Fairness or Love?
Luke 15: 11-32
Our text for worship this week is the well-known story of the Prodigal Son - a story of struggle, reconciliation and celebration. Clearly it is also a story of frustration, disappointment and anger for the "other" son who is dumbfounded by the father's willingness to welcome the son who has - at least in the past - behaved so badly. In a reflection entitled "Fairness or Love?" we will consider the condition of the other brother and how his experience compares to what we face, as persons of faith, when we are asked to offer compassion to others. When we work hard to be a good person and do the right thing, it is very hard to see others who may not have taken such care with their lives receive support, care and even forgiveness when we are faced with our own ongoing struggles. What is the faithful response? Join us for worship in the Chapel at 10AM - all are welcome!
-Rev. John H. Pomeroy
One Great Hour of Sharing Offering
This Sunday, March 6th, we will receive one of the five denominational offerings of the year for the UCC - One Great Hour of Sharing! There are many individual stories that tell the whole story of this offering in the UCC...
Ahmad, a shy young man who recently arrived with his family from Syria, enjoys class with his friends. They are enrolled in an electronics repair program sponsored by the Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees (DSPR) in Beirut, Lebanon. The Educational Center of DSPR offers other programs where students can learn skills. Ahmad's stylish haircut is courtesy of students in the hair salon classes. Ahmad's future is uncertain, at best. His grandparents have been forced to leave their home three times since fleeing their home in Palestine, in 1948. They cannot go home to Syria, and it is unclear if they will be able to stay in their new home country due to the stress on Lebanon's infrastructure. As it stands, few opportunities exist for housing, employment or schooling for newly arrived refugees. For now, Ahmad and his family are safe. Through the DSPR, he and other refugees in Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine, have access to food, medical attention, clean water, and education. One Great Hour of Sharing, United Church of Christ (UCC) supports DSPR through partnership with Global Ministries. Support of refugees is vital as more of the world's people live forcibly displaced from their homes than at any time in the past century. In 2014, gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing, UCC totaled more than $2.2 million with an additional $1.4 million given for worldwide disaster relief efforts.
Please give generously this Sunday!
Also This Weekend
Roberta White and Krysty Leckrone will be teaching the elementary class. Youth class will meet with Jeff Tyler in the east parlor.
We will be having a Coffee Celebration this Sunday during coffee hour!! A chance for us to reaffirm our commitment to buying and serving Fair Trade Coffee at all FCC events, an opportunity for folks to purchase bags of coffee that we will serve throughout the year, OR a chance for you to drop off bags of coffee that you are welcome to purchase on your own (many stores carry Fair Trade coffee). We need both decaf and regular ground coffee. Many thanks to all who are bringing goodies for us to eat this Sunday as we drink our coffee!!
Also, the unveiling of our newly renovated Youth Room will take place on Sunday. The "old library" has been turned into our "New Youth Room," so come and check it out!! You will recall that we offered our second floor youth room to one of our building partners. That meant that we needed a new dedicated room for our youth to gather. The old library is nicely situated on the first floor and is a perfect fit. Thanks to funds from our Capital Improvement Trust Fund and the work of our building manager Sallie Mc Nair (in consultation with Andy Schwiebert and Jeff Tyler), she made the renovation happen!!
Our Membership Ministry has selected the weekend of October 14-16th for our All Church Camp!! We have reserved cabins and safari tents and will be publicizing this over the next few months. You must call directly and reserve your spot and pay only one night. The second night must be paid as you arrive in October. So, check your calendar, grab a friend or two and plan to join us!!! We are just above the heated pool and a short walk to the store and a hike to the beautiful beach. The more the merrier! 