Jesus March 5, 2009
Posted by relsdork in God, bible, christian, church, religion, scripture.Tags: bible, christian, christianity, church, congregationalist, jesus, liberal, religion, ucc, united church of christ
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I’m going to post some questions from “A Course on Chistianity,” which was offered by a former minister at my church, and my answers to them. Here’s the first one, which is probably fitting:
What do the inconsistencies between the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ life suggest about the way we should interpret not only the text, but the meaning of Jesus’ life?
The inconsistencies, for me, show that there were different understandings of what Jesus’ life and ministry meant. People found different aspects of his legacy important and formed different interpretations of his person because of it. This parallels our view of the scriptures… people find different stories meaningful. People translate the text differently. Because of this, none of us should be so arrogant as to claim that our understandings can be more or less meaningful or authoritative than someone else’s.
sermon on giving December 6, 2008
Posted by relsdork in God, christian, church, religion.Tags: ccsm, christian, church, congregationalist, hurricane katrina, lower ninth ward, new orleans, ucc
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The Sunday after I returned from New Orleans, I spoke as part of my minister’s sermon. Should you care to listen to the sermon, you can find it here
united church of christ October 25, 2008
Posted by relsdork in God, christian, church, gay rights, religion, struggle.Tags: christian, church, congregationalist, liberal, ucc, united church of christ
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Beginning as the conservative Christians known as Puritans, Congregationalists are today among the most liberal Christians in the country. This change throughout the denomination’s history is due largely to the progress this country has made in liberalizing, but is also specific to the denomination. Because of Congregationalists’ stresses on both education and missionary work (and therefore cultural integration), Congregationalists have become a very diverse, educated group that is on the forefront of social movements that belong to the social and political left. The United Church of Christ is a politically active, socially aware denomination that is a far step from its original position of quiet purity and moderation. Although the views of Congregationalists have changed, the group still largely sees itself as a leader and example for the rest of Christendom.
mini sermon, final draft: “things i know to be true” August 27, 2008
Posted by relsdork in God, bible, christian, church, gay rights, religion, scripture, struggle.Tags: ccsm, church, congregationalist, God, pride, religion, ucc, united church of christ
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http://www.marriedtothesea.com
I know that I love God. While I don’t think I am capable of understanding the mystery of God, I know that God is. In Exodus 3:14, God said to Moses, “I Am that I Am.” There are so many ways of understanding this… but I love it. I love it. God is. God is beyond our descriptions and the limits of language, but I know that there is something beautiful about praising God, something powerful about scripture, something uniting me with the ground that I walk on, the trees which breathe my air, and the people in this world.
Religion, for me, is a continuing exploration. A PASSIONATE exploration. A submerging oneself in the Divine—feeling the Divine, breathing it in, but not necessarily grasping it. God is the joy and pain and connection that we CANNOT communicate, yet burn to be able to. This church lives in that connection. That’s why I love this church; I know that this church is a beacon of hope in the world in its loving appreciation of the mystery of God and its determination to live as fully as it can in connection with God and community.
I study religion in school and, as most of you know, there is a lot of ugliness to study in religion. Our tradition has been brought to us through a history of violence. We look back, shamefully, on a history of crusades and colonization, a history of wars and inequality. The history of religious activity holds prejudice, damaging doctrine, manipulation, lies, hunger for power, forcefulness… Even today, many bodies of religion continue to further violence, inequality, and injustice…
And there are churches like ours.
We are a rare breed and I am grateful every day that I have this church and community, where I don’t need to sign my name on some kind of contract or make of vows of conformity.
When I was talking to Art Domingue about being baptized here, he said, “we’ll ask you to say these 3 things, but if you’re not comfortable with them, we can work on that.” …How many churches would make that offer? For this church, it’s more important to participate and take joy in community than to have some kind of homogenous faith. There are so many churches out there that say they are welcoming, yet when one digs a little deeper, one finds that they are welcoming on the condition that you change certain things. When Penny says “whoever you are, wherever you are on life’s journey, you’re welcome here,” she MEANS IT. This church is supportive of people’s differences; it doesn’t smother them.
A few weekends ago, a group of members went to the Pride Parade. I’d never been to Pride before… but I won’t miss it again. There was such an energy, especially with the recent turn toward marriage equality. It was hopeful. Walking in the parade, I thought, How is this joy, this love, this support and community not Christianity? What God of love would call that glowing happiness that was inside me and other people that day “sin”?
Our church has realized what God’s love truly means… when we say it’s unconditional, we mean it. We have found how powerful it is when we can extend our love as freely as God does. We went to Pride because we understand that love is something to be celebrated and welcomed.
One of the most beautiful moments I experienced was seeing a gay family member in the crowd, screaming at me and waving his arms. He was supporting me as I was supporting him… and that’s what this church is—a web of people supporting each other in affinity groups, social gatherings, prayer, parades, classes and all of the other ways that we join together. We find joy in our similarities and celebrate our diversity. I love this church.
I’d like to close with something I reflected on after Rev. Bill McKinney spoke at our congregation. During the education hour before church, Carol Henton asked how we could describe our church to people. This is what I came up with:
“My church is progressive. We are non-dogmatic and diverse, valuing our Christian heritage, seeking to be open-minded, accepting, and self-critical, as well as critical of society at large in terms of social justice issues. On Sundays, we worship with a choir and an organ, and the rest of the week, we meet with each other in varying forms of community and place a strong emphasis on advocacy for human integrity. My church is educated and values education. My church is vibrant, hopeful, and diverse. To best understand my church, you have to look at what we do. This is how we best understand ourselves—by the ways that we speak and act in the world.”
This, I know to be true.
The audio version of this mini-sermon can be found here.
more August 25, 2008
Posted by relsdork in God, bible, christian, church, religion, scripture.Tags: ccsm, communion, congregationalist, garden of eden, genesis, God, ucc, united church of christ, yvette flunder
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“There are two trees in the garden… and too much of religion is stuck at the wrong tree. Does it bring Life? Eat from that tree.”
–Rev. Yvette Flunder
audio file August 24, 2008
Posted by relsdork in God, bible, christian, church, gay rights, religion.Tags: ccsm, congregationalist, gay rights, pride parade, sermon, ucc, united church of christ
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This is the collection of mini-sermons given by 3 members of our 20/30s group at my church. Mine is the first sermon.
Now that it’s available and I can finally hear how I sounded on that day, I’m rather disappointed. My vocal dynamics are certainly lacking and I can hear the trembling in my voice. I also wish I’d spoken a tad slower– it might have sounded less like I was reading the newspaper that way.
Quite disappointing, actually. But perhaps if I were delivering a piece I was actually more happy with, I would be more confident in delivering it. Perhaps?
I have a sermon on compassion and a sermon on John 9 that I’d like to give… hopefully at some point, I will have the opportunity.
puritans August 20, 2008
Posted by relsdork in christian, church, gay rights, religion, struggle.Tags: christian, congregationalist, pilgrims, puritans, religion, ucc, united church of christ
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Congregationalism, at its beginnings, reflected a conservative religious group for its time. Concerned with purity, moderation, and a strict faith that was at the core of every follower’s life, Congregationalism was at the core of the Pilgrim movement to America. However, the Church whose goal it once was to be a pure “light on a hill” for the rest of the Christian world has turned into one of the most diverse denominations in the country. Because the Puritan movement flourished in America, United States history has strongly influenced the growth of Congregationalism. This country began as many conservative Christians’ attempt to purify themselves and lead the way for a Christian world. Congregationalists arrived in the U.S. as the New World’s “Puritans.” Beginning as an institution that was seemingly intolerant of differences arising within its population, it might have seemed at one time that the community would outdate itself and fall into textbooks as a failed experiment of early American history. However, because of missionary efforts, the stress on education and its opportunities within Congregationalism, and involvement in movements that advanced the opportunities of minorities, Congregationalists have evolved to reflect a diversely thinking body of people. As America has gone through considerable social and economic change, learning to accommodate the needs of a growing population that is increasingly diverse, Congregationalists have adapted themselves to the social atmosphere of this country. Congregationalists (today known widely as United Church of Christ) pride themselves at being at the forefront of the progressive Christian movement, which seeks to be an inclusive, socially active element in today’s society. UCC members, although vastly different from their Puritan forefathers, are perhaps still seeking to be the “light upon a hill,” –still seeking to be the bringers of change.
congregationalists August 12, 2008
Posted by relsdork in christian, church, gay rights, religion.Tags: ccsm, congregationalist, pilgrims, puritans, ucc, united church of christ
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While many Christian denominations can be marked today by their tendencies to condemn, the United Church of Christ has adopted a much more inclusive stance. Congregationalist Christians’ beginnings as ‘puritans’ can help illustrate how much change has taken place within the religious institution. Today, Congregationalists are among the most ‘inclusive’ of religious bodies, welcoming minority groups that other religious groups still seem reluctant to welcome, but also going beyond welcoming them to fight against (what many Americans would call) the injustices committed against them. The United Church of Christ is one of few U.S. denominations today that ordains both women and gays, and that openly condemns the war in Iraq, the Patriot Act, as well as policies on prescription drugs, health care, and global trade. While Congregationalism is truly an American religion and takes great pride in its pilgrim roots, it also loudly speaks out against American government in many ways.
