November 27, 2024
Dear Beloved Community,
The scripture this Sunday, for the first Sunday of Advent, is from Luke 21:25-36.The scripture draws our attention to the redemption of God. The promises of God - that love and justice shall prevail, that life will flourish, that evil will not thrive forever - are our sources of hope. We are given a story speaking of the hope of God’s ultimate dreams for us. Though the beginnings and endings of our stories and the stories of God are more like a spiral than a single narrative, they draw us back to the truths that have sustained those struggling against evil under the most oppressive realities. In the midst of our own struggles and impossible realities, we find hope in the reminder of those who have gone before us, trusting that destruction wouldn’t have the last word, leading revolutions in big and small ways that led to the impossible becoming possible. As we begin the Christian year once again, we find ourselves facing honestly the signs of destruction before us while also holding tight to the promises of God with us.
Peace and blessings!
-Jorge
December's Giving Sunday offering is for the Christmas Fund UCC. The Christmas Fund has been caring for active and retired clergy and lay employees of the United Church of Christ for over 100 years, providing emergency grants, supplementation of small annuities and health premiums, and Christmas “Thank You” gift checks each December to our lower-income retirees. Thanks for always being so generous with your gifts.
The Church Council recently clarified what monies in the collection plate go to our Giving Sunday recipient each month. On the first Sunday of the month (the "Giving Sunday"), the whole plate goes to the designated nonprofit. Any other time during the month you can contribute by way of a check with the name of the nonprofit in the memo line.
Recent sermons
Check out our YouTube page to see recent sermons. Go to our archive of slides to see bulletins and slides used during recent services.
Recordings of our Taize services are also on the YouTube page.
Upcoming services and events
Borg Discussion Group: Thursday, Dec 5, 7pm on Zoom. Read Chapter 8 of “Reading the Bible Again for the First Time” by Marcus Borg.
Congregational Meeting: Sunday, Dec 8 after worship. This is the annual meeting to approve the budget for the next calendar year. Please attend so we have a quorum!
Book Group: Sunday, Jan 26, 7pm, on Zoom. "Parable of the Sower" was such an impactful book that we decided to read the sequel, "Parable of the Talents." Octavia Butler was quite an author.
Links and resources
Check out Dean Spade on welcoming newcomers to movement:
Masterworks Chorale's Christmas concerts are coming up, Dec 14 and 15, both at 4pm at CSSM (aka "the downtown church"). Saturday is especially for kids, with stories and cookies (Jackson walked right up on the stage last year!); Sunday is the grown-up concert. The music is beautiful either way. Info and tickets here.
Quote of the week
“The human hope for the justice of God for all people has a different quality, that of participation in the fight for justice, in living for God’s peace. Where we enter upon this life, we in fact hope for God. There our hope becomes naked, it removes the false supports of hope - money and power - and opens itself up to God. Only when we become capable of peace do we note how much we need God.” - Dorothee Solle "Thinking About God"
Weekly events
• Meditation group: Wednesdays at 7:30 am
In person at the church building.
• Sunday worship: 10 am
In person at the church building.
Comments