Instead of our regular blog from our sermon or guest blogger,  here's a recent article from the Daily Gazette in Schenectady.  Since Journey is mentioned, we'd thought we'd pass it along.  Let us know what you think about social media in the church ... what's your opinion???

Daily Gazette, The (Schenectady, NY)

Daily Gazette, The (Schenectady, NY) December 5, 2010 Column: CAPITAL REGION Spirituality spreads in cyberspace Author: SARA FOSS,Gazette Reporter At First Reformed Church of Schenectady, just as many people listen to services online as go to church on Sunday. The church posts MP3 files of its services on the First Reformed website, which also features a Bible search engine for looking up scripture, discussion boards for registered users and a box where users can type in for whom or what they wish to pray and instantly receive a short prayer tailored to their concerns. Near the top of the home page is a short message from the Rev. Bill Levering, the senior pastor at First Reformed. "While no computer can capture the vibrancy of our fellowship, we hope this site will help bring us all closer together," the message states. The church also maintains a Facebook page, which provides links to the website. "We increase our web traffic dramatically when we advertise on Facebook," Levering said. "Of course, that may not translate into anyone ever showing up at church" Even so, Levering sees the value of having a church Web presence and interacting with people online. Like many clergy, he has embraced the Internet and social media and views them as valuable tools for reaching people -- even people who might never attend one of his services. "Mainstream Protestant churches have made a big mistake in thinking that the only way to do business is to have people come to them," Levering said. "There are many ways that people can experience the divine." Northway Church director of development Kevin Murrell monitors the church's Facebook page, writing responses to every post or message from the church's 2,600-plus followers. The Clifton Park-based church has a weekly TV show, and its Facebook page tends to get a lot of hits on Sunday nights, after the show airs."Sometimes I have Facebook open 24 hours," Murrell said. Northway's Facebook page is a way to promote ch! urch events but also to share inspirational thoughts and stori! es, Murr ell said. "A woman wrote on Facebook that she came to our church and her whole life changed," he said. "People read that and they get inspired. Our mission is to inspire people with love, hope and faith." People also post prayer requests and immediately receive support and encouragement from fellow users, he said. Northway Pastor Buddy Cremeans also maintains a Twitter feed and a blog. On Friday afternoon, his most recent tweets asked visitors, "Have you ever had questions about faith that you are afraid to ask?" and "Does anyone have a real 'top hat' (Abe Lincoln style hat) that we can borrow tomorrow?" He said he uses Twitter to post lighthearted anecdotes, such as stories about his dog or his daughter, but also to address more serious topics, such as leadership. Cremeans said social media "helps us connect with people who wouldn't ordinarily get connected. Church is all about relationships, and [social media] is a great wa! y to enhance community, enhance relationships. We're constantly looking for ways to take the church out of the walls." He said that he loves social media but that "you've got to have a balance. " We're about meeting people where they're at. We believe in leveraging technology, anything that can help us get the good news of Christ out there. Fighting the culture is like spitting in the wind. If you look at the life of Christ, he didn't fight the culture. He told stories. He was compelling." Rabbi Matthew Cutler at Congregation Gates of Heaven in Schenectady said that one of the big questions posed by social media is "how to get people to think or act spiritually in that dimension." Cutler has a Facebook page that he uses to keep in touch with people and publicize events, and his temple's website contains information about events and programs as well as links to Jewish websites. He said he has considered blogging but has some reluctance: "Do I al! ways have something profound to say?" he said. Cutler noted that one of the criticisms of the televangelists who rose to prominence in the 1960s and 1970s was that they promoted a way of worshipping -- at home, in front of the TV -- that lacked the larger sense of community so essential to the faith experience. Social media, he said, might run the risk of doing the same thing. "Does it create a virtual congregation?" he asked. "Is just logging on good enough? " Cyberspace does create an opportunity for people to interact, but I prefer face to face." Many clergy say that Facebook is a way to communicate and stay in touch with teenagers, college students and young adults. That's especially true for the Rev. Sandy Damhof, who serves as Protestant campus chaplain at the University at Albany. "Facebook is almost exclusively how I get the word out," she said. "I used to go around campus and post fliers, but this is so much easier. Every student has a laptop with Facebook loaded on it 24-7." Damhof said that Facebook is useful for promoting campus events, but it also allows her to connect with students on a deeper level. She said she believes Facebook has helped her save two lives because she was able to respond to students who had posted suicidal thoughts. "The relationships on Facebook go much deeper than people think," Damhof said. "People post things on Facebook that they might not say to your face. " I think Facebook strengthens relationships. You can friend someone on Facebook and find out quite a bit about them. Facebook makes it easier for me to get to know people. I don't necessarily have time after each service to sit down and get to know each person. But I can find them on Facebook." Damhof said keeping in touch with students through Facebook "is my job. If I were just a regular pastor, in a regular church, I might not be as consumed by Facebook. But I can't imagine [being a campus chaplain] without Facebook." Damhof actually is a regular pastor in a regular church -- Journey United Church of Christ in Delmar, which was formed about two years ago. The church has never published a newsletter, preferring to communicate with members through e-mail and Facebook or on the church website. Unlike her students at the University at Albany, Journey's adult members do not check Facebook constantly, but they do use it, Damhof said. And for people who find visiting a new church intimidating, the church website can give them a sense of what to expect there. "You can go to our blog and read last Sunday's sermon," she said. "You can see that the messages are upbeat and practical." The Rev. Tim Coombs at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Scotia also uses Facebook to keep tabs on younger members, particularly college students. The church doesn't have a Facebook page, but Coombs does; he estimates that he has 500 friends "who know me as a clergyperson. I do a lot of youth work. Half my friends are youth."You c! an't go very deep on Facebook," Coombs said. "It's a starting place. If someone posts that their friend died, I can say that I'm sorry to hear that. I can make a personal note or a phone call later." When college students post comments about being stressed out or down, Coombs takes notice, and if those postings continue, he might bring it up when they come home for a visit.  "I might say, 'It looks like you had a tough semester,' " he said. Useful tool  "If you recognize Facebook's limitations, it can be a great tool," Coombs said. "My reach is so much greater because of Facebook than ever before. It's a communication tool, and like any tool, it can be used for good or bad. I try to use it for as much good as I can." Levering said social media can have a downside. "Like anything in the church, the downside is becoming too enamored of it," he said. Facebook and Twitter can't replace community, he said. "Church is more than an institution," he said. "It's a set of relationships." Levering said that he wasn't always so enthusiastic about the Internet. "In the early days of Web involvement, I doubted whether it was worth the investment," he said. "Churches were spending a lot of time and money to create websites that attracted 20 hits a week."  But now those websites are attracting a lot of traffic, and "I believe it's worth the effort." Reach Gazette reporter Sara Foss at 395-3193 or sfoss@dailygazette.net. Copyright (c) 2010 The Daily Gazette Co. All Rights Reserved. Record Number: 133ED84AEF8E6488

Pictures of Peace

A Sermon from Journey United Church of Christ
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Isaiah 11:1-10 & Matthew 3:1-12

 We’ve all had those experiences of encountering folks who – well, how shall I say this – are a little out of the norm. Maybe it was the person in the cubical next to ours who has a rather odd habit that a cubical can’t hide? Maybe it’s the person sat next to us on our last flight or train ride? Or maybe it’s that eccentric aunt who you only see once a year?


I’ve always kind of thought of John the Baptist that way. When I was first introduced to him as a child, his “out of the norm” style was a bit fascinating – that whole live-in-the-wilderness, meals-of-locust-and-wild-honey thing was intriguing for me as a kid. Kind of like that odd fascination I have with that show "No Reservation" where the guy travels around the country eating the most crazy "local" food.  I know it's not going to be pretty, but I just can't stop watching. Outside the norm … but in a good way.


Then when I started to pay attention not only to what he wore and what he ate, and started to pay attention to his message, I have to admit that he began to scare me a bit. He seemed like an angry kind of guy. My grown-up aversion to harsh judgment placed him way outside the norm … in a bad way. Especially when it comes to pairing gospel texts with the Christmas story. John just doesn’t seem to fit.

Now, on the other hand, when I look at the picture painted in the prophecy of Isaiah that we read earlier, I must admit that I am more likely to think of it as “within the norm”. I’m not alone. The “lion and the lamb” provides one of the most beautiful and comforting images in the Bible, and there are countless versions of the picture printed on Christmas cards every year.


For me, it goes beyond a pretty Christmas card. Isaiah promises a world ruled by justice and righteousness, a world where the poor and the weak and the vulnerable come out on top for once. No more pain or suffering. The lion and lamb will lie down next together. A baby can play next to the snakes. I love the picture … and I want, with all my heart for it to be the norm now and in the future.
But I need to remind myself that getting to that “norm”, was everything but normal. Painting a new picture of normal took some work. Changing the shape of the world wasn’t easy. Before we get to pictures of peace and harmony, of justice and righteousness, things were about as abnormal as John the Baptist eating locusts in the wilderness. Not a pretty sight, but nonetheless, a reality.


Back up a chapter in Isaiah and you’ll see what I mean. In the passage right before today’s reading, at the end of Chapter 10, the prophet describes God as what Kate Huey defines as “a divine forester who chops down with terrifying power the tallest trees of Lebanon, the most beautiful part of the world.
Now, in Isaiah, those magnificent trees represented the mighty rulers of the empires and kingdoms that surround the vulnerable little land of Judah and the city of Jerusalem.  Isaiah paints of vision of God just plowing through like an ancient version of “swamp loggers” … just mowing them down with nothing left standing. Just a few hopeless stumps.


Sounds remarkable like John the Baptist’s words describing an ax that is cutting down trees at the root.


Neither is a pretty picture and neither is what we like to think of as normal pictures of peace. Yet in the midst of the devastation … Isaiah tells of a new norm … a tiny shoot springing forth from the stump.  The new norm for which John the Baptist calls the people to prepare. There seems to be understanding that for peace to enter the world things need to change. And for the "Prince of Peace" to share his message and for that message to be heard, things need to be different.

The normal order of things in our world has been “survival of the fittest” where the strong always win and weak always lose. God’s order – God’s norm calls for what seems like a complete reversal of that “norm”, a restoration of shalom, a return to God’s way, where lamb and lion can lie next to each, where children can play next to snakes, where a tiny vulnerable shoot from what seems like a dead stump not only shoots forth, but survives and thrives and grows.


And Isaiah and John both agree that in order for that to happen, some things need that perhaps we have comfortably assumed are “normal” need to be pushed aside to make room for the “new norm” that is characterized wisdom and understand, counsel and might, knowledge and honor, righteousness for the poor, equity for the meek … “

It’s all part of John’s message to “PREPARE”  Someone and something is coming, he says, and how you get ready matters. “Get rid of everything that’s blocking the way of the ONE who is to come,” he urges.  Get ready for what will be a new “NORM” - God’s NORM


Perhaps John wasn’t so outside the norm after all. And perhaps this Advent it would do us well to reflect on what it would mean for us live outside society’s norms and to more fully live God’s norm? To work with the divine forester in removing that which blocks our vision of what should be. To work to prepare the way … making the path straight?


Think of your own journey through advent? What needs to be removed so that peace can more fully thrive and survive? Are there old patterns that need to be chopped down as you work to set the stage for deep, meaningful, long-lasting inner peace?

How about your relationships? Where do you desire more peace? What needs to be “pushed aside” to make it possible. Might we need to cut down our own self-righteous attitudes or old resentments or bitter grudges? Maybe something new shoots forth in the form a conversation with or a letter to someone from whom you’ve been separated?


Reflect on situations within our own community and around our world that call for peace? What can we do to be active peacemakers who help cut down injustice and what can we do to establish a peace that would more fully reflect Isaiah’s vision of the lion and lamb? What small new thing might God be calling forth from our faith community?


This is the season of Advent, as we too are waiting for the ONE who is to come. Not just waiting for Christmas to celebrate the birth of baby Jesus, but waiting for the coming of Jesus Christ and the total embracing of the new norm.  But we don’t just wait. We participate. We can radically re-orient our lives, clear a path and prepare the way. We can reshape our lives and the life of this community and we can reach out to world beyond these walls, beyond our city, even beyond our nation, and speak and live, words of peace. God’s norm.
Let’s move some trees together with God … and get a new view of what is to come.

The Multiplication of Generosity

A Sermon from Journey United Church, Sunday, November 21, Thanksgiving Sunday/Stewardship "Faith Promise" Sunday

Note:  The following message was based on John 6:1-14 "The Feeding of the 5000" and the story "Stone Soup" by Marcia Brown.


I was perusing through possible videos to use to open our worship today when I came across one that set a much-different tone than the one we viewed earlier. The video opened by inviting viewers into a “year in review”. It contained a litany of all the horrible things that have gone down this year. The catastrophic earthquake in Haiti, the oil spill in the gulf, a car bomb in New York City, and a pastor threatening to burn the Quran; it was all mixed in with a reminder of the recession and its effect on the national, state and local budget and how it has impacted so many of us personally in a wide variety of ways. It was a one-minute and 55 second downer.

Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not suggesting that any one of those things isn’t horrible in and of themselves. I’m not suggesting that the reality doesn’t exist. But I do grow weary of only hearing bad news. And I’m growing more and more aware of the impact that constant exposure to bad news is having on our lives. We’ve been drawn into a culture of fear. We’ve been told things are bad and there simply isn’t enough. We’re constantly exposed to a new form of heart disease - cold, closed hearts.  And it seems to have almost reached epidemic proportions.

It's some ways it's not a new disease.  It’s the theme woven in the opening lines of the story of Stone Soup. The local citizens see three soldiers coming down the road and in fear there hearts turn stingy and cold and closed. It's just that today the symptoms may look a bit different.   Today, many Americans are tempted these days to “circle the wagons”, to hold our things tightly and to hold our things more closely than before.

Fortunately, there is a remedy. And it’s found in this season of thankfulness…

The German mystic, Meister Eckhart, is repute to have said that “if the only prayer you make is ‘thank you’, it will suffice. Thanksgiving is the virtue of interdependence, the recognition that our achievements are not fully our own, but emerge from a network of relationships that sustain and shape us, giving us the material from which we create our experiences moment by moment by moment. Thanksgiving as a spiritual practice reminds us that all of our gifts are communal as well as individual.”

Thanksgiving as a spiritual practice reminds us taht all of our gifts are communal as well as individual.  Now that's a theme that becomes apparent as the story of Stone Soup unfolds.  And it's a theme that emerges as Jesus feeds the 5000.

Let’s look at the stories a bit more closely. First the story of the 5000...

Jesus crossed Lake Galilee, which was also known as Lake Tiberias. A large crowd had seen him work miracles to heal the sick, and those people went with him. It was almost time for the Jewish festival of Passover, and Jesus went up on a mountain with his disciples and sat down. When Jesus saw the large crowd coming toward him, he asked Philip, "Where will we get enough food to feed all these people?" Philip answered, "Don't you know that it would take almost a year's wages just to buy only a little bread for each of these people?" Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the disciples. He spoke up and said, "There is a boy here who has five small loaves of barley bread and two fish. But what good is that with all these people?"

I wonder about the details of the story.  I wonder if there were really only five loaves of bread and two fish among the huge crowd that day? Or was that all the food that anyone who admit to when the disciples polled the crowd to find some food?

Along with other Bible Scholars and Theologians down through the ages, I find it difficult to imagine that that’s all there was. We know that when we leave home for an extended time, we plan ahead. We pack the things we need – including food, water, extra clothes, the list goes on and on. I can’t imagine that people living in that hot, harsh land, would leave their homes and villages so unprepared. Especially in a time when there wasn’t a Stewart’s on every corner. When you could just stop at the local deli and pick something up.

Now let me be clear. I raise the questions NOT to raise doubt about Jesus being able to multiply fish and loaves for thousands. I have no doubts that Jesus was able to do such miracles. I just wonder if the miracle done on that day was a miracle of a different nature. A miracle that involved a multiplication of glad and generous hearts.

Let’s say that the folks on the hillside that day did leave their homes and villages prepared. Could it be that most of them had bags of food and water? Could it be that when the disciples ask only a few were willing to offer up their loaves and fishes due to presence of fearful, untrusting and ungrateful hearts? Could it be that when the disciples came asking for offerings people thought to themselves “well, I have enough for myself and my family here … but if I offer it to everyone, it will be gone in no time at all …”? Could it be that most folks made a decision to keep their food hidden? Could it be that the only one who offered up his food was a small boy who didn’t know any better .. the one who hadn’t learned the cold, hard facts of life yet?

Yet, what looked liked scarcity is miraculously transformed into generosity as Jesus takes the small gifts, gives thanks and begins to distribute them. Could it be that Jesus’ own thankful heart was able to stir up the hearts of those who were there that day … to also open their hearts in thanksgiving? And as they opened their own hearts, could it be that they began to open their bags and break out their food and share it? And could it be that in that act of sharing they found abundance?

A multiplication of bread and fish is impressive, but ISN’T A MULTIPLICTION OF THANKFUL HEARTS AN EVEN GREAT, MORE FAR-REACHING MIRACLE?

Do you see? It’s one thing to physically multiply bread and fish once or twice two thousand years ago. To be able to open up cold closed human hearts, not just that day, but today and every day, is a miracle on a whole new level.

I know because I've been in situations where the absence of that kind of miracle has left me frustrated and confused - especially when it occurs in church.  But the good news is that I've also witnessed first-hand the profound difference that kind of miracle can make.  And many of those miracle experiences have occured right here at Journey.  We know how it works. We’ve seen it in action. It’s why we witness and serve and give as a church, as a faith community and not just alone. Cold closed heart conditions can be contagious, but so can giving generous hearts.

One person alone can’t make much of a different in a country like Uganda, but when we work together, when we team up, not only as a congregation, but also with others in the medical field and others with differing skills, we can really begin to make a difference … together! There’s a multiplication of generous and thankful hearts.

One person might not be able to go to Price Chopper and get all the food needed to feed an extra family this Thanksgiving. But when we work together, the grocery bags overflow and there is more than enough. There’s a multiplication of generous and thankful hearts.

One person alone would find it difficult to help a refugee family on their own. But remember earlier this fall when we worked together to put together a “welcome kit” for a new family? It was so much easier. There’s a multiplication of generous and thankful hearts.

It’s at heart of who we are as faith community.

In our world it’s easy to fall victim to the contagious effects of fearful, cold and closed hearts. Experts may tell us that the trends of the recession may be reversing, but most of us don’t feel it. We know people who are still unemployed and some of us face that fear daily. We feel the effects of cuts in our national budget, our state budget and our household budgets. We may still feel like we only have five loaves and two fish. Fearful hearts are all around us.

Yet, in the midst of what seems like an epidemic, I’ve seen the multiplication of generous and thankful hearts time and time again among the Journey family. It’s nothing short of a miracle.  For that reason, I come before you on this Stewardship Sundy when we make our "Faith Promises"- our pleges - for the new year expecting that same kind of miracle to take place again.  As we consider our comittment to this faith community and the work we do here, may the mireacle continue.  May the multiplication of generous and thankful hearts continue.

And as we enter into a time of Thanksgiving, followed by what we have come to know as the "Holiday Season", may be the antidote to the epideimic of cold, closed-hearted.  As we interact with others in our neighborhoods, at work, at the mall, in the midst of family may our sense of thanksgiving and generosity be contagious.  Together, with God's help, we can begin to be a force for change. 

Holiday "Wants" and Holiday "Needs"

Note:  Our blog for November is written by Marcy Corneil,  a member of our Leadership Team.  Marcy first presented these ideas as devotions at the beginning of our meeting.  Her reflections have been slightly revised below ...


We have several significant secular and religious holidays that begin in November and continue into December:

• Veterans’ Day: We recognize those who gave up their own safety to secure it for others.
• Thanksgiving Day: We gather to give thanks for the blessings we have received.
• Advent: We prepare for God’s gift to us … HOW?
• Christmas Day: ?????

We give honor, recognition, and thanks on the first two days, but how do we celebrate the last two periods?

How have we strayed this far from the stable? How have Advent and Christmas become a time of parties, decorations, and presents? How has it become a season when we pack so much in that we create unreasonable expectations of perfection? When magazines give us timetables and gift suggestions and stress relievers for something that is supposed to be sacred, I think we are out of alignment.

This reminds me of a request a friend made of me years ago, when his wife went back to work. He knew that I worked, and – from the outside – it looked as if I “had it all together.” He asked me to give her some tips on being a working wife and mother.

She was a good friend, and I wanted to retain that relationship. No way would I give her unasked for advice! But I did want to help. I recognized the situation she was in: trying to do everything she had done before going to work, then adding work time on top of that. As Tom would say, “Putting 10 pounds of sugar in a five pound bag.” So I asked her what she was going to give up, now that she was working outside the home.

Some Christians give up things for Lent, as they prepare for Easter.

I think it might also apply to Advent. And I may start by finding something that I don’t need to do, that has no relation to preparing to receive God as a person among us – and giving it up. Or I may try to fast for a day each week during Advent. I KNOW I will purchase fewer (no?) frivolous gifts that people have no need for.

If you read my daughter’s blog on her children, she has an amusing anecdote about 2 year old Henry and his whining as he adjusts to sharing the spotlight with a new sibling. IWANTMILKIWANTMILKIWANTMILK repeated endlessly prompted an ultimatum from his father: “If I hear IWANTMILK once more, I will leave the room.” After a pause, Henry replied, ‘INEEDMILKINEEDMILKINEEDMILK.’

At Christmas, God gave us what we NEEDED, not what we WANTED.

For Advent,


• I will give for needs, not wants.

• I will do what NEEDS to be done, not what others WANT me to do.

• And I will give up something – probably fast for a day each week -- to remind myself of those who have much less. (I picked this up from the Muslims we met at Al-Fatemah Islamic Center during Ramadan.)

Marcy Corneil

A Ramadan Visit

On Friday, September 3, members of Journey took a "field trip" to Al-Fatemah Islamic Center to share a Ramadan experience. We were welcomed and given a tour of the center (which is only about 7 years old and is home to over 100 families). Professor Mafi (a Professor at Union College) gave us an "Introduction to Islam" and the we joined the others upstairs for their evening prayers. Following prayers were were treated to the most delicious meal as we broke our fast together. We were treated like royalty! (their version of "the UCC extravagant welcome"). After dinner we continued our dialogue with members of the mosque. We asked questions about Islam; they asked questions about Christianity. As we departed we were presented with copies of the Qu'ran (with the promise we would not take them to Florida). The evening was a profoundly moving experience for us as we heard stories and shared laughter and tears. Plans are underway to invite our new friends over to Journey and to continue to explore our faith traditions together!

http://www.journeyucc.com/
http://www.alfatemahic.com/

Below are reflections by three members of our group: 

Journey goes to a mosque – what a unique opportunity, and one that is truly memorable! Hopefully, we have the beginning of a relationship that will be nurtured among believers of different faiths but corresponding values. This visit, billed as a sharing of Iftar with the Muslim community in Colonie, became an educational experience and a lesson in hospitality.


It began in the parking lot, when as soon as we were present in a group of four, a representative from the mosque came out an introduced himself. We were briefly separated by gender, since the women enter through the front door of the Mosque while men have a back door short cut! Removal of all shoes underlined the fact that we were entering a respected space. As females, we were asked to cover our heads, another tradition of respect that might be viewed as derogatory, but did not feel that way. Many present recalled the time when women were expected to wear a hat or kerchief to worship services in Christian churches.

A short seminar on the basics of Islam was given. Not a total propaganda session but rather a very interactive discussion that underlined the passion and depth of faith of those speaking. I wondered if I could be as eloquent and definitive if I were to provide a synopsis of my Christian beliefs. Readings from the Qur’an in the original Arabic were chanted, then translated for our benefit. Although many of our hosts are not native speakers of the language, their Qur’ans provide translations as well as analysis of the original text. A question and answer period was interrupted by the call to prayer.


Again separated by gender, we were invited to sit and observe the evening prayer. The women donned shawl-like garments, covering themselves completely except their faces. There seemed to be skill involved in the covering of one’s head and body with these garments; I could imagine myself completely tangled in cloth without being adequately covered.


Although the prayers are very structured, the women’s side of the mosque is a social place. Friends are greeted and babies fussed over while a steady stream of women come and go to participate in prayer. The prayers seemed quite ritualistic; moving from standing to nearly prostrate with foreheads to the ground while silently following the Imam’s chanted prayers. The ritual appeared to be passionately followed by some, while some seemed to follow the movements by rote.


The breaking of the fast was an impressive meal. Our visit was on a Friday, the most holy day of the week, and the dinner provided was fantastic. We were told that families volunteer to provide the food for Iftar, and that the food that day was of Afghani origin. The amount of food was impressive. No one could go hungry, even in a hall crowded with women and girls.


During dinner, our group was spread throughout the room, and various women welcomed us and shared their experiences with us. One lady provided education in the fundamental differences between Sunni and Shia Islam, while others shared their perspectives on life, faith, Ramadan, and Islam in America. Everyone made us welcome in their own way, sharing their food and their stories.


As dinner concluded, we received word that the question and answer session that had been cut short by the call to prayer could continue if we were willing to stay. To a person, our group embraced the chance to participate in further discussion with our hosts. As we moved back to a united group, many members of the Al-Fatemah community joined us, sharing the chance to answer our questions and relishing the opportunity to pose questions to us. The session became a learning experience for both guests and hosts. As the more formal questions dwindled and the session ended, informal conversations continued. It seemed no one wanted the experience to end!


Overall, the entire experience was incredibly positive. The Muslims we met were unfailingly welcoming and hospitable, and provided us with an unrivalled educational experience. In turn, we were able to demonstrate curiosity without bigotry, and could convey our desire to build an interfaith community that extends beyond Christian congregations. It is incumbent on us to ensure that the community which began on that Friday evening in Ramadan will continue and grow through the coming months.


Phyl Cunningham

Warm, welcoming introductions to a new way of worshipping. Separate entrance for women, wall cubbyholes for shoes. Graceful, flowing patterned drapes bowing in prayer – not in unison as the men, but in time with an inner rhythm. Chanted words spoken/sung in a language unfamiliar to me, but evocative of the Middle East. Helpful girls/women leading us to chairs, places of rest, the head of the sumptuous buffet line. English speakers ever present to explain, encourage, assure. Delightful, intelligent dinner conversation. A mixed-gender question and answer period, open communication, much in common. Gifts of the Qur’an made to individuals and to Journey. Closing prayer opportunity given to our pastor. One of the greatest evenings of my life.

Marcy Corneil

As usual for me, when I sign up for something like visiting the mosque, it seems like a great idea... and on the actual date of the event, I get the "what was I thinking, I don't have time for this" feeling. I am so glad I followed through. This was my first time in an all-day fast ever. Growing up Catholic, fasting meant not eating between meals! Not even drinking water from early morning to after sundown made me appreciate one small part of the Ramadan observation.

Professor Mafi was so engaging as he explained the parallels between our Christian faith and Islam. I learned that "Allah" is the Arabic word for "God" used in all faiths. The reader who "sung" the verses of the Koran had a beautiful voice. I liked the explanation of the women's modest dress -- the better to interact with women on the basis of the content of their minds, than the outlines of their bodies. But I was still a little irked by the separation of men and women; after all, I am a 1970s feminist who has chosen . This minor annoyance disappeared when we went to the women's side of the prayer room. The TV monitor showed it was all business -- prayer -- on the men's side. But on the women's side, the women prayed, greeted each other, interacted with children and other women. It was beautiful to see small girls and tweens take a prayer rug from the pile and quickly finish their prayers. I have to remind my daughter to keep her cell phone in her pocket during church services.

A few of the women urged us to go down quickly to room where the iftar, the meal to break the fast, was served, lest we find ourselves far back in the line of hungry women. They were so concerned for our comfort! "I hope the food will not be too spicy for you" I heard more than once. It was explained that the members of the mosque took turns cooking each day, and there were many ethnicities represented... Afghani, Iranian, Pakistani... Oh, my! Such delicious food! And time after time we were offered fruit, brownies, and more food. So gracious were our hostesses!

I was surprised when the entire community expressed a desire to have another, post-dinner question-and-answer period with us. They were as curious about us as we were about them! A lovely women in a red salwar kameez with matching headscarf described the difference between Sunni and Shia Muslims in a way that parallels our own Christian sects... the Sunnis being more fundamentalist, and the Shia believing that religion must evolve. This being a Shia mosque, the "lady in red" (oh, why am I so bad at remembering names?) was fascinated and excited about the when I told her about the UCC's "God is Still Speaking" message. Another parallel point between our faiths! We were offered, and accepted, copies of an English translation of the Koran. She was concerned that we might misinterpret some of the text that is, admittedly, harsh in today's world. She urged me to tell others to read it with an understanding of 5th century history... very harsh times when female babies had so little value they were buried alive. So, "beat your wife lightly" is an order to be more gentle. She also wanted us to know that the Koran is organized in chapters mainly for ease of recitation... each numbered line may be a separate pronouncement from God through Mohammad.... so one verse may be totally unrelated to the verse before it and the verse after it. Interesting -- and unlike the Bible.

I hope to have the opportunity to continue our exchange with our sisters in faith... a different faith, but the same God.


Amy Klein

Reflections on Uganda

This month's blog is written by one of youth, Sara Weinman.  Sara is a founding member of Engeye Youth Connection, a group committed to serving the needs of Dgeye village in Uganda.  It's a story of how youth can be empowered to make a difference in the community... and around the world.  Journey is extremely proud of ETC (Engeye Teen Connection and their passion to make a difference ...


I met Susan Nabukenya and John Kalule when they stayed with my family in the summer of 2008. I immediately decided to join the cause and try to make a difference in the lives of the youth of Ddegeya. I realized that while teens in the United States often complain about going to school, the kids where Susan lives can only dream of such an opportunity.  This fact and meeting Susan were the start of what now is  Engeye Teen Connection (ETC), a group whose goal is to raise funds for the Engeye Scholars Program. I also decided that I wanted to sponsor Wilber, an 8 year-old from the village, and ensure that he receive an education. I am working on many projects aimed at raising more money, including the Engeye Bracelet, which has already raised money for the Scholars Fund. I will be traveling to Uganda in February 2011, when I will finally get to meet the inspiring children of Ddegeya in person. I'm very lucky that I have so many people supporting what I'm doing, because I wouldn't be able to do any of this without the support of my family, friends, and Journey UCC. So many of them have given time and money to ETC whether its by buying a bracelet or by attending the ETC cafe night at my church, I wouldn't be able to do this without the people around me.

Sara Weinman

Robin Hood: Speaking Truth to Power

Movie Reviews, Video Clips and more reflections available at:  www.hollywoodjesus.com

Over the last decade our newspapers, TV and other media sources have been filled the scandals of politics and politicians.  John Edwards cheating on his cancer-stricken wife; S. Carolina Governor Mark Sanford’s steamy affair with his mistress in Argentina; Remember Rod Blagojevich’s bid to buy the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama'; and our very own Eliot Spitzer’s taste for high end prostitutes.  Those of us who live and work in New York State seem to be living in a constant state of disarray when it comes to politics and politicians

In the 2010 version of Robin Hood there are more than enough scandals to go around.

The film sets the scene with a picture of young Robin – an expert archer in King Richard’s army. It’s not a particularly pleasant picture. Richard himself has problems. He’s just returned from the crusades and as if that whole sage wasn’t bad enough, on the journey home, we find him sacking and plundering village after village, castle after castle. At this point in the drama, even Robin isn’t a particularly noble character. He’s concerned about one thing and one thing only – self-preservation and saving his own skin so he can make it back home alive. One review described Robin as “the poster child for post traumatic stress disorder.” He has killed countless people, destroyed property, plundered wealth and is uncertain of his role outside of war.

However things will soon change. As he learns that King Richard has died in the latest attempt to plunder a castle, Robin finds himself facing a new challenge and stands at a cross road where he is given the opportunity to redefine himself in a more favorable light. He travels to Nottingham to fulfill a promise he’s made to one of his fallen fellow warriors. His mission: to return the man’s sword to his aging father

When he arrives, he discovers a town suffering from the corruption of the evil sheriff and a system of excessive taxation that has left the commoners without a means of survival. Given the reality that his own childhood memories are missing, he quickly assumes the life of dead friend. It proves to be an opportunity to better himself and he soon finds himself living the life of a noble complete with the wife of the deceased soldier who will soon become his partner is opposing the various forms of corruption. Enter the take-charge, sword-bearing Maid Marion.

It becomes clear to Robin and the residents of Nottingham that even though the crusades were in a place far, far away, they have a crushing impact. Then, as now, wars weren’t cheap and somebody needed to pay. Prince John, who has now risen to the throne, has no problem placing a greater tax burden on the land-owners; the taxes are increased to a level where the entire country is on the brink of collapse.

Unfortunately, the picture of “the church” isn’t much brighter. If you’re familiar with the history of the time, you’ll know that “the church” and “the state” were rather strange bedfellows. Sadly, the church was just as guilty of imposing taxes and taking their non-so-fair share as well.

That’s where Robin takes on a new role as leader. Robin starts to recruit a small army and inspires them with this speech…


(INSERT VIDEO: THE SPEECH)


King John uses his power to bludgeon the people.  Robin knows the power should not be used to abuse, but to aid the people.
In many ways Robin Hood’s mission is similar to that of the Old Testament Prophets such as Jeremiah and Micah whose words we read earlier. They are people who challenged the status quo.

First another quick history lesson. Back in ancient times, Israel, in a desperate attempt to be like all the other nations begged God for a King. Against God’s warnings, they institute what will become a long legacy that can be described as “the good, the bad and the ugly”. They had some good kings and some bad kings; kings who honored God and kings who chose to ignore God; kings who embraced justice and mercy and kings who abused their power throwing justice and mercy out the window.

King John isn’t that much different from King Jehoiakim who is addressed by Jeremiah.  Jeremiah is told by God to say: "King Jehoiakim, you are doomed! You built a palace with large rooms upstairs.You put in big windows and used cedar paneling and red paint. But you were unfair and forced the builders to work without pay. More cedar in your palace doesn't make you a better king than your father Josiah. He always did right— he gave justice to the poor and was honest. That's what it means to truly know me. So he lived a comfortable life and always had enough to eat and drink. But all you think about is how to cheat or abuse or murder some innocent victim. Jehoiakim, no one will cry at your funeral. They won't turn to each other and ask, "Why did our great king have to die?" You will be given a burial fit for a donkey; your body will be dragged outside the city gates and tossed in the dirt. I, the Lord, have spoken."


Later, the prophet Micah would address another King and the faltering nation with these words: "What offering should I bring when I bow down to worship the Lord God Most High? Should I try to please him by sacrificing calves a year old? Will thousands of sheep or rivers of olive oil make God satisfied with me? Should I sacrifice to the Lord my first-born child as payment for my terrible sins? The Lord God has told us what is right and what he demands: "See that justice is done, let mercy be your first concern, and humbly obey your God."


Do We Need a Robin Hood? Do we need a prophet?
In the United Church of Christ, we’ve described those words and those actions as “speaking truth to power”

Robin Hood, bravely spoke truth the powers of his time in a bold attempt to confront the injustices of his day.The prophets spoke truth to the power of their time in a challenge to the status quo of their day. Robin is willing to be a bold leader.  He refused to stand by while others suffer innocently.  One reviewer describes him as “a man who loves others, who values truth, who works tirelessly, who refuses to let injustice go unchallenged.” Shouldn’t those be the characteristics we aspire to display in our own lives.


Thank goodness for characters like Robin Hood .. and for real people like Jeremiah and Micah, Jesus and Martin Luther King and Ghandi. They inspire us to believe in something bigger than ourselves. Can they also inspire us to stand up boldly against the wrongs of our own time?

Can we be bold? Can we speak truth to power in the big issues like the ones we’ve been discussing is past weeks – when it comes to war, environmental dangers, economic oppression, immigration reform, health care … the list goes on an on …

And can we be bold? Can we speak truth to power on the smaller scale in our own personal lives? When someone shares a racist joke? When someone demeans another in their words or in their actions? When is comes to our personal decisions that impact the lives of the those around us?

WWJD: The BP Oil Spill

A Sermon from Journey UCC on Sunday, July 11, 2010

Sermon Notes:  www.thedailygreen.org; 

“BP, You and Me”, a sermon by Dave Russell, First Baptist Church, Ames, IA, www.davidrussell.com/2010/06/bp-you-and-me-June-6-2010.html;  

“BP’s Oil Disaster: What Would Jesus Do?”, Don Gordon, Ethics Daily, www.ethicsdaily.com

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=bp+oil+spill&aq=f

It’s been going on for weeks now. In addition to the YouTube you just watched there are an abundance of bloggers, columnists and commentators weighing in on the oil spill. Daily we see images of oil slicks, tar balls, oil-soaked wildlife and more. The disaster seems to be growing out of control.


Thousands have lost their jobs. Fishermen who can’t fish. Shrimpers whose boats are not able to make their daily rounds. Those who harvest oysters whose livelihood has been most dramatically affected. Those who work in the hotels and restaurant industry who will not be able to keep their businesses open. Those who are out of work have children to feed and clothe. They have mortgages to pay and expenses to cover. Some of the communities most affected by the spill were not affluent areas to begin with. It’s hitting those who are least able to cope.


As in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, there are reports of sickness among those who are working to clean up the mess, spending day after day breathing in fumes from the oil-filled waters and beaches. There are the kinds of losses we don’t even know about yet.

There is good news: There is hope that a new containment cap will be installed this weekend which will greatly reduce the amount leaking in to the gulf each day; BP anticipates that by the end of the month the first of the relief wells will be completed and the flow might be cut off completely. Unfortunately, hurricane season is just starting up. The oil is moving quickly to coastlands near and far.

The easy answer might be that Jesus would simply raise his hands and start shouting out commands and miraculously heal the Gulf. Stop up the gusher , remove the oil, cleanse the beaches and heal the wildlife. The story of Jesus calming the waters of the Sea of Galilee comes to mind.


But the reality is that Jesus has intervened so dramatically since he left this earth nearly 2000 years ago. These days, he works through people to accomplish his purpose, so the question isn’t so much “What Would Jesus Do?” as “What Would Jesus Have US do?” What should WE be doing?

We see the images, we read the reports, we hear the news on a daily basis … yet, in some ways it feels like we are in some ways very disconnected from the whole thing. At times it feels very removed from us.But it’s NOT! We are all connected!!! Scientists understand that reality; a change to one part of the system will affect the whole. A biologist will tell you the same thing. As will social scientists, sociologists and psychologists and political scientists. The parts are all connected - in our ecosystem, in our relationships, in almost every aspect of our world. It’s something our faith teaches as well. Our readings for today bring home the point. We are connected to creation and we are connected to one another.

From the opening chapters of Genesis, we are told that human beings are to care for all of creation. Adam is instructed to till and keep the garden – to care for it. It is God’s good gift to humanity. We’ve done pretty well with the “tilling” part; we’ve not done so well with the “caring” part.


The earth has a great capacity to heal itself. But it is still fragile and when one part of creation suffers it has repercussions that we don’t often grasp. The oil spill threatens wetlands and coral reefs that serve as buffers and protect the mainland from storms. The dispersants that are being so widely deployed will have consequences we’re not aware of. Many fear they are more dangerous than the oil itself. We see the animals dying on the shore, but we don’t see what is happening in the depths of the ocean, an dhow those effects may ripple through the food chain.


Our actions have consequences. We do have the power to change the earth. The disaster serves as a reminder that we are all connected. Our constant need for more and better stuff and the choices we make about how we live leads to a huge dependence on oil; our need for oil leads to drilling in the ocean, our desire for quick profits leads to cutting corners which led to the disaster.


Fouled waters lead to fishing grounds being closed and plant and sea life dying and decreased travellers to the coast; all of this leads to businesses closing; which leads to people losing their jobs and eventually to coastal communities drying up. The connections go on and on.


And in the midst of the connections we’re reminded that we’re not only connected to creation, but we are also connected to one another. The Apostle Paul had a similar image in mind when he said that we are all part of the Body of Christ. We are interlocked with other human beings in the consequences of our actions, thoughts and feelings … not just here at Journey … but way beyond our geographical boundaries as well.


In many ways, the spill is a huge wake up call that reminds us that our actions which are often rooted in our materialism and our consumerism have an impact on people in other places. Our addiction to oil and failure to move toward clean, renewable energy will deeply affect our planet and the people we share this planet with.


The disaster in the gulf is a reminder of our connectedness.


So, what’s the answer? What would Jesus have us do?


We could make a long list: corporate responsibility, more regulations and oversight of industries with potential for such tremendous environmental damage, actions to protect waters, coastlands, plant and animal life, and people’s livelihoods.


But it's not just about "them"; it's also about "us"


Jim Wallis, from Sojourners, had a great article in the Times Union yesterday and if you haven’t ready, you can check out the link on Facebook. Here’s what Jim has to say early on in the crisis: “We literally need a conversion of our habits of the heart, our energy sources, and our lifestyle choices. And somebody will need to lead the way. Who will dare to say that an economy of endless growth must be confronted and converted to an economy of sustainability, to what the Bible calls stewardship? What about the community of faith?”


We’ve started to take his words to heart. As a church, we use energy efficient light bulbs, we don’t use paper towels or paper plates or paper cups. On a personal level, most of have taken steps to avoid gas guzzlers, to purchase energy efficient appliances. We try to support initiatives that are sustainable and earth-friendly. But can we do more?

What will be our next steps….

WWJD: Immigration Reform

What Would Jesus Do?: Immigration Reform
a sermon from Journey United Church of Christ, Delmar, NY
(with references to resources from the www.ucc.org and www.sojo.org (see Sermon Notes at end)
Sunday, July 4, 2010

Several months ago the state of Arizona received nation-wide attention with proposition SB 1070, a proposal that would give law enforcement officials the right to demand that folks be prepared, upon request, the paperwork supporting their legal status as residents or citizens of our country. While some supported the new move as a necessary means to address the issue of those who crossed the border illegally”, others across the nation rallied in outrage pointing out that the measure amounted to nothing more than racial profiling that would result in the harassment of Latinos in the state.


The United Church of Christ jumped on board by raising money of an ad campaign that opposed proposition. The issue isn’t new to the UCC. For years the Justice and Witness Ministries have been working towards immigration reform. For the last 2 years, frustrated over the failure to pass a comprehensive reform package, they have designated the first Sunday in May as “Immigration Rights Sunday”.


I’ll admit that up until this week, I wasn’t really all that knowledgeable about the movement. I’d get news blurbs here and there … but this series have me a great excuse to dig a little deeper in a quest for understanding. I still have a long way to go … but I think I have a better understanding of what Jesus would do in response to issues related to immigration.


Now Jesus didn’t come right out and address the issue of immigration and proposition SB- 1070. He lived in a different time and a different place. But based on what he did say and what he did do, I think we can paint a pretty good picture of how he would respond… a lot of our attitudes in life are developed in those early formative years … and the same was true for Jesus…Remember that Jesus was raised a good Jewish boy which means he was schooled in ancient Israel’s understanding of the land and the ancient rules of hospitality.


First a word about the land: The Psalmist says “the earth is God’s and all that is in it … this is not our land nor our wealth … it is God’s land. (Psalm 24:1) God, in an incredibly act of hospitality allowed us to be stewards of the land. All good things of creation are gifts of God held in trust for the good of the whole human family. It’s important because a lot of how we feel about those who cross our boarder is based on fear about how it will affect OUR land, OUR resources, OUR stuff…Perhaps it would do us well to remember that what we have – all we have – is God’s, not ours. We have no right to abuse the earth, nor to hoard its wealth. Jesus “got” that … it was at the core of his being … from the beginning..


But beyond the understanding of the land, Jesus would have also had a deep understanding of and appreciation for the ancient rules of hospitality … Hospitality is one of the grand themes of the Bible. When the people of Israel wander in the wilderness, God provides them with manna and water, as a gracious host. When the refugees finally enter the Promised Land and settle down, they are told them must follow God’s gracious example. Love the sojourner” it says in the book of Deuteronomy, for you yourselves were one sojourners in the land of Egypt. “


Ourscripture we heard from the Hebrew law “When a foreigner resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress that alien. The foreigner who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the foreigner for you were aliens in the land of Egypt and I the Lord your God”.


The people of Israel are called to remember their own experience with a border and what it meant to be strangers in a new land …And not only were they required to accept the foreigners in their midst, they also had to care for them, provide for them, and share with them. Again form their law code “when you harvest your fields, do not cut the grain at the edges of the field and do not go back to cut the heads of the grain that were left. Leave them for the poor and the foreigners. For I am the lord your God (Lev 19:9-10)


In Duet we read “at the end of every third year, bring the tithe of all your crops and store it in your towns. This food is for the Levites since the own no property and for foreigners, orphans, and widows who live in your town. They are to come get all they need. (Duet 14:28)


Now think about that. Can you imagine a large corporate American farm inviting immigrants from Mexico to share the harvest? Or imagine one of the big stores at the mall holding back a portion of their spring collection to give recent immigrants from Haiti. The biblical stuff is challenging. It’s not easy; and it’s often at odds with our affluent 20th century lifestyle. .. and perhaps we justify our fears by saying “but that was ancient Israel”, “those were the old rule”, “all of that stuff isn’t relevant for us today ….

But then there’s the very life of Jesus Himself…. The theme of “hospitality continues in his story.

Every Christmas we retell the story of a poor, young, unwed mother who gave birth to a child in a manger. Then that mother and her husband had to feel from political repression. They had to escape the tyranny of Herod just as people today escape the tyranny in some countries around this world Mary, Joseph and the child race to the border with Egypt and they were allowed to cross. They weren’t stopped as checkpoint. They didn’t have to produce paperwork showing they were “legal”. No, they simply crossed the border, found sanctuary in a new land and stayed there until it was safe to return. Jesus was a refugee child, an immigrant himself.  Jesus would live his life without regard for the status of those who he routinely encountered. He didn’t define them by resident, alien, citizen or non-citizen; he routinely interacted with those whom others regarded as less than desirable – the tax collectors, the prostitutes, the poor, the widows, the children … Jesus would go on to teach that acts of hospitality are actually the prime indicator of a person’s relationship with God.

Here in the United States we continue our conflicting tradition of hospitality and hostility towards the stranger.


Benjamin Franklin once noted, “America has hailed newcomers to its shores as the bulwark of democracy; however in times of crisis, it has also used the foreign born as a scapegoat for unsolved social problems.”


For the first hundred years, the United States welcomed immigrants with open arms. In 1819, Congress encouraged immigration by setting stands for the passenger ships to make the voyage to America more comfortable. Only after the frontier was settled in the late 1800s did limits on immigration being. Ironically, just as the Statute of Liberty in 1886 began welcoming Immigrants into New York’s harbor, the United Stated began turning them away. The list of who is NOT allowed has grown and become longer and longer over the years.
A Newsweek survey most Americans today think immigration was a good think in our nations’ past – it helped make us who we are. But 60% of the people in that survey said immigration is a bad thing now.


What to do?



It occurs to me that the first step in reversing the trend and reclaiming our role as God’s hospitality team is to get the right information. To get an education. I believe that, as American’s we’ve been given a lot of false information when it comes to immigration. I’ve inserted some information from Sojourners magazine entitled “10 Myths About Immigration”. I challenge you to spend some time looking it over and see if you feel you’ve got the right information.


Once we get accurate information, then we can more clearly determine our next steps. One pastor put it this way … “Each of us must struggle with this issue for ourselves - - To listen to our “Still Speaking” God. My faith requires that I take a closer look at Immigration reform and call for borders that are more open and free. To do otherwise is a symbol of greed. This is God’s land. I am but a steward without the right to keep others away.
In a day of scape-goating, of fear, of what to me is clearly racist immigrant bashing I think those of us who ask “What would Jesus do” need a bigger vision and deeper hope.  Do remember the divine question, when I was hungry, did you feed me, when I was thirsty did you give me a drink, when I was naked did you clothe me, when I was a stranger, did you welcome me. The spirit of God swells in each person seeking to cross our border whether from Mexico or Haiti, Poland or China. Do we dare look upon those strangers and not welcome them?
“Truly I say to you, just as you did not do to the least of these, so you did not do it to me..”


What will we do with the stranger in need?

Sermon Notes:
• Why I Don’t Believe in Borders, Rev. Jerald Stinson, Pilgrim United Church of Christ, Carlbad, California, 1993, www.ucc.org/justice/immigration
• `No Human Being is Illegal, Rev. Loren McGrail, 2009 www.ucc.org/justice/immigration
• I Was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me”: Sermon Resources on Immigration, Sojourners, www.sojo.net/immigration

Church Without a Steeple

Change is gut-wrenching.  If it ain’t broke, why fix it?  So just how broken (or broke) do you have to be before you embrace change?

One of the earliest hand games I used to play was the old “Here is the church, here is the steeple, open the doors and see all the people.”  If it has a steeple, it must be a church.  Of course, churches MUST have steeples.  How else would you know it’s a church?  It’s traditional!

Since when?

The earliest followers of Jesus met in Jewish synagogues, then in homes, then in catacombs.  (Eek!  Americans are so uncomfortable with death.  We avoid it, don’t want to talk about it, and deny its inevitability for us personally.  But that’s a whole other topic.)

The church I now belong to first met in a bar.  (What other building is vacant on a Sunday morning?)  We now rent space in an orthodontist’s building.  (Oh, yeah.  That’s not used much on Sundays either.)

We intentionally plan NOT to own a building.  This will free up our time, energy, and money to concentrate on Jesus’ charge to us:  take care of my sheep.  There are so many to be fed, both locally and around the world.

But how will we BE the church in a building without a steeple?  To quote the Peter Scholtes song, “They’ll know we are Christians by our love.”  And we’re working on it.  Discovering it as we move forward into new territory.

Marcy Corneil
Journey UCC