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In this week's issue...
- Sunday School teachers are needed
- New: AmazonSmile
- Helping the people of Louisiana
- Shawn Thomas concert at Faith Family UCC
- ...and more!
August 25, 2016
25 de agosto de 2016
FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
DECIMOQUINTO DOMINGO DESPUÉS DE PENTECOSTÉS
From Pastor Bernice
See you in September...
Pastor Bernice is currently on sabbatical and will return in September. Blessings on her research and especially her well-deserved rest!
August 28 / 28 de agosto
11:00 AM - Sunday Worship in English
Readers: Ruth Thompson (English) and Marco Barros (Spanish)
Scripture texts:
Proverbs 25:6-7
Luke 14:1, 7-14
Rev. Paul Werner will preach.
Sermon: "Musical Chairs"
Pulpit assistant: Rev. Melvin James
1:30 PM - Ministerio Hispano (Español)
Oración de alabanza y gratitud: Migdalia Morales
Lectores: Yoanse Vigoa y Omar Hernández
Lecturas bíblicas:
Isaías 40:1-8
San Juan 11:38-40
Predicación: Joel Quiles
"¿Qué tienes que dejar morir para que Dios se glorifique?"
SUNDAY SERVICES:
9:00 AM - Quench (Resumes on Sep. 11, 2016)
Quench your spirit’s longing for God and community in an intimate service of message, music, and media. Communion every Sunday. Join us!
11:00 AM - Worship Service
Worship rich in modern and ancient music and traditions, with challenging preaching, supportive prayer, and a children’s sermon. Communion on the first Sunday of the month.
1:30 PM - Ministerio Hispano (Español) más información
Rev. Fernando Bernard, Pastor
Prayer requests
Laurie and Teña Nock-Hope; Karen Holmes; Nelson Eldred; Alyson Cain; Pat Allen and her daughter, Jacqui; Alice Wilber; Karen Mattheis' daughter, Shandy; Rev. Bernice’s brother, Nick and friend, Susan; Lois Whitehurst; Leroy Herschberger; Willy Emerson; Carl St. Meyer; Joyce Bresee; Joyce Cleary’s son, Mike; Barbara McFarland’s sister, Diane; Maria Morales Diaz's husband, Rudy; Julian Cunningham; Daphne Thomas' brother, Wayne; Melvin James' mother, Ruth; Lisa Villabol and her cousin, Lory; Carol Partington; Robin Hill's father, Robert; Alyson Cain's mother, Lois; Joyce Christison; Ann Wilde, who lost a dear friend; Maria Toloff's mother, Alma; Suzanne Haynes' mother; Rev. Greg Ryan; Laurence Ford and his mother; David McFarland's sister, Linda.
Meetings and important events
Sun., Aug. 28 (3:00 PM): Clase de Membresía con Pastor Fernando
Wed., Aug. 31 (1:00 PM): Memorial Service for James Aaron Hope
Thu., Sep. 29 (6:00 PM): 20s/30s Group
Sunday School teachers are needed!
Our Strategic Plan has a bold initiative relating to education. We are in need of Sunday School teachers for the fall. It would be great if we could have a few people volunteer for a schedule that rotates from week to week so that responsibilities can be shared among a few folks instead of one person. Please reach out to Pastor Paul if you are interested in this important area of the life of our church.
Memorial service for James Aaron Hope
Wednesday, August 31
Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa
(11400 Morris Bridge Road)
1:00-3:00 PM: Viewing
3:00 PM: Memorial Service
We will need some volunteers to help with setting up, cleaning up, and providing potluck finger foods for the repast following the service. Please reach out to Bonnie Megathlin to let her know how you can help:
home: 813-442-5493
cell: 352-445-0159
email: bmegathlin@gmail.com
Semillas de esperanza
Pastor Fernando
¡Hasta el próximo jueves!
Bendiciones,
Pastor Fernando
Ministerio Hispano
revfernandobernard@gmail.com
Paul's Pondering
Pastor Paul
Breaking the rules
Remember watching the good ol' sitcom "Laverne & Shirley"? One of the lines in the opening theme song is "Read us any rule, we'll break it." I like to watch those classic television shows from when I was a kid, but it is only as an adult that I have realized that this line can also refer to our Jesus.
Last week we heard about how Jesus broke the rules (Luke 13:10-17) to heal a woman with "a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years." The kin-dom of God breaks the rules, because the outcast is included, the unwelcome is welcome, the brokenhearted can rejoice, and the last is made to be first. We will hear on Sunday (also from the Gospel of Luke) about how those who are outcast and excluded are the real guests of honor at a banquet.
Think of the Beatitudes in Matthew 5...
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
What do all of these people who are "blessed" in the Beatitudes have in common? They are people who are receiving a presence of God in their lives in a unique way and a heightened awareness of their status of being blessed. Jesus didn't bless the strong, the lucky, and the privileged in the Beatitudes. He blessed those who are experiencing and living in times that are challenging to their spirits in one way or another.
And, yes, that does include mourning. Those who mourn will be comforted.
However, one interesting thing to note about the Beatitudes is that the name "Beatitudes" comes from the Latin word beātitūdō, which means "happiness." This is why some translations of the Bible, unlike the NRSV, say, "Happy are those who..." instead of "Blessed are those who...".
There are challenges in our lives that affect our spirits. But we know that God is our God and that unexpectedly there will be happiness.
After all, God breaks the rules.
Blessings and peace,
Pastor Paul
revpaulwerner@gmail.com
Donations, prayers to help flood victims in Louisiana
Click here to learn more.
An invitation from Faith Family UCC
Shawn Thomas in concert
Saturday, September 17 - 7:00 PM
Faith Family United Church of Christ
(1607 Lithia Pinecrest Rd., Brandon)
Come see Shawn Thomas in concert! He is a contemporary Christian singer/songwriter and worship leader whose ministry includes an outreach to the LGBT community. He will be in concert at Faith Family UCC during his tour. A love offering will be collected.
Sunday adults' discussion group
The Adult Seminar resumes on Sunday, September 4, at 10:10 AM in the Church Library. The group has chosen to study Grounded: Finding God in the World—A Spiritual Revolution by Diana Butler Bass.
All are encouraged to attend, and you do not have to attend every weekly session to participate. The book can be purchased conveniently through AmazonSmile.
Do we have your email address?
You must be thinking, "Huh? I know you have my email address. Otherwise, I wouldn't be reading this!" Well, we actually maintain two different email lists in two different platforms, so we need your help to make sure that we have your correct email address in both. Courage in the Struggle currently has 331 subscribers (people can automatically subscribe to it on our website). However, our church office maintains a separate (and somewhat smaller) email list for members to receive communications regarding events, important announcements, and church business.
If you are not receiving email communications from the church office, please send me an email at revpaulwerner@gmail.com so I can add you to the church office email list.
Thank you!
Pastor Paul
Gun Violence Working Group is forming
Interested in creating some local solutions to gun violence? We are forming a cooperative work group with our neighbors at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa. Please contact Cheryl Rodriguez or C.L. Townsend if you are interested in helping solve this problem.
How many people have been killed by guns since Newtown?
131,392
Listen to sermons online
You can listen to a sampling of Sunday sermons on our website, www.ucctampa.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, lights and air conditioner are turned off/up. Thank 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. Contact Tina Pierson for more information.
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!
Help support First United Church of Tampa
Do you like to shop on Amazon? Try AmazonSmile! It is the same Amazon that you already know, but our church will earn 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases.
First United Church of Tampa
7308 East Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL 33617 - 813-988-4321
Founded in 1885
www.ucctampa.org
OUR SIX CORE VALUES:
ACCESSIBLE TO ALL
EARTH CHARTER
MULTIRACIAL AND MULTICULTURAL
OPEN AND AFFIRMING
PEACE WITH JUSTICE
RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING
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