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"Habari Gani!" December 7, 2011
This Sunday is the Third Sunday of Advent Children & Youth Sunday Featuring Youth Moment with Nana Cain
ARE YOU AT EASE VOTING YOUR WAY? Written by Pastor PJ Banks-Anderson, D.Min. "As you think so you are, i.e., you are what you think"
You have probably read the news about the congregation in Kentucky that voted against performing bi-racial marriages and having bi-racial couples and families as members of their church. Before I judge them too harshly for voting their right to configure their congregation at their comfort level, I am reminded of the congregations who also vote (sometimes by not voting) against sexual minorities as members of their churches. It is also public knowledge that the Salvation Army openly discriminate against gays. In fact, they turned down a multi-million dollar contract with the city of San Francisco to avoid complying with its equality ordinance. Yes, it is easier to drop a dollar in a bucket, but when you do, you are supporting discrimination and hate. I do not shop at Target, for example, because they do not support military families. If the Disciples could have managed such a vote in the early movement, know as The Way, they would have voted to exclude from their fellowship the Samarian communities of faith. So this whole thing about picking and choosing who can and who cannot be members of the body of Christ is nothing new. Even Jesus said "I came to my own and my own would not receive or accept me." During our worship experience at St. Stephen's Community United Church of Christ in Lansing, I asked the congregation to repeat after me when I said "St. Stephen's Community Church is God's Church; Christ is the head and we are members in particular of the whole body of believers." We do not have the right and must quench the desire to determine who is and is not invited to the Banquet. We can only RSVP on our own behalf. There are no proxy RSVP's. From time-to-time, a talk show host on XM Radio will anguish over the question "if there is only one God, why do we have so many churches called by different names? The point of religious proliferation came when Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses on the Wittenburg Church doors. He was excommunicated from the Catholic Church for a number of reasons including translating the Bible from Latin to German. Whose theology is correct? Who has the right formula for confronting the powers of evil to the degree that they are beheaded like John the Baptist, shunned like Bishop Yvette Flunder, or crucified like Christ? That's the theology for me. How about you? Or are you at ease voting your way?
Please pray for the 6,331
American souls and the 7, 624 coalition souls killed in action, their families
and, especially their children. Thank you, Pastor PJ
Weekly Events Sunday School meets weekly at 8:30 A.M For more information contact Superintendent Mozell Lang
*Tuesday Night Bible Study*- 7:00 p.m.
Outreach Board Meetings: First & Third Mondays, Greer Community Learning Center, 6:30 p.m.
Holiday Festival at St. Stephen's! SSCC Youth Ministry presents: Christmas Play 2011: "Angels On Break" Sunday, December 18, 2011 during Sunday Worship at 10:00 a.m. All children & Youth are invited to participate. Please see Sister LaRae Griggs to sign up and for the complete practice schedule. If you love to cook and are interested in
providing a holiday appetizer and/or dessert and also the recipe that goes
along with your tasty treat for our Holiday Festival after the Christmas
pageant on December 18th, 2011 please fill out your name, phone number and what
item(s) you will be bringing on the sign up sheet (located near the greeters
station/stand in the lobby area) then take and fill out the recipe card form
that is attached to the letter also right next to the sign up sheet. Please
fill out recipe form and return or email (raeofsunshine79@gmail.com) filled out
form back to Sister LaRae Griggs by Monday December 12th, 2011. I am also
looking for those with extra holiday decorations that will allow us to borrow
them just for the festivities on the 18th as well so if that is you please let
me know as soon as possible!!! Thank you!
Support Our Youth!! Sister Susie Gibson is asking for a volunteer to pick up her two boys from school on Tuesdays @ 4:00 for piano practice. Both the school and the lessons are on the east side of Lansing between Sparrow and Frandor.
Young People! Announce your activities and achievements in the "Habari Gani"! Just e-mail them to sscc.ucc@sbcglobal.net or call the church office at 484-2180. Be sure to get your parent's permission first! We are here to support you!!!
SSCC Sewing Guild
APRON Sale Contact Aunt Pat with questions
UCC News 2011 Christmas Fund Offering This year's Christmas Fund offering will be taken on December 18, 2011 The generous gifts of UCC congregations and individuals to the Christmas Fund enabled the Pension Boards' Ministerial Assistance Program to provide the following gifts:
If you have any questions, please contact the church office or visit www.christmasfund.org
Prayer List (Refreshed weekly) REMEMBER: Please advise the church office of any updates to the prayer list. If you require a word of prayer or would like to be included on the prayer list, please contact the church office at 484-2180
Pray for our Nation's Labor Unions; Pray for Students, Teachers, Parents and Staff of Lansing School District, East Lansing School District and surrounding areas; Pray for Justice and Equality for all children; Pray for our city, state, the nation and its leaders; Pray for our church and our Interim Pastor…and for those who submitted prayer request anonymously.
Please call the church office if you or member of your family would like to be served communion on first Sunday.
Weekly Bible Study For the Week of December 5, 2011 Weekly Psalm: 138 Weekly Theme: "Preparing the Way" MONDAY Luke 1:5-25, 57-80 TUESDAY Matthew 4:1-6; 28:18-20 WEDNESDAY Matthew 3:1-12 THURSDAY Isaiah 62 FRIDAY John 1:6-34 SATURDAY Mark 1:1-8 SUNDAY Isaiah 11:1-10 SUNDAY Psalm 72:1-8 Romans 15:4-13 Matthew 3:1-12
For the week of December 12, 2011 Weekly Psalm: 85 Weekly Theme: "The Coming of Christ" MONDAY Mark 13:1-13, 24-37 TUESDAY Luke 21:25-26 WEDNESDAY Revelation 1:1-8 THURSDAY Ezekiel 34:1-10 FRIDAY Luke 12:35-48 SATURDAY Acts 1:1-11 SUNDAY Isaiah 35:1-10 SUNDAY Psalm 146:5-10 James 5:7-10 Matthew 11:2-11
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