|
Open Arms Metropolitan Community Church Rochester, New York
|
||||||||||||||||
Highlights from the February 2007 edition's:
==================================================================== Deaths Tom O.'s mother died of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident. Calling hours are today, Wednesday, from 4-7 at Thomas Burger Funeral Home in Hilton. Funeral service is at 2pm on Thursday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Hilton. If you would like to send a card to Tom, Patsy C's father died in Florida. Patsy and Karen are doing well and are grateful for Patsy's father's long life with them. ================================================================ Mexican theme pot luck and games night. This Saturday, Feb. 10 at 6pm at church. Contact Ray at to sign up or for information. ================================================================ Calendar Meeting There will be a calendar meeting after church on February 18. Anyone in leadership who holds regular meetings or is planning special events should plan to attend: clerk of the board, social justice ministries, One Anothering group leaders, HIV/AIDS ministry, and any other person who is involved inside Open Arms or knows of outside activities that are of interest/concern to Open Arms. This meeting will take place 15 minutes after the end of worship - this gives you a chance to get a cup of coffee which you can bring to the pastor's office. It should not be a long meeting. It is not a planning meeting. It is for the purpose of establishing a master calendar only. ================================================================= Deacon's Corner: Yo God- Deacon Debbie ========================================================== Pastor's Reflection: It's not really difficult to understand why there are wars, why there are so many denominations, why there are divisions in families. Human nature seems to have a deep-seated tendency to chaos. We look at our own natures and find body, mind, spirit. We can even further divide those three parts of ourselves. We talk about thought and emotions. Iraq is in chaos, Afghanistan is in chaos, many churches are in chaos. Many families are in chaos. There is wide-spread lack of balance in our world. There is often lack of balance within us as individuals. We can be creatures of extremes, of black and white thinking. Someone can be our hero one day and be disdained or cast out the next. We think we can have an idea of someone that defines him or her and we resist every effort that person makes to change and grow. Someone hurts our feelings, often unintentionally, and we change our entire opinion of that person and forget how much we recently valued him or her. I don't have to tell you these things. All you have to do is look around you and inside you for your attitudes and reactions to those around you. It's a crazy world. Listen to the news and be astounded at the insanity of it all. Yesterday, I heard that Pastor Ted Haggard, the Evangelical leader who was removed from his church for having a gay relationship, is now, after three weeks of counseling, 100% heterosexual. And that's just one evidence of insanity. It was like this at the time of Jesus, also. When He came and taught and healed, he brought us an important message: It doesn't have to be like this. We can be free from the insanity. We can be free from the chaos. We can live in balance and harmony instead of war and the tyranny of emotion or thought. Jesus brought us a message of salvation. Salvation is wholeness in our relationships, ALL our relationships. Salvation is freedom from chaos and division and unbalance. Salvation is peace and love and joy right now not sometime in a future life. Right now. My challenge to you today is to enter deeply into your heart and soul. Find your attitudes towards the individuals in your life, in your family, in your church, in your neighborhood, at your work. Find any sign of unbalance or insanity or tyrannical emotion or hurt feelings or resentments. Examine them. Listen to what Jesus is saying to you about these things. Claim your freedom and healing and salvation. And in so doing, change your own life and the lives of those who are connected to you. Rev. Jim ============================================================ Upcoming Events: Saturday, Feb. 10 at 6pm- Potluck and Games Night. Mexican theme. Sunday, Feb. 11. Clergy Candidate Lu J preaching. Rev. Jim will preach at Pullman Memorial Universalist Church in Albion at 11am. Sunday, Feb. 18. Calendar Meeting 15 minutes after worship in Pastor's office. Sunday Feb. 18 we will observe Evolution Sunday. Wednesday, February 21st is ASH WEDNESDAY, the beginning of Lent. Ash Wednesday service will be at 7pm. Camping Trip, March 23-25. There are a few spots left. Contact: Ray G. ASAP Choir practice is each Tuesday at 6:45pm. Terry K & Terry K are updating the directory. If you are not in the directory, please see one of the Terrys to fill in your info and have your picture taken. It will be printed in March. ======================================================= Opportunity for Social Action: In recent years, Metropolitan Community Church has sponsored a Valentine's Day Action to go to local marriage license bureaus to request marriage licenses, and we continue to encourage this in appropriate venues.
This year, we have added a new and simple plan that
everyone can do. Regardless of
local mandates or personal preferences, everyone can move the cause of
marriage equality forward.
CNN News Anchor Anderson Cooper. Because of his dedication to human rights
and international justice -- as well as his occasionally non-conformist
methods -- we believe that Anderson is a key public figure who could, if he
chose, help advance the cause of marriage equality.
Anderson Cooper
From nations as disparate as Spain and Canada, to states like
Massachusetts in the US and Coahuila in Mexico, from Boston to Buenos
Aires, communities are awakening to the truth that we are all part of
one human family, all equally-deserving of basic and protected civil
liberties.
You can help that awakening
continue in very powerful and persuasive ways. ============================================================
Prayer Requests: For the repose of the souls of Tom O.'s mother and Patsy C.'s father. For the healing Spirit to be with Tom and Patsy and their families. For Melody D who is having problems with her knees For those who are suffering depression and loneliness For our troops in Iraq and for sanity among world leaders to bring them to peace, not war For those who commute, that they be safe and for travelers that they arrive safely at their destinations For direct dealing to be established as a way of life For those who deal with cancer and those who support them. For the leaders of our denomination, Rev. Elder Nancy L. Wilson, our Moderator, and Rev. Arlene Ackerman, our Regional Elder. ====================================================
Until next time oremus pro invicem (let us
pray for one another) February 14, 2007 ============================================================ Deacon's Corner: Yo God, Deacon Debbie ========================================================== Pastor's Reflection: I'm writing this from Gettysburg, PA. I spent 8 hours on a hazardous drive that, in clear weather, takes only 5. The farther from home I got, the worse the roads got. You might ask "Why would anyone in his right mind do that drive on a day like this?" Well, the "right mind" part should tell you. I am here because I have a meeting tomorrow with the Elder's facilitation team. The meeting is at Open Door MCC in Boyds, Maryland. They are celebrating their 25th anniversary this year. Their pastor, Rev. Rob Apgar-Taylor is a classmate and friend of mine. We did our Clergy Intensives together. It will be good to see him and his church. I will spend time with our Elder, Rev. Arlene Ackerman and five other pastors who are planning sub-regional gatherings. When part of our region meets, it will be your opportunity to meet sisters and brothers from the northern part of Region 3. Kudos to Lu Johnson, who did a fine job holding down the fort while I was in Albion last Sunday preaching to the Universalists there. My spouse, Paul, Deb and Martha and Mark H. came along for support. As usual, I bragged about Open Arms MCC and offered them our story of hope. They were so taken with our Vision Statement that they put it on their sign outside the church. I was happy to give it to them. They are looking to hire a part time minister and some of the people told the president of the board that she should ask me to apply. I think NOT! Just after I arrived at the hotel where I'm staying, I got a call from Jessica who was checking up on the "older" members of the congregation. She giggled through the whole phone call. It warmed my heart to hear her voice and her giggles. We are a good congregation, aren't we? Each time we do a thoughtful act, each time we reach into our community to touch someone or outside our community to touch the world, it's like dropping a pebble in a pond. The ripples go out more widely than we can even imagine. We have been richly blessed and you are part of that blessing. Rev. Jim ====================================================================== Announcements: From Ray and Lonnie: There will be a very short meeting Sunday after church for all those going on the camping trip to Letchworth, March 23-25. Money for lodging, $25.00 per person, is due ASAP but definitely by Sunday March 3rd. Thank you to all who have paid already. Our next Day Hike is February 24th. We will once again try to hike Devil's Bathtub at Mendon Ponds. Is anyone interested in Whitewater Rafting? Please email me at if you are so I can begin planning this adventurous weekend for late April/early May when the rivers are running high. Game Night was a huge success this month. 15 people came out to have great food and fellowship. Next month's game night will be on March 10th at 6:00. This game night will have a Mardi Gras Theme. All things southern and Cajun are welcome. Pastor Jim, that means KFC will work again, just get it spicy! The sign up sheet will be available starting this Sunday. Wanted: Lonnie and I are looking for a card table and 4 folding chairs, file cabinet and a futon. Give us a call at or email us. On Sunday, we will observe Evolution Sunday. The title of Rev. Jim's sermon is "A Monkey's Uncle." ======================================================== Prayer requests: For Patsy and Karen and Tom O and his family and all who grieve. For the pastoral care team of Open Arms MCC For the leadership of our denomination, especially Rev. Elder Nancy L. Wilson, our Moderator and Rev. Elder Arlene Ackerman, our Regional Elder For our troops in harm's way For peace in a troubled world For those among us who are lonely or depressed or struggle with old demons Choir practice is each Tuesday at 6:45pm. Terry K & Terry K are updating the directory. If you are not in the directory, please see one of the Terrys to fill in your info and have your picture taken. It will be printed in March. Opportunity for Social Action: In recent years, Metropolitan Community Church has sponsored a Valentine's Day Action to go to local marriage license bureaus to request marriage licenses, and we continue to encourage this in appropriate venues.
This year, we have added a new and simple plan that
everyone can do. Regardless
of local mandates or personal preferences, everyone can move the cause
of marriage equality forward.
CNN News Anchor Anderson Cooper. Because of his dedication to
human rights and international justice -- as well as
his occasionally non-conformist methods -- we believe that Anderson is a
key public figure who could, if he chose, help advance the cause
of marriage equality.
Anderson Cooper
From nations as disparate as Spain and Canada, to states like
Massachusetts in the US and Coahuila in Mexico, from Boston to Buenos
Aires, communities are awakening to the truth that we are all part of
one human family, all equally-deserving of basic and protected civil
liberties.
You can help that awakening
continue in very powerful and persuasive ways. ============================================================
Until next time oremus
pro invicem (let us pray for one another)
February 21, 2007 ========================================================= Lent 2007 February 21 is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent Service is at church at 7pm. =============================================================== Adult Sunday School Clergy Candidate Lu Johnson will be teaching 6 week course called "The Many Faces of Spirituality" beginning at 9:30am on Sunday, February 25. Lu will look at various kinds of prayer in this course. Please be on time if you are going to attend. =============================================================== Pastoral Leadership Team will meet at 1pm on Sunday, Feb. 25 ============================================================= Deacon's Corner: Yo God, solitude... Deacon Debbie ======================================================= Pastor's Reflections: Did you ever have one of those weeks? I'm having one. On Saturday morning, I wrenched my lower back lifting a 50lb bag of wild bird seed the wrong way. Worship on Sunday presented some challenges because of limited mobility. On Sunday, I broke a tooth. On Monday, the alternator went on my truck. Today, Tuesday, was uneventful. Thank God. My back is on the mend. My tooth will get repaired on Wednesday morning. I already have my truck back (and my checking account is $300 lower!). So really they were three inconveniences, not tragedies, not something to ruin my days, not something to agonize over (for long). Some of the irritation in my back was probably caused by the long drive to Boyds, Maryland. I drove through the day of the snowstorm. I met with the Elder and two other pastors to plan our subregional gathering in Allentown, Pennsylvania on September 8. It'll be a great chance to meet with our church relatives from the northern part of Region Three. It was refreshing to spend time with Rev. Elder Arlene, Rev. Rob Apgar-Taylor (my classmate from clergy intensives) and Rev. Catherine Houchins. Each time I am at an MCC gathering, I remind myself how fortunate I am to be part of a vibrant church. AND I get the opportunity to brag about Open Arms! So we begin Lent on Wednesday. As a child, I always had my list of what to give up for Lent. I tried to give up something that wouldn't be too difficult because I really didn't want to suffer or inconvenience myself too much. I never much understood why I was giving up something but that's what we did. Everyone at least said they were giving up something. The Lenten season was very much about penance and sin and reflecting on our own sinfulness. I would like us to use Lent for something else altogether. I would like us to focus on becoming a people of prayer - individual prayer. I would like us all to commit to daily resting in the presence of God - with or without words. I would like us to focus on our relationships - all our relationships: with self, with others, with God. I would like us to look deeply within - which requires a commitment of time each day in silence and solitude - to check on our individual spiritual health and well-being. Where inside yourself are you out of balance? How well do you take care of your body and your spirit? How well do you practice humility and reject ego? What about your relationships with those closest to you? How nurturing are you? How forgiving? How loving? How affectionate? What about co-workers and employers? How considerate are you? How well do you earn your living? Are you attentive to your duties and responsibilities at work? And your relationship with God. Do you give God any time at all each day? Do you only talk or do you ever listen? Do you recognize signs of God in your life? Do you see how God builds you up by the people around you? by your church? Have you been responsible in sharing your time, talents and treasures with the church? If you made a pledge, are you living up to it? If you miss a Sunday, do you make up your offering? Do you support your church responsibly in all the ways available to you? There are so many areas of our life that require examination and repair. Lent is a wonderful time to do relationship work. It is a way to make ourselves more who we could be. Its a way to let God deeper into our lives. It's a way to build up our church - and the world. Rev. Jim =========================================================== Announcements: Our next Day Hike is
February 24th. We will once again March game night
will be on March 10th at 6:00. This Choir practice is each Tuesday at 6:45pm. Terry K & Terry K are updating the directory. If you are not in the directory, please see one of the Terrys to fill in your info and have your picture taken. It will be printed in March. =========================================================== Prayer requests. Keep everyone everywhere in your prayers - be specific.
Until next time
oremus pro invicem (let us pray for one another) #################################### February 28, 2007 ========================================================= Adult Sunday School March 4 9:30am The many faces of spirituality Clergy Candidate Lu Johnson ========================================================= Deacon's Corner: Yo God, God, I pray that the
world will indeed be better. Deacon Debbie ========================================================= Pastor's Reflection: Pastor's Reflection: In late autumn, we thought we weren't going to have any winter. Then winter came, as it always does, in spite of our wishes. And it's been a hard and dreary winter, too. Many of us are suffering from the cold and dark and grayness of the world at this time of year. I've seen more people with SAD (seasonal affective disorder) this year than in most previous years. People are tired and depressed and worn down. They don't feel good and aren't experiencing joy. That's such a hard place to be in. I am usually pretty cheerful myself but have found it a struggle to maintain balance. There are lots of reasons we get into this state. Lack of light and sunshine does explain some of it. Lack of good self-care is also a large part of it. We ignore our internal signs and plow ahead as though sheer determination will get us through. Couples are squabbling and crabby and aren't paying enough good attention to each other or spending enough quality time together. Our physical and emotional states have definite affects on our spiritual life. When times get a bit rough, we can easily ignore our spiritual life altogether. That all happened to Jesus, too, and he taught us by his example to go off into the desert (desert is symbolic for places of aloneness and rest and reflection) to refresh himself and get his spiritual life and physical life back in synch by basking in the presence of God like a sunbather in the sun. Lent, coming at this darkest time of year, is a good time for us to retreat to the desert - if not literally, then figuratively or virtually. It's a time for us to reassess and rebalance the many different parts of our lives. A time to intentionally spend more time with ourselves and with God. A time to replenish and fill ourselves back up - after we've come to realize how empty we've gotten. Recognizing the
state we're in at the time in winter gives us good opportunity to do
something about it - and to reach out to those who need support as they
go though it. ====================================================== Cabin Camping at Letchworth: March 23-25. All money for the March campout is due on Sunday, March 3rd. The cost is 25.00 dollars per person. If anyone would like to donate towards helping a few others to come, please make a donation. The following people are planning to go: Bonnie R, Maryellen,Steve, Sean, Myrna and Laurie, Terry and Terry, Ray and Lonnie, Ric, Bonnie, Lou, Sherrie and Linda, Karen Mc. and her niece. Any questions contact Ray
Wednesday, March 7, 6:00 PM S.A.M.E. event (Social Awareness for Marriage Equality. Contact Anne or Bess or Donna or Sherri for info.
Potluck and Games night is March 10th at 6:00 PM. The theme is Mardi Gras. Please bring a dish to pass, all things Cajun are welcome, and the sign-up sheet is in the fellowship hall. Any questions contact Lonnie at.
The women's softball team is forming. Games will be on Wednesday nights at Henrietta Town Park beginning May 2nd. If you are interested in playing, please see Donna T or Bess W. Open Arms MCC sponsors a women's softball team.
Choir is on Tuesdays at 6:45pm.
Get your info and picture ready for the revision of the church directory. See one of the Terrys. ========================================== Prayers: Prayers: Thanksgiving for the birth of Deacon Debbie's grand niece, Payton Grace For those who are in places of war, whether on a global scale or within themselves For those who fight cancer and those who support them For the leadership of our denomination For those who grieve For the lonely and depressed For newcomers to Open Arms MCC who are shyly dipping their toes in the water or who come joyfully in For peace in our hearts For a sense of God's presence ===========================================
Until next time oremus pro invicem (let us
pray for one another)
Until next time, let us pray for one another (oremus pro invicem)
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
This page Last updated/ reviewed on: apr, 2007 By: Martha K. |
|||||||||||||||||
