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E-Link
The Weekly newsletter of Open Arms Church
Archive of Past
E-Link Edition's
Highlights from the This Weeks edition:
If you would like to subscribe to the Open Arms MCC
weekly e-link newsletter.. CLICK HERE
March 7, 2007
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S.A.M.E. (Social
Action for Marriage Equality)
Wednesday, March 7,
7pm at Open Arms MCC
Contact Bess W for
information
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Pot Luck and Games
Night
Saturday, March 10 at
6pm
Mardi Gras Food Theme
Any questions, ask
Lonnie
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The Many Faces of
Spirituality - Adult Sunday School
Sundays 9:30am (Don't
forget Daylight Savings - set your clock ahead Saturday night)
Presented by Lu
Johnson, Clergy Candidate
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Deacon's Corner:
Yo God...turn up the
heat!
It sure doesn't feel like Spring is coming...it feels like
Winter is starting not ending...enough already, please.
I know, I know...I am grateful for the warm coat I have and
the clean bed to crawl into....for the roof over my head and
the hot meal on the table...I am blessed many times over.
But I am tired of the cold and blowing snow.
I am weary of driving on ice and snow.
I am exhausted from shoveling over and over again.
I am drained in body, mind and soul.
Just as Spring brings life back to a sleeping Earth,
so too does it awaken and refresh my being.
During this Lenten season of self evaluation,
I am comforted in knowing, the coldness within will warm,
short days will become longer, snow will turn to grass,
and my spirit will be lifted up on that Easter morning.
God, THINK SPRING! - amen
Deacon Debbie
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Pastor's Reflection:
Pastor's Reflection:
Continuing in our lenten
journey of inner exploration, let's consider today how we speak to
ourselves. On Sunday we sang one of my favorite hymns "I will change your
name." Here's what it says, in God's voice:
I will change your
name
You shall no longer be called
Wounded outcast lonely or afraid
I will change your name
Your new name shall be
Confidence joyfulness overcoming one
Faithfulness friend of God
One who seeks My face
We learned from
childhood to hear the voices of others and, often, to form our opinions of
ourselves based on what others told us. If people gave us negative messages
such as "stupid, ugly, fat, worthless, incompetent", it might have happened
that we absorbed those ideas into our concepts of ourselves and also in how
we speak to ourselves. If our churches or temples did the same in a
religious way, we might have absorbed "abomination, unlovable, damned,
unworthy." In Lent, we are looking at our relationships and often we forget
to look at ourselves in the process. How we relate to ourselves has a lot
to do with how we see the world. For some, it is a hostile, lonely,
unfriendly place, filled with traps and snares. For others, it is a
beautiful friendly place in which they find acceptance and success. For
most, it's mixed. Too many of us carry a voice that asks "what will people
think" of me? Do we remember to ask "what do I think of me?" We say that
God loves us just the way we are. Do we do as good a job as God in loving
ourselves.
The words of the hymn
say that in God's presence, we will no longer be called "lonely, outcast,
wounded or afraid." We no longer have to be called whatever demeaning or
hurtful names we call ourselves when no one's listening. We will, with God
in us, be called "Confidence joyfulness overcoming one, Faithfulness friend
of God, One who seeks God's face." We can see ourselves as beautiful, we
can see ourselves as able; in short, we can see ourselves as God sees us and
we can love ourselves as God loves us.
The way we talk to
ourselves is basic to our ability to overcome shame and fear and loneliness
and unhappiness. During this lent, that kind of change is available to
us. Today that kind of change is available to us because God changes our
names. God gives us a name closer than sons and daughters. Claim your
name, talk to yourself with love and respect.
Rev. Jim
=================================================
Interested in Whitewater Rafting? Email Ray
at so he can start planning an adventurous weekend for late April/Early May
when the rivers are running high.
Cabin Camping at Letchworth - March 23-25. If
you are signed up for this trip, the money for cabin rental is due. See Ray
if you haven't signed up but are interested in going.
Choir rehearsal is held every Tuesday at
6:45pm.
February potluck and games night was
a success. The next game night will be Sat. March 10 at 6pm. The theme
will be Mardi Gras. Any questions, contact Lonnie
Terry & Terry are finished collecting info
for the new directory. If you have any changes or additions, please email
Terry K immediately if not sooner. The directories should be ready by
March 18.
The Women’s Softball team is forming.
Interested? See Donna T or Bess W. Games will be on Wednesday
nights beginning on May 2 at Henrietta Town Park.
“The Many Faces Of Spirituality, a Lenten
Sunday School will be taught by Lu Johnson. The 6 week study is held each
Sunday at 9:30am. All are welcome.
The HIV/AIDS ministry, The Living Room, will
meet the first Tuesday of every month. This is for those diagnosed with the
virus as well as friends, families, caregivers, partners & spouses or anyone
else who are touched by the virus. It’s a safe and confidential group for
sharing and support. See Bill V, Deacon Gene, or Patrick F if interested
=====================================================
For those who are out of work or are seeking to change or
find jobs
For those who travel on treacherous roads
For our service men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan that
they come home safely,and for their families who worry daily.
For the people of Iraq who die by the thousands in senseless
sectarian violence
For an end to the Iraq war and homecoming for our troops
For peace wherever there is war
For peace in our hearts and homes
For harmony in relationships and the skills to overcome
obstacles.
For those who are afflicted by HIV/AIDS and those who love
them
For peace in the city of Rochester and for kindness and
compassion on the part of city and county leaders
That we each have the courage to grow personally and in
community
For those who deal with cancer and those who treat them and
those who support them.
==================================================================================
Until next time oremus pro invicem (let us
pray for one another)
Rev. Jim
If you would like to be removed from this
mailing list, please send an email with the word “unsubscribe” in the
subject
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March 14, 2007
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Deacon's Corner:
Yo God, it's a boy!
Carter William comes into this world kicking and screaming.
Once again we are blessed with the wonder of life.
This little miracle, eyes filled with wonder and tiny hands
that grab hold of his world... he is indeed a gift from God.
He carries the middle name of his great uncle and that of his father.
A name that often brings tears as we remember our Bill.
Carter William the world awaits you...
I pray that my generation will leave you a healthy earth.
I pray that my generation will leave you a world in peace.
I pray that my generation will leave you a world of acceptance.
God, may the work from my hands, the actions of my decisions, and
the depth of my faith and love bring these blessings to all God's children.
Amen
============================================================
Pastor's Reflection:
Tonight, I'm a bit tired
so I don't have a lot of focus in me so I'll ramble with you a little bit.
This weekend is St.
Patrick's Day - an excuse for partying and excess alcohol consumption. A
far cry from the spirit of who Patrick was. He was a charismatic preacher
and a gifted teacher. He drew people to Christianity. And, of course, he
wasn't Irish. So, how did he become such a symbol for excess? I don't have
the answer except to say that the Irish don't do anything half way. In
fact, we Irish like to say that on St. Patrick's Day EVERYONE wants to be
Irish. And a piece of trivia: the Lebanese Maronite Christians are called
"the Irish of the East." Why? Again, I have no idea.
But, back to our
thoughts of Lent. We've decided that we're not about giving up things this
year but rather about focusing on all the kinds of relationship in our
lives. We looked at how we talk to ourselves and how we relate to
ourselves. Then we looked at our ideas about God and how we humans have
created God in our image. We have made God into a sort of more powerful
human with all the bad qualities that humans have. We've made God a He in
our talk. We read of this image of God killing humans when they displease
him or bringing bad fortune to them. We've seen Him deciding that all the
men, women and children in an area be slaughtered - thus condoning ethnic
cleansing. We talk about God as though we can define and limit who/what God
is. And then we become comfortable with the image of God we've created. If
we can define and delimit God, that's not God. We've considered how Jesus
taught us how to approach God and how Jesus considered religious law far
less important than relationships. He went as far as to reduce the whole
teaching into two parts: Love the Lord Your God with your whole heart and
mind and soul and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. And after
Jesus taught that, the church found a way to reincorporate law into every
aspect of church life and has often tried to limit the role of the Spirit.
We still have a few
weeks to consider all our relationships with humans. Our parents, our
siblings, our neighbors, our co-workers, our friends, and all the other
circles we travel in. That's a lot of work. Lent has been really
meaningful for me this year, getting right down to the essence of myself and
examining all these aspects of myself and my life with God and in
community. I hope you have been able to do some of this work, too. Until
we really know who we are in all these relationships, we won't really know
who we are.
Rev. Jim
P.S. How is your prayer
life? Do you talk to God or rest in the presence of God on a daily basis?
Do you seriously consider the prayer requests from Sunday morning worship
services and from the E-link?
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Prayer Requests:
For continued healing
for Maria's arm after a procedure to remove hardware
For those who are out of
work and seeking jobs, or for those who need to find new jobs
For those who suffer any
form of depression and those who support them
For those who deal with
cancer and those who treat them and support them
For our Social Justice
Team who are working tirelessly to further the cause of marriage equality.
For Linda who has
relocated to Michigan and Billy who is about to relocate to Arizona
For the leaders of our
Region 3, the Rev. Elder Arlene Ackerman and for our Moderator, Rev. Elder
Nancy L. Wilson and for all the Elders and leaders and pastors of our
denomination
For the Episcopal church
as the Bishops deliberate on the ultimatum of the Anglican Primates, that
they will have the courage to continue to support full inclusion of LGBT
people in the Episcopal church in spite of threats of reducing their status
within the Anglican Communion.
For those who suffer
with addiction
For those of our members
who are snow birds: Karen and Patsy, Beth and Sherry.
=================================================
Cabin Camping at
Letchworth: March 23 to 26. There are still a few slots open. If you have
signed up, please contact Ray if you haven't paid . If you would like to
go, please contact Ray. On Saturday, all are welcome to join the camping
group for hiking and activities.
Interested in Whitewater
Rafting? Email Ray at so he can start planning an adventurous weekend for
late April/Early May when the rivers are running high.
Choir rehearsal is held
every Tuesday at 6:45pm Please note the time change.
If you'd like to make a
$10.00 donation for Easter Sunday flowers either in memory or in honor of
someone, please see Lu Johnson. All donations must be received by Palm
Sunday.
The next board meeting
will be on Friday, April 14 at 6pm. Board meetings are public.
The HIV/AIDS ministry
will meet the first Tuesday of every month at t7:30. The next meeting will
be on April 3. This is for those diagnosed with the virus as well as
friends, families, caregivers, partners & spouses or anyone else who are
touched by the virus. It’s a safe and confidential group for sharing and
support. See Bill V, Deacon Gene, or Patrick F if interested.
If you would like to
help provide snacks for Fellowship Hour after church, please sign up on the
sheet posted downstairs. Thank you!
The Women’s Softball team is forming. Interested? See Donna T or Bess W.
Games will be on Wednesday nights beginning on May 2 at Henrietta Town
Park.
“The Many Faces Of
Spirituality, a Lenten Sunday School is being taught by Lu Johnson. The 6
week study is held each Sunday at 9:30am. All are welcome.
=======================================================
Until next time oremus pro invicem (let us
pray for one another)
Rev. Jim
If you would like to be removed from this
mailing list, please send an email with the word “unsubscribe” in the
subject
#######################################
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Open
Arms Metropolitan Community Church
740
Marshall Road Rochester, NY 14624 585-271-8478
E-link
March 21, 2007 |
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Holy Week
Palm Sunday is April
1st.
Holy Thursday, April 5: Christian Seder at 7pm
at Open Arms MCC
Good Friday, April 6: joint worship with Tawa
Pano at their church at 7pm (Tawa Pano is at the
corner of Caroline St. and South Ave. #758 South
Ave. Near Equal Grounds)
Easter Sunday, April 8: Worship at 11am followed
by Easter Brunch coordinated by Chef Karen L.
The camping trip this weekend has 6 open spots.
If you want to come please do. There will not be
any fee for
you, I just do not want to waste the space. It
is
going to be a glorious weekend. Come out and
have some fun, some rest, and take some time to
reflect on life. Please call me or email me.
Choir rehearsal is on Tuesdays at 6:45pm.
Easter flower donations are $10 in memory of or
in honor of loved ones. Money is due to Lu
Johnson by April 1.
Next HIV/AIDS ministry is Tuesday, April 3 at
7pm at Open Arms.
The next Board meeting is on April 13 at 6pm.
The Terrys have completed printing the
directories. Please pick up yours after church
on Sunday if you have not done so.
Adult Sunday School is being taught by Lu
Johnson. Sunday at 9:30am.
The pastor is preparing a worship survey that
will only take a few minutes to complete.
Please reply immediately when you receive it in
email. It's our way of keeping worship fresh
and relevant.
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Deacon's Corner:
Yo
God...sometimes I forget.
Sometimes I forget that we are more than just Open
Arms MCC.
Sometimes I overlook that we are part of God's
bigger picture.
We are in 22 countries and 229 churches world wide.
Sometimes I neglect to remember that we are often
the only voice of God's love. We are the voice of
hope and freedom in many places around the world.
Sometimes I forget that being gay is a crime and
punished by death in some places. We are God's
people who demand a world of equality and justice.
Sometimes I fail to see the work of our leaders, a
team who's vision is "The Team that Beats
with One Heart." as they guide us today and
into tomorrow.
Sometimes I forget our history.... from Tory's first
worship service, to our day at the National
Cathedral... from those who died in our churches, to
those who are born into the family of MCC... from a
vision that thought we would someday go back home to
mainline churches, to a denomination that has become
our home and is changing the world. God let me
remember in action, deed, and prayer all of MCC.
God let me pray for those who lead us beyond just
Rochester but into the world. God let me remember to
pray in thanksgiving those who give back what God
has given to them.
Yo God, remind me often of what Rev Cindi Love
shared with us in her 2006 year end review ...
You are generous because of
your faith.
Your kindness has so
often refreshed the hearts of God's people.
-Philemon 1:6-7
Amen.
Deacon Debbie
Pastor's Reflection: |
Today is the first day of
spring. The days are noticeably getting longer. The sun is
shining more and we can feel its warmth. The birds are
singing and courting and flocking to the feeders. The birds
who flew south for the winter have come home to raise their
young. The bears are coming out of hibernation.
And so are we. We are trying
to shake of the torpor of winter. We delight in having to
squint because the sun is so bright. Can we grab the hope
that comes with spring? Can we continue our lenten practice
of reflecting on our relationships and renew them? Can we
claim the new life in Christ, the new creation, that is
promised to us? Of course we can. But will we? Will we
move forward in hope and new life or will we insist on
carrying forward all the baggage that has weighed us down
for so long. Will we accept the healing of God's spring
into new life or will we continue practices learned in toxic
relationships and let them poison our present
relationships? Will we realize that we can't put God into a
comprehensible box or will we let God be God? Will we keep
believing all the harmful bad teaching that we may have
received about God and who and how God is or who God will
love or reject? Or will we open ourselves completely to God
and each other to bring the new life of spring into our
hearts? Every single day we wake up and draw breath is a
new opportunity to get it right. Let's do just that.
Rev. Jim
Prayer Requests:
Deb C.'s nephew who is being
monitored for a heart condition.
For those who are seeking
jobs
For those who are lonely or
depressed
For those who are sick or who
are having surgery that they will heal quickly
For those who deal with
cancer and those who support them
For our troops in war zones
and their family at home
For an end to war and the
establishment of universal peace
For the leaders of our church
and our region and our denomination
For political leaders the
world over
Until next time oremus pro invicem (let us pray for one
another)
Rev. Jim
If you would like to be
removed from this mailing list, please send an email with
the word “unsubscribe” in the subject
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E-link
for March 30, 2007 |
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Deacon's Corner
Yo God, it's only a truck,
yet I am saddened. She has been like an old friend to me
for the past twelve years. Now, almost sputtering her
last breath she has been traded in.
I remember driving in so many gay parades. From pulling
Nona's Ark to the garden of Adam & Steve, to the rainbow
horse with pink and black triangles. I remember helping
so many folks move stuff.... beds, tables, sofa's, all
their worldly goods. I became really good at packing and
tying things down. This old truck helped move the Church
three times.
From one new home to the next, always praying that the
stained-glass window survived. Her tailgate became my
billboard, stickers for Equal Marriage, Buffalo Bills,
Real Woman Drive Trucks, Spitzer for Governor, rainbow
flags and more. I have cried, laughed, and sung at the
top of my lungs in that truck.
God, it's only a truck, yet I am sadden
as I say good-bye. Amen
Deacon Debbie
Pastor's Reflection
I'm two days late writing
the e-link this week. My usual writing time is Tuesday
evening but I was tied up in meetings this week so I put
it off. Then Wednesday was busy, then Thursday.
Fortunately, I almost always have Friday mornings free
to be able to catch up.
On Monday, I visited my
urologist and had a phone call from my primary care
physician. As you know, the numbers we watch are PSA
which indicates progression of the prostate cancer.
Three months ago, the number was 0.5 and this time it
was 1.69. That's still low but it shouldn't be rising
at all. If the number reaches 10, I will have to
seriously consider resumption of hormone deprivation
therapy. So, my friends, please keep praying that I
don't reach that number. My primary care physician told
me that my anemia is greatly improved. That explains
why I've been feeling more energetic.
On Sunday, Palm Sunday,
also called Passion Sunday, we begin our High Holy
Days. On Sunday, instead of our usual scripture
readings, we will have a dramatic reading of the gospel
account of the last days of Jesus. On Thursday, we will
have a Christian Seder. It is commonly thought that the
Eucharist (holy communion) was established by Jesus at
the Last Supper commemorated on Holy Thursday. That
Last Supper took place in the context of the Seder meal
for the observance of Passover. It is good for us to
remember our spiritual roots in the Hebrew tradition.
On Good Friday, we will
once again join with Tawa Pano to observe the events
surrounding the death of Jesus on the cross. Tawa Pano
is a congregation serving LGBT people of color. To join
our resources strengthens both of us. This year, we
will go to their church at 758 South Ave (on the corner
of South and Caroline St.) for a 7pm service.. It is
near Equal Grounds and I'm sure several people will go
to Equal Grounds for Fellowship after the service.
I called Holy Week our
"High Holy Days". The central mysteries of our faith
are remembered this week and it's important that we make
time for prayer and reflection both alone and with our
faith community.
If you are going to
attend the seder on Holy Thursday, April 5, please email
(oamcc@frontiernet.net)
to let us know. Because it's a ritual meal, we have to
know how much to prepare. Thanks.
Rev. Jim
Prayer Requests
For those seeking
jobs or needing to change jobs
For Joe
For our small
group ministries
For an attitude
of serenity during Holy Week services
For a
right-ordering of all our relationships
For the ability
to ask forgiveness where needed and to grant it where
needed
For the grace to
leave the past behind with its hurts and resentments
For the leaders
of our denomination, our region, our church, our
community
For denominations
which struggle with full inclusion
For equal rights
for LGBT citizens
For those who
deal with cancer and those who support them
Until next time,
oremus pro invicem (let us pray for one another)
If you would
like to be removed from this mailing list, please send
an email to
oamcc@frontiernet.net
with the word "Unsubscribe" as the subject line. |
Holy Week
Services:
Holy Thursday, April 5, 7pm Christian Seder
Service
Good Friday, April 6, 7pm join service atTawa
Pano at 758 South Ave.
Easter Sunday,
April 8, 11am. Service will be followed by
Easter Brunch coordinated by Chef Karen Lasky
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Adult Sunday
School 9:30am
Lu Johnson has been teaching The Many
Faces of Spirituality for the last several
weeks. There IS Sunday School on April 1st but
NOT on Easter, April 8. Lu will continue
classes after Easter beginning April 15.
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HIV/AIDS
Ministry
The Living Room will meet on
April 3 at 7pm in the Fellowship Hall. Contact
Patrick, Gene or Bill for information. |
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Equality and
Justice Day - May 1st in Albany
Join hundreds of New
Yorkers who will be traveling to Albany to help
win marriage equality, transgender
non-discrimination protections, safe schools for
LGBT youth, and more funding for our community’s
health and human services needs. Please sign up
by April 8th. See Bess Watts if interested.
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Donations
for Easter Flowers
If you would like to
donate $10 for Easter flowers in memory of or in
honor of someone, please do so by Sunday, April
1. |
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The next
Open Arms MCC Board meeting is on
Friday, April 13 at 6pm. In order to speak, you
must be on the agenda. |
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This page Last updated/ reviewed on:
March, 2007 By:.
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