...Ferguson, MO this week. That’s the town outside St. Louis where a young unarmed African American man was killed last week by the police. Ferguson is a town whose population is nearly 70% African American but whose mayor and police chief are white and where there are 53 police officers, 50 of whom are white. Michael Brown, a young college-bound African American was shot multiple times and killed by a Ferguson police officer. There are conflicting stories of what happened – some witnesses saying that the young man had his hands up, signaling that he was not a threat, but the police not yet saying what happened or even who did the shooting.
In the nights since the shooting the town of Ferguson has exploded. Every night there have been demonstrations – most non-violent, others not. One night there was looting of businesses and there have been reports of shots ringing out. But those have been the exceptions, not the rule.
The fact of the matter is that what happened in Ferguson could have happened anywhere. It could have happened in Tampa or St. Pete, in Miami or Jacksonville. It could have happened anywhere there is a community of young African American men alienated from the larger community, without prospects of jobs or viable pathways to education or positive futures. It could have happened in any community where young African American men feel targeted by the police or where there are poor relationships between police and the black community. It could happen in any community where the police and elected leadership do not reflect the diversity of the people in that community.
The fact of the matter is that there is unequal justice for young African American and Latino men in many communities across the nation. Too many young men are arrested for “driving while black” or “walking while Latino,” meaning they are getting stopped for no reason other than their skin color. That is a formula for an explosion.
Indeed, in 1987 the UCC voted to move its national offices from New York. There were two cities in contention – Cleveland and St. Louis. We did not move to St. Louis then because of the high level of segregation of that city, although Cleveland was not really far behind in terms of residential segregation. But I remember while working for the Commission for Racial Justice on many occasions going to St. Louis to put out fires and to deal with everything from police brutality to institutional racism in higher education to environmental racism. It seems not much has changed. Indeed, recent studies have shown the racial disparity in arrests for years in Ferguson and the St. Louis area but no one seems to have tried to correct this.
Moreover, what we have seen over the past decade is the militarization of police forces in virtually every community in our nation. Over the past decade, as we have wound down wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Defense Department has given away (!) armored personnel carriers and military weapons to police departments. Who turns down free stuff? Certainly not local police departments. One reporter remarked that what has angered the citizens of Ferguson has been the presence of the armored personnel carriers with police sitting on top with assault weapons on tripods pointed at protestors. “What country is this?” asked one commentator.
The leaders of Ferguson and of Missouri certainly have not distinguished themselves over the past few days. The virtual absence of the governor until days into the protests, the lack of transparency by the mayor and police chief, the refusal to identify the police officer who shot the young man all show a heavy handedness and a heads-in-the-sand approach. Equally troubling is the treatment even of reporters trying to cover the protests, with several reporters harassed, manhandled and even put in handcuffs by local police. Again we come to the question, “What country is this?”
From all accounts Michael Brown was a young man who was trying to make a positive future for himself. He and his family were looking forward to him going to college in a few weeks. In the midst of the larger issues of justice, we cannot forget the grief that his parents must be going through right now. Let us hold them in our prayers.
But we cannot forget a young life cut short. Our nation and his community must all grieve this young man’s death. And we must commit ourselves to doing better. His life and his death must not be in vain.
In Love and Peace,
Pastor Bernice
revbpjackson@ucctampabay.org
Sunday, August 17
The texts for Sunday are:
Genesis 45:1-15
Romans 11:1-5
Readers:
10:00 AM - English - Laurence Ford
Spanish - Jorge Cerdas
Pulpit Assistant - Rev. Martin Montonye
Rev. Bernice Powell Jackson will be preaching on "From Dream Deferred to Love Undeterred"
SUNDAY SERVICES:
10:00 AM - Worship Service
PLEASE NOTE: BEGINNING JUNE 15, THERE WILL BE ONLY ONE SERVICE AT 10:00 THROUGH LABOR DAY. TWO SERVICES WILL BEGIN AGAIN ON SUNDAY, SEPT 7.
Prayer requests
Pat Allen; Gail Benton, Doris Rampolla; Lynette Sanchez’s mother, Alba; Julian Cunningham; Alice Wilber; Diana Legg; Karen Mattheis' daughter, Shandy and her sister Debbie; Rev. Bernice’s brother, Nick and friend Skip; Lois Whitehurst; Gail Barber and family; Leroy Herschberger, Jim Christison, Bob Mitchell, Kenn and Steve Antonelli's mother, Antoinette; Barbara Nichols and family, Barbara McFarland's sister, Diane; Georgette Allard, the family of Michael Brown.
Meetings and important events
Summer Movies and a Meal series
Focusing on our core values
Third Thursdays June - September
Next Viewing:
Thursday, August 21
6:00 - potluck
Film shows at 6:45
Next Movie: Call Me Malcolm, about a trans man who has a call to ministry
Sunday, August 17 - Mediterranean Potluck Dinner Fun-raiser
Bring a dish from any country around the Mediterranean.
One free ticket for those who bring a dish. $10/ per person
Sunday, August 31 - Our Interim Conference Minister, Rev. Davida Crabtree, will be with us. Please plan to attend the one service, at 10 am.
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Sunday adults' discussion group
The adults' discussion group is taking a break and will resume in the fall. More information on the fall book to read will follow.
Calling for volunteers!
Laurence and Cindy First United Love Team
Laurence and Cindy recently moved into a condo. Laurence's dad has been trying to do the work single-handedly to make it accessible and work for them. They still have some tasks to do, including a bit of dry-walling, painting and some carpentry to build a small ramp for their deck. In addition, there are some small tasks they need help with such as measure and pick up blinds for their windows.
If you would like to help join a work crew to help Laurence's dad, please see Pastor Bernice.
The work date has tentatively been scheduled for
Friday, September 5. More information to follow. So far we have six persons signed up.
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Help Wanted:
Exciting Volunteer Opportunities
at First United
Sunday Morning Worship Power Point Tech
We need one more person who can rotate the responsibility of changing the power point slides during the service. See or talk with Pastor Bernice or Brandon Martin for more information.
Building
Once every month or so the air conditioning vents need to be changed and the administration building needs to be sprayed for bugs. Can you help? See or talk with Mike Gray (
ggray0050@tampabay.rr.com) or Ross Ayer (
rayer@sprintmail.com) if you can help.
c
hildren's church teachers and teacher's assistants
Right now we have only 4 teachers committed to working with our children. We need to begin to have two different classes to accommodate the age differences and so need at least 3-4 more teachers, plus a few persons who are willing to be teacher's assistants, helping when the classes are larger or when there is some special need. If we have a large enough pool, you should only need to work one Sunday a month. Please see or call Debra Warner (813) 909-0591
if you are interested.
Hospitality Coordinator(s)
We still need one more person to help coordinate Sunday morning hospitality. That means sending out sign up sheets quarterly to make sure we have coverage and picking up coffee, plates and supplies quarterly. We have one volunteer and need one more. Please see or talk with Pastor Bernice if you would be willing to volunteer.
Thanks!
Once a year we take a special UCC Luv offering. We ask that everyone make a $20 special contribution to cover the FL Conference $14.50 per capita and the balance goes to Our Church's Wider Mission. We ask those who can make a larger contribution to do so to help out someone else who cannot make the full $20 contribution. This year we will take this offering on Sunday, September 14. Please give generously.
HOPE latest news
We are winding down the investment phase of our HOPE annual cycle. Thanks to all for your investments in the work of HOPE. In September we will begin the listening phase of the HOPE cycle. Stay tuned for your invitation to attend a small group meeting to talk about problems in our community.
Seven members of our congregation attended the Tampa City Hall meeting on Thursday, June 26. It was a learning experience to see how slowly government can work and how much obfuscation can occur. Nevertheless, several members of the City Council were able to keep the amendment to the ordinance that they passed last year on the table for further discussion. They have created a committee that will include members of the business committee and we would expect, some representation from HOPE, to look at this issue further. They will then come back to it in October.
We still need letters/e-mails to the Mayor and City Council members in support of including vendors who have contracts with the City in this ordinance. We know that such an ordinance is good for families, good for public safety and good for businesses, who may just find the very best qualified person for a job if they don't eliminate them from the job application process at the very beginning. You can e-mail Mayor Buckhorn at the tampagov.net web-site (go to department and then to Mayor's office, contact.) Also, be sure to e-mail the same letter to the Tampa City Council members at
Frank Reddick -
frank.reddick@tampagov.net
Mike Suarez -
mike.suarez@tampagov.net
Mary Mulhern -
mary.mulhern@tampagov.net
Yvonne Yolie Capin -
yvonne.capin@tampagov.net
Harry Cohen -
harry.cohen@tampagov.net
C
harlie Miranda -
charlie.miranda@tampagov.net
Lisa Montelione - lisa.montelione@tampagov.net
How many people have been killed by guns since Newtown?
Click here to see an updated tally.
Listen to sermons online
Now you can listen to recordings of Sunday sermons on our website, www.ucctampabay.org. Tell your friends!
Please help us on Sundays
If you are the last one to leave the church property on Sunday, PLEASE be mindful to check that all doors are locked. Thank you!
Sunday School news
Sunday School classes are as follows:
Primary (ages 4-10) - The children will be in church for the pastor's time. Then they will leave for class with the teacher at approximately 11:10 AM.
Nursery (ages 3 and under) - The children can be with parents and participate in the pastor's time until all children go to the classrooms.
You can visit www.sermons4kids.com and www.kids2kidsmissions.org to see the kinds of activities that are in store for your children. If you have any questions, please call Debra Warner at 813-909-0591.
Needed! 3-4 more teachers and 1-2 teacher's assistants. Would you consider being a teacher or assistant at least once a month? Our children need you.
2 x 3 = 6
Six hours spread over three months – the amount of time Hospitality Hosts contribute to making our Sunday Fellowship Time the best. Each host “team” member agrees to serve once a month for three months – providing food, enjoying rich fellowship and – yes – cleaning up.
You are invited to become part of this continuing ministry. As a regular member of a team – pick your Sunday – or as a substitute available as needed. One further note – Paul D’Agostino and Jim Roney come early every Sunday to make coffee in addition to serving as fifth Sunday hosts.
First United name badges
We are ordering name badges for members, friends, and visitors. The cost is $10.00. Please contact the church office at 813-988-4321 or churchoffice@ucctampabay.org.
Submitting items to Courage in the Struggle
We hope you enjoy receiving Courage in the Struggle, the weekly e-news of First United Church of Tampa. If you would like to submit an item that would be of interest to the members and friends of First United, please email it to webservant@ucctampabay.org. Attach your submission as a Word document. Submissions may be edited for length or clarity. For events, be sure to include the date, time, location, and cost (if any). Thank you!
