March Breakfast

Jeff really puts on a nice breakfast.  This morning we had grapefruit and a low-carb (aka high meat) kiesh like concoction and stellar coffee.  I'm not sure I"m going to need lunch today.  Thanks again Jeff.

I feel that our conversation this morning was fruit born from our meeting faithfully over several years.  It was really nice to share a bit of a free-flowing conversation that ranged from the difference in Korean and American culture to children and worship to how we approach sabbath days.  There is a lot of talk about the benefits of being in conversation with folks who have differing views, but this morning I really felt the benefits.  Good conversations tend to find both ground that is common and foreign.  We draw close on the common which allows us to hear the foreign.   It was encouraging and challenging to do experience the fruit of those conversations this morning.  Thanks Jeff, Rich and John for coming to the table.

Even with all of the deep discussion we were still able to share some opportunities arising in the community.  Here they are in no specific order:

March 29th Good Friday  9:00-1:00  South Tacoma Cross Walk.
     Join us for a 5 mile walk around South Tacoma to the places where people have died as the result of violence over the past 6 years.  We will meet in the Starbucks parking lot at 56th and South Tacoma Way at 9:00 then walk to the site of 10 homicides where we will offer a brief remembrance and prayer.

April 18th 11:30-1:30  Love Inc Pastors Luncheon 
    Many of us are aware of the good work Love Inc has done over the last several years.  THey are in a process of reevaluating their ministry style and focus and would like the input of congregations.  Rich will pass along details as they become known.

Hosted at Tacoma Christian Reformed Community Church
Must RSVP at execdir@loveincpiercecounty.com

May 10th  8:30-3:30  Day Retreat at St. Placid's Priory in Olympia
     Jesus frequently removed himself from the crowds and disciples to talk and listen to the Father.  Over the last few years I have discovered the value of doing a similar thing for a whole day.  The priory is the home of a handful of Benedictine sisters but also a site of retreat where anyone can come and spend time alone.  To schedule a day or overnight retreat simply check out their website at www.stplacid.org or you can join me on May 10th when i go down for a day retreat.  Let me know if you would like to go so that I can reserve a room for you.

August 24th  Convoy of Hope
     A number of churches, businesses and agencies are partnering for this one day event at Mt. Tahoma High School during which groceries, prayer, health care, community services, entertainment, lunch, games and children's activities will be shared.  IF you are interested in learing more, contact Ryan Jordan at 479-799-1022 or RJordan@life-center.org.

Grace and Peace,
Ken

Next Breakfast:  Green Pastures Presbyterian Church (66th and Junett) 

December Breakfast

"How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity..." (Psalm 133)  Brian, and the Psalmist's prayer captured the nature of our gathering this morning.  For the past year Brian, Tony and several other south end pastors have been doing what our cadre of South Tacoma pastors have been doing for several years; meeting, eating, sharing and praying for one another to build trust so that we might be better able to respond when God calls.  This morning we joined those two groups together and though there was no 'oil running down anyone's beard' it was good.  (A quick aside; the fact that our group is male dominated is unintentional, we look forward to welcoming some sisters some day as well.) 

Thanks to Rich for hosting, good luck finishing all of those donuts.  We also look forward to meeting again in January.  Keeping with the spirit of unity, the South Enders are going to return the favor and host our next meeting.  We'll meet on Thursday, January 10th for lunch at 12:00 at the church Brian pastors, Hope Community Church at 158 S. 46th Street, Tacoma, 98414.  Here is the link to their website.

Til then, Happy Advent and Merry Christmas!

November Breakfast Recap

Thanks to John and Green Pastures for hosting this morning.  John promised us that danishes are better for you than donuts though I think that may be like saying that 1/4 lb burger is better for you than 1/3 lb burger.

I continue to appreciate the growing depth of our conversations in which we are able to discuss everything from cancer to depression to sex offenders to universalism.  Perhaps what makes each of these conversations so rich is that: a) they arise from our situations of ministry or home rather than just from our minds and b) we've developed enough trust to share our struggles and things about which we might disagree.  As part of our mission is to develop trust, I left this morning encouraged.

Another thing about which i am encouraged is the work Brian Olsen has done to establish a similar ministerial group across the interstate in the South End.  Recently Brian and I talked about joining the groups for a meeting and it looks like there  is no better time than the present.  And so, next month we will meet on Wednesday, December 12th at 8:30 at Evangelical Reformed Church just off 74th street not far after you cross South Tacoma Way.    7435 South Madison Tacoma, WA. 98409is the exact address. 

Until then, have a great Thanksgiving,
Ken

October Breakfast - Joyful Pastors?

Thanks to Jeff and Adam for the incredible Ham, egg and mushroom muffins we had this morning.  Tasty.  I really appreciated our time of sharing and conversation.  It was and is an encouragement to me.  Here is  the link to an article by CJ Mahaney that Rich shared entitled "Happy Pastors."  It is both an encouragement and perhaps a gentle challenge to believe for ourselves the stuff we proclaim to others each week. 

Blessings on your month until we meet again on Wednesday, November 14th at 8:30 at Green Pastures Presbyterian on 66th and Junett.  Who knows we may even wade into the waters of a discussion about the elections.

Grace and Peace,
Ken

September Breakfast and Prayer Walk for the Schools

Friends,

What a great way to begin the Fall.  After getting fueled up on donuts and coffee, Rich, Ken, Jeff, John and myself went out (5x5 in this case instead of the 2x2 Jesus sent his disciples) to pray for Manitou Park Elementary, Gray Middle and Mt. Tahoma High.  After praying in front of each school we dropped off a letter to the respective principals letting them know who we are, that we'd prayed for their school and offering our help as it may be needed.

I appreciate the chance not only to pray for these schools but also to walk and talk with some co-laborers here in the community.  Walking and talking, it seems like I remember something about some folks doing that on the road to Emmaus at some point.  Hopefully our eyes were opened in some small or large manner.

The next gathering will be on Wednesday, October 10th at 8:30 at Zion's River where I think we might just get some biscuits and gravy (no pressure Jeff.)

Grace and Peace,
Ken

August Breakfast Recap

We gathered at Evangelical Reformed this morning and broke sweet bread and coffee together.  Thanks to Rich and John for the good conversation about sabbaticals, sending our kids to college, and what it means to keep the main thing the main thing.  Also, thanks for the prayer, which is a whole different kind of food and one that we know our brother Jeff has been receiving while recouping from 'the attack of the blocked gland.'  Our prayers are with you brother.

Our next meeting...

South Tacoma School Prayers

will be a special one as we will gather to specifically pray for and visit 3 neighborhood schools; Manitou Elementary, Gray Middle and Mt. Tahoma High School.  The simple plan is as follows:
1.  Meet at Manitou Park Presbyterian (6613 S. Cheyenne) briefly
2.  Walk to Manitou Elementary and pray
3.  Walk to Gray and pray
4.  Walk to Mt. Tahoma and pray
5.  Depart or depending on the time, go to lunch together at a local Korean joint of John Kim's choosing.

Rich is going to draft a letter that we might offer to the principals simply letting them know we offered some prayers, inviting them to let us know how we can pray for them in the future, and (this is important and a little risky) asking if there are any other ways our congregations might be of support.  Rich would like to include all of the names of the pastors and congregations who plan on attending, so please reply to this e-mail if you plan on joining us.  The date is:

Wednesday, September 12th at 8:30 

Please invite other ministers/churches to join us.  The more the better,

Grace and Peace, 

Ken

June Breakfast

Another South Tacoma Ministers breakfast has come and gone and thanks to Ken Schmidtke's health consciousness, we are none worse for the wear.  Thanks for the bananas, yogurt and strawberry's, our arteries are grateful.

Due to time constraints I will keep this recap short.  Once again it was good to catch up with one another's lives and pray for one another.  In the midst of that, YFC Ken asked the question, "Is this group doing what we'd hoped it would."

In the sense that it is helping each of us feel supported, connected and encouraged in our ministries then the answer was a strong yes.  Each of us remain glad to be a part of the group and feel it is worth continuing.  Our mission is "As ministers in South Tacoma, we desire to develop trust between one another so that when God presents us with an opportunity or challenge that is uniquely suited for us to collectively engage that we would be united enough to faithfully do so."  Our monthly breakfasts have helped us develop trust between one another to the point that we've collaborated on ministry at Gray, presentations from our churches and some marriage ministry stuff.  This has all been good.  On the other hand...


If the sense that this group is helping to connect the leaders of the 30 some churches in South Tacoma to develop trust that might lead to collaboration then the answer is no.   Despite our invitations, the group remains small (which is okay).  What to do.  Here is the plan for the next 3 months.


July 11 at 11:30 - Lunch at a Korean restaurant with John Kim.  Meet at Green Pastures at 11:30
August 15th at 8:30 - Monthly breakfast at Evangelical Reformed
September 11th at 8:30 - Prayer for the schools.  We will meet at Manitou at 8:30am for brief breakfast and then head out to pray for Gray, Manitou and Mt. Tahoma.  This is an event we want to invite as many ministers in the area to join us in as possible.  So we'll start working toward this now.  Please post any ideas you have regarding this in the comments section below.

Grace and Peace, 
Ken