Cecil's Thoughts

Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

2011-06-02T09:41:00.000-07:00

Today the Church celebrates the Ascension of Jesus Christ. The following is from a sermon of St. Augustine.

Today our Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven; let our hearts ascend with him. Listen to the words of the Apostle: If you have risen with Christ, set your hearts on the things that are above where Christ is,seated at the right hand of God; seek the things that are above, not the things that are on earth. For just as he remained with us even after his ascension, so we too are already in heaven with him, even though what is promised us has not yet been fulfilled in our bodies.

Christ is now exalted above the heavens, but he still suffers on earth all the pain that we,
the members of his body, have to bear. He showed this when he cried out from above:
Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? and when he said: I was hungry and you gave me
food.

Why do we on earth not strive to find rest with him in heaven even now, through the faith,
hope and love that unites us to him? While in heaven he is also with us; and we while on
earth are with him. He is here with us by his divinity, his power and his love. We cannot be
in heaven, as he is on earth, by divinity, but in him, we can be there by love.

He did not leave heaven when he came down to us; nor did he withdraw from us when he
went up again into heaven. The fact that he was in heaven even while he was on earth is
borne out by his own statement: No one has ever ascended into heaven except the one
who descended from heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven.

These words are explained by our oneness with Christ, for he is our head and we are his
body. No one ascended into heaven except Christ because we also are Christ: he is the
Son of Man by his union with us, and we by our union with him are the sons of God. So
the Apostle says: Just as the human body, which has many members, is a unity, because
all the different members make one body, so is it also with Christ. He too has many
members, but one body.

Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord

2011-03-25T20:02:00.000-07:00

"'Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you...Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David'...Then Mary said, 'here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.'" (Luke 1:28,30-32,38)

Today, the church celebrates the Annunciation of the Lord. This feast commemorates the angel Gabriels's announcement to Mary that God chose her to conceive Jesus and the conception of Jesus by the Holy Spirit at that moment. Mary is the Theotokos, God-bearer, Mother of God.

Mary's role in salvation history is unique, and the Church has always honored Mary for her role. Protestant Christians, historically suspicious of non-biblical speculations and practices, have not shown the same level of interest in, or devotion to, the Mother of God as Catholic and Orthodox Christians. Yet we need to be reminded that Mary is the first and preeminent witness to our Lord.

On this day when the Church celebrates God's promise of the Incarnation, let us join the Church of all times, including the Protestant Reformers, in honouring Mary as the Mother of God and as our Mother.

"[S]he became the Mother of God, in which work so many and such great good things are bestowed on her as pass man's understanding. For on this there follows all honor, all blessedness, and her unique place in the whole of mankind, among which she has no equal, namely, that she had a child by the Father in heaven, and such a Child.... Hence men have crowded all her glory into a single word, calling her the Mother of God.... None can say of her nor announce to her greater things, even though he had as many tongues as the earth possesses flowers and blades of grass: the sky, stars; and the sea, grains of sand. It needs to be pondered in the heart what it means to be the Mother of God." (Martin Luther)

"To this day we cannot enjoy the blessing brought to us in Christ without thinking at the same time of that which God gave as adornment and honour to Mary, in willing her to be the mother of his only-begotten Son". (John Calvin).

Lent 3 (A): Romans 5.1-8

2011-03-24T18:52:00.000-07:00

Romans 5.1-8. Epistle for Lent 3 (A)

In recent weeks the developed world has been reminded that the forces of nature are often incomprehensible and beyond human control. As is often the case when our ordinary lives are shaken by the unknown we search for explanations. Some self designated experts assert they understand the mystery of the Divine and are able to proclaim with utter certainty (I am not sure if it is because of hubris or sincere ignorance) that tragedy reflects the judgment of God upon a faithless people. Their word is not the last word.

The apostle asserts “we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”. However we are not exempt from pain, sorrow, disappointment, and tragedy. Indeed the apostle, and many since him, have tried to explain how Jesus' suffering and death rescues humanity from nihilism.

Theological interpretations of the suffering and death of Jesus seek to explain the suffering and death experienced by humanity and the creation. We affirm he died for us, but our words are not able to exhaust its meaning.

Professor David Bartlett of Columbia Theological Seminary writes, “We struggle to come up with a doctrine of the atonement, and all the classical solutions seem fall short. Paul was blessed by a richly unsystematic mind. His language about what Jesus does shifts from verb to verb: Christ saves; Christ justifies; Christ reconciles. His description of what Christ does shifts from metaphor to metaphor: an obedient second Adam undoes the disobedience of the first. A sinless man is made to be sin. A godly Messiah dies for ungodly people.

The claim outreaches all our metaphors. The name embraces all our weaknesses: Jesus Christ, access to God's grace; where we stand.”

As we continue to wrestle with the meaning of life and death, we wrestle with the knowledge that we are not alone in this struggle. Dorothy Sayers reminds us that a unique claim of Christianity is that God is with us. In her essay "The Greatest Drama Ever Staged" Ms. Sayers writes, “...for whatever reason God chose to make man as he is – limited and suffering and subject to sorrows and death – He had the honesty and the courage to take His own medicine. Whatever game He is playing with His creation, He has kept His own rules and played fair. He can exact nothing from man that He has not exacted from Himself. He has Himself gone through the whole of human experience, from the trivial irritations of family life and the cramping restrictions of hard work and lack of money to the worst horrors of pain and humiliation, defeat despair, and death.”

The United Church of Christ's Statement of Faith affirms God's solidarity with these words: “In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Savior, you have come to us and shared our common lot, conquering sin and death and reconciling the world to yourself.”

“God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5.8). This Word is God's promise and our hope.

Martyrs for Justice

2011-03-24T16:43:00.000-07:00

Today, March 24, is the 31st anniversary of the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador, and tomorrow, March 25, the 100th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire in New York City which killed 146 workers (mostly young immigrant women).

Archbishop Romero and the young women in New York did not seek martyrdom. In the case of Archbishop Romero, he was a reluctant bishop and advocate for justice. The young women worked in inhumane condition to provide for their families. Forces beyond their control propelled them into the center of the movement for justice.

This is the season of Lent. A time of reflection, repentance, and recommitment. I pray that we reflect on the horrific working conditions that the young women in New York faced and that people throughout the world endure today; repent of our exploitation of people in El Salvador and many countries because of our allegiance to the false gods of materialism and greed; and recommit ourselves to follow the saintly example of Archbishop Romero who proclaimed in word and deed the gospel of Jesus, the good news of God's coming reign of justice and peace.

Lent 2: Psalm 121

2011-03-15T22:38:00.000-07:00

Psalm 121: Lent 2(A) March 9, 2011

Lent is an invitation to a journey. The life of faith is a journey, the way is as important as the destiny. The earliest followers of Jesus were known as people of the way. What is the way? The psalmist's invites us to a communal recitation of our assurance of God's presence during our sojourn. The descendants of Abram and Sarai continues the journey.

Bobby Morris' reflects:
“Journeying was a major reality for ancient life. As a result of the available modes of traveling, the ancients are likely to have had far greater appreciation for what was involved in getting from one place to another that we ever can. Abraham and Sarah took the countless steps necessary to travel from Haran to the land of Canaan and even as far south as Egypt. Elijah made the arduous journey from northern Israel to Mount Sinai and back again. Even Jesus traveled throughout the Galilee and eventually down to Jerusalem.

Not surprisingly then, one of the most common Hebrew verbs in the Old Testament is the one for "going, walking." Likewise, a good deal of the biblical text, as alluded to above, deals with the undertaking and complexities of traveling. One such example is Psalm 121.

Psalm 121 is the second of the Psalms of Ascents (120-134). These texts seem to have been used by pilgrims during their travel to Jerusalem and/or as part of celebratory worship at the temple there. Individual cases have been made for the use of Psalm 121 by a traveler who is approaching and departing from Jerusalem. In either case we can say with some certainty that Psalm 121 deals with journeying.

The stark geographic diversity found in the land of Palestine is such that travel for the ancients was at best difficult and commonly dangerous. The availability of water would have been a constant concern, especially in the hot dry summers when the sun mercilessly beats down. In addition, the danger of bandits could never be ruled out, as the parable of the Good Samaritan later bears witness.

Psalm 121 responds to what must have been unavoidable misgivings about travel with unwavering reassurances that God protects his beloved. In fact, the Hebrew verb translated as "keep," which has the sense of "watch over, protect," occurs six times in only eight verses. In all of these occurrences God is the one doing the action. God protects the traveler from a host of possible dangers, from the most basic slipping of the foot (verse 3) to the light of the moon (verse 6), which in ancient times was viewed with a degree of supernatural apprehension. It is because God is the same one "who made heaven and earth" (verse 2), meaning all that exists, that the sojourner can rest assured in God's ability to offer such far-reaching protection, even of the traveler's very life (verse 7).

It may be enough that Psalm 121 offers such profound reassurance to the traveler moving from place to place. Yet it exceeds this particularity by reaching into the journey of human life itself. The final two verses of the text hint at the broad scope of God's protective activity as it references to the protection of the traveler from "all evil" (verse 7) that lasts "from this time on and forevermore" (verse 8).

The life of faith that begins with baptism is indeed a journey on which God's guidance and protection is needed. Accordingly, Psalm 121 plays a prominent role in the worship life of the Christian community of faith. Verse two contributes to the understanding of God the Father in the Apostle's Creed while other parts of the text have appeared in either the baptismal liturgy or funerary services of various faith traditions. The reassurances of Psalm 121 are thus able to accompany the faithful at the beginning and end of their life's journey, as well as help sustain and uplift them with God's presence and protection along the greatest journey of all. “
http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?lect_date=10/17/2010

Black History Month

2011-02-01T19:30:00.000-08:00

Here is a prayer for Black History Month by the Rev. Paul Sadler, a United Church of Christ Pastor in Ohio.

Let us join the voice and work for freedom of Sengbe Pieh, a leader in the Amistad uprising, who cried out “give us free”.

The Beatitudes

2011-01-29T12:14:00.000-08:00

The gospel lesson for the fourth Sunday after Epiphany is Matthew 5.1-12. As we reflect on the words and images of the following video (Matthew 5.1-16) may God grant us the grace to live out these words.

Can We Get Along?

2011-01-17T07:26:00.000-08:00

The epistle reading for the Third Sunday after Epiphany is 1 Corinthians 1. 10-18. Here is the reading and some thoughts I shared with my Lectionary study group.

10. Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose.
11. For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters.
12. What I mean is that each of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to Christ."
13. Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
14. I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,
15. so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name.
16. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.)
17. For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.
18, For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (New Revised English Version)

Now that the decorations are safely put away and the monotony of winter settles in, the mystery and wonder of the Incarnation begins to fade from our imagination. The assurance of blessed communion with others who confess Christ remains a hope at best. The reality of the ordinary life seems to overpower the reality of the grace filled life. Committee meetings, budget reviews, phone conversations with the insurance company, working on the furnace, are viewed as signs of heaven when compared to the bickering, jealousy,and mean spirited battles that is common among the baptised. And yet...

“I believe in the Church”.

The earliest baptismal formulas affirm the centrality of Church in the faith.

The divisions that grieve the Spirit is ever present. Can we heed the plea of the Apostle in the first century and stop passing judgment and make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification?

“I believe in the Church”.

The fundamentalists. The progressives. The loving but culturally, intellectually, spiritually, or theologically limited parishioner who is wrong about human sexuality, war and peace, the authority of the bible, gun control legislation, the church's contribution to the denomination's latest church wide appeal, and whether we should ask Mrs. Thompson to consider hiring an assistant editor for the church's newsletter.

“I believe in the Church”.

"Therefore I will put up with this Church until I see a better one," wrote Erasmus; "and it will have to put up with me, until I become better."

Epiphany of Our Lord

2011-01-06T01:02:00.000-08:00

Today's reflection is written by the Abbot of the Order of Corpus Christi, the Right Rev. Richard Hammond Price, OCC

To Speak Now of God: Epiphany - Divine Revelation: "The Feast of the Epiphany of our Lord (January 6) focuses us on “divine revelation” - God revealing himself to us in Jesus Christ. Throug..."

O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who live and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and for ever. Amen.

Feast of the Epiphany. Collect: AD USUM ORDO CORPUS CHRISTI

HIP HOP HEIDELBERG

2010-11-27T11:28:00.000-08:00

There is a movement among black Christians to affirm the truths of the insights of the Reformers and offer an alternative to the "prosperity gospel" that is a dominant theme in many African American churches; indeed, this other gospel is a popular strain within evangelical Protestantism in general.

St. Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, understood the necessity to know the culture in order to see how the gospel may address the deepest needs of a people. Hip Hop is a lens through which two generations view the world. Thus, today's ambassadors of Christ must understand, speak, and respond to Hip Hop Culture.

Curt "Voice" Allen is a part of this new Reformation.

Videos About The United Church Of Christ

2010-11-13T21:06:00.001-08:00

My communion, the United Church of Christ, has released two new videos about the denomination.

The first video, "Uniquely UCC", offers an invitation to those outside the church to take a look at a church which seeks to offer an extravagant welcome to all.

The second video, "UCC Values", shares our church's understanding of its values and how we seek to live them.

My parish, Ainsworth United Church of Christ, can be seen in both of them. In the first, members of Ainsworth are seen carrying the church's banner at a peace rally (at about 0.55 seconds). In the second, Ainsworth in worship is seen at the beginning (0.05), and church members at the peace rally are seen later (3.06) .

The United Church of Christ seeks to live out the call of Jesus to join him in the ministry of reconciliation of peoples and all creation.

"No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here."

Here are the recent videos:

Veteran's Day Reflections: What is the More Excellent Way?

2010-11-11T18:32:00.000-08:00

Is it not providential that the same day that the United States honors military veterans, the Church remembers Martin of Tours, a military man who laid down his weapons in order to follow the Prince of Peace?

Martin, a fourth century follower of Christ, chose to abandon his military career after he became convinced that there was a more excellent way. He refused to go into battle. He was not a coward, his trust in his God was his security. "Put me in the front of the army, without weapons or armor; but I will not draw sword again. I am become the soldier of Christ."

We live in a nation which is the new empire, the new Rome. While we respect those who sacrifice their security by taking up arms to defend their country, we should respect and honor those who do not believe in the redemptive value of violence, but believe in the redemptive and transformative power of love.

A new proposal would expand the definition of conscientious objector status to soldiers who believe a specific war is immoral. The "Just War" doctrine offers a stringent test that must be met before a nation embarks on warfare. It recognizes the destructive power of violence and permits a defensive war only when specific criteria are met. Recent US armed conflicts have not met the just war criteria. This proposal will allow soldiers the option to obtain conscientious objector status when they believe a specific war does not fulfill just war criteria.

On Veterans' Day let us remember the countless number of veterans for peace. Let us examine the wars we are involved in and seek a better way.

"I'm gonna lay down my sword and shield...I ain't gonna study war no more."

The United Church of Christ: Seeking to be a Church of Extravagant Welcome

2010-11-05T20:26:00.000-07:00

Here is the newest video about the United Church of Christ. Members of my church, Ainsworth United Church of Christ, are featured at a rally with the church's banner proclaiming that we are a multi-racial, multi-cultural, open and affirming church.

Uniquely UCC from United Church of Christ on Vimeo.

Here is a video about the United Church of Christ. We seek to be a church of extravagant welcome. My parish, Ainsworth United Church of Christ, is seen in worship as the video opens. Later members of my church can be seen at a peace rally carrying our church's banner.

UCC Values from United Church of Christ on Vimeo.

Recent radio interviews

2010-10-17T20:58:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of my recent interviews on KBOO.FM in Portland OR http://kboo.fm/. KBOO is an Non-Commercial, Listener-Sponsored, Full-Strength Community Radio for Portland, Oregon, Cascadia & the World!
Please consider contributing to the radio station as a sign of your commitment to independent media.

My interview with Martin Hart-Landsberg, Professor of Economics and Director of the Political Economy Program at Lewis and Clark College took placed on October 11, 2010:http://kboo.fm/node/24293

A discussion on the future of Medicare took place on September 27, 2010: http://kboo.fm/node/23966

A national call to action to protect the social safety net was broadcast on September, 13, 2010:http://kboo.fm/node/23965

A discussion with representatives from the Oregon New Sanctuary Movement was aired on August, 23, 2010: http://kboo.fm/node/23398

An interview with Ray McGovern, who was a CIA analyst for 27 years and Coleen Rowley, an FBI whistleblower who was named one of Time Magazine's people of the year in 2002 about the Wikileaks releases took place on August 16, 2010: http://kboo.fm/node/23385

Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord Jesus Christ

2010-08-06T05:11:00.000-07:00

"O God, who on the holy mount revealed to chosen witnesses your well-beloved Son, wonderfully transfigured, in raiment white and glistening: Mercifully grant that we, being delivered from the disquietude of this world, may by faith behold the King in his beauty; who with you, O Father, and you, O Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen." (Book of Common Prayer)

From a sermon on the Transfiguration of the Lord by Anastasius of Sinai:

Upon Mount Tabor, Jesus revealed to his disciples a heavenly mystery. While living among them he had spoken of the kingdom and of his second coming in glory, but to banish from their hearts any possible doubt concerning the kingdom and to confirm their faith in what lay in the future by its prefiguration in the present, he gave them on Mount Tabor a wonderful vision of his glory, a foreshadowing of the kingdom of heaven. It was as if he said to them: “As time goes by you may be in danger of losing your faith. To save you from this I tell you now that some standing here listening to me will not taste death until they have seen the Son of Man coming in the glory of his Father. “Moreover, in order to assure us that Christ could command such power when he wished, the evangelist continues: Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter, James and John, and led them up a high mountain where they were alone. There, before their eyes, he was transfigured. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. Then the disciples saw Moses and Elijah appear, and they were talking to Jesus.

These are the divine wonders we celebrate today; this is the saving revelation given us upon the mountain; this is the festival of Christ that has drawn us here. Let us listen, then, to the sacred voice of God so compellingly calling us from on high, from the summit of the mountain, so that with the Lord’s chosen disciples we may penetrate the deep meaning of these holy mysteries, so far beyond our capacity to express. Jesus goes before us to show us the way, both up the mountain and into heaven, and - I speak boldly - it is for us now to follow him with all speed, yearning for the heavenly vision that will give us a share in his radiance, renew our spiritual nature and transform us into his own likeness, making us for ever sharers in his Godhead and raising us to heights as yet undreamed of.

Let us run with confidence and joy to enter into the cloud like Moses and Elijah, or like James and John. Let us be caught up like Peter to behold the divine vision and to be transfigured by that glorious transfiguration. Let us retire from the world, stand aloof from the earth, rise above the body, detach ourselves from creatures and turn to the creator, to whom Peter in ecstasy exclaimed: Lord, it is good for us to be here.

It is indeed good to be here, as you have said, Peter. It is good to be with Jesus and to remain here for ever. What greater happiness or higher honor could we have than to be with God, to be made like him and to live in his light?

Therefore, since each of us possesses God in his heart and is being transformed into his divine image, we also should cry out with joy: It is good for us to be here - here where all things shine with divine radiance, where there is joy and gladness and exultation; where there is nothing in our hearts but peace, serenity and stillness; where God is seen. For here, in our hearts, Christ takes up his abode together with the Father, saying as he enters: Today salvation has come to this house. With Christ, our hearts receive all the wealth of his eternal blessings, and there where they are stored up for us in him, we see reflected as in a mirror both the first fruits and the whole of the world to come.

Eleanor Ruth Pollard Prescod: RIP

2010-07-23T21:07:00.000-07:00

On Monday, July 19, 2010, my mother, Eleanor Ruth Prescod, died and joined the church triumphant.

As my mother's caregiver the last six years, I have gained insight in the mercy and care of God. My love for my mother and God has deepened as I learned to joyfully serve another and am comforted by our Lord's embrace of our suffering.

I solicit your prayers for the repose of her soul, and my family and community as we enter into a season of mourning.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Obituary for Eleanor Ruth Pollard Prescod:

Eleanor Ruth Pollard Prescod, 84, of Portland Oregon died on July 19, 2010 at the Marquis Care of Piedmont. At the time of her death she was the Matriarch of the Cobb Family, a large extended family that traces its lineage to former slaves Jane and Joseph Cobb of Nansemond County, Virginia.

Eleanor, affectionately called “Bootsy” by her close friends, was born in New York City to Willie and Eleanor (Banks) Pollard on April 29, 1926. She was the younger sister of Willie (Pollard) Stanford. She was educated in the New York City Public Schools. A member of a family involved in the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s, she followed her mother(a Cotton Club chorus member) and sister (an actress and model) into the entertainment business as a dancer. She was a member of various dance and band companies and toured the “chitlin' circuit” of the eastern and southern states. Her close friends included Billie Holliday and Lena Horne.

In the 1940's she met Cecil Agustus Prescod, and ignored his romantic overtures. Eventually she agreed to date him, the two fell in love and were married in October 1954. They made their home in Jamaica, New York where they raised their family. They met the challenges of providing for three children with sacrifice and dedication. They enjoyed family outings to the beach and amusement parks, summer vacation trips, barbecues, and holiday gatherings. Eleanor adored her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Eleanor was known as the stern mother by the children of the block. She could be found sitting on her stoop, watching everything go by. You couldn't get anything past Mrs. Prescod, or “Gran” as she was affectionately known.

Eleanor was a dedicated wife, mother, and concerned citizen. Raised in a family committed to struggling for civil rights, she was active in school, community, and church events.

In 1968 she helped organize a parents' committee in favor of integration, when white citizens picketed her child's and other children school buses in an attempt to prevent the integration of a previously all white public school. This coalition of black and white parents advocated for social justice for their children.

A life long baseball fan, her heart was broken when the Brooklyn Dodgers left the city, and she became a devoted and often disappointed New York Mets fan. She fell in love with the Portland Trailblazers in the early 1990s. She was a ferocious reader, informed citizen about politics, and dedicated advocate for justice.

Her faith in God who sustained people in good and difficult times was central in her life. She was a long time communicant member of St. Albans Congregational Church in St. Albans, New York. At that church she was a member of the Bayanihans Club and a faithful worshiper at the early Sunday morning service.

In 2005, after her beloved husband died, Eleanor moved to join her son in Portland Oregon. In 2008, her family surprised her with a Family Reunion in Portland. The family recalled how her great grandparents, Joseph and Jane Cobb, survived slavery and created a strong and nurturing family, and honored her as the family's matriarch.

In Portland,Eleanor attended Ainsworth United Church of Christ. At that community she met a wonderful group of friends. Eleanor celebrated the church's commitment to spirituality and social justice. She enjoyed Pastor Lynne's sermons, listening to the choir, Adult Sunday morning discussion group (Early Edition), and Ministry With Older Adults' retreats and trips.

Eleanor is survived by her children: Cecil, LaVerne Paniagua,and Denise Slater; son in law, John Bruce. Grandchildren: William H. Turnage III, Emery Lewis Slater, Jr., Nikole Eleanor Prescod, Nathaniel Christopher Bruce; Great grandchildren: Jaylen Michael Lewis, Tai Jarrett Turnage, Isabel Cruz, Tatiana Faith Slater, and Emery Lewis Slater III; her niece Roberta Ricks, great niece Nyia Miller, great great nephews, David Miller, Sean Miller, great great niece, Rachel Simone Miller; a host of cousins, life time friends and new friends she met in Portland.

Eleanor, who cousin reminded her a few days before she died, “we come from a long line of strong stubborn broads”, will be missed and forever loved.

Memorial Services will be held on:

Sunday, July 25, 2010 at 1:30 PM Ainsworth United Church of Christ. 2941 NE Ainsworth. Portland, OR. The Rev. Lynne Smouse Lopez, Pastor.

Thursday, July 29, 2010 at 7:00 PM at Bethany Baptist Church. 157-11 111^th Avenue. Jamaica, NY. The Rev. Craig Scott Brown, Pastor.

My interview with Thomas Chatterton Williams

2010-07-18T23:13:00.000-07:00

This spring I interviewed Thomas Chatterton Williams, author of "LOSING MY COOL: How a Father's Love and 15,000 Books Beat Hip-Hop Culture " He offers an important critique of Hip Hop Culture.

My 84 years old mother read the book and recommends it!

June 24: Nativity of St. John the Baptist

2010-06-23T23:18:00.000-07:00

Almighty God, by whose providence your servant John the Baptist Was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of your Son our Savior by preaching repentance: Make us so to follow his teaching and holy life, that we may truly repent according to his preaching; and, following his example, constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently suffer for the truth's sake; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. (Book of Common Prayer)

The Language of God

2010-06-06T16:34:00.000-07:00

The Language of God from United Church of Christ on Vimeo.

Veni, Sancte Spiritus

2010-05-23T15:52:00.000-07:00

A Prayer for Pentecost

Come, thou Holy Spirit come:
and from thy celestial home
send thy light and brilliancy.
Come, thou father of the poor,
come who givest all our store.
What is filthy make thou pure,
what is wounded work its cure,
water what is parched and dry.
Gently bend the stubborn will,
warm to life the heart that's chill,
guide who goeth erringly.
Fill thy faithful who adore,
and confess thee evermore,
with thy sevenfold mystery.
Here thy grace and virtue send,
grant salvation in the end, and in heaven felicity. Amen

- From a 13th century Latin Hymn

What is God?

2010-04-29T21:55:00.000-07:00

For over sixteen years, I have cohosted a weekly talk radio interview programme on a KBOO.FM, a community radio station in Portland, OR. KBOO is one of the oldest community radio stations in the US, and continues to offer an alternative perspective to what is heard on commercial and public radio stations.

Recently, my cohost and I interviewed religious scholar and philosopher Jacob Needleman about his new book, "What Is God?" In the book Needleman traces his evolution from an atheistic Ivy-educated student of philosophy to a Zen Buddhist seeker, and finally to a believer with a newfound respect for the religious texts he once rejected. Jacob Needleman, author of "The American Soul" and "Money and the Meaning of Life," is Professor of Philosophy at San Francisco State University.

The interview can be heard here: http://kboo.fm/node/19207

The Language of God

2010-04-16T06:32:00.000-07:00

2010-04-04T15:19:00.000-07:00

Christ is Risen: The world below lies desolate
Christ is Risen: The spirits of evil are fallen
Christ is Risen: The angels of God are rejoicing
Christ is Risen: The tombs of the dead are empty
Christ is Risen indeed from the dead,
the first of the sleepers,
Glory and power are his forever and ever
St. Hippolytus (AD 190-236)

March 28, Palm Sunday

2010-03-28T00:06:00.000-07:00

Troparion (Tone 4)
O Christ God, when we were buried with Thee in Baptism, we became deserving of thy Resurrection to immortal life. Wherefore, we praise thee, crying, Hosanna in the highest, blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord.

March 25, Feast of the Annunciation

2010-03-26T23:59:00.000-07:00

"Today is the beginning of our salvation,
The revelation of the eternal mystery!
The Son of God becomes the Son of the Virgin
As Gabriel announces the coming of Grace.
Together with him let us cry to the Theotokos:
Rejoice, O Full of Grace,
The Lord is with You!"
(Troparian of the Annunciation)

Philippians 3.4b-14 for 5th Sunday in Lent (year C)

2010-03-10T00:49:00.000-08:00

Lectionary Discussion Group:Philippians 3.4b-14 for 5th Sunday in Lent (Year C): Cecil Charles Prescod

Heidelberg Catechism.
Question 1. What is thy only comfort in life and death?
Answer: That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my
faithful Saviour Jesus Christ; who, with his precious blood, has fully satisfied for all my sins, and
delivered me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation,
and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him.

Within the comfortable and familiar settings of our churches we read the joy filled remarks of a person who has abandoned any signs of privilege and embraced a way of life that led to his abandonment of his community, persecution, and martyrdom. In a culture that honors and celebrates the strong and self confident, we listen to the apostle's words that reminds us that our calling is to follow and embrace the Crucified One. Paul calls us to reject the good life, to turn in the key to security, and walk away.

John Calvin writes: “He says, that those things were gain to him, for ignorance of Christ is the sole reason why we are puffed up with a vain confidence. Hence, where we see a false estimate of one’s own excellence, where we see arrogance, where we see pride, there let us be assured that Christ is not known. On the other hand, so soon as Christ shines forth all those things that formerly dazzled our eyes with a false splendor instantly vanish, or at least are disesteemed. Those things, accordingly, which had been gain to Paul when he was as yet blind, or rather had imposed upon him under an appearance of gain, he acknowledges to have been loss to him, when he has been enlightened. Why loss? Because they were hinderances in the way of his coming to Christ. What is more hurtful than anything that keeps us back from drawing near to Christ? Now he speaks chiefly of his own righteousness, for we are not received by Christ, except as naked and emptied of our own righteousness. Paul, accordingly, acknowledges that nothing was so injurious to him as his own righteousness, inasmuch as he was by means of it shut out from Christ.” ( Commentaries on the Epistle of Paul to the Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians).

The Pauline call to to place our confidence in Jesus, and Jesus alone, is appropriate during the season of of Lent, because it is a call that requires deep reflection. In a sermon entitled Call to be Odd, the Rev. Belinda Windham proclaims,”The southern wit, Flannery OʼConnor, once quipped, 'You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you odd.' Through our faith in Jesus Christ we know that we are accepted and loved no matter how odd others may think we are. For surely there has never been a God more odd than ours, who out of love for us
chose to become one of us and to abandon divine power and die for us, conquering death, so that we might never die. And thatʼs the truth.”

So how do we who enjoy the prestige and privileges of our society throw away these as “ dung” and embrace a life of rejection, persecution, and death? How do “we become like him in his death, that if possible 'we” may attain the resurrection from the dead”?

Marius Victorinus, a 4th century African Neo-platonic philosopher, whose conversion at an advanced age made an impression on Augustine, offer this suggestion: “here then are two precepts for the one who is going to live the rest of life walking in the Christian way. First, the one who is still living under divine governance, however well and rightly he has acted in the past, should not think about all the actions he has already done as though he deserved to obtain something by them. Rather he should cast them into oblivion, always seeking the new tasks that remain. Second, he should nonetheless keep living under the divine rule, continually pressing on toward these things and observing the rule of Christ, even to death” (Epistle to the Philippians 3.13-14)

What do you think?

St. Stephen, Deacon and Martyr: The Work of Christmas Begins

2009-12-26T12:30:00.001-08:00

As we celebrate the birth of Christ, the church reminds us that discipleship is more than songs and adoration. The annual remembrance of Stephen's martyrdom on the day following the Feast of the Nativity, leads us to the inevitable conclusion that the coming of the Messiah meets resistance and violence. Mary's song suggests that the social changes that are the inevitable results of the Incarnation will be resisted by forces opposed to the reign of God. Thus, in her wisdom, the Church reminds us of the cost of discipleship as we celebrate the mystery of the Incarnation.

In the western church, this week which begins with the birth of the Saviour, includes remembrances of the first martyr, St. Stephen the Deacon (December 26), the sacrificial life and death of Saint John the Apostle (December 27), the unconscionable murder of children(December 28), and culminates with the Circumcision of Christ on January 1. James Kiefer writes that since,"we are more squeamish than our ancestors, modern calendars often list it as the feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, but the other emphasis is the older. Every Jewish boy was circumcised (and formally named) on the eighth day of his life, and so, one week after Christmas, we celebrate the occasion when Our Lord first shed His blood for us. It is a fit close for a week of martyrs, and reminds us that to suffer for Christ is to suffer with Him."

So as we celebrate the miracle of the holy night, let us remember that we are called to leave the manger and follow our Lord.

The African American theologian and mystic Howard Thurman wrote:

"When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among brothers,
To make music in the heart."

Third Sunday of Advent

2009-12-12T22:15:00.000-08:00

O God of exiles and the lost, you promise restoration and wholeness though the power of Jesus Christ. Give us faith to live joyfully, sustained by your promises as we eagerly await the day when they will be fulfilled for all the world to see, through the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

(United Church of Christ: Calendar of Prayer)

Veni, veni, Emmanuel

2009-12-04T23:00:00.000-08:00

Feast of St James the Just, brother of our Lord

2009-10-23T14:28:00.000-07:00

After a few weeks of not blogging, due to a hectic schedule and a broken computer, I have return.

Today, the Church celebrates the feast of St. James the Just. James, the brother of our Lord, like Mary, the Blessed Mother, had an intimate relationship with our Lord. Probably because of his close relationship with Jesus, James, as did Mary, misunderstood the mission and ministry of our Lord during his lifetime. How often do we think we know what is best for those we love?

After the Ascension and Pentecost, James became the leader of the first church, the church of Jerusalem. Was it because of his brotherly connection or his spiritual insight? It may had been a combination.

His decisive role in the first controversy the young church faced, the role of Gentiles, proved that he was chosen and gifted by God to lead the young church. He presided at the Council of Jerusalem(Acts 15) and delivered the definitive and decisive statement which allowed the church to become catholic and not remain a small sect which could have faded from history.

His martyrdom reminds us that faithful obedience to the way of Christ may lead us to conflict with those in authority, but that our response should be one of faithful prayer and witness.

Two hymns from the Orthodox tradition are fitting tributes to James, the brother of our Lord.

Troparion (Tone 4)

As the Lord's disciple you received the Gospel, O righteous James;
As a martyr you have unfailing courage;
As God's brother, you have boldness;
As a hierarch, you have the power to intercede.
Pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved.

Kontakion (Tone 4)

When God the Word, the Only-begotten of the Father,
Came to live among us in these last days,
He declared you, venerable James, to be the first shepherd and teacher of Jerusalem
And a faithful steward of the spiritual Mysteries.
Therefore, we all honor you, O Apostle.

Arise My Love: God's love poem

2009-08-29T22:24:00.000-07:00

So, I am puzzled that the Agnus Day comic changes on my blog when the writer creates a new strip. So, the strip on each blog changes, making the commentary somewhat unintelligible (the commentary may not match the strip). Ahh! a lesson in humility. Perhaps I will figure out the wrinkle, and discover how to keep the strip that matches the weekly lectionary text.

This week lectionary readings are potentially puzzling. This week, the gospel text moves from John to Mark. The Epistle is from St. James. Both readings force us to examine what does it mean to be religious. The Gospel text reminds us that we fail to live up to the law.

The Hebrew text is from Deuteronomy or the Song of Solomon. The reading from the Pentateuch (Deuteronomy) seems appropriate - an examination of the Law. But how does the Song of Solomon fit with the theme? A spiritual reading seems appropriate, with God as the beloved.

God is the lawgiver and God is the beloved. Perhaps when we focus on God as the lawgiver, we forget that God is our beloved. The beauty of the call is lost when we forget that God calls us out of love, and we know God when we respond to the call of love with loving action towards others.

Eugene Patterson's version (The Message) of James 1:27 reads:

"Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world."

"Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away." Song of Solomon 2.13 (NRSV).

Is the Church beginning to open our doors?

2009-08-23T22:30:00.000-07:00

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ECLA),our ecumenical partner, affirmed that they will accept pastors in monogamous same gender relationships this week, and approved a social statement on Human Sexuality. Earlier this summer, the Episcopal Church (TEC) affirmed that God has called and will called same gender loving women and men as priests, deacons, and bishops. Thus they join the United Church of Christ who welcome sexual minorities as members and pastors int heir communion.
For a while, the UCC seemed to be alone. When we passed the marriage equality statement at General Synod in Atlanta in 2005 it appeared to me that we were out there alone. The affirmations of TES and the ECLA say that we are not alone. We are still in a minority in the Christian world. Many of our sisters and brothers feel as if we have cut ourselves off from the tradition and the faith. But at least, I no longer feel alone. This journey may be difficult, and we may be isolated or exiled. But we are not alone. Perhaps this is the beginning of a long arduous journey to a future when the church universal may live up to its calling of accepting all. That is my fervent prayer.

One observation that I read this week that had an impact on me was that lgbt Christians and their supporters were asked to remain in the church while the church struggled to include us. We remained because of our commitment to Christ's vision of a church united. Now traditionalists must consider whether they will remain in communion. In a strange, yet only God inspired way, the traditionalists may gain some insights from the glbt community-how to remain in communion with people with whom you have fundamental disagreements. The ECLA's reflections on bound conscience may prove helpful for those on all sides of this and other controversial issues.

I conclude my remembering the church dividing debates on slavery. Those on both sides appealed to the bible, and many on both sides condemned those on the opposing sides. These many decades later the church has reached a consensus on slavery. Yet we need to acknowledge that for those involved during the struggles to discern the mind of Christ, the consensus did not happen in their lifetimes. Sincere believers on both sides lived and died arguing their deeply held convictions. The white churches in the United States were divided over this issue. Yet those most impacted by this debated, the slaves, my ancestors, were not allow to participate. So I will err, if I must, on the side of those who suffer injury, who are castigated, those who do not have a voice in official assemblies, yet who continue to transform the oppressors' religion into the glorious tale of liberation, who were vindicated not my might, but by their faith in a faithful Saviour.

Soli Deo Gloria.

The Body of Christ, the Bread of Heaven: John 6:56-69

2009-08-22T19:50:00.000-07:00

Our friends from Agnus Day have posted their latest cartoon strip. The Gospel reading for this Sunday, August 23, 2009 (Proper 16 / Ordinary 21/ Pentecost +12) is John 6.56-69.

For several weeks the gospel lessons have been from John 6. These readings have caused us to reflect on the significance and meaning of the Eucharist. This is a difficult passage of scripture for Evangelicals who have a high view of scripture, but view the sacraments as 'ordinances". A high view of scripture should lead evangelicals to reflect anew on the apostle's writings in the 6th chapter of his gospel.

Soli deo gloria.

SOF: SoundSeen: Brooks and Dionne, Live with Krista | Obama's Theologian: David Brooks and E.J. Dionne on Reinhold Niebuhr and the American Present

2009-08-19T23:12:00.001-07:00

In this age of much heated religious rhetoric on critical social issues, we should reflect on the words and legacy of a key American political and religious thinker of the last century; Reinhold Niebuhr.
When I was a student at Union Theological Seminary, I had a part time job as a security guard. When I was making my rounds late at night I thought to myself these were the same halls that Dr. Niebuhr walked. Perhaps he reflected on the critical social issues of his age late at night while walking through the halls. If walls could listen and talk.
I am posting a video of an event at Georgetown University. It is a conversation about UCC theologian Niebuhr's continuing influence on the American political scene. Two social critics, one a liberal, the other a conservative, engaged in a meaningful conversation that models civil civic discussion. Speaking of Faith with Krista Tippett is a marvelous programme on public radio.

SOF: SoundSeen: Brooks and Dionne, Live with Krista | Obama's Theologian: David Brooks and E.J. Dionne on Reinhold Niebuhr and the American Present

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Dormition of the Theotokos

2009-08-15T23:26:00.000-07:00

First, AgnusDay's reflection on this Sunday's gospel reading:

"Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death."

Certainly few mainline or evangelical Protestants will celebrate this Feast Day, observed in the Roman Catholic tradition as the Assumption of the Virgin and in the Eastern tradition as the Dormition of the Theotokos. While Pope Pius XII defined the Assumption as dogma in 1950, the Dormition has been commemorated in the Orthodox Church as a Great Feast, although it has never been formally declared as doctrine by the Orthodox Church. The belief that God took the Virgin Mary to heaven bodily has been celebrated in the church since the fifth century.

It is a feast that affirms the doctrine of the resurrection of the body and Mary's special role in the redemption. Christians in other traditions who affirm these beliefs should consider joining their sisters and brothers throughout time in celebration this important Feast day.

My recent reflections and meditations about this Feast day has led me to ponder that Mary's devotion to her son, and our Lord's devotion to his mother, serve as models for intimate human relationships. Her Assumption testify that the human body is a divine gift and though tainted by sin(or if you prefer human imperfections), will be glorified.

From the Orthodox tradition:

Kontakion (Second Tone)
"Neither the grave nor death could contain the Theotokos, the unshakable hope, ever vigilant in intercession and protection. As Mother of life, He who dwelt in the ever-virginal womb transposed her to life."

Lectionary Humour-Bread of Life

2009-08-08T21:31:00.000-07:00

Agnus Day offers us an insightful commentary on the Gospel reading for this Lord's Day (August 9, 2009:Proper 14B/Ordinary 19B/Pentecost 10): John 6.35, 41-51.

For other reflections on the lectionary readings, I recommend Textweek.com

Soli Deo Gloria.

Lectionary Humour

2009-08-01T13:20:00.000-07:00

It is the first of August. The last 10 days have been very, very hot (over 90 degrees each day, with three days in a row of 100+ degrees). A compassionate friend gave my mother and me a three night stay at a local air conditioned hotel. Now that the weather is cooler (the high today will be in the low nineties), I return home and to the computer.

Many Christian churches share a common weekly scripture reading in worship on Sundays (known as the common lectionary). There is also a daily lectionary. Many Christian denominations publish the weekly texts on their websites. The United Church of Christ publishes "Weekly Seeds", a reflection on their weekly focus scripture. Vanderbilt Divinity Library provides the lections and texts on their website. Although separated by distance, theology, and heritage, the common lectionary allow the diverse body of Christ to reflect together on the holy texts.

The lectionary texts for Proper 13(18), August 2, 2009 are:
2 Samuel 11:26 - 12:13a or Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15 * Psalm 51:1-12 or Psalm 78:23-29 * Ephesians 4:1-16 * John 6:24-35

I came across a lectionary base weekly comic from agnusday.org. (God is still speaking and God is still laughing)!

I will post the comic weekly on this blog. This week's comic focus on the Gospel reading: John 6.24-35.

This week's comic:

OCC in the UCC?

2009-07-20T21:59:00.000-07:00

When I sign my name, I add the letters "OCC" after my family name. Often I have been asked, what does it mean? The letter refers to my religious order, the Order of Corpus Christi.

That explanation leads to many other queries. Is it possible for a Protestant to be a member of a religious order? Is making perpetual vows to the Order an initiation into some secret society or cult? Are religious orders a repudiation of the insights of the Reformation and an attempt to return to Rome? Why would a pastor in good standing in a liberal Christian denomination submit to a rule that is rooted in the ancient practices of the Church?

The impulse for a disciplined spiritual communal life resonate with people within and outside of the church. It is not limited to one tradition, but finds expressions in many traditions-even in the United Church of Christ. The online UCC community has a forum discussion entitled " Monastic Community in the UCC".

The Order of Corpus Christi is one community in the United Church of Christ whose historical foundations include the Mercersburg Theology of the nineteenth century. This theological movement was an American ecumenical and liturgical movement which was a corrective balance to the popular religious revivalism of the era.

The Foundation Document of the Order of Corpus Christi states:

" Corpus Christi calls us to a life of common prayer and contemplation which
produces concrete action in the life of the Church and the world. At the heart of Corpus Christi we encounter the living Christ in Word and Sacrament in the community of the Church which nurtures us in the life of faith and in mission and ministry. Daily prayer, silence, and contemplation also inform the life of Corpus Christi. All these are not ends unto themselves. They are, rather, means of God’s grace through which the balance is maintained and life, growth, and development in the Christian life and mission are given.
The practices in which the members and communities of Corpus Christi engage are intended to express commonality of faith, worship and service. In the midst of diversity there is unity and commonality in Christ!
The common practices of Corpus Christ serve as a witness and a sign. They
witness to our oneness in Christ, and they are a sign of our communion with others in Christ through one Baptism, one Bread, and the call to discipleship."

This is my community, through which I seek to live out the calling to pray and work for the unity of Christ's Body.

Soli Deo Gloria.

2009-07-16T20:52:00.000-07:00

Here are two reflections by Bonnie Tinker.
The video is a speech she gave this past winter that explains why she advocated for marriage equality for over thirty years.

The audio is an interview Bonnie gave a few years ago. Bonnie speaks about her family history and spirituality.
Bonnie Tinker - Love Makes A Family

Bonnie Tinker: mother, wife, daughter, visionary, friend, community organizer, peacemaker.

RIP Bonnie.

2009-07-13T22:36:00.000-07:00

Technorati

2009-07-13T22:28:00.000-07:00

n463redqji

Civil Rights and Marriage Equality

2009-07-13T21:05:00.000-07:00

We interviewed the Rev. Sekou this morning on our radio programme, More Talk Radio on KBOO. We took as our launching pad for discussion his recent article in Killing the Buddha about the current marriage equality debate and how black Americans are engaged in these discussions. I will post the link to our radio interview when we put in on our site. In the meantime, you may be interested in reading the following article by Melissa Harris-Lacewell in the Nation that addresses some of the same issues. Ms. Harris-Lacewell examines SCLC (are they still around?) and the marriage issue.
Coincidentally, the national NAACP is also undergoing an internal debate on this issue. A recent CNN interview with the head of the NAACP makes clear that this historic civil rights organization has a long way to go to regain its moral vision and voice.
Where is the clear moral voice these days?
There is much to be done if the organizations seek to walk in the steps of people such as Bayard Rustin.

Happy 500 birthday, John Calvin!

2009-07-10T23:20:00.000-07:00

Today is the five hundredth anniversary of the birth of John Calvin. I posted the comment on my Facebook page, a Quaker friend remarked that Calvinism is so toxic.
Perhaps we need to move beyond the stereotypes. The fact that many people with different ideological and theological perspectives claim Calvin as influential should be caused for us to stop and look anew, or look for the very first time.
I recommend reading the Institutes of the Christian Religion. An appropriate way to enter into the world of John Calvin.

The World Alliance of Reformed Churches issued a statement commemorating Calvin that acknowledges the continuing relevance of Calvin in the twenty first century. The president of my alma mater Union Theological Seminary, Dr, Serene Jones wrote a paper that takes as it's title the reformed motto, Ecclesia Reformata, Semper Reformanda, the church reformed, always reforming.

Soli Deo Gloria.

Gays Are the New Niggers

2009-07-09T21:55:00.001-07:00

Recently in Killing the Buddha, the Rev. Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou wrote a thought provoking article entitled, " Gays Are the New Niggers ". I believe he offers an important perspective in the on going discussion of the relationship between the African American civil rights movement and the modern lgbt movement. As a straight black, third generation Pentecostal pastor, Mr. Sekou brings unique insights to this discussion.

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2009-07-04T00:12:00.000-07:00

For some time, I have thought about joining the 21st century, and join the rank of bloggers. Perhaps now I will start.
Yesterday, my friend and colleague, Bonnie Tinker, died in a terrible bike accident. She was in Virginia at the Friends General Conference. I found out about it from a facebook post by someone attending the meeting. I then picked up the phone and called Sara, her spouse of over thirty years, to confirm my worst fear.
We spoke briefly, she was waiting to board a plane to VA. However, we never mentioned that Bonnie died. Perhaps, I thought, she was severely injured. I called Pam Monette, chair of Love Makes A Family, and asked if she had spoken to Sara. I mentioned that Bonnie had been in an accident, but did not say that I thought she was dead. Pam called Sara, and a few minutes later called me back and confirmed my fears, Bonnie was dead.
I woke up this morning, thinking that it was a bad dream. It is not.
We were last together at the Archbishop Tutu lecture at the University of Portland a few weeks ago. We have spoken over the phone frequently since that gathering.
Bonnie was a fierce advocate for justice, crying out for the voiceless, fearless, yet gentle. She was committed to the way of peace, which did not mean she avoided confrontation (I think she was energised by confronting injustice).
Pam mentioned to me that she was concerned about Bonnie's family, and not Bonnie because she believed Bonnie was busy organising the angels. I like that.
Farewell dear friend. Thank you for your love, support, and the lessons you taught me. May your work continue here on earth, as you enter into the bosom of God.
"Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May the souls of the faithfully departed,through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen."