... National Breast Cancer Awareness month.  It makes me think of two friends who have had this disease.  One is a man, who passed away at age 61 seven years ago.  The irony is that Eugene McCabe was the head of a hospital in New York, in fact he founded a hospital located in central Harlem at a time when it was difficult to get any services into that neighborhood.  Yet Eugene was able to do so and more.  This is what the NY Times wrote in his obituary, “North General, a 200-bed hospital on 121st Street and Madison Avenue, is the only minority-operated hospital in the state. Most of its trustees are black. The hospital specializes in treatment for diabetes, cancer and hypertension, which occur widely among low-income blacks. It recently built 300 units of condominium housing for low- and middle-income residents of Harlem.” In addition, North General had a nursing school that trained licensed practical nurses, providing a well-paying job for many Harlem residents.”  Sadly, within a few years of his death, North General Hospital was closed. So his early death from breast cancer not only devastated his family but it devastated an entire community.
 
My other friend is still alive and doing well in California, even after 19 years of living with metastatic breast cancer.  She has raised her sons, worked for many years in a stressful job, honed her skills as a master gardener and now even raises three chickens and makes wine.  She lives life to its fullest. 
 
She has participated in several trials, including one for several years in which she juiced all kinds of fruits and vegetables every day. And she has been an active member of her church and is on several prayer lists not only in her home church but other places as well.      
 
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a time to remind ourselves that although this disease has claimed the lives of so many, it is a survivable disease.  One in every eight women in our country will have breast cancer and the majority of them will survive it. One way to survive breast cancer is early detection, so it is important for women to have mammograms, to go to their doctor if they feel lumps.  And my friend Eugene’s story reminds us that men need to check for lumps as well.
 
There are some in our congregation who are inspiring survivors of breast cancer.  So, let’s honor them – and our friends and loved ones who have died from it as well – by wearing something pink not this Sunday, when we will be celebrating World Communion Sunday, but next Sunday, October 12. A pink dress or top, a pink scarf or bow tie, a pink pair of socks or shoes.  Remember – October 12 – think pink and wear pink!

 
In Love and Peace,

Pastor Bernice                                                                  
 
revbpjackson@ucctampabay.org

Sunday, October 5 - World Communion Sunday

The texts for Sunday are:
Exodus 20: 1-4,7-10,12-17                                    
Matthew 21:33-46
 

Readers:
Quench -        
11:00 AM -      English  - Willy Emerson
                        Spanish - Dove Wimbish                       
Pulpit Assistant - Michael Cain

Rev. Bernice Powell Jackson will be preaching on "No Other God" 

SUNDAY SERVICES:
9:00 AM - Quench,   
Quench your spirit’s longing for God and community in an intimate service of message, music, and media.  Communion every Sunday.


11:00 AM - Worship Service
a larger service with prayer, choir, sermon and children's church



Prayer requests

Pat Allen; Doris Rampolla, Julian Cunningham;  Alice Wilber; Karen Mattheis' daughter, Shandy and her sister Debbie; Rev. Bernice’s brother, Nick; Lois Whitehurst; Diana Legg, Leroy Herschberger, Jim Christison, Bob Mitchell, Kenn and Steve Antonelli's mother, Antoinette; Barbara Nichols and family, Barbara McFarland's sister, Diane; Ione Townsend, Thelma Ashley, Willy Emerson, Dove Wimbish, Jennifer Roney, Rev. Sara Zimmerman, Paul D'Agostino

 

Meetings and important events


Fall Movies, Sometimes a Speaker and a Meal series
Focusing on our core values

Third Thursdays
Next Viewing: Thursday, October 16
6:00 - potluck
Film shows at 6:45
Next Movie: TBA


Coming Up:

Saturday Concert Series 

Saturday, October 25, 4:00 pm - Brandon Martin (and friends!)  in Concert

Saturday, November 22 - Mo' Pleasure in Concert
      Internationally recognized R and B singer

Donations: $20/pp


Next Meeting of Social Action Committee:
Sunday, October 5 after the second service, 12:45 to 2 PM
In the Sanctuary 
Purpose:
To follow-up on September workshop and set some priorities for our congregation

Supper Group
Supper Group will meet Saturday, October 11th at 6:30pm in the church fellowship hall. Hosting will be Jim & Joyce Christison, Fonda Harris and Dan Purdom. If you are not currently on the list, please contact Kit and Bonnie Megathlin at bmegath-lin@gmail.com or call (813) 428-5200. We look forward to seeing everyone

Sunday adults' discussion group


The adults' discussion group has resumed! They will be reading The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know is Possible  by Charles Eisenstein. Join them at 10:10 in the library.



Calling for volunteers!

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.
 
 
 children'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 and the rest of September. Please give generously.
 

 

HOPE latest news

We will be holding HOPE house meetings over the next four weeks - listen out for a call from your Team member about when/where the closest meeting will be for you.  At least three of these will be in homes and three will be at the church between now and mid-October.  If you want to know more, see Lois Price, Roy Tamura, Fonda Harris or Jean McCann.

Put the Fall Annual HOPE Convention on your calendar - Monday, October 27.  More details to follow.  We will be holding several house meetings as we kick off the listening process to discern what problems our county is facing this year.  You should be hearing from your HOPE Team member in the next two weeks with more information!

Meanwhile, we are continuing to work on the Affordable Housing and Fair Chance Hiring policy problems.  You will hear reports on this important work also at the fall house meetings.

 


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!
 

 

First United Church of Tampa
7308 East Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL  33617   -   813-988-4321
Founded in 1885
www.ucctampabay.org

OUR FOUR CORE VALUES:
EARTH CHARTER
MULTIRACIAL AND MULTICULTURAL
OPEN AND AFFIRMING
PEACE WITH JUSTICE