Pastor James S. Brewer

Pastor Jim's thoughts as he came to serve the Norfolk Parish in July of 2005:

New beginnings are both a joy and a pain. Leaving old friends, familiar settings and "usual" ways of doing things and going to a new community, with new people and new ways of doing things is stressful.

But both Carol and I appreciate the wonderful ways that you have welcomed us and helped us feel "at home" here in the Norfolk Parish.

In some sense, it is a return, since Carol was one of your pastors thirty years ago, and we were married at First Church in 1974. But we have changed in thirty years, and, while I hate to overstate the obvious, you have, too. But what hasn't changed is the commitment of all three churches to ministry in the name of Jesus Christ, an eagerness to participate in the mission of the church, both locally and across the world, and also your great hospitality.

Several of you have asked about my background. I am a native of Tacoma, Washington, and the picture of Mount Rainier on the wall of my office attests to my roots. I came to Nebraska in 1973 to do an internship at the Fairbury-Diller-Reynolds Parish in southeast Nebraska, and have stayed in Nebraska ever since.

Carol and I have one son, Scott, who is employed by the General Council on Finance and Administration of The United Methodist Church, in Evanston, Illinois. He works in the Department of Records and Statistics. We were blessed that he was able to be here in Norfolk for Carol's Celebration of Ministry on July 7, 2005.

As we continue here in the Norfolk Parish, I will be listening to you, working to hear what you believe is important, and also listening for the voice of God to speak to our congregations as we seek to be in ministry together and prepare for our future. These are great churches filled with great people -- God has truly blessed us in bringing us together.

Pastor Charles Kathurima Murithi

Pastor Charles' thoughts as he came to serve the Norfolk Parish in July of 2005:

It been such a joy for my family and I to be part of Norfolk United Methodist Parish Family. It is almost four weeks since we moved from Western Nebraska to Norfolk but so far it has been full of nice encounters of God’s loving people. I count it as a privilege to be part of this great parish family. Our prayer is that the almighty God will help us to do what is expected of us as part of the church family here. I look forward to knowing you by name and being able to be involved in the ministry of Jesus Christ of sharing his love to the world. By the way feel free call me Chuck, Charlie, Pastor Charles or just Charles and if you are brave enough you can call me Kathurima.

Though I have been here for a short time I believe there are opportunities of doing ministry and growing the church of Christ with your help. James Brewer my Senior Pastor has been such an encouragement and I see a lot of good things happening in this Parish for the glory of the God.

I would like to take this opportunity briefly introduce my family and myself to you. My immediate family is made up of my wife Lydia Kathurima, our two daughters Glory Kathurima and Joy Kathurima and then our grand daughter Malaika Grace Kathurima. Our country of origin is Kenya which is Eastern Africa. My wife and I were brought up Methodist and both our parents were Methodists. Our Parents brothers and sisters all live in Kenya. Sometimes to get lonely especially Thanks giving time.

I started the ministry in Kenya in 1984 when I joined the seminary. After my training I served with the Methodist Church in Kenya mainly in Nairobi and I was ordained elder there. In 1997 we moved to United States for me to join graduate school at Southern Methodist University - Perkins school of Theology. After my training in Perkins school of Theology I got “recruited” in Nebraska and appointed at the Way West United Methodist Parish serving Morrill and Henry/Lyman United Methodist Churches. That is where I served before being appointed here.

While in Kenya my wife was a teacher and she taught middle school different subjects. When we moved to western Nebraska my wife went back to college (Nebraska University Medical Center in Scottsbluff Campus) to train as a Nurse and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN/RN). She then worked at the Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff in the Med/surgical unit until we moved here.

Our daughters will be starting new grades come this fall. Glory will be a junior in senior high school while Joy will be 8th grader at the junior high. They seem to like this place which is a good sign for us parents. I believe when the school open they will be able to make more friends. Our grand daughter Malaika is one month one week as I write this article today and she is so beautiful and God has continued to give her good health. Lastly but not least I wish to thank all those who were part of our grand daughter Malaika Grace Baby shower. We have received a lot of baby things and gift cards. God bless you.

I look forward to being partners in God’s service here or any other place the Lord calls for service.

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