2011 has been a deeply satisfying year. Life was filled with its challenges and sadness as well as its victories and joys. God was with us and our community of faith was there for each other as well as reaching out in great care for the world around us. As I dream of 2012, I cannot help but think that God has wonderful things in store for us as we follow him in faith. Peace and all God's blessings for the New Year!

So many things so be thankful for as we count down to the Day! I am amazed at how wonderful life is...its complexity, depth of emotions, and opportunities to creatively serve others. Truely God made us to serve and gives us endless opportunities to do so. Happy Thanksgiving!

Faith Raising
Woodlawn family and friends, it is
decision time. As your pastor, I cannot beat
around the bush. You need to know how
very important every gift is to the ministry
and mission of our church. On November 6
and 13, we celebrate our financial
commitment Sundays and invite everyone to
place their tithes on the altar. This single act
is one of the most faith challenging and faith growing actions any
of us can make. It reflects in one action both our love for Christ
and our willingness to trust him. Across the years, I have heard
every excuse, but they cannot erase the evident lack of faith.
Woodlawn, it is time to raise our faith. As we look forward to 2012,
our ministries are poised to make great advances for the kingdom.
Every gift will make a vital difference. Please participate and take
the intentional step to increase your giving in proportion to your
faith.
Jesus said, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you
can say to this mountain ‘get up and move to the sea.’” We
have mountains of ministry to move and your faith will make the
difference.
Please join in prayer that Woodlawn will rise in faith to meet the
2012 challenge.

October is the time of year when we conduct our annual stewardship campaign. It is the vital ritual when we hold ourselves accountable for the resources God has entrusted to us and listen for where God is leading us next.
Each week we will review different ministry areas both looking at the years accomplishments and dreams for the new year.
At the end of our review we will put the giving cards into the hands of our congregation and challenge everyone to review their own record of ministry and how they can grow more deeply in love with Christ and his mission.
We don't necessarily talk a lot about money...but it reveals a lot about where our hearts are.
As for me, I want my heart to be with Jesus.
Peace, Paul

Tomorrow is the tenth anniversary of 9-11. It will be a time to remember and reflect. As Christians we ask what Jesus would have us do in response to evil. Woodlawn is challenging everyone to a day of prayer, service, and community. We also launch our new community of faith; CHURCHANEW! Evil only wins when we return evil for evil. In other words, when we guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, we return good for evil and the power of evil is broken. Tomorrow we celebrate that good wins the battle of the heart.

10,000 Contacts
Soon it will be the tenth anniversary of that fateful day we know as 9-11. As Christians, we do not sugarcoat evil but face it head on. What makes followers of Jesus different is our response! Romans 12:21 directs us: Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

In the coming weeks, Woodlawn is inviting you to be inviting! This Sunday we will celebrate all of our Adult Discipleship opportunities. Next week is our Harvest Festival for “Seeds of Faith” when we celebrate the missions of the “Bridge to the Future Campaign”. Labor Day Weekend Tate Addis will be leading us in praise at all three services. Then on 9-11, we will commemorate the day with a focus on prayer and service. That very evening we will launch the Church Anew weekly worship at 5:30.

In response to the evil and trouble we face in this world, Christians build community that strengthens and serves helping everyone see that God is good. This month, tell everyone! Share Woodlawn and the wonderful opportunities we offer. Bring family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers as we celebrate the power of God’s love, which alone can overcome evil.

Peace, Paul Wilke

Summer at Woodlawn is a great time. Tomorrow we advance all of our children and youth into their new grade level classes and groups. Our summer reading program kicks off and then on June 12, the Rev. Jim Reed will show us what our Seeds of Faith will do in Mission and Ministry! So that is just a start to a summer filled with camps, trips, Bible school, Weddings, celebrations, and worship. It will be a great time!

This week is Annual Conference of the KS WEST area of the United Methodist Church. We are meeting in Hutchinson this year as we worship together and carry out the business needs of our connectional church. Some of our business includes reviews of insurance policies and budgets, but most of our business revolves around the extensive missions of our denomination. Vast resources are committed annually to fund and support regional and world wide ministries. Reports are shared about ministries to the poor (ex. OPEN DOOR in Wichita) to children (ex. YOUTHVILLE)to students (CAMPUS MINISTRIES, CAMPS, OUR TWO COLLEGES)and the list goes on.

This year we will also be evaluating the proposal to unite KS WEST, KS EAST, AND NEBRASKA into one "Great Plains" Conference as we will share one Bishop starting in September. We will also be voting on lay and clergy delegates to our General and Jurisdictional Conferences which will be held in 2012.

So pray for wisdom, but especially pray for the Holy Spirit to bless and guide us as we seek to "Make Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World!"

My life is consumed with pride and joy as both of my kids are graduating this month. Michelle from college and Matthew from High School. As a parent there is a deep satisfaction in watching your kids walk across that stage and accept that diploma. We have so much to be thankful. What an exciting time in world history that kids today have such amazing opportunities to develop and grow. I continue to pray and commit myself to the future of all children. Oh that every child on this planet could grow up in countries where peace and opportunity is the norm.

Today we maintain a prayer vigil. The somber note of our Good Friday service left some in tears over the enormous sacrifice of our Lord. Pondering just how great is God's love for us is our focus today. Love is always free but it comes at great self sacrifice of the one who offers it. 1John reminds us that "God is Love." Jesus says, "There is no greater love than this, that one lay down their life for another." Today may the sacrifice of love be our focus.