IN THE KITCHEN WITH: Kem Monk

Pastor and her pup at Harmony Hill; Methodist minister found calling while looking for something else, By Laurie Gordon Harmony Hill is a charming 200-year-old church that sits on a bluff on Fairview Lake Road in Stillwater. The friendly congregation welcomes all visitors to join in one of the informal services with Pastor Kem Monk. Monk’s father was a career Army officer, so she grew up all over the world. “In 12 years of school, I attended 13 schools,” she said. After high school, she attended six colleges to obtain one undergraduate and two masters degree which she completed in 2003. “Growing up an Army-brat was a fascinating life ...one that taught me a great deal about tolerance and acceptance of all people. However, I just wish I’d been more aware, mature and thankful for the opportunities I had so I could have made the most of them.” In 1965, as a senior at an American high school in Karlsruhe, Germany, Pastor Kem said, “I was focused on cheerleading and dating, totally unaware that people my age were fighting and dying in Vietnam. Needless to say, I led a sheltered life much too long.” After her marriage of 27 years ended in divorce, she began writing and facilitating spiritual workshops and retreats. “God was quietly working in my life, without me even aware of it,“ she said. “I have always had a deep relationship with God — one I have always felt was unbreakable because we were connected by a golden thread.” The workshops and retreats led Pastor Kem to Drew Theological School to learn more about psychology and spirituality — or so she thought. “God had other plans! While in the Theo School, God gently led me into Seminary and official ministry in the United Methodist Church (UMC).” While in school, she worked at Sparta UMC and developed an inter-generational ministry. After graduation from seminary, she was appointed as Chaplain to Bristol Glen Retirement Home in Newton and as pastor to Harmony Hill UMC in Stillwater. These days, she is just at Harmony “We still have members whose family members were part of the original congregation,” she said. The grandfather of Harmony Hill’s official greeter Don Robbins, hand-made all the spindles in the church. Another active member, Craig Callanan’s father custom built the kitchen in the parsonage. Callanan has followed in his father’s footsteps by recently building Harmony Hill’s new kitchen in Mary and Martha’s Fellowship Hall. Miss Harmony, a 5-year-old Schnoodle (a mix of Schnauzer and Poodle) is Pastor Kem’s ministry partner. “We began our ministry together five years ago on the Saturday of Labor Day 2004. My appointment to Harmony Hill UMC as pastor and Miss Harmony’s birth both occurred on July 1st of that year. She was only two months old when she took hold of my heart. Our love has only grown stronger and deeper since then.” The pup was introduced to the congregation the Sunday of Labor Day ’04 and has been a part of the Harmony Hill family ever since. “At Bristol Glen people would stop by my office specifically to spend time with her. They didn’t have to say anything. She instinctively has always known when someone is in need of quiet loving. She nuzzles and allows people to stroke her angel soft fur as she share her deep quiet love with them and looks into their souls with her compassionate liquid eyes.” Many might not know that Pastor Kem recently wrote a Christian book for junior high-aged youth and is in the process of trying to get it published. It will become one in a series, “Musings from the Monk” or “Flowing at the Impulse of God’s Love.” Miss Harmony is the main character and the story takes place in Stillwater featuring people and places in the community. Monk is sharing a favorite family recipe. “My sons, Ty and Trevor, (now both in their 30s) have loved this since their childhood for any meal or even as a snack. The hardest thing is waiting for it to cook!”

German Apple Pancakes Makes 2 8” round pancakes using round cake pans Ingredients: 4 eggs 3/4 cup flour 3/4 cup milk 1/2 t salt 2 T butter 3 large apples - Granny Smith recommended 1/4 cup sugar 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon To Make: 1. Mix together and put aside the cinnamon and sugar 2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees 3. Peel, core, slice and chop apples into small bite size pieces - set aside 4. Beat eggs, flour, milk and salt in small bowl on medium speed for 1 minute 5. Put 2 round 8” cake pans to heat …. When hot enough, put 1 tablespoon in each pan, rotate pan to melt butter and cover pan with melted butter 6. Put 1/2 the apples pieces in each pan 7. Pour 1/2 the batter over the apples in each pan 8. Sprinkle 1/4 the sugar and cinnamon mix over batter in each pan 9. Bake uncovered until puffed and brown - approximately 25 minutes. The batter will rise in the oven and fall when taken out like a soufflé. 10. Serve immediately for breakfast or on a cold autumn/winter day for dinner with bacon or Canadian bacon, fresh biscuits with butter and jam, fresh fruit or orange juice and coffee or tea.