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Sunday, June 21 Bulletin

Sunday, June 21 Bulletin

June 19, 2020 by Evangelical Reformed UCC in /

Join us for worship on Sunday, June 21 at 10:30 a.m. at https://boxcast.tv/view/sunday-1030-service-654874 

CLICK HERE for the Bulletin

June 21

Jeremiah 20:7-13 contains a lament from the prophet a prayer for help.  The language of our reading from Psalm 69:7-10, (11-15), 16-18 is also that of a lament or prayer for help.

In our Gospel lesson for this Sunday, Matthew 10: 24-39, Jesus teaches about the demands of discipleship, including the ways in which it places disciples under great stress in their families.

The Rev. Michelle Beadle will be preaching.  Her sermon title is, “The Blessing of Forced Choice.”

June 18 Thursday Thoughts

June 18 Thursday Thoughts

June 18, 2020 by Evangelical Reformed UCC in

CLICK HERE FOR JUNE 18 THursday Thoughts

This week we welcome guest writer, Matt Davis.

Social media is a mixed blessing at best as is Facebook’s so-called “snooze button.” For those that don’t know, this feature allows you to remain friends with someone, but not see anything they post for the next 30 days. I admit it. I’ve used it and those of you that haven’t are probably doing a Google search for it right now.

Between the COVID-19 pandemic and most recently, the outbreak of protests and demonstrations against racism and police brutality, things are pretty intense right now. I was recently surprised to see my house and a number of others in my quiet, rural neighborhood targeted with hate literature from the KKK. Like any decent human being, I was outraged, ripped it up and lined my cat litter box with it.

As I continued to think about it in the context of our current events, how certain people in our society are treated fundamentally different than others, I came to a realization. Even here, I have the option to just rip it up and ignore it and go on with my life. After all, they want to “recruit” me and I will gladly tell them to get lost. If I were a member of one of the many groups that are the target of their ire, however, I would have feared what would be coming next. If I were a person of color, however, I could not have so easily ignored it and moved on.

I had a similar realization after Frederick’s March for Justice. It was a wonderful, inspiring, and peaceful march and we were moved by the grief of our fellow citizens for the lives that were lost. We were on our way home after the speakers concluded when we received a text message from the city indicating that some protesters had shut down I-70 in both directions. I said to myself, “Why did they have to ruin a perfectly good march by going out to stop traffic on the highway?” I thought about that in the hours to come and it finally came to me. When they shut down the flow of traffic, the unlucky souls in the traffic jam no longer had the luxury of ignoring the pain those protesters were feeling. They were forced to stop their vehicles to not hit them and saw their pain and anger over injustice firsthand and I think it frightened and angered them. They were forced out of their routines and no longer had the option to look away and ignore these things that have been going on for a long time. Although I still do not think anyone should walk out in traffic on a highway at twilight on a rainy night, for the first time I got why they did it. To do that speaks to a level of desperation that white America does not yet feel. And I wondered why I didn’t see that before.

So my thought for this Thursday is this: our faith calls on us to be faithful witnesses. That requires us to be willing to look. Avoid hitting that snooze button in an effort to avoid discomfort. If you’re confused about why people are upset but want to be part of the solution, a good first step is to not allow yourself the luxury of looking away.

Isaiah 1:15-17 – When you stretch out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.

Sunday, June 14, 2020 Bulletin

Sunday, June 14, 2020 Bulletin

June 12, 2020 by Evangelical Reformed UCC in /

Join us for worship on Sunday, June 14 at 10:30 a.m. at https://boxcast.tv/view/sunday-1030-service-654874 

CLICK HERE for the Bulletin

June 14

Matthew 9:35-10:8 describes the ministry of Jesus and his disciples. There are many in need of Jesus’ healing ministry. Jesus acknowledges that he cannot do this work alone and calls disciples to join him. However, the authority to cast out unclean spirits and cure disease requires that the disciples sacrifice their former lives and any hopes of wealth or prestige.

June 11 Thursday Thoughts

June 11 Thursday Thoughts

June 11, 2020 by Evangelical Reformed UCC in /

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Dear Congregation:

Since the beginning of March, life at and with ERUCC and our community has been a constant barrage of new experiences.  Whether it’s been how to worship or how to conduct the church’s business or how to have fellowship and educational programs, every day brings new challenges in meeting the needs of the congregation and the community.

In this new environment, I have participated in at least 3 webinars or calls every week about COVID, technology, cleaning, mental health in these days, and meeting spiritual needs when we cannot gather or engage in our usual rituals.  I must admit that these resources have been very helpful but so much new information all at the same time is taxing on my brain.

Then we had the murder of George Floyd and the unleashing of anger, frustration, and energy to say, “Enough is enough.”  The past few weeks have engaged our congregation in even deeper work on anti-racism.   This, too, is taxing on the heart as we open ourselves to identifying and dismantling our behaviors as individuals and as a community that contribute to institutional racism.

All this is to say that I recognize the challenges of dealing with COVID will be with us for months.  Our work in dismantling institutional racism will be before us for years.  These challenges are not a sprint, but a long-distance run, and we all need to pace ourselves for this meaningful and hard work.

I am grateful that Ken and I will be able to take some time off to rest, renew, and refresh. I will be leaving for vacation tomorrow, June 12th and returning on July 1st.  Please contact Amy Aguilar at the church office with any questions or concerns. (aaguilar@erucc.org)

This Sunday, June 14th, if the technology works, you will hear a sermon that I recorded.  Rev. Michelle Beadle will be preaching on June 21st and Rev. Carolyn Roberts on June 28th.

I look forward to seeing you upon my return – in person in worship on July 5th or virtually in worship and on zoom calls.  Take care and peace.

Rev. Dr. Barbara Kershner Daniel, Senior Pastor
Evangelical Reformed Church, United Church of Christ
15 West Church Street, Frederick, MD 21701
301-662-2762
e-mail: bkdaniel@erucc.org

Sunday, June 7, 2020 Bulletin

Sunday, June 7, 2020 Bulletin

June 5, 2020 by Evangelical Reformed UCC in /

Join us for worship on Sunday, June 7 at 10:30 a.m. at  https://boxcast.tv/view/sunday-1030-service-525168

CLICK HERE for the Bulletin

June 7             Trinity Sunday                                                                                  

Genesis 1: 2:4a reminds us that in the beginning, God expressed delight in creation and declared it “very good.”  In Matthew 28:16–20, Jesus bestows authority upon followers to carry the good news of God’s love to all places. The promise in verse 20 asserts that Jesus is the assurance that God will not abandon the community of creation.

On this Trinity Sunday, the readings invite us to explore and celebrate the many ways God is revealed in and through continuing relationships within this good creation. God entrusts remarkable potential to all that is created. New beginnings emerge as the community of creation lives into such promise.

 

 

June 4, 2020 Thursday Thoughts

June 4, 2020 Thursday Thoughts

June 4, 2020 by Evangelical Reformed UCC in /

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Dear Congregation:

We know that we are dealing with two viruses.  COVID 19 and the virus of racism.  We have been living in fear and anxiety with a virus that can lurk inside some of us without symptoms.  A virus that preys upon the most vulnerable.  A virus that keeps manifesting itself in new ways and with new symptoms.

We already knew that black and brown communities are disproportionately  affected by the virus.  We also know that  black and brown communities are disproportionately affected by police brutality.  Those communities are disproportionately represented in the prisons of our country.  We know that black and brown communities face institutional racism in education, government, business, and the faith communities.  Truth is that those communities face racism everywhere.

It has not gone unnoticed that the confluence of COVID 19 and the response to the death of George Floyd has pushed our country to a deeper conversation about racism.  I am grateful for t your willingness to go deeper into that conversation.  The response to the classes Rev. Michelle Beadle led earlier this year demonstrated a willingness to become vulnerable and examine our own prejudices.  That has broadened more in these recent weeks.

Thank you for taking this journey of faith.  We all have prejudices and it is important that we identify them.  It is important for us to examine how our white privilege has socialized us in ways that have given us advantages that our black and brown siblings do not have.  This is our work to do and I am grateful for our friends of color who have been so patient with us.

If we stay on this path of learning and understanding and dismantling what is getting in the way for all people to live in security and peace, we can be the change.  Our friends of color are tired, fed up, and asking us, “How long?”  Do you hear them?  Are we willing to take the difficult, painful journey of examining our own lives and what we may be doing that contributes to racism?  Jesus said to us, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.”

Change is challenging.  Change can be painful.  But imagine with me, a country where we really do live up to all that we say that we value.

Special Announcement

Special Announcement

June 3, 2020 by Evangelical Reformed UCC in

Special Announcement –  In Response to the Death of George Floyd

Dear Congregation:

I wanted to make sure that you received this information as soon as possible.

While we are seeing many around our nation and community responding to the death of George Floyd, we are aware that he is just among the many who have died as a result of institutional racism.

Many of you have asked, “What can I do?”

First of all, we can all educate ourselves by exploring our own lives and how we, as white people, have benefitted from the system.  On Monday, we sent out a list of resources – books, articles, podcasts and movies – that can empower you with greater understanding of racism in our country.

Tomorrow evening, Thursday, June 4 at 7 pm, my colleague, The Rev. Dr. Carl Gregg, Minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church, will be offering a program on anti-racism resources.

“For Such a Time as This: Anti-racism Resources for Building the Beloved Community”                          Rev. Dr. Carl Gregg                                                                                                                         Thursday, June 4 at 7:00 p.m.

Zoom: uuma.zoom.us/j/98156575224

One tap mobile: +13017158592,,98156575224#

Dial: +1 301 715 8592

(Meeting ID: 981 5657 5224)

This program is being offered to other congregations in Frederick, as well.

Secondly, if you are comfortable participating in a peaceful demonstration, one is scheduled for Friday, June 5th.  This event is being planned by young adults.  Here’s a link to their video conversation to give you an idea of their vision for the event:  https://www.facebook.com/rougexroyal/videos/3002024893213420/

The demonstration on Friday will begin at Mullinix Park with people gathering at 4:30. If you wish, you can come to the church at 4:15 and walk down with a group from ERUCC.  Please make sure you wear a mask and bring a water bottle.  If you wish, make a sign to bring along.  Come at 3:30 if you need sign making materials – we have plenty of paper and markers at the church.  And yes, we will be maintaining physical distancing.

Pam Shepp invites us to watch the movie, “Just Mercy,” and join a discussion about on Sunday, June 7th at 7 pm.  Warner Bros. has made, “Just Mercy” free this month to stream on digital platforms in order to educate viewers on systematic racism.    To join the discussion follow these links: Barbara Daniel is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Just Mercy Conversation

Time: Jun 7, 2020 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87067537643?pwd=ZDJ3SEkrZ3JWcTR4WlZWVjFNNFhWQT09

Meeting ID: 870 6753 7643

Password: 827642

 

Pastor DanielÂ