Author: Mari Walker

Faith Stories: Wheelchair at the Intersection

I had never looked at him closely. There was always an appointment, a meeting, or just a selfish goal that hurried me on. He was there only occasionally, at the intersection where I was frequently stopped by the traffic light. The times I had seen him, rolling his wheelchair up to the drivers’ windows, I soothed my conscience with the knowledge that I didn’t have any cash with me. I seldom have any cash with me.

But this day was different somehow. He was there, talking to a driver several cars ahead. I hoped that the light would change and I would be forced by the impatient traffic to hurry by. But something inside of me grabbed me. I thought to myself, as usual, ‘but I don’t have any money.’ The light changed; he wheeled his chair to the rough shoulder; we in our cars and big trucks and expensive SUVs passed by.

Across the intersection I was alone. That thing inside of me made me pause. It was then I realized that I did have cash with me. I had been to the farmer’s market that morning and always take money to buy from the vendors and there was plenty left over. I turned my car around, went back to the intersection. He had vanished! I couldn’t believe that in those couple of intervening minutes he had been able to disappear in a wheelchair over rough pavement. But the urging inside of me wouldn’t give up. I drove around, searching for him. At last I spotted him sitting in an island of trees between the streets.

Leaving the car halfway on the street, I gathered my courage and walked into the trees and up to the wheelchair. The man was facing the other way and didn’t see me coming. When I spoke to him, he looked up at me and smiled. He didn’t seem at all surprised to see me there. I handed him all of my farmer’s market money. He looked around and said, ‘Isn’t this a beautiful place? It’s so peaceful here.’ As I spoke in agreement, I finally looked at him, really looked at him. He had no legs, very few fingers, and scars all over his face. But he was smiling and he was grateful, not for my money, but for the beauty and peace that he found in that grove of trees. As I looked at him, I was overcome with love. Not pity. I felt like I was looking into the face of Jesus.

I go through that intersection several times a week. I always carry an envelope with money. I have not seen that beautiful face again.

Prayer: 
Dearest Jesus, help us learn to open our eyes, to see with our hearts the beauty and worth of each person we are privileged to meet along our daily path. Amen.

Betty Schroeder    

Faith Stories: Meditation on a Butterfly

Psalm 148: 7-10, 13

Praise the Lord from the earth,
 you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
 stormy winds that do his bidding,
you mountains and all hills,
 fruit trees and all cedars,
wild animals and all cattle,
 small creatures and flying birds….

Let them praise the name of the Lord,
 for his name alone is exalted;
 his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.

I set my chair at the very edge of the stand of lantanas. My little side table held a glass of cold water, binoculars and field guides for butterflies and hummingbirds. Across from the lantana, passion vines and zinnias were in full bloom. It was an early October morning. No mowers or leaf blowers disturbed the deep silence. My plan was to ‘study up’ on the identification and scientific names of the butterflies that came along.

In my knowledge-seeking mind, I reviewed the wondrous life cycle of the butterfly – egg, caterpillar, chrysalis and adult – that metamorphosis that has challenged and awed the imagination of humankind from time immemorial. I immersed myself in the examination of the Latin names and smiled to remember that Linnaeus and others after him had given these ethereal beauties not descriptive names like we typically find, for example, in the mockingbird’s name, Mimus polyglottus (many-tongued mimic) but fanciful and often obscure appellations that allude to names found only in classical mythology. I was also making a mental list of host plants and nectar plants that were thriving in my garden, planning ahead to next spring’s planting season.

Suddenly, a sweep of color and gentle movement caught my eye. A giant swallowtail had come to sip nectar from a lantana blossom. It rested there in the sun, not ten inches from my eager eyes. As I observed the intricate pattern of colors on its back and the seductive ballet of its gently moving wings, my breath was taken away. No longer was I the scientific knowledge-seeking observer, but an intricate part of creation along with this beautiful insect.

I realized that I was on holy ground, witness to a small but very special part of God’s creative genius. As I sat in awe and gratitude and prayer, I felt God’s certain presence. In the silence, more glorious butterflies arrived – a monarch, a cloudless sulfur and a Gulf fritillary- overwhelming in their beauty and gentleness. Time seemed to stand still. And I sat in that holy place and dreamed of Eden.

Betty Schroeder

Faith Stories: Thankful

Rhonda Tucker is thankful for…

Love
Family – Related as well as the people not blood related who are family
Grace
Challenges and learning how to be thankful for them
Baton Rouge water – remembering the awful tap water I grew up with
Life
This moment

Marilyn Damberg is thankful for…

• Standing on the shoulders of giants of faith – George and Dorothy Beavis
• The fact that though her health is failing, each time my husband visits Dorothy, she has a sweet, sweet spirit
• The Discipleship studies that we have participated in
• The supportive care ministry – now led by Joyce Clavenna and Janet Hogstrom – to see the hours of time spent organizing visits and support
• The new young women’s circle – made up of busy moms and working ladies who still want to find a way to give
• My precious teaching partner, Sarah Prevot, who is organized and funny and puts up with a zillion crazy ideas
• Our new Children’s Coordinator, Brooke, with her energy and enthusiasm
• Sarah Shoup and her work in discipleship and for her team work with Jay as he starts his ministry
• Jay and his dear family – being uprooted and coming to us in service
• Carlos and Saroj – their love of Jesus,  open arms and open home, gracious hospitality that has made so many of us feel welcome, warm, and loved, their continued ministry to India and also to us here at home
• Sunday School teachers – new and old – those who love the children and adults
• The ministry and continued witness of Jere Johnston – the mission to Cuba that I am determined to go to in his honor, and Susan’s faithfulness
• The Choir and the music ministry – those who love the Lord through their musical gifts and talents
• For Betty Schroeder – another inspiration and delight as she has served, sometimes with a broken heart, but always with joy, for her music and her ministry
• Crazy Troy Prevot, who loves the children of our church to bits – his fun and laughter, but also for his faithfulness to serve on committees that can be ever so tiring
• Our young people – oh the joy of their fresh faces, their faithfulness, and their searches for truth and meaning
• The Pantry and the Feeding ministry – how precious is it to be led into that ministry by the call of one so faithful, how precious is it to know so many who work behind the scenes to support and provide both physical food but also spiritual food
• For Deirdre Halliburton – stepping out in ministry and service and gently shepherding others of us along
• The Tuckers and the LeBlancs – families that bring us incredible joy and quiet service

Theresa Sandifer is thankful for…

St. Johns obediently answering God’s call to generously help those in need in our community

That every day The Shepherd’s Market is open we have faithful volunteers who show up and serve with love

Pastor Jay is thankful for…

A group of Christ followers who want to live with joyous abandon in the community around us!

The Holy Spirit of God who calls us to serve and who has opened this opportunity to serve with St. John’s Church!

Kathy King is thankful for…

Christian friends
Family
Lively Sunday School class members and our ministry to LSU students
God’s grace that goes before us

Faith Stories: Prayer Shawl Blessing

St. John’s UMC is blessed in its outreach ministries that enable the members to participate in numerous activities to serve God, using the gifts and talents that God has given us.

I have come to know more and more fully that there is a God and He cares for us all. God has given me the talent and the skill to knit and crochet. I was 8 years old when my mother, after finishing the household chores of cooking, cleaning and washing for the day, would sit in her black easy chair and start teaching me how to knit. I was fascinated by the squares I could create just by putting the yarn in and out of a loop. By the time I was 9 years old, I could knit sweaters, caps and booties for my dolls in simple knit and purl stitches. Then I learned to make fancy patterns using knit, purl, slip and pass the slip stitch over. This was creative and a lot of fun. The patterns that emerged were beautiful. I could not stop, and so I kept knitting in my spare time throughout middle school, high school, college and graduate school. I knitted so many sweaters with new patterns that finally my husband said, “Stop, we have enough for our lifetime.” So I started knitting for friends and neighbors and then for mission outreach programs.

When I came to St. John’s, I got involved with the prayer shawl ministry. My faith has grown, and my friendships have found a new meaning as I use my talent and skills to glorify God. I am so passionate and so committed to this ministry that I have helped many UMW groups in various churches in the Louisiana Conference and other states to start the prayer shawl ministry. People who receive these shawls not only find love, joy and comfort wrapped around their bodies but they experience the Holy Spirit surrounding them and they grow in their faith that God exists and is taking care of them, surrounding them with love.

Prayer shawls are knitted with the theme of Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We use three skeins of wool, cast on multiple of three stitches, use a pattern of three stitches and pray for the person by name for whom we are knitting. If we do not know who the prayer shawl would go to, we say a general prayer.

In a series of Faith Stories, I will share some of my stories of people who have received my shawls so that you would know how blessed I have been in my faith journey.

A few years ago when Paul returned from Iraq serving his term in the United States Marine Corps, he was grieving for his buddy who was killed by a bomb explosion and died a horrible death in Paul’s presence. Understandably, Paul went into a deep depression, asking questions like “Why did God not take me? Why was I spared while my buddy was taken so mercilessly?”… questions we all ask when facing crises in our lives and find no answers. In desperation, Paul withdrew from the world and remained in his room. His boxes remained unpacked. He did not want to see or talk to any of his friends. His parents were devastated and felt helpless.

One day, Paul’s mother Daphne came to me at church with her hands full of red, white and blue skeins of very soft wool and asked if I would knit a prayer shawl for Paul, who was so broken and needed comfort and healing. I felt humbled and honored to be asked to do such a sacred task for a suffering soul. I agreed to knit the shawl for Paul.

I came home with the yarn and spread it on my bed. As I looked at it, prayed and contemplated creating a design, I thought of Paul and his pain. Having lost my own brother at the age of 38 and having worked in India in counseling with people suffering from P.T.S.D., I had some knowledge of what grief of loss is. I was aware that my job was not only to change the yarn into a prayer shawl that would give warmth to Paul but that my job was to be an intercessor between God and Paul. I was to convey to him that God’s love surrounds him, His healing power cures him of his depression, gives him hope and takes care of his loneliness. As I kept looking at the wool, suddenly, like a flash, I saw the great American flag waving in the wind and I said, “That is it!” Using the theme of Trinity and all the guidelines for a prayer shawl, I was able to knit one that looked like the American flag waving in the wind. With Paul’s love for his country, I found it not only beautiful but most appropriate and patriotic.

When I told Daphne the shawl was ready and we could come and give it to Paul, she informed us that Paul was not ready for it yet as he still was withdrawn from the world. We waited and prayed continuously for his healing. About a month or so later, one afternoon Paul and his parents knocked at our door. Carlos and I were thrilled to see them and invited them in. We thanked God in our hearts that Paul was ready to receive and accept not only the shawl, but also the love and caring of God. We talked for a while then the four of us put our hands on the shawl while Carlos said a prayer and then I wrapped it around Paul’s shoulders. He immediately held the two ends and brought it tight around his shoulders, taking a deep breath, feeling the softness and the presence of Trinity, he said, “This is so soothing, so warm, so comforting. I can feel the Spirit.” Wow – what a blessing!

Later we heard from Daphne that Paul keeps the shawl near him all the time. He took it to his dorm at Southeastern and did not hesitate telling people about the meaning of the shawl and the power it had over him. Yes, here is a God who loves, comforts and heals.

We shall continue to share our prayer shawl stories in future issues of Faith Stories.

Saroj Welch 

Faith Stories: Faces of Angels

The children of Grace Camp will steal your heart. Hungry for friendship, desperate for affection and often traumatized by circumstances at home, they come to five days of summer camp with hope in their eyes. For one week of the year, they are released from the stigma of being children of a parent in prison. Rescued from playgrounds where they often find themselves ostracized or belittled, they learn to relax and be just themselves — children enjoying the wonderful activities of summer with an abandon that most children take for granted.

The sights and sounds of the swimming pool are a banquet for the senses — squeals of delight, shouts of ‘watch me,’ an older child helping a younger one float, sharing inflated toys, the welcome warmth of big, dry towels after the cool swim. The dining hall becomes quiet as the hungry youngsters dig into the nourishing food. Some go back for seconds, for thirds, hungry and appreciative of the warm meals. The noise increases as they finish eating, and, amazingly, the kids vie with each other in helping pick up empty plates and cups and tidying up the tables.

Bible study time in small groups is illuminating. Many aren’t familiar with even the most well known stories. They delight in reading aloud to each other and in working together to choose a story to perform in a skit. Practice goes on every day until the performance the last evening. The real excitement is in choosing costumes for each actor to wear. There is much exuberant creativity here — bathrobes and kinky wigs, golden crowns and broad pig snouts made from construction paper and glue, walking sticks and thorns collected from the woods.

My favorite activity, of course, is the music. In ‘fun music’ time, I am privileged to see the joy and excitement on their faces as they enthusiastically ring the colorful bells in accompaniment to ‘Jesus Loves Me’ or ‘Kum Ba Yah.’ But it’s during worship that the blessing of knowing and serving these children falls so profoundly on me. One song we sing at every worship, morning and evening, is ‘Lord, I Lift Your Name on High.’ The veteran campers have taught the newbies hand movements to the words. Quiet falls in the chapel as the keyboard plays the introduction. When the children begin to sing, I see the faces of angels — children transformed from kids who are hurting from neglect and abuse of many kinds, children who are shuttled from foster home to foster home, children who have little more than the few outfits they brought to camp, children who have grown up in a home without ever knowing the presence or love of a father, children who have witnessed unspeakable violence. The faces of these sweetly singing children are transformed into the beautiful faces of angels, and I am overwhelmed.

Jesus is at Grace Camp. He gives strength and stamina to the staff, demonstrates the path to forgiveness and freedom, offers uncountable blessings of peace and acceptance, and fills these precious children with the gifts of love and hope. For a time, we hear the bells of heaven in their laughter. And even when their faces are covered with tears the morning of departure, we still are witness to the faces of angels.

Betty Schroeder

Postscript:

St. John’s footprints are all over Grace Camp. Many Sunday school classes give scholarships for Grace Camp every year, as does UMW. The ladies of UMW also provide a meal for staff training, wash bedding and towels from one camp session, and have been instrumental in the purchase of the hand bells. Many ladies of the church have made innumerable colorful pillowcases to give to each Grace Camp child every summer. The activity hall at camp is decorated with posters made by our youth group. Thank you for such selfless and loving support of this wonderful mission!

Faith Stories: Youth Mission Trip Summer 2014

This summer the St. John’s UMC youth group took a mission trip to Shreveport, LA. While there, we worked with Common Ground Outreach, an organization that deals with supporting the surrounding Cedar Grove Community. They conduct various programs helping the community such as a pantry, clothing closet, a weekly meal, and camps and after school programs for the children. The youth helped with some building and garden upkeep as well as supporting the summer camp for the kids. Our youth worked very hard and went above and beyond what was expected of them.

Brycen Daniels, Interim Youth Ministry Coordinator

Below are comments from some of the participating youth.

During the Shreveport mission trip I drew on a chalkboard for the kids’ summer camp. The theme was Christmas in July, and Catherine Leblanc and I drew Christmas trees and presents. We also wrote the kids’ names. I was happy when we saw the kids’ faces light up in delight. It was amazing.

Ceci Caputo

While on the mission trip I got to help people. That made me feel important and like I was doing good for others. Overall what I got out of it was a sense of godliness.

Nico de La Fuente

During the mission trip I organized a closet with school supplies for children who could not afford to buy them. I realized how we take for granted the simple things like that when there are kids out there who do not have the luxury that we do. This really opened my eyes to the needs of others.

 Hannah Green

On mission trip we got to paint doors and help organize the food pantry. I felt grateful for what I did for the program at Common Ground. God called me to do something good for them, and I felt good about it.

Joshua Green

During the mission trip I got to play with kids at Common Ground outreach. We played a game called garbage bin ball. The kids connected with me, and I enjoyed connecting with them. I got a lot out of it.

Stephen Leblanc

During the mission trip we got to work at Common Ground and help them paint doors and clean up. I felt this was very important, and I got closer to God. I was very glad I got to go on this trip and get closer to my youth group and youth leader.

Rebecca Lively

On the mission trip Catherine, Rebecca, Justin and I got to clean and repaint the church doors. I felt like that was a meaningful thing to do because the church was very important to them, and it was nice to give the outside a new, nice look.

Haley Stubbs

While on the mission trip we played some games with the neighborhood kids. We got to help teach the kids about teamwork and working together.

Mason Stubbs

Check out photos from the youth’s mission trip on our Flickr account.

Faith Stories: God Never Sleeps

In the summer of 2006, I moved from my beloved home of over 40 years in Baker to Baton Rouge. I later found my church home here at St. John’s United Methodist Church. My mom and dad, who lived with me for many years, and my beloved husband have all gone to glory, and starting over alone was not easy for me.

In January 2011, I had an early morning doctor appointment for my routine annual checkup. At the end of the appointment, I left with an X-ray showing possible masses and went that afternoon to see a surgeon. The following week I had surgery to investigate what the X-ray was showing. After the surgery, I woke up and learned I had Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. My world changed from being a person who has always been the picture of health to being a person with a cancer that had a history of not giving a person any hope and not very long to live.

My church friends gathered at my home, flowers were sent, pastors prayed and comforted, but oh the nights were so frightening. I’d often sit up in my bed as long as I could to not return to the dreams and the fear of what was to come. This happened often and one day a few ladies from the church stopped by and gave me a prayer shawl that had been knitted for me. I was so appreciative of the lovely gift and thanked them for it, knowing the amount of time and talent that had been put into it. I put it in my bedroom over a chair.

Days passed, nights were dreaded and often fear rose up in my soul and I cried for my Mama, my Daddy and my husband. All was quiet one night in February when the fears returned. I sat up in bed, scared and cold (this night was particularly cold), and I remembered the prayer shawl that I had received earlier. I got up and retrieved it from over the chair and got back into bed. I wrapped it around me in an effort to get warm and sat quietly in the darkness and wept, wiping away tears with the shawl. As I sat there in the bed, in darkness, the shawl transformed from just a shawl to keep me warm to a feeling of someone’s arms wrapping around me. I felt warmth, comfort and joy, and I knew I was in the presence of Jesus and it was His arms that wrapped around me. I felt the joy like a river fill my soul and time lost its meaning and I rested my heart with Him. The years have now gone by, and joy, peace and love have remained in my heart. Pity parties are never allowed in my mind.

I later learned that the shawl was knitted by a group of ladies at St. John’s who gather, not to chit chat about the goings on of the day, but rather to knit and pray over the shawls and for the people to whom they will be given. This shawl has transformed my walk with cancer and I am so blessed to have received the shawl that had been so prayerfully knitted by a special woman. It has become more than a shawl to decorate my room. This prayer shawl has shown me that God never sleeps, and brought to life Isaiah 58:9, “Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and He shall say, here I am.”

Lovingly,
Irene Boles