and teaching children and supporting their families. In my retirement, my self-introductory line is, “My name is Yvette Wyatt, and my claim to fame is being the Oma of the Thompson children!”. So today I am going to share a couple of recent child-created joys — two separate strands, tying together, within my Christ tapestry. 

Strand 1: How you do anything is how you do everything
Children can teach us how to love anything via the ‘Great Chain of Being’ when we pay them close attention. First, to provide the backdrop for the delightful child example I will share, this excerpt from page 73 in Every Thing is Sacred: 40 Practices and Reflections on the Universal Christ by Richard Rohr and Patrick Roland:
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​So, the child story. Following a visit from a family friend whose girls also call me Oma, I received this touching text:
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​To give this story a bit more perspective it’s important to know about the rock. This was not a big rock from my lifelong large rock collection. Nor was it a smooth beauty from my river stone bowl. It was a pea gravel pebble. As they departed the house, Ruby bent down, picked up a tiny pea stone from the path, and proclaimed, “Oma, I’m taking this one home. This one is mine.” I was surprised to see it wasn’t one of the added ‘color’ rocks I toss in for fun. Just a pea stone that she took home to care for and love. 

Strand 2: We share the responsibility to show the love of Jesus Christ
This past Sunday, I was privileged to be a co-teacher for the Pre-K and Kindergarten Sunday School class. Paul White, a newly installed Elder and the fortunate father of Conor and Alex, was the other. Our lesson was on Mary Magdalene at the tomb. We focused on how she couldn’t ‘see’ Christ until He called her by name. Then, for our prayer time, we asked the children to think of a friend or family member that helps them to see and understand the love of Jesus. 

A couple children shared the names of multiple friends- it was hard to choose one! Two of the girls each named the other—see how amazing they are! When it was Charlotte’s turn, my generous granddaughter replied, “You Oma.” Can you not just imagine how my heart exploded with joy? Then it was my grandson Theo’s turn. Not to fear, for every nanosecond of pride I entertain, our wise Father counters with many hours of humility. Theo’s loyal and ever-steady reply to such questions frequently results in the proclamation of “Mickey!” And so it was that day. Yes, his faithful and adventure-sharing buddy, Mickey Mouse, helps him see the love of Jesus.

Later, pondering Char’s sweet reply, the same heart that burst in gratitude, did a shuddering stop. The full weight and responsibility of her naming me as one of those who shows and shares the love of Jesus is not just sweet. It is profound and sobering. Thank goodness I am surrounded by a cloud of witnesses. A faith family who is encouraging, uplifting, and amazing examples of the love of Jesus Christ. AKA, Love 1st.

​In His Name, Yvette

A bit about myself–as requested. Details about my career are easily discoverable, so I thought I’d share the “untold” story instead. I was born and raised in Florida and since that time long ago, I have lived in Indiana, Texas, Washington, and Germany. Here are a few true tales from all those places.

I played drums throughout my junior high and high school years. During that gig, I played snare and cowbell for Jimmy Carter’s inauguration. I still have one leftover drumstick that allows us to open the kitchen window – but not enough for burglars to enter.

My first job was at the First Methodist Church in Spring Hill, Florida, where I played piano for services. My second job was making ham and cheese sandwiches at Weeki Wachee, Home of the Live Mermaids. I drove my moped 7.5 miles each way in all types of weather. I earned enough money that summer to help me buy materials to make a suit for my Grandfather’s wedding and to help with first year of college incidentals.

It’s true that I’ve played the piano all over the world. My most infamous story was when I was playing concerts onboard the MS Deutschland … in the middle of a cyclone. We were in Beaufort winds of 10-11 for several days and in the midst of this, I had to play a concert with my cellist. During rehearsal, we hit a rogue wave. My bench slid a full six feet back from the piano. Seasickness hit, I was full of drugs from the doctor, and the show had to go on. Yes, I played and was subsequently written up in a German magazine as bringing my heroics and barf bag to the Steinway.

In Hamburg, I lived in the caretaker’s apartment in the Anglican Church for five years and often climbed along the rafters to watch fireworks along the Elbe River. I survived six weeks of the 200-year-old organ being tuned - starting at 7 am every day. Since I played either Cats or Phantom several times a week, getting home at midnight, this was tough to take! I was often an invited guest in the U.S. Consulate and was there one evening when rioters tried breaking into the facility. We were scuttled out the backdoor quickly, and the Consul General and his family were secured. The windows were broken out of the British Consulate that night.

I played a series of concerts with a cellist in China a year after Tiananmen Square. We were about 500 miles south of Beijing and found ourselves sharing the concert hall with members of the communist party from the capital. Tense does not begin to describe the reception after our concert. But Chinese beer flowed freely, and we all became a bit more relaxed. I told the story about my toilet paper getting soaked by an over-exuberant housekeeper at the hotel. Pretty soon, the wife of the conductor came out and presented me with a roll of Double Happiness toilet paper - a two-ply, naturally. The next day, they ditched their meetings, came and got us in a van, and took us to the mountains for a day of sightseeing followed by gifting us with fireworks so we could celebrate July 4th. It remains one of my fondest memories.

I could write for hours, but these are the stories that quickly came to mind. Thanks for reading. I’ll happily bore you for many hours with the full bio - just ask me.

I look forward to being a part of this congregation and its love in action. Thank you for your warm welcome, and I hope to get to know more of you soon.

In His Name, Deborah

As a church family, we have the opportunity to reach out and meet the needs of those in our community who find themselves homeless and are working to better themselves. By offering safe shelter, food and to meet other needs they may have, we are filling those gaps until they can provide for themselves.

When you hear us talking about Family Promise and asking for you to volunteer, think about your circumstances and put yourself in their place. Their needs include: someone to prepare food; someone to host dinner and provide companionship; someone to spend the night to make sure they feel safe and secure; someone to help set-up their rooms for shelter. Also, at the end of their week with us, they need someone to get them ready to move their belongings to the next host church and someone to take care of laundry.

We host these families every other month through May. There is a board set up in the Krueger Hall where all of these needs are posted and ready for you to sign-up.
Please consider how you can be a part of this meaningful ministry. After all:

The families become God’s gift to us as we share time with them, witnessing their struggles and strengths, their challenges and successes. We are blessed. 

In Christ,  Judy, Teri, Bill,  and Ann 

possibilities of completing them and the satisfaction I will get from doing it. Another thing I can check off my list. It’s easy at first, because the new year is a quieter time of year with not much going on. But as the year progresses, sometimes the goals I set can become tedious or burdensome. The excitement is gone.

The one thing that has not become tedious is my personal time with God. I’m an early riser, getting up at 5:00AM, before my family gets up. I’ll take a few minutes to play with my pup and love on her, but she knows there is a time she needs to leave me alone. Then, while the house is still quiet, I can spend some time with my Lord. I rarely miss a day.
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I decided many years ago to get through the entire Bible each year. As I spend time in His word, He teaches me something new each day. He always has a new treasure for me to find. Then I’ll reflect on the day or days before and God always shows me the things He has done. I’m so thankful for how He cares for me personally. What a wonderful way to begin again each day!
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In Christ,
Stephanie

at Union Theological Seminary, and they had three children together. In the following years, two of them died, and she wrote these words in a poem, “One child and two green graves are mine; this is God’s gift to me.” She wrote many hymns, including “More Love to Thee,” and also wrote the following reflection: “To love Christ more is the deepest need, the constant cry of my soul, when I am happy and busy, when I am sad and idle, the whisper keeps going up for more love, more love, more love!”

William Faber graduated from Oxford University and became an Anglican minister. After a while, he joined the Roman Catholic faith and was given a new name, Father Wilfred. He became concerned with the lack of congregational singing, so he started writing his own hymns. One of his texts, “Faith of Our Fathers,” has become a favorite of all churches and denominations worldwide. He was a prolific writer and penned over 150 hymns. The pope even granted him the title Doctor of Divinity.

I find myself clinging to the lyrics of hymns so often as I go through my day, whatever is on my mind and whatever I’m doing. They bring me peace, remind me to love more, and serve as both prayers and praise to God.

Keep reading! Keep singing!

In His Name,
Kent