Welcome to new Heartland Regional Representative to the CoHi Board of Directors, Laurie McKim from Kansas City, Missouri.

Sharing Time With Helen Appelberg

St. Matthews hosted Helen Appelberg at our 10:15 service on Sunday, November 9th before she boarded a plane for her return to her temporary home in Galveston, Texas.  She visited with parishioners during our coffee hour prior to posing for a photo that included the members of our Community of Hope.

Helen, whose titles include the Reverend Doctor, which she definitely does NOT prefer, traveled to Kansas City the previous Thursday, a day before she presented the keynote address at the 6th annual Health and Spirituality Workshop.  That workshop was sponsored by the Health Ministries Association of the Community of Christ, only two weeks after the Journey to Emmaus Mass was celebrated in the Auditorium at the International Headquarters of the same church in nearby Independence, Missouri.

By arriving on Thursday, Helen enjoyed a restful dinner with Deacon Laurie McKim at the Turlin's that evening.  On Friday, she was able to pray and study at her leisure, before her remarks that evening.  On Saturday, she followed up her keynote address on the challenge of community in a broken world with two workshop sessions focused on how Benedict of Nursia's 12 steps of humility, listening and stability evolved into the ministry of presence.  In addition to Helen's presentations at the HMA Workshop, Deacon Laurie, Linda Gerding, and Carl Turlin presented on the Community of Hope Ministry.

As the founder and author of the Community of Hope, Helen shared with the Community of Hope lay chaplains of St. Matthew's Saturday evening at supper.  After supper, she joined in the Circle of Care, the monthly meeting of the chaplains.  Each month, we report on the needs of parisioners, visits made, and any new areas of concern that are identified.  A program is also offered each month that provides support and training of the Community of Hope ministry.  With Helen's experience as the founder, she was able to participate and offer suggestions.  The program that night primarily was an experience of worship that included praying and singing, with Helen teaching us a new Pentecost song.  Finally, the workshop participants from Laurie, Linda and Carl's sessions had brought prayer concerns to an altar.  These were reverently offered up as prayers in the fireplace.  It was truly a spirit-touched evening!

By Carl & Marci Turlin