Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of thy love. …
Take my intellect, and use every power as thou shalt choose.
~ Frances R. Havergal 1873 ~ (UM Hymnal #399)
It hasn’t been quite my whole life, but it has been 38 years as a pastor, 42 years as a pastor’s spouse, and an additional 5 summers at a mission site organizing work crews. This “official” ministry is coming to an end at the end of June. This is my last pastoral newsletter.
I came to Kenmore United Methodist Church only at the end of that time, in the last three years. They have been years of change, years of transition. I came three months after the church had come back together for “live” worship, following the closedown for Covid-19. I came six months after Jennifer Johnson had replaced Judy Melia as the Administrative Assistant in the church office. I came immediately after the vote to become a Reconciling Ministries congregation. I came in the middle of a process to hire an Associate Pastor following the retirement of Rev. Bonnie LeValley, which came to its fulfillment in the hiring of Rev. Becky Naber three months later. I came four months before Rev. Gail Lewis retired for the third or fourth time. One year into my tenure, we hired Dawn Stinner as the new Director of the KUMC Preschool. Also in my first year, Pastor Becky began the SPARK ministry as a New Faith Community, and the Food Pantry began and has flourished.
The building has been changed, improved, significantly in the past three years. As I arrived, the Trustees and helpers were digging into every corner of the church, removing nearly a century of stored “stuff.” Boilers for the church building and for the apartments had been ordered, were delayed by Covid supply chain problems, and now have both been installed. In November 2022, the ceiling collapsed in the parlor. This seemed to set in motion a desire to look at the entire building and the program and administration of the church.
In February 2023, a Strategic Planning Committee was formed, with the help of mentors Dr. Betty Cappella and Dr. Geraldine Bard. Through that work of that committee, A Mission, Vision, and Goals were set. The parlor was repaired and redecorated, the sanctuary was modified and a welcoming awareness was planted. The Food Pantry became wheelchair accessible with a ramp. The library was downsized and moved, and the space formerly known as the Library has been redecorated and repurposed as the (as yet unnamed) Café. (It will always be the “Halo” café to me). The Strategic Planning committee recommended a change in the administrative structure of the church, which was adopted by the Church Charge Conference in May of this year, to begin in July. The Mission Hub has moved to our church and is about to be dedicated.
Through all of this, I have tried to be a faithful pastor, teacher, and worship leader. Sometimes I have succeeded, sometimes I have fallen short. Please know that I have always tried to love God and love this congregation and community. I have been aided (and often made to look better than I am) by a tremendous staff and faithful lay leadership. I am particularly indebted to my association with Pastor Becky Naber, and her many gifts and graces, to Susan Schuman’s musical talent and directorial skills, to Jennifer Johnson’s organizational and people skills, Dawn Stinner’s amazing ability to grow our Preschool, and Dale Passero’s faithful care of the buildings and grounds.
I hope to continue to be part of the life of KUMC in the future. Please pray for me and I will pray for you, as we go in peace, and serve the Lord.
In Christ’s love,
Pastor Matt Stengel
