Weekly Recap October 4, 2016 from ProgressiveChristianity.org of Gig Harbor, Washington, United States "Can a minister also be an atheist? This and more in our Free Weekly Recap of our most viewed and new resources from last week." for Tuesday, 4 October 2016
Last Week At ProgressiveChristianity.org ...We delved into the topics of: Fighting racism with love, Water has memory, Atheism and Youth.
Visit our website to join in on the discussion and to view our thousands of spiritual resources!
We are entirely reader supported, please support us today.
ProgressiveChristianity.org is a global portal for authors, scholars, theologians and liturgists to share their resources for the progressive spiritual journey. 
Fighting with love
Rabbi BrianI’m sitting in my garage. I’m shaken. Anti-Semitic and racist hate was written on the driveway outside my garage door this morning.
It’s 3 1/2 hours later.
The enormity of what I have seen is catching up to me.
I’m sitting on a stool. Typing out this message on my phone. I’m shaken.
I was cool as a cucumber when I saw the words at 7 am. I had just left the house with the dogs to go around the block. I was talking to my sister on the phone.
“Oh, look,” I said to her off-handedly. “Anti-Semitic chalk outside my house. And some backwards swastikas.”
My sister seemed more upset than I was. But she was appropriate, taking the cue from me not to freak out.
We talked as I walked the dogs.
I texted Jane when I got back to come downstairs. I was very rational. I even joked that it was nice they used chalk as it was easy to clean up.
We decided that we wouldn’t clean it until the kids were up. We would handle hatred and erase it together. As a family.
I had an appointment to do spiritual-direction at 8, so I did. I told the man with whom I was working that I was a tiny bit distracted and I told him why. We had a great session. Talked about what God — if God were this man’s boss — might have said to him at his last “performance review.” It was insightful.
9 o’clock I come upstairs. Annie, age 7 asks me if I saw the graffiti. I tell her I did.
She tells me, “Now I know what the ‘N’ word is.”
Wow. We eat some honey-nut Cheerios together. We talk, we laugh.
Emmett is doing a jigsaw puzzle in the next room.
Sarah, who lives with us comes in the kitchen. Annie tells her about the incident. Prior to meeting us, Sarah (age 20) hasn’t known many (or possibly any) Jews. She runs to the window. She looks. She is horrified. She says, “I didn’t know people did this any more.”
I knew this happened. I just didn’t think it happened. Or that it would happen outside my house.
We all go outside. Annie uses the hose first and erases half of the offensive words and symbols. Emmett does the other half. We adorn the wet pavement with hearts and peace signs. Sarah beautifully writes out, “Love always wins.”
Neighbors join us. We speculate. Was it a local teen? We live next to a high school. Was it an adult? Our little block is diverse, an Indian family, a retired Christian woman, a Jewish family, our mixed tradition family. Did they target me as a rabbi?
Standing on the street, we feel each other’s support. Love. Solidarity.
I go back in the house and make a second breakfast. Toasted challah with cream cheese and delicious strawberry preserve. The cut up two pieces on a plate remind me of my father. I sit on the porch.
Jane has posted to Facebook earlier. I see on my phone that her thread has blown up with support.
I feel the ground slipping from me.
I was fine until now.
Now I’m scared.
I got through it. Until now.
I realize this is why I made myself the second breakfast – to stuff down the feelings. To feel something.
I text John P. He’s a pastor know through FB and a few phone calls. I text him that I could use his support. It’s after church time on the East coast where he lives. He calls.
“John,” I tell him, “what happened was random. So I needed you, who are a random pastor I know, to help combat it.”
We talk.
It helps.
There is something about the randomness of the hateful occurrence that required the randomness of a stranger’s love.
That is what helped even more than his actual words. That I know that random people will love and support me.
I know love always wins. I know
Sitting here in my garage, I know that love will win.
Hate-mongering is rampant these days. It’s pernicious at best, but probably closer to insidious. It’s appalling. It’s vicious.
We can choose to fight hate with hate. We can. But, we ought not to.
As MLK said, “Darkness cannot drive out hatred, only light can do that. Hatred cannot drive out hatred, only love can do that.”
Lately, in their frustration and fear, I hear people saying “I don’t know what to do.”
I will tell you what to do: Be more loving.
Randomly love. Strategically love.
Take actions that are loving. Be caught being loving. Do loving things even when no one will notice.
Be loving.
The time is now. The time has always been now and the time is now. Do not wait. You need love. I need love. Our world needs love.
What choice is there other than love?
The only way to fight back is with love.
With love,
Rabbi Brian
Visit Rabbi Brian’s website here
READ ON ...
-------
It’s 3 1/2 hours later.
The enormity of what I have seen is catching up to me.
I’m sitting on a stool. Typing out this message on my phone. I’m shaken.
I was cool as a cucumber when I saw the words at 7 am. I had just left the house with the dogs to go around the block. I was talking to my sister on the phone.
“Oh, look,” I said to her off-handedly. “Anti-Semitic chalk outside my house. And some backwards swastikas.”
My sister seemed more upset than I was. But she was appropriate, taking the cue from me not to freak out.
We talked as I walked the dogs.
I texted Jane when I got back to come downstairs. I was very rational. I even joked that it was nice they used chalk as it was easy to clean up.
We decided that we wouldn’t clean it until the kids were up. We would handle hatred and erase it together. As a family.
I had an appointment to do spiritual-direction at 8, so I did. I told the man with whom I was working that I was a tiny bit distracted and I told him why. We had a great session. Talked about what God — if God were this man’s boss — might have said to him at his last “performance review.” It was insightful.
9 o’clock I come upstairs. Annie, age 7 asks me if I saw the graffiti. I tell her I did.
She tells me, “Now I know what the ‘N’ word is.”
Wow. We eat some honey-nut Cheerios together. We talk, we laugh.
Emmett is doing a jigsaw puzzle in the next room.
Sarah, who lives with us comes in the kitchen. Annie tells her about the incident. Prior to meeting us, Sarah (age 20) hasn’t known many (or possibly any) Jews. She runs to the window. She looks. She is horrified. She says, “I didn’t know people did this any more.”
I knew this happened. I just didn’t think it happened. Or that it would happen outside my house.
We all go outside. Annie uses the hose first and erases half of the offensive words and symbols. Emmett does the other half. We adorn the wet pavement with hearts and peace signs. Sarah beautifully writes out, “Love always wins.”
Neighbors join us. We speculate. Was it a local teen? We live next to a high school. Was it an adult? Our little block is diverse, an Indian family, a retired Christian woman, a Jewish family, our mixed tradition family. Did they target me as a rabbi?
Standing on the street, we feel each other’s support. Love. Solidarity.
I go back in the house and make a second breakfast. Toasted challah with cream cheese and delicious strawberry preserve. The cut up two pieces on a plate remind me of my father. I sit on the porch.
Jane has posted to Facebook earlier. I see on my phone that her thread has blown up with support.
I feel the ground slipping from me.
I was fine until now.
Now I’m scared.
I got through it. Until now.
I realize this is why I made myself the second breakfast – to stuff down the feelings. To feel something.
I text John P. He’s a pastor know through FB and a few phone calls. I text him that I could use his support. It’s after church time on the East coast where he lives. He calls.
“John,” I tell him, “what happened was random. So I needed you, who are a random pastor I know, to help combat it.”
We talk.
It helps.
There is something about the randomness of the hateful occurrence that required the randomness of a stranger’s love.
That is what helped even more than his actual words. That I know that random people will love and support me.
I know love always wins. I know
Sitting here in my garage, I know that love will win.
Hate-mongering is rampant these days. It’s pernicious at best, but probably closer to insidious. It’s appalling. It’s vicious.
We can choose to fight hate with hate. We can. But, we ought not to.
As MLK said, “Darkness cannot drive out hatred, only light can do that. Hatred cannot drive out hatred, only love can do that.”
Lately, in their frustration and fear, I hear people saying “I don’t know what to do.”
I will tell you what to do: Be more loving.
Randomly love. Strategically love.
Take actions that are loving. Be caught being loving. Do loving things even when no one will notice.
Be loving.
The time is now. The time has always been now and the time is now. Do not wait. You need love. I need love. Our world needs love.
What choice is there other than love?
The only way to fight back is with love.
With love,
Rabbi Brian
Visit Rabbi Brian’s website here
READ ON ...
-------
Water Has Memory
Love NatureWater - just a liquid or much more? Many researchers are convinced that water is capable of “memory” by storing information and retrieving it. Research into water is just beginning.
Water — just a liquid or much more? Many researchers are convinced that water is capable of “memory” by storing information and retrieving it. The possible applications are innumerable: limitless retention and storage capacity and the key to discovering the origins of life on our planet. Research into water is just beginning.
A Word to the Spiritual Seekers
Don MurraySo, shoot the messenger is still in vogue, at least within the United Church of Canada. The minister in question is Rev. Gretta Vosper - she calls herself an atheist. Click here to sign a petition in support of Gretta.
So, shoot the messenger is still in vogue, at least within the church. We are used to hearing that Roman Catholics have been ex-communicated because they did not fit into the doctrine of the church. Conservative churches can be guilty of “shunning” – giving non-conformists the cold shoulder. But here is a committee of a liberal, inclusive, church, born out of the union of several churches, recommending that an ordained minister “be placed on the discontinued service list” – fired, defrocked. It is my own church, The United Church of Canada.
The minister in question is Rev. Gretta Vosper: a warm, highly intelligent, compassionate person supported by her congregation as an excellent pastoral minister and leader of Sunday Services. She is personally known to Emily and me, and we heartily support her congregation’s view.
The rub comes in that she calls herself an atheist. This is a statement that does not easily fit within the traditional doctrine of the church.
“Atheism” can be an often misunderstood and confusing word. For most of us who call ourselves progressive, it means that the view of God as the big-daddy-in-the-sky who is in control of things and can intervene at will is gone. We are a-theists. We do not believe in an all-controlling deity who is there to judge and condemn if we don’t toe the line. It is vaguely based on the Bible, but comes with a great variety of interpretations. Many of us were brought up believing in that deity, but our experience of life and the evolution of society has caused the demise of that image of whatever the ultimate Mystery might be.
“Atheism” can also mean that there is no creative, evolving, force behind it all. The death-of-God of the nineteen sixties leaned toward that view, as I did for a time away back then. Many who hear the word “atheism” put Gretta in that category. Anyone who reads her thoughts and her prayers knows she passionately believes that love and compassion are at the heart of everything and that a community of caring people is what is required of us.
The church has asked Gretta to reaffirm her ordination vows. This boils down to, “Do you believe in God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” Not many of us in progressive mode could affirm that statement without much discussion and interpretation. We really object to those words and can’t understand why they are still used at ordination Anyone who breathes the air of Western culture knows that to name God as father is a demonic statement. It means the support of patriarchy and the denigration of women. As Emily keeps saying, “as long as God is thought of as male there can be no equality for women.”
The church, however, finds it difficult to change. Ever since Constantine forced the church to nail down orthodoxy we have had a one-track mind as far as what we are to believe is concerned. Even the Protestant reformation didn’t change the basic story that Jesus died or our sins so that we might enjoy eternal life; which makes no sense to our understanding of how life works. Oh for the rich variety of approaches to Jesus and religion that existed in the early years of the church.
Our question to the church is “How can we grow and evolve in our experience and understanding of the Mystery of the universe if we close our ears and minds to the creative voices that push us beyond the traditional views?” We must be prepared to engage not only the thinkers in the church but also the scientists, artists and all the forces that mark our evolving culture. If we don’t, we simply hive off into a little enclave of our own and have nothing to offer the growth in consciousness and understanding that is our only hope for long-term survival.
Gretta has not yet been ousted. It is the recommendation of a committee which must be approved by the courts of the church. There is still hope. A growing movement of support for Gretta is underway. If you would like to add your name to a petition in support of Gretta,click here to go to the Petition. Join the four dissenting voices, on the committee of twenty-three, who affirmed that “the growth of our doctrine is not complete.”
READ ON ...
-------
Liturgy Selection
Youth
“Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself. They came through you but not from you and though they are with you yet they do not belong to you.” (Khalil Gibran)Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself. They came through you but not from you and though they are with you yet they do not belong to you.” (Khalil Gibran) We are the stewards of our children’s futures, not the owners. Even as we pause to say a special “thank you” to mothers and fathers, so we offer thanks for our children.
Children's Day by Claralice Wolf O God, You sent Jesus to teach us about Your love. He showed us that it included the children, whom the disciples would have turned away. Today we pray that we, too, can learn to gather them to our knees, lay our hands upon them and bless them.
O God, You sent Jesus to teach us about Your love. He showed us that it included the children, whom the disciples would have turned away. Today we pray that we, too, can learn to gather them to our knees, lay our hands upon them and bless them.“Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself. They came through you but not from you and though they are with you yet they do not belong to you.” (Khalil Gibran)Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself. They came through you but not from you and though they are with you yet they do not belong to you.” (Khalil Gibran) We are the stewards of our children’s futures, not the owners. Even as we pause to say a special “thank you” to mothers and fathers, so we offer thanks for our children.
Children's Day by Claralice Wolf O God, You sent Jesus to teach us about Your love. He showed us that it included the children, whom the disciples would have turned away. Today we pray that we, too, can learn to gather them to our knees, lay our hands upon them and bless them.
Those of us who had a happy childhood now lift up our hearts in gratitude for those blessed years of peace and security, of contentment and love. We thank you for parents who demonstrated, as far as is humanly possible, what God’s love is like. Out of our treasures of health and energy, of courage, of time, talents and money, guide us to act for children everywhere, that children who are not our own may have a better chance.
Those of us who had unhappy childhoods thank you, too. We thank you that we survived whole. Some of us suffered serious illnesses and physical pain. Use those experiences to give us patience and sympathy with all who are ill and in pain now. Some of us suffered rejection and betrayal, and sometimes still feel angry. Heal those emotional traumas in us as we reach out to help today’s children, children who are angry, who offend society because they have suffered cruelty and institutionalization. Some of us had a childhood darkened by death and loneliness. Help us to survive by reaching out to the homeless and bereft.
Help us to remember Jesus’ words, “As you did it to one of the least of these, my little ones, you did it to me.”
In the name of the one who gathered the children to his knees, laid his hands on their heads, and blessed them, Jesus, our Lord.
A Youth Prayer by Richard Holdsworth
May the sacred spirit of life’s adventure
Keep me safe when I feel afraid
Make me steadfast when I am sad
May the sacred spirit of life’s adventureMay the sacred spirit of life’s adventure
Keep me safe when I feel afraid
Make me steadfast when I am sad
Keep me safe when I feel afraid
Make me steadfast when I am sad
Restore my discretion when I get mad
Sustain my pleasure when I feel glad
For with generosity I grow in faith
By kindness I develop hope
Through patience I nurture love
From inclusion I spread peace
Even while I face disappointment
Remind me to serve those less fortunate than myself
When I encounter unfairness
Teach me how to fight for justice
From heartaches
Heal me with understanding
Bravely, may I ask honest questions
To seek wisdom
In enthusiastic exploration
NOW!© Richard Holdsworth 2012
read more
Little Children by Roger Courtney “Whosoever welcomes the littlest of these children welcomes me”
Jesus put children at the heart of his vision of the kingdom of heaven, but our society so often fails them
All: Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven belongs to little children
Whosoever welcomes the littlest of these children welcomes me”
Jesus put children at the heart of his vision of the kingdom of heaven, but our society so often fails them
All: Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven belongs to little children
Children are often left to feel they are inadequate failures
All: Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven belongs to little children
Children are often told by adults that they should be seen but not heard
All: Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven belongs to little children
Children often suffer because of a lack of love or of loving boundaries
All: Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven belongs to little children
Many children are abused by adults they trusted and we fail to protect them
All: Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven belongs to children
So many children around the world live in abject poverty
All: Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven belongs to children
Help us to put children at the heart of our lives and our vision of the future
All: Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven belongs to children
Little Children by Roger Courtney “Whosoever welcomes the littlest of these children welcomes me”
Jesus put children at the heart of his vision of the kingdom of heaven, but our society so often fails them
All: Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven belongs to little children
Whosoever welcomes the littlest of these children welcomes me”
Jesus put children at the heart of his vision of the kingdom of heaven, but our society so often fails them
All: Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven belongs to little children
Children are often left to feel they are inadequate failures
All: Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven belongs to little children
Children are often told by adults that they should be seen but not heard
All: Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven belongs to little children
Children often suffer because of a lack of love or of loving boundaries
All: Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven belongs to little children
Many children are abused by adults they trusted and we fail to protect them
All: Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven belongs to children
So many children around the world live in abject poverty
All: Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven belongs to children
Help us to put children at the heart of our lives and our vision of the future
All: Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven belongs to children
READ ON ... -------
Click on Amazon Smile and choose ProgressiveChristianity.org as your charity - when you shop Amazon donates .05%.-------
Events and Updates“A Day with James Carroll”
Join The Walter E. Ashley Memorial Lecture Series at First Congregational UCC in Henderson, N. C. - Author James Carroll on October 15, 2016 from 10:00am to 3:00pm.
“A Day with James Carroll”
The Walter E. Ashley Memorial Lecture Series
at First Congregational UCC – Hendersonville
Presents “A Day with James Carroll”
James Carroll
James Carroll is the author of eleven novels, most recently Warburg in Rome(“his most splendid work of fiction to date” – NPR); and eight works of non-fiction, most recently Christ Actually:The Son of God for the Secular Age (“at once stunningly original and strangely familiar, a testament to the power of a critical, creative faith” – Boston Globe). Other books include the National Book Award winning An American Requiem; the New York Times bestselling Constantine’s Sword, now an acclaimed documentary; House of War, which won the first PEN-Galbraith Award; and Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which was named a 2011 Best Book by Publishers Weekly. He lectures widely, both in the United States and abroad, and contributes occasional essays to newyorker.com.
James Carroll’s Boston Globe columns won the 2012 Scripps Howard National Journalism Award for Commentary. The Judges’ comment: “James Carroll’s elegant style and historical depth of knowledge combine with his thoughtful, moral point of view to consistently provide his readers with a unique voice.”
Saturday Schedule
10:00 am – Jesus after the Holocausts
1:00 pm – The Future of Jesus Christ
Images
Start:
October 15, 2016 10:00 AM
End:
October 15, 2016 3:00 PM
Location:
First Congregational United Church of Christ
1735 Fifth Avenue W.
Hendersonville NC United States
Google Map
Register:
$25/lecture
Contact:
Linda Welch
Organization:
First Congregational United Church of Christ -- Walter Ashley Lecture Series
Website:
http://fcchendersonville.org/
Email:
linda@fcchendersonville.org
Telephone:
828-692-8630READ ON ...
-------
View all upcoming events here!
News
Job Listings
Facebook
Twitter
Website
Email
YouTube
Our mailing address is:
ProgressiveChristianity.org
4810 Point Fosdick Drive NorthWest#80
James Carroll’s Boston Globe columns won the 2012 Scripps Howard National Journalism Award for Commentary. The Judges’ comment: “James Carroll’s elegant style and historical depth of knowledge combine with his thoughtful, moral point of view to consistently provide his readers with a unique voice.”
Saturday Schedule
10:00 am – Jesus after the Holocausts
1:00 pm – The Future of Jesus Christ
Images
Start:
October 15, 2016 10:00 AM
End:
October 15, 2016 3:00 PM
Location:
First Congregational United Church of Christ
1735 Fifth Avenue W.
Hendersonville NC United States
Google Map
Register:
$25/lecture
Contact:
Linda Welch
Organization:
First Congregational United Church of Christ -- Walter Ashley Lecture Series
Website:
http://fcchendersonville.org/
Email:
linda@fcchendersonville.org
Telephone:
828-692-8630READ ON ...
-------
View all upcoming events here!
News
Job Listings
FacebookTwitterWebsiteEmailYouTubeOur mailing address is:
ProgressiveChristianity.org
4810 Point Fosdick Drive NorthWest#80
Gig Harbor, Washington 98335, United States
-------
-------
No comments:
Post a Comment