Sermon Talk Back

Sermon Talk Back for Sunday, August 30, 2009

We want you to engage in dialogue about this week's sermon. We welcome you to comment, share stories that relate to the sermon topic, ask questions and give us feedback. Your thoughts are welcome! Below you will find a summary of the sermon topic.

Scripture: Mark 7: 1-8, 14-15 and 21-23

Title: In Defense and Challenge of Tradition

Summary: The Gospel lesson has the Pharisees confronting Jesus concerning the lack of
observance of the traditions of cleanliness. Jesus, in turn, challenges
them on how their traditions have become their highest priority of
faithfulness to God. Traditions, in themselves, are not wrong or evil but they can become
problematic. This sermon explored the power and use,
and sometimes misuse, of traditions.

Thanks for participating!

Posted by the Blog Administrator

Thoughts by a Fellow Blogger: A Book Review

I was searching on-line for information regarding reasons why mainline churches still matter and I stumbled upon an excellent review of Richard Hamm's book, Recreating the Church. This book has become a handy resource for churches like First Central and gives us some great food for thought.

The author of this blog is Pastor Bob Cornwall. Pastor Cornwall is the pastor of Central Woodward Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Troy, Michigan. He is also the editor of Sharing the Practice (Academy of Parish Clergy). Below you will find an excerpt from the blog, which summarizes Hamm's five reasons why mainline churches still matter:

"So, what are the values that the Mainline lifts up? First, there is the witness to the relationship of faith and reason. The mind and the spirit belong together, and this is a hallmark of the Mainline that Hamm sees being challenged by a creeping fundamentalism. Second, Mainline schools educate rather than indoctrinate. They allow freedom to explore and dissent – critical thinking is encouraged. Third, the Mainline perspective encourages the development of a world view that “analyzes reality both in terms of individuals and systems.” Sin, in essence takes on both individual and systemic form, and ultimately it is the systems that must be changed for progress to be made. Fourth, Mainline perspectives seek to be inclusive (though this is always a struggle) of persons, especially women and people of color. With regard to sexual orientation, a matter Hamm doesn’t speak to here, the Mainline is still struggling to know what to do. Finally, in terms of overseas involvements, the Mainline seeks to partner with indigenous people rather than deal with them in colonial fashion."


Click the following link to read a review of the book and learn more about the challenges and opportunities mainline churches face today:

http://pastorbobcornwall.blogspot.com/2007/07/recreating-church-review.html

posted by the Blog Administrator

UCC August Mission Moment: The Work of the Gospel Goes On

The rhythm of our lives often changes during the summer, which is a good thing. It’s wonderful if we’re able to slow down and enjoy the beautiful outdoors, to stop and smell the flowers, and perhaps even to take a little vacation. But the rhythm of life in the church rarely skips a beat, even though some congregations may experience a few empty pews on Sunday mornings as folks travel and “take a Sunday off.”

Our churches know that the regular work of the gospel goes on, day in and day out, in every season. The worship and pastoral needs of the local church, the justice work in the broader community, and the wider mission of the United Church all go on, even in August, and they are supported by the faithful giving of the people in the pews, whose generosity never takes a vacation.

Thank you for remembering to give generously in support of your church’s ministry, even on Sundays when you are away from your own local congregation. Thank you for sharing the abundance with which you have been blessed so that the church, in every moment, can continue to be sign of God’s healing and tender mercies in a beautiful but broken world.

Source: www.ucc.org

United Church of Christ issues letter urging activism on health care reform

Written by National UCC Staff Reports
July 28, 2009

In a pastoral letter addressed to members of the United Church of Christ, church leaders have called upon churches "to actively work towards the creation of a national health care system and to affirm the moral and justice imperatives of equal access for all people."

The UCC's letter was signed by current General Minister and President the Rev. John H. Thomas, incoming General Minister and President the Rev. Geoffrey Black, Executive Minister for Justice and Witness Ministries the Rev. M. Linda Jaramillo, and Minister for Health Care Justice Barbara T. Baylor.

Citing the UCC's recent passage of a church-wide resolution urging advocacy in support of healthcare for all, the letter promotes a personal call to action as a means of implementing equitable access to and delivery of care.

UCC members are encouraged to contact their elected officials, identify themselves to the lawmaker as members of the United Church of Christ, and register their concerns for a health care plan that includes the seven points agreed to by an interfaith coalition:

• Coverage for all persons
• Access regardless of ability to pay
• A full set of benefits
• A choice of physicians and other providers
• Elimination of racial and ethnic and other health care disparities
• Waiver of pre-existing condition exclusions without any age limits
• A publicly available, government administered, insurance option

Additional actions include gathering delegates from congregations to visit the home offices of legislators during their August recess, attending the "Health Care Now!" rally July 30 in Washington, D.C., and organizing a Jericho march in communities around the nation insisting that the walls of inequitable health care come down.

The UCC joins a large and diverse interfaith coalition in calling for health care reform. At the July 7 Faith Leaders Summit on Health Care held in Washington, D.C., this coalition stated, "No longer can we afford to squander the hopes and dreams of the American people through a much-too-costly system that contributes to economic despair."

The UCC's Justice and Witness Ministries will issue health care related action alerts throughout August including a call for a preach/teach in, group lobbying information, phone chain organization and a letters to the editor campaign.

The complete text of the pastoral letter and call-to-action, formatted as a printable PDF bulletin insert, can be found at ucc.org/health-care-reform.

Source: http://www.ucc.org. Posted by: Blog Administrator

Yesterday I said from the pulpit that mission is the essential character of the church. What is your thought? If you agree, what kind of mission does FCUCC need to be leading in? If you disagree, what to you believe the church, especially FCUCC, needs to be about? Don Hammond

This is my first blog and am interested in knowing if anyone is out there and if someone is, what kind of bloging conversations would be of interest? Don Hammond, Interim Pastor

Melanie Naughtin, Director of Christian Education

God likes variety and reveals himself to us in countless ways. God is, indeed, still speaking. We try, in this church, to offer informed, balanced and carefully considered looks at a wide variety of topics in our adult education series; "First Forum", offered each Sunday morning at 9:15. Our fall offerings will include a National Issues Forum on Health Care Reform presented by Kent Kirwan on four Sundays from September 20th - October 11th. All are welcome to join us for these thought-provoking and very timely sessions. We welcome suggestions for topics that matter to you.