St. Luke’s United Methodist Church - Memphis, TN - News

Cries from the Cradle
Mary’s Cradle Newsletter
Autumn 2007

One of the blessings in writing these newsletters is that I find myself reflecting on the events, challenges, surprises, and accomplishments since the last newsletter. I find myself laughing and genuinely grateful for this new opportunity in mission in Appalachia. As the trees transform brilliantly into an amazing palette of vibrant colors I find myself once again offering prayers of thanks for each of you who continue in prayerful support of this work. You are the bright affirmation that God remains faithful and gracious throughout our covenant.

Bluefield Cooperative Parish is the parent of Mary’s Cradle here in West Virginia. Five congregations within Bluefield and as different as the autumnal trees, each has an honorable role in the support of our endeavor here. For a dozen years they have raised funds to support the church and community worker, cultivated volunteers, contributed clothes, furnishings, books for our clients. I am so grateful for their participation and hope we can continue to honor one another as we move forward.

Trinity United Methodist Church is our physical home. Recently an audio-visual security system was approved for installation at the entry doors and in the hallways. This will enable us to safely extend our service hours from noon until eight Monday through Thursday. Trinity is also beginning a community dinner on Monday evenings, which will mean we can extend our services to those who attend the dinner as well as the families of the children who attend Wednesday evening Children’s Program. I believe we will be able to be much more accessible to those we serve. I pray that all we do extends the firm and faithful foundation that has been laid

Francis Coffey, our administrative assistant, has been certified in Infant and Child Car Seat Safety. This will be quite an asset, as we give out more than five car seats each month, and we can be assured they are installed and used properly with Francis’ expertise.

We have also begun to augment the resources of other local and regional agencies. We were able to give away tons [literally!] of donated infant and toddler food to various West Virginia programs as well as individuals; we have prepared layettes for a local maternity unit and crisis intervention center that serves mothers in great need; we are planning an Advent celebration that will assist us in distributing more stuffed animals and other pre-school toys to community families.

We have been blessed by grants from First Book which enables us to purchase almost five hundred books and give out nine new books to families. We are working hard to extend this great work into the schools and churches. It’s always wonderful to see the eyes light up when children are told they can pick out books to take home, and that they will be theirs!

As you can see, we are in a time of great possibilities for deepening and extending the good work that has been begun here. The community and congregations are extending and breaking down boundaries to facilitate a more accessible and effective ministry throughout Southern West Virginia. I will be in Lebanon and Nashville, Tennessee, Paducah, Kentucky and Millington, TN over the next few weeks. The Annual Meeting of West Virginia’s UMW is the last weekend in October. The UMW have been a tremendous source of support for Mary’s Cradle, and I enjoy every moment we share. Finally, the Church and Community Worker Bi-Annual will find me at Lake Junaluska in North Carolina the beginning of November. This community is one I am honored to be a part of and I learn so much from each of the workers, from their knowledge, their lives, and their devotion. I should be home by the middle of the month, and preparing for Advent. I am tentatively looking at two separate visits to Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference next year, two weeks in April and then an additional two weeks in October. Please let me know if you would like a visit during those times… I will begin planning intensively when I settle in for the winter.

If you find your heart stirred with the possibility of assisting in our effort there are endless opportunities: if you are nearby we would love to have you volunteer. We can always use donations, any items for premature babies, including bottles, pacifiers, clothes, blankets, up to clothes for 4T. We can use monetary support to purchase items that arise such as formula for babies with allergies or severe colic, car seats, and larger items such as cribs, swings, and highchairs. We are beginning to explore special ordering simple Mennonite cribs because commercial cribs are so very expensive and have so many parts that are easy to lose. Most of all we need your continued prayers for us as we work in joyful discipleship here at the Cradle.

It has been overwhelming at times to serve persons whose needs and challenges seem so insurmountable. It is hard to imagine that a place that is so resplendent and reflective of God’s creativity that it is termed “almost heaven”, and yet also produces such intense poverty with so few opportunities to improve one’s condition. With your continued support I am confident that God will show us a way to improve and ease the lives of all God’s children.

Agape

Kathleen

Reverend Kathleen K Masters
Mary’s Cradle Maternal & Infant Resource Center
401 College Avenue
Bluefield, WV 24701
Email: maryscradle@frontiernet.net
Voice Mail: 304-327-7757