DOCSLIB.ORG

The Changing Role of the Church in Disasters

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Changing Role of the Church in Disasters VIRGINIA COUNCIL OF CHURCHES 62nd Annual Meeting • November 15–16, 2006 November 15 • Greater Ebenezer AME Church: Coordinating Cabinet, Dinner and Worship November 16 • Emergency Operations Center: Annual Meeting, Installation of Officers, Luncheon and Symposium • Photo ID required The Changing Role of the Church in Disasters There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:4–6 or sixty-two years the Virginia Council of Churches has sought in humility and gentleness to make every effort to maintain the Funity of Christ in the bonds of peace within the Commonwealth. We are presently 36 member bodies from 18 Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox denominations. While joined in prayer for one another and engaging in conversation with one another in matters of faith and order, we have also served together for decades in areas like rural family development which provides migrant head start classes for Hispanic workers on the Eastern shore, the resettlement of refugees throughout Virginia and Maryland, the teaching of Bible to public school students on release time, and the coordination of disaster relief efforts in times of natural or man-made disasters. In these coming years we are challenged to grow in dialogue and membership with other Christian denominations; we are challenged in increasing the number of heads of judicatories attending our assembly; we are challenged to not only speak in love and concern for a common faith in Jesus Christ, but also to speak and act in love and concern for every child and weak one within our commonwealth. So that our Mission Statement will ring true that we ‘manifest ever more fully the unity of the Church. Relying upon the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, we gather in common mission, serving in all creation to the glory of God and our neighbor’s good.’ James F. Mauney 1 Virginia Council of Churches Mission Statement The Virginia Council of Churches is a community of Christian communions, which, in response to the Gospel, as revealed in the Scriptures, confess Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word of God, as Savior and Lord. Therefore, we covenant with one another to manifest ever more fully the unity of the Church. Relying upon the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, we gather in common mission, serving in all creation to the glory of God and our neighbor’s good. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. John 17:22-23 2 Virginia Council of Churches cordially invites you to attend the 62nd Annual Meeting of the Virginia Council of Churches The Church and Disaster Response/Recovery/Prevention Coordinating Cabinet Meeting Wednesday, November 15, 2006 Greater Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal Church Richmond, Virginia Annual Assembly Thursday, November 16, 2006 Virginia Emergency Operations Center (VEOC) Richmond, Virginia Bishop James Mauney, President The Rev. Jonathan Barton, General Minister 3 Virginia Council of Churches Agenda Coordinating Cabinet Meeting Wednesday, November 15, 2006 Greater Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal Church 1:00 Check-in for Cabinet Meeting 1:30 Coordinating Cabinet Business Session Election of officers President: The Rev. Thomas L. Joyce, United Methodist Church, Virginia Conference Vice President: The Rev. James E. Parke, Roman Catholic, Diocese of Richmond Treasurer: The Rev. David K. Shumate, Church of the Brethren, Virlina District Secretary: Mrs. Betty Altic, Church of the Brethren, Virlina District 6:00 Dinner 7:30 Worship Annual Assembly Thursday, November 16, 2006 Virginia Emergency Operations Center (VEOC) A photo ID will be required to gain access to the complex. Upon check-in at the VEOC a “Photo ID Name Tag” will be issued and must be visible throughout the day. 9:30 Welcome and Introductions Devotions Greetings from Bishop Mauney General Minister’s Report Installation of Officers Noon Luncheon 1:30 Symposium 4:30 Adjourn The Church and Disaster Response/Recovery/Prevention “‘Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on earth’. So God said to Noah, ‘This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.’” Genesis 9:16-17 Reflect back on a recent disaster when In moments of quiet reflection we Disasters reveal our level of you were moved to help … perhaps may say with the Apostle Paul that preparation. In the wake of 9/11 it was in response to the devastation “nothing can separate us from the emergency planners began to rethink of 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, or a school love of God.” But events such as these and redesign response plans all across shooting. Most of us ache to help in not only defy this belief, they provide the country. Pastor Lyndon Harris of St. times of disaster, whether the calamity is us with the practical opportunity to Paul’s Chapel at Ground Zero also began near or far, large scale or personal. become instruments of the love of God to rethink the response of the faith The worst moments can bring out to our neighbors through our response. community. the best in people. Witness small communities that join together to raise funds for a family whose home has burnt. Weather or war-induced disasters at a global level require relief and volunteers on a grand scale. The smallest act of compassion and attention honors God and can make your corner of the world, or one far away from yours, a happier, healthier, safer place. Hurricanes, Airline crashes, Tornadoes, Mass shootings, Floods, and Terrorism Epidemic are events that happen somewhere in the world on a regular basis. Whether they are acts of nature that overwhelm our resources, outbreaks of disease, accidents, or deliberate acts of human evil that challenge our core beliefs, these events call forth our deepest spiritual resources. 5 Forgiveness is a powerful tool for personal transformation and healing and is the culmination of the grief process. As he ministered to the victims, their The recent school shootings in families, the responders and others Pennsylvania are an example as in the days immediately following members of the families of the murdered the attack he observed the need for girls embraced the family of their killer forgiveness. Not merely a forgiveness in an act of compassion, forgiveness of those who were responsible for the and shared grief. Forgiveness is a means attack, but those who felt guilty because through which we create the future— a they survived, or family members future free of repaying violence for who could not deal with their anger violence and pursuing any desire for over a loved one going back into the revenge. “Forgiveness is the peace towers to help others. As a result of you learn to feel when you let go of this experience, Lyndon has begun a unresolved grievances.” new ministry in designing “Gardens of Forgiveness means the ability cruelty is imposed upon us. There is no Forgiveness.” to release resentment and hostility easy answer. Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop after a period of mourning and When we provide space to sit in Desmond Tutu in his recent book grief. Forgiveness never condones peace and contemplate the horrors of declares: “There can be no future violence nor is it a substitute for the unmerited violence and the possibility without forgiveness.” Forgiveness search for justice, nor does it demand of offering forgiveness, we can forge is a powerful tool for personal reconciliation with those who have ahead into the future. Without this transformation and healing and is the injured us. We understand that each of space we become trapped in an endless culmination of the grief process. us struggles to know what to do when cycle of revenge and retribution and the 6 blame game. changes if we want to remain effective fundamental understanding of God. In Forgiveness is one of the steps toward in our response. most disasters there seem to be plenty healing that will lead to a peaceful Before you respond—know what you of room for blame, but in the final round future. Forgiveness is a means through are doing; where you are going; who we will always come back to God. which we create the future—a future you will be working with; and where you Where was God? Why did God allow this free of repaying violence for violence and will be staying. It is important that you terrible thing to happen? As we in the pursuing the desire for revenge. are affiliated with your denominational faith community plan and prepare for Hurricane Katrina pointed out that networks or other non-profits. Where disasters we must first stop and realize we still faced major gaps in our response possible it is always wise to work that every crisis is a matter of faith. to a “Catastrophic Event”. What was through a local VOAD (Voluntary The best possible way of preparing very clear was the Church was able to Organizations Active in Disaster). to endure a disaster and to rebuild respond even when government was Since the Christian faith insists that after a disaster is to form caring, loving paralyzed in their efforts. God is intimately concerned with each communities that watch out for each In the year following Katrina, Virginia individual life (Matt.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 2015-April-Herald.Pdf
    The Herald A Publication of the First Church in Salem, Unitarian VOLUME 15, NUMBER 8 APRIL 2015 In this issue Pg. Minister’s Musings A few weeks ago the Stewardship Committee hosted a potluck luncheon after April Schedule 2 church. It was a fun and moving occasion and a nice celebration of this community. Around the Parish 2 The key message? The First Church is blessed with many resources, but not as many as we used to have. During our construction project three years ago, we “held our Calendar 3 breath and took a leap of faith,” believing that if we invested in repairing and ex- New Members 3 panding our building as well as making our physical home more sustainable, then we, the members, would support those efforts. As a result, we have smaller reserves to Family Promise Call 3 draw upon with respect to our endowment and need to rely a little more on all of us who support this place with “our time, talents and treasure.” In essence we need to UUA Information 3 raise 20% more than we did last year to put ourselves on a firm financial footing. Religious Education 4 Since we raised a little over $100,000 last year this new goal means raising about $20,000 more this year; a goal that is entirely feasible. Fellowship 4 Youth Con 5 During my tenure, it has been gratifying to see this historic Unitarian church grow and transform. Our membership has tripled, our religious education program grew Music Director 6 six times over and our involvement in the community has increased substantially.
    [Show full text]
  • We're Growing!
    2014 ANNUAL REPORT We’re Growing! We made it! Our second year of operation is in the books and thanks to Absolutely none of this could have been possible without each and every one of you, we have seen tremendous your on-going support. Our network of volunteers work growth in our program. We’ve added host and support selflessly to make sure our families have what they need, congregations and held more training sessions; adding are set up for success and can focus on getting back on everything up to a powerful network of 45 congregations! their feet as quickly as possible. We’ve added a violin enrichment program for the kids, gained community volunteers from the YMCA, Gordon From the bottom of our hearts: College and Beverly Hospital and we’ve partnered with community staples like the Beverly Rotary Club. But, most THANK YOU! important, we’ve helped families regain sustainable inde- pendence. Over the course of the last year, we’ve seen our 3rd Annu- al Taste the Promise event and our 1st Annual Walk to End Homelessness bring together community members, spon- sors and partnerships to help us continue the necessary work on the North Shore. We’ve helped 10 different fami- lies find shelter, employment, needed services and most importantly HOPE for a better future. Another 4 families (15 individuals) have found sustainable housing this year. Kids’ education has remained stable and organic support networks have been established. We’ve added an additional 300 volunteers this year, who consistently offer our families home cooked meals, Dolls by Lisa Press (www.phoebeandegg) ...puppies a friendly face and support as they face this period of are next! transition in their lives.
    [Show full text]
  • Solar Is Working for Low-Income Communities
    Solar is working for low-income communities More than 90 leaders from organizations working in low-income communities, religious congregations, and universities call on state officials to expand solar energy and ensure its benefits are available to all Wednesday, October 28, 2015 Dear State Leaders, As community leaders, religious and spiritual leaders, community development organizations, academics, and researchers, we urge you to take immediate action to lift the net metering caps and maintain access to the benefits of solar for Massachusetts residents from all walks of life. In recent years, solar energy has grown rapidly in Massachusetts, with major benefits for communities across the state. Solar is helping to reduce pollution, keep electricity costs under control, and boost the state’s economy. Thanks to falling costs, innovative financing models and virtual net metering, solar is increasingly affordable and available to everyone. In fact, a preliminary analysis shows that almost 40 percent of residential solar systems are installed in communities with incomes at or below the state median of $68,866, in addition to community shared solar or other virtually net metered projects that often serve low-income communities. In particular, low-income communities are currently benefitting from solar energy in several ways: • Solar is helping to reduce the carbon emissions fueling global warming, which threatens to have a disproportionate impact on low-income communities. Solar energy also decreases harmful forms of air pollution that affect public health, especially in urban areas and communities near fossil fuel facilities. • Solar is good for our economy. Massachusetts’ booming solar industry now supports more than 12,000 jobs.
    [Show full text]
  • Herald March 2013
    Page 1 TheThe Herald, Herald March 2013 A Publication of the First Church in Salem, Unitarian MARCH 2013 VOLUME 13, NUMBER 7 In this issue Pg. Minister’s Musings Annual Reports 2 March Schedule 2 Cleaning up after a blizzard is hard to categorize as a pleasant experience – the shoveling, missing work, getting the car uncovered in the driveway, breaking through the snow wall Calendar 3 made by the plow at the end of the driveway, turning around for a moment and then hav- Upcoming in March 3 ing to break through the wall made by the next plow moments after you finished the job – it all leads to a lot of grumbling at the very least. However, there are some surprising bene- Capital Campaign 4 fits to this nature-forced pause in the day to day rush of things. Religious Education News 5 Winter storm Nemo last month caused school to be cancelled on both Friday and Mon- Music News 5 day, meaning that we were suddenly faced with an unplanned four day weekend as a family McAllister Lecture Series 6 - a forced family vacation. My family spent it making meals together, playing board games together, and even shoveling together (a task made more palatable to the kids by promises Stewardship 7 of a trip to Forest River Park for some sledding once we were free of the snow banks at Around the Parish 8 home.) Fellowship 8 Once the wall of snow was broken and enough was shoveled to see beyond our door, all Lifebridge 8 of the neighbors came into view.
    [Show full text]
  • Boston a Guide Book to the City and Vicinity
    1928 Tufts College Library GIFT OF ALUMNI BOSTON A GUIDE BOOK TO THE CITY AND VICINITY BY EDWIN M. BACON REVISED BY LeROY PHILLIPS GINN AND COMPANY BOSTON • NEW YORK • CHICAGO • LONDON ATLANTA • DALLAS • COLUMBUS • SAN FRANCISCO COPYRIGHT, 1928, BY GINN AND COMPANY ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 328.1 (Cfte gtftengum ^regg GINN AND COMPANY • PRO- PRIETORS . BOSTON • U.S.A. CONTENTS PAGE PAGE Introductory vii Brookline, Newton, and The Way about Town ... vii Wellesley 122 Watertown and Waltham . "123 1. Modern Boston i Milton, the Blue Hills, Historical Sketch i Quincy, and Dedham . 124 Boston Proper 2 Winthrop and Revere . 127 1. The Central District . 4 Chelsea and Everett ... 127 2. The North End .... 57 Somerville, Medford, and 3. The Charlestown District 68 Winchester 128 4. The West End 71 5. The Back Bay District . 78 III. Public Parks 130 6. The Park Square District Metropolitan System . 130 and the South End . loi Boston City System ... 132 7. The Outlying Districts . 103 IV. Day Trips from Boston . 134 East Boston 103 Lexington and Concord . 134 South Boston .... 103 Boston Harbor and Massa- Roxbury District ... 105 chusetts Bay 139 West Roxbury District 105 The North Shore 141 Dorchester District . 107 The South Shore 143 Brighton District. 107 Park District . Hyde 107 Motor Sight-Seeing Trips . 146 n. The Metropolitan Region 108 Important Points of Interest 147 Cambridge and Harvard . 108 Index 153 MAPS PAGE PAGE Back Bay District, Showing Copley Square and Vicinity . 86 Connections with Down-Town Cambridge in the Vicinity of Boston vii Harvard University ...
    [Show full text]
  • The Revs. Christian and Kristin Schmidt
    The Revs. Christian and Kristin Schmidt The Revs. Christian and Kristin Schmidt are UUCB's co-ministry candidates for our senior ministry position. Their academic, professional, and denominational and community activities are detailed below. *** Kristin Grassel Schmidt Academic Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, McDaniel College (formerly Western Maryland College); General Music. May 2004 Master of Divinity, with honors, Wesley Theological Seminary. May 2010 Date of Preliminary UU Fellowship: July 15, 2010 Ordained by Cedar Lane UU Church, Bethesda, MD, March 20, 2011 Professional Interim Co-minister UU Church in Cherry Hill, NJ September 2015 – present Director of Youth Ministry UUnited Youth Ministry October 2014 – June 2015 Consulting Minister Unity Church of North Easton August 2013 – June 2015 Assistant Minister First Parish in Milton July 2012 – June 2013 Minister in Residence Church of the Larger Fellowship September 2011 – March 2012 Assistant Minister King’s Chapel, Boston September 2010 – July 2012 Summer Minister Bay Area Unitarian Universalist Church June 2010 – August 2010 Intern Minister Bay Area Unitarian Universalist Church August 2009 – May 2010 Intern Chaplain Goodwin House, Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Department, Alexandria, VA June – August 2009 Membership Coordinator (part-time) Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church, Bethesda, MD September 2006 – June 2009 Senior Recruiting Specialist (full-time) VICCS Inc., Rockville, MD December 2005 – September 2006 Children’s Choir Director (part-time) Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church, Bethesda, MD Oct 2005 – April 2006 Personnel Associate (full-time) Whitman Associates, Washington, D.C. May 2005 – Sept 2005 Denominational and Community Activities • As a youth member of Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church between 1997 and 2001, served on the Youth Adult Committee, attended two General Assemblies as a voting delegate, sang in the adult choir for four years, and assisted in teaching the first grade Sunday School class.
    [Show full text]
  • The Herald and the Spirit of Jesus, We Unite for the Worship of God a Publication of the First Church in Salem, Unitarian and the Service of Humankind
    The Ames Covenant In the love of truth The Herald and the spirit of Jesus, we unite for the worship of God A Publication of the First Church in Salem, Unitarian and the service of humankind. VOLUME 15, NUMBER 6 FEBRUARY 2015 Minister’s Musings In this issue Pg. One of the things I am most proud of here at the First Church is that we are a place where people of all ages want to attend and participate. We have become a com- February Schedule 2 munity where different generations of people come to worship, sing, talk, think, Around the Parish 2 serve, socialize, and play. These days when we host a night to serve dinner at Lifebridge, the local homeless shelter, we have so many people show up that we Calendar 3 have to turn some of them away. (We are actually considering taking on a second Religious Education 4 night – stay tuned for details.) These days when we announce a yoga program, 12 people show up for the first session. We have not one, not two, but three dinner Standing Committee 4 groups that have formed and fourth on the way. The First Church is a stimulating, enjoyable and inspiring place to be. Social Justice 5 Allow me two recent examples. During this last year we have found that we have a Henny Penny 5 growing number of adolescents who continue to come to church and want to be a Music Director 6 part of our community. The kids even wrote, produced and directed their very own Winter Pageant last month, which they began to write after they were informed that New Member 7 they were now too old to be in our traditional Christmas Pageant in December.
    [Show full text]
  • Mar 18 Ltr to Tierney
    March 18, 2013 The Honorable John F. Tierney 17 Peabody Square Peabody, MA 01960 Dear Congressman Tierney, In October 2012, fifteen prominent individuals from a variety of denominations joined together “as Christian leaders representing US church and religious organizations committed to seeking a just peace for Israelis and Palestinians,” and presented each member of Congress, yourself included, with a request. Specifically, they requested “an immediate investigation into possible violations by Israel of the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act and the U.S. Arms Export Control Act.” And they urged “careful scrutiny to ensure that our aid is not supporting actions by the government of Israel that undermine prospects for peace.” Their request was prompted by grave concern for “deteriorating conditions in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories which threaten to lead the region further away from the realization of a just peace,” and the conviction that “unconditional U.S. military aid to Israel has contributed to this deterioration.” To our knowledge, your office has not responded to that letter, a copy of which is enclosed for your convenience. Accordingly, we write to you today – as community or religious leaders in your congressional district – to express our support for the letter and to renew its call for Congressional hearings. We note with approval your past willingness to brave the controversies that are stirred whenever US policy in the Middle East is questioned. That such policy ought to be questioned, especially when the lawfulness of our weapons transfer programs is open to doubt, is a conviction we hope you share. Your position, as ranking member of the Oversight Subcommittee on National Security, Homeland Defense and Foreign Operations, further argues for a considered response to the request made of you in October by the leaders of major faith traditions – and as restated here by us.
    [Show full text]
  • The Herald a Publication of the First Church in Salem, Unitarian Universalist
    The Herald A Publication of the First Church in Salem, Unitarian Universalist VOLUME 15, NUMBER 9 MAY 2015 In this issue Pg. Minister’s Musings On Sunday, May 3 at our Annual Meeting, the First Church did something that had May Schedule 2 not happened for a long time and probably will not occur again for an even longer Lifebridge Update 2 period of time: we changed our name. We, the members of the First Congrega- tional Society in Salem voted overwhelmingly to change our "common name" to the Around the Parish 2 First Church in Salem, Unitarian Universalist. Calendar 3 We did so out of a mix of sadness, admiration, and excitement. The sadness of General Assembly 3 course arises from the announced closure this month of our sister church in town, the First Universalist Society in Salem. They have been an abiding presence here in Music Director 4 Salem since their founding in 1805 and we have been blessed with a fraternal rela- tionship with them for 210 years. Our admiration has developed over two centuries. Henny Penny 4 In a way, our two congregations "grew up together:" we have each taken "turns" es- Standing Committee 5 pousing various theistic and humanistic theological outlooks, but more recently both of our congregations have developed authentic and meaningful ways to practice our Music Director 6 liberal-minded faith here in Salem, and make a real difference. The members of the Henny Penny 6 First Universalist have been amidst hard choices this last year and they are voting this month to close their doors and merge with the First Parish in Beverly.
    [Show full text]
  • UUA Income Overview Rev
    UUA Income Overview Rev. Lauren Smith, Director of Stewardship and Development Income Breakdown (based on FY20 actuals) APF $ 8,664,338 64% Restricted $ 1,449,112 11% Unrestricted $ 1,314,391 10% Bequests $ 1,053,933 8% Grants (Veatch) $ 975,000 7% TOTAL $ 13,456,774 100% Annual Program Fund 5 Year Attainment Rate 80.0% 71.6% 72.1% 72.6% 73.0% 69.1% 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 ALL NEW APF Annual Program Fund 5 Year Attainment Rate 80.0% 71.6% 72.1% 72.6% 73.0% 69.1% 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% $6,862,570 $7,211,400 $7,905,198 $9,083,497 $8,664,338 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 ALL NEW APF NEW APF Attainment data 2018 Income 2019 Income Change # Congregations Attainment more than 25% higher $360,614 $562,124 $201,510 49 Attainment higher 2019 (all) $1,589,420 $1,944,543 $355,123 200 No change $2,563,817 $2,649,334 $85,517 280 Attainment was lower in 2019 (all) $1,204,055 $852,906 -$351,149 150 Reduced attainment by at least 25% $506,467 $226,773 -$279,694 54 Attainment NEW APF Stats in CER, NER and SR Unitarian Church of Harrisburg, PA First Unitarian Church of Rochester, NY Church of the Larger Fellowship First Church in Salem, MA, Unitarian Universalist Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo Unitarian Universalist Church of Portsmouth (South Church) First Parish in CambriDge, MA First Parish in MalDen, MA First Parish of Arlington, MA First Unitarian Church of ProviDence, RI UU Church of Manchester, NH Bay Area UU Church in Houston, TX UU Meeting of South Berkshire (in Housatonic,
    [Show full text]
  • Summer-Herald-2011.Pdf
    The Ames Covenant In the love of truth and the spirit of Jesus, we unite for the worship of God The Herald and the service of humankind. SUMMER 2011 VOLUME 11, NUMBER 11 Summer Services: August 2011 In this issue: Pg. First Church in Salem & First Universalist Society in Salem (FUSS) Summer Schedule 2 ALL SERVICES TO BE HELD AT THE FIRST UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY, 211 BRIDGE STREET Renovation/Meeting Calendar 2 ***ALL SERVICES START AT 10 AM*** Stewardship News 2 Sun, August 7 The First Church will hold our annual Founders’ Day Service. The Rev. Acknowledgements 3 Jeff Barz-Snell and the Rev. Marjorie Matty will co-lead a celebration of Music News 4 the amazing history and legacy of Unitarianism and Universalism here in Salem. The morning of Founders' Day will begin with a special proces- From Stewardship 4 sional that will start here at the First Church in Salem and then proceed down Essex Street to Townhouse Square (the site of our original build- From Henny Penny 4 ing almost four centuries ago) and then over to the First Universalist Star Island Trip Recap 5 Church on Bridge Street. Please join us at the First Church on Essex Street at 9:30am if you would like to process that morning. Service at Project Update Press 6&7 FUSS begins at 10am. The Spear in My Heart 8 Sun, August 14 First Church member Claire Donaldson will preach. Claire is a longtime By Rose Wolf member of the First Church, a former Chair of the Standing Committee and a graduate of Boston University School of Theology.
    [Show full text]
  • WESTON, U.U. Weston, Massachusetts Gathered in 1698 ORDER of SERVICE August 8, 2021 / the 11Th Sunday After Pentecost
    THE FIRST PARISH CHURCH IN WESTON, U.U. Weston, Massachusetts Gathered in 1698 ORDER OF SERVICE August 8, 2021 / the 11th Sunday after Pentecost Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves. ― Henry David Thoreau Join us for our Sunday Service at 10:30 AM — Live-streaming on Zoom https://uuma.zoom.us/j/99215583704 Meeting ID: 992 1558 3704 View a recording later this week: https://vimeo.com/showcase/FPCW-Services or visit the Online Worship page of our website: www.FirstParishWeston.org/Online-Worship PRELUDE: CALL TO WORSHIP: Jeff Barz-Snell WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION HYMN: 26, VERSES 1-3 “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” (Lobe Den Herren) Leader: The Peace of God be with you. People: And also with you. VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON EXCHANGE OF PEACE WORDS OF CONFESSION (BY VAN OGDEN VOGT, ADAPTED) Before the wonders of life, we acknowledge our occasional failures to see and to revere; Before the sanctities of life, we are ashamed of our disrespects and indignities; Before the gifts of life, we own that we have made the choice of lesser gods, and here today seek the gifts of the spirit; Before the mystery and inspiration of life, we would be enlarged to new devotion. We pray that we will strive to make a difference, and be made whole. Amen. LIGHTING OF THE CHALICE Jeff Barz-Snell READING: “The House of Belonging” by David Whyte ANTHEM SERMON: “Am I Ok” Rev. Claire Donaldson MUSIC MEDITATION PASTORAL PRAYER, FOLLOWED BY THE LORD’S PRAYER Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
    [Show full text]