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E-Link
The Weekly newsletter of Open Arms Church
Highlights from the June 2006 edition's:
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Open
Arms Metropolitan Community Church
E-link June 27, 2007 |
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Pastor's Reflection
I love family reunions. The first time I
brought Paul to one of mine, he almost left me. The second
time, he was the life of the party. My family is a loud and
raucous lot, with lots of kidding. Someone's feelings seem
to always get hurt and there's a lot of making up.
Ultimately, the crew gathers around the table and everyone
manages to have a really good time and when we all head to
our respective homes, we are delighted to have attended.
We all delight in the interaction of the next generation:
all the nieces and nephews who love getting together. We
tell our family stories: my personal favorite is about my
grandnephew, Reid. When he was about 4, my niece, Pam,
brought him so he could see snow. We had a wonderful time
together and he was enchanted by my Golden Retriever,
Brewster. One evening, she was going to give him a bath and
I suggested that she use some Dead Sea Bath Salts that I had
received as a gift and was probably never going to use. I
went about my business and then stopped into the bathroom to
see how they were doing. The bath water was bright blue! I
quickly realized that she had grabbed the Miracle Grow
instead of the bath salts. We snatched him out of the tub
and rinsed him off several times. Now, at almost 15, he is
six foot two, 197 pounds and packed with muscle from weight
lifting to prepare for high school football. Family legend
says that the miracle grow caused this growth. I love
family reunions and family stories. They draw us closer
together.
Several Open Arms members are
travelling to Arizona to take part in our denominational
family reunion. It will contain all the dynamics that our
blood families contain. There are "cousins" who don't get
along for one reason or another; there will be slights,
real or imagined; there will be great joy at seeing long
distant brothers and sisters. And all will be well when we
join for meals and, especially, for worship. When a
thousand voices join in song and prayer, the walls shake,
the Spirit moves, and we are all reminded why we are church.
Wherever we go, we bring ourselves
with us. The selves that are balanced and the selves that
are conflicted - all within the same body. We bring our
strengths and our weaknesses, our faults and our virtues.
And whoever we are and however we are get embraced and loved
at our family reunion. Because "home is where, when you go
there, they have to take you in." (Robert Frost)
And when we return from General
Conference, we will bring with us the excitement and the
love and the greetings from our brothers and sisters and
cousins and aunts and uncles from all over the world.
I love family reunions.
Rev. Jim
Deacon's Corner
Yo God,
In just four days I will be
at a life changing event.
How can one not be changed
when gathering with hundreds of people of faith.
To surround oneself with MCC
church people will be uplifting.
The music, the workshops, the
worship, the conversations....all a gift from You.
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To see old friends and make
new ones from around the world.
To see history in the making
as we do the business of this Fellowship.
To be challenged and
stretched in my faith as we become more and more
inclusive of Your people.
God, I pray for safe travel
for all.
I pray for wisdom and
understanding within the Clergy house and the Laity house.
I prayer that our Elders and
leaders hear the voices of Your people.
I also pray that they always
hear Your gentle loving voice.
In just four days I will be
at a life changing event...
"God is good...all the time."
Amen-
Deacon
Debbie
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 with
the subject line "Unsubscribe"
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Lu's ordination is on
July 29. There will be a barbeque in her honor on
July 28 at 6pm at church. Rev. Elder Arlene
Ackerman and Rev. Delores Berry and her partner,
Judy Kisor, will join us for worship. Lu's mother
will also be with us. |
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Women's Softball
The next game is June 27 at 6pm at Henrietta Town
Park, Field 3
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Prayer Requests:
Renee asks prayers for Karen who
is suffering from a back problem and a viral
respiratory illness
Please hold in prayer those
who will be traveling to General Conference this
week.
Keep David E in your prayers
as he settles in Albany, Georgia.
Keep Ray in your prayers as he
works at a Christian camp with inner city youth in
Michigan. Send him an email or a care package would
be even better.
Terry K is recuperating well
from knee surgery.
Rebecca is recovering from
surgery, putting us all to shame with her exercise
program.
Daniel F is recuperating from
surgery at home.
Some of our members are
suffering depression
Some people are out of work.
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Pride Parade is July 14.
Contact Rebecca if you want to work on the float.
Pride Worship is July 15
at Genesee Valley Park at 11. There will be no
worship at church on July 15. If you bring your
Open Arms offering to Pride Worship, please put it
in an envelope clearly marked "Open Arms"
Rev. Deb Roof, soon to
be Steve's ministry supervisor, will be preaching.
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Open
Arms Metropolitan Community Church
E-link June 20, 2007 |
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Pastor's Reflection
Did you ever have a day that was so good
that if you died at the end of it you'd have no regrets? I
had one of those days today. When the alarm went off at
4:10am, I wasn't so sure. My comment to Paul when I came in
from walking the dog was "there aren't supposed to be
fireflies flashing when I take the dog for his morning
walk!" We left shortly afterwards to get to Highland
Hospital to pray over Rebecca before her surgery. Debbie
Krusemark beat us to the hospital! We sat with Jessica
while Rebecca was in surgery and only left when she was in
her room. The surgery went very well and later today,
Rebecca insisted that she get out of bed to walk. She
walked laps around the unit - 18 laps - which equals 2/3 of
a mile. On the day of her surgery! That's determination.
At 6pm, I had the incredible honor of
conducting the funeral of a remarkable 25 year old. The
funeral home was so full they had to set up a second room
with a television for the overflow crowd to watch the
service. Story after story was told about him. I never
saw so many pierced youngsters in one place. There were
tears and laughter. It was a wonderful opportunity to
recognize that this young man had created a community around
him. What a gift that service was to reinforce that faith
is not to prevent bad things from happening but to
strengthen us for the unpredictable journey and to teach us
to lean as well as be leaned on.
That was my day. On the way home, I
got further inspiration when I talked to John who was at
church doing the books - as he has been doing for 26 years
and then to Jessica who was so delighted and relieved to
have Rebecca safe and her church family around her. And
Rebecca's mother, Susie, in Texas, could rest easy knowing
that we love and care for her little girl.
And to top it all off, I walked into
the house at 8:30 to find that Paul had prepared supper. It
just doesn't get any better than this.
.Rev. Jim
Deacon's Corner
Yo God,
I'm sitting here gently
rocking in our new tree swing.
The pups are resting at my
feet. There is a soft breeze kissing my cheek.
The tender sounds of summer
play in my ears.
I feel You sitting right next
to me God.
Tenderly swinging back and
forth to the heartbeat of the earth.
Your Spirit is so strong that
tears come to my eyes.
How can I put into words this
moment of love?
How can I share with others
that You are alive?
How can I not?
God, thank you for this
moment together.
I know that there are many
such moments to share with You.
All I need to do is take the
time to be with You...
...for You are always with
me. Amen
Deacon
Debbie
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 with
the subject line "Unsubscribe"
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GENDA
With two days left to the regular legislative
session, it is important to continue the fight for
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality and
justice. It’s wrong for an employee to be fired
because he doesn't act masculine enough for the
boss, or for a tenant to be evicted from an
apartment when the landlord finds out she lives her
life in a gender different from the sex she was
assigned at birth. That’s why
New York needs the Gender
Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) (A.6584 /
S.3752). The Assembly has yet to vote on this
important bill. It also has over 70 Assembly
co-sponsors, and mirrors similar laws passed in 13
other states. Call your Assemblymember in these
remaining hours of session and urge him or her to go
to Assembly Speaker Silver and ask that GENDA be
brought to a vote before the entire Assembly.
If you want to make two calls, call the Speaker’s
office directly and say that you want to see GENDA
brought to a vote before the Assembly concludes its
business this week.
To find your assemblymember’s contact information
visit or if you’re not sure who your assemblymember
is, visit:
http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/
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Women's Softball
The next game is June 27 at 6pm at Henrietta Town
Park, Field 3
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Prayer Requests:
Jackie and Lee are sad over the
loss of their smallest puppy.
Keep Ray in your prayers as he
works at a Christian camp with inner city youth in
Michigan. Send him an email or a care package would
be even better.
Linny is apartment hunting.
Keep her in your prayers.
Small Michele is recovering
from a nasty cold-type thing.
Terry Kelly is recuperating
from knee surgery.
Rebecca is recovering from
surgery.
Daniel Fisher has surgery
tomorrow.
Some of our members are
suffering depression
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Open
Arms Metropolitan Community Church
E-link June 13, 2007 |
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Pastor's Reflection
Sometimes it seems that the world
spins faster and faster. My prayers for things to slow
down don't get answered. Instead I hear God telling me
"Dance faster!" I say, "But God, I'm dancing as fast as
I can." And I hear God telling me, "Dance faster!" I
say, "But God, I can't" And I hear God say, "Of course
you can. Did you think you were dancing alone? Did you
forget I was your dance partner? Did you forget that
you can do whatever I need you to do? Did you forget
that you not only have Me, you also have an incredible
community around you." I said "OK, God, I'll dance
faster."
Such a whirlwind is our life!
Things happen so fast in our lives and in our church
that if you blink you'll miss it.
I was delighted to announce last
week that Lu Johnson will be ordained on July 29 and
that the church will have a catered barbeque in honor of
Lu's Texas roots on Saturday July 28 at 6pm. Don't
forget to put that on your calendar. It will take place
at church.
Steve will have his last Sunday
with us also on July 29 before he goes off to do his
seminary field placement at Lakeville UCC. Steve will
be preaching on July 22.
Gene will also be doing his
seminary field placement starting at the beginning of
August, also at a UCC church.
We are searching for a new
pianist. Two persons have signified interest so far.
General Conference is coming
soon. Several people will be away for conference. Paul
and I will go out a few days early to do three days of
sight-seeing before conference starts. Deacon Renee
will be preaching on the one Sunday I will be away -
July 1.
The parking lot will have work
done on Tuesday, June 19. The potholes will be
repaired, cracks will be filled, the whole parking lot
will be sealed and lines for parking spots will be
repainted.
Rebecca will have her surgery on
the 20th.
Songbook Sunday will be July 22.
Get your suggestions for show tunes in by this Sunday
(email
oamcc@frontiernet.net).
These and other things are why I'm
dancing so fast. With my hand in God's I find that I
can dance way faster than I thought I could.
Rev.
Jim
Deacon's Corner
Yo
God,
Babies, babies and more babies.
God, if I ever doubt Your being, I just need to hold a
baby.
How can one look into their eyes and not see Your love?
How can one have their small hand clasp your finger and
not know of Your creation?
How can one touch their soft skin and not know of Your
gentle being?
How can one hold this small bundle of life and not know
of a Spirit of great life?
God, when I hold a small child remind me to be a person
of love.
God, when a child clasps my hand, remind me to be gentle
with Your creations.
God, when I touch a small child or the child in each of
us, remind me that Your are that child.
God, when I see life around me, those that are lost,
those that are hungry, those that give as well as take,
remind me, that You live within each of them. That You
call each of us out to be the babies as well as the
adults in this world. For each of us needs to be cared
for and to take care of the light of love You place
within each of our souls. Amen
Deacon Debbie
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 with the subject line "Unsubscribe"
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Women's Softball
The game is June 13 at 6pm
at Henrietta Town Park, Field 3
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Terry Kelly
Terry Kelly had knee replacement
surgery on Tuesday. She came through the
surgery very well and is getting excellent care
at Highland Hospital. She would welcome short
visits. They expect her to go home on Friday.
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One of our members is going
through a rough time and asks the prayers of the
congregation as the hard work of life-sorting
happens. |
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Our old friend and former
member, Daniel Fisher, who now lives in Atlanta,
asks prayers as he has some facial
reconstruction surgery on June 21st. |
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Mari Lou Lall is hospitalized
after having a stroke. She also is in renal
failure. Melody asks for your prayers.
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Other Prayer Requests:
Steve Freedman is still
asking prayers for his tooth.
Anthony asks prayers and
says "A gulf war vet, very hard working, lost
his job today. He is dealing with a lot,
including a conviction for a crime he commited
as a young man. He is also dealing with post
war trauma. It is very hard for him to find
work, and he is feeling hopeless. He is so
afraid to be homeless again, and said he would
rather be dead than go out on the streets
again. He needs to know that he is valued, and
he needs a job. The VA has been useless. He
has a 10 year old son as well. Thanks."
Keep Pete Fedele and
Cheryl Fellows in your prayers as they bike
across the country.
Keep Ray in your prayers
as he works at a Christian camp with inner city
youth in Michigan.
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Adult Sunday
School has finished. There will be another
series in the fall. |
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Labyrinth Walk with
Lu Johnson. Wednesday, June 13 at 5pm at Asbury
First United Methodist Church on East Ave. |
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Open
Arms Metropolitan Community Church
E-link June 6, 2007 |
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Pastor's Reflection
My wonderful old truck
with 311,056 miles retired with honors today. I am now
driving a used Hyundai Sonata. It feels strange. I've
always seen myself as a pickup driver. I have some
adjusting to do!
Today, June 5, is the 40th
anniversary of the Six Day War in the Middle East. I
arrived in Baghdad a month after the war when antipathy
towards Americans was at its height. Even with the
aftermath of that war, Baghdad was a much safer place
then than it is now. Please keep all the people of the
Middle East in your prayers. I just heard from my best
friend, John and his wife Clare and son Giorgio, who all
live in Beirut where John is a professor at American
University. I pray daily for their safety.
Worship last Sunday was
wonderful. Our new troupe, The Open Arms Odyssey
Players - or OAOP, performed for the first time. They
did their skit in the place of the first reading.
Anthony introduced the players, Chris and Paul acted,
Jessica interspersed a reading from Acts. It was well
done and powerful. We look forward to many more
appearances by OAOP.
We had a visitor from MCC
Toronto. She was blown away by our worship and said she
had a spiritual experience. She felt that God brought
her to Open Arms on Sunday and will find a way to have
her come back to help us learn about a program called
"Creating a Life That Matters." Ironically, tall
Michelle (who at retreat wished she were taller!) became
interested in that program when she heard about it at
regional conference in Pittsburgh last November. I've
heard that coincidence is God's way of remaining
anonymous. Hmmm....
After the sermon, Michelle
and Paul sang A New Day Has Come. As always,
the congregation was delighted with their performance.
Worship is a powerful act
anywhere. It has become especially so for us. One of
the exercises that Rev. Rick Danielson had us do as a
wrap-up exercise involved taking a ball of string. The
first person said something new learned during retreat
then threw the ball but still held onto the string. The
next person did the same. At the end, there was a web
of string joining us. It was a visual way to see the
connections between us. I've often felt that I can see
those lines of connection that run among us during
worship on Sunday, not only in our boisterous community
greeting, but throughout worship and fellowship
afterwards. We are truly blessed.
Rev.
Jim
Deacon's Corner is not here
this week because of a technical difficulty. She sent
her column, Yo God, but it didn't get to me. She will
resend it for next week.
Bill Van Tassel has settled into his
new life in Arizona. He loves it so far. He'd like to
hear from his Open Arms family. His address:
Bill Van Tassel, 7045 North 7th Street #256,
Phoenix, AZ 85020
David Eitemiller has arrived in Albany, Georgia. It
was a gruesome trip down by himself. Driving the
moving truck, towing his van, unloading himself was
a real test of his strength. He misses us all and
would love to hear from you:
David Eitemiller
539 North Westover Blvd. #1202
Albany, GA 3170
Phone: (229) 594-4615
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 with the subject line "Unsubscribe"
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Women's Softball
The game is June 6, 7:15pm,
Henrietta Town Park #4
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Church Retreat
Thanks to all who attended
church retreat last Saturday. We had 29 in
attendance. Rev. Rick Danielson did a wonderful
job leading us through the day and we had fun
and ate a lot and got to know one another
better. It all works to the good of the
church. Ripples upon ripples upon ripples.
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Susan Tyson has been in
Highland Hospital. Please keep her in your
prayers for a speedy recovery and a quick return
to Open Arms. |
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Please keep Lu
Johnson in your prayers. She will
travel to Lancaster, PA on Thursday evening to
have her ordination interview on Friday.
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Ray and Lonnie have scheduled
a Church cookout picnic for
June 9th,at the church at 6pm. This is our
monthly potluck and games night. Contact Lonnie
(scilon777@yahoo.com)
or Ray (elyonsboy@yahoo.com)
for info. |
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Prayers:
For those about to
undergo surgery, that they will heal quickly.
For Steve's
abscessed tooth that the dentist can find a way
to save the tooth and that Steve will heal
quickly.
Keep LGBT people
in Jamaica, in Moldova and in all the places
where MCC is working to encourage acceptance and
equality.
For those who are
seeking jobs
For those who
suffer depression
For those who deal
with cancer
In Thanksgiving
for God's many and continual blessings
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Adult Sunday
School has finished. There will be another
series in the fall. |
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Labyrinth Walk with
Lu Johnson. Wednesday, June 13 at 5pm at Asbury
First United Methodist Church on East Ave. |
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This page Last updated on: June, 2007 By:
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