A friend of mine started a church around the same time as Bridges of Grace started.  That church, we will call the Flower Church, started slightly before us, but nearly the same.  The Flower Church is closing the doors the very same Sunday Bridges of Grace celebrates one year as an officially recognized congregation of the United Church of Christ.

I cannot sit here and say I am not sad, because I am very sad not only for my friend, but for the church.  She has done amazing things with this ministry.  Now, I know there are a lot of things that affect this closure.  But, for me it is the death of some of my hope for the future.  I kept looking to my friend  for inspiration.  She is very creative.  The Flower Church was doing some very innovative things.  So, at first, it did hit me hard.

Then, I look to my congregation, and I smile!  We are so unique, so special and dynamic.  We have so many gifts.  Our gifts and graces in this ministry are unlike any other church in the world.  We are special.  We ARE unique.

No two churches are alike.  I/we do not need to look anywhere but where we are.  People like to ask “so, how many folks do you have in worship?”  I always hate to answer that question, because it is not a true reflection of who we are or where we are or how connected we are as a community of faith.  If someone involved in Bridges of Grace put a note on Facebook that they need prayer or a vacuum cleaner, the comments of support come flying in.  If we have the ability to help, each of us will help in whatever way we can.

The last two weeks, I actually intentionally took out the time for joys and concerns in our worship.  The first week it was because it was Easter and I wanted to explore a different way of expressing our prayers.  The second week, I wanted to know if it was missed.  I heard from a number of people after that second week wanting it back.  I have discovered that it is yet another way that we remain connected as a community of faith.

You really are listening!

Another reason I do not like answering the question of how many in worship is I want to count those who wish they could, but for whatever reason they cannot.   It is tax season, well that means we will not have this person or that.  It is Christmas or Easter and many of our folks have family out of town, so unlike the “traditional” church, not our highest attended days.  Yet, I feel no less connected with those missing than if they were there.  Folks often let me know if they will not be there.  I love that!

Society is changing and evolving, and the church must change with it.  Growing up in a small town, nothing happened on Sundays and most restaurants were closed.  We did not have soccer practice; people did not work on Sundays.  Actually my hometown did not have soccer, but that is another story for another day.  However you get my drift.  Things are changing and we must change with it.  We are a seven day a week society.  So we must be grace filled and embrace the evolution.

Keeping our connection to each other is important, even if it is a Facebook comment about “Downton Abbey”, that small connection remains an important part of our community.  Worship remains the one time in the week that we try to be in the same place at the same time, to connect.  If you cannot be there, you are no less apart of us or a part of our ministry.  You can come and help serve at Manna Meal and not worship and we will love and respect you for your assistance with our ministry.

Bridges of Grace United Church of Christ is an amazing faith community with an outreach to many.  We have so many gifts and graces for ministry for such a time as this.  We will live on to celebrate many years to come knowing our church does not necessarily look like any other church, but it is OUR church and our ministries will always reflect who we are and whose we are!  God is still SPEAKING!

Peace be with you!

Service held at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

1423 Lee St. East.  Charleston, WV

June 30, 2013, 3:00 pm

Childcare provided, refreshments following service

Description:

Join Bridges of Grace for a lively community worship service, under the musical direction of K.W. Morrison, featuring musicians from WVSU, Charleston Area Gay Men’s Chorale, and an inclusive, welcoming message.

All are welcome!

A FestivALL Event

Superbowl Sunday – Typically this would be a day we would be helping out at Manna Meal, but on this particular Sunday they’ve got more help than they can shake a stick at!  So we’re going to spend our day off  by sharing some fellowship time and watching the commercials they air during the big game.  We’ll have plenty of food and fellowship – maybe a board game or two – at 302 Sutherland Dr. in St. Albans.  If you’d like to join us in serving at Manna Meal, we’ll continue our schedule of “the First Sunday of each month” on March 3.  Let us know you’d like to participate and we’ll hook you up with the details.

CANstruction – We are thrilled to be working with Covenant House on creating a CANstruction structure.  If you have never seen a 10 foot high tower of canned kidney beans, you are missing out!  CANstruction is Covenant House’s major foodraiser/fundraiser for their food pantry.  Along with helping to build a structure, we’re helping out with the companion piece, Chef’s Challenge.  This is a dinner and silent auction to raise money to fund the food pantry.

Community Involvement – We have signed on to support a new initiative in WV to combat the issue of children, especially young children, living in poverty in WV.  Our Children, Our Future.  Part of our support efforts will be to attend Lobby Day at the Capitol to advocate on behalf of children living in poverty.  We also support Fairness WV and their efforts to ensure equality for everyone whether it be employment or housing.  Please support EHNDA (Employment and Housing Non-Discrimination  Act) by visiting the Fairness Website and signing the petition.

King’s “Drum Major Instinct” sermon, given on 4 February 1968, was an adaptation of the 1952 homily ‘‘Drum-Major Instincts’’ by J. Wallace Hamilton, a well-known, liberal, white Methodist preacher. King encouraged his congregation to seek greatness, but to do so through service and love. King concluded the sermon by imagining his own funeral, downplaying his famous achievements and emphasizing his heart to do right.

All are welcome to join us! If you are unable to join us, look up “The Drum Major Instinct,” you will find it gives you a lot to think about! King was a great man. We thank God for his strength and influence to advance Civil Rights movement!

Ask the Pastor – Communion

“Jesus should Taste Good”

At a recent Sunday worship, I handed out pieces of paper and writing utensils before the offering.  I told folks that we are so used to giving our offerings, yet, are we are not used to giving our questions to God.  We are allowed to ask questions of God and the church.  I want us, the faith community that is Bridges of Grace United Church of Christ, to get in the habit of not only bringing our offerings of money, time and talent to the church, but also our questions.  We are a community of faith robust enough to handle the questions and differing opinions.

Some of the questions offered up were questions that I, as the pastor, could answer.  So I created this column for those questions that I feel I can answer and or at least give some insight on the matter.  Please feel free to comment and or email more questions to BridgeofGraceUCC@gmail.com.

What is the church’s, Bridges of Grace United Church of Christ, belief about communion?

Bread, manna, is important to the Christian story.  It is talked about throughout the Bible.  It is life, it is sustenance.   It is central to our celebration of communion.

Communion is one of two sacraments celebrated by the United Church of Christ.  Sacraments are “ritual actions in worship which, according to Scripture, were instituted by Jesus.  In the sacraments of baptism and communion we ask the Holy Spirit to use water, bread and wine (grape juice) to make visible the grace, forgiveness, and presence of God in Christ.” (From Practices of Faith in the United Church of Christ)  God’s endless grace is in and through this common meal.

We celebrate communion every Sunday.  It is an important part of the evolving story of Bridges of Grace United Church of Christ.  One of the scriptures that I, we, relied on early on in our founding was Acts 1 and 2 for inspiration.  The apostles were lost and uncertain where to go and what to do.  They came together in those moments; new converts broke bread together.  The breaking of bread reminded them and us of Jesus and his fellowship with his disciples.  Communing brings us together for a visible interaction with God.  Our celebration of communion is:

• An act of thanksgiving for all God has done in our lives
• For the remembrance of Jesus the Christ who died for our sins
• An opportunity to feel the presence of God through prayer and the partaking of the meal
• An opportunity to share a meal with this community of faith
• A hopeful sign of God’s kingdom on earth marked by justice love and peace.

It is also in this visible sign of God’s grace that we also choose to welcome all.  God’s grace welcomes all who chose to come to the table. Period.   We do not put expectations or requirements on anyone in order for them to come to the table.  We do not judge those who come to the table or those who do not.  It is between the individual and God.  Children are welcome as well.  God is bigger than we can imagine, we should not limit the boundaries of God’s grace.

We also welcome all by choosing to prepare gluten free bread.  In this day and age, there are many individuals who are unable to consume gluten, a part of most bread.  Instead of having a small station off to the side for those with gluten allergies, we choose to include them at the table without exception. We all partake of the same loaf. In addition, we choose to use grape juice instead of wine to welcome all, including those with addiction to alcohol.  Bridges of Grace United Church of Christ is committed to Jesus’ radical inclusion of all people, no matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.

You may be wondering why I used the phrase, “Jesus should taste good” to title this particular question.  I recently had a discussion with a colleague about the use of gluten free bread for communion.  Her response to me was her church would not use gluten free bread because, “Jesus should taste good.”  Well, that conversation has bugged me for so many reasons I will not go into all of them.  However, I will say, our gluten free communion bread does coincidentally taste good, very good.  And I think Jesus would tell us to include instead of exclude.  The taste of the bread is nowhere near as important as God’s grace extended to all!

I pray this answers the question!

Pastor Kay

Join us for a web based study of women of the Bible. We will meet for 4 Thursdays in November, notice NOT on the 22nd due to Thanksgiving.

All are welcome!

Thursdays at 8 p.m (ET)., join best-selling author, Barbara J. Essex, as she explores the real and often-misunderstood lives of four women from the Bible with this FUN and LIVE web series.  Barbara Essex has written a book entitled Bad Girls of the Bible, among many others.

Session 1: Bathsheba (Nov. 1st)
Session 2: Jezebel (Nov. 8th)
Session 3: Athalia (Nov. 15th)
Session 4: Syrophoenician Woman (Nov. 29th)

Each session includes a weekly devotional, study questions, and an interactive 60 minute online video study with Barbara J. Essex.

What?

If you are a part of the Bridges of Grace family (and if you’re reading this, you are!), you are invited to join us for Thanksgiving Dinner.  Sunday, November 18th we’ll be having turkey, dressing, and all the trimmings.  Bridges will provide the turkeys, and the rest of the meal is potluck.  If you’re coming, bring something to share.  We’re working hard to provide a complete menu with everyone’s favorites, and we’re working equally hard to respect everyone’s dietary needs, choices and restrictions.  If you’d like to join us, please email us at bridgesofgraceucc@gmail.com, or let us know on facebook so we can get an accurate headcount and make sure its a meal to your liking.  Blessings!

By all accounts, “Face to Faith: God and Gays” was a success.  It proved to me that dialogue can happen.  It was so weird to watch all this conversation with people I had never seen before.  It was awesome and inspiring!  I closed the chapter on that weekend thinking we could now move on to new and exciting chapters in the book of faith.

All this joy, you may be asking, why the title?  Well, here it is… Chik-Fil-A.

After “Face to Faith: God and Gays”, I thought Bridges of Grace had established itself as Open and Affirming.  We have in many ways publicly announced our stance on the issue.  I was hoping we could move on.

I had heard people say that Bridges of Grace is that gay church.  I have said for many years that I do not want to pastor a “gay church.”  And I believe, with all my heart, I am not leading a gay church.  We are an Open and Affirming church.  We are open to all, and all goes beyond gay, straight.  I truly believe, no matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome at Bridges of Grace United Church of Christ.

Thus, I was hoping we could move on to other issues.  We are more than a one issue church.  So many denominations and churches are stuck on this issue, I do not want Bridges of Grace to be another church caught in the web.

But damn it all to hell, (yes I cussed!) why are people so adamant about hurting people who are different then they are?  Why is it so hard to accept different?

This whole Chik-Fil-A thing has caught me by surprise.  When I looked at the above-the-fold headline in the Huntington newspaper, I just wanted to cry!  The line was 50+ cars long with people wanting to support Mr. Cathy and his stance on traditional marriage and being married to his first wife.  I was just shocked when I saw the newspaper.  I was actually at Starbucks when I saw the newspaper; I had to take a few minutes to regain my composure.  I honestly did not think this little “act of appreciation” would affect me, let alone make me want to cry.

I know for most people who showed their support for Chik-Fil-A, it was not about hate.  But I for one have never felt so unloved, and unwelcome in my life.  My heart just aches.  Symbolically, August 1^st was more than a bunch of people eating chicken.  It did little more than give Mr. Cathy more money, and show the world how petty Americans can be.  It also showed how little we care for our neighbor.

One of the few things Jesus told us to do, “love your neighbor as yourself,” and we cannot even do that.  I do not believe the people waiting in line for their chicken sandwich were showing their love for me.

Then, that afternoon when I got home, one of my young FB friends had posted how proud he was to support this movement on religious grounds.  That moment was when it hit me.  I will never be done with this issue until equality is achieved.  Why can’t we Christians see that this as a part of the commandment to love your neighbor?  Your relationship with the person you choose to be your life partner is between you and God, no human can judge it.  Your ability to commit to that relationship and stay in that relationship is between you and God.  Trust me, I am here if you want to talk about it, but I will not judge you for your choices.

We are all sinners.  We can’t get into this battle of which sin is bigger, or which is worse.  Let it go!  Let God be the one and only judge.  Let’s move on to trying to love each other instead of picking sides, alienating and judging one another.

From time to time (well, nearly all of the time) we’re doing or planning some sort of service or donation.  We’ve made food donations to local food pantries at Covenant House and Manna Meal.  We’ve volunteered our time and handyman skills at St. Paul’s – the Church that so graciously allows us to share their space, and we’ve served meals at Manna Meal.  We’ve prepared flood buckets and personal care packages to be distributed within our region for disaster relief, and we’ve contributed to special offerings within the UCC to help wherever help is needed.

Currently we have two giving opportunities available.  We’re once again offering the opportunity to contribute to making “Flood Buckets”, filled with carefully chosen items to help people clean their homes after a natural disaster.  Download the shopping list and add a few items to your cart the next time you’re out shopping.  Bring the items to church, and we’ll note what’s been donated and put out a call for the missing items.  Please note that some items are brand specific (Clorox Clean-Up) or have a detailed description (wire scrub brushes) to be used for specific purposes.

As many of us gear up for “Back-to-School”, we have a personal request from a member of our congregation to provide children’s backpacks for use by the children living at the Sojourner’s Shelter.  ”Gender neutral” backpacks are particularly appreciated.

If you are so inclined, you could put together (in full or in part) a School Kit to be used for children in impoverished countries, in refugee camps, or other difficult living situations.

Here are the items for the School kits…
To assemble a School Kit you will need:
• One pair of blunt metal scissors (rounded tip)
• Three 70-count spiral notebooks or notebooks
totaling 200 -210 pages. (No loose-leaf or
filler paper.)
• One 30-centimeter ruler (12″)
• One hand-held pencil sharpener
• One large eraser
• Six new pencils with erasers
• One box of 24 crayons (only 24)
• One 12″ x 14″ to 14″ x 17″ finished size cotton or
lightweight canvas bag with cloth handles. (Please,
no reusable shopping bags or backpacks.)
Pack all items inside the cloth bag. Patterns for the bag
are available online at www.churchworldservice.org
or by calling your CWS Regional Office at 888-297-2767.