Pastor recounts 42 years of sustaining ‘the weary with words’

As Pastor Tim Lawson faced his congregation at St. Charles United Methodist Church in Destrehan for the last time Sunday, his thoughts focused on all the joyful moments he had shared with all his parishioners. It was the first time he baptized someone, and when he placed bread in the hand of someone receiving communion and saw a tear in this person’s eye. He remembered how humbled he felt when he placed ashes on the forehead of parishioners for Ash Wednesday.

They were all incredible moments of awe and joy to him.

And, now, at age 65, he decided it was time to retire.

At UMC, it was a pulpit that Lawson had addressed the congregation from for the last five years, but his departure also marked the end of his 42-year career as a pastor.

Every day, he was renewed in faith and relationship through the Bible and particularly Isaiah 50:4 with these words: “He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed. The Lord God has given me the tongue of disciples, that I may know how to … given me a learned tongue, so that I may know how to sustain the weary with words.”

Described as a “cradle to the grave” United Methodist Christian, Lawson was ordained in 1974 and served as a Methodist pastor in the “piney woods” of North Louisiana in small towns and suburbia, as well as in New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

“It was while I was in college that I heard the voice of the church, as well as God’s,” said Lawson who changed majors and went on to get a master’s degree in theology. “It led to ordination and I’ve always been a pastor or associate pastor in a church, not in an administrative role, because of calling and choice.”

Lawson and his wife, Beverly, “grew up” in St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church in Metairie. The two were married at First United Methodist Church of Alpharetta, Ga., on Aug. 21, 1971, and are the parents of two grown children, Katie and James.

Lawson and Beverly attended Jefferson Parish schools from first through 12th grade (East Jefferson and Riverdale High Schools respectively). Both received their undergraduate degrees from LSU. Lawson completed his master of theology degree at Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and is a past president of the Perkins Alumni Council.

What drove him was the “… the opportunity to share the grace of God with the congregation in their moments of celebration and crisis, and help people discover the amazing gift of scripture and amazing depths within myself in that sharing.”

When Lawson came to St. Charles United Methodist Church, he took lead of the Disciple Bible Study groups and continued with Covenant Bible Study.

He also pointed to the ongoing need of mission with the church supporting with help and contributions to Ethiopia, Cameroon, Cuba and Mexico, which he described as “a vital part of our life together.”

Lawson also reveled in the good things he helped make happen at the church such as the Food Pantry, supported by Second Harvest, which he said has grown significantly to the point of helping up to 300 families a month.

“It’s quite a privilege to be involved in ministry in that way,” he said.

Early on in his career, he recounted the change from using a hand-cranked mimeograph to make worship bulletins onto using the amazing electronic devices of today to make them like the computer.

Lawson also noted the lingering or deeper concerns that bridged his ministry such as the lingering ethical questions as in the case of Roe vs. Wade.

He added, “The world has changed a lot – some for good, some for not so good.”

Lawson recalled a time when people left keys in the ignition and doors unlocked to the more recent time of them struggling with more fears. It spurred his direction to serve by trying to help the church maintain the role as a beacon of healing and hope.

“It’s been one of the ongoing challenges,” Lawson said. “How do you keep the church focused on love and light instead of fear and failure?”

Members of Lawson’s congregation answered the question.

According to Chris LaBure of Destrehan, “ Tim’s comforting voice, his unselfish acts in missions, and patience and restraint in dealing with tough issues will be missed. He was a teacher, a giver and he was a leader by example.”

Destrehan resident Ronda Knox added, “Pastor Tim’s love for God was manifested in his actions toward us as a congregation of faith …always meeting our needs whenever possible and always speaking comfort and truth into our hearts.”

For Lawson, the guiding light was a creed he borrowed from the United Church of Canada: “We are not alone, we live in God’s world. We believe in God: who has created and is creating ….”

 

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