Moments

Friends,

It’s very hard to know just what to tell you today; there is so much happening in our state and our world.

I know that events appear to be cascading around us at an ever-dizzying pace.

But before we rush off to all the challenges of our world, let us give thanks for the prayer vigil last Thursday night at Methodist Hospital. 

Thursday night, approximately 20 church members joined eight clergy from Oak Cliff Churches on the hot parking lot at Methodist Hospital Dallas. We prayed prayers for the very sick patients and the hospital staff.

Along with this short word from me, please watch this short video, that Methodist Hospital made of that event:

I want to thank all the pastors who participated, along with our Social Justice Team at KPUMC.

Bishop Mike McKee has asked all North Texas churches to observe a moment of silence in worship “to honor the memories of those who have passed as well as celebrate healthcare providers who diligently work to prevent and treat COVID-19.”

We will absolutely do this as we continue to support all of our healthcare heroes at Methodist and in our congregation.

Grace and Peace,
Eric Folkerth

Staff Shout Out!

by Rev. Eric Folkerth

As you know, we have restarted our support for Methodist Hospital Dallas as a way of showing our support for local “front line heroes.” Thank you for all you are doing to support these efforts.

But today I want to turn your attention to one of our own heroes inside our own house: Pastor Kay Ash.

Perhaps you have read media accounts of how childcare centers all over the nation are struggling to keep their doors open. Between concerns about COVID, outbreak of other more “normal” childhood illnesses, and staffing concerns, it’s been a very challenging few months to be in the childcare field. This overall challenge is being felt within our own Parents Day Out program as well.

Without going into too much detail —or without prematurely “declaring success” on any single issue— I want to lift up Rev. Kay Ash to you all today.

Specifically, I want to lift up how she has led our church’s Parents Day Out program, on your behalf, during these challenging summer months. She’s spent hours making calls with parents, scrubbing down equipment, staying late to work on staffing issues and, of course, navigating and keeping abreast of issues related to the pandemic.

It’s been a lot to handle.
But Pastor Kay is navigating it with a great deal of grace, commitment, and passion.

Let’s be clear: I don’t at all want to declare “victory” here, because none of us knows what is coming in these next few weeks and months. I simply want to look back at the summer that is ending and what I have witnessed with my own eyes in the halls of our building.

We are all fortunate to have Pastor Kay on our team.

So, in addition to the other heroes you are supporting in this time, when you see Kay next, please thank her for her servant ministry. Or write her a card, too.

Whatever comes in these next weeks, please know that we are all deeply blessed to have Pastor Kay Ash helping to administer our Parents Day Out program during this challenging time.

“Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Grace and Peace,
Eric Folkerth

Supporting Kessler4Methodist

by Rev. Eric Folkerth

Friends,

Last week, I shared with you how we are restarting “Kessler4Methodist.”  I want to follow up on that today.

I’ve had the chance to speak with several staff at Methodist Hospital Dallas this week as we restart this ministry. I was truly saddened to hear how demoralized and down many of them sound. They are feeling a sense of being besieged by this latest spike in COVID hospitalizations and cases. 

Keep in mind, they’ve been fighting on the front lines of this pandemic for seventeen straight months. Like you and I, they believed we were near the “end of the tunnel” just a month ago. That same sense of depression and hopelessness *we* feel is magnified in their lives, because they are now beset by very sick patients once again.

It breaks my heart. I know it breaks yours too.

So, all I can say is: “All hands on deck.”

PLEASE let us write cards of support for the staff of Methodist Hospital Dallas.

Let’s also include support staff —food service and cleaning crews— in the cards that we write. They are ALL our heroes.

While we cannot visit them in person because of this pandemic…we *can* write to them. Those cards might be the thing that keeps some weary nurse from total despair during these next few weeks.

We’re also again collecting snacks and “care package” items as well.
The Chaplain’s Office tells me that during the pandemic they’ve instituted a regular round of taking snacks to the hospital staff and checking on them. That internal staff program started *because* of “Kessler4Methodist.”

Finally, as I mentioned in my sermon, I’m deeply disturbed about the “anti-vax” protestors outside of Methodist Hospital. Nothing could be more harmful to the morale of these healthcare heroes than this. As we’ve said, they’re already over-worked and over-taxed. They’re literally caring for unvaccinated and dying patients.

And yet, protestors have the *gall* to show up and speak against the very science that can end this pandemic?
Outrageous.

Therefore, very soon we will announce a prayer vigil on the Methodist Hospital parking lot.
This would be a time of prayer and support…for the medical staff…for the support staff…and for those desperately sick patients. We are communicating with the hospital staff so that they are aware and understand our intention for this to be supportive of them and prayerful throughout.

More details on this via email and social media soon.

In an email this week, the president of Methodist Hospital Dallas wrote me to thank you all for what you are doing. (You may recall his virtual greeting to us in worship, earlier this year…)

He wrote:

“Thank you so much for your prayers and gestures of kindness and compassion.  You and your congregation truly are His hands and His feet.”

I know you agree that in this horrible time, this is the least we can do. It’s our calling to serve our mission field.

So thanks and God bless you in advance for all you will do to support Kessler4Methodist.

Grace and Peace,
Eric Folkerth