MLK 2017

Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–1968)

From I Have A Dream (delivered August 28, 1963)

Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.

And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" — one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."

Rev Up with Rev. Kate!

May God’s Grace and Peace be unto you …

It’s January and we are at the beginning of a New Year and a new beginning in the life of our Church! Over this past Advent Season I have been so graciously welcomed by the Congregation – with open hearts, open minds, and wide-open arms.

For both the congregation and the Minister, beginning a new Call in a new Church is somewhat like an “arranged marriage.” Before I even landed in Topeka, I prayed for each of you. I’ve been told you have prayed for me as your new incoming Pastor.  What courage this takes – what faith!  We both have pledged and purposed to pray for one another, to love one another and to support one another. What an arrangement, indeed!

What a gift we have set before us all. It is a blessing beyond measure. 

God has ordained this time, set apart for us, to grow together, learn together and to bring God’s Blessings to Topeka and beyond. 

What an amazing blessing it is for me personally, and I give thanks – ahead of time - for such a wonderful congregation as Trinity. We have a long future ahead of us as we expand our Church into the community of faith that God has intended for us here at Trinity Presbyterian.  The deep gratitude that I want to impart is said best by the Apostle Paul: “I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love towards all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers.”  What a blessing, indeed.

Continuing on with the theme of new beginnings, my first sermon with you, on December 27, was on the new beginning as seen through the eyes of a courageous Old Testament figure:  John the Baptist.  Let’s take note of his powerful transition of power as Jesus’ ministry begins, as told in the Gospel of Matthew 3:13-17   13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved,[a] with whom I am well pleased.”

Wow, what a beginning! John the Baptist stepping forward, fully expecting to be blessed by the Messiah, and the Messiah requesting to be blessed by John. What an example of leadership. Here we see a leader who is blessed by one who is led.   Now that is courageous leadership!  John the Baptizer, the cousin of Jesus, paved the way for Christ.  John prepared the people for Jesus’ ministry with a unique ministry of his own, courageously calling people to repent and live out what they claimed to believe. 

This, in part, is my vision for Trinity Presbyterian.  That we, together, will grow in servant leadership.  What a blessing indeed ~ I am excited about the future of our beloved congregation and its impact for God’s Kingdom in the years to come.  Happy New Year, indeed!    

Rev. Kate Huddelson

Wales' Tales 12/14/15

Well, the time has finally come

For us to say “Good-bye”

One last chance to celebrate -

The time has just flown by!

It seems like only yesterday

That we began this trip

New faces and new programs -

Just a fast and furious clip

We started at the end of fall,

And moved through Christmas Eve,

So suddenly did time go by,

A trick that’s up God’s sleeve.

Before we knew it,

Easter time had quickly come and gone,

And summertime arrived

Soon VBS appeared upon

A quickly growing schedule

Of Heat and exercise,

The children in the TDC grew fast

To no one’s real surprise.

We had the basement flooded

At least two times or more,

But with a valiant effort,

We soon dried out the floor.

And then we tried a Summer camp

A week of grace and fun,

With loads of kids and volunteers

Out in the baking sun.

And in a blink the second year

Was getting underway,

And Pastor Kate received a call

That took her far away.

The PNC was hard at work,

To find that special one,

And me, well, I continued to share in all the fun.

With Brown Bag Bible study

And classes to be taught

The Trunk or Treat, baptisms, too.

More fun that I should ought.

But now the time for change has come

My time with you must cease,

I loved being your interim,

And wish you joy and …

                                    Peace,

                                                Alex

Wales' Tales 11/17/15

The memories of Christmas

At this time of year

Are filled with the thoughts

That brings laughter and tear.

The tree with its lights,

The smell of the greens

Remind us of Christmases-

Past family scenes.

Shiny gift bicycles

Sparkling and new,

Dolls in their wrappings

Wishes come true.

Visits by family,

Meals shared with joy,

Taking the moment to show

That new toy.

Sitting with grandpa

Before the bright fire,

Wrapped in the blanket,

Good thoughts did inspire.

Christmas Eve service

So late in the night,

Getting us ready for

Christmas morn light.

Birth of the Savior

In song and word,

Telling the story,

Let Good News be heard.

Carols and tinsel,

Cookies and punch

Leftover turkey

To be next day’s lunch.

All the aromas,

All the old sounds,

Watching for snowflakes

The wind blows around.

Those are the memories

That will never cease.

They bring us a warmth

That will bring us God’s

                                    Peace,

                                                Alex

Veteran's Day Wales' Tale

Fallen heroes on my mind,

Perfect words are hard to find

To offer thanks for all they’ve done

To keep us safe and keep us one.

Offering their finest skills,

Being forced to count the kills

That make war such a gruesome act,

People die and that’s a fact.

And humans just have never found

A way to walk on even ground

Where no one uses deadly force

To try to make their chosen course

Accepted by the other guy

And always leaves us wondering why

We seem to need choose to fight

To prove that we are always right

And when we do, to pay the cost

Those faithful fighters’ lives are lost.

And so we have a holiday

To offer thanks, our debt to pay.

For those who had to give their all,

Who by their comrades had to fall

In places all around the world,

Iraq, in Nam, in Gettysburg,

Where ere the Stars and Stripes unfurled,

Who fought for freedom, where they were

And now it causes hearts to stir.

We thank them for their service brave

Who went to war, freedom to save.

In honor of their gifts and lives,

To make sure that our freedom thrives

We must make sure that wars will cease

And learn to live with all in…          

                                                Peace,

                                                            Alex