BCUCC News for Sunday, June 30, 2019

News and Upcoming Events

·         Sunday June 30: Worship at 10am. Theme: “Inspired Action”.  Scripture: Luke 9:49-62.  Guest singer Angelica Rowell.  Angelica is a musician, actor, teacher, and activist who graduated from UCI a year ago.  We are blessed to have her gifts in worship this Sunday!

·         Sunday June 30: At a short congregational meeting, we will vote to approve the budget for June 2019 to July 2020.

·         Next Sunday, July 7 is First Food Sunday.  Every first Sunday of the month, we bring nonperishable food for A.C.T., our Brea food shelf.  We make a difference!  We celebrate Communion in worship, and we share a potluck lunch after worship.  All are welcome!

Save the dates:

·         Tuesday July 9: Lunch Bunch meets at Coco’s, 11:45am, Imperial Highway at State College Avenue, just for fun and fellowship.  All are welcome.  RSVP to Pastor Terry.

·         Sharing Musical (and artistic) Gifts in Worship: Would you like to share a meaningful song, or instrumental music, or poem, or photos, or dance, or…?  Our suggested theme is: “Our Rainbow of Creativity”.  A few slots are still open.  Through the summer, the choir is on break and your gifts for worship will be most appreciated.  Jessica can support musical endeavors.

Ongoing

·         Bible Study is on Thursdays at 2-3pm.  Join us in the pastor’s office; you are always welcome.  Ring the bell at the gate on Flower Street.  We are studying the Book of Jeremiah.  Lively discussion about what scripture means to us today. No homework! *During the summer, we may cancel Bible Study on weeks when regulars are traveling.  Call, email or text Pastor Terry if you’re not sure.

·         For our summer read, the BCUCC Theological Book Club chose a novel, The Overstory, by Richard Powers.  Inspired by the Redwood trees, Powers writes an impassioned work of activism and resistance that is, also, a stunning paean to the natural world.  There is a world alongside ours—vast, slow, interconnected, resourceful, magnificently inventive, and almost invisible to us.  Come join the discussion.  We will meet Wednesday at 7pm on July 10 for chapters 1-6, July 24 for chapters 7-9, August 7 for chapter 10, and August 21 for chapters 11-12.  For directions please contact the church.

UCC General Synod 32, 2019

      Worship, community, inspiration and justice happened in Milwaukee last week as delegates from all over the nation gathered for the semiannual United Church of Christ General Synod.  Outgoing leaders were honored, and new leaders were chosen. Rev. John Dorhauer will be our General Minister and president for a second term.

      Resolutions were passed, including ours!  Remember, in our Congregational church government, the General Synod speaks TO the local churches, not for them.  Here is one resolution of witness:

A Resolution to Abolish the Growth and Existence of Private Prisons

      Privately run state and federal prisons should be abolished in the United States, the United Church of Christ’s General Synod said Tuesday.

      “As believers in Christ, we must abhor and actively battle against any individual or industry which derives profit from human misery,” the Synod declared in a resolution that delegates passed by a vote of 646 to 27 at the UCC’s biennial denominational meeting.

Brought by the UCC’s Illinois Conference and its Chicago Metropolitan Association, the resolution calls upon:

·         The U.S. Congress and state legislatures to ban government contracting with privately owned or operated correctional or holding centers.

·         UCC churches and their members to divest and promote divestment from companies that invest in or supply such prisons.

·         Existing prisons to improve health care, mental health care and safety measures for inmates.

In describing the work of the committee that reviewed the original resolution, Penn Northeast delegate Maria Brace shared that members of her committee “sought to understand how the private prison system takes the already criminal justice system and further destroys the lives of men, women and children.” The committee added companies who supply private prisons to the list of firms from which the denomination and local churches should consider divesting.

      “I was in prison, and you visited me.” – Jesus.