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Open Arms Metropolitan Community Church Rochester, New York
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Highlights from the June 2006 edition's:
June Week One 6/??
June 7, 2006 ============================================= On Sunday, Rev. Jim will preach on the Clobber Texts, the 7 scriptures used by some Christians to "prove" that God hates us. Come and bring a friend. It's time to see what the scriptures really talk about. ================================================== On Sunday there will
be a celebration of the success of the garage sale. We will be having hot
dogs, salads, desserts & beverages. Please come and help us celebrate you
and all your hard work and donations that contributed to the success of our
Capital Campaign. Deacon's Corner: Yo God, Pastor's Reflection: You have often heard me refer to the theme of our last Regional Conference "We will not be silent." We have, over the years, become accustomed to being silent as a church in the Rochester community. In the last few years, we have done better raising our heads and our voices in the religious and secular community. At this time in history, our denomination has embarked upon an ambitious advertising campaign with the slogan "Would Jesus Discriminate?" It's a wonderful question. We need to begin asking this question of people who use the bible to bash LGBT people. Yesterday, I taught a class at Monroe Community College. It's an annual event for me. It is a class of Advanced Human Services. A lot of the class was dedicated to answering one participant's question: "What do you, as a man of the cloth, say about homosexuality?" This question came early in the class when we were talking about death and dying. It gave me that opportunity right at the beginning of a five hour class to clearly state our position and to ask the question "Would Jesus Discriminate?" There was often heated discussion from people who had blindly received what the churches had been teaching. God does not expect us to be unquestioning. Hopefully, the Holy Spirit, who, I believe, provoked that question from a young Muslim man, blessed the often-difficult class. This is the season of the Holy Spirit. May the wind and fire of that very Spirit fill our hearts with passion for justice and equality. At the end of this e-link is the message from our denominational Executive Director, Rev. Dr. Cindy Love Rev. Ji ================================================= Prayer Requests: Linda and Sue had to put their beloved dog, Jersey, to sleep on Monday. Please keep them in your prayers. An email subscriber to the e-link requests prayers for:
Melisa Farkas - for healing of breast cancer; and for Margaret Edwards -
for healing of Macular Degeneration
For those among us who suffer from broken hearts or from depression or
loneliness
For our cancer survivors and their families
For justice in this land
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Upcoming Events:
There are two events on Saturday, June 10
The annual aids walk. See
www.aidsrochester.com. The walk is at the new Paetek Park
The Spring Concert of the Rochester Women's Community Chorus at Hochstein.
On June 11 at church, the sermon is on the Clobber Texts.
After church there is a cookout to celebrate the success of the Garage
Sale
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Would Jesus Discriminate?
An Important Message from (By the way, this
letter is longer than usual, but I feel it's important for you to have
all the details -- especially since you may wish to replicate parts of
this campaign in your community.) And our deepest
thanks go to MCC's Moderator Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson and Rev. Dr. Jeff
Miner for their willingness to give an account of our faith in this very
public way to millions of Americans. Viewers can also go
to MCC's main site and to a blog about this campaign. I
encourage you to take the survey yourself. (This past Sunday,
Pastor Jeff invited MCC church members in Indianapolis to contribute to
buy additional billboards -- and the congregations generously donated more
than $11,000, which will place up to 11 billboards in strategic locations
throughout the city!) We may not change
the minds of the radical right, but they do not hold a monopoly on the
hearts of free-thinking folks. We need to rally these people. And please, please
remember: Your prayers are urgently and especially needed this coming
week. From Rev. Dr. Jeff
Miner, Senior Pastor Dear Friends: In General. The stories I'm hearing from congregants today thrill my heart and confirm that Indianapolis is buzzing about the newspaper ads, yard signs, t-shirts, etc. For example, my spouse was at a branch of the Department of Motor Vehicles on Friday to renew his drivers license. He was wearing his "Would Jesus Discriminate?" t-shirt. As he stood in line, several people initiated conversations with him, saying they'd seen the signs. Even the clerk behind the counter said, "I keep meaning to go to that web site," and did so as he stood there. The most moving story I've heard so far is from one of our volunteers distributing door hangers. An elderly woman stopped her and wanted to argue from a fundamentalist perspective. After a few minutes, the elderly woman softened a bit and mentioned she had a 44 year old gay son. With this, the tone of the conversation changed. By the end of the conversation, the elderly woman said, "Well, you've given me something to think about." So far, we have distributed 1800 yard signs, 13,000 door hangers, 400 t-shirts, 400 bumper stickers - all of which ask "Would Jesus discriminate?" and list our web site address to find an answer. We are getting a significant volume of email, both pro and con. Billboards. At Church today, we raised contributions and pledges to fund seven billboards in prominent locations for the next 30 days. People who are frustrated about their yard signs being taken down were particularly fired up about contributing. Tomorrow morning I will talk to the billboard guy (Clear Channel) and select the sites. Each billboard will mirror the yard signs: "Would Jesus Discriminate? www.JesusMCC.org." I anticipate the billboards will lift our exposure into the next level. Rev. Dr. Jeff Miner, Senior Pastor
June 14, 2006 ============================================================================ Deacon Gene Ver will preach on Sunday ============================================================================== This phase of the Capital Campaign is over at the end of June. If you have made a pledge, please fulfill your pledge as soon as possible or speak to John White if you need an extension. ================================================================================ A group of people will be holding the mortgage for the new church. The mortgage term will be ten years at 5% interest. If you would like to participate in this investment, please see Rev. Jim as soon as possible. The minimum investment is $10,000. ================================================================================= Pastor's Reflection: Churches grow. In the process of growth, there are growing pains. A small church can really be one group of people intermingling easily. As more and more members come, several groups form. In this process, some people get lost in the shuffle and begin to feel disconnected from the church as they find that they are no longer sure of their place in the church. Likewise, new people need to be integrated immediately. These growth points or growing pains are a great opportunity to find unity and integration and acceptance. You may have been contacted by a deacon. We have divided the congregation into people assigned to a specific deacon. Each deacon is charged with inreach to the congregation, checking in from time to time to make sure each person is contacted and avenues of communication opened so that concerns get dealt with. Two of the deacons are especially interested in new people and will be doing follow-up contact after a person has visited. Deacon Paul manages the birthday card ministry and takes pride in sending out cards with a personal note from him and his partner, the pastor. First and foremost, we want to build a community of love and acceptance. We want to build a church that meets our stated goals. That requires each of us to act as adults. Part of that adult Christianity is direct dealing. If you experience a problem with someone in the church, as happens from time to time when humans are in community, please talk TO the person and not ABOUT the person. We can't solve the normal stresses and tensions by gossiping rather than problem-solving. If you have ideas about worship or anything to do with the church or pastoral care or outreach, please speak to the pastor or one of the deacons or Board members. If you are in a place in your life where you could benefit from some pastoral counseling, please set up a time to talk to the pastor or one of the deacons. We have a large enough pastoral staff so that each person can find someone they trust to talk to. The pastor and deacons have promised to observe boundaries and to hold confidences unless they've gotten permission from you. However, it is not acceptable to talk to the pastor about a deacon or to a deacon about the pastor or another deacon UNLESS you have first attempted to have a direct conversation with that person. This all is adult healthy behavior that follows biblical guidelines. We have a fabulous church community. I brag about you everywhere I go. One of our deacons, who has just completed a seminary course in conflict resolution came away feeling blessed by our church as he heard stories of other church communities that have not followed the guidelines mentioned above. In 1 John, we read: "God is love and the one who lives in love, lives in God and God lives in that person." We also read, "How can you say you love God whom you can't see if you don't love your brother/sister whom you can see?" Sisters and brothers, let us take those words of scripture to heart. Let us live in love so that God can live in us and we in God. Let us love, truly love, our brothers and sisters at Open Arms MCC so that when we say we love God, we can prove it by our behaviors toward our sisters and brothers. We are blessed to have each other and to have our church home where Jesus is alive. Rev. Jim ================================================================================== June 21, 2006 ==================================================================== On Sunday, Rev. Jim will preach on the phrase "Born Again" and will look at other phrases that evangelical Christians use. He will ask the question: "Can an LGBT Christian be born again?" ======================================================================= Phase one of the Capital Campaign ends at the end of June. Please try to get your pledges in as soon as you can. ====================================================================== There is a meeting of the Deacons' Council after fellowship on Sunday ===================================================================== On Sunday, July 9, there will be no service at church. That is the Sunday when we celebrate the Pride Picnic. Interfaith Pride Worship will be at Genesee Valley Park at 11:30am. Please bring your offering to Open Arms the Sunday before or the Sunday after. ===================================================================== Praise be to God! The Episcopalian in General Convention, elected a woman as Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal church. And the Presbyterians in general conference open the doors to equality in ministry. ====================================================================== Deacon's Corner: Yo God... Deacon Debbie ================================================================= Pastor's Reflection: Church was so much fun on Sunday! There was a spirit of fun throughout the service. During announcements, Anne and Bess talked about our participation in the Pride Parade on July 8. We will march as a group and will wear t-shirts that will ask the question "Would Jesus Discriminate?" Anne has the creative spark flowing in the direction of balloon art. The hat that she had on, made of multiple colored balloons was indescribable. We moved then into our praise songs. The first one was new to us and we used CD accompaniment. It worked well. And on through the service, a spirit of fun and family was present. We had a serious segment when Deacon Gene preached on conflict and conflict resolution. He spoke of how healthy it is to be able to freely discuss things, even in disagreement, and still remain united. Steve, who describes himself as "Coupon King" (or Queen) brought many items that he set up for sale at $2 each. Good household items that would cost more than that. Proceeds went to the Capital Campaign. Sue is collecting cans for redemption, the proceeds of which will buy some needed item in our new church. So many smiles and hugs and quiet conversation followed worship as we enjoyed the generosity of those who brought food for a hungry congregation. We read a letter from AIDS Rochester, thanking us for the large food donation to their food cupboard. Much of the food was unusual, meaning the kind of food college students keep in their dorms. Rebecca, a Resident Advisor, and Jessica, brought all the items the students left behind at the end of the semester. It goes on and on and on and on. We are a growing, unpredictable, loving, warm family. And it shows. To be so filled with God's Spirit makes us want to shout and share it with those we meet along the way. It is so exciting to think of bringing this spirit to our new church. We hope to move in early August, as we get ready for our 25th Anniversary celebration. The community of Chili is so lucky to be getting US! When one experiences the presence of God, peace follows, and from the peace joy follows and joy, as you well know, MAKES YOU WANT TO SHOUT! Rev. Jim ================================================================== Upcoming Events: Womens' Softball Game: Wed. June 28- 7:15 at Veteran's Memorial Park, field #3 July 8 - Pride Parade. We would like as many Open Arms folks as possible to march in this parade. July 9 - Pride Worship at Genesee Valley Park at 11:30. No worship service at church that day. The annual church campout will be held the weekend of Aug 4-6 at Hamlin Beach State Park. If you plan on staying overnight please contact Sherry Irvine as soon as possible August 19-20 25th Anniversary Celebration =========================================================================================================== June 28, 2006 ========================================================================================== The Pride Parade is coming up quickly. We have to get ready for our participation in the Pride Parade on July 8. Our group, and I hope that includes you, will be wearing tie-dyed T-shirts asking the question: "Would Jesus Discriminate?"
Tie Dyeing Shirts: Saturday July 1, 1:00pm at Anne & Bess's house
Making Balloon hats and sculptures: Friday July 7, 6:00 pm at the church Saturday July 8, 11:00am - 4:00pm
The parade starts at 5pm Saturday July 8 and goes down Park Avenue. ============================================================================== On Sunday, Rev. Jim will be preaching on New Life In Christ ============================================================================== Deacon's Corner: You know how much I hate to
pack...
Deacon Debbie =====================================================================================
Pastor's Reflection:
Summer is the time of kicking back and doing nothing, right? Not this year. This summer is a summer of excitement and work and new church and anniversary! So much will take place between July 8 with the Pride Parade and August 19-20 with the Anniversary Celebration and Lu's ordination.
When I stand at the lectern on Sunday mornings, I scan your faces. I try to take a "read" of how you seem. And, ironically, I suppose, I see not only the faces of those of you who are present for worship; I also see those of you who are not there. It's kind of like a jig-saw puzzle. Those who are not present are like missing pieces that go together with the pieces that are there to make up a whole wonderful picture.
We need all our pieces together for this summer. We want to make a joyous noise at the Pride Parade, another joyous connected noise at Pride Worship as we join with several other congregations to kick off the Pride Parade.
Although we have not received an exact closing date on our new church; we anticipate that it will be around August 1st and then we'll have the massive task of moving and setting up for worship. We have ordered 100 new chairs for the new church and when they are delivered, we'll need an unload/setup team. It's so exciting! I am beginning to think of our new space A LOT. Just as Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson's installation ceremony at the National Cathedral marked our coming of age as a denomination, so our move into a "real" church building will mark our coming of age as a congregation. I am beside myself (picture that! - as though one of me isn't enough!). I am imagining our first worship there and our learning together to fit in a space suitable for our size and our immediate growth.
Catch fire with this enthusiasm, sisters and brothers! We're on our way to the land that God has promised us!
Our Anniversary celebration on the weekend of August 19-20 will include special guests such as the Executive Director of our denomination, Rev. Dr. Cindy Love, our Regional Elder, Rev. Elder Arlene Ackerman, our favorite evangelist, Rev. Delores Berry and her/our beloved Judy, and others also. We will have a fun banquet with special entertainment and a dance to follow, DJ'd by our own Dick and Paul. This will take place at Glendoveer's, a terrific little party house, very suited to us! Anniversary Worship will be great with the message brought by Rev. Dr. Cindy Love, and Lu's ordination by Rev. Elder Arlene.
This is your church, this is our family of God. This is all our chance to be fully involved. Can it get any better than that?
Rev. Jim =============================================================================== Prayer Requests:
Safe trip and great vacation and safe return for Ed who is in the Caribbean for two weeks.
Thanksgiving for Laura's friend, Mike, who is doing well after a gruesome surgery for cancer.
Thanksgiving for Gretchen for whom we've been praying: I have this report: Well, it has finally happened ... Gretchen had her transplant - stomach, small bowel, duodenum, pancreas and liver. They called us at 6 am on Friday, the 23rd, and the surgery started at almost midnight. At 9 am on Saturday, one of the surgeons came out to tell me that the new organs were in Gretchen's body and the hardest part of the surgery was done for them at least. The surgery was finally finished and Gretchen was in TICU (Transplant Intensive Care Unit) at 5 pm Saturday afternoon. 16 hours. Gretchen was breathing on her own at around 10:30 this morning, and off the ventilator at 2 pm. The doctors are very, very pleased with her progress, but she's in a tremendous amount of pain quite a bit of the time. I hope tomorrow will be a bit easier for her.
For our troops For peace For those who deal with cancer and those who support them For the congregation at our new church who are waiting completion of their new church, that the new construction will finish soon ========================================================================================================
Upcoming Events:
tie-dying and balloon making for the Pride Parade as announced at the top of this newsetter
Pride Parade July 8 at 5 Pride Worship July 9 at 11:30 *NOTE time* There will not be worship at church that day. Please bring your offering on July 2 or July 16. There will not be an Open Arms offering taken at the Genesee Valley Park worship. Location: the Round House
The annual church campout will be held the weekend of Aug 4-6 at Hamlin Beach State Park. If you plan on staying overnight please contact Sherry I. as soon as possible
Church Moving - TBA
Anniversary Banquet - Aug 19 Anniversary Worship - Aug. 20 ======================================================================================
This page Last updated on: June, 2006 By: Martha K. |
