Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Gratitude Sale from ProgressiveChristianity.org of Gig Harbor, Washington, United States "During this time of giving thanks, we are grateful for our readers; we are discounting our most popular resources 25%. Happy Thanksgiving!" for Wednesday, 23 November 2016

 Gratitude Sale from ProgressiveChristianity.org of Gig Harbor, Washington, United States "During this time of giving thanks, we are grateful for our readers; we are discounting our most popular resources 25%. Happy Thanksgiving!" for Wednesday, 23 November 2016 

2 Corinthians 9:11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
From your friends at ProgressiveChristianity.org we wish to send blessings and thanks to all our readers with this offering of 25% off our most popular resources.
Use Coupon Code NOV16 at checkout - Offer expires 11-30-16.
Study Guide for the 8 Points of Progressive ChristianityFred Plumer
This Study Guide can be used by individuals, small group study, intentional communities, conferences, or any group who would like to delve more deeply into the history and the process of living out the core teachings of Jesus.

Study Guide for the 8 Points of Progressive Christianity 2012 by Fred Plumer
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120
This Study Guide has been re-edited and re-printed.
This edition is the second printing.
Click here to purchase the digital version of The Study Guide by: Fred Plumer, Author and President
This Study Guide is for the third edition (2011) of the “8 Points” that have both identified and guided ProgressiveChristianity.org since the organization’s founding in 1994.
It can be used for small group study, intentional communities, conferences, or any group who would like to delve more deeply into the history and the process of living out the core teachings of Jesus. There are discussion questions and space after each point for groups to come up with their own thoughts and ideas.
We have often been asked why we change or update the “8 Points.” There are three main answers to that question. First, we change the wording based on thoughtful comments and suggestions from our readers and supporters. Some of these suggestions are theological, and some are seeking greater clarity, showing us areas where we were not as clear as we need to be.
Secondly, as people with open minds and soft hearts, we continue to evolve and change. That is what “progressive” is all about. New scholarship, conversations and even detractors challenge us to rethink what we have been positing, and at some point, after much discussion and conversation with our advisors, we may decide that we should make a change or emphasize new points. This seems to happen about every five years or so.
Thirdly, we never want the “8 Points” document to become something sacred in itself, beyond testing and questioning. In another words, we are not trying to challenge creedal thinking and outdated dogma with a new creed.
The background material and the questions of this Study Guide were designed to stimulate conversation and to raise issues that might not otherwise come up. None of these materials are intended to make a final theological, Christological, or canonical argument. The last thing we would want to do is to tell anyone how he or she should believe or approach their faith. We simply offer this as a starting point to the conversation and we look forward to the continual evolution of our faith.
The study guide includes The 8 Points Flyer, a Reflection Preface by Jim Burklo, an Introduction on What is Progressive Christianity by Gretta Vosper, and a Personal Note from the Author, by Fred Plumer. Each section has the 8 Point, a discussion about the point, discussion questions, and a space for notes.
Excerpt from the Study Guide:
By calling ourselves progressive Christians, we mean we are Christians who…
Point 4 — Know that the way we behave towards others is the fullest expression of what we believe.
Most scholars would argue we learn more about the Jesus of the scriptures from the things he does rather than what he says. The Jesus we meet in the gospels is a man of action, who heals, who demonstrates compassion, who takes a stand against injustices, who loves unconditionally, and who then tells his disciples to go and do likewise. Maybe that is why the writers of all three synoptic gospels wrote that Jesus believed the most important commandment is to “love God with all of our hearts, minds and souls and to love your neighbor as yourself.”
According to the writer of Luke’s gospel, Jesus then tells a story that suggests our neighbor is anyone who might need our help. Nowhere in these important passages do we find Jesus suggesting that before we extend ourselves on behalf of another or before we love our neighbor, we should first expound a theology, or a belief system. Nor does it appear there was ever a litmus test Jesus used before he befriended someone or helped him or her. Progressive Christians believe our actions of compassion are more important than the expression of our beliefs.

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The Birth of JesusBishop John Shelby Spong
Join Bishop John Shelby Spong as he takes us on a journey to the times of Jesus’ birth, focusing on Luke’s account. “It all starts with the birth story—get that wrong and we probably get it all wrong.” No one does a better job of getting it right than Spong. 
The Birth of Jesus by John Shelby Spong
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Join Bishop John Shelby Spong as he takes us on a journey to the times of Jesus’ birth, focusing on Luke’s account. While Luke’s narrative, the most detailed account of the birth of Jesus, is lyrical and inspiring, in The Birth of Jesus, Spong persuasively demonstrates it is allegory. Layer by layer, Spong weighs every element of the New Testament stories against Old Testament legends building a convincing case. Spong’s 16 original essays step backward and forward through the scriptures demonstrating why each element was chosen by the early CE writers to establish Jesus’ lineage and divinity. It is a fascinating and persuasive journey and a remarkable illustration of Biblical scholarship.
Bishop Spong’s “Birth of Jesus” essay series* from his weekly newsletter- “A New Christianity for a New World,” has generated more comments from our readers than any other series he has written. As one subscriber wrote, “It all starts with the birth story—get that wrong and we probably get it all wrong.” No one does a better job of getting it right than Spong. And there is always the added bonus with Bishop Spong. He is the consummate teacher. He writes with the primary intention for readers, regardless of their training or background, to get it.
Bishop Spong is a writer for every reader- from the scholar to the lay person. He is clear, concise, inspiring, and vibrant. He is a master at interpretation and elucidation. The Birth of Jesus is an exciting adventure that challenges dominant assumptions and interpretations and is sure to stimulate and liberate readers.
Also available in Digital Download, Here!
Published by ProgressiveChristianity.org 2014
96 pages
Price $18.00, our price: $15.00
*These essays were originally published in Bishop Spong’s subscription newsletter, “A New Christianity for a New World.” You can sign up for Bishop Spong’s newsletter here.
About the Author
John Shelby Spong, whose books have sold more than a million copies, was bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark for 24 years before his retirement in 2001. His admirers acclaim him as a teaching bishop who makes contemporary theology accessible to the ordinary layperson — he’s considered the champion of an inclusive faith by many, both inside and outside the Christian church.
A committed Christian who has spent a lifetime studying the Bible and whose life has been deeply shaped by it, Bishop Spong says he was not interested in Bible bashing. “I come to this interpretive task not as an enemy of Christianity,” he says. “I am not even a disillusioned former Christian, as some of my scholar-friends identify themselves. I am a believer who knows and loves the Bible deeply. But I also recognize that parts of it have been used to undergird prejudices and to mask violence.”
A visiting lecturer at Harvard and at universities and churches worldwide, Bishop Spong delivers more than 200 public lectures each year to standing-room-only crowds. His bestselling books include The Fourth Gospel: Tales of a Jewish Mystic, Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism, A New Christianity for a New World, Why Christianity Must Change or Die, and Here I Stand.
Bishop Spong’s extensive media appearances include a profile segment on 60 Minutes as well as appearances on Good Morning America, Fox News Live, Politically Incorrect, Larry King Live, The O’Reilly Factor, William F. Buckley’s Firing Line, and Extra. Bishop Spong and his wife, Christine Mary Spong, have five children and six grandchildren. They live in New Jersey.
Also available in Digital Download, Here!
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From Roots to Branches, Spiritual Affirmations and Stories
This collection of stories is for the hearts of children and adults. Every parent and educator will welcome the blend of multicultural tales, biographies, universal spirituality, and original fun adventures of children.
From Roots to Branches, Spiritual Affirmations and Stories by ProgressiveChristianity.org
Buy now ⋅ $25.00
This collection of stories is for the hearts of children and adults. Today, children are rich with intellectual and technological stimulation. But parents, teachers and true friends of children understand that the future of each child, and our world, is determined more by what is held in the heart than the mind. It is in the heart that we feel our highest aspirations and our oneness with others. It is the heart that feels isolation or inclusion and leads the mind to find solutions and create connections. Stories that touch the heart open opportunities for children to explore the truth of their own inner nature. A story of John Muir’s joyful appreciation of the natural world, even while caught for days in a snow storm, gives children a real example of how to meet life with an open heart. An African tale of a coat, pride, and the deep value of friendship, will interest all children who have declared loyalty to their “best friend forever”. “Busy Friends” takes children along with Megan as she experiences the fun of selflessly serving others and discovers how to be part of a community. Forgiveness, gratitude, and sharing are heart qualities illustrated in stories of spiritual figures Saint Jerome, Saint Patrick, and Jesus. Spiritual Affirmations are connected with each story for a simple, heart felt, relevant, and easily learned spiritual practice that gives life and meaning to each lesson.
Every parent and educator will welcome the blend of multicultural tales, biographies, universal spirituality, and original fun adventures of children who could live on your street. Expansive, respectful, real, and warm with kindness, these stories offer possibilities for life to children and adults who feel in their heart that they belong to a larger reality.
“Children’s spirituality thrives on playfulness. It demands respect. And it overflows into the lives of others bringing gifts and abundant inner riches. Not surprisingly, then, we were delighted when we had a chance to immerse ourselves in (these stories). Whether you are a parent, a Sunday School teacher, a preacher, a spiritual seeker, or just someone who likes to look at ideas from a child’s point of view, this one’s for you.”
— Mary Ann and Frederik Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
• Published by Pizote Press • Copyright 2013
ISBN 978-0-9844659-2-7 • $25
**These stories and spiritual affirmations were originally published in A Joyful Path, Spiritual Curriculum for Young Hearts and Minds, Year One.
Original Stories by Lorna Knox.
Click here to View a Sample of Roots to Branches- 13_18 The Tiger’s Whisker: Learning Patience
TABLE OF CONTENTS
02 The Three Servants and the Coins ~ Discovering Divine Energy
04 A Walk in the City ~ God in Nature
06 The Never Forgotten Son ~ Remembering God’s Presence
08 Sam Digs a Well ~ Concentrating Our Energy
10 The Red and Blue Coat ~ Learning from Mistakes
12 Loaves and Fishes ~ Sharing
14 Tim and John ~ Self Contraol
16 The Storm ~ Stillness
18 The Tiger’s Whisher ~ Learning Patience
20 Busy Friends ~ Experiencing the Oneness of All Through Service
22 The King Who Wanted to Touch the Moon ~ Practicing Humility
24 Little Lizard’s Sorrow ~ Non-Greed
26 Harriet Tubman’s Willpower ~ Willpower
28 Courageous Corrie ~ Courage
30 John Muir in the Mountains ~ Filling Our Minds with Goodness
32 The Persistent Friend ~ Opening Our Hearts in Prayer
34 The Golden Rabbit and Wise Lion ~ Accessing Sacred Guidance
36 God’s Little Workshop ~ Infinite Possibilities in each Moment
38 One Life Touches Another ~ Expanding Awareness
40 St Jerome and the Lion ~ Forgiving and Healing
42 Thomas Edison Never Quit ~ Perseverance
44 The Gardener ~ Truthfulness
46 Marian Anderson Sings ~ Inclusion
48 Deo Gratias ~ Expressing Gratitude
\
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The Mystic Bible
Alexandra Sangster
Have you been looking for a powerful children’s bible? The Mystic Bible journeys with Christ from his birth through to the Pentecost experience and invites children to explore the sacred stories from a new perspective.
The Mystic Bible by Alexandra Sangster
Buy now ⋅ $25.00
Once upon a time.
There was a young woman.
A very young woman.
And her name was Mary.
And one night this Mary was visited, by an energy,
filled with light.
Shining.
An angel.
And the angel said:
Do not be afraid Mary.
For there is life growing in your womb.
And your belly is going to swell like the golden moon.
And you, my darling, you are going to give birth to a baby boy. And he will be so filled with God, like all children are and even more. Filled with God from the tips of his toes to the tip of his nose.
So do not be afraid Mary.
And Mary, even though her heart beat fast, a galloping horse inside her chest, said to the angel:
‘Yes’.
Have you been looking for a powerful children’s bible from a progressive perspective?
The Mystic Bible journeys with Christ from his birth through to the Pentecost experience and invites children to explore the sacred stories from a new perspective.Using inclusive language and images the Mystic Bible will open your little one’s heart to an ancient story of LOVE.
Every once in awhile, we come across resources that are not easily available to our global readership and we feel l it necessary to support and offer them. This kind of creative work we support helps people all along the spectrum understand our intent and theology. The Mystic Bible is perfectly balanced on the progressive spectrum, meaningful for people who are deeply connected to the stories of the Bible, mystical and poetic, and yet innovative and theologically progressive. Written for children, The Mystic Bible is also a great supplement to our children’s curriculum, A Joyful Path.
The Mystic Bible is 63 page of full color, original art and poetry and follows the story of Jesus.
View a Sample of The Mystic Bible Here by Alexandra Sangster
www.sophiabooks.com.au
Text and illustration by Alexandra Sangster. Copyright © Sophia Books 2012. First published in 2012.
Current version published by ProgressiveChristianity.org



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 Weekly Recap for Tuesday, November 15, 2016 from ProgressiveChristianity.org Gig Harbor, Washington, United States "How do you address racism in children? This and more in our Free Weekly Recap of our most viewed and new resources from last week."

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‘Only White People,’ Said the Little GirlPosted by Egberto Willies
“You’re not white. Only white people can play.” What to do? How to do it? What to say? How to say it?
Few things are more awesome than listening to kids playing on the playground. There’s magic in that mix of laughter and exhausted breaths — giggle, pant, giggle.Just the other Saturday at Maplewood’s Memorial Park, I was watching my 5-year-old playing with his friends from day care. The kids have just started kindergarten and are now split up among four schools. Some industrious mom had the idea to get them together again.It was a great idea. It was also the moment when I saw the messy birth of my son’s otherness.They were playing on one of those spinning things — you know, the one where kids learn about centrifugal force and as a bonus get crazy dizzy. They were having a blast.“Only white people,” said a little girl.
I heard it, but I wasn’t quite sure that’s what I heard.
“Not you, you’re black,” said the girl, reaching out to touch my son. “You’re not white. Only white people can play.”
What to do? How to do it? What to say? How to say it?
I couldn’t escape the searing historical parallels of a little white girl telling a little black boy — my son — what he can and cannot do because of his skin color.
My instinct was to go over and drop science on her and all of the other little children.
But then my systems kicked in. My automatic scary-black-man recalibration systems. The infinitesimal adjustments that black men employ not only to succeed in school and at work, but also to help us keep it 100, stay woke, all while trying to make white folks feel comfortable enough to keep us around.
Whether it’s turning down your Kendrick Lamar when the white woman gets on the elevator or flashing those disarming smiles at white women you pass at night on the sidewalk, black men learn to present safeness.
Why do I always have to make white people feel comfortable at the expense of who I am and my mood and my music and my thoughts?
Walter Scott — and every other unarmed black man killed by police officers — is why.
To support a family is why.
If I scared the white people at the playground with my reaction, what would be the impact on our little family in Maplewood? Would we be on the next email thread for a play date? Would the other families talk about my son’s angry dad?
I made all these calculations in the five seconds after he was told he couldn’t play because he was black.
Then I noticed my son. When the little racist girl reached out to touch him, he moved out of the way and laughed. He kept right on playing.
The garbage that came out of that child’s mouth meant nothing to him. Yet. It marks the beginning of what is likely to be a gradual process. One day he’ll wonder why, when he plays with a certain group of friends, he is always the villain. Similar inquiries will follow, until he has his own system of recalibrations and adjustments.
I knew a moment like this would happen eventually. I just didn’t think it would happen at age 5 on the playground.
And what of the little girl? She, too, is a casualty in this — infected by racism before she can even spell the word.
It would be easy to dismiss the whole exchange as kids being kids. She’s young enough that she hasn’t developed the filters to catch what she’s being taught at home. There’s a direct line from what she’s learning to her mouth. I thought about all the time my son spent with this child in his day care class. What else had she expressed to him, or to the other students about him?
Besides the idea that, just by virtue of her complexion, she is more entitled to something as simple as spinning on the playground.
Who will she become when she grows up? Will she be a prosecutor, a manager at a tech firm, a politician? Systemic racism apparently begins at the playground.
I was still processing the incident while my son and his friends ran over to the slides.
I turned to the parent closest to me, who hadn’t heard the exchange.
“Who is that child?” I asked.
The dad told me the girl’s name and pointed out her mother. The mom was standing about a dozen feet away in a group of other moms talking about how the kids were adjusting to kindergarten.
I tried to imagine a productive confrontation, but couldn’t get beyond my opening line: “Excuse me, can we talk about the racist trash that just came out of your daughter’s mouth?”
I told the dad next to me what had happened. He didn’t know what to say, because honestly, who really does? He unfortunately did what a lot of white people do in these moments: He tried to explain it.
“Really?” he said. “That’s not her personality.”
In the end I did nothing.
I agonized over it, of course. My wife and I have since had several discussions about what we could have done, what should have been said, and to whom. At one point I decided that the thing to do would have been to bring the matter directly to the parent. But leaving the children out of it didn’t seem right.
I recalled a moment from my childhood in Hawaii. One of my best friends, Dominic, was white. He was from a big family and being at his house was like stepping into an ’80s sitcom. I was over there all the time. Dominic’s dad was my mom’s boss on the Air Force base.
But one day, when I asked my mother if I could go to Dominic’s, she said no. She said the same thing the next time I asked, and the next. After a few weeks, I gave up.
It wasn’t until I was an adult that I heard the story. Dominic’s family was having a party. We kids were probably in front of the Nintendo or running around the yard. The parents were inside, talking about the New York Knicks’ full name, the Knickerbockers. “Their real name should be the New York Nigger-bockers,” Dominic’s mom said, with a laugh.
My mother, the only black person at the party, gathered her things, found me and told me it was time to go.
I don’t blame my mother for not explaining. But I would have benefited from knowing what had happened.
Two years later, my mother and I moved to Montgomery, Ala. I walked into the halls of Alabama’s public schools completely unprepared for the racial dynamics that would meet me there. It was an intense couple of years as I received a middle-schooler’s crash course in racial truths.
Sitting here today, with the string of black men dying on camera at the hands of government agents who are often not held accountable, and with a major presidential candidate who passively, if not wholeheartedly, accepts the admiration of the K.K.K. and other white supremacist groups, I must make a different decision from my mother.
My son has watched too many boys and men that look like him die before his eyes on television. We don’t shield him from those images.
“What happened, Daddy?”
I explain.
“What did he do wrong?”
His mother and I exchange looks. I try to answer. Best I can. He pauses, then he’s back to his Hot Wheels races.
So as I mulled how I could have handled the incident at the playground and how I will handle it the next time — because, sadly, there will be a next time — I rejected the idea of simply talking to the parents.
Instead I will interrupt the children as they play, or study, or swim in the pool. I will do this for three reasons.
First, the children being groomed to be racist need to learn that acting on their racism has consequences, the least of which is that they will be met with resistance. The children have to see that people will stand up to them and call out their ignorance.
Second, all the white children in earshot also need to see that resistance and be taught that standing by silently is an endorsement.
And most important, I have to model for my children ways for them to confront racism without going all scorched earth. They need to see from their parents how to speak to ignorance, wield their dignity and push back against individual and systematic efforts to define, limit and exclude them.
During the walk home from the playground, my wife, my son and I talked about race while our 2-year-old daughter listened from her stroller.
My son nodded and said, “Yes, sir,” the way a 5-year-old does. It wasn’t our first conversation on the subject. My wife and I have been very deliberate in our attempt to introduce him to concepts of race and history. The goal is for him to be confident, keen, yet still open-minded about those around him — a goal many adults are still striving for.
It’s clear that someone in that little girl’s life is pursuing a different goal.
We don’t have a choice but to talk to our son about Ferguson, Eric Garner, workplace frictions, Baltimore, Charlotte, Alton Sterling and on and on. And yet I mourn each of those conversations. With each degree of awareness comes a corresponding loss — of silliness, of whimsy, of childhood.
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‘Only White People,’ Said the Little Girl by Topher Sanders ProPublica first appeared first on The Liberal Network.
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Prayers for Our Leaders
Spirituality & Practice
A collection of prayers for political and government leaders and the people who elect them.
Prayers for Our Leaders
A collection of prayers for political and government leaders and the people who elect them. by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Give us, O God,
leaders whose hearts are large enough
to match the breadth of our own souls
and give us souls strong enough
to follow leaders of vision and wisdom.
In seeking a leader, let us seek
more than development for ourselves —
though development we hope for —
more than security for our own land —
though security we need —
more than satisfaction for our wants —
though many things we desire.
Give us the hearts to choose the leader
who will work with other leaders
to bring safety
to the whole world.
Give us leaders
who lead this nation to virtue
without seeking to impose our kind of virtue
on the virtue of others.
Give us a government
that provides for the advancement
of this country
without taking resources from others
to achieve it.
Give us insight enough ourselves
to choose as leaders those who can tell
strength from power,
growth from greed,
leadership from dominance,
and real greatness from the trappings of grandiosity.
We trust you, Great God,
to open our hearts to learn from those
to whom you speak in different tongues
and to respect the life and words
of those to whom you entrusted
the good of other parts of this globe.
We beg you, Great God,
give us the vision as a people
to know where global leadership truly lies,
to pursue it diligently,
to require it to protect human rights
for everyone everywhere.
We ask these things, Great God,
with minds open to your word
and hearts that trust in your eternal care.[Joan Chittister, OSB]
Prayer for the Rulers of Nations
Today, O God. I hold before you the rulers of nations —
Kings, Queens, Presidents, Prime Ministers — all who
are in positions of supreme leadership.
I can be quick to criticize: help me, Lord to first enter
their dilemma. On most issues of state I have the luxury
of withholding judgment, of not committing myself,
of sitting on the fence. Even when I have an opinion,
it has little influence and seldom any consequence.
Not so with rulers of the nations.
To the extent that they really lead, they must
make decisions, even if they are poor ones.
Help these leaders, O God, in the loneliness of their decisions.
Put wise counselors around them. Take, I pray, the bits
and pieces of virtue that are in each ruler and cause them
to grow and mature. And take all the destructive motives
and cause them to vanish like smoke in the wind.
Lord, I know that many — and perhaps most —
rulers do not know you, nor do they seek you.
But you seek them! Help them see how good right decisions are.
And where decisions must be made that are not in their
own interest, deepen their sense of duty. Having seen
the light, give them the courage to walk in the light.
Amen.[Richard J. Foster in Prayers from the Heart]
A Prayer for Our Nation
May we as a nation be guided by the Divine
to rediscover the sacred flame of our national heritage,
which so many have given their lives to safeguard;
Let the wounds of separation and division be healed
by opening our hearts to listen to the truth on all sides,
allowing us to find a higher truth that includes all;
May we learn to honor and enjoy our diversity
and differences as a people, even as we
more deeply touch our fundamental unity;
May we, as a people, undergo a transformation
that will draw forth individuals to lead our nation
who embody courage, compassion, and a higher vision;
May our leaders inspire us, and we so inspire
each other with our potential as individuals
and as a nation, that a new spirit of forgiveness,
caring, and honesty be born in our nation;
May we, as a united people, move with clear,
directed purpose to take our place within
the community of nations to help build
a better future for all humankind;
May we as a nation rededicate ourselves
to truly living as one nation, under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
And may God’s Will be done for the United States,
as we, the people, align with that Will.[Corinne McLaughlin and Gordon Davidson in Prayers for Healing</em> edited by Maggie Oman]
Prayer for Those in Statecraft and International Relations
Sovereign Lord, We pray for the people who are charged with
representing our nation as they bridge culture, race, and
religion to painstakingly negotiate terms of trade and forge
alliances of security. May they view their task as sacred
and be filled with hope, creativity, and endurance so that
the bonds they forge among nations may bring mutual benefit
and lasting peace.
Lord, help our leaders to look beyond grand palaces and
corporate offices to consider carefully the effects that the
policies they are creating will have on the humble homes of
average citizens. May America be girded by the spirit of
cooperation and generosity that recognizes the needs of others
alongside our own so that the entire world might enjoy a
common wealth of food, drink, shelter, education, and recreation.
Lord, may America not succumb to imperial temptations; rather,
through persons of character, remind us of our shared religious
heritage of servanthood. May we use our power in concert with
the international community so that we might together bring
in a new era marked by justice and peace. . . .[Paul Brandeis Raushenbush in Prayers for the New Social Awakening]
A Blessing for Our Leaders
Eternal God, Fount of wisdom,
we ask you to bless the national leaders we have elected,
grant that through their discussions and decisions
we may solve our problems effectively,
enhance the well-being of our nation,
and achieve together a fairer and more united society.[The New Zealand Prayer Book]
Presented by: Spirituality & Practice

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Salt of the Earth
James Asparro
Salt of the Earth brings to light social issues such as addictions, gun violence, wealth distribution, and gender equality. Villains scheme to bring heroes down. Who will win?
Salt of the Earth by James Asparro
purchase for $28.99
Ben Dawson, widowed pastor, takes a bullet from an assault rifle triggered by an anti-abortion protester at a women’s health clinic; further unanticipated events land him in the national spotlight. Colorful characters, including a brilliant and glamorous woman, are influenced by Ben’s local progressive church, at which people of all spiritualties find purpose and meaning. Woven into the story is romance, adventure on the high seas, and a sensational dog.
Salt of the Earth brings to light social issues such as addictions, gun violence, wealth distribution, and gender equality. Villains scheme to bring heroes down. Who will win?
“Salt of the earth is a thought-provoking narrative, which brings to light numerous issues plaguing our society and today’s mainline Christian communities. Set primarily in the Pacific Northwest, with frequent mention of Portland’s cultural landmarks, the vibrant character’s personalities seize the reader. The novel evoked my emotional responses including: compassion for hardworking nurse Megan, married to workaholic and sex addicted navy officer Brandon; loathing for the arrogant Palmer who thinks expensive diamonds can buy love; and disgust for closeminded Ray Fish with his prejudice judgments. I cheered for Pastor Ben Dawson as he fell in love with Alex, applauded executive assistant Teresa for her astute business sense and honored Navy Chaplain Bill Wilson for his caring insights. . . and I loved Lizzie the dog! This is a well-researched, fast paced story, which will leave you asking for a sequel.” ~Amazon Reviewer, Noakark2
“I am so glad I read this book! It had the perfect combination of thoughtful, serious themes and laugh-out-loud moments that came just when you needed them. There were characters I loved, characters I loved to hate and also characters that were mixed and complex. Redemption and forgiveness are central themes of this book, which gave it a hopeful quality that was truly inspiring. I teared up at the story of the lonely, elderly veteran who bonded with a sweet dog; I laughed at loud at the rom-com-style misunderstandings; I sat on the edge of my seat at the suspense and military action; and I choked up at the story of a very real family torn apart by absence and addiction. I’ve never been particularly religious, but this book showed a side of religion that was more than repeating prayers and believing in the impossible. It showed a diverse group of people who all came together to accept one another and love one another. A truly inspiring read, I couldn’t help but think what an engaging movie this book would make. Serious but uplifting, politically and socially aware, it didn’t fall into the typical traps of gender and racial stereotypes that you find all over the place. Well-researched accounts of the Navy and the Philippines grip the reader and take your emotions on a roller-coaster. It is a very real story about people who deal with very real issues. Couldn’t recommend it enough!”~Amazon Reviewer
Read the Huffington Post Review here
About the Author
The Rev. Dr. James Asparro is a retired U.S. Navy chaplain who deployed in the Western Pacific several times during the cold war, and served as a navy chaplain with the fleet Marines. He was stationed stateside, in Iceland, and on sea duty in the Mediterranean. He has worked as a chaplain at Oregon State Hospital, Linfield College, and in the VA Health Care System. He was the pastor of an American Baptist church for four years before going on active duty with the navy. He holds degrees from University of Portland, Yale Divinity School, and Claremont School of Theology. He lives in a suburb of Portland with his family.
Visit the website here: www.jamesasparro.com
Click HERE to purchase this book in all formats.
purchase for $28.99

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Liturgy Selection
CyclesWeek of November 13, 2016
Autumn feels different depending on which cycle you respond to most strongly. Underneath, we are all still tied to the land, metaphorical farmers if not literal ones. Autumn means harvest, a time of in-gathering. But overlaid on that ancient cycle is the modern one of education, in which autumn means the beginning of a new school year. For years, it was the best time: a “new beginning… with no mistakes yet!” Then inevitably we left school and became subject to the cycle of that arbitrary task master, the calendar. Now autumn is the time of preparation for the new year, of budgets and balances, of stewardship and goal-setting. And of course, what do we tie stewardship to? The abundance of the harvest… and we’re back where we started. Which cycle do you feel part of as the days grow shorter and the yellow leaves stand out against the blue sky?

Nature’s Harsh Harmony by George Stuart
1. Contemplate all nature’s beauty
And embrace its darker side;
Life as sacrifice is ordered;
Sometimes life will be denied;
Celebrate with adoration
New growth after seeds have died.
2. Nature’s children need protection
As they struggle to survive;
And when grown, threat always hovers;
Yet they linger, even thrive;
Celebrate with adoration
Life with its unending drive.
3. Life, in tension, sings a chorus
Of a constant melody;
Life and death are ever present —
Nature’s own harsh harmony;
Celebrate with adoration
Life’s victorious energy.
4. Death will never have dominion
Even though it has its place;
Life breeds life; is never conquered;
Life will always win the race;
Celebrate with adoration;
Glory in this gift of grace.
Tune: Regent Square (Angels from the Realms of Glory)
George Stuart has several self-published volumes of new lyrics to well-known hymn tunes. Check out his website at sites.google.com/site/george007site or email him at george.stuart@exemail.com.au
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Wonder and Joy of Creation by Roger Courtney 
On this beautiful harvest day
We celebrate the wonder and joy of creation
A beauty that brings sustenance, hope and healing to the human soul.
We recognise that we are not masters of creation but co-creators
Helping the beauty and glory of the world to unfold.
Without beauty our lives become arid and lifeless.
In each of us there is a spirit of imagination and creativity,
A resonant voice through which we can express who we really are
And experience the radiant joy of the natural beauty that surrounds us
Through this harvest festival we share in the rhythm of nature and the continuous wonder of creation.
And in this way we have the privilege of becoming co-creators of the universe.
read more
God Seeds
Quoted from writings of Meister Eckhart by Polly Moore

The seed of God is in us.
If you are an intelligent and hard-working farmer,
it will thrive and grow up into God,
whose seed it is,
and its fruits will be God-fruits.
Pear seeds grow into pear trees,
nut seeds grow into nut trees,
and God seeds grow into God.
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We are delighted to announce our first Embrace Festival! May 4-6, 2017 in Portland, Oregon
Embrace Festival is a 3 day, international, sacred community and social transformation gathering, which will be held May 4-6, 2017 in beautiful downtown Portland, Oregon for those wishing to positively transform their lives, their local communities, and the world.
Vision
In May 2017, people from all over the world will gather in Portland to share knowledge and wisdom, learn from each other, celebrate, be inspired, and find the tools needed to create and enliven local movements within our communities. Together we will explore Sacred Oneness, Christ Consciousness, Eco-Spirituality, Social Justice and the way of Universal and Personal Transformation that honors the Divine in all.
We want you there! Please save the date and consider joining us! Tickets are currently set at Early Bird Pricing only until December 1, 2016.
Vision
In May 2017, people from all over the world will gather in Portland, Oregon to share knowledge and wisdom, learn from each other, celebrate, be inspired, and find the tools needed to create and enliven local movements within our communities. Together we will explore sacred oneness, Christ consciousness, eco-spirituality, social justice and the way of universal and personal transformation that honors the Divine in all.
Offerings
3 day in city event including:
Presentations by over 30 leaders, teachers, authors, theologians, activists
Ceremony and Ritual
Celebration, Dance, Entertainment
Live Art, Music and Performance
Sacred Community
Social Gathering
Networking
Learning/Workshops/Breakouts
Additional Leadership Training Tracks/Certifications
Yoga, Qi Gong, Meditation, Dance, Drum circles
Village Marketplace with art, music, books, crafts, and more.
Speakers
More speakers to be announced soon!
Jim Burklo
Jacques Colon
Carrie Contey
Eric Alexander Crawford
Eli Eichenauer
Cassandra Farrin
David Felten
Matthew Fox
Special Guest!!
Michelle Hawk
Rabbi Brian Zachary Mayer
Irene Monroe
Rev. Timothy Murphy
Joran Oppelt
Fred Plumer
Reba Riley
John C Robinson
Alexandra Sangster
Bruce Sanguin
Deshna Ubeda
Lauren Van Ham
Gretta Vosper
Roger Wolsey
Musicians
Peia Song
Yaima Music
Ashana
Christopher "C" Bronson Wood
Dar Sernoff
More musicians to be announced soon!
Artists
More artists to be announced soon!
Kaylee Holz
Venues
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UCC
PORTLAND ART MUSUEM
ELIOT CENTER
A Taste
Here we will rotate through videos of Embrace Presenters, Speakers, Musicians, Teachers, Artists, and Performers for a taste of what’s to come…
Enjoy!
Yaima
Embrace is delighted to have an incredible line up of sacred music that will heal, delight, and inspire you.
YAIMA is an old word
meaning “that which water runs through”,
-a conduit for diverse musical languages.
Their sound is rooted in the the rich depth of tradition
through biological beats, folkloric storytelling and mystical melodies.
They reach towards our compelling, technological future by weaving live instrumentation and vocals
over lush electronic layers, seamless soundscapes, and body-blooming bass.
Yaima is a confluence of musicians:
Pepper Proud, Masaru Higasa, and Jeff Kimes
from the Seattle/Cascadia Region.
Yaima graces us with their presence at our Sacred Community Celebration during Embrace, Friday May 5th, 2017
Tickets

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50% off! FINAL Living the Questions Adult Curriculum Special Offer for 2016!
Sale runs through November 21st. Click here to view offers - enter coupon code pc5ce in your shopping cart at checkout to receive 50% off.
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