 | Open and Affirming Conversations October 2009
|
Open and Affirming (ONA) Conversations in October and November
The Open and Affirming (ONA) TASK FORCE will be providing speakers and a video around the topic of becoming a church where all are welcome, all individuals and families, be they lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, heterosexual-be they single parents, couples, nuclear, blended, extended and stepparents—as they strive to function faithfully in response to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Christ’s principles of love and justice, grace and mercy.
People have asked Pastor Lori about what are the questions/comments generated by the congregation: “It’s about time!” “I thought we were already ONA,” and “Could we talk about what the Bible has to say about homosexuality?,” and “Will this cause our teens to become more sexually active?” To respond to your comments we are hosting these events listed below. Bring questions and a discerning and prayerful heart. Refreshments will be served and childcare available (please call the church office to request).
Rev. Elise Elrod, Pastor of Christ’s Community, UCC Chicopee, presenter of diversity and gender identity, and transgender woman of faith, will discuss: “What does it mean to be Open and Affirming?” October 14 in the Chapel, 7-8pm.
Dr. Jane Crosthwaite (MHC religion professor) will present: “What are the ethical implications of becoming ONA for a people of faith?” October 27 in the Chapel, 7-8pm.
The video “Open and Affirming: A journey of faith” will be shown: October 25 after church in the chapel and at Loomis on Nov 4 or 5th (time and place to be announced).
Members of the Task Force: Ruth Cowan<wrcowan@comcast.net>; dmorrell@mtholyoke.edu; Delmer Borah<DBorah@MassMutual.com>; Brenda Mathieu<brendamathieu@comcast.net>; Suzanne<suehendy@comcast.net>; Lori Souder <lsouder2@verizon.net.
Topics at the first three "house" meetings• We need to find ways to encourage church membership and to promote the church and its ministries. What groups of people we wish to attract will determine how to promote.
• "Center Church is a place where the soil is so fertile you can't put down the roots unless you want to grow."
• New landscaping needed
• People are inquiring about the church finaces and structure of committees--wanting a revision.
• Strong desire to go deeper with our faith journey-make things relevant. More adult syudy
• How can we utilize the church 7 days a week?
• What kind of vocabulary do we use when expressing our faith? Make it bold and fresh.
• What is our common understanding--hence the exploration to go deeper. What do we teach?
• Develop trust, respect
• Yoga ministry
• Offer an ecumenical Open House or a dialogue around ecumenism and interfaith
• Music Ministry-wow
• Interest in reaching out to mhc students
• contemporary worship needed
• Many go to church for the support of the community
• Many attend church where you matter
• ONA discussion
• Vintage Clothing Store – how to, who would need to be at the table, where might it be, whom might it serve
• Hot Topics – in and outside of the church service
• 5th Sunday as a service to the community (March, May, August, November). Possible interactions with: Kate’s Kitchen, Springfield Mission, Wingate, Soldier’s Home, Loomis House, South Hadley Council on Aging. Next step: contacts with 3 congregations already participating, with reports to Charlotte by Feb. 10
Bible Study ... People sometimes think that Bible Study is for those who are familiar with the Bible already - so far from the truth. Bible Study is for everybody! Recently we welcomed a parishioner who knew almost nothing about the Bible though she is a lifelong church person. She's having a great time! We all are! Join us! ... meets Thursdays from 10:00-11:00 a.m. in the Reception Room.
Chapel Renovation Complete The wall-to-wall carpet has been installed so the chapel renovation is now complete. The chapel may now be used for variety of purposes: activities, meetings ,worship and prayer, socializing, ceremonies and as a learning center. The pews may be removed at any time to create a large space. They can be stored in the hallway between the chapel and the Music Room. A couple tables will be brought up from Fellowship Hall and steel chairs are available next door in the Music Room.
Associated Flooring installs the new carpet in the renovated chapel. Framed posters on loan from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music hang on the wall.
Did you know that Center Church ministers and deacons host a worship service once-a-month at the Wingate Community? These services are usually about 30 minutes, include a couple hymns, a reading from Scripture, a homily and prayers. There are usually around a dozen attendees. Below are pictures of some of our Wingate friends during the October service when Bobbie Ayers and Randy Purinton were the hosts...
| |
 | Food for Friends - A New Community Outreach Program
|
Take and Eat: “Food For Friends”
The Take and Eat program is supported by faith-based groups who prepare and deliver free meals on weekends to the same people who receive the weekday Meals on Wheels. This program has been established in the South Hadley / Granby area, with St. Theresa’s and St. Pat’s preparing meals on the second and fourth Sunday of each month, plus every “fifth” Sunday. Center Church, along with the Falls and Granby Congregational, United Methodist and Our Savoir Lutheran churches, have been busy getting a program up and running that would cover the third Saturday of each month. We have named the program for these churches “Food For Friends”. We are well on our way with the final planning for our first meal preparation on Saturday October 17th. We have all of our cooks and coordinators in place, and many volunteers signed up for the various roles of baking, kitchen prep and clean-up, packaging and driving. Training for all of the volunteers will take place at 2:00 pm on Saturday, October 3rd. This will be a great chance for everyone from all the churches to get to know each other, and become familiar with the requirements of their particular role. This program is being supported by monthly contributions from each of the participating churches, as well as our membership in the Western Mass Food Bank which will provide some of the food at no- to low-cost. Mission Sunday this month is October 18th, the day following our first meal, and we will be sharing our experiences at coffee hour. If you have any questions about the program or are interested in joining the ranks of volunteers, please contact Charlotte Buijnarowski.
 |
Artluck: Center’s Adult Ed Series
This year, adult ed at Center is Artluck – a combination of potluck with a presentation related to art in the Christian religious tradition.
All Artlucks are scheduled for Wednesday evenings 6:00-7:30.
October 21 : Harvest and the Bible. Randy Purinton, host (see below)
December 2 : The Twelve Days of Christmas: A Unique Perspective. Tom Bernard, guest presenter
February 3 : Medieval Night. The Story of Joan of Arc Wilhelmina Van Ness, guest presenter
March 3 : The Celtic Cross: It’s History and Appeal. Randy Purinton, host
March 31: Labyrinth Workshop Randy Purinton host
May 5 : Plants of the Bible. Randy Purinton, host
June 2 : Field Trip: The Hartford Home of Harriet Beecher Stowe
The first Center Church Adult Education gathering is "Images and Stories of Harvest in the Bible", Wednesday, October 21, 6:00-7:30. The event is a combination of potluck – bring your favorite entree or side dish - and an art presentation hosted by Randy Purinton
 |
The October gathering of the Reading Fellowship group will be held on October 28th to allow members to attend the ONA presentation scheduled for our regular meeting night. We will gather at the home of Anita Sarro and Randy Purinton, 39 Chapel Road Amherst at 6:30 pm for potluck (bring a main dish, side dish or salad – our host provides dessert and beverages), fellowship and book discussion. We will be discussing the book The Faith Club by Ranya Idliby, Suzanne Oliver, and Priscilla Warner, a story of three mothers from three faiths – Islam, Christianity and Judaism – who got together to write a picture book for children that would highlight the connections between their religions. They found themselves embroiled in misunderstanding but eventually grew close enough to discover and explore what united them. Books are available in the Church office so stop by and borrow one and join us for our next gathering.
The Osteoperosis exercise class directed by both Bobbie Ayers and Betty Innocent is a great success and has around a dozen people - men and women - participating each week. The class meets Monday evenings at 6:15 - 7:00 or so.
This portrait, hanging in the Reception Room of Center Church, is not a portrait of Rev. John Woodbridge, second minister of Center Church. More later...
January 28, 2009. Soon, Randy Purinton, a minister of arts in Center Church, will snap a digital photo of Rev. John Woodbridge's grave in Evergreen Cemetery and enlarge the photo to almost life-size (for free!), for installation somewhere diginified in our church. This will be cheaper and less hassle than yanking his stone out of the ground and carting it up to our church (which we might want to do someday in order to save the stone from the destructive effects of weather).
|
