From the Pastor
“As Christians and As Americans…”
How ironic it is that, on the cusp of the tenth anniversary of 9/11/2001, we find ourselves embroiled in a national debate over whether a mosque and Islamic Cultural Center ought to be built in the vicinity of “ground zero”.
To be clear, at least as I understand it, the question is not really whether the Center will be allowed… that is a legal question, which to my understanding has been settled. There is no legal impediment to keep the Center from being located at the proposed site. And so we are left to ponder, and debate, the more visceral question of whether it OUGHT TO be built.
When I first heard of the growing debate, my own initial response was, “Why not?” I mean, we value the virtues of diversity and tolerance, and the good people of the lower Manhattan Islamic community did not hijack the planes that brought down the twin towers. Freedom of religious expression is one of the pillars on which our nation is built. Surely, once people think this through, they will come around.
Clearly, I was wrong. I was wrong in a way that surprised, saddens, and troubles me. I am surprised at the polls indicating just how many Americans are passionately opposed to the Center, saddened at the vitriol of some of the opposition, and troubled at how easily some politicians can turn anything into political fodder to advance their own agendas.
In the days that have passed since this whole thing hit the headlines, I have been gratified to learn that a growing group of 911 survivors and families of the lost is beginning to emerge, and their message is, “Those who oppose the Center in the name of the 911 families do not speak for us!”
Here’s where I come down on the matter.
First, it is no more legitimate, based on the fact that the 911 terrorists wore the cloak of Islamic religion to justify their hatred and their murderous acts, to condemn all Muslims (and in particular the Muslims who reside or work in Downtown Manhattan, and who wish to worship where they live or work) that it would be to condemn all Christians, and in particular all German Christians, or to deny them their rights, because the Nazis who murdered millions of innocents bore the Christian label, as, I might add, have countless bigots over the generations.
I would be highly offended if Jewish people sought to hold me, as a Christian, accountable for that horror, and yet some people expect all Muslims to bear the guilt of 911. To me, it makes no sense.
Here is what does make sense, or so it seems to me.
As Christians, it makes sense that we seek, in all circumstances, to model the love of Jesus Christ, and to heed Paul’s Call in I Corinthians 5, to be ministers of reconciliation. The only way we will ever effectively combat hatred and fear is to stop hating, and learn to live fearlessly. If doing so occasionally places us in an uncomfortable position, then so be it. Jesus’ own ministry of reconciliation took him to the cross. Ought not his followers learn to place the requirements of the Gospel above their own passions?
And as Americans… well, I only wish that some of the same folks who appear to be ever-vigilant in defense of the Second Amendment would show the same regard for the First. It’s easy to wave the flag. It’s a lot more challenging to honor and to uphold the foundational principles of the Republic for which it stands.
Christian Education Announcements
SCHOOL KITS? We could use your help! Although it is not actually the time to send out our School Kits through our missions here at church it certainly it the BEST TIME TO BUY. It’s back to school time and there are MANY GREAT DEALS, in many stores. If you are interested and willing have fun purchasing some or all of the items listed here. NOTE-- the bag should have a closure and should not have an advertisement on it. Thank you so much for ANYTHING you can do. Please bring your items to church and tell me, Carrie Bartkowiak, I will take care of them.
IT’S BACK-TO-SCHOOL TIME!! Do you know what that means???
It means it’s back to school for us at Sunday School, too. We are looking forward to Sunshine Room fun with our kindergarten aged friends, a rockin’ time in the Rainbow Room with the 1st thru 5th graders and Barb Lynch has something cooking for the month of September for the older kids.
Please let me know if you are interested in teaching ANY age group. If you are interested and don’t know where to begin please see me or Julie Madden and we would be more than happy to give you a direction. One week or 2, a week here or there, women, men, you’re never the wrong age to start so give it a try; it is all helpful and greatly appreciated and that is what is going to keep our KIDS INTERESTED IN COMING TO CHURCH. We need help so PLEASE jump on board with us!
Thank you, Carrie Bartkowiak
Women's Fellowship
The yard sale income was $105.00. Too bad we had rainy weather on Sunday. This will go to the Parsonage Repair Fund. Thanks for your Set-Up and Take-Down help and to the Cashier Gals for their help!
- submitted by Barb Lynch
Mission Update
The UCC has sent Church World Servcie $25,000 for the Pakistan Flood Relief. This comes from our "One Great Hour of Sharing" offerings.
Church World Service has asked for Baby Layettes and Health Kits for Pakistan so we will start assembling them again. Watch for a list of needed things.
Also, now is the time to pick up school supplies for School Kits. This is a project our Sunday School helps with, and a list of supplies is available now. Include some items in your shopping.
From the Editor
Well, I certainly have a unique and exciting problem to deal with while putting together this month’s Plain Talk. We’ve ran out of room! No really, we have! As I write this, we are completely out of room and I’m still awaiting one graphic to be e-mailed to me.
For a newsletter designer, this is a real problem. How can I possibly fit everything in the newsletter that needs to get here? As a member of this congregation, this is incredibly exciting! Just look at the space right above this column. We have 7 birthdays and 4 anniversaries to celebrate this month!
Locally, we’ve reached nearly 75% of our goal to raise $20,000 for the Parsonage Fund. We’re discussing the start of our Sunday School for the new year. We’ve been invited to participate in the Oneida Association’s Fall Gathering at the end of the month.
We’re also looking at the rest of the world, aiding in mission work as we’re able. We’re continuing to raise money for the Wider Mission and will soon be heading the call for Layette Kits and School Kits.
As Jerry Herman wrote in his Broadway flop “Dear World”:
If one person can beat a drum, And one person can blow a horn, If one person can hold a torch, Then one person can change the world!
And we’re NOT just one person! We’re all members of this small but vibrant community, with work to do. I hear the drum and the horn. Do you?
Trustees' Report
We can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and the yell from the parsonage on last Friday afternoon (Aug. 20), “We have water!” was very fulfilling. That meant that the kitchen sink is in place and now operational. That is the last major piece of the kitchen renovation to be completed. Our new refrig, electric stove, dishwasher, microwave/stove vent, and floor covering have been in place and usable for about 2 weeks. We hope to have everything finished before Labor Day Weekend. Thanks to all of you who have given of some much to make this a reality. It will be a definite plus in our search for a new pastor. Once all the work is done, we will have an Open House (Kitchen?) to show it off and celebrate.
Check out the impatiens in front of our handicap ramp, and look at all that color they add to the front of our church.. They have really taken over that area. Soon Sandy Bramble will be planting bulbs that will give us color early next spring.
Before the snow flies we plan to replace the lexan on the stained glass windows, install the Church Parking sign and set the front step protectors.
- submitted by Ken Landon