Kirkwood Baptist Church » Rev. Donna Watts Blog

Global Women, Too!

DWatts — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:39:25 +0000

That lovely little word, too, can mean a couple of different things. A preschooler’s most repeated phrase, “Me, too!” communicates a wish to be included. For many women, the most repeated phrase is, “Yes, I’ll do that, too” communicating the willingness to add one more thing to our to do list…which actually is our tired way to say, yes, that is one more thing that I care about, that I want to support, that I need to do, that I want to do.

I think that is why the title “Global Women, Too!” communicated to me. We are the “middle” generation of women: not retired, not done parenting, beginning to care for parents, mostly done with preschoolers but still with kleenex and gum in the bottom of our purses…you know us…we are the one’s who feel like we are beginning to lose our minds as often as we lose our keys!

We also want to be Global Women. We want to be included. We want to be inclusive. We want to give, to study, to learn, to serve. We care, too.

Our next gathering is Monday, September 13. We will meet at Bread Co. at Watson and Lindbergh at 7 p.m. We will share about what has been going on in our lives: sending kids back to school, dealing with new teachers, getting kids to college, husbands work or health, our work joys and woes, the health status of our parents. We will draw encouragement from sharing, knowing that another identifies with our burden. We will go home with a few more prayers to offer on behalf of a friend.

We will also have available copies of a book that we will begin to study through the fall. Bring your calendar so we can schedule a few gatherings between now and Advent.

The book is by Patricia Wilson, When You Come Unglued…Stick Close to God. What I really like about the book is that each chapter includes: Group Exercises and Questions for group discussion or private reflection–you will be able to come ready to participate in the conversation; Prayerful concerns–sometimes we need someone else to come up with just the word we need to pray; Journal prompts–whether you journal or reflect without writing, some good thought-provokers; and my favorite: Things to do before reading the next chapter–it’s sort of a dare–to take what you have read and reflected on and DO something with it..

I hope you will come. It’s sure to be fun! We want you, TOO!

Notice, Name, Thank

DWatts — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:38:34 +0000

An excellent place to begin a time of prayer is to take time to notice. Notice what God is doing in you and around you. Notice what God is doing in and through those you love. Ask God to help you see with the eyes of Christ.

Notice, and then name it. List it. Proclaim it. Call it good. Claim it as a sighting of the Spirit of God. Tell someone what you notice. Let your naming be an encouragement to others.

Notice, Name it, and give God thanks. Thank God for being present and active in your world, your life. Thank God for allowing you to see evidence of God’s majesty, evidence of God’s mercy, evidence of God’s grace.

Gracious God,

I notice _______________________. I name ____________ as your activity. I give you thanks for _________________. Amen.

Lord, listen to your children praying…

DWatts — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 22:44:23 +0000

Lord, send your spirit in this place… That prayer has been answered every day as we have celebrated 140 years of ministry at and through KBC. As we enjoy the last few celebratory events, I am looking forward to what God will do next. For the next five Wednesday evenings from 6-7 pm, I will be leading us to pray. God is speaking. Will you listen with me over the next five weeks?

Biography – Rev. Donna Watts, Associate Pastor for Christian Education

ksikes — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 14:45:45 +0000

Rev. Donna Watts, Associate Pastor for Christian Education
Donna Watts began serving part-time as the Interim for Educational Ministries in September of 2002. A year later, KBC asked Donna to continue serving as the permanent part-time Associate Pastor for Education Ministries. KBC ordained Donna in November of 2003. The next transition in Donna’s ministry with KBC came in the fall of 2005 when she was asked to invest additional time of service. After six years of this flexible arrangement, KBC has asked Donna to serve full time as the Associate Pastor, Christian Education, beginning September 2008. Donna, her husband, Chris, and their three children are excited about this increased opportunity to serve God through KBC.

Donna earned her Bachelor’s degree in English with a Secondary Education certification from William Jewell College in 1987. She completed the Master’s of Religious Education through Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1991 and was presented the Religious Education Association Award for Excellence. Donna has served in Missouri churches since 1989.