The Disability of Doubt
For the past two weeks, the lectionary has given us two Gospel passages dealing with doubt; and not simply doubt, but disbelief. Because the disciples have witnessed Jesus as dead, because that death to them was very real, they doubt he could possibly be alive. The disciples cannot believe that Jesus has been raised from the dead even though he is actually standing in their midst. Anything that contradicts our doubts, or our sense of what is real, is extremely difficult to believe.
Detroit's Michael Eric Dyson, a professor at Georgetown University - and also an ordained Baptist minister - has written a modern day version of the disciples' doubt and disbelief. His opinion piece in the New York Times (Racial Terror, Fast and Slow, April 17, 2015), has to do with the racial terror blacks experience and the white doubts about that reality.
Referring to recent video footage of racial violence, Dyson writes, "Problems arise when images of blackness contradict a received racial script... We can't believe what we see because it contradicts what we've been led to believe is true." And, what many whites have come to believe is true is a stereotypical view of our black brothers and sisters.
In this Easter season, we are called by God to move beyond our doubts and believe in the reality that Jesus lives. In this Easter season, we are also called to find new life by opening ourselves to what our neighbor is experiencing as real and true - whether they be black, white, Muslim, atheist, undocumented, rich, poor, gay, straight. Christ is risen! New life abounds; it is all around us, if we could just move beyond our doubts and disbelief.
With you on the journey,
Campbell Lovett
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| | Photo courtesy of www.lilliandaniel.com |
Keynote Speaker: The Rev. Dr. Lillian Daniel
Saturday, April 18, 2015 1001 Chester Road Lansing, MI 48912
Schedule
9:30 - 10:00 Registration
10:00 - 11:00 Opening Worship - Lillian Daniel, preaching
11:00 - 12:00 Musical Buffet - a variety of musical "courses"
12:00 - 1:00 Lunch, Fellowship and Book Signing
1:00 - 1: 15 Holy Humor with Rev. David Stout
1:15 - 2:00 Keynote Address, Spiritual but Not Religious
2:00 - 2:30 Closing Communion
2:30 Adjournment
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 Haslett Community Church
Youth On A Mission Golf Outing
Cost: $140 per team ($35 per person)
Our registration filled up quickly last year, so register your foursome soon!
There will be prizes and contests on each hole!
Not a golfer? Consider sponsoring a cart ($25) or a hole ($75). You can also donate a gift card ($10 or more to any area business). Or join us for lunch that day at the golf course ($10). All funds go toward our Youth Mission Trip Fund.
Email: Erin Heisler (erin.heisler@att.net) for registration or sponsorship forms!
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Celebrate 30 years of ONA and plan for the future at the 2015 National ONA Gathering!
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June 26 - 30, 2015 | Cleveland, Ohio
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Never Again!
In Boston, there used to be an Armenian Congregational Church. In every church I served, there were many Armenian-American members. Poloshian, Farhadian, Shaghalian, Baboian were some of their names. They are long-time members of our churches because their forbears knew 19th century Congregational missionaries in Armenia and Turkey. When an estimated 1.5 million Armenians died in mass killings in Ottoman Turkey, the ensuing diaspora brought many Armenians to America. This coming week, as many will be observing the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, let us not only give thanks for the extravagant welcome offered by our churches, but let us also say, "Never again!," to genocide or ethnic cleansing.
Campbell
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Marriage Equality: Is Your Congregation Ready?
Monday, April 27, 2015
10a - 2:30p
469 N. Hagadorn Rd.
East Lansing, MI 48823
*Location change - larger venue needed.
Cost: $10 (includes lunch)
Register by April 21, 2015
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IN CELEBRATION OF WOMEN
Sponsored by the Michigan Conference United Church of Christ
"Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her." MARK 14:9
Sunday, May 17, 2015
11:00 - 3:30 p.m.
A day to remember and appreciate women (ordained and lay) who have strengthened the Michigan UCC over the past 50 years.
7301 Curtis Street
Detroit, MI 48221
Come for the whole day or just the afternoon program!
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2015 Annual Meeting
Michigan Conference UCC
Friday, October 23
First Park Congregational Church
10 East Park Place, NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Saturday, October 24 L.V.Eberhard Center301 Fulton St., WestGrand Rapids, MI 49504www.gvsu.edu
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Photo courtesy of Center for Progressive Renewal
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Keynote Speaker:
The Rev. Cameron Trimble,
Executive Director & CEO,
MORE INFORMATION TO COME - STAY TUNED!
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 Joys & Concerns
Please hold in your prayers the family of Rev. Dr. William (Bill) Allinder, (former Michigan Pastor) who passed away April 3, 2015. Bill was ordained in 1961. He served the First Congregational UCC in Cadillac from 1964 - 1972. From there he moved to Grand Rapids to serve as Pastor of First Park Congregational UCC from 1972 - 1990. Bill and his wife Joan moved to Omaha; in 1998 he suffered a massive stroke which ended his ministry. In recent years Bill and Joan have lived in Cadillac. A memorial service will be held at a later date at First Park Congregational UCC. Cards may be sent to Joan at 137 Parke Lane, Cadillac, MI 49601. Her email address is bjallinder@hotmail.com.
Please continue to hold in your prayers the Rev. Gene McCornack and his wife Mariann. Gene suffered a stroke on January 27. After extended time at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital, he was moved to the UCC Pathways program at Evangelical Homes of Michigan. Cards of encouragement can be mailed to his home: 14750 Lakeside Circle #112, Sterling Heights, MI 48313.
Please hold in your hearts and continued prayers, the Rev. Sherry Schacht and her family(Eastern Association; retired pastor). Please continue to lift her up in your prayers filled with strength and courage - determination and faith - love and comfort. |
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Boundary Tending and Border Crossing
703 E. Main Street, Dewitt, MI 48820
Sessions are available:
April 30, 2015
September 10, 2015
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Are you looking for employment?
Check out our list of available positions!
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UCC Women of Michigan proudly present:
The Gathering 2015 "Dance in the Spirit"
June 12 - 14, 2015
Kettunen Center, Tustin, MI
Keynote Speaker: Rev. Ginny Titus
Join us for a weekend of retreat, renewal, relaxation and recharging. It is a time to greet old friends and make new ones!
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The Parish Paper
"Finding God's New Call in the Same Place"
"Seeking a Bivocational Calling for Pastors and Churches"
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New Items!
Items for Sale or Donation
You never know, you just might find something you have been looking for! Check out our list of items for sale or donation from local churches.
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Get the latest camp information and links for registration - CTRNC News
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The Dream of Justice (DOJ) Calendar & "Issue of the Month"
WE ARE THE DREAM OF JUSTICE ("DOJ") group of the Michigan Conference of the UCC ("MCUCC"). Last fall the MCUCC passed a resolution to help put an end to the "racialized" Criminal-Justice/Mass Incarceration system. The DOJ is the group formed by the Michigan Conference UCC to implement the resolution. This racialized criminal justice system impacts disproportionately on people of color; the impact is intentional and has racist roots. Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration In The Age Of Colorblindness, provides important information about this latent but real racism in the U.S. This book has opened-the-door so we can clearly see the ongoing racism.
Read more about the on-going work of the Dream of Justice Team and learn how you can get involved.
Follow the link below to read the resolution and sign the Statement of Support.
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