First United Methodist Church

Dear Friends,

 

I learned a new word this week that has given me much to reflect upon. The word is kinkeeper. I first learned of this term from the greeting card industry. A kinkeeper is someone who remembers special occasions and marks those moments with the sending of cards.  These are the people who remember everyone’s birthdays and anniversaries. They know who is graduating and the date for upcoming weddings.  

 

Kinkeepers are often the people who bring families together to commemorate these special times. They may be the host for Thanksgiving, Christmas dinner, birthday dinners and other occasions that bring people together. They may be the ones who plan the family reunion and know the addresses (street or email) for everyone. They are likely to be the ones who maintain the family tree. 

 

Although we have more ways to stay in contact with one another, we have become more isolated. Families often live far from one another. Family reunions are becoming rare. This makes the work of the kinkeeper even more valuable.  They create a spirit of solidarity even when we may not see one another in face-to-face encounters. 

 

In a study of kinkeepers, researchers asked about the benefits of carrying out this role. One woman put it very succinctly. She said, “I am holding the family together.” Others described the satisfaction of continuing a previous kinkeeper’s work. They view this work as important and beneficial. 

 

We don’t have a word for such actions in the church, but I am content to borrow the term kinkeeper for our purposes as well. And I want to enlist us all in this important task. It doesn’t require a grand gesture or a great memory. Focus on a few folks. Take a moment to send a card, write a note, make a phone call, send a text message, invite them to coffee...the possibilities are endless. But these are important tasks in building strong relationships and healthy communities.  

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Peace, 

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Howard