking for “signaling” that sends a message that they and their families will be safe and welcomed. That need will be true into the foreseeable future. Especially if the UMC *does* split, clear “signaling” to our local community about where we stand on the issues will continue to be important.

This sign makes the message crystal clear: “All Are Welcome.”

Period. 

The sign also contains the symbol of the Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN), which Kessler Park has affiliated with for some years now. I realize that some of you may worry that in putting up this sign, we might put too much emphasis on the LGBTQ community, to the exclusion of other groups or issues.

So, it may be helpful for you to learn that while RMN began as advocates for the inclusion of the LGBTQ community in the United Methodist Church, they are also very clear that their vision extends to an “intersectional” understanding of welcome and justice for ALL God’s children.

In fact, in their strategic objectives, they commit to “creating full inclusion of all people in the UMC regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ability, race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status.”

That makes the message “All Are Welcome” truly clear, don’t you think?

We welcome…the LGBTQ community…their families and friends…people of all races…people of all ages, gender identity, economic status. We welcome young people who will never again step inside a church that wavers, or is unclear, on these issues. 

So, when I see our new sign, this is the kind of clear message I believe it sends to our diverse and thriving North Oak Cliff Neighborhood. A message that truly welcomes all, in a time when fewer and fewer people —especially younger people— feel welcomed within the walls of any church.

I’m grateful that so many of you feel passionately about becoming a diverse and welcoming church. For example, after church this past Sunday, a member wrote me a Facebook message about watching the congregation take Holy Communion. She said:

“I realized as the congregation was lined up, just how diverse we were becoming. I was a little teary-eyed. All--in--all, a very good day at KPUMC.”

We have a long way to go still, of course. 

But, I’m grateful for your continuing desire to become more diverse, to invite all of God’s children, and to make that welcome clear through the message of our new sign. 

Grace and Peace,

EF

One Question from Our Church Council

by Rev. Eric Folkerth

Here’s a picture of our 2020 Kessler Park Church Council taken last night at our first meeting of the year. I’m deeply grateful for all these leaders, and I hope you saw the list of them in last week’s newsletter.

Two Sundays ago in worship, we celebrated the installation of leaders for 2020 at Kessler Park. In addition to committing themselves to be your Church Council for the year, there was one question addressed to all of you as members of the congregation:

“Will you do all you can to assist and encourage them in the responsibilities to which they have been called, giving them your cooperation, your counsel, and your prayers?”

I made a little editorial comment about that question afterward. And I’ll do it here again so that we all hear it clearly. Note what the question is to you, as church members:

Will you…assist…encourage…cooperate…give counsel and prayers?

Not…will you complain to them, gossip about them, second guess their ideas and decisions, and undercut how they try to lead?

Far too often in the church, as in life, we identify leaders and then we tend to Monday-Morning Quarterback their decisions.

I should say very quickly that I have not sensed a terribly high level of complaining so far. And that is good. I suppose my general purpose here is to use my bully pulpit to urge you to keep supporting all members of our Church Council, and all members of our church committees.

Pray for them. Encourage them. Find ways to show your gratitude to them in ways great and small.

I for one am deeply committed to supporting them any way I can, and I trust you are too.

It’s been a busy week around the church. Credo Choir has returned from a powerful concert and witness on the border. Our Youth had a Lock-In on Sunday night and 26 (Yes, 26…) Youth came! And on Friday, I’ll be joining a group of KPUMC members and Cliff Temple members back in Juarez to build two homes with Projecto Abrigo.

I know you join me in celebrating these rich ministries of Kessler Park.

Grace and Peace,

Eric Folkerth