The weekly e-news of First United Church of Tampa!

 

July 2, 2015



 


SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
INDEPENDENCE DAY WEEKEND





 

 


 From Pastor Bernice


We're all in this together

Pastor Bernice was away at General Synod in Cleveland, so she asked me to write for this week’s Courage in the Struggle. While I was serving our church in Winter Haven, my e-news column was called "Pastor Paul's Pondering"... Thank you for inviting me into your inbox to do some pondering.

Those of you who know me well know that I can be very cynical at times. This can be a good trait to have, in my opinion, because it causes me to look for what is missing, want more than what is presented, and improve upon a given situation.

Saturday is the Fourth of July, and I will not be decked out in my finest red, white, and blue outfit. We are not (yet) the “land of the free” and we do not (yet) have “liberty and justice for all,” but it is crucial that we meet these goals. As a nation, we sometimes work hard to make these dreams a reality. We have some work to do, certainly, but I really want our nation to be the things that it says it is.

How can we say we have liberty if we are at risk of being shot in a place of worship? How can we be free if there are guns everywhere? How can there be justice if our leaders won’t keep guns and ammunition away from people who really shouldn’t have them? How is there justice if we only uphold half of the Second Amendment? Where is the “well regulated”? What “militia”?

Thinking about these and other issues can be a real downer, but then good things happen that shine some light in the darkness, give me hope, and (thank God) get rid of some of that pesky cynicism…

When I think of the Fourth of July, it is easy to think of “me”… I don’t want to wear red, white, and blue. I don’t want to wave flags. I don’t want to miss my friend’s barbecue. I want to watch the fireworks. I want to relax on the holiday. I want to go swimming. Et cetera...

But what if it isn’t about me, but us? Instead of Independence Day, why don't we celebrate Interdependence Day? After all, as a nation, we're all in this together. Instead of celebrating what separates us from someone else, let’s celebrate what we can do in communion with one another.

We all rejoice that the Supreme Court finally made its ruling (right in time for LGBT Pride weekend) in favor of equal marriage rights for all people. Now THAT is something to celebrate, especially because we as a church embrace LGBT equality as one of our Four Core Values. The Stonewall Riot started when a transgender woman, Marsha Johnson, threw a shot glass at the police when they raided the Stonewall Inn in New York City. It was the LGBT community that said “enough is enough” and truly began its struggle for justice. (It was the “shot glass heard around the world,” as Rolling Stone put it.) But it is because of the straight allies of the LGBT community that the issues of a few became the cause of a larger group. People are working together to show love, tolerance, acceptance, and full inclusion for their friends and loved ones. We're all in this together. As President Obama said after the Supreme Court’s ruling, “When all Americans are treated as equal, we are more free.”

After the shootings at the AME church in Charleston, it really seemed at first that nothing would change. It was just another mass shooting and we would go on with our lives. But this time, things were different. Politicians who embraced the Confederate flag and Confederate symbols started seriously discussing how these things shouldn’t have such an elevated place in our society. Some leaders took some action and some still need to, but these conversations were not very prominent before and it is wonderful that they are actually happening. People of all races and faiths are coming together to say “enough is enough” and to demonstrate that what happens to one happens to all. We're all in this together. The tragedy took place in a historically Black church, but we realize that what happens in a Black church happens in the church: God’s church. It affects us all.

So, as we grill our hot dogs and watch fireworks this weekend, let’s remember how we can come together to really be a nation that does what it says it is. It is a difficult goal, but perhaps recently we have come just a bit closer to it. Maybe one day I will wear red, white, and blue.

Happy Interdependence Day!

Blessings and peace,

Rev. Paul Werner

ptwerner@gmail.com



 


Sunday, July 5

The texts for Sunday are:
2 Samuel 5:1-5
Mark 6:1-13

 

Readers:    
Quench:  Laurie Hope   
11:00 AM:  Fonda Harris (English), Rev. Paul Werner (Spanish)   

Pulpit assistant:  Rev. Paul Werner


Rev. Bernice Powell Jackson will preach on "Let it Go".
  



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

Doris Rampolla, Pat Allen, Alice Wilber, Karen Mattheis’ daughter, Shandy; Rev. Bernice’s brother, Nick; Lois Whitehurst, Leroy Hershberger, Bob Mitchell, Kenn & Steve Antonelli’s mother, Antoinette; CL Townsend, Paul D’Agostino & father, Lynette Sanchez’s mother, Alba; Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Robin Hill, Fonda Harris’s sister, Jeanine; Willy Emerson, Carl St. Meyer, Joyce Christison & Family, Joyce Bresee, Caleb DeNote, Roy Tamura’s mom, Amy; Janet & Mike Stephenson & family, Laurie Hope, Teña Nock, Joyce Cleary’s son, Mike; Barbara McFarland’s sister, Diane; Maria Morales’s mother, Emerita; Hector Rios’ niece, Viviana Perez; Themla Ashley’s Uncle Willie; For the families of the Charleston, SC AME Church members, The Parents of Lois Price, Mimi Reid's daughter Amanda and son-in-law Jack
 


 

Meetings and important events

Tuesday, July 7 at 8:00 PM:  Iftar at Islamic Community of Tampa
Sunday, July 12 at 10:00 AM:  New Member Class (Session 1)
Sunday, July 19 at 10:00 AM:  New Member Class (Session 2)
Sunday, July 19 at 11:30 AM:  Congregational Meeting
Thursday, July 23 at 6:30 PM:  20s/30s Group / Dinner

 

 


Sunday adults' discussion group

The Adult Seminar is taking a short break before it starts its next book discussion.  Stay tuned for more information!
 

 



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

Over the summer there will be no special Sunday school classes. Children will stay in worship with their parents. There will be children's learning kits for them to play with.

Needed for the fall! 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
 
 



 
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