Newsletter from University Lutheran Chapel

Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

September 2012

This Sunday we continue our nine month journey through the bible as we explore the promise God made to Sarah and Abraham. Rev. Roland Springfellow from the Coalition of Welcoming Congregations will be our preacher.

Narrative Lectionary continues

For the next nine months we will read a single lesson during liturgy, following the "Narrative Lectionary." This lectionary seeks to tell the overarching biblical story of God's accompaniment in ways that build biblical fluency. We are not alone in this. We join Professors Rolf Jacobson, Craig Koester, and Kathryn Schifferdecker of Luther Seminary and many congregations across North America in trying this method of communicating the overarching story we find in Scripture.

This lectionary is different in several ways from the Revised Common Lectionary we have been using. First, the narrative lectionary uses nine months to rapidly tell the biblical story in canonical order. Each week we focus on a single lesson as a way to facilitate an understanding of and appreciation for the broader biblical story of God's accompaniment. In the fall we read from the Hebrew Scriptures, in the winter from one of the Gospels (Luke), and in the spring stories about the early church from the book of Acts and other New Testament writings.

The church calendar clearly aligns with the rhythm of the Narrative Lectionary with emphasis on the three festivals of the year: the birth of Christ Jesus as the culmination of the OT story, the resurrection of Christ as the culmination of the Gospel stories, and the festival of Pentecost as the outflowing of God's mission to all the nations.

We are experimenting because we believe deeply that fluency in the language of the biblical story is crucial to relevant and creative Christian faith. Like our partners, we can no longer assume that most people who worship with us already know even the basics of this biblical narrative.

We hope that this will equip in knowing more deeply the story of God's accompaniment, in finding ourselves in this story, and in rediscovering the love of God in Christ Jesus, the Word made flesh among us. Let us know how you think it is going!

(Thanks to Professor Rolf Jacobson from whose article this announcement has been liberally adapted.)

Prayers this week

In all things pray! Please remember these petitions in your daily prayers.

The family of the Reverend Marcus P. Hess, who died this week. He served as interim pastor for the Sierra Pacific Synod and served most recently at Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Novato, CA

For Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary which started its 61st fall semester this week

For all who have cancer or who are struggling with illness

For our confirmands, Eva, Cole, Helen, and Gwen, who started class this week

For First United, San Francisco, as they are admitted back into the ELCA on October 14

For Maria and Gretchen who started their intership in Minneapolis and New York

Quick Links

Lectionary Resources

Worship Leader sign-up

Small Group sign-up

Green Challenge

Worship Times

11:00 am Sunday

Eucharist

6:30 pm Thursday

Magnificat Campus Ministry

Worship Leaders

Presider: The Rev. Jeff R. Johnson

Preacher: The Rev. Roland Stringfellow

Assisting: Brach Jennings, Carmen Miranda, and Judy Turley

Narrator: Don Green

Music: Andy Boumann

Greeter: Margaret Moreland

Sacristan:

Council: Margaret Moreland

Prayer: Don Green

WOFL: Robyn Gee

Calendar

Sept 15 - Salvadorian Spirit by FLMN (7pm -11pm)
Sept 26 - Founder's Day at PLTS - Bonhoeffer lecture
Sept 28 - Social Justice vote and luncheon
Sept 22 - Community Meal for the homeless
Sept 29 - DACA volunteer training with SHARE at the Chapel
Oct 06 - Detention Center vigil (9am tabling, 11am vigil)
Oct 10 - Starstruck - A Red Carpet Gala
Oct 13 - FYI - Faith, Youth, and Immigration conference
Oct 27 - Hunger Network Workshop by the ELCA Malaria Campaign

Rev. Roland Springfellow

This Sunday we are honored to welcome The Rev. Roland Springfellow as our preacher.

Rev. Roland Stringfellow is licensed with the Metropolitan Community Church and United Church of Christ.

Currently he works with congregations on LGBTQ inclusion as he directs the Coalition of Welcoming Congregations, a program of the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Sexuality on the campus of Pacific School of Religion as the Director of Ministerial Outreach.

Rev. Stringfellow has been consulted by media outlets regarding his work on marriage equality and the role people of color and communities of faith played in this local, state and national debate.

Community Meal this month

Our community meal for the homeless if coming up this month, on September 22nd

We need volunteers for our two shits:

cooking shift - 10:00am - 12:00pm
serving/clean-up - 4:00pm - 6:30ppm

Sign up online or contact Steve Schultz!

Sept Green Challenge

During the month of September, we're encouraging everyone to spend time learning about the environment.

Attend a guided nature walk or visit a zoo, aquarium, or natural history museum.

We've created a list of educational opportunities, including local events, books, and audio-visual resources.

Here's the link for the Sept Idea List. Check it out!

DACA volunteer training

Our friends at SHARE El Salvador will be offering a no-cost DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) eligibility pre-screening (Oct 14th) and application clinic (Oct 20th) at the Chapel.

If you would like to be trained as a volunteer to screen DREAMers and assist with applications, attend the volunteer training on Sept 29th at ULC.

For more information contact Martha at martha@share-elsalvador.org or call 510-848-8487

Salvadorian Spirit

FLMN Berkeley invites us to celebrate El Salvador together with music, food, and more.

Saturday, Sept 15th
7:00pm - 11:00pm
at the Chapel

Click here for more information!

Hunger Network Workshop

Hear about the ELCA Malaria Campaign and the difference it is making in Africa.

Saturday, October 27th, 9:30-3:00pm
Lutheran Church of the Incarnation in Davis, CA

You will walk away inspired, changed, and alive with ideas to implement and resources to share!

Click here to learn more and to register!

Vote on Social Justice

congregational meeting

We need your help! Please help the Social Justice team decide where the $2,000 in our budget should go this year.

Starting Sept 2, you can fill out a recommendation form to nominate a worthy organization that works in the area(s) of environmental justice/simple living, El Salvador, immigration, and/or hunger issues.

On Sept 30, you will have the opportunity to present your organization (or Jen can do it for you) and we will vote to select the top 3 choices that day. Then, you will have the opportunity to vote (1 vote per person per Sunday present) until Oct 28 when we will have a light luncheon and announce the top selection.

We will have an opportunity to hear more about the 3 organizations at following Sundays and have a chance to collect additional offerings to support these organizations. We appreciate all of your help!

Please contact Jen Afdahl Rice (jenafdahl@gmail.com, 510.325.0096) with any questions.

Founder's Day at PLTS