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”.
Showing posts with label United Church of Christ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label United Church of Christ. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Videos About The United Church Of Christ
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:
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:
Friday, November 5, 2010
The United Church of Christ: Seeking to be a Church of Extravagant Welcome
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.
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.
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.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Is the Church beginning to open our doors?
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.
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.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Lectionary Humour
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:
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:
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