Originally Blessed! 

your September 27, 2015 eNewsletter from  
                      EVOLVE
                the Creation Spirituality Ministry of 
                        the United Church of Christ of Annapolis


If all creation had been whispering the story of its  
own spirituality for 13.5 billion years... we would call that story 
creation spirituality. 
IN THIS ISSUE
Sacred Gathering September 27
UCCA Congregational Meeting
Pope Francis
Open Arms
World AIDS Day
Chant Circle
Fall Equinox
September Covenant Dates
Crop Walk
Creation Spirituality Communities
Remembering Fr. John J. McNeill
Ways to Support our Ministry
From Erine
Send in your Articles
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Join our Sacred Gatherings at 6 PM on Sundays at
8 Carvel Circle
Edgewater, MD 21037

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1ST SUNDAY ON THE PATH OF LETTING GO
                                                                       
Evolve's Sacred Gathering
September 27, 2015 at 6 pm
United Church of Christ of Annapolis
8 Carvel Circle, Edgewater, MD 21037
Email: Evolve@UCCAnnapolis.org
Phone:  443 485 5979

Reflector and Communion Celebrant
The Rev. Terry Fitzgerald
Gathering Leaders: 
Set-Up/Put-Away: Dave Miller 
Greeter:  Suzie Robertson       Reader: Tom Good 
Provider of Bread: Sylvia Oliva  
Community Hour Host:  Erine Sedicum    
 
Continuing our progressive spiritual journey.  
UCC Annapolis Congregational Meeting
Sunday, Sept 27, 2015 at 11:35 am
Purpose:
(1) Vote on a proposal for the Watershed Restoration       Project at our church 
(2) Vote on an amended 2015 budget 

Pope Francis's visit to the U.S.A. 2015
 
"We must regain the conviction that we need one another, that we have a shared responsibility for others and the world, and that being good and decent are worth it."

- Pope Francis, Laudato Si'
Open Arms September 29
All are most welcome to this small discussion group which meets the fourth Tuesday of every month at various members' homes.  This month it will be at Rick and Tom's house.  We have a meal and discussion, often following a DVD on a topic such as the Cosmos, "Living Our Questions" the Bible, Progressive Christianity, etc.  We share the cost of dinner together with any overage going to support Evolve's ministry.  It is always a time of fun and getting to know one another better.  We gather around 6:30 pm and are usually finished by 9:30. Please RSVP Rick and Tom at 443-867-4997 and they will be happy to give you directions if you need them.  


World AIDS Day is Tuesday, December 1, 2015.  There will be a commemorative program at UCCA.  Hold the date and stay tuned for more details.
   
Chant Circle Sunday, September 27
In Caton Hall, UCCA
from 4:00-5:30pm

Circle dance is one of the oldest ways in which people celebrate community and togetherness.  It honors the circle of life, love, work, and the seasons.  In gentle movement, body, mind and spirit embrace the music and rhythms . . . leading us inward towards our Source of inner peace, beauty and joy.  Come join us.  It's always the last Sunday of the month.
Gracious Light of God, pure brightness of Creator's
       faithful love: 
God among us, God one with us, Jesus Christ, holy,
       blessed gift, gift of love.

Light eternal, Light revealing, Source of every good,
       we pray:
Burn within us, guide and teach us ways of living that
       honor your gracious love.  
September Birthdays, Anniversaries, Covenant Dates

Sept.    4     Karl D. Walker Death (2008) 
Sept.   11    Marvin Roger Woods Death (2001) 
Sept.   13    Janice Creamer and Cherly Lanore Civil Union in CT (2007)
Sept.   14    Founding of our Community by the Rev. Dr. Wayne Schwandt (1998) 
Sept.   15    Laura Cooper Birthday 
Sept.   17    Rick Stewart Birthday 
Sept.   19    Dennis L. Myers Death (2011) 
Sept.   20    Justin Michael Abell Birthday (2001) 
Sept.   23    William E. Riley Birthday (d. 1999) 
Sept.   28    Glen O. Van Steenburg Death (1999)     
 
CROP Walk on Sunday, October 11th
On the Baltimore & Annapolis Trail, Severna Park, MD

CROP Hunger Walks are neighbors walking together to take a stand against hunger in our world.  Different ages, faiths and backgrounds--together we raise awareness and funds for international relief and development, as well as local hunger-fighting. Some 2,000 communities across the country take part each year.  For more information or to join UCC Annapolis's Crop Walk in Severna Park, contact Marlene Plumley at marleneplumley@yahoo.com.  
CSC Banner from ning
Creation Spirituality Communities 
is a network of communities ranging from intentional groups to alternative churches, which are grounded in the tenants of Creation Spirituality and revere the sacredness of all creation. Through study, ritual, celebration and action, these communities support justice, compassion, transformation and sustainability for the Universe and for all living beings.  It is both tradition and movement, celebrated by mystics and agents of social change from every age and culture.  Our online community, Chesapeake Creation Spirituality Community, is waiting for you to join:   http://originalblessing.ning.com.   
        Father John J. McNeill
            By Rev. Dr. Nancy Wilson, Global Moderator of
            Metropolitan  Community Church (MCC)

"It does not feel like an accident that Father John McNeill died this week during the first visit of Pope Francis to the United States," said Global MCC Moderator Rev. Dr. Nancy Wilson. "Forty of Father McNeil's 90 years, four decades were dedicated to being a Jesuit priest in the Roman Catholic Church. Pope Francis is also a Jesuit.  
 
"The Jesuits are renowned for their scholarly rigor and compassionate leadership. It was this scholarly and compassionate approach that shone forth when Father McNeill published The Church and the Homosexual in 1976. He gave hope and healing to a generation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) Catholics who struggled to reconcile faith and sexuality.

"It is amazing how much hope Pope Francis gave to the LGBTQ world when he simply asked, 'Who am I to judge?' Today, the Pope could say to LGBTQ Roman Catholics, and to those who knew and loved Father McNeill, 'I grieve with you.'" 

John McNeill fought the good fight. Ordained a Jesuit priest in 1959, he began to minister to gay and lesbian Catholics in the 1970s and helped birth DignityUSA in 1974. His 1976 book, The Church and the Homosexual, gave the movement great hope. After a whirlwind of public engagements, including coming out on the TODAY show, the Vatican silenced him. He obeyed the public silence for nine years, but kept up his ministry of counseling and retreats. This was not enough for Cardinal Ratzinger; he ordered Father McNeill to stop all ministry to LGBTQ people. When he refused, John McNeill was expelled from his beloved Jesuit community.

"Despite this persecution, he remained steadfast and clear in his faith," Dr. Wilson said. "He was a joyous lover, friend, and compassionate teacher and counselor. 

"I met Father McNeill in 1974, as he was founding DignityUSA in New York. I followed his writings and was interviewed for Brendan Fay's video biography, Taking a Chance on God, Father McNeill was the most gentle and pastoral of prophets.

"At Sunshine Cathedral Metropolitan Community Church, I often worshiped with John and his beloved Charlie Chiarelli. Besides the God who created him, he loved Charlie most of all. Their profound witness changed the church and the world.
 
"John was personally encouraging to me as both a pastor and Global Moderator of Metropolitan Community Churches. Like many Roman Catholics and the faithful from all denominations, MCC became home for John and Charlie - the place that will not turn you away. He had a profound ecumenical spirit and gave his all to our movement.  

"When I first heard the news that John was in hospice care, I remembered that it took 350 Years for the Vatican to admit Galileo was right, the Earth does orbit the Sun. Will it take 350 years for the Vatican to admit Father John McNeill was right, that God loves LGBTQ people? I hope not.

"We lost a great leader this week, when Father John McNeil went to God, but we had him for a lifetime and his life made a difference. He will never be forgotten," Dr. Wilson said.

Photo by Rick Dove
Ways to Support our Ministry  
 
Check out our Welcome Table in Caton Hall. There are books for sale by Bruce Chilton, Matthew Fox, John Shelby Spong, Marcus Borg, and others.  You'll also find Rick Dove's large selection of nature photography: 5x7 photocards @$3 and matted photographs @$10.  Buying these will help support Evolve's ministry.  
From Erine
Erine Sedicum
Family is an interesting discussion.  When reflecting on the family, I decided to look up the meaning of family.  One of the definitions is "a basic social unit consisting of parents and their children, considered as a group, whether dwelling together or not."  But I wanted to explore it a little deeper so I read more into the definitions.  The origin use of family was in 350-1400 from Middle English and Latin, meaning the household and slaves.  Today the meaning of family is complex...very complex.  We have our given/traditional family plus our blended families.  Then there are the groups that function as family and often replace our family and we in my Evolve community call that "our chosen family."  Here is where I start to question things, as our departed pastor, Wayne, reminded us WE ARE A FAMILY AND OUR HOME IS EARTH!
 
Why then do we continue to battle each other over things from as minor as few harsh words said in hurt or anger to power struggles?  We are destroying kindness and love and replacing it with disconnections and losses.  Anger itself comes from Middle English (1150-1200) and its meaning is sorrow and grief.  Hurt is Middle English and Old French (1150-1200) and its meaning is injury, damage and oppose.  On the other hand, kindness is Middle English (1250-1300) and its meaning coming kind (before 900) is natural and well-disposed.  Love is before 900 and is Middle and Old English with the meaning to be pleasing.  I wish the battles would stop on all fronts.  WE ARE A FAMILY AND OUR HOME IS EARTH! 

These words from Blue Boat Home inspire me:
"The wide universe is the ocean I travel  
And the earth is my blue boat home."   

Let us travel together and change Our Hearts and The World!!!
Please send your articles, poems, news, photos, announcements, petitions, pictures, cartoons, and whatever else you might like to see in our newsletter to
EvolveSylvia@gmail.com by Thursday night.  Thank you!
Photo by Rick Dove in Texas  
Evolve Committee Officers: 
Suzie Robertson, Chair;  Dave Miller, Secretary;  Sylvia Oliva, Financial Secretary