May 2020
Listening for God is Political. One of the downsides to listening for God’s small, still voice is the fact that we may hear deeply. And when we hear deeply we may be stirred from our complacency, which is the core of our comfort zones. We see this in the words of our prophets. They were people who felt fiercely. Abraham Joshua Heschel wrote “Prophecy is the voice that God has lent to the silent Agony, a voice to the plundered poor, to the profaned riches of this world. It is a form of living, a crossing point of God and humanity”. In our own, perfectly natural self-centeredness, we may actually be callous to the miseries of the world. We may even be oblivious or callous to our own callousness, unaware of our insensitivity. But once we step away from our self-centeredness, our false self, our barking ego, to learn and practice to be still, so that God can be heard, and manifest in us, we will hear deeply. And then, of course, we will feel deeply, and be disturbed. In the Gospel of Thomas, Jesus said “The Seeker should not stop until he finds. When he does find, he will be disturbed. After having been disturbed, he will be astonished. Then he will reign over everything.” You have heard me speak before about the dynamic and connection between religion and politics. There are people who claim that politics has no place in religion. Our teacher Mahatma Gandhi famously said “Those who believe religion and politics aren’t connected don’t understand either.” And it’s interesting that both are topics that are considered off limits for polite conversation. There is a precedent for people of faith being non-political. After all, politics is of the world, and we are called to be in the world, not of it. Some believe that this means we are to rise above polarization, condemning extremism while seeking principled common ground. That sounds like a good compromise. Yet Revelation 3:16 states “So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” During my time in the Quaker community I learned how to be in dialogue with people who had completely different political opinions. It involved hearing them out, asking questions to understand their position, and then simply saying that I didn’t agree with them and that I believe differently — without anger or rancor or bitterness. This was not easy, because it’s counterintuitive. We tend to have our beliefs, we draw a line in the sand, and then we fall on a sword defending that line. The other side of the coin experienced in my time in the Quaker Community was the focus on witnessing faith in action, Continued… Page 2 THE SPIRE actually acting out what one believes. Since their very inception, Friends have been at the vanguard of justice movements and nonviolent resistance. The Quaker Peace Testimony, presented to King Charles II in 1660, states “We utterly deny all outward wars and strife, and fightings with outward weapons, for any end, or under any pretence whatever; this is our testimony to the whole world. The Spirit of Christ by which we are guided, is not changeable, so as once to command us from a thing as evil, and again to move us unto it; and we certainly know, and testify to the world, that the Spirit of Christ, which leads us unto all truth, will never move us to fight and war against any man with outward weapons, neither for the Kingdom of Christ, nor for the kingdoms of this world…” The reality is, especially in the light of this being an election year, that if we are truly followers of Jesus we need to get our ducks in a row. Some of my friends who are not Christian (and if you don’t have friends who aren’t Christian you don’t get out enough) have asked me with all sincerity how I can consider myself a Christian, given the behavior of our Evangelical, right-wing supporting brothers and sisters. I find it a wonderful opportunity for me to explain Progressive Christianity and its role since the very beginning of being a voice and engaging in advocacy for the marginalized, the disenfranchised, the oppressed, and the underdog. And in all truth, I can’t see how I, as a follower of Jesus of Nazareth, can do otherwise. Here are some points in the rationale behind that thinking: Love. When Jesus was asked to summarize all of his teachings he said “Love God, and love your neighbor as yourself.” Now what he meant by ‘neighbor’ was not a vague reference to the people who live next door. He clearly meant every person, including outcasts, including those who we tend to keep at arm’s length. This was made very clear in the parable of the Good Samaritan. So when we think of loving our neighbor, that means that we include Muslims, Jews, atheists, people of different political persuasions, people of a different economic class, immigrants, people who are incarcerated, addicts, criminals — really, we don’t get to exclude anyone. Most Christians would readily agree with that. Were I to say to them “Of course I love black people, I love white people, I love Asian people, I love Hispanics, I love the poor, I love children, I love the handicapped, I love the elderly”, most folks would reply “Good for you!” But were I to go further and say, following Jesus’ command to love our enemies, “I love Vladimir Putin. I love Pol Pot. I love my neighbor’s junkie son. I love John Gotti.” Or think of someone you really despise in politics… then my audience would say “Wait a minute! Who do you think you are?!” Continued… THE SPIRE Page 3
It’s at this point, where Jesus said love your enemy, that many Christians stop listening. Now, they don’t say “Okay, that’s it Jesus! I’m done with you.” Instead they just indicate a clear line of demarcation: one side is people who are evil, and the other side of the line are the people that are good people. This kind of duality gives us the Just / Unjust War Theory. It says we can kill some people to save more other people, and it is behind the logic of people who are against abortion, but for capital punishment. But the command to love our enemy can’t be just dismissed easily. It’s not marginal or peripheral to our faith. It is the core of our faith. When Jesus tells us to love our enemies, he’s telling us to love others the way God loves us, unconditionally. Without condition. Now it doesn’t mean that we have to be nice to everyone. But it does mean we have to be kind to everyone. Yes, I know that seems nuanced. Everyone wants to be loved, and no one likes to be loved conditionally. If Jesus and his teachings are not shaking us up then we’re not really hearing them. It is often said that if a pastor doesn’t make you uncomfortable, she isn’t doing her job. It’s also said that the function of a sermon should either be to comfort the afflicted, or afflict the comfortable. The second point is that God is our father / mother, our loving parent. This means that we are all children of God. This is what the New Testament teaches us. And it is the basic theology of peace. It is truly taught in all of the major wisdom traditions and religions of the world. Any child can wrap their head around this thought. Some Christians believe that faith and obedience are required before one can be seen as a child of God. But that flies in the face of the Creation story. The Book of Genesis tells us that after God made humanity, “God saw everything he had made, and indeed, it was very good.” God did not create humanity, and say “Okay, only the ones who follow me through this specific religious path and do these specific things are very good. The rest — eh. Not so much.” God creates humans and says it is very good. End of story. This is the core of my belief: that if Grace is true, everyone is saved. We are loved by God, each one of us, and we are all commanded to love one another, including our enemies. And we are most definitely commanded not to kill one another. In our Adult Bible Study on the ten commandments we covered Leonard Felder’s reinterpretation, in which he interprets the Commandment to not kill one another as “Do not crush the spirit of another person.” Including our enemies. We are called to righteousness. That means we are called to the work of Justice. “Blessed are those who thirst for righteousness” refers directly to one who desires to see all of God’s good Creation experience justice, mercy, and compassion in the name of God’s love. Jesus taught us to pray with the words “Our father. (Of course, in Aramaic this could also could mean Creator, loving parent, mother / father God, and other parental imaging.) But if we deny that all of us are siblings, all God’s children, then we are expressing some sort of implicit disbelief in God. We’re denying God’s existence as the source of our common being. Continued… Page 4 THE SPIRE
Just think of racism, or militarism. There is a clear bond between them, and that bond is the belief that some people are God’s children and some people are not, so therefore I can kill some people and still please God because I’m saving other people. If I believe that, then I have judged them as ‘less than’, as ‘other’. Matthew 7: 1-3 tells me very clearly that I do not get to judge other people. Period. Then there is the almost unlimited, infinite value of the human person. Each of us carries that of God within us. When I was a kid I was taught, via Catholic theology, that if I was the only person in the universe, Jesus would have offered his life for me. So how then am I to treat others? Our teacher Ramana Maharshi was asked that question, and replied “There are no ‘others’.” We are all one, all children of God. In this strange period of isolation we have been given down time — to spare. As you sit in prayer or meditation, as you take a quiet walk, add a prayer for those who push your buttons, who tick you off, those who — in your worse moments — you think less worthy of respect. Pray for those you consider to be your enemy. Pray that they are healthy, that they are loved, that they find peace and serenity in their lives. And then pray that God leads you to stand with and show up for those who have no voice, who are left behind. In doing so you will have left your comfort zone, and heard the small, still voice of God, and taken a stand for those who need you.
And that is profoundly political. All blessings to each of you, Dear Ones. Rev.
Calling All Those Sheltering in Place… The SPIRE newsletter is dreadfully short on NEWS! Whether you’re old, young, single, married, employed, unemployed, busy, or bored… we need to know how you’re doing and how you are coping in this new socially isolated world. And your kids, too, if you have them—what are they doing, HOW are they doing? We need to catch up and keep up with each other! As we go forward in uncharted territory, we need to hold onto our love for and fellowship with each other, now more than ever! Any small anecdote, picture, even just a sentence that you are willing to share will be greatly appreciated! Please email [email protected]. PLEASE! THE SPIRE Page 5
Welcome to Virtual Church! Rev.
SUNDAY WORSHIP Instead of live Z00M services, we are now sharing worship on Sundays with a video of the service that has the music, welcome, prayers, readings, and sermon all contained. You can click and watch/participate at whatever time is good for you. Emails go out Sunday mornings with a simple, single click link to the day’s video.
COFFEE HOUR ~ FELLOWSHIP Starting at 11:45 each Sunday, we WILL be gathering via ZOOM for Coffee Hour. Grab a cup of tea, coffee, juice, and join in! Just click on the provided link. Coffee Hour will begin with a prayer and a check in.
SUNDAY SCHOOL Sunday School now also via ZOOM — set for 12 noon on Sundays. To attend Sunday School class, click on the provided link.
WEDNESDAY SPIRITUAL CONNECTION ~ Facebook Weekly Spiritual Connection video messages from Reverend Jack are posted on the church’s Facebook page “Haworth Congregational United Church of Christ”.
The Return of SLOW MOTION ADULT BIBLE STUDY! We are returning to Slow Motion Adult Bible Study via ZOOM on a new evening and time: Mondays at 7:30 PM, starting Monday, May 4th. Our members and members of First Congregational Church of Montclair will combine into one class. We will be picking up in The Book of Acts.
Please note: The Church office is being manned from home by Church Administrator, Jackie Martin. Please feel free to call the office (201.384.1063) or email ([email protected]) regarding any need. Page 6 THE SPIRE
Six Feet is NOT a Great Distance by Alice Marcus
On Easter Sunday morning at 9am, five neighbors who live at Sutton Place Apartments celebrated Easter on a large grassy patch of ground behind the gazebo. Prior to Easter I had written out an invitation to come sing hymns, accompanied by my oboe, and have some prayers. To assure the 6’ safety distance, I had kept the numbers small.
At 6am I had been worried about the below 40 degree temperature from the night air. You can’t blow warm air into an oboe if the outside of the oboe is cold — it will crack the bore of the instrument. At 8am I had placed a weather thermometer on a music stand at the site and checked regularly. By 9am, the sun, slanting across this patch of grass (and a small concrete basketball court where I positioned the music stand) warmed things up to 64 degrees.
My neighbors arrived. Another neighbor who exercises in this area saw us and said, “Oh, is this the choir”? Join us, we said.
We sang; we prayed; each person lifted up to God appreciation for the moment of Resurrection of Christ. Each person attending regularly attends church, so we represented five churches in the Pascack Northern Valley. All of us doubted we had ever missed an Easter Service. Well, I wasn’t in church on 3/26/1967 but I listened to a service on the radio as Murad and I traveled across the Pennsylvania Turnpike returning to NJ, the day after out wedding in Western Pennsylvania. We couldn’t afford a honeymoon but were joyous to have a three-day weekend. Easter was celebrated.
So, too, Easter was celebrated during a pandemic and will be celebrated forever. THE SPIRE Page 7
Have you read...? Rev. Jack’s reading recommendation for the month!
Dorothy Day: Dissenting Voice of the American Century By John Loughery and Blythe Randolph. Simon and Schuster.
Biographers Loughery (Dagger John) and Randolph (Charles Lindbergh) deliver a painstakingly detailed portrait of Catholic social activist Dorothy Day (1897–1980). Born in Brooklyn, Day experienced “genteel poverty” before her sportswriter father found work at a staunchly Republican newspaper in Chicago. After a short college stint, she moved to New York City, started writing for left-wing dailies, and by age 19 was part of a bohemian Greenwich Village scene that included Eugene O’Neill and Jews Without Money author Mike Gold (Day dated both men). Though she would later declare, “All my life, I have been haunted by God,” it was Day’s desire to baptize her daughter — who was born out of wedlock in 1926 — that catalyzed her conversion to Catholicism. With French theologian Peter Maurin, she founded the Catholic Worker newspaper in 1933 and became the charismatic and controversial leading voice of a social justice movement. Day defended conscientious objectors, ran afoul of the Archdiocese of New York, and, at age 75, spent two weeks in jail for joining Cesar Chavez’s United Farm Workers Strike. Loughery and Randolph skillfully capture the varied atmospheres of Day’s diverse milieus and offer valuable insight into her lifelong intellectual awakening. Readers interested in progressive causes will find inspiration in this granular biography of a “mesmerizing, demanding, paradoxical woman.”
~ Publishers Weekly Page 8 THE SPIRE Many Hands at work…
First to pitch in and get involved, turning out hundreds of masks for BMTF with her from the Suburbanite… expert sewing ability, Emma Nathanson continues to mass-produce these badly needed masks.
of fabric from Victoria, tears them into usable sizes and delivers them to Carol Stegall and Jen Chin who iron and mark the fabric into rectangles, using a cardboard pattern. Carol then delivers the marked fabric to Jan Farrington who cuts each layered rectangle out, using her magical electric scissors, left from her days of sewing clothes. Rose collects the ready-to-sew pieces and delivers them back to Victoria, who has amassed an army of sewers including herself. Lastly, the finished products are delivered to front-line medical professionals. It’s a work of love and we are Four members of our congregation have formed a happy to be able to do something small team, part of a much larger group of volunteers helpful in this time of such need. founded by Victoria Pero (Bergen Mask Task Force) who are making cloth face masks for hospitals and other Want to get involved? See next health care facilities. Rose Pero collects large donations page for information! THE SPIRE Page 9 Page 10 THE SPIRE
From Patricia Espy, Director, Center for Food Action Friends, I am so very grateful for your past support. As we face the current crisis, I want to let you know what we’re doing at Center for Food Action to continue serving our community. Your help allows us to continue our vital work and goes a long way in making sure folks don’t go hungry. Like every business and organization, CFA finds itself in uncharted territory. Over the past several weeks, we have entirely changed our distribution model to operate with substantially fewer volunteers. In accordance with new social distancing procedures, we have implemented an emergency food distribution system to help as many people as possible, while keeping our clients, volunteers, and staff safe. The new appointment-only, drive-up distribution is working well. Before this pandemic, we served an average of 4,000 people per month. In our first month of COVID-19 response, we have provided food to over 7,220 people. Access to funds is of critical importance during the upcoming weeks because we must purchase food in bulk for streamlined distribution. This crisis will be with us for months, not weeks, so we ask you, our supporters, our fellow champions against hunger, to help with a monetary gift. Thank you for helping us to continue our important work. With warmest appreciation and wishes for your good health, Patricia Espy
The COVID-19 outbreak and quarantine of communities has caused many households to lose their income, putting them at increased risk of hunger. Understandably, the CFA is not accepting food donations at this time, but if you would like to make a monetary donation, please visit www.cfanj.org or mail to: CFA Emergency Food Donations 192 West Demarest Avenue Englewood, NJ 07631 THE SPIRE Page 11
Our sympathy… throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s and always counted the days until Frank Beeckman “Doc” Hoefle, of spring training began. Haworth, passed away peacefully in his He was predeceased by his sleep on Sunday, April 19, 2020. wife, Patricia, and is survived by his His health had deteriorated son Frank and daughter-in-law considerably in the past year Lauren, his granddaughters and his respiratory system Madeline and Samantha, and was not good. Despite his beloved cat Cookie. Rev. that, Frank had been Jack has spoken with his son attending Church regularly Frank, and conveyed the on Sundays until the virus congregation’s condolences, shut us down. Rev. Jack making himself available to had spoken with Frank a few him and the family if needed. days before his passing and his Son Frank was most appreciative usual kind, upbeat attitude and sends his love to the was still evident. A graduate congretation. He has very of Harvard Medical School, fond memories of the Frank served on the USS church, Sunday School, Repose in Vietnam before Coffee Hour and was going into private medical so glad to hear from us. practice at Columbia Condolences can be sent Presbyterian Hospital. In to Frank and Lauren Hoefle, addition to the pride he 20l South Highwood Ave, took in helping his patients, The Hoefle Family from a long Glen Rock, NJ 07452. he was happy to serve as ago Church Directory Such a dear, sweet man, team ophthalmologist Dr. Hoefle will be deeply for the New York Mets missed from our midst.
Remember to stop by our Facebook page (Haworth Congregational United Church of Christ) for Wednesday Spiritual Connections, prayers and now full Sunday worship videos. Page 12 THE SPIRE
Food For Thought… “God wills our liberation, our exodus from Egypt. God wills our reconciliation, our return from exile. Virtual Sunday School Continues! God wills our enlightenment, our The Shepherd and the Sheep seeing. God wills our forgiveness, Alice Marcus, Teacher our release from sin and guilt. God wills that we see ourselves as God’s On Sunday, 5/3 our Z00M Sunday School class beloved. God wills our resurrection, read the scriptures from John 10: 1-10 and had our passage from death to life. a good discussion about who can enter the gate God wills for us food and drink that for the sheep. Definitely not robbers or thieves. satisfy our hunger and thirst. God Please note, as did the children, that this lovely wills, comprehensively, our well- Malamute dog is INSIDE the gate guarding being — not just my well-being as the sheep (who are conveniently, for my story, an individual but the well-being of around the corner and not open to view). all of us and of the whole of creation. In short, God wills our salvation, our healing, here on earth. The Christian life is about participating in the salvation of God.” ~ Marcus J. Borg The God We Never Knew: Beyond Only Jesus can enter the gate and call the Dogmatic Religion to a More Authentic sheep who know his voice, as does the dog. Contemporary Faith Our Sunday School children are clear that God knows their voice and will keep them safe. Pastor Jack visited the class and encouraged the children to be good shepherds to others as Jesus is for all of us. THE SPIRE Page 13
Submitted by John Johl— from his Retired Episcopal Priest friend… But the sound wasn’t depressed. Why, this sound was triumphant! It couldn’t be so! But it grew with abundance!
©2020 This Side of Heaven Blog The world stared around, popping its eyes. Then it shook! What it saw was a shocking surprise! Each saint in each nation, the tall and the small, was late in ‘19 when the virus began, T Was celebrating Jesus in spite of it all! Bringing chaos and fear to all people, each land. People were sick, hospitals full, It hadn’t stopped Easter from coming! It came! Doctors overwhelmed, no one in school. Somehow or other, it came just the same! And the world with its life quite stuck in quarantine s winter gave way to the promise of spring, A Stood puzzling and puzzling. The virus raged on, touching peasant and king. “Just how can it be?” People hid in their homes from the enemy unseen. They YouTubed and Zoomed, social-distanced, “It came without bonnets, it came without bunnies, and cleaned. It came without egg hunts, cantatas, or money.” Then the world thought of something it pril approached and churches were closed. A hadn’t before. “There won’t be an Easter,” the world supposed. “Maybe Easter,” it thought, “doesn’t come from a store. “There won’t be church services, and Maybe Easter, perhaps, means a little bit more.” egg hunts are out. No reason for new dresses when we can’t go about.” And what happened then? Well…the story’s not done. oly Week started, as bleak as the rest. H What will YOU do? The world was focused on masks and on tests. Will you share with that one “Easter can’t happen this year,” they proclaimed. Or two or more people needing hope in this night? “Online and at home, it just won’t be the same.” Will you share of the source of your life in this fight? aundy Thursday, Good Friday, the days M The churches are empty — but so is the tomb, came and went. And Jesus is Victor over death, doom, and gloom. The virus pressed on; it just wouldn’t relent. So this year at Easter, let this be our prayer, The world woke Sunday and nothing had changed. As the virus still rages all around, everywhere. The virus still menaced, the people, estranged. May the world see hope when it looks ooh pooh to the saints,” the world was grumbling. “P at God’s people. “They’re finding out now that no Easter is coming. May the world see the Church is not a “They’re just waking up! I know just what they’ll do! building or steeple. Their mouths will hang open a minute or two, May the world find Faith in Jesus’ death and And then all the saints will cry boo-hoo. resurrection, “That noise,” said the world, “would be May the world find Joy in a time of dejection. something to hear.” May 2020 be known as the year of survival, So it paused and the world put a hand to its ear. And it did hear a sound coming through all the skies. But not only that - It started down low, then it started to rise. Let it start a revival. Page 14 THE SPIRE
As Stuart tidied up the kitchen after dinner, he realized the broom had been left outside on the porch. “Cindy, go out back and get the broom, please.” Cindy was scared and reminded her dad she was afraid of the dark. “Don’t worry, Cindy, Jesus is out there to watch over you.” Cindy went over to the back door, opened it a crack, and whispered, “Jesus, could you please hand me the broom?”
“Your Holiness,” a cardinal gasped as he ran into the pope’s office, “Jesus just rode into the Vatican on a donkey. What do we do?” The pope looked up from his work and replied, “Look busy.”
May Birthdays 2 Rachel Wilson Sabrina Wilson 8 Bruce Zahor 9 Maya Nathanson 11 Greg Gilpatrick 23 Justin Aiosa 26 Kathryn Martin 27 Justine Aiosa Joe Baldacci THE SPIRE Page 15
How can we support our CHURCH during COVID 19? While we are unable to gather for worship during the Coronavirus pandemic, our place of worship must still be maintained and our utility and other bills must be paid. Not being able to offer our space for rental opportunities creates additional financial burden. Our church needs our ongoing support now more than ever. How can we give? Please consider one of the options below. Choose what works best for you and know that you are supporting our church home where we will once again join together to worship in our beautiful sanctuary when this crisis is under control. Please give as generously as your situation allows. May God bless you and keep you safe and well.
1. CHECK — Please write out a check made payable to First Congregational UCC and mail it to 276 Haworth Avenue, Haworth, NJ, 07641.
2. ONLINE BANKING — Use your bank’s online “Bill Pay” option to make your donation. On your bank’s website, choose “Bill Pay”, enter First Congregational UCC as the payee, choose the “Mail a check” option, and enter our mailing address.
3. WEBSITE DONATION — Go to our website: www.haworthucc.org, click on “DONATIONS”. Choose “GIVE THROUGH Tithe.ly”. Enter the amount, select the type of donation (Offering, for example) and enter your name, e-mail address & phone number. You can choose to set this as a recurring donation also — Once and done! Please note there is a nominal fee for using Tithe.ly, but you can choose to “Cover Fees” by checking that box, insuring the church gets your full donation. To use a debit or credit card, the fee is 2.9% plus a 30 cent transaction fee. For bank payment (electronic check), the fee is 1% plus a 30 cent transaction fee. For example, a $20 donation made by a debit/ credit card would result in a total fee of 88 cents. The same donation made by electronic check would result in a total fee of 50 cents.
Whichever way you choose to give, please know how grateful we are, how cherished you are and how blessed we all are. Thank you!
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Sunday, May 10th
First Congregational UCC 276 Haworth Avenue Haworth, NJ 07641 201.384-1063 [email protected] www.haworthucc.org Church Office Hours M–F 9am–1pm Interim Pastor Rev. Jack Cuffari Christian Education Volunteer Members Church Administrator Jackie Martin Music Director Dr. Olga Stepanova Moderator Jeff Gardner Editor Jen Chin