Communicator

Communicator October 2006 Published monthly Community Congregational United Church of Christ 525 NE Campus Pullman, WA 99163 (509)332-6411 (509)334-6078 FAX www.pullmanucc.org Pullmanucc@verizon.net God is still speaking, Recently, I was recounting to a new acquaintance why I chose to attend the Seminary I did. That decision, I realized as I spoke, began back in my college years with an event that has influenced all of my major decisions regarding religion, including accepting the call to be a pastor here at Community Congregational UCC. I was working in North Carolina as a volunteer leader with Young Life, a high school youth ministry. Before a leadership meeting at a local Methodist church, the Young Life staff person (I’ll call him Ben) went into a rant. He was visibly irritated. Ben had been having conversations with one of the pastors at this Methodist church, on and off, for the entire year because he noticed there was something different about him. That year, Ben had been trying to get to the bottom of what this pastor believed. On this particular day, Ben recounted in a shrill, quavering voice, a conversation he had earlier that day in which the pastor had said that he didn’t believe that Jesus was the only way to God. Because most of us leaders were young and brought up as evangelical Christians, we felt Ben was probably right to disagree with him on the point. But I observed Ben in the coming weeks as the rage continued to seep out of him and the process of moving the Young Life office and meetings to another, “more acceptable” church began. Over time I realized that Ben was deathly afraid of that pastor’s belief. He was afraid of someone felling the house of cards that was his own faith. Ben couldn’t imagine a way of being Christian that allowed for other ways to God. Later, it occurred to me that my world was being constrained by Christians such as Ben, who didn’t allow for really standing with another person in their different beliefs and lifestyles. This, I thought, was a very disrespectful stance toward others, and it represented more a faith in a belief system than trust in an active, loving God. I chose my seminary because of two unique opportunities it presented to explore the edges of God’s activity in the world: a focused program in Christian Spirituality, and the opportunity to take classes from Buddhist, Jewish, Roman Catholic, Unitarian and other protestant denomination schools. I have felt called to ministry in the churches I have served in part because I had a reasonable idea that people in the congregations in Boise and here in Pullman would not constrain my exploration of God, but welcome it and be served by it. As we continue to live into the simple UCC slogan, “No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you’re welcome here” I am reminded of the parameters of the “here”. This is a place where people can come and explore how God is active and present in their lives and not be told exactly how that is supposed to happen, or what they are supposed to believe about it. At it’s best, “here” is a place where people can be themselves, which is really the only way that a person can have meaningful relationship with others or with God. In the coming weeks, Kristine and I will continue to describe what “here” is--from our perspective--and what it means to live a more open Christianity. Hope you’ll join us, Chip October 1--World Communion Sunday-- A celebration of diversity of cultures, as well as ways of living out faith, and understandings of Jesus. 3:00 Free Screening of An Inconvenient Truth- Brewster Hall- followed by discussion. October 8-- A Faith that Embraces Doubt and Questions October 15-- Spiritual but not Religious? How is spirituality a part of a thoughtful, questioning faith community that values education? This service will include a commissioning of the people going to Louisiana to do relief work. October 22-- Politics and Religion? Does politics mix with religion, and if so how? October 29-- Laity Sunday. A variety of people from the congregation will plan and lead worship this Sunday, exploring among other things, what it means to be a Just Peace and Open and Affirming church. November 5-- God is Still Speaking, What does it mean to live an open-ended faith? As a few us have recently returned from New Orleans, we’ll begin to celebrate the UCC’s 50th Anniversary with a jazzedup worship! November 12--Stewardship Celebration! Come celebrate the many ways that God is leading this community to grow and serve others, and take the opportunity to make a commitment to support the ministry in the coming year. Neighbors In Need The 2006 Neighbors in Need offering will be on Sunday, Oct. 1. IMAGINE – Another World is Possible! “Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture, but you must tread Down with your feet the rest of your pasture? When you drink of clear Water must you foul the rest with your feet? And must my sheep eat what You have trodden with your feet, and drink what you have fouled with Your feet?” -- Ezekiel 34:18-20 Little Carlos shouldn’t have died just because he and his friends played soccer beside the polluted New River just outside East San Diego. Each year it takes hundreds of thousands of dollars for our churches to do effective advocacy to reduce the effects of environmental racism in their communities. Would you help make another world possible by making sure all of our children and grandchildren live in healthy environments? Your gift to Neighbors in Need can help prevent the senseless death of another child like Carlos. Help make justice roll down like water. Help the exploited and oppressed who desperately need your support. Won’t you please give generously to Neighbors in Need? Crop Walk Our local CROP Walk for Hunger and Disaster Relief will take place on Sunday, October 8, starting from the Pullman end of the Chipman Trail at 2:00 p.m. The 10K (6.2 miles) Walk will follow the Pullman Greenway to downtown and continue on the path paralleling Grand Avenue to Terre View St., then return. All are welcome to walk or run and raise money to help Church World Service provide both emergency aid for victims of natural disasters and long-term aid for impoverished people here and abroad. Pullman and Moscow food banks benefit, too. CWS returns to us 25% of funds raised here. From grants for hurricanerelated home repairs in our Gulf Coast to wells and seeds for farmers in Africa to sewing machines for beginning entrepreneurs in Indonesia, CWS brings appropriate and lasting aid to areas in 80 countries. Partnering with local agencies, CWS builds networks ready to respond directly and quickly. In these times when the world’s woes often seem insurmountable, you can respond through action. Walking brings out our empathy with those who must walk far for food or water. Donating allows CWS to bring help where it is needed. Gathering pledges spreads the awareness of need and allows others to join the fight against human suffering. Bring your friends and family and neighbors, and join the crowd! Come at 1:30 p.m. to register, bringing the top sheet of your pledge envelope. Strollers and wheelchairs are welcome but other wheels are less compatible. The family dog is welcome, too, on a leash. Questions? Call Joyce Stratton, 332-2216. An Inconvenient Truth Please join us for a viewing and discussion of Al Gore’s documentary film, “AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH” on Sunday afternoon, October 1st at 3:00pm. We’ll provide the popcorn and drinks, you help provide the stimulating conversation the important and timely topics raised in this documentary. Mark your calendars Coming soon - International Fair Trade Craft Sale!!! Free Admission – Free Parking during WSU Dad’s weekend only! Friday, Nov. 3, 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov .4, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5, Noon – 3 p.m. The location is Fellowship Hall, Community Congregational Church, 525 NE Campus Ave., Pullman, four blocks down from The Bookie. Your purchase of handmade goods guarantees a fair wage for artisans in 30 countries. Shop our huge inventory of high quality crafts imported by Ten Thousand Villages, including jewelry, toys, sculptures, musical instruments, holiday ornaments, baskets, home décor and unique products. This non profit sale is endorsed by WSU International Programs and Campus Common Ministry (K-House). Soul Feast Come have your spirit renewed at Soul Feast IV!!! This will take place at Westminster U.C.C. in Spokane on October 20-21, sponsored by our Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Church of Christ. There will be a variety of workshops on worship and spirituality, social justice, mission, stewardship, education and leadership, plus a keynote speaker which will be our very own Kristine Zakarison. For more information see packets in the narthex. Hurricane Katrina Relief Project SPECIAL OFFERING TO HELP JIM WILLS AND CHIP LAIRD PARTICIPATE IN WORK TRIP: From October 22nd to October 27th, Jim and Chip will be joining other members of our Conference to participate in a Hurricane Katrina relief project, led by Randy Crowe. They will be hosted by members of Little Farms UCC, as they help to rebuild homes and offer fellowship. The trip will cost $570.00 per person. On October 8th, we will have the opportunity to support this vital ministry as we receive a special offering to defray their costs. If you would like to give, please write "Work Relief Trip" on the memo line of your check. You may also send in contributions, with the same memo line, to the church. Thank you for helping us help others in need! The Common Ministry at WSU is presenting the 29th annual Roger William Symposium. The featured speaker is Dr. Matthew Fox and the theme is “Creativity: where the Divine and the Human Meet.” The symposium begins the evening of Sunday, November 5th, and continues Monday, November 6th. All events will take place at Pullman Presbyterian Church: 1630 NE Stadium Way. To register contact The Common Ministry at WSU at 332-2611, or go online at www.wsu.edu/~commin. FREE to WSU students! Roger Williams Symposium Birthday Anniversaries These young ladies all celebrate their birthday’s this month, Fanny Mitchell, Jeanne Barkhuff & Esther Anne Shaw, who is celebrating 91 years young on the 15th. Pat & Beverly McConnell will celebrate 54 years as husband and wife on the 6th of October. CONGRATULATIONS to you all!! ____________________________________________ Info Update: Please fill Out, detach, and return to the church. Thanks! NAMES: ____________________________________BIRTHDAY__________ _____________________________________BIRTHDAY__________ _____________________________________BIRTHDAY__________ _____________________________________BIRTHDAY__________ ANNIVERSARY:__________________________________________________ ADDRESS:_______________________________________________________ PHONE:__________________________________________________________ (home) (work) (cell) EMAIL:__________________________________________________________ DO YOU WANT TO BE NOTIFIED OF EVENTS BY EMAIL?____Y____N Community Congregational United Church of Christ 525 N.E. Campus Ave. Pullman, WA 99163 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION US POSTAGE PAID PULLMAN, WA PERMIT NO. 52 Return Service Requested INTRODUCTION TO POETRY Billy Collins (former poet laureate of the US) I ask them to take a poem and hold it up to the light like a color slide or press an ear against its hive. I say drop a mouse into a poem and watch him probe his way out, or walk inside the poem's room and feel the walls for a light switch. I want them to waterski across the surface of a poem waving at the author's name on the shore. But all they want to do is tie the poem to a chair with rope and torture a confession out of it. They begin beating it with a hose to find out what it really means. INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE --Jim Burklo, with thanks to Billy Collins! I ask them to take the Bible and hold it up to the light like a color slide or press an ear against its hive. I say drop a mouse into the Bible and watch him probe his way out, or walk inside the Bible's room and feel the walls for a light switch. I want them to waterski across the surface of the Bible waving at its many authors' names on the shore. But all they want to do is tie the Bible to a chair with rope and torture a confession out of it. They begin beating it with a hose to find out what it really means.