News & Views

A monthly publication of Lafayette Park United Methodist Church ◊ April 2010

A church without walls, creating a visible sign of Christ’s presence in our urban community and beyond

Happenings at Autism Speaks

LPUMC
Interested in learning more about Autism Spectrum Disorders?
April 3
Easter Egg Hunt TouchPoint Autism Services, through a grant from Lutheran
and Party, 10:30 am Foundation of St. Louis, is offering a FREE workshop at
Lafayette Park United Methodist Church at 2300 Lafayette
April 8
Adventures in Faith Ave. in St. Louis on May 25, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00
starts, 6-8 pm p.m.

April 11 All are welcome to attend this informative workshop that will
Scout Sunday,
10 am service offer valuable insight into Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).
This is an ideal opportunity for parents, grandparents, teachers,
April 12 extended family, Sunday school teachers, and others who
Women’s Lunch, interact with children to gain important information about ASD.
11:15 am at Maurizio’s

April 16 & 17 This presentation will include:

Book Fair • Information regarding symptoms and characteristics of
Fri. 8am-3pm
Autism Spectrum Disorders,
Sat. 8am-12pm
• Strategies for communicating and interacting more
This Issue effectively with someone on the autism spectrum,
• Time for answers to specific questions.

Wilder View – 2 If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Maria at (314) 771-9214
Check It Out - 4 or by email to lpsecretary@sbcglobal.net by May 21st.
Earth Care - 4
Calendar - 10
Time w/Sharon - 11

Sponsored by the Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis

Lafayette Park United Methodist Church 2300 Lafayette Avenue St. Louis, MO 63104 314-771-9214
Pa ge 2
V iews
Church Office Hours
Monday - Friday
9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
314-771-9214
Pastor
Rev. Kathleen Wilder
lppastor@sbcglobal.net
Associate Pastor
Sharon Kichline
lpassociate@sbcglobal.net
Church Secretary
Maria Lawrence
M-F 9:00 a.m. - Noon
lpsecretary@sbcglobal.net
Newsletter Editor
Elena Greene
lpnewsletter@sbcglobal.net
Newsgroup
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lpumc
WebMaster
Chris Finley
chrisdfinley@sbcglobal.net
Preschool Director
Edna Coleman
lppreschool@sbcglobal.net
Youth Director
Chad Johnson
lpyouth@sbcglobal.net
Young Adult Minister
Aaron Ban
aaronban@gmail.com
News & Views
Editor
Elena Greene
Newsletter Production
Bob & Jeris Beane
Sunday Bulletin Production
Betty Disbennett
Mary Disbennett
Lafayette Park United Methodist Church 2300 Lafayette Avenue St. Louis, MO 63104 314-771-9214
LPUMC News & V iews
The . . . Wider View
Some of my fondest childhood memories were watching my
Grandparents look through their jars and envelopes of seeds on cold
winter evenings. Looking at tomato, lettuce, cucumber, and
watermelon seeds seemed to create a sense of hope on long winter
nights. I remember both the joy of feeling the dirt in our hands each
spring as we planted those same seeds in the garden, and the
anticipation of the vegetables breaking through the dirt.
My grandfather and I would play pirates as we dug for the
potatoes, finding buried treasures. We would share wonderful
conversations as we hulled the peas, and snapped the green beans.
They are all rich, wonderful memories, and all are connected to life in
the garden.
Someone asked me recently how many times garden is mentioned
in the Bible, and the answer is 52. It seems only proper to have a
garden for each week of the year. The gardens range from Eden, to
Gethesemene, to the resurrection. God is actively working through
gardens that are planted throughout the Bible.
In April we are going to do a three week sermon series on Life in
the Garden. Each week we will explore a part of the garden and how
it impacts our lives with God and each other. I invite you to come and
roll up your sleeves, dig in, and see what amazing fruit God can grow
in your life as you putter around in your spiritual garden. The series
will culminate in an Earth Day celebration on April 25.
Happy digging!
~Pastor Kathleen
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Thank you to those who have joined a Lenten Prayer Team and
faithfully prayed for the church and those who might join us in worship
on Easter morning.
Thank you to those who worked at the Getting-Ready-for-Easter
Clean-Up Day, making our church look beautiful inside and out.
Thank you to the UMW ladies and their many assistants who helped
create, serve, and clean up another wonderful Corned Beef and
Cabbage Dinner.
Thank you to those who prepared yummy meals for the Adventures In
Faith series of classes
Thank you to the UMW for their generous financial assistance with the
ice machine repair.
Thank you to the “angels” who fixed the candle lighters.
Thank you to the Soulard Guys for working so hard to re-store our
Bowling Alley.
Thank you to the men who coordinate breakfast for us.
Thank you to the volunteers who have taken on projects to get our
church beautiful for Easter.
Thank you to all who have helped on the Easter Egg Hunt.
Thank you to our children who sang on Palm Sunday.
Thank you to coordinated meals and the leaders of the small groups in our
April 2010 Pa ge 3

Shalom House
Shalom House is a mission focused on fighting homelessness in St. Louis. The
shelter at Shalom House serves chronically homeless women with addiction
and/or mental illness. LPUMC has been a part of Shalom House for many years.
The mission of Shalom House is to give hope to homeless women through
innovative programs and supportive services designed to stabilize and rebuild
lives.

Shalom House relies on donors to provide food and supplies for the women it
serves. LPUMC has played a vital role in Shalom House’s mission for many
years. Among other things, the members of LPUMC cook an evening meal once
a month for the women in the 25 bed Emergency Shelter Program.

This monthly mission cannot continue without the assistance and caring and
thoughtful individuals willing to help realize Shalom House’s mission. Each
month LPUMC needs 2 or more people to volunteer to prepare and serve a well
balanced dinner to around 30 people. The dinner you prepare is your choice.
In fact, Shalom House encourages new and thoughtful ideas for meals and the
residents appreciate variety.

We would like to fill the calendar with volunteers for the entire year. We need
at least two people each month to prepare and serve dinner at Shalom House
on the 3rd Saturday of each month. If you don’t feel that you can handle an
entire meal yourself, please volunteer anyway. We will pair you up with
someone who will help share the load.

Please contact us to volunteer. We will provide you with all the information you
need for the evening you choose. It’s just one meal, and it really makes a
difference.

Michael Knepper (314) 952-1808l; kneppermike@yahoo.com or

Nicole Knepper (314) 779-8366; nburli@hotmail.com

Women’s Lunch Date

Want to have some fun with friends (or make new friends)?
Join us for a women's lunch on April 12, at 11:15.
(Maurizio's is at 1107 Olive one block west of Tucker.)
Cost is around $8 for the buffet.
To RSVP or ask questions contact:
Vicki Dimmich (vdimmich@sbcglobal.net) or Bethany Spaulding (bspauldings@yahoo.com).

Lafayette Park United Methodist Church 2300 Lafayette Avenue St. Louis, MO 63104 314-771-9214
 Pa ge 4 L PUM C News & V iews

CHECK IT OUT!
Men’s Breakfast Inkjet and Toner Cartridges Simple Fundraisers
2nd and 4th Sundays after and Cell Phones for Schnucks eScrip Card
the 8 a.m. service Recycling - Don’t forget to 1. Pick up a Schnucks
Website Update bring these items to the eScrip
Continue to look for church office! This helps 2. Community Card at a
updates on the website. our environmental Schnucks Service Desk
Checkout the Yahoo photo fundraiser. or LPUMC office.
pages. Comments? Contact Aluminum cans for 3. Register the Card.
Chris Finley at 4. Show the Card at
Recycling Look for can
chrisdfinley@sbcglobal.net. Checkout.
collection bin in the
parking lot. Macy’s Fundraising
2
8 a.m. Grace Register your Macy’s card at
Praise Service - https://secure.escrip.com/jsp/su
Try the early, pporter/authentication/password
contemporary .jsp
service. When you make a purchase, a
percentage will be donated to
LPUMC as a fundraiser.

Earth Care: Easy Recycling Tips

Optimize Computer Energy Settings and Save 50% - Think of All The Money You'll Save
Did you know that 90% of desktop computers are not optimized for energy efficiency?
It's simple to utilize the power management settings on your machine, and according to Intel, it can
save you over 400-kilowatt hours annually. That's a savings of about $40 - $80 each year.
Within Windows head on down to the "start" menu, from there, you'll want to click on "settings" and
then "control panel." It's now time to double click on "power management." Oh-la-la. Now, under where
it says "power schemes," choose "always on" from the drop-down list. Below the "settings for always on
power scheme" tab, look for two drop-down lists, labeled "turn off monitor" and "turn off hard disks,"
respectively.
From each list select the amount of time you want your computer to wait before entering energy
savings mode.
Here's another hot tip. Did you know that, in addition to looking groovy and taking up way less desk
space, the new LCD monitors are good for about 100 Kwh/year of electricity savings? Ok, so that's not
going to save the whales, but if you need a new monitor, it's a good excuse to upgrade.
Oh yeah: Some of you are on Macs. It's even easier (of course) to implement these settings. Just go
to the Apple pull-down menu, select "system preferences" and then "energy saver." It's all in there.
You're on a Mac; you can figure it out. Read more at: www.thedailygreen.com

Ministry Teams at LPUMC

Administrative
Church Council: Daron Smith
Board of Trustees: Steve Coffey
Publicity: Debra Crowe
Finance: Bethany Spaulding
Treasurer:
Finan. Secretary: Maria Lawrence
Lay Leadership: Sharon Domke
Parish Relations: Sheryl Smothers
Program
Youth Ministries: Chad Johnson
Education: Cindy Pillow
Outreach: Robin and Eric Merle
Missions: Nancy Thuer; Larry Heugatter
Worship: Jeff Jensen; Sue Meyers
Stewardship: Brenda Cook
Music: Kourtney Strade
Preschool Liaison: Cindy Pillow
Other
Conference Lay Member: Chad Johnson
United Methodist Women: Jeris Beane
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
April 2010
“Good Sense” Financial Considerations
By: Bethany Spaulding, CPA, CMA, CCSA, CRP
The state of our finances is related to all the other
commands in the Bible – just as in a relationship you
get to know the whole person, we need to get to know
and follow the whole Word of God. If you find that
your financial situation is not improving even though
you are giving, tithing and not incurring any additional
debt...then it might be time to look at some other
areas.
While there are many examples of how to live our
lives, they can generally all be boiled down to one idea
– LOVE. We could each ask everyday - Is what I am
doing or thinking Love in action? If the answer is no,
then that could certainly affect our hearts as well
as our finances.
How do you know if you are living in love? You can go
straight to 1 Corinthians 13 - the famous love chapter -
and check it out:
1 Corinthians 13:3-7 (Message) If I give everything I
own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned
as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So,
no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do,
I'm bankrupt without love.
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
It's a simple exercise to go down each item and ask
ourselves – is there any area in which we are insisting
on our own way? Or where we are secretly (or
openly!) keeping score of what others are doing wrong
– whether that be another church or a politician we
don't agree with?
Lafayette Park United Methodist Church 2300 Lafayette Avenue St. Louis, MO 63104 314-771-9214
Pa ge 5
This next scripture ties love to all the other promises and
guidelines in the Bible (including financial guidelines):
NKJ Matthew 22:35-40: Then one of them, a lawyer,
asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, “Teacher,
which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said
to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your
heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is
the first and great commandment. And the second is like
it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these
two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
The Law in our case is the “new covenant” or the
fulfillment of the old Jewish law by Jesus coming to die
to remove our separation from God (sins). We are not
forced to abide by strict rules anymore in order to be in
covenant with God but now it is through Jesus. In simple
terms God has made us unbreakable promises - an
agreement where God provides salvation, healing,
mercy, blessing, peace, joy, love, and on...and on! Being
in an agreement takes two of course – we keep up our
end by living in love as Jesus commanded. Love is the
foundation for everything else God has taught,
commanded or promised. This includes finances! God is
interested in our whole being- physical, financial, social,
mental, spiritual, etc.
So, where do we land on the scale of love? Probably in
different places depending on the area. For example, as
a church we do a great job of outreach and showing
mercy to others and our community! However, no person
or church has it all covered, and the joy in our Christian
journey is finding places to ask God to change our hearts
and our attitudes so love can flow even more.
Tip of the Month:
Perhaps this month is a time to focus on love-as you
are assessing your financial situation take another
few minutes and assess your love situation. God is
gracious and kind – not condemning. If there is
anything to change, the message will usually be
gentle and clear. It's up to us to decide to listen!
Some questions that could be asked: How's my love
life going? Have I let God love me enough to be able
to share that with others? To be able to believe that
God will provide my needs, and come through for me
as the Bible says? Do I need to forgive someone; or
repent for making my own needs more important
than that of others?
Page 6 LPUMC News & Views

Will you join us in our next Adventures in Faith?

Thursday evenings, 6:00pm-8:00pm

April 8th-May 13th
Offerings

Explore our FAITH: Learn about the spiritual disciplines.

Using the workbook by Maxie Dunnam, this group will explore
how to draw nearer to God through personal devotional habits.

Explore the WORD: Bible Study (Possibly delving into The

Parables of Jesus)
Open to beginners through advanced Bible scholars, this group
will dig into the Bible together and grow in the sharing.

Exploring our HEALTH: Fitness group/crafts and things/ and

fellowship
There will be a 45-minute low-impact Fitness Class including
Chair Yoga from 6:45-7:30, beginning the second week and
running through May 13th. Participants are welcome to join the
craft group for fellowship the remainder of the evening.

CRAFTS: Those not interested in participating in the Fitness Class

are welcome to bring their handwork to visit and make beautiful
things.

Lafayette Park United Methodist Church 2300 Lafayette Avenue St. Louis, MO 63104 314-771-9214
April 2010 Page 7

“A visible sign of Christ’s presence in our urban

community and beyond”
You are Invited to the
Annual Easter Egg Hunt and Easter Bunny Party
At
Lafayette Park United Methodist Church
2300 Lafayette Avenue
St.Louis, Mo 63104
314/771-9214

Saturday, April 3rd

10:30 am
Meet for the Hunt at Lafayette Park at the corner
Of Lafayette and Missouri
Then come meet the Easter Bunny and share games and refreshments across the
street at LPUMC!

Lafayette Park United Methodist Church 2300 Lafayette Avenue St. Louis, MO 63104 314-771-9214
Page 8 LPUMC News & Views

Stewardship
"I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is
at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore
my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body
will live in hope. Because you will not abandon
me....." Acts 2:25-26 (NIV)
In this scripture Peter is quoting David. David
fought many battles with God's guidance. Peter
used this quote on the day of Pentecost after the
disciples had received the promised gift of the Holy
Spirit. They were getting ready for battle.
I don't think that there is any other time in my
Christian life when I feel more connected to the
disciples than in those days following the
crucifixion and Pentecost. Waiting with so much
fear and expectation. Waiting for that gift that is
so empowering.
I have admitted to you before that I am afraid to
be bold in my tithing. I am afraid to commit the
proper share of my income to God. I am afraid of
losing what I have or not having enough.
This year I have been trying something new. I
look at my monthly expenses, knowing that there
is not enough and then I do what God ask of me.
So far, after five months of this, I can say that I
fully believe that "he is at my right hand...and will
not abandon me."
Still I know that I need to do more.
This has been a process that has taken years. We
don't get there on our own or stay there
on our own. This is an on-going process. There
are some times that tend to be scarier then at
other times. This growth develops from having a
strong, loving relationship with our Father.
Wanting to please Him above all others, out of
love, not fear. Not resenting writing the check
but being joyful that we can. Not giving what is
left over but giving the first fruits.
It’s hard. That's why we work at building a
strong relationship with our Heavenly Father.
Through prayer and communion, prayer and
worship, prayer and study, prayer and service,
and prayer and witness. This is how we open
ourselves to receive the Holy Spirit. By opening
ourselves in these ways we have the opportunity
to be blessed with this great gift daily.
In the introduction to Acts in the Quest Study
Bible it states that, "revival and church growth
comes, not by human effort alone, but through
the power of the Holy Spirit."
There are many ways for the congregation to be
present for Pentecost. Please check the inserts
in the bulletins, the newsletter, the website and
become Jesus' hands and feet on this earth. By
participating in service, worship and study we
open portals in our lives for the Holy Spirit and
we grow. We don't just survive or hang in, we
grow.
Blessings,
Brenda Cook
Stewardship Chair

Wednesday Afternoon Bible Study Coming in April

What: Invitation to the New Testament
A Short Term DISCIPLE Bible Study
For beginning students as well as great scholars

When: Wednesday afternoons 2:00pm-4:00pm

Dates: April 7- May 26th
Where: LPUMC Fellowship Hall

How: Contact Pastor Sharon at 566-0332, or lpassociate@sbcglobal.net

Lafayette Park United Methodist Church 2300 Lafayette Avenue St. Louis, MO 63104 314-771-9214
Page 9

April 2010 Page 9

PUTTING GOD FIRST OUR WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Adriana Ramos
Each week the first check we write is
our tithe check. We take 10% of what
we have received towards the general
budget and put it to ministries beyond
the church. At this point, we have
made a significant impact around the
world. Our efforts have been focused
in the area of education. We have met
our commitment to the Ministerial
Education Fund, The Black College
Fund, and the Africa University Fund.
Each of these funds helps provide
operating funds for various institutions
as well as providing scholarships for
university students and seminarians.
Lives and communities are being
significantly transformed through the
gift of education.
We have also made a significant
contribution in the area of justice as
well. We have met our commitment to
the Interdenominational Cooperative
Fund and the Jurisdictional Conference
Fund. The Lydia Patterson Institute is
one of the ministries that we support
through the jurisdictional fund.
(Adriana Ramos the daughter of our
host in Juarez is a student at Lydia
Patterson.)
Sunday Morning
Worship Service:
Service: 8 and 10
Children’s Church: 10 am service
Communion: First Sunday of the Month
Sund
unday School 9 am Teen & Kids
Service to our Community
Preschool: Weekdays’ at 9 a.m. during school year
CHARIS : Tuesdays at 7 p.m.
RECYCLING: Aluminum (Blue bin outside)
Paper Recycling (Green bin outside)
Cell Phones & Print Cartridges (Fellowship Hall)
Hands In Mission – May 15th
Pencil in Saturday morning May 15th to lend your hands in
mission. We will be cleaning, planting and painting at The
Bridge the UM feeding ministry downtown. We will meet at
8:00 am iat LPUMC to carpool.
The Bridge Mission
...to provide an avenue where human need and available
resources can converge. Through a free-meals program and
providing access to other necessary services, guests are
treated as valuable humans of worth and given opportunity
to work toward self-sufficiency through cooperative
partnerships with other community health and service
agencies. Centenary Bridge is dedicated to seeking paths of
justice, dignity and respect for all marginalized people living
in the downtown St. 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
Page 10 LPUMC News & Views

Calendar MARCH FOR JUSTICE

Saturday, May 1st
April 3 Easter Egg Hunt and Part, 10:30 am
April 4 Easter Sunday Services 8 am & 10 am
April 8 Adventures in Faith starts, 6-8 pm We are invited to participate in a march for
April 11 Scout Sunday, 10 am service immigrant rights on Saturday, May 1 at 11:30
April 12 Women’s Lunch, 11:15 am at Maurizio’s a.m., from the America's Center to Kiener Plaza. A
April 16-17 Book Fair, 8 am-3 pm, 8 am-12 pm rally will include Nobel Prize winner Rigoberta
Menchu, and will focus on concerns of migrant
workers, violence against women migrants, family
unity (detention and deportation) and racial
Scriptures for profiling.
April Justice begins with hearing the voice that cries out,
but is unable to make persons in power hear
April 4 them. We have heard their cry, and now have the
Acts 10:34-43 opportunity to help them be heard. We are guided
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 (UMH 839) by our United Methodist Social Principles, which
1 Corinthians 15:19-26 speak to the Rights of Immigrants:
John 20:1-18 or Luke 24:1-12
"We affirm the right of all persons to equal
April 11 opportunities for employment, access to housing,
Acts 5:27-32 health care, education, and freedom from social
Psalm 150 (UMH 862) discrimination. We urge the church and society to
Revelation 1:4-8 recognize the gifts, contributions, and struggles of
John 20:19-31 those who are immigrants and to advocate for
justice for all."
April 18
Acts 9:1-6 (7-20) Bishop Minerva Carcano, who leads the UMC Task
Psalm 30 (UMH 762) Force on immigration, will lead the rally. Our
Revelation 5:11-14 Missouri Bishop, Robert Schnase, will also
John 21:1-19 participate. We hope to have a strong presence
from Lafayette Park United Methodist Church there
April 25 too!
Acts 9:36-43
Psalm 23 (UMH 754 or 137) Carpoolers will be meeting in the church
Revelation 7:9-17 parking lot Saturday morning, leaving at
John 10:22-30 10:30am. Put it on your calendar now to reserve
the date. Call Pastor Sharon with questions.

April Covenant Partners

Partners
April 4 April 18
Green Trails UMC - Rev. Nate R. Berneking Manchester UMC - Rev. Carl L. Schenck
Kirkwood UMC - Rev. David G. Bennett Maplewood UMC - Rev. Kim Shirar

April 11 April 25
Lafayette Park/Centenary UMC Marvin Park/Stephan Memorial UMC
- Rev. Kathleen Wilder - Mark C. Harvey
Lewis Chapel UMC - Rev. Maryann Hamer Mt. Zion UMC - Rev. Keith E. Janis

Lafayette Park United Methodist Church 2300 Lafayette Avenue St. Louis, MO 63104 314-771-9214
April 2010 Page 11

Sharing Time with Sharon: Hope

“…and hope does not disappoint us, because First 2010 Hands In Mission
God's love has been poured into our hearts Dr. King Day Event
through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” “Live the Dream -- Live United”
Romans 5:5
April 24th, 2010
I went walking in Lafayette Square last week. As I
write this, we are just on the cusp of spring, and
there is more brown than green showing in the We have been invited to join North Grand
park. So I was encouraged by the bits of green Neighborhood Services and Sts. Teresa
shyly peeking out from under a sheaf of dead
leaves. This green was slender new reeds of grass
and Bridget Church on April 24 for the
poking out of the earth; they looked far too next Day of Service in memory of Dr.
delicate to push through the heavy mass of leaf Martin Luther King Jr. We will be working
matter that laid like a heavy blanket upon them. in the Jeff Vanderlou Neighborhood,
cleaning, and planting flowers.
Yet, these determined little green needles were
coming up anyway. This week, they had pushed
through the brown blanket, and were standing So, find your work gloves and favorite ole’
rather proudly, I mussed, above the dank t-shirt, and plan now to join a local
darkness, reveling in, and being filled by, the mission team from Lafayette Park UMC as
warm sunshine. we work with our North Grand neighbors
Hope is like that. It starts as just a tiny seed that,
in making the city beautiful.
nurtured just a bit by God’s breath, breaks open
and begins growing, imperceptibly at first. The Meet at the church at 8:30 to carpool
darkness actually provides a place where it can be over to Sts. Teresa and Bridget Church.
nurtured, until the day it punches through into the Lunch is provided at noon.
light, and God’s presence working in our lives
becomes visible to us and others.
Questions?
The tomb where Jesus was laid was dark. No light Contact Chris Kinder at
reached him. Yet, like tender green shoots of kinderkar@charter.net or
spring, hope was born in the darkness and began Pastor Sharon at 566-0332 or
to stir. The Apostle Paul declared “hope does not
disappoint us”. That is a stubborn and glorious lpassociate@sbcglobal.net
truth of God’s presence in our lives; Hope, planted
within us and nurtured by God’s breath, triumphs
over darkness. God’s light can permeate any heavy
mass under which we have become buried, calling
forth something new, resilient, and beautiful to
unfold. God’s breath…God’s holy spirit is working
within us.

Is there a place of darkness in your life? Invite

God’s spirit to permeate it, soak through it, and
use it to nurture hope. Because hope will not
disappoint. Hope triumphs over darkness. Let this
be our prayer as we wait for hope to burst into the
sunshine.

Grace and peace

~Pastor Sharon
Lafayette Park United Methodist Church 2300 Lafayette Avenue St. Louis, MO 63104 314-771-9214
Page 12 LPUMC News & Views– March 2010

Lafayette Park United Methodist Church

A VISIBLE SIGN OF CHRIST’S PRESENCE IN

OUR URBAN COMMUNITY
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.
COMMUNITY AND BEYOND
BEYOND
Save the Date…
April 3 - Easter Egg Hunt and Part, 10:30 am
April 4 - Easter Sunday Services 8 a.m. & 10 a.m.
Easter Breakfast served 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.
April 8- Adventures in Faith starts, 6-8pm
Join us this Sunday…
8:00 am - Contemporary Service
9:00 am - Youth and Kids Sunday School
10:00 am - Traditional Worship
11:00 am - Fellowship Hour (Fellowship Hall)

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!

On the Web
www.lp-umc.org

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