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One quick "cute kid" story... During last Sunday's children's circle (at the front of the sanctuary during worship) I introduced myself to the children and asked if they knew who I was. They were a little shy, so I said they could call me "Pastor Katie" or "Reverend Katie" or "Miss Katie" or just "Katie", whichever they chose and whichever was okay with their parents. Jack, my four-year-old, crawled up in my lap and said, before sticking his thumb in his mouth, "I still like to call you Mommy."
In addition to the title thing, there would also be a wardrobe shock if you were to visit my new congregation. I "vest" each Sunday in a black robe with voluminous sleeves. I wear a long stole around my neck, different colors and designs that are appropriate to the liturgical season of the year. (Right now we're in "ordinary time", that long stretch between Pentecost and Advent, so multi-colored is the look to go with!)
A colleague here is lending me her vestments until I get some of my own, and my dear old dad (I use the phrase affectionately) is itching to buy me a set of my own. They're expensive, so I want to take my time and get the right ones.
When I slipped on the robe that first Sunday, I felt like a little girl playing dress-up. Seriously, it felt like a costume, and I felt very conspicuous. But after a few minutes hiding in my office, I remembered that these people WANT me to do this job and do it in a serious and, yes, conspicuous way. The Disciples of Christ are very "lay-led", like Churches of Christ, but there is a sense that the preaching/teaching/pastoral ministry to which I am called is a special calling that will be honored in my person so long as the congregation continues to confirm its veracity. The robe and stole communicate to everyone present that I'm speaking, acting, touching, loving at the behest of God. It's a ministry to those folks for me to be present, taking my role seriously, willing to take on the responsibility like putting on special clothes.
Interestingly, Disciples of Christ clergy do not normally wear a priestly collar. The vestments are only for Sunday, only for preaching...
peace -- Katie
:::posted by Katie on 6/28/2005 01:22:00 PM
Thanks for your report, Mary Lou. Your reflections on the title "Reverend" are interesting. In West Islip and surrounding communities, we have gotten used to folks addressing her as "Pastor Katie." She thought that was cool.
During our interim period, however long that is, we at West Islip will have the opportunity to hear sermons prepared by some young women from around the metropolitan area, some of whom have been named here before. I look forward to hearing from them.
Continued prayers for the West Islip church.
--David Fritz
Amityville, NY
:::posted by Fritz on 6/25/2005 09:03:00 PM
I am so happy for Katie and for the church there but it brought tears to my eyes also. Why can't the Church of Christ do the same? What is holding us up? There is still so much to be done. Julie
:::posted by julie on 6/23/2005 11:36:00 PM
Dear friends,
I haven't posted in ages but I wanted to drop in for a moment and report on Katie's first Sunday at Lawrenceville First Christian Church. I was fortunate to be in the area and visited the congregation for her first service. She did not preach as it was VBS Sunday and the children presented the majority of the service, but she did give the communion devotional and the invitation and was warmly greeted by an enthusiastic congregation. It seems like a nice group of people and has the potential to be a growing church. There were folks of all ages present and everyone was friendly. It was a bit of a shock to see the big sign out front announcing "Reverend Katie Hays," but I'll get over it.
I was proud of Katie and proud of the congregation for seeing her gift and appreciating it. Thought some of you would like to hear about it.
--Mary Lou
:::posted by Mary Lou on 6/22/2005 07:26:00 PM
Aw, shucks, y'all...
:::posted by Jennifer on 6/16/2005 02:54:00 PM
Thanks to Keith, Julie and Chris for your kind words. How to respond without being too lengthy?
We truly are excited for Katie and Lance and for the opportunities they are both pursuing. There is no doubt that God has some great things in store for them and for all, like us, who will benefit from their ministries and gifts.
I was actually a voice of dissent when Katie and Lance were hired six years ago. How ironic is that? We laugh about that now. I don’t want to repeat a post I made some time ago about this—it’s in the archives. I’ll just say here that I think it was some time within Katie’s first six months at West Islip when she spoke on Jesus' encounter with the Canaanite woman, Matthew’s version (ch. 15). That was the clincher for me. I only wish that more of you had the privilege.
We rave at Katie’s gifts, and we should, but I think that no one here will mind me saying that Lance packs a knockout punch of his own. There are good reasons for his pursuit of a Ph.D. in homiletics. They both know how to preach.
As for Jennifer, she’s got the gift, too. She last preached for us on Memorial Day weekend, and she did an outstanding job giving us a summation of the Sermon on the Mount, of hearing and doing, knowing and acting, of surviving the storms that come upon the wise and foolish alike. How many of you hear references to Gutierrez and liberation theology and God’s preferential option for the poor from your pulpits? (Insert a fist-pump here.) Good job, Jennifer.
--David Fritz
Amityville, NY
:::posted by Fritz on 6/14/2005 09:15:00 PM
David,
I'd like to thank you and all the leaders of the West Islip Church of Christ for sticking your necks out to hire Katie and Lance six years ago. Thanks for taking Katie's gifts seriously and giving her a place to develop them. Thanks for not ducking when Lance launched this web site. Thanks also for inviting Jennifer Thweatt-Bates to preach for you on some occasions. Thanks for demonstrating that when Paul says in Christ there is "no male and female," he is not talking about heaven bye and bye. If putting on Christ does not affect how we overcome all our discriminations here and now, then what's the point? Thanks for setting an example for us all.
May God bless West Islip in your search for a new minister and in the next chapter of your congregation's life.
Brotherly,
Chris
:::posted by Christopher on 6/13/2005 11:34:00 PM
Dearest David, I know that there is a big hole in your hearts at West Islip. I know that God has big plans for you and that church family but take some time to grieve. Lance and Katie and their children will be missed but they have left so much of themselves imprinted in all of you...hold that close and see what that means for all of you. May God's grace be with all of you, Julie
:::posted by julie on 6/13/2005 09:50:00 PM
The Pape and Hays families certainly have my prayers, as well as West Islip.
Years ago, my older sister and her husband - Linda and Dick Troxel - attended West Islip and introduced me to an extraordinary elder there, Hagop (Jacob) Keoteklian ... and my spelling of his name is approximate! Though I only got to visit a few times in my teens, I still remember what a pioneer he was in matters as diverse as water desalination, escaping an oppressive regime in his own country, and church leadership.
Pioneers leave a legacy wherever they go, and grief at their departure can't be eternal. There's always that Homecoming.
And in the meantime there's the comfort of having faith that God works through His servants wherever they go - sometimes in ways they choose; sometimes in ways they can't possibly imagine.
:::posted by Keith Brenton on 6/13/2005 08:54:00 PM
Friends,
Katie Hays and Lance Pape have officially moved on. Katie preached her last sermon for the West Islip Church of Christ today, while Lance last preached for us two weeks ago. Lance is in Atlanta fixing up the house and starting a class, while Katie will be on the road to Atlanta for a couple of days with the kids. Below is some contact information for them.
Emotions are still kind of raw right now, so I'll spare you from rambling reflections. It's sufficient to say that Katie and Lance, as well as their children, will be greatly missed. Pray for the Lawrenceville FCC and the West Islip COC in their transition periods.
Contact info:
Rev. Katie Hays
Lawrenceville First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
3495 Sugarloaf Parkway
Lawrenceville, GA 30045
770-963-9922
http://www.lgafcc.org/
--David Fritz
Amityville, NY
:::posted by Fritz on 6/12/2005 08:28:00 PM
Wiley, thanks for the news of Shannon's new job. We join you in praying for her ministry and for the Kingwood church.
Shannon, if you're lurking out there, we invite you to post from time to time some news of how your ministry is going.
Vicki, thanks for pointing out the problem with my link to Carson's review of Sumner. I see that I was being grammatically correct but computer goofy, even though my period was outside the defined URL. I've edited that post, but if the link still doesn't work, readers may simply copy it and paste it into their browsers. I'll be careful to avoid adding periods in the future.
Chris
:::posted by Christopher on 6/11/2005 10:36:00 AM
Since my daughter doesn't post over here normally, I get to make this announcement!
On Memorial Day weekend Shannon interviewed & taught two classes at the Kingwood CoC in Kingwood (north east of Houston). She was offered the Children's Minister job with in several days, was back down in Kingwood the nest weekend at their request and will be moving soon to Kingwood! God has answered our prayers. She and David are excited about the new job (he will also be finding a new job when they move!) and the church is apparently just as excited as Shannon and David are. Needless to say, Linda and I are also very excited about this move as several of our friends have said that Kingwood is a wonderful church and similar to Granbury in size at around 800 plus members. Kingwood is also a community church which is something Shannon was really wanting to be a part of. They will also be living on the opposit side of Houston from where their good friends, Brent and Melinda Isbell, now live. Brent was the pulpit minister at the church where Shannon was the Children's Minister for three years. Brent is now the pulpit minister at the Bering Drive CoC (the church where Edward Fudge is an elder).
God answers prayers in exciting ways. As most of you know, minister searches are usually slow and time consuming and one rarily knows for months the results of an interview. This has happened in a matter of days. It now appears she will be on the job starting next week!
Praise the Lord for all the blessings and the surprises he sends us when we least expect them.
:::posted by Wiley on 6/10/2005 08:37:00 PM
Chris - FYI: The period at the end of your link to Carson's blog makes it a bad link.
:::posted by Vicki on 6/10/2005 03:12:00 PM
For anyone interested, here are two links relating to Sarah Sumner:
http://home.apu.edu/~ssumner/
http://home.apu.edu/~ssumner/new_book.htm
I read her book several months after it came out. She has alot to say and some unique views. It is an excellent study on gender.
:::posted by Wiley on 6/01/2005 09:40:00 PM
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