...that I write about the same concern for two straight weeks. Yet I find myself still thinking and processing what is going on in Ferguson, MO. You, too, are probably finding yourself wrestling the multitude of issues which that whole scenario brings up and with new developments from day to day.
But the more I think about it, at the heart of it all is the amount of rage and alienation felt by young African American men not just in Ferguson but across the nation. These young men have faced years of police harassment, humiliation disrespect and perceive a society that does not hear them or see them. They see a society that has all but discarded them, with inferior education, cuts in job training programs and few ways out of their situations. Many can barely read and not only have no good jobs but no job prospects in sight. Some have low level arrest records, often for drug possession, which can exclude them from most jobs, sometimes from public housing and even from food stamps. Many have fathers who have been absent from their lives and many are absentee fathers themselves. But even those who seem to be seeking another pathway can find suddenly find it snatched from them. Michael Brown may be the latest example of that reality.
Now, I am not excusing what appears to have been a bad decision by Michael Brown, resulting in criminal behavior that day. And too many young men make bad decisions. But that decision should not have resulted in his death. And a young white man who made the same bad decision might have been given a civil citation, a warning, or his parents might have been called to come down to the police station to work out a solution. That disparity of treatment ensures future alienation of young black men.
Perhaps the most amazing thing to me is that the discontent seen on the streets in Ferguson has not spread to other cities for Ferguson is surely not the only city with these problems. Too many young African American men in our nation have been silenced. Too many young Latino men don't hear themselves in this national shouting match at all, despite the fact that they face many of the same issues.
This alienation of young men is taking hold all across the world and is perhaps our greatest global threat. For this kind of alienation not only leads to riots, it also leads to civil conflict and terrorism. When tens of millions of young men do not think they are being heard or that they have become invisible to political, economic and religious power structures, we can expect explosions.
Last Sunday, I quoted the end of a Langston Hughes’ poem. Entitled Harlem, here it is in its entirety:
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore—
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over—
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
Too many dreams have been deferred. Too many voices have been silenced. The way forward is to engage. The way forward is to truly be community, hearing each others’ stories and working for the Beloved Community, where all are respected and all are loved.
In Love and Peace,
Pastor Bernice
revbpjackson@ucctampabay.org
Sunday, August 24
The texts for Sunday are:
Exodus 1: - 2:10
Romans 12: 1-8
Readers:
10:00 AM - English - Karen Mattheis
Spanish - Graciela Flores
Pulpit Assistant - Rev. Graciela Flores
Rev. Bernice Powell Jackson will be preaching on "Too Much Respect for God"
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, Alan Denote
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 31 - Our Interim Conference Minister, Rev. Davida Crabtree, will be with us. Please plan to attend the one service, at 10 am.
Coming Up in September:
New Members Classes:
September 14 and 21 at 10:10 in pastor's office
Joining on September 28
Social Action Committee Meeting
Sunday, September 14, after the second service in the Library
An Opportunity to Develop Priorities for the next six months or longer. Everyone is
welcomed and needed!
Saturday Concert Series
Saturday, September 27, 4:00 pm - Kozmik String Quarter
Saturday, October 25, 4:00 pm - Brandon Martin in Concert
Sunday adults' discussion group
The adults' discussion group is taking a break and will resume on Sunday, September 7 at 10 am. 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 five persons signed up.
.
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!
