Christ Church UCC Blog

Post Synod Musings #1 Single Governance

2009-07-02T12:40:00.000-07:00

I am still en route home from Synod. I made it as far as Washington DC. I missed my connecting train from here to Trenton NJ so I have time to muse. I would have made the connection except for the fact that the Red Caps were busy and they did not come to collect me until it was too late.
No matter, I am getting on a train that goes directly to Princeton Jct so that I will not have to change trains in Trenton and I have time to muse on this blog.

I received the following e-mail from John Deckenback our Central Atlantic Conference Minister. You have met him at Christ Church. I am copying it here without comment. That will come in further musings.

"Single Governance" for the national settings of the UCC was a major topic of conversation at the CAC Annual Meeting last month as we considered resolutions from the Catoctin and Potomac Associations.

This was also a major topic at the just-completed General Synod in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

In the end a "substitute" motion was presented by a Synod Committee. Here is the final text as approved by the delegates:

1 SUBSTITUTE RESOLUTION
2 TOWARD UNIFIED GOVERNANCE FOR THE NATIONAL
3 SETTING OF THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

4 APPROVED

5 BE IT RESOLVED that since the dialogue regarding governance has surfaced historical
6 and present tensions regarding matters of race and ethnicity in our denomination, the
7 General Synod requests the Executive Council and the Covenanted Ministries Boards to
8 engage in further sacred conversations on race, especially around what it means to be an
9 anti-racist, multi-cultural, multi-racial church. This conversation would be separate from,
10 although possibly concurrent with, the discussion on governance in recognition that we
11 cannot heal relational issues through governance discussions, but we do need to move
12 toward reconciliation.
13
14 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the General Synod requests that the Executive
15 Council appoint a Working Group with representatives from the Collegium of Officers,
16 members of the Executive Council, Covenanted Ministry Boards, Affiliated and
17 Associated Ministry Boards, the Council of Conference Ministers, and the Historically
18 Underrepresented Groups, to guide work toward Unified Governance in preparation for
19 action by the Twenty-Eighth General Synod. In consultation with the Chair of the
20 Executive Council, each of these bodies would identify their representative so that the
21 diversity of the church would be well represented in the Working Group.
22
23 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that General Synod requests that local churches,
24 Associations, Conferences, and Historically Underrepresented Groups engage in dialogue
25 and discernment regarding Unified Governance for the National Setting and report back
26 to the Working Group by Fall 2010. The Working Group, in a transparent way, will
27 document all information received and include it in the discernment process.
28
29 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Twenty-Seventh General Synod affirms the
30 principle of a Unified Governing Board as the basic governance structure of the national
31 setting of the United Church of Christ, based on theological reflection, and practices of
32 good governance that include strategic planning, resource development, and monitoring
33 and oversight, incorporating the principles and concepts contained in the Fall 2008
34 Governance Follow-up Team II proposal, in order to carry out faithfully the mission of
35 the church.
36
37 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the General Synod requests that the Executive
38 Council and the Covenanted Ministry Boards bring to the Twenty-Eighth General Synod
39 a proposal for a Unified Governing Board with changes in the constitution and By-Laws
40 necessary to begin implementation of a Unified Governance structure.
41
42
43
44 The above resolution replaces 10 resolutions sent to Committee at
45 General Synod. The Committee recommended “no action” on the
46 submitted resolutions.

Rev. Dr. John R. Deckenback
Conference Minister
United Church of Christ Central Atlantic Conference
916 South Rolling Road, Baltimore, MD 21228
410 788 4190 (office) 443 253 2343 (cell)

Jeannette Brown

Synod Day 5 Tuesday

2009-07-01T11:11:00.000-07:00

Well this was the day! I decided I needed to sleep and then have my last swim in the pool followed by breakfast so I arrived at the Plenary session late, 9:30 AM, they start promptly at 8:30 AM! I arrived just in time to find out from my new friend that they were finishing the voting on Single Governance which was the most controversial business of the synod. They gave one committee all six or more resolutions which dealt with the topic of single governance. This committee looked at them all and came up with a new resolution which was a compromise. Here is the report that is on the UCC website:

Synod votes for a unified governance structure

Written by W. Evan Golder
June 30, 2009

Tuesday morning’s first order of Synod business was consideration of a unified governance structure for the national structure – and the motion was adopted. The effort required 49 minutes, with 29 speakers engaging in debate.

Currently, five different boards guide UCC policy and decision-making in the national setting. With this motion, General Synod affirmed the principle of a single, unified governance board.

GS27 asked the Executive Council and the Covenanted Ministry Boards to bring to General Synod 28 a proposal for a single governance board, along with necessary constitution and bylaw changes. That Synod is planned for Tampa, Fla., in 2011.

Conspicuous by its absence was any floor discussion of the issue that had attracted the most opposition prior to Synod: the concern of the racial and ethnic constituency groups about losing their hard-earned representation on the current governing boards.

After the vote, protesters gathered at microphones to request reconsideration of the vote so they could introduce a minority resolution. The moderator ruled the request out of order.

Now I was at the meeting and from what I heard, people were at the mike to present the minority opinion but the question was called before they could speak. Calling the question ends debate according to Roberts Rules and the delegates voted to end debate.

Well that's went the ruckus started and they wanted to reconsider the vote etc but according to Roberts Rules it was out of order. People are allowed to react to this at the center mike according to the standing rules of the synod and react they did. Minorities in the UCC, African Americans and Asian and Pacific Islanders felt that they were not a part of the original meetings about the new governance structure and wanted a pause so that all voices could be heard. I have a copy of the resolution that was passed and I will scan it or try to find it on the UCC web so that you can read it. One of most important things in this resolution that was passed is that the Sacred Conversations about Race should continue. I will write a separate blog about that in the future because of course, I have some opinions.

In fact there was another resolution about "Sacred Conversations about

Race" that was introduced and passed. It called for resources from UCC to facilitate these conversations:

Synod says Sacred Conversations on Race to continue

Written by J. Martin Bailey

June 30, 2009

The 27th General Synod requested the Justice and Witness Ministries covenanted ministry to take the lead in continuing the program of Sacred Conversations on Race.

The delegates called on conferences, associations and congregations to "establish, promote and encourage" the conversations.

The resolution, which passed without objection, had been proposed originally by the Kansas-Oklahoma Conference.

They went on to other business before lunch. At lunch time I decided to find the Bank of America ATM to save money and found a newly opened restaurant that served Mediterranean fast food. Greek and Israeli. I had lemon chicken soup and a Greek salad which was good.

After lunch the delegates concluded business. There are a lot of resolutions that they considered but I will highlight one here. The rest can be found on the UCC website. Here it is:

General Synod encourages diversity education in public school

Written by J. Martin Bailey
June 30, 2009

The experience of two UCC congregations in California prompted the denomination's General Synod to urge churches in assisting public school efforts to protect children and help them understand people of other races and sexual orientation.

The congregations in Hayward and Alameda have longed worked with their local schools and their pastors accepted invitations to participate in school programs designed to end bullying and harassment. Delegates learned that frequent taunts of "You're so gay!" has led to violence and to two suicides.

Those schools and several others in California have been targeted by "traditional values" groups following programs designed to create safe schools as required by state law. An organized campaign of intimidation has been directed at schools that have sought to protect children of gay and lesbian parents and children whose parents are immigrants or from a different country of origin.

The General Synod action, approved by an overwhelming majority after extensive debate, encourages public schools to develop programs that help to keep all children safe, and for churches to assist in appropriate ways. The resolution includes recommendations to local churches, Conferences and to national ministries.

The educational programs are to embrace students of all races, ethnic origins, genders, faiths, abilities, sexual orientations, gender identities, socio-economic classes, countries of origin, and their families.

During the debate Synod delegates listened to appeals that the California churches not expect nationwide support for programs designed to protect children of gay or lesbian parents, or that sexual orientation and gender identities be separated from racial and ethnic diversity. Attempts to modify the resolution failed.

The two UCC pastors have resisted the pressures that included personal threats and legal actions. Both Eden UCC in Hayward, Calif., and First Congregational UCC of Alameda, Calif., have supported their pastors, the Rev. Arlene Nehring and the Rev. Laura Rose. Their efforts have also been supported by their Conference Minister, the Rev. Mary Susan Gast.

It is my opinion that this resolution mixes apples and oranges. I agree that schools should have education programs about sexual orientation, but I also think they need to have programs that cover the racial diversity of the students so that they can understand the differences and similarities between races. That has not happened yet in some schools.

The evening ended with a worship service which ended Synod.

The next Synod will be in 2011 in Tampa Bay Florida. This was a switch from Hawaii due to the economy.

Jeannette

Synod Day 4 Monday

2009-06-30T18:53:00.000-07:00

Monday was Service Day for visitors and work day for delegates. Some people went to Habitat for Humanity to help build a house and some went to a nursing home to talk to the old people. Since I am one I did not want to do that! So I chose to go to the United Church Outreach Ministry Center. It is a food bank, tutoring center for kids and and education center for adults. Food banks in Grand Rapids are all linked so that the people must register to receive food and wait while they are checked to see that they are not abusing the service. Then they can come once or twice a month to receive food. Plus Fema supplies milk so once a week they can come and receive an amount of milk depending on the number of children in the family. They also have a used clothing and furniture center. The center is located in an old funeral home but they have space for the food and several trucks stocked with excess food and furniture.
We were greeted by the director of the center who assigned jobs to us. Some people cleaned out the freezer so it could be moved some people stocked the shelves with food, some people repacked flour and other food that was supplied in bulk. Some painted the walls and offices and I chose to help get the notebooks used in tutoring to be ready for next fall. They reuse notebooks so I had to make them look like they were new and put new labels on them so that the kids could put their name on them. I found out about the tutoring program and plan to send them some science activities from the American Chemical Society that they can distribute. I will also see if some of the college student who tutor can help with the science activities.
Another group of students arrived after we came and they were also put to work, mostly painting. The youth groups at Synod had been working all week doing service projects so this was not new to them. I will write more about the youth and young adults at Synod later. About 11:30 AM lunch arrived! We had pulled pork sandwiches which was good. The bus to take us back to the convention center was to arrive at 12:30 but the director kept people working even after lunch until we got on the bus. I finished my job and went out into the parking lot to practice my Speak Out.
We got back into the convention center about 1:30 which was well in time for the the afternoon session.
The first thing that happens during any Synod business session is "Speak Out". This is a session where anyone can "Speak Out" for one minute about any subject not on the agenda of Synod. I chose to speak about blood cancers of course and funding for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society via the "Light the Night" walk. I managed to do it in one minute. After my performance I went to sit in the audience and observe the delegates debate the resolutions. I will talk about the resolutions in a later blog, I just want to give an overview of my day here. I wound up sitting next to another visitor from the state of New York. His wife was a delegate. He had printed out all the resolutions and was following the voting etc. It was nice to sit next to him as we had a running conversation going about the event. We wound up sitting next to each other by choice during all the plenary sessions.
That evening Geoffrey Black was elected the new General Minister replacing John Thoma. He was the New York Conference Minister and he is the second African American to head the United Church of Christ. We also elected The Rev Linda Jaramillo Executive Minister of Justice and Witness Ministries and The Rev. Stephen Sterner Executive Minister of Local Church Ministries and members of the board of directors.
The evening ended with a short worships service which is different because it was liturgical dancers interpreting Scripture as it was read.
I will write about Tuesday tomorrow. I am a day behind because I got tired Monday night and went to bed instead of blogging. Tomorrow Wednesday, I leave for home, I will have time to do some blogging tomorrow since I have a long layover between trains in Chicago.
Jeannette

Synod Day 3 Sunday

2009-06-28T19:41:00.000-07:00

Today was Sunday and another day of rest. Well it was a day of rest for us visitors. The delegates are working hard on resolutions. I will speak about them tomorrow. Today started out with the Sacred Conversations about Race. We will have them some time at Christ Church I hope. We were supposed to have them last fall but somehow that did not happen. There were several different groups who talked about several different topics. The topics were: Race, Media and Politics, Race and the Environment, Race and Gender, race and LGBT, Race and Immigration, Race and Religion, Race and the New Generation, Race,Economics and Poverty, Race and Education, Race and Daily Life, Race and the Criminal Justice System, Race and Culture,and Race in the UCC. So you see there is something for everyone to discuss. I was torn between Race and Education and Race and Every Day Life. I chose Race and Education because that's my passion but Race and Every Day Life is something I live. For example when I went to buy a dress for a big occasion at a store in the Short Hills Mall, the clerks ignored me and I was ready to pay $l00 or more for that dress. That's is an example of Race and every day life. Or else clerks come over to you with the "Can I help you?" and then hover over you while you are in the store in case you are going to steal something, I guess.
But in the Race and Education group was a diverse group of mostly educators. It started by a talk by a young African American music teacher who teaches Band at a middle school in Greensboro NC. He spoke about his experiences as a teacher and the impact of the "No Child Left Behind Act" on the schools. Then we broke up into groups of three to discuss this and then larger groups. Each of the larger groups then reported out our finding. Most of what was said has been said before. The big action item is telling Congress when they reauthorize "No Child Left Behind" to put teeth into the bill. Right now it is an unfunded mandate and teachers spend a lot of time teaching to the test for fear of their jobs. It can be done better with alternative means of assessment. But I have blogged about this before so look at the old blogs.
Today was also the United Black Christians Celebration Luncheon. I had a ticket to this luncheon so I dressed up for the occasion. I wore my Afrocentric dress as most of the people there tend to wear Afrocentric clothing both men and women. The United Black Christians was started in 1970. It's mission Statement is:
To provide VOICE for all of the African American members of the United Church of Christ.
To strengthen the Black churches within the United Church of Christ.
To train and nurture leaders of our churches for Gospel inspired service to the Black Community
To provide support for institutions that strengthen our community,
To provide a relevant ministry for our youth and young adults,
To empower the laity for a present day ministry,
To be active advocates for liberation and racial justice at home and abroad,
To provide spiritual nurture for our members,
to enhance clergy-lay ministry partnerships, and
To preserve our history as a people within the United Church of Christ.

I am a member of the United Black Christians. John Thomas came to the luncheon to say his goodbye's as well as the new General Minister nominee Rev. Black.
The program was filled with music and another sermon by an African American minister Rev. Henry Simmons.

After the luncheon we all went back to the convention center to attend the afternoon worship service to which the general public was invited. The Rev John Thomas preached and the choir sang. I am glad I was not in the choir because they only sang one song and their rehearsal was during the United Black Christians luncheon.

After the worship service the delegates got down to business to review the numerous resolutions. Since I am not a delegate I went back to my hotel for rest and relaxation. Tomorrow is the service project day.
The Synod is being webcast live if you would like to see what is going on.
Jeannette Brown

Synod Day 2 River City Saturday

2009-06-27T20:34:00.000-07:00

Today was a special day River City Saturday. It was a day of special events which means the business of the Synod was not done while we had these special events which were fun, but I think I would be mad if I were a delegate because there is a lot of work for the delegates to do and not a lot of time assigned to that work. But this is the view of a visitor maybe they are working behind the scenes.
The day started with worship at 8:30 AM in the Plenary Hall. Ina and I got there late but in time to hear Eugene Robinson the Washington Post writer and TV commentator speak. He is writing a book about African Americans and their status post civil rights legislation. He started it before the election of our current president. He spoke about his life growing up in the segregated south and the status of African American now. One of the things he predicts is that our races are becoming blended and there will be no minority race in 40 years. He said "there is no right American history , no standard American history, our divisions are our strength".

The next event I went to was the Praise Hymnal workshop. The UCC has produced a new Praise music hymnal entitles "Sing!Pray and Praise". This workshop talked about how the hymnal was written and how they chose the music. Right now it is just words and music the accompaniment version will come out later this year. There is some music in it that is good so I purchased five copies ( they were running a sale). I will give two to Holly and Ms Allie and the other two are going to the church in Flemington and one for me.

I was tired and but instead of going back to the hotel I got some lunch and went to watch the river. In the afternoon there was a talk by Ray Suarez of PBS and Krista Tippett of "Speaking of Faith" on NPR. Both talks were very good.
After that Ina and I went to dinner and then to the evening event which was a send off for John Thomas the current General Minister of the UCC. Synod will elect a new General Minister this session. John Thomas's twin brother Dick was also there and confused one video photographer. Since Dick is a member of the New Jersey Association and in New Jersey I don't confuse them. Besides Dick is a fellow chemist.
Tomorrow is Conversations about Race. That should be interesting.

Jeannette Brown

27th General Synod UCC Grand Rapids Michigan

2009-06-26T20:23:00.000-07:00

Here is my blog from GS27 in Grand Rapids Michigan. This is about the fourth or fifth time I have been to a General Synod as a visitor. My first Synod was held in Providence Rhode Island.
This time I took the train from Washington DC to Chicago IL and then the train from Chicago to Grand Rapids after a layover of all day. The Grand Rapids train ride was interesting. We found out later that most of the people on the train were going to Synod. In fact the conductor commented that he had never seen so many people bound for Grand Rapids. The train left the station on time and got somewhere in Indiana and stopped. We waited for a while and then the train backed up. It seems the CSX dispatcher had sent us on the wrong track! CSX the freight line owns the track. Well we got almost to Grand Rapids and we stopped again. It turns out that CSX said there was Amtrak equipment in the way. They got that straighten out and we headed for Grand Rapids one hour late.
Ina Isobe was waiting for me at the station. She is from Union Congregational Church in Montclair and also a visitor at synod. She is my room mate till Sunday. She was among a group of UCC bikers who biked from Syracuse to Grand Rapids. She is going home by Amtrak.
This morning I visited the widower of one of the women chemists that I am working on for my book. He is an Episcopal priest at St. Marks here in Grand Rapids. The woman died in 1997 but I wanted to check with him about her life.
At about noon I checked in to synod and attended a hearing about the proposed governance changes. The UCC would like to change the governance structure to have one group rather than the five groups each with their own board that meets twice a year. it is very complicated but if you want more information about this I refer you to the UCC website.
After the hearing the business of Synod started.
I went to the Science and Religion Network dinner. The Science and Religion Network is a group of scientists who ponder the interface between religion and science. They are now working on evolution. There was a speaker at the diner who talked about evolution.
After the dinner it was back to the Opening Worship in the Plenary Hall. We had a rousing sermon by The Rev. Otis Moss III who is the new minister of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. This was the same church that Barack Obama use to attend. Choir members from that church sang the music and the liturgical dance troupe danced the music. I have always wanted Christ Church to have a liturgical dance group, because I think it is so cool. The Rev Moss sounds a lot like Martin Luther King Jr. when he preaches, or maybe it is the same lively way all African American ministers preach. They start out slowly but their body seems to be on springs as they jump up and down and then they wind up and let it fly and it goes on and on for an hour. He was very good. We got back to the hotel late last night and I fell asleep writing the first draft of this blog.

Jeannette

Christ Church Women's Retreat and other retreats

2009-03-09T03:22:00.000-07:00

Well I finally went on the Christ Church women's retreat. It is run by Rev Julie Yarborugh our associate minister. Julie said this was the 13th retreat that she has run. Well 13 is my lucky number as I was born on the 13th and lived at 13 Dennis Place in Summit for years so I am not afraid of the number 13. It the first time I had no real excuse not to go on the the retreat so I went and I am glad because I had fun.
This year it was held at a new location for the retreat, the Carmel Retreat Center in Mahwah New Jersey which is about as far north as you can go in New Jersey without going into New York state.
It is lovely in the hills of New Jersey, I hesitate to say mountains in case people who really live in the mountains read this. I went with my Hillsborough friend and Christ Church member Kathryn and for us it was a straight ride up I 287. We could have gone all the way on Route 202, but even though that would be scenic it would also be very slow.
The Carmel Retreat house" began as the private estate of Clarence Chapman, a New York financier whose principal interests were in mining and shipbuilding. A ship's bell forged by the Menelly Bell Company of Troy, New York in 1903 still reminds visitors of Mr. Chapman's business interests when they visit the site of his summer home in the Ramapo River Valley of New Jersey. He named the estate "Welawiben", a word created by him to connote good health and fellowship " For more information about the estate and it's history see this website: http://www.carmelretreat.com/html/about/history.html

This year thirty women decided to go on the retreat which is the largest group ever. Julie thought it was because of the topic. "Hope in HardTimes". I guess I went just to see what it was like.
I am not going to discuss everything we did because that would not be right. It was an opportunity for me to meet and interact with some of the women of the church and their friends as we were allowed to bring non church members. Almost everyone in the church knows me because I sing in the choir and I am very vocal about UCC announcements but I don't know everyone in church. This was indeed a way to interact and meet with the women.
What was good about the retreat was silence. Many people took a walk or a run around the property when we had breaks. It is a beautiful property to walk. I did not because walking is hard for me and I also have a cold.
Sunday we did a craft project lead by Lynn our crafts person. At first we all thought it might be too hard but we all got into the project and came out with very pretty accordion books that we made by making a printing block and printing on paper.
The meals were good and a good time for informal fellowship and talks with people whom I did not know until then.
This retreat was good time to get away and think about our lives without the hustle and bustle of life.
So as not to reveal all that we did I will leave it at that.
This was the first Christ Church retreat I have been on but not the first retreat in my life. I am a Turtle Sister which means I have been on the Turtle Island Project retreat twice. This is held in Arizona in the fall. This year it will be either the first or second weekend in October and I hope to fit it into my plans again. You are welcome to join me.The highlight of this retreat is the sweat lodge. The retreat is run by three therapists, one of them being a Native American and another being Native American and African American. The sweat lodge takes some getting used to. As I said I hope to go again this year if I can fit it into my schedule.
Sorry guys these retreats are only for women. Do you have retreats like this?
Jeannette Brown

Steal Away the spiritual

2009-01-17T13:07:00.000-08:00

Sunday January 18th I will sing "Steal Away" a negro spiritual arranged by a British composer Rutter. I like the arrangement so I introduced Holly to it and she decided that the choir should sing it.

Rev Rush's sermon will be about women. I don't know whom he will be talking about, but this spiritual is about the Underground Railroad and Harriet Tubman who was the "conductor" of that railroad.

The meaning of Steal Away has been interpreted by many people here is one I found on the web.

Spirituals are very important (in the Underground Railroad), because spirituals have layers of meaning to them.

One of my favorites is “Steal Away.” Because, in the spiritual, “Steal Away” people are not only told to “steal away” to Jesus, but also to run away. And that particular spiritual tells you when to run away, because there is a line in it, “My God calls me, he calls me by the thunder.” Well, thunder occurs only during a storm. Another line within Steal Away refers to “green trees abending.” Green trees are green and have the suppleness to bend in springtime. We’re also given information about the storm. This has been corroborated in other stories of how people waited until there was a storm, because if you left during the storm, chances were, you would not be discovered for several days. The blessing of the rain would wash away any cells from the body, and so, therefore, any scent that there was was gone. The dogs would have nothing to go by. I think Steal Away is one of those spirituals that will haunt us on many different levels and beckon, almost like the whistle of a train as you hear it far off. Written by Raymond Dobard, Ph.D., professor of art and art history Howard University.

This is from a film "Safe Harbor" This film is about the Underground Railroad.

The author says that this spiritual is his favorite as it is mine. I listened to the CD of this arrangement so much that it became ingrained in my spirit. As my voice teacher says it has become part of me. I hope I do it justice.

The Inauguration of our New President

2009-01-17T11:58:00.000-08:00

OK this is not polictical because no matter who you voted for Barack Obama will be President of the United States on Tuesday. The media is asking for our impressions of this. I am watching today's events the train trip from Philiadelphia PA to Washington DC to be like the trip President Lincoln maded from Springfield Illinois where President elect Obama launched his campaign. I only wish President elect Obama had mad the full trip from Springfield Illinois but I guess this little trip is OK. The trip is taking longer than a regular Amtrak trip from Philadelphia to Washington takes as they are going slowly so that the public can see him. I just saw the whistle stop at Edgewood MD and I cried. I am writing this with tears of joy in my eyes.
I have tried to be very cool through this whole process because at my age I remember everything that could go wrong. I am still afraid and I guess we should all pray that everything goes smoothly.

One of our choir members, Scott Nelson and family are going to Washington to see the inaugural as is my voice teacher. I hope they bring back photos and first hand accounts of the event. I don't like crowds, besides you can see it better on TV.

I did go to the second March on Washington because I happened to be in Washington DC for an American Chemical Society Meeting. I remember I went at the last minute. I decided to take the Metro and took with me only the Metro fare and my ID, no purse. This is the same security as will be at the Inauguration on Tuesday. I managed to wiggle my way to the front of the crowd on the Mall and I saw MLK and Ralph Abernathy and all the other people on the platform up front and close. I probably have photos somewhere as I never travel without a camera.

I only wish my mother and father could be alive to see this inauguration. I think my father would forgive him for being a Democrat. As a matter of fact he probably would have voted for him even though my father was a life time party of Lincoln Republican. I think he would have been fed up with the current administration and might even have been investigated for the letters he would have written to the current President. I gave a talk in church about my father and the older members of Christ Church may have read his letters to the editor of the Summit Press and the Independent Press about race.

I worked hard for the election of our President elect and I am continuing to help with the change he wants. I have scheduled a meeting of Scientists for Change which is posted on the Obama website and I attended a meeting in Bedminster of people who wanted to continue the change. Because our future President says he can't do it alone. We all must work to effect the change that will help all of us.

The UCC is going to begin the Inauguration event with a prayer service: .

The Special UCC Prayer Service and reception

Monday, January 19, 2009, 7 PM

Christ Congregational United Church of Christ

9525 Colesville Road

Silver Spring

(just inside the Washington Beltway at Colesville Road)

Sponsored by: Christ Congregational United Church of Christ, UCC Justice/Witness Ministries and the Central Atlantic Conference

Join members and friends from throughout the country!!!

Rev. Dr. John R. Deckenback
Conference Minister
Central Atlantic Conference United Church of Christ

There is another event that you could attend:

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

On January 20th Americans and the entire world will witness a truly historic event with the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America.

We warmly welcome to Washington, D.C., President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and their two daughters Malia and Sasha.

As part of the Inaugural Weekend at the Smithsonian Institution, the National Museum of African American History and Culture is hosting an Open House on Monday, January 19th from 11am to 3pm at the S. Dillon Ripley Center for our exhibitions Road to Freedom and After 1968. The Ripley Center is located next to the Smithsonian Castle on the west side and can be easily reached via Metro.

Suffer the children Let us pray for peace

2009-01-10T16:33:00.000-08:00

Mathew 19: 14Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (NIV)

The other day the television news highlighted the children of Gaza and Israel who are suffering because of the fighting. Children in Gaza went to a UN school where they thought they would be safe and the school was bombed. There are no safe shelters for children or anyone in Gaza. Children in Israel spending there days in a bomb shelter and dreaming of rockets and bombs over night.

Why is this happening? The UN passed a resolution to stop this but the fighting continues except for three hours a day for humanitarian purposes. Why can't the Arabs and Jews get along with each other?

Here are the statements from the United Church of Christ about the situation:

UCC offers its prayers, offerings and advocacy to urge peace for Israel-Palestine

January 6, 2009

In Gaza, more than 500 Palestinians have been killed and at least 3,000 injured as a result of the Israeli military campaign. Israelis have also been killed and others injured by rocket attacks originating from Gaza. The result of violence has only been more violence, more suffering.

Gaza has become the focus of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the last couple of weeks, with a focus on eradicating Hamas elements. Gaza – the most densely populated place on earth – is a small landmass of roughly 140 square miles, with a population of 1.5 million Palestinians. Gaza has been essentially sealed since Israel withdrew in August 2005, with little access for supplies (food, medicine, or fuel), a condition that has been made especially clear in the past days. Unemployment is at an all-time high, and despair among Palestinians – both Muslims and Christians – is extremely high.

Collegiate statement on Gaza

In a Jan. 6 Epiphany letter, the UCC's Collegium of Officers, urging comprehensive peace in the Middle East, prayed that "nations shall come to your light, and rulers to the brightness of your dawn."

"Today we hear the Psalmist remind us of a Sovereign who "delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper, who has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needed, who from oppression and violence redeems their life." " -----
" May we no longer be at ease in a world grown comfortable with its cruelty and war. Indeed, may we be so ill at ease that Rachel's wailing drowns out the cruel silence of our rulers, and Herod's sword is stayed by the Child who is the redeemer of life. For once again the light has come, the glory of the Lord has risen, and nations shall come to the light, even rulers to the brightness of God's dawn."

The UCC is calling for funds to help the people of Gaza.
Support humanitarian relief

The UCC is seeking an additional $75,000 for the immediate and long-term needs in Gaza. Already, $25,000 from the UCC's One Great Hour of Sharing offering has been sent to partners in Jerusalem who are preparing a shipment of humanitarian aid, including food, medical supplies and plastic sheeting, as soon as Israeli authorities open a border crossing.

Christ Church people can also advocate for peace by sending a letter to members of congress and Secretary of State Rice. The letter is on the UCC website.

Advocate for justice, healing
Take action to support international efforts to broker a comprehensive cease fire and pressure Israel to allow humanitarian relief supplies – including food, medical supplies, and fuel – to alleviate the suffering of hundreds of thousands.

The UCC has a presence in the middle east. Our Conference Minister John Deckenbach recently showed the photos of his recent trip to the middle east when he lead a discussion about it during an adult ed program at Christ Church.

About the UCC's work in the Middle East
Through Global Ministries, the United Church of Christ has long-established mission relationships in the area. Here are the positions of the UCC’s General Synod.

Lastly the whole ecumenical community is calling for peace.

Ecumenical responses
Statements calling for a comprehensive ceasefire and urgent humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza have been issued by many UCC partner bodies, including the Middle East Council of Churches, the Jerusalem Bishops and Patriarchs, the Sabeel Liberation Center [word doc], the World Council of Churches, and more.

My heart is sad and I pray for all the people in the middle east both in Gaza and in Isreal that they can decided to stop bombing each other and live in peace. Maybe I am unrealistic but at least I can pray for peace. I hope you will join me

Jeannette Brown
UCC Representative.

Note: Most of this information is on the UCC web page. The links above should work and connect you to the web page

Christmas Carols for the Christmas Season

2008-12-27T04:33:00.000-08:00

I love Christmas Carols. I love Christmas music. I wish we could sing them all year long. So I spent this Christmas season listening to Christmas music on the radio and on Christmas Day there were several great TV programs of Christmas music. (In fact we had a small TV war when my cousin switched the channel temporarily to a football game. I won, it was my house!)

So lets start with the history of Christmas Carols. I googled History of Christmas Carols and came up with the following links:

from Ask.Com http://musiced.about.com/od/christmasnewyeararticles/a/carols.htm

Word Origin
The word carol or carole is a medieval word of French and Anglo-Norman origin, believed to mean a dance song or a circle dance accompanied by singing. Broadly defined, carols express religious joy and is often associated to the Christmas season. Carols are also used to describe late medieval English songs on various subjects with a verse and refrain. Often the verse and refrain (also called burden) alternates.

History of Christmas Carols
It is unclear when the first carol was written but it is believed that circa 1350 to 1550 is the golden age of English carols and most of the carols followed the verse-refrain pattern.

During the 14th century carols became a popular religious song form. The theme often revolved around a saint, the Christ child or the Virgin Mary at times blending two languages such as English and Latin.

By the 15th century the carol was also considered as art music. During this time elaborate arrangements were made and carols were considered an important contribution to English medieval music. The Fayrfax Manuscript, a court songbook featuring carols, was written by the end of the 15th century. The songs were written for 3 or 4 voices and themes were mostly on the Passion of Christ.

By the 16th century though the popularity of carols faltered, almost disappearing entirely if not for the revival that happened by the middle of the 18th century. Most of the carols we know today were written during this period.

Then there was the Wikipedia version which I will let you look at for yourself. Wikipedia; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_carol#History

While baking cookies on December 20, I heard the news on WNYC nationall public radio. John Rutter was interviewed and asked about his favorite carol. He said "In Dulce Julibo" which the announcer did not know so she asked him to sing it. He did, but he said that was his radio vocal debut and he will stick to conducting and composing. He said he used to be a boy sporano! He was interviewed because he has composed a new Christmas Carol. It is on his new CD "A Christmas Festival". This can be found on the following website along with a sample of the music. http://www.collegium.co.uk/us/ Although the Christ Church choir has sung a lot of Rutter music and I love it I heard on another interview on National Public Radio that he is a non believer. (note: I heard this on SoundCheck) Whatever, he writes or arranges beautiful music and he must get his solace from that.

Music directors in Great Britain and some in the United States were surveyed as to their favorite Christmas Carol. The list is surprising. This was another interview that I heard on WNYC Soundcheck about the poll. Here is the link if you want to listen to the program; http://www.wnyc.org/shows/soundcheck/episodes/2008/12/24

Fifty Greatest Christmas Carols

BBC Music Magazine recently polled choirmasters and choral experts on the greatest Christmas carols ever. We find out what songs made the Top 50. (It’s not “Silent Night.”)

Last Carol Standing

“In The Bleak Midwinter” is the world’s best Christmas carol, according to a poll of leading choirmasters and choral experts from the UK and US. The song came out top in a poll conducted by a BBC Music magazine poll, placing above well-known carols “Silent Night,” “Ding Dong Merrily on High” and “Once in Royal David's City.” Oliver Condy, editor of BBC Music joins us to share the results.

My new favorite carol is "Once in Royal David's City" I think it is in our hymnal. I found another site that has favorite hymns and the words and music if you want to sing along. I think it is for churches that don't have choirs and beautiful organ and great music directors like we do. Here is the link to " Once in Royal David's City" but you can search for others. http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/n/onceirdc.htm

Well this should get you started on your carol singing. Tomorrow I will be singing "Oh Thou that Tellest Good Tidings to Zion at Grace United Church in Flemington, the new UCC church start that Christ Church supports.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.

Jeannette Brown

We have a new president. A Historic President

2008-11-04T21:17:00.000-08:00

Either way this election would have made history. If McCain had won we would have had the nation's first woman VP. But Barak Obama won and we have the nation's first African American President! I don't think this is partisan since the election is now over and the people have spoken. No matter who you voted for Obama is now your President. Obama spoke about the 106 year old woman who lived to vote for him. When she was young she could not vote because she was a woman and also more importantly because she was African American. My father was as I have said before a party of Lincoln Republican. When I found out that Obama won I prayed to my father and said I know you would have voted for a Democrat for the first time in your life. I am sure of that! My father was the one who taught me African American history even though I did not believe him because "it was not taught in school". How I wish I had listened to him at the time. He is probably saying "I told you so."
Now that this has happened I think we at Christ Church should have the "Sacred Conversation about Race" http://www.ucc.org/sacred-conversation/ that the UCC has been advocating. Because people might be saying that Obama was/is the exception. We need to look at what we think about race and let the ugly realities come out and face them.
They tell me that reading material would be Obama's books, The Audacity of Hope and others. They tell his life story. Also look at Michelle Obama's life story. They rose from working class parents to this stature. There are a lot of African Americans who can say the same, myself included.
When we had the Neighbor to Neighbor workshop at Christ Church two Sunday's ago they showed a video of children in the slums of Philadelphia. We were asked our reaction to the video and I said I could relate to the video because one child talked about being harassed by children in school for being different. This happened to me in the second grade because I was interested in learning and the kids didn't like that. We must talk!
Jeannette

HomeSharing Article Star Ledger 11/2/08

2008-11-02T21:07:00.000-08:00

Above is the article on HomeSharing that was published in the Somerset, Hunterdon County editions of the Star Ledger on Sunday November 2. I am posting this article not because it is about me and my match but because it is a way to provide affordable housing in this time of people losing there homes because of foreclosures. Perhaps a family could avoid foreclosure if they share a room or rooms in their home. The operative word is share not rent because the seeker becomes a part of the family. If a homeowner has a big house then they might have separate quarters for the seeker. Since I am on the Board of Directors of HomeSharing we hear stories of the clients. The providers are not always poor, they may be elderly or empty nesters who want companionship. That is my story. Olinda Young my seeker came to me at the right time in my life. One year ago just before I was to have chemo. It would have been hard for me to live alone during my time of having chemo, especially as I had an adverse reaction the first day and wound up in the ER. I did not know how I was going to get home as I did not have my address list with me. I called Paul Tukey who is on my Lots of Helping Hands website and he called Olinda. All I knew is that Olinda (my angel) showed up to take me home. As a retired social worker and avid church worker, she has those caring aspects.
A full time agency like HomeSharing does not exist in Union County as the article says there is only a part time agency. Since people in Christ Church started the homeless hospitality network, this might be a project for someone to take up.
Jeannette

Our Faith Our Vote Tuesday is the day!

2008-11-02T02:48:00.000-08:00

Here is the UCC Election Day Check list.

Election Day Checklist

The end is in sight! Election Day is almost here! You've stuck with us this far - join us in our final push to prepare for the elections.

Voter registration is way up! Overall, 13 battleground states have already received 3.4 million new voter registrations as of Oct. 14, 2008 compared to 1.8 million new registrations in 2004. This is exciting, but the overwhelming number of people expected to vote on November 4th is going to put a big strain on our electoral system. It is all the more important to watch for incidents of voter disenfranchisement and intimidation.

The following are just a few of the disturbing incidents that have been reported so far:

Voters in Philadelphia are being told that they will be denied the right to vote if they have unpaid parking tickets. FALSE!
In some areas, flyers are being distributed with misinformation about elections, including such false warnings that anyone whose home is in foreclosure cannot vote. UNETHICAL!
Some Georgia residents waited 6 to 8 hours to cast an early ballot, in large part due to computer glitches and an overload of the state's computerized voter verification system. DISTURBING!

What can you do to insure that your vote and the votes in your community are counted?

Prepare yourself!

Know where your polling place is located
This may seem simple but knowing your polling place will save you time and frustration. You can use this tool to find it right now. (LINK http://www.866ourvote.org/find-polling)

You can also help members of your church find their polling places. Set up your computer during coffee hour so anyone can find their polling location or print out directions to local polling stations so everyone knows where to go!

Know about your state's voter requirements
Does your state require ID at polling places? What kind of identification is acceptable? Make sure you know what to expect in your state.
Know your rights
No one should be able to deny you your right to vote. Come prepared with the facts in case you encounter unexpected problems at the polling place. The UCC OFOV project has prepared a basic Voter Bill of Rights in English and Spanish for your use.

Spread the knowledge with this useful bulletin insert. Include it in your Sunday worship materials so all your friends and neighbors can be prepared.

If you encounter any problems call the election protection hotline for immediate assistance from trained legal professionals. 1-866-OUR-VOTE.

Consider voting early
Massive voter turn out is going to lead to long lines on Election Day. If you know you won't be able to make it to the polls on November 4th consider voting early or requesting an absentee ballot. To find out if your state offers early voting click here.
Don't wear buttons, stickers, shirts or carry signs promoting a candidate to a polling location
The laws about this vary state-to-state and county-to-county. Because there is a great deal of confusion about this among poll workers, voters and officials it is better NOT to wear campaign gear when you go to vote.

Prepare Your Church!

Voting can be difficult to fit in your schedule. With jobs, children and pets to care for many people have trouble finding time to cast their ballots. Help the members of your church find time to vote.

Car pool
Make sure everyone has a ride to the polls. Get some drivers to volunteer and find out who needs a ride. Make a sign-up sheet and divide responsibility so that everyone who needs a ride from home or work can make it to their voting place.
Child Care
It's hard to make time to stand in line and vote when you have kids to worry about. Open up the church nursery and offer to watch your members' kids while their parents vote. They will appreciate it more than you know!
Dog Walking
Offer to walk dogs so people are free to vote and free from worrying about their pets waiting in the car or at home. This is a great way to get your youth group involved in the voting process and will be appreciated by pet owners.
Encourage everyone in your congregation to vote
Sometimes we all just need a little reminder!

Thank you for your engagement in this election!

______________________________________________________________

I can't tell you how to vote and who to vote for. All I can say is VOTE. Make sure you're friends and neighbors and even your relatives VOTE!

Jeannette

The Election is 23 Days away and Counting

2008-10-12T13:52:00.000-07:00

OK There is another UCC resource for the election. It is called "Our Faith Our Vote". This is a non partisan look at the election process including the voting process as well. No matter who we vote for we must insure that every vote counts and the election process is fair and unbiased.

As an African American and also a woman there were times in which both of us had to fight for the right to vote. Even when given the right to vote African Americans had obstacles thrown in there faces in the form of poll taxes and unfair voter registration practices.

What about our immigrant populations who have become citizens and have the right to vote. Also we need to think of our homeless population which Christ Church serves in numerous ways. Are they registered? They do have the right to vote.

Also think of our college students who are away. Did they apply for an absentee ballot or are they registered to vote in their college town? I remember the very first time I could vote for president at 22 my absentee ballot arrived from New York State on the very day it was due back in New York! I was livid! You could not fax it to anyone and one day express mail did not exist! I sent them a scathing letter!

So look at the resources available on the UCC website I have given you the link.

Sign up to host or go to a debate party on Wednesday October 15. I did that with my young neighbors. The 13 year old boy was very interested in the first debate so he came to my house for the VP debate along with his older step sisters one of who will be voting for the first time this year. Wow I would have like to vote at 18 but it was not available in my time. I was so surprised that the 13 year old wanted to discuss the election and it was not homework! How our times have changed. Or maybe it is because this is an historic election that would inspire a 13 year old African American/Hispanic boy to be interested in a presidential election.

So enjoy the debates with you teenage children. This is democracy in action!

Jeannette Brown

Public Education in New Jersey

2008-10-12T11:59:00.000-07:00

How timely my blog was about the UCC and public education. In today's Star Ledger (October 12,2008) John Mooney the education reporter for the Star Ledger wrote about the candidates and their positions on education and how it would affect New Jersey. The title of the article is: "Both Candidates want to see Uncle Sam in the Classroom". In the article Mr Mooney compares the effect "No Child Left Behind" has on a suburban community like Chatham with the effect it has on an urban community like Newark. It is vital for Newark to help equalize the educational experience for all children.

You may check both candidates education policies in the Star Ledger or other local papers or go to their websites and read them. I am not allowed to take sides on this blog. I just wanted you to be aware of the information.

Jeannette Brown

2009 Public Education Resource

2008-10-11T12:53:00.000-07:00

Below I have copied the information from the UCC about Public Education. The "No Child Left Behind Act" is up for re authorization. Since congress did not act on it in 2008 it will be left for the new congress under a new administration to act on it. Since I strongly beleive in quality public education for all children I think we should all seriously consider this. By have a world standard education for all students we will be able to grow our own well educated work force and not have to import them.

Public Education

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." - Matthew 22: 35-39

As we think about whether American society embodies Jesus' teaching that we should love our neighbors as ourselves, we need to be concerned about public schools, the primary institution where we have agreed to nurture and shape God's precious children. Public schools are our largest public institution, serving nearly fifty million children.

In the national conversation about public education, our role in the church is special. We are concerned about our schools as an ethical and public policy matter. How do they embody attitudes about race and poverty, power and privilege, and cultural dominance and marginalization, and how do disparities in public investment reflect these attitudes?

The United Church of Christ has spoken prophetically to name poverty and racism as among the primary causes of injustice in our nation's schools. General Synod 15 warned: "While children from many areas have comfortable schools with all the educational trimmings, poor and ethnic minority children often face overcrowded and deteriorated facilities, and a lack of enrichment programs or modern technology." General Synod 18 cautioned: "Because the poor and their children are disproportionately people of color, the educational inequities in our public schools reinforce the racial/ethnic injustices of our society." General Synod 23 proclaimed public school support - and advocacy for the same - as one of the "foremost civil rights issues in the twenty-first century." General Synod 25 called all settings of the UCC to do justice and promote the common good by strengthening support for public institutions and providing "opportunity for every child in well-funded, high quality public schools."

Featured Resource for October 2008

Justice and Witness Ministries' annual beginning-of-school resource, the 2009 Message on Public Education, lifts up the importance of schools to form each whole child, created in the image of God, in contrast to the test-and-punish philosophy of the federal education law, No Child Left Behind, that has dangerously narrowed the curriculum in schools serving America's poorest children. A second key article challenges us to evaluate justice in charter schools according to values of access, equity, and public purpose. If you would like additional printed copies for discussion in your congregation, please contact Jan Resseger (216-736-3711) or ressegerj@ucc.org.

"Tyranny of the Test: One Year as a Kaplan Coach in the Public Schools" is Jeremy Miller's story of his role as a Supplemental Education Services tutor under the No Child Left Behind Act. Miller exposes the flaws of redirecting public tax money that could have been spent to strengthen public school staffing and programming to Kaplan, a private contractor providing NCLB-mandated services to schools labeled "failing" under the federal law. The story contains shocking statistics about the role of private contracting and profit: "The failure of schools serving low-income students has been a windfall for the testing industry. Title I funds earmarked for test tutoring increased by 45 percent during the first four years of NCLB, from $1.75 billion in 2001 to $2.55 billion in 2005. With the ever growing stream of funding flowing through the nation's schools, the number of supplemental-service providers nationwide has exploded... In 2003, Kaplan hired former NYC Chancellor of Education Harold Levy as an executive vice president and general counsel, and in 2006 relocated its headquarters for Kaplan K12, the division of the company that works in schools, from Midtown Manhattan to luxury offices downtown. According to Crain's, the company made the move 'to be closer to the New York City Department of Education.'"

Action Needed Now

The reauthorization of NCLB will now drag into 2009. Please tell your Senators and Representatives that you remain very concerned. Send the letter to Senators and Congressional Representatives at our TakeAction page. Please send the letter as-is or as you edit it, and urge others to do so.

Jeannette Brown

Are you able to refrain from violent TV — just for one week?

2008-10-11T12:29:00.000-07:00

The United Church of Christ and many other churches are declaring a fast from viewing violent TV for one week starting October 12 -18.
Starting this Sunday, UCC members are pledging to refrain from watching violence as entertainment. Will you join us?

Sponsored by the UCC and Rainbow/PUSH, the Media Violence Fast is encouraging participants to take a stand against violent media by making a conscious decision not to watch it. We are asking people to seek other forms of programming and intellectual stimulation, and to reflect on what it means to purposefully distance oneself from violence as entertainment.

As a participant, you will receive a daily e-mail devotion/meditation for use individually or with family members or faith groups. You will also be encouraged to offer your own reflections and feedback in a group forum.

Just consider this: Before reaching the age of 18, the average U.S. child will witness 200,000 acts of violence on television, including 40,000 murders. The National Television Violence Survey has found that 60 percent of TV shows contain violence.

This Media Violence Fast is not about censorship. Instead, this is an opportunity to pause and consider how the saturation of violence on our TV screens also affects our spiritual lives, our relationships with others, how we see the world and how we promote peace as a religious value, starting with our remote controls.

Starting Sunday, I am changing the channel. Will you give it a try too?

The above was written by The Rev. J. Bennett Guess
Executive Director, OC, Inc
United Church of Christ

Note: This refraining from media violence does not include the last Presidential Debate on October 15 unless you think that will be violent! (:-)

Jeannette Brown

Give Me Jesus and other spirituals

2008-05-25T20:52:00.000-07:00

"Give Me Jesus" is the title of the spiritual that the Christ Church Choir sang Sunday May 25. It is a new spiritual to me so I decided to do some research on the back ground of the spiritual. Here is part of what I found:

Give Me Jesus

The spiritual often elects Jesus as the slave’s closest and most reliable friend. He is coming in person to gather up his friends and

take them to heaven. Give Me Jesus shows a touching faith in that relationship.

“You may have all this world. Give me Jesus”.

There are two different versions of this spiritual. this comes from : http://www.negrospirituals.com/history.htm

The choir sang the second version.

GIVE ME JESUS (Second version)

I heard my mother say
I heard my mother say
I heard my mother say
« Give me Jesus »

Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus
You may have all this world
Give me Jesus

At dark midnight, was my cry
Dark midnight was my cry
Dark midnight was my cry
“Give me Jesus”

In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise
Give me Jesus

And when I come to die
And when I come to die
And when I come to die
Give me Jes(us)

The first version is:

GIVE ME JESUS (First version)

Oh when I come to die
Oh when I come to die
Oh when I come to die
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You may have the world
Give me Jesus

I heard my mother say
I heard my mother say
I heard my mother say
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You may have the world
Give me Jesus

Dark midnight was my cry
Dark midnight was my cry
Dark midnight was my cry
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You may have the world
Give me Jesus

In the morning when I rise
In the morning when I rise
In the morning when I rise
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You may have the world
Give me Jesus

I heard the mourner say
I heard the mourner say
I heard the mourner say
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You may have the world
Give me Jesus
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Susan Logan sang:
"Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen"

NOBODY KNOWS DE TROUBLE I’VE SEEN

Nobody knows de trouble I’ve seen
Nobody knows de trouble but Jesus
Nobody knows de trouble I’ve seen
Glory Hallelujah!

Sometimes I’m up, sometimes I’m down
Oh, yes, Lord
Sometimes I’m almost to de groun’
Oh, yes, Lord

Although you see me goin’ ‘long so
Oh, yes, Lord
I have my trials here below
Oh, yes, Lord

If you get there before I do
Oh, yes, Lord
Tell all-a my friends I’m coming too
Oh, yes, Lord

Here is the interpretation by Joe Carter http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/joecarter/gallery.shtml

Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen"
The authors of most spirituals are unknown. Various tales, often apocryphal, account for the origins of many songs. One legend has it that upon emancipation, newly freed slaves gathered on a South Carolina island were awaiting promised land grants from the government. "It was a great, wonderful day," says Carter. But when a government agent informed the crowd that no grants were forthcoming, one woman spontaneously began singing this song, making it up as she went.

I usually hum the music that we have sung all week, this week it is "Give Me Jesus". For more information go to the on line resources.
Jeannette Brown

Muhlenberg Hospital Plainfield NJ

2008-05-18T14:26:00.000-07:00

Today in church the plight of the people of Plainfield was discussed because of the pending closing of Mulenberg Hospital. The closing was discussed at the New Jersey Association meeting and a letter was generated and sent to the state.
I figured that you might want some background information about the hospital and its closing.
The first article that I found about the closing was in the Star Ledger Saturday February 23, 2008, 4:15 PM "Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center shutting its doors" : http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/02/muhlenberg_regional_medical_ce.html
The article begins; "Faced with mounting deficits caused mainly by insufficient state aid to cover all its uninsured patients, officials at Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center in Plainfield plan to close the 130-year-old facility later this year." It also said it would temporarily maintain the emergency room service.
The next article is also from the Star Ledger : "500 protest closing of Muhlenberg hospital in Plainfield " Saturday March 15, 2008, 5:02 PM http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/03/500_protest_closing_of_muhlenb.html
That was the second held that month in protest of the hospital's closing. Organizer Lawrence Hamm of the People's of Organization for Progress said the group planed a third rally on April 5 in Trenton.
There is a complete blog about the closing of the hospital that will tell you more than you want to know about the closing. "Save Muhlenberg" http://savemuhlenberg.blogspot.com/2008/03/closings-of-hospitals-such-as.html
For information about the "current" services of the hospital and what would be lost I refer you to the hospital website: http://www.muhlenberg.com/muhlenberg-regional/. There is also information about the Muhlenberg Foundation on that webpage.
I hope this helps.
Jeannette Brown

Sacred Conversation about Race

2008-05-17T17:59:00.000-07:00

You may have heard about the UCC churches having a sacred conversation about race on Sunday May 18th. At Christ Church Chuck will start the process by preaching about it. We will have the whole summer to do some reading and thinking and maybe private conversations before we have our "Sacred Conversation" in early September.

The following is a quote from the UCC web:
"The UCC is holding this national dialogue in order to foster a spirit of healing and unity in our churches and communities. While much has been said during the past few weeks about the Rev. Jeremiah A Wright Jr., this dialogue among our members is intended to be a larger conversation, one not focused directly or exclusively on the recent controversy, but one certainly influenced by it.
Sacred conversations are never easy, especially when honest talk confronts our nation's painful past and speaks directly to the injustices of the present day. Yet sacred conversations can, and often do, honor the value of diverse life experiences, requiring an openness to hear each others' viewpoints. Growth often happens when honest conversations are communicated in a respectful environment."

Over the summer you will hear a lot about race as the media and politicians play the race card because of the first possible African American nominee for President. This would be similar to the gender card if the first woman is the nominee. But the difference between playing the race card and the gender card is that the race card hurts. There is a history of people who have been killed only because of the color of their skin. In this country I don't believe we physically abuse women.

The UCC website http://www.ucc.org/sacred-conversation/ has a number of resources that can be used as you prepare for our conversation about race in the fall. Also as a member of the UCC Anti racism task force I have put a lot of material that can be used on the Christ Church website.

First I believe everyone should read the pastoral letter which is posted on the website. Then go through the steps.

The Pilgrim press has listed some books that can be a part of your summer reading. I will bring the books that I have to display tomorrow. I don't know if we have them in the library.

I would also recommend viewing "Eyes on the Prize I & II" to see the history of the civil rights movement. Most libraries have a copy.

For those of you who would like to start an online dialog you may post comments and information on this blog.

My colleagues on the Anti racism task force want to focus on African American racism, although this might be too broad I think racism of any kind against any people is not to be tolerated.

Here is a segment from the Pastoral Letter of 2008:

"As members of the United Church of Christ, we have a rich history of spirited resistance
to racism that can serve as both a resource and an inspiration for this sacred work. One such
resource is the Pastoral Letter on Racism and
the Role of the Church published in 1991 by the Commission for Racial Justice. The biblical,
theological, and political analysis of this ground-breaking document remains relevant for our day. The Pastoral Letter on Racism boldly names the “sin and idolatry of racism” and calls Christians to renew their commitment to be a people grounded in the love and justice embodied in Jesus Christ and the beloved community that King envisioned.
The Pastoral Letter on Racism documented what it called “a sobering truth” – namely, that despite the meaningful progress achieved during the civil rights era, “quality of life for the majority of racial and ethnic people is worse today in many ways than it was during the 1960s.” The letter went on to name a number of disturbing trends that signaled growing racial intolerance and hostility: increasing inequities between the rich and the poor; charges of “reverse racism”and attacks on affirmative action; a resurgence of racially motivated hate crimes and; fear of “foreigners” surfacing in movements such as “English Only.”
Seventeen years later, in 2008, we might wish to believe that we have made significant progress in addressing and reversing those alarming trends. Lamentably, that claim cannot be substantiated."
It goes on but I think that sums up the reasons for this conversation.
Jeannette Brown

Earth Day Prayers

2008-04-21T17:48:00.000-07:00

These prayers are from the book "Earth Prayers From Around the World"

Suggested for Earth Day

And now we will count to twelve
and we will all keep still.....

For once on the face of the earth
let's not speak in any language,
let's stop for one second,
and not move our arms so much.

It would be an exotic moment
without rush without engines,
we would all be together
in a sudden strangeness.

Fishermen in the cold sea
would not harm whales
and the man fathering salt
would look at his hurt hands.

Those who prepare green wars,
wars with gas, wars with fire,
victory with no survivors,
would put on clean clothes
and walk about with their brothers
in the shade, doing nothing

What I want should not be confused
with total inactivity
(Life is what it is about,
I want no truck with death.)

If we were not so single minded
about keeping out lives moving,
and for once could do nothing,
perhaps a huge silence
might interrupt this sadness
of never understanding out selves
and of threatening ourselves with death.

Perhaps the earth can teach us
as when everything seems dead
and later proves to be alive

Now I'll count up to twelve
and you keep quiet and I will go

Pablo Neruda

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For the Lord your God
is bringing you
into a good land.

a land
of flowing streams,
with springs and underground waters
welling up in valley and hills.
a land of wheat ad barley,
of vines and fig trees and pomegranates,
a land of olive trees and honey,
a land where you may eat bread without scarcity,
where you will lack nothing.
a land whose stones are iron.
and from whose hills you may mine copper

You shall eat your fill
and bless the Lord your God
for the good land
he has given you.

DEUTERONOMY 8:7-11 NRSV
___________________________________________________________________

Don't destroy the world
I've only nibbled
the grasses of my lover's meadow.
We are early May
and clematis has not yet blossomed.
Alyssum, lady's slipper, buttercups
I want to hold the to her chin as we did childhood summers
shining their yellow reflection.

And the large magnificent trees
rhododendrons, splashed pink as dawn
magnolia, white waxy bowls of purple swooning.
I've waited my lifetime for this.
Plums are yet to come, fat, taut
the fragile bloom misting their skin like breath.

Let there be days of grainy juices
sticky on my face I
want time. There's
plush mango I smear over her.
Let me lick the pit clean, memorize
each crevice with my tongue

Don't
destroy
the world
because my child;s five, because
she crises when she scrapes her knee on gravel' skin shredded, blood beading through the dust
cries pitifully and long
while I envision scenes of devastation
holding her against the clawing pain
her screams, my helplessness.

"I hope nothing really bad ever happens to you," I blurt
the accusation, shield for my own hysteria...
Don't Don't destroy the world.

Ellen Bass

Happy Earth Day

Jeannette

Martin Luther King Holiday Musings

2008-01-20T15:20:00.000-08:00

Today in Christ Church we celebrated Martin Luther King's birthday. It is one of those flexible holidays which are celebrated on Monday even though Dr. King was born on January 15th.

We heard readings from Dr. King's Letter from a Birmingham Jail. As I listened to the selections I was struck by how appropriate they were for today.

Why we can't wait. People keep telling us to wait and things will be better. We African Americans wonder how long shall we wait. I wonder what Dr. King would have said about the photos of people on the Gulf coast and New Orleans after hurricane Katrina. It looked like a third world country and this was America. Our leaders were saying help would arrive. It has been two years and help has still not arrived for some people. How long should they wait?

Brown vs Board of Education was supposed to integrate schools and make education equal for all students. Well the schools have been integrated but white people (in New Jersey) have moved to the suburbs leaving the urban schools to have a majority of African American and Hispanic students. Is the education equal, no not really. How long can we wait?

The new school funding plan will put more money in school districts with large underrepresented populations statewide. This changes the old Abbott schools who were the urban schools and received more funding. Will this work? I really don't know because not all the extra money in the urban school districts was used for education purposes.

But back to MLK. Dr. King spoke about the fact that African Americans would like to be able to order a cup of coffee from a lunch counter. My cousins who live in Springfield Mass drove my grandmother south to Greensboro North Carolina. They had grown up in the north were there was no overt discrimination. The first thing my cousin Robert noted that he could not stop everywhere for gasoline. He was told to go to the "Nigger" gas station. The other thing he found out that some of our cousins who lived in Greensboro and were attending North Carolina A & T were involved in the sit in at the lunch counter in Greensboro. My southern cousins told Robert to stay away from them because they were afraid since he did not know the problems in the south he might get in trouble.

Dr. King also talked about traveling by car and having sleep in his car. This was shown in the Percy Julian DVD on NOVA were Dr. Julian a respected chemist and business man was also forced to sleep in his car on occasion. When my parents and I traveled we consulted the "Red Book" a book that told Negros the names of hotels that would accommodate them. This book was used not only for the south but the north. My parents consulted that book when they went with me to graduate school in Minneapolis Minnesota. They were given the room that overlooked an air shaft near the elevator. I have been back to Minneapolis since and that hotel has been torn down! My father was so excited when the civil rights act was passed because we could now stay in any hotel in Washington DC!. Even when I was traveling for my company in the south I always had my reservation in my hand when I went up to the desk for fear that they would turn me away. That did happen one time when I had a confirmed reservation at a hotel in New Orleans. But they booked us in another hotel and paid that night's rent and the taxi to and from their hotel. We arrived late at night and they had overbooked the hotel. We also got a free night at the hotel that we had originally booked!

MLK sitings.
My mother and father and I were at Riverside Church when Dr. King preached. My father decided we should go and I went along for the ride.
I also went to the second "March on Washington". I stood in front so that I could see the speakers. I happened to be in DC for an American Chemical Society meeting and decided to go. I got on the Metro and arrived at the mall right in front of the speakers platform!

So these are my thoughts about Martin Luther King's birthday 2008.
Jeannette Brown

New Jersey apologizes for slavery

2008-01-08T15:43:00.000-08:00

On Sunday I announced in church that New Jersey was considering resolution that would apologize for slavery. The vote was taken today and New Jersey became the first northern state to apologize for slavery. This resolution was sponsored by outgoing Assemblyman William Payne.

As today's article says: "Payne said an apology will comfort black residents, who make up 14.5 percent of New Jersey's 8.7 million residents.

"This apology is not for deceased slaves," Payne said. "It's an apology for their descendants. It's an apology for the ages and all mankind."

"The Assembly voted 59-8 and the Senate 29-2 to approve a resolution expressing "profound regret" for New Jersey's role in slavery. A resolution expresses the Legislature's opinion without requiring action by the governor.

"This resolution does nothing more than say New Jersey is sorry about its shameful past," said Assemblyman William Payne, D-Essex, who sponsored the measure.

The resolution offers an apology "for the wrongs inflicted by slavery and its aftereffects in the United States of America."

It states that in New Jersey, "the vestiges of slavery are ever before African-American citizens, from the overt racism of hate groups to the subtle racism encountered when requesting health care, transacting business, buying a home, seeking quality public education and college admission, and enduring pretextual traffic stops and other indignities." Note: These traffic stops are not limited to African American males although they are the principal target, I have been stopped by a police man who probably thought I was a man, not a little old African American lady. I have never received a ticket on these stops only warnings.)
Note: Taken from the Associated Press article by TOM HESTER Jr. |Associated Press Writer| http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj--
slaveryapology0107jan07,0,2453783.story

Here is some information about the slave trade in New Jersey. In 1800 the number of slave in New Jersey was 12,422 second among the northern states with New York at an estimated 20,613 slaves.
For more information about the slave trade in New Jersey here is a link: _slavery_in_New_Jersey#The_Great_Migration

For information about what New Jersey blooggers think about this, here is a link: http://blog.nj.com/jerseyblogs/2008/01/bloggers_react_to_new
_jerseys.html

What do I think? I think it's great. Anything that might help people to think about history and how what happened in the past reflect the present and maybe the future is a good thing. As a newly minted historian I have seen this time and time again.
Jeannette Brown
A little fuzzy from chemo meds today so I hope this makes sense.

Happy New Year & New York Times Op Ed Article worth reading

2007-12-30T03:56:00.000-08:00

I managed to make it to the Christmas eve evening service. It was great although I would rather sing in the choir than in the congregation. I am slowly coming back from the reactions to chemo even though I have four more treatments to go, I seem to be tolerating them better.

I would like to point out an Op Ed in today's (December 30, 2007) New York Times about the end of the slave trade in the United states. It is worth reading:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/30/opinion/30foner.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin
Here is a summary of it.:

Forgotten Step Toward Freedom

ERIC FONER

Published: December 30, 2007

WE Americans live in a society awash in historical celebrations. The last few years have witnessed commemorations of the bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase (2003) and the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II (2005). Looming on the horizon are the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth (2009) and the sesquicentennial of the outbreak of the Civil War (2011). But one significant milestone has gone strangely unnoticed: the 200th anniversary of Jan. 1, 1808, when the importation of slaves into the United States was prohibited.

-----"In the United States, however, slavery not only survived the end of the African trade but embarked on an era of unprecedented expansion. Americans have had to look elsewhere for memories that ameliorate our racial discontents, which helps explain our recent focus on the 19th-century Underground Railroad as an example (widely commemorated and often exaggerated) of blacks and whites working together in a common cause.

Nonetheless, the abolition of the slave trade to the United States is well worth remembering. Only a small fraction (perhaps 5 percent) of the estimated 11 million Africans brought to the New World in the four centuries of the slave trade were destined for the area that became the United States. But in the Colonial era, Southern planters regularly purchased imported slaves, and merchants in New York and New England profited handsomely from the trade."

Note: New York City was a center for the slave trade and our Congregational forefathers were actively engaged in the slave trade.

"From 1803 to 1808, between 75,000 and 100,000 Africans entered the United States.
By this time, the international slave trade was widely recognized as a crime against humanity. In 1807, Congress prohibited the importation of slaves from abroad, to take effect the next New Year’s Day, the first date allowed by the Constitution.

For years thereafter, free African-Americans celebrated Jan. 1 as an alternative to July 4, when, in their view, patriotic orators hypocritically proclaimed the slave-owning United States a land of liberty."

OK. Enough I hope you will read the full article in the newspaper today or in the library some time this week.
Jeannette