Thanks to John and Green Pastures for hosting our breakfast this morning. He, Rich and myself had a great discussion on church culture. It all began with John asking Rich how often our people meet together and if we thought this was enough to 'feed the flock.' This led to a really good discussion on the differences in Korean and Anglo church culture (one of which is the size of the coffee cups), the relationship between church culture and world culture, the difference in the culture of the greatest generation and generation X and the difference in 1st generation and 2nd generation immigrant culture. Who says pastors aren't cultured people?
Perhaps the place this culture conversation crystallized the most is in Jesus words from the sermon on the mount when he says, "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again..." Salt is really salty in the salt shaker, but has no influence on the taste of food if it remains in the shaker. Conversely, salt that is pored in a 5 gallon bucket of water will be diluted by the water. Are church cultures like salt? Do some err on the side of remaining in the shaker while others err on the side of dilution in the culture? This was the nature of our discussion.
I left this morning asking the question, "What does a Christ salted person look like, think like and act like? Perhaps we can pick up in January with this question, or we can return to the questions that were raised in November. Either way, we look forward to picking it up again in the new year. Though YFC Ken doesn't know it yet, we've tapped him to lead the next breakfast which will be on Wednesday, January 11th at 8:30am at the Youth For Christ office at 1216 Center Street.
Merry Christmas,
Ken Sikes (Manitou Park Presbyterian)
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
November Breakfast
Big thanks to Westernco Donuts for the maple bars and apple fritters; tasty all the way to belt-line. I consider it preparation for Thanksgiving. We really need to start stretching out these stomachs.
John, YFC Ken, Jeff and Mantiou Ken met this morning at Manitou and we had a good lively discussion about youth in South Tacoma as well as the work of Dr. Abraham Park who wrote the Genesis Genealogies. If you are interested in learning more about the second, then mark your calenders for a weekend conference on January 6-8 as Green Pastures and Celebration Christian Fellowship are partnering to host some lectures on the book. Contact John Kim (jhkjhkjhk3@hotmail.com) if you have more questions.
Our discussion focused around youth in South Tacoma and we ended up approaching the discussion from several angles. The discussion began when Rich arrived early to let us know that he couldn't stay because he needed to be at court with one of the youth from his church. Rich was living out Jesus' question, "I was imprisoned, did you visit me?" Our prayers are with he, his church and the young lady.
YFC Ken brought good news from Gray as 8 kids gave their lives to Jesus during yesterday's club. What great news. Ken's prayers were not only of praise, but also a request that these youth might find churches where they can grow in their faith.
Jeff shared a bit about his unfolding adventures with how the school districts approach sharing faith in the schools. Some of his kids had questions about how much they can share in school and as a good pastor, Jeff is trying to get that answer. So far, he's had a good response from the schools and we look forward to hearing what he finds out.
John not only shared about his passion for the work of Dr. Park but also modeled a t-shirt that captures the essence of the book. We had a good discussion about how this book and the theology can be good news not only for adults but for youth as well. How do we pass on the God's legacy to the next generation? How do we do this especially for young people who may feel as if they have no legacy?
For me, the conversation seemed to lead to the place where John made the claim that the best way we can reach out to youth in the community is through the schools. This led us to ask how this might be done. We all agreed that we have parishioners of varying abilities and availability. How can involvement be made accessible to them? On the other side, does the school really want a lot of volunteers? If so, what might we be able to do? John crystalized the questions when he said, "It seems like what we need is a group to coordinate the work between the schools and the churches. If there were a group that could help to specifically name the ways we could help then more folks might get involved." And so...
What if we asked the question, "How can we bless the schools?' More specifically, "How can we bless Gray Middle School?" Then responded as were were able and willing. To that end, YFC Ken is going to ask the principal, Mr. Ikeda, this question. So, don't miss the next breakfast as we'll throw these things on the table and see if there's enough energy to do some blessing.
Speaking of the next breakfast. Here are the details: Wednesday, December 14th, 2011 at Green Pastures Presbyterian at the corner of 66th and Junett. See you there.
Ken
John, YFC Ken, Jeff and Mantiou Ken met this morning at Manitou and we had a good lively discussion about youth in South Tacoma as well as the work of Dr. Abraham Park who wrote the Genesis Genealogies. If you are interested in learning more about the second, then mark your calenders for a weekend conference on January 6-8 as Green Pastures and Celebration Christian Fellowship are partnering to host some lectures on the book. Contact John Kim (jhkjhkjhk3@hotmail.com) if you have more questions.
Our discussion focused around youth in South Tacoma and we ended up approaching the discussion from several angles. The discussion began when Rich arrived early to let us know that he couldn't stay because he needed to be at court with one of the youth from his church. Rich was living out Jesus' question, "I was imprisoned, did you visit me?" Our prayers are with he, his church and the young lady.
YFC Ken brought good news from Gray as 8 kids gave their lives to Jesus during yesterday's club. What great news. Ken's prayers were not only of praise, but also a request that these youth might find churches where they can grow in their faith.
Jeff shared a bit about his unfolding adventures with how the school districts approach sharing faith in the schools. Some of his kids had questions about how much they can share in school and as a good pastor, Jeff is trying to get that answer. So far, he's had a good response from the schools and we look forward to hearing what he finds out.
John not only shared about his passion for the work of Dr. Park but also modeled a t-shirt that captures the essence of the book. We had a good discussion about how this book and the theology can be good news not only for adults but for youth as well. How do we pass on the God's legacy to the next generation? How do we do this especially for young people who may feel as if they have no legacy?
For me, the conversation seemed to lead to the place where John made the claim that the best way we can reach out to youth in the community is through the schools. This led us to ask how this might be done. We all agreed that we have parishioners of varying abilities and availability. How can involvement be made accessible to them? On the other side, does the school really want a lot of volunteers? If so, what might we be able to do? John crystalized the questions when he said, "It seems like what we need is a group to coordinate the work between the schools and the churches. If there were a group that could help to specifically name the ways we could help then more folks might get involved." And so...
What if we asked the question, "How can we bless the schools?' More specifically, "How can we bless Gray Middle School?" Then responded as were were able and willing. To that end, YFC Ken is going to ask the principal, Mr. Ikeda, this question. So, don't miss the next breakfast as we'll throw these things on the table and see if there's enough energy to do some blessing.
Speaking of the next breakfast. Here are the details: Wednesday, December 14th, 2011 at Green Pastures Presbyterian at the corner of 66th and Junett. See you there.
Ken
Friday, September 30, 2011
Prayers for South Tacoma and her congregations
How can we pray for one another? Just list your prayer in the reply section.
September Breakfast
Fellow Ministers in the SoTac,
Jim, Rich, John, Jeff and I (Ken), had a great breakfast this morning at Celebration Christian Fellowship. El Jeffe, (which I think means 'the chief" in spanish, or maybe chef, who knows?) cooked up some good biscuits and gravy. Thanks brother for the hospitality.
It was good to sit around the table and hear how the summer had gone for us as pastors and parents. It was also good to talk about eating pigs feet, playdo and sea cucumbers (you had to be there).
Our next gathering is set for Wednesday, October 12th at 8:30 at Manitou Park Presbyterian (6613 S. Cheyenne St., right next to the park and school). The plan is as follows:
8:30 Eat and check-in
9:00 Question of the day, "What have our congregations done that has worked (not worked) to reach out to with the love of Christ to the youth in South Tacoma?"
9:30 Local issues
9:40 Pray
Finally, it was good to close in prayer. Jim asked if there were in fact ways that their church could pray for other churches. So, here's the challenge: List a prayer request you have for your congregation and post in the reply section of this blog post. We'll keep it going for the people who want to pray for one another.
Grace and Peace,
Ken
Jim, Rich, John, Jeff and I (Ken), had a great breakfast this morning at Celebration Christian Fellowship. El Jeffe, (which I think means 'the chief" in spanish, or maybe chef, who knows?) cooked up some good biscuits and gravy. Thanks brother for the hospitality.
It was good to sit around the table and hear how the summer had gone for us as pastors and parents. It was also good to talk about eating pigs feet, playdo and sea cucumbers (you had to be there).
Our next gathering is set for Wednesday, October 12th at 8:30 at Manitou Park Presbyterian (6613 S. Cheyenne St., right next to the park and school). The plan is as follows:
8:30 Eat and check-in
9:00 Question of the day, "What have our congregations done that has worked (not worked) to reach out to with the love of Christ to the youth in South Tacoma?"
9:30 Local issues
9:40 Pray
Finally, it was good to close in prayer. Jim asked if there were in fact ways that their church could pray for other churches. So, here's the challenge: List a prayer request you have for your congregation and post in the reply section of this blog post. We'll keep it going for the people who want to pray for one another.
Grace and Peace,
Ken
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
July Breakfast...oops
I received this e-mail from Jeff on Wednesday afternoon...
I replied with this one...
Friends,
I'm glad I'm among folks who hold forgiveness as a core virtue because I completely forgot this morning as well. As we usually meet on the 2nd Wednesday of the month, I forgot to change my schedule for us to meet today. Turns out, Jeff and I were on the same wrong page. I echo his apologies to Bill, Todd and Scott. Sorry fellas.
However, the grace in all this is that next month we'll get another chance and to further mess things up again, I'm going to ask that we meet on the first Wednesday of the month (August 3rd) at 8:30 at Celebration Christian Fellowship. Jeff really wants the chance to make breakfast and I really want the chance to eat it.
Let me know if you can make that date and I'll try to send out a reminder.
Peace, Ken
Ken, So sorry! I completely forgot that today was the meeting I was hosting! So no breakfast was cooking – Bill had to go home and get some apples . . . L
Anyway, the week earlier got me all messed up. I thought when my alert came on, it was so I could have time to prepare for next week . . . Apparently my logic did not prevail, and I found myself opening the door for a hungry Bill, Todd and Scott who were with the Soma Ministry group. No one else was there, must be figuring that it is next week.
So if you would let everyone know, I will be hosting (for real this time) in August. And yes Bill, we will have breakfast!
Sorry . . .
Jeff
I replied with this one...
Friends,
I'm glad I'm among folks who hold forgiveness as a core virtue because I completely forgot this morning as well. As we usually meet on the 2nd Wednesday of the month, I forgot to change my schedule for us to meet today. Turns out, Jeff and I were on the same wrong page. I echo his apologies to Bill, Todd and Scott. Sorry fellas.
However, the grace in all this is that next month we'll get another chance and to further mess things up again, I'm going to ask that we meet on the first Wednesday of the month (August 3rd) at 8:30 at Celebration Christian Fellowship. Jeff really wants the chance to make breakfast and I really want the chance to eat it.
Let me know if you can make that date and I'll try to send out a reminder.
Peace, Ken
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
June Breakfast
Fellow Ministers in the SoTac (I saw a shirt that had SouTac on it, which do you like better? Or perhaps another one?) Good breakfast this morning. Big thanks to Bill for hosting and for providing both the options for refined sugar (donuts) and natural (apples). This is the one case where choosing the fruit is not the sin (not saying that choosing the donuts was, mmmm).
Good time of sharing thanks for the discussions our congregational joys and struggles led to. Let's keep one another in our prayers. Given John's obvious excitement over his mentor's book series, I thought I'd list the title of the first book and author here. It is called The Genesis Genealogies and his by Rev. Abraham Park. Good luck as you good news this book.
Our next gathering is set for:
Wednesday, July 6th at 8:30 at Celebration Christian Fellowship just off 56th on the hill (where Jeff his the children's minister and we eat biscuits and gravy).
Bill will bring the question which is: "How do you preserve fruit?" In other words, how do we help newcomers integrate into the congregation and grow in Christ to bear fruit?
Grace and Peace,
Ken
Good time of sharing thanks for the discussions our congregational joys and struggles led to. Let's keep one another in our prayers. Given John's obvious excitement over his mentor's book series, I thought I'd list the title of the first book and author here. It is called The Genesis Genealogies and his by Rev. Abraham Park. Good luck as you good news this book.
Our next gathering is set for:
Wednesday, July 6th at 8:30 at Celebration Christian Fellowship just off 56th on the hill (where Jeff his the children's minister and we eat biscuits and gravy).
Bill will bring the question which is: "How do you preserve fruit?" In other words, how do we help newcomers integrate into the congregation and grow in Christ to bear fruit?
Grace and Peace,
Ken
Friday, April 15, 2011
April Breakfast Recap
Fellow ministers of the SoTac, Here is a brief recap of our last breakfast. Thanks to John Kim for hosting at Green Pastures, the Korean pasteries were excellent (sorry Rich for taking the last of the kind, but I hear the vegetable one and bean paste ones were still pretty tasty). Check-in. I'll leave our 5 minute updates to to confidence of the present group, but simply say thanks for sharing and allowing us to pray for one another. Question. We all read the Tacoma Weekly article "The middle years" and then Ken Schmidtke (YFC) brought us the question, "What do South Tacoma churches have to do with South Tacoma schools?" After a good discussion we were left to consider if there is some way we might be more specific in sharing God's shalom in and through the schools. Prayer. Good time of prayer. Next meeting: Next breakfast is on Wednesday, May 11th at Evangelical Reformed Church, just off 74th Street. If no one comes up with a question, Rich promises to sit and read from Calvin's Institutes in French for the full 30 minutes.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
February 2011 Breakfast
Fellow Pastors in South Tacoma,
Thanks again for a great time together. Big thanks to Ken Schmidtke for hosting and giving us a lesson in fasting. Who needed the donuts anyway?
1. How's it going? It was good to hear where each of us are in ministry and personally. I really appreciated this time and you're openness. Thanks, it is encouraging.
2. A question. This morning we bounced around the question, "How do you approach leadership development in your congregations?" I won't attempt to summarize our discussion and simply say it was helpful to process some things and hear a bit about how others approach things.
3. South Tacoma. For the 2nd year in a row South Tacoma was the site of the 1st homicide which happened to be another domestic violence case. Georgia Gunzer was killed by her boyfriend just off 51st and Tyler on Januray 25th. This is a sad reminder of the great need in our community. On the positive side, we now have a grocery store in the Grocery Outlet. A great place with great deals and to run into (not over) neighbors.
4. Prayer.
5. What next? Join us on Wednesday, March 9th (Ash Wednesday) at Manitou Park Presbyterian (6613 S. Cheyenne St., next to Manitou Park, just past Manitou Elementary) at 8:30am. Our question will be on small groups, "How do you approach small groups in your congregation?"
Peace, Ken
Thanks again for a great time together. Big thanks to Ken Schmidtke for hosting and giving us a lesson in fasting. Who needed the donuts anyway?
1. How's it going? It was good to hear where each of us are in ministry and personally. I really appreciated this time and you're openness. Thanks, it is encouraging.
2. A question. This morning we bounced around the question, "How do you approach leadership development in your congregations?" I won't attempt to summarize our discussion and simply say it was helpful to process some things and hear a bit about how others approach things.
3. South Tacoma. For the 2nd year in a row South Tacoma was the site of the 1st homicide which happened to be another domestic violence case. Georgia Gunzer was killed by her boyfriend just off 51st and Tyler on Januray 25th. This is a sad reminder of the great need in our community. On the positive side, we now have a grocery store in the Grocery Outlet. A great place with great deals and to run into (not over) neighbors.
4. Prayer.
5. What next? Join us on Wednesday, March 9th (Ash Wednesday) at Manitou Park Presbyterian (6613 S. Cheyenne St., next to Manitou Park, just past Manitou Elementary) at 8:30am. Our question will be on small groups, "How do you approach small groups in your congregation?"
Peace, Ken
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