Young Hearts of Service

Shannon Gammon Articles, Catherine Stark-Corn

Rev. Catherine Stark-Corn serves as our Minister to Children and Families / Outreach Ministries “What amazing helpers you have been!” “I cannot believe they all worked so hard the full time.” “Everyone pitched in to get all the projects done…and no one complained!” These were just a few of the comments …

The Church Can Be….

Shannon Gammon Catherine Stark-Corn

I continue to be in a time of recreating – imagining – wondering. In these recent months with the pandemic not front and center in headlines, I am still grasping at a rhythm. I find I like predictability – to know what is coming, how to approach what’s next.

Alive with Wonder

admincccckc Articles, Catherine Stark-Corn, Staff Messages

One of my favorite stories from Anne Lamott is her explaining why she made her (now grown) son Sam go to church as a child. She gives humorous detail about trying to get him enthused — all to no end. She jokes that he goes because she is 75 pounds …

In Awe of the Rugged

Lara Schopp Catherine Stark-Corn, Children & Families, Mission Trips

By Catherine Stark-Corn, Minister to Families and Children One of my most cherished memories is of the church’s family mission trips to the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation in South Dakota. The drive could be a bit long, especially with younger ones who were tired of car games, toys, sitting, being …

Hand in Hand on the Journey

Lara Schopp Articles, Catherine Stark-Corn

By Rev. Catherine Stark-Corn, Minister to Children and Families “Three in five,” my oldest son, home from college for the holiday, says to me as I make dinner and he hangs out with me in the kitchen. I ask what he means, assuming it is some statistic related to something …

Rekindling Light

Lara Schopp Articles, Catherine Stark-Corn

By Rev. Catherine Stark-Corn, Minister to Children and Families Recently a friend told me of a book she said I must read. It is not a new book – just one she happened upon in the library, and after reading she could not believe she had not heard of the …

Breaking Bread

Lara Schopp Articles, Catherine Stark-Corn

Rev. Catherine Stark-Corn, Minister to Children and Families My eldest son has been an intern this summer with a non-profit in northeast KC. Each day after several hours of work, the interns gather with the staff and any other volunteers for lunch. They come together after their morning work, sharing …

The Beauty Way

Lara Schopp Catherine Stark-Corn

If only there was only some way to capture the tone of voice when a four-year-old blurted out, “It’s so beautiful!”  The shock, excitement and reverence this little guy shared as he stopped to take in a huge, bright yellow dandelion was truly contagious. One would think we were in …

Renewed

Lara Schopp Articles, Catherine Stark-Corn

Rev. Catherine Stark-Corn, Minister to Children and Families The final pile of snow has left my yard. It was in a corner where it had accumulated higher than other spots due to windy days and stayed there far too long due to lack of sun. The disappearance of that lingering …

A Question for the New Year

Lara Schopp Articles, Catherine Stark-Corn

Rev. Catherine Stark-Corn, Interim Minister to Children and Families The Christ child is born – the new year is here and this is the week I begin to feel a bit deflated after all the build-up through Advent and anticipation of Christmas. It’s not that the Advent and Christmas seasons …

A Big Something….Or Not?

Lara Schopp Articles, Catherine Stark-Corn

By Rev. Catherine Stark-Corn, Interim Minister to Children and Families Sitting in the reception hall for a friend’s wedding – the music plays an engaging melody while the newly married couple takes to the dance floor. Twinkling soft lights give off a fuzzy glow that makes the space a bit …

Worship Anew

Lara Schopp Articles, Catherine Stark-Corn, Children & Families

These are all moments that help remind me why encouraging parents and families to bring children into worship is so important. Young, wiggly, energized worshippers are central to our church, to our congregation and most importantly to living God’s love.

From the Beginning…

Lara Schopp Articles, Catherine Stark-Corn

By Rev. Catherine Stark-Corn, Interim Minister to Youth, Children, and Families “You had to be here from the beginning,” I chastise my husband as he walks in half way through a show I am watching. He immediately says this doesn’t make sense. He asks questions that show he is a …

Moment By Moment

Lara Schopp Articles, Catherine Stark-Corn

By Rev. Catherine Stark-Corn, Interim Minister of Children, Youth and Families The sounds of trotting feet and nervous giggles came from behind the curtain as the 1st graders moved into place to perform their song and dance. The music filled the large room and the curtains drew back to reveal …