Council is calling a Congregational Meeting for June 3,
immediately following the worship service. The agenda for the
meeting is:

1. Electing an elder to finish Mia Mlekarov's term on Council
2. Report from the Building Task Force

Please plan to be there!

Now is the time to send your rotation blackout dates for the third
quarter (July, August & September) to tabernacle@tabunited.org.
Please send all third quarter information by Monday, May 28, 2012.

Thank you!

The deadline for the June newsletter is this coming Monday, May
21. Please send all information about June activities (Tab.edu,
Fun! Group, First Sunday meetings, etc.) to tabernacle@tabunited.org
by NOON on Monday. Thank you!

The May newsletter is on the news page of the website!
Here are the links:

The News page.
(Includes the list of newsletters, the blog and the calendar)

Just the May newsletter.

A printable version of the May newsletter.

MAY 6

Texts: Psalm 22:25-31 & I John 4:16b-21

The Power of Love

God is love. It's so simple a statement that it's easy to miss its
power. Where we most see the evidence of God is in the exhibition
of love in the world. Our devotion to God is inextricable to our
love for our sisters and brothers.

Preaching: Robert McClellan
Writing Prayers: Timon Idema
Children's Time: Pauline Abernathy
Co-officiating communion: Maurine Doggett & Robert McClellan
Setting up & serving communion: Chris Purdom
Cleaning up & serving communion: Pauline Abernathy
Picking up communion bread: Laura Line
A/V Tech: Chris Purdom
Quote: Deborah Ahrens
Greeters: Deb Ahrens & Katrina Culley
Liturgist: Angela Kent
Coffee Hour: Mike Ehling & Jim Gerhard
Shepherd: Vic Compher
Counting Offering: Jim Thacker & Chris Purdom
Taking Recycling: Ginny Rice
Taking Food Donations to Cathedral: Barbara Purdom

---

MAY 13
MOTHER'S DAY

Texts: A Mother's Love (poem, below) & Proverbs 31

A Mother of All

A "motherly" mother is one of the deepest expressions of God’s
love for humankind. We thank God for mothering us. We open
ourselves to this love and we challenge ourselves to mother
those in our world.

Preaching: Bill Simpson
Writing Prayers: Susan Pierce
Children's Time: Deborah Ahrens
A/V Tech: Bob Case
Quote: Russell Baldwin
Greeters: Bob Case & Susan Teegen-Case
Liturgist: Andy Lees
Coffee Hour: Carolyn Cannuscio & Dan Rader
Shepherds: Russell Baldwin & Ginny Rice
Counting Offering: Russell Baldwin & Vic Compher
Taking Recycling: Rachel Wentworth
Taking Food Donations to Cathedral: Lucinda Megill Legendre

A Mother's Love

There are times when only a mother's love
Can understand our tears,
Can soothe our disappoints
And calm all of our fears.
There are times when only a mother's love
Can share the joy we feel
When something we've dreamed about
Quite suddenly is real.
There are times when only a mother's faith
Can help us on life's way
And inspire in us the confidence
We need from day to day.
For a mother's heart and a mother's faith
And a mother's steadfast love
Were fashioned by the angels
And sent from God above.

--Author Unknown

---

MAY 20

Texts: Psalm 1:1-6, & Psalm 22:1-18

Two Realities

"Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked...but
their delight is in the law of the Lord." (Psalm 1:1-2). "O my God,
I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night, but find no rest."
(Psalm 22:2). We live between these two realities. To be faithful
means opening yourself up to both realities because the mark of the
spiritual life is not surface happiness, but the experience of actual
relationship with the world and ultimately with God.

Preaching: Robert McClellan
Writing Prayers: Robert McClellan
Children's Time: Susan Pierce
A/V Tech: Timon Idema
Quote: Mike Ehling
Greeters: Lucinda Megill Legendre & Josh Goldstein
Liturgist: Chris Purdom
Coffee Hour: Bob Case, Susan Teegen-Case & Roxanne Parker
Shepherds: Todd Koser & Ginny Rice
Counting Offering: Russell Baldwin & Mike Ehling
Taking Recycling: Laura Line
Taking Food Donations to Cathedral: Chris Purdom

---

MAY 27
PENTECOST

Text: Acts 2:1-13

All Together Now

At Pentecost God gives us perhaps the most incredible power there
is: understanding. Moreover, understanding is granted without the
sacrifice of the other's identity or way of speaking. In the
kingdom we learn to understand the other without trying to turn
the other into us. The first step, however, is being "all together
in one place."

Preaching: Robert McClellan
Writing Prayers: Timon Idema
Children's Time: Jessica Culley
A/V Tech: Chris Purdom
Quote: Sarah Hill
Greeters: Mike Ehling & Nicole Diroff
Liturgist: Barbara Purdom
Coffee Hour: Scott Poethig & Angela Kent
Shepherds: Todd Koser & Ginny Rice
Counting Offering: Bob Case & Jean Erb
Taking Recycling: Josh Goldstein
Taking Food Donations to Cathedral: Mike Ehling

APRIL 22

Texts: Psalm 4:1-8 & I John 3:1-7

Children of God

We are called so many things in this life and yet it is in our sacred
text that we are called "children of God". As we consider the young
people in our midst, what kind of world are we making for them?

Preaching: Robert McClellan
Writing Prayers: Mike Ehling (Paperless!)
Children's Time: Timon Idema
Quote: Pauline Abernathy
Greeters: Ginny & John Rice
Liturgist: Lynn Lees
Coffee Hour: Maurine Doggett & Jim Thacker
Shepherds: Deb Burnham & Ginny Rice
AV Tech: Timon Idema
Counting Offering: Deb Burnham & Jean Erb
Taking Recycling: Susan Teegen-Case
Taking Food Donations to Cathedral: Mike Ehling

---

APRIL 29

Texts: Philemon 1-8 & Philemon 9-25

Set Free

The tiny letter of Philemon is giant in its witness about how we are
to relate to each other. Paul pleads for the freedom of the slave, but
does so in a way that invites freedom for the master as well. It is
sometimes easy to think of liberating those who are oppressed in ways
great and small, but here we are confronted with a calling to likewise
learn similarly to liberate the oppressor.

Preaching: Robert McClellan
Writing Prayers: Deb Burnham
Children's Time: Carrie & Ellie Pierce
Quote: Deb Burnham
Greeters: Todd Koser & Chris Purdom
Liturgist: Ginny Rice
Coffee Hour: Andy & Lynn Lees
Shepherds: Russell Baldwin & Amy Mann
AV Tech: Chris Purdom
Counting Offering: Bob Case & Jessica Culley
Taking Recycling: Barbara Purdom
Taking Food Donations to Cathedral: Laura Line

APRIL 15

Texts: Acts 4:32-35 & John 20:19-31

The Hard Part

After Jesus' crucifixion the disciples were hiding and living in fear.
When Jesus appeared to them in their hiding place they were excited at
first, but how did they feel when he sent them back out into the
world? Where can we find the peace, hope and love to actually leave
the upper room and be with Jesus in the world?

Preaching: Lucinda Megill Legendre
Writing Prayers: Susan Wargo
Children's Time: Katherine Huseman
Quote: Todd Koser
Greeters: Charlene & Vic Compher
Liturgist: Mike Ehling
Coffee Hour: Josh Goldstein & Laura Line
Shepherd: Deb Burnham & Maurine Doggett
AV Tech: Bob Case
Counting Offering: Pauline Abernathy & Ginny Rice
Taking Recycling: Deb Ahrens
Taking Food Donations to Cathedral: Chris Purdom

On Easter we receive the One Great Hour of Sharing offering
during the offertory. The United Church of Christ and the
Presbyterian Church (USA) have joined with millions of other
Christians through One Great Hour of Sharing to share God's love
with people experiencing need. Our gifts support ministries of
disaster response, refugee assistance and resettlement, and
community development that help people find safe refuge, start new lives and
work together to strengthen their families and communities. Here is a video
about what OGHS does for people around the world:

Come to Heeding God's Call fourth annual interfaith Good Friday
Service! Friday, April 6, 4:00-5:15 pm.

Each of the past three years, Heeding God's Call, the growing
faith-based and grassroots movement to prevent gun violence,
has held an interfaith service next to a gun store for which
there is a published report that straw buying has occurred.

Heeding God's Call's Good Friday services are times for the faithful to gather
at a critical juncture of the gun violence that plagues our city. Each year
hundreds of people of faith have joined us in procession, prayer, song,
togetherness and renewed commitment.

Attendees are asked to wear black.

We will briefly convene at 4 pm at Redeemer United Methodist Church, 1228
Cottman Ave., to assemble, learn and pray. We will then process to Mike &
Kate's Sport Shop, 7492 Oxford Ave., where w will hold an interfaith service.

Public transportation is available to Redeemer UMC. SEPTA Regional Rail Fox
Chase Line stops at Ryers Station on Cottman Ave. a few blocks west of
Redeemer. SEPTA's #70 bus from Fern Rock Transportation Center (on the Orange
Line Broad Street Subway) stops on Cottman at Bingham St., two blocks west of
Redeemer.

For more information, go to www.heedinggodscall.org

How do we ensure that clean energy technologies are manufactured
here in the United States? How do we prevent chemical disasters
in the workplace while creating jobs? Does recycling create good
jobs? The Good Jobs ,Green Jobs East Regional Conference (April
3-4 in Philadelphia) was convened to explore the unique challenges
and opportunities to creating good, green jobs in the Eastern
United States. This morning, our own Rev. Rob McClellan was
privileged to offer the invocation. Here is the prayer he offered.

If it has integrity for you and the tradition from which you
come, please join me in prayer, or simply meditative silence.

Holy One, for the brisk wind and the renewing sun of the
morning, we give you thanks. We greet the coming spring,
the budding of trees and flowering of your world, the
bursting forth of new life with gratitude, awed by the wonder
of what you have done. We are mindful of the rhythm of the
seasons, and even of the day...and yet with unseasonable
temperatures more and more common, with heightened storm
patterns and so-called “natural” disasters, we are
increasingly mindful of what we have done to what you have
done. We are here because we are conscious of what is
happening to your creation and to so many who call it home.
Our being here is a prayer for a renewed consciousness to
spring forth like new life.

Yours is a Spirit of truth, and so we gather seeking truth,
truth in the midst of misinformation, misguided ways of being,
propaganda and denial. We seek truth in the midst of false
claims that jobs and justice cannot exist in the same sentence,
much less the same city or country, that the green of money
trumps that of healthy ecosystems, that sustainability is
somehow un-American. We recognize that your truth is quite to
the contrary, that your divine economy is not predicated upon
winners at the expense of losers, an ever-growing distance
between the haves and the have-nots, or exploitation of many
for the personal comfort of a few. Your truth does not allow
the term jobs to be held up as an excuse to pillage the earth
for political gain for some. Your truth does not produce
products that poison, transportation that pollutes, practices
that propagate the myth of scarcity. Your truth means not just
jobs, but rather new kinds of jobs, jobs that have us not
working against, but working with; for what we learn most deeply
from you is not domination, but harmony, balance, mutual
flourishing. And, green jobs are by definition good jobs.

O, that your Spirit would blow through this place these days,
bringing truth and new life. That your trust would warm our
hearts, allowing us to adopt postures of cooperation and hope,
rather than anger and despair. That the impossibility of your
creation would make possible our dreams for a new creation.
Grant us the wisdom not only to discern a better way of being,
but to recognize that those who seem to stand in the way are not
our enemy, but our sisters and brothers desperately in need of
the kind of relationships that yield genuine transformation.
Prepare our hearts, minds, and hands for that work, and we pray
each of us, in our own way, in the name by which we know you, or
are just meeting you, Amen.

The April newsletter is on the news page of the website!
Here are the links:

The News page.
(Includes the list of newsletters, the blog and the calendar)

Just the April newsletter.

A printable version of the April newsletter.

APRIL 1
PALM/PASSION SUNDAY

Texts: Mark 11:1-11, Mark 14:1-72 & Mark 15:1-47

Passion

Today we the triumphal interest of Jesus into Jerusalem (Service of
the Palms) and we recount the entire passion narrative (Service of
the Passion). The Call to Worship and Children’s Time come during
the former and will connect with that theme (see Mark 11:1-11).
The Prayer of Confession will also draw on the passion narrative
(see Mark 14:1-15:47).

Writing Prayers: Mia Mlekarov
Children's Time: Katie Day
Quote: Susan Wargo
Greeters: Lee Pugh & Susan Wargo
Liturgist: Dick Fernandez
Coffee Hour: Katherine Huseman, Barbara Tilley & Angela Kent
Shepherd: Todd Koser & Ginny Rice
Counting Offering: Jim Thacker & Mia Mlekarov
Taking Recycling: Lucinda Megill Legendre
Taking Food Donations to Cathedral: Carolyn Cannuscio

---

APRIL 5
MAUNDY THURSDAY

Please join us in the sanctuary at 7 pm for a semi-self-directed
service, with communion.

Co-officiating Communion: Robert McClellan & Jean Erb

---

APRIL 8
EASTER

Texts: Isaiah 25:6-9 & Acts 10:34-43

The Beginning of the End

On Easter we proclaim that love embodied, Christ, is Lord,
not Caesar, not war, not Wall Street. We celebrate because
it is a victory not just over death, but over those claiming
ultimate power in this world. Easter is the beginning of the
end...of injustice, of hopelessness, of despair.

Preaching: Robert McClellan
Writing Prayers: Chris Purdom
Children's Time: Deb Burnham
Co-officiating communion: Susan Teegen-Case, Nicole Diroff,

Jean Erb & Robert McClellan
Setting up & serving communion: Bob Case & Susan Wargo
Cleaning up & serving communion: Russell Baldwin & Lucinda Megill Legendre
Picking up communion bread: Lee Pugh
A/V Tech: Todd Koser
Quote: Lucinda Megill Legendre
Greeters: Andy & Lynn Lees
Liturgist: Susan Teegen-Case
Supervising Tab Community Coffee Hour: The Pierces & Todd Koser
Shepherd: Vic Compher
Counting Offering: Mike Ehling & Rachel Wentworth
Taking Recycling: Laura Line
Taking Food Donations to Cathedral: Shawn Megill Legendre

The rotation schedule for the SECOND quarter of 2012 is
now available:

SECOND QUARTER SCHEDULE (for letter-sized paper)

You can also get the updated FIRST QUARTER schedule HERE.

NOTE: THE SECOND QUARTER SCHEDULE IS UP-TO-DATE AS OF MAY 21, 2012.

The March newsletter is on the news page of the website!
Here are the links:

The News page.
(Includes the list of newsletters, the blog and the calendar)

Just the March newsletter.

A printable version of the March newsletter.

MARCH 4
SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT

Texts: Psalm 22:23-31 & Mark 8:31-38

Faithful

Our society is full of people who claim to follow Jesus and
yet seem to have their own promotion as their priority.
Part of our calling as Jesus' followers is to hold our
sisters and brothers accountable for their claims of
faithfulness. Our tradition may be our greatest resource
in addressing many of the social ills we so deeply care about.

Preaching: Robert McClellan
Writing Prayers: Deb Burnham
Children's Time: Timon Idema
Co-officiating communion: Susan Teegen-Case & Robert McClellan
Setting up & serving communion: Lucinda Megill Legendre
Cleaning up & serving communion: Ginny Rice
Picking up communion bread: Barbara Tilley
A/V Tech: Jessica Culley
Quote: Chris Purdom
Greeters: Scott Poethig & Timon Idema
Liturgist: Katie Day
Lenten Soup Coffee Hour: Russell Baldwin, Lucy Miller & Holly Phares
Shepherd: Todd Koser
Counting Offering: Bob Case & Lucinda Megill Legendre
Taking Recycling: Ginny Rice
Taking Food Donations to Cathedral: Barbara Purdom

---

MARCH 11
THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT

Texts: Psalm 23:1-4 & Luke 15:3-6

The Good Shepherd

Intergeneration storytelling time with a focus on the
Good Shepherd.

Preaching: Robert McClellan
Writing Prayers: Robert McClellan
A/V Tech: Todd Koser
Quote: Pauline Abernathy
Greeters: Megan Gibson & Sarah Hill
Liturgist: Jim Gerhard
Lenten Soup Coffee Hour: Katie Day & Barbara Tilley
Shepherds: Russell Baldwin & Deb Burnham
Counting Offering: Mike Ehling & Chris Purdom
Taking Recycling: Rachel Wentworth
Taking Food Donations to Cathedral: Dan Rader

---

MARCH 18
FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT

Texts: Numbers 21:4-9 & John 3:14-21

For God so Loved the World

In one of the most troubling passage in the New Testament,
Jesus seems to lay the groundwork for Christianity as an
exclusive religion that damns all others to hell. The problem
with that is that this passage is actually a testament of our
faith's inclusion. Let's read it again together and discover
the face of the Jesus who was meant to cause no one harm.

Preaching: Robert McClellan
Writing Prayers: Todd Koser
Children's Time: Katie Day
A/V Tech: Timon Idema
Quote: Barbara Purdom
Greeters: Maurine Doggett & Jim Thacker
Liturgist: Russell Baldwin
Lenten Soup Coffee Hour: Jessica Culley & Laura Line
Shepherds: Amy Mann & Ginny Rice
Counting Offering: Charlene Compher & Jean Erb
Taking Recycling: Lucinda Megill Legendre
Taking Food Donations to Cathedral: Lee Pugh

---

MARCH 25
FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT

Text: Psalm 40:5-10 & Hebrews 10:4-10

Saving Help

Life is not about the grand displays of faith or righteousness
made for the sight of others, but rather by the integrity of a
life lived in honest connection with God's desire for
righteousness. We are to live without hiding God's "saving
help", but are meant to embody it.

Preaching: Robert McClellan
Writing Prayers: Robert McClellan (paperless)
Children's Time: Robert McClellan
A/V Tech: Todd Koser
Quote: Robert McClellan
Greeters: Charlene & Vic Compher
Liturgist: Lucinda Megill Legendre
Lenten Soup Coffee Hour: Jean Erb, Amy Mann & Roxanne Parker
Shepherd: Maurine Doggett
Counting Offering: Jim Gerhard & Ginny Rice
Taking Recycling: Ginny Rice
Taking Food Donations to Cathedral: Jim Thacker

---

FEBRUARY 5

Texts: Mark 1:29-39 & Isaiah 40:21-31

Noticing

The beginning of everything important and good in this
world is attentiveness. If we but take the time to notice,
we will see that what we need is there as is the One can
provide for our deepest needs. Waiting, watching, noticing,
these are the virtues of those who so desperately want to do.

Preaching: Robert McClellan
Writing Prayers: Robert McClellan
Children's Time: Robert McClellan
Co-officiating communion: Nicole Diroff & Robert McClellan
Setting up & serving communion: Pauline Abernathy
Cleaning up & serving communion: Mike Ehling
Picking up communion bread: Laura Line
A/V Tech: Chris Purdom
Quote: Russell Baldwin
Greeters: Carolyn Cannuscio & Dan Rader
Liturgist: Nicole Diroff
Coffee Hour/Overseeing Potluck: Katherine Huseman & Todd Koser
Shepherds: Charlene Compher & Ginny Rice
Counting Offering: Deb Burnham & Bob Case
Taking Recycling: Josh Goldstein
Taking Food Donations to Cathedral: Mike Ehling

---

FEBRUARY 12

Texts: Psalm 50:1-6 & Matthew 28:16-20

The Great Invitation

Today’s New Testament reading, referred to as "The Great
Commission", has often been used by the church as license
to try and impose its will on others. This is neither the
call of the church nor the meaning of the risen Christ's
words as found in Matthew. Christ offers, instead, a great
invitation, one that knows no bounds, but is open to all.
Tabernacle has a special role in reaching out to those the
church has failed.

Preaching: Robert McClellan
Writing Prayers: Deb Burnham
Children's Time: Jessica Culley
A/V Tech: Todd Koser
Quote: Deborah Ahrens
Greeters: Ginny & John Rice
Liturgist: Timon Idema
Coffee Hour: Charlene & Vic Compher
Shepherd: Maurine Doggett
Counting Offering: Russell Baldwin & Rachel Wentworth
Taking Recycling: Bob Case
Taking Food Donations to Cathedral: Jim Gerhard

---

FEBRUARY 19

Texts: Mark 9:2-8 & I Kings 19:1-18

Summit Experiences

Storytelling is an important part of our religious tradition.
This morning we will (re)tell the story of Elijah, who sets
out to confront a king and a queen, is on the run most of his
life, and meets God on a mountain top twice.

Preaching: Timon Idema
Writing Prayers: Timon Idema
Children's Time: Deb Burnham
A/V Tech: Jessica Culley & Chris Purdom
Quote: Carolyn Cannuscio
Greeters: Josh Goldstein & Laura Line
Liturgist: Susan Wargo
Coffee Hour: Todd Koser & Lee Pugh
Shepherds: Russell Baldwin & Todd Koser
Counting Offering: Vic Compher & Jim Thacker
Taking Recycling: Deborah Ahrens
Taking Food Donations to Cathedral: Lucinda Megill Legendre

---

FEBRUARY 26
FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT

Text: Mark 1:9-15 & Genesis 9:8-17

It's All About Me

Somewhere along the way humanity got the idea that it was at
the center of all things. We tend to even rest this knowledge
in Biblical foundations, but it’s neither very biblical or
faithful. Only when humans understand themselves as part of
a larger partnership will we ever attain some sort of
faithful balance in the world.

Preaching: Robert McClellan
Writing Prayers: Robert McClellan
Children's Time: Deb Ahrens
A/V Tech: Barbara Purdom
Quote: Mike Ehling
Greeters: Shawn & Lucinda Megill Legendre
Liturgist: Pauline Abernathy
Coffee Hour/Lenten Soup: Deb Ahrens, Barbara Tilley & Roxanne Parker
Shepherds: Todd Koser & Ginny Rice
Counting Offering: Russell Baldwin & Deb Burnham
Taking Recycling: Laura Line
Taking Food Donations to Cathedral: Chris Purdom

---

The February newsletter is on the news page of the website!
Here are the links:

The News page.
(Includes the list of newsletters, the blog and the calendar)

Just the February newsletter.

A printable version of the February newsletter.

The deadline for the FEBRUARY newsletter is THIS COMING MONDAY,
January 23, by NOON. Please send all contributions HERE by
that time.

JANUARY 29

A Celebration of Ten Years of ArtWell!

Text: Exodus 15:19-21

Well Waters

Over ten years ago Tabernacle birthed the Arts & Spirituality
Center (now called ArtWell). We will tell the story of how
Tab taking a great risk resulted in an amazing impact for over
25,000 people (mostly youth) challenged by violence,
discrimination and the everyday experience of growing up.

We will also tell the story of our name change to ArtWell and
the myth of Miriam's well, which sprang up in the desert when
the Israelites were wandering before reaching the promised land.
Miriam is the first Prophetess in scriptures, known for leading
the song and dance of celebration after the waters were parted,
making way to freedom and liberation from slavery.

The theme of Well Waters highlights how the Well of the spirit
and of creativity is always available for us to tap into no
matter how great life's challenges, and when we do, we find Ways
to cry, sing, and dance the way to healing and freedom, and
envision new possibilities for transformation.

Preaching: Susan Teegen-Case
Writing Prayers: Chris Purdom
Children's Time: Todd Koser
A/V Tech: Barbara Purdom
Quote: Dan Rader
Greeters: Bob Case & Susan Teegen-Case
Liturgist: Megan McMonigle
Coffee Hour: Deb Burnham & Mike Ehling
Shepherds: Amy Mann & Ginny Rice
Counting Offering: Jessica Culley & Jean Erb
Taking Recycling: Jim Gerhard
Taking Food Donations to Cathedral: Rachel Wentworth

The January newsletter is on the news page of the website!
Here are the links:

The News page.
(Includes the list of newsletters, the blog and the calendar)

Just the January newsletter.

A printable version of the January newsletter.

JANUARY 1

Texts: Galatians 4:4-7 & Psalm 148:1-4, 7-12

A New Year's Prayer

We speak a lot about community, but it is important to
remember that we are part of a community much broader than
simply humanity. All of creation was made by God to delight
in God and in being. What would it look like if we
considered this broader understanding of neighbor,
community?

Preaching: Robert McClellan
Writing Prayers: Deb Burnham
Children's Time: Susan Pierce
Co-officiating communion: Maurine Doggett & Robert McClellan
Setting up & serving communion: Scott Poethig
Cleaning up & serving communion: Mia Mlekarov
Picking up communion bread: Lee Pugh
A/V Tech: Chris Purdom
Quote: Sarah Hill
Greeters: Mike Ehling & Jim Thacker
Liturgist: Vic Compher
Coffee Hour: Susan Pierce & Ginny Rice
Shepherds: Maurine Doggett & Todd Koser
Counting Offering: Russell Baldwin & Jim Gerhard
Taking Recycling: Josh Goldstein
Taking Food Donations to Cathedral: Lee Pugh

---

JANUARY 8

RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBERS AND
INSTALLATION OF ELDERS
(CLASS OF 2013)

Text: Genesis 1:1-5, Acts 19:1-7 & Matthew 2:1-12

Baptism

As we welcome new members into our midst we recognize the very real
way in which people bless one another in this world. On this
"Baptism of the Lord" Sunday we open ourselves to even the smallest
of new beginnings.

Preaching: Robert McClellan
Writing Prayers: Katie Day
Children's Time: Katherine Huseman
A/V Tech: Bob Case & Chris Purdom
Quote: Roxanne Parker
Greeters: Deborah Ahrens & Nicole Diroff
Liturgist: Scott Poethig
Coffee Hour: Carolyn & Dan Cannuscio Rader
Shepherds: Russell Baldwin & Deb Burnham
Counting Offering: Pauline Abernathy & Mia Mlekarov
Taking Recycling: Rachel Wentworth
Taking Food Donations to Cathedral: Laura Line

---

JANUARY 15

Texts: John 1:43-51 & I Samuel 3:1-20

Called

While the church has often made the mistake of positioning
itself as holier than thou, in fact time and again it is the
least expected who are chosen to lead. In one way or another
you are being called and our first task is to listen and hear
God's particular calling on our life.

Preaching: Robert McClellan
Writing Prayers: Mike Ehling
Children's Time: Nicole Diroff
A/V Tech: Bob Case
Quote: Mia Mlekarov
Greeters: Russell Baldwin & Lucy Miller
Liturgist: Deb Ahrens
Coffee Hour: Maurine Doggett & Jim Thacker
Shepherds: Charlene & Vic Compher
Counting Offering: Deb Ahrens & Lucinda Megill Legendre
Taking Recycling: Jim Gerhard
Taking Food Donations to Cathedral: Carolyn Cannuscio Rader

---

JANUARY 22

Text: I Corinthians 7:29-31 & Jonah 3:1-10

Jonah's Power

So much of our despair comes from our belief in the
intractability of others' positions. However, the Jonah
story reminds us of the power of small prophetic actions
to create change and challenges us to be ready to expect
and embrace that change when it comes. It is a story of
hope for a people afraid that the whole world is passing
away.

Preaching: Robert McClellan
Writing Prayers: Beverly Dale
Children's Time: Deb Burnham
A/V Tech: Timon Idema
Quote: Katherine Huseman
Greeters: Jim Gerhard & Sarah Hill
Liturgist: Mia Mlekarov
Coffee Hour: Bob Case & Susan Teegen-Case
Shepherd: Russell Baldwin
Counting Offering: Mike Ehling & Chris Purdom
Taking Recycling: Barbara Purdom
Taking Food Donations to Cathedral: Shawn Megill Legendre

---

Please join us at 6:30 pm on Saturday, December 24 for our
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols!

The rotation schedule for the FIRST quarter of 2012 is
now available:

FIRST QUARTER SCHEDULE (for letter-sized paper)

You can also get the updated FOURTH QUARTER schedule HERE.

THE SCHEDULE IS UP TO DATE AS OF FEBRUARY 28, 2012.

DECEMBER 11

THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT

Texts: The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry
(see below) & Isaiah 58:9-12

Renewal

Despite what the commercialism of the season tells us, spending
money will not save us. As the prophet says, our "light will
rise in the darkness" when we "satisfy the needs of the
oppressed." Our call in this difficult season is not fight to
return to business as usual, but to build a better future for all.

Preaching: Robert McClellan
Writing Prayers: Chris Purdom
Children's Time: Deb Burnham
A/V Tech: Timon Idema
Quote: Deborah Ahrens
Greeters: Josh Goldstein & Laura Line
Liturgist: Susan Teegen-Case
Lighting the Third Advent Candle: Rachel Wentworth & Ben Hover
Coffee Hour: Ginny Rice & Deb Ahrens
Shepherds: Deb Burnham & Ginny Rice
Counting Offering: Jim Gerhard & Mia Mlekarov
Taking Recycling: Deb Ahrens
Taking Food Donations to Cathedral: Barbara Purdom

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Peace of Wild Things

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

Wendell Berry

---

DECEMBER 18

FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT

Texts: There is a Time to be Born, and it is Now by Walter Brueggemann
(see below) & Luke 2:5-18

Prophecy

Today our prophetic voices are the youngest among us, as the
children of the Sunday School present a special Christmas play.

Preaching: Tab Sunday School Kids
Writing Prayers: Timon Idema
A/V Tech: Todd Koser
Quote: Sarah Hill
Greeters: Nicole Diroff & Lee Pugh
Liturgist: Maurine Doggett
Lighting the Fourth Advent Candle: Angela Kent & Roxanne Parker
Coffee Hour: Josh Goldstein & Laura Line
Shepherds: Ginny Rice & Maurine Doggett
Counting Offering: Pauline Abernathy & Bob Case
Taking Recycling: Laura Line
Taking Food Donations to Cathedral: Rachel Wentworth

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

There is a Time to be Born, and it is Now

There is a time to be born and a time to die.
And this is a time to be born.
So we turn to you, God of our life,

God of all our ears,
God of our beginning.

Our times are in your hand.
Hear us as we pray:

For those of us too much into obedience,

birth us to the freedom of the gospel

For those of us too much into self-indulgence,

birth us to discipleship in your ministry

For those too much into cynicism,

birth us to the innocence of the Christ child.

For those of us too much into cowardice,

birth us to the courage to stand before principalities and powers.

For those of us too much into guilt,

birth us into forgiveness worked in your generosity.

For those of us too much into despair,

birth us into the promises you make to your people,

For those of us too much into control,

birth us into the vulnerability of the cross.

For those of us too much into victimization,

birth us into the power of Easter.

For those of us too much into fatigue,

birth us into the energy of Pentecost.

We dare pray that you will do for us and among us and through us

what is needful for newness.

Give us the power to be receptive,

to take the newness you give,
to move from womb warmth to real life.

We make this prayer not only for ourselves, but

for our school at the brink of birth,
for the church at the edge of life,
for our city waiting for newness,
for your whole creation, with which we yearn in eager longing.

There is a time be born, and it is now.

We sense the pangs and groans of your newness.
Come here now in the name of Jesus. Amen

Walter Brueggemann

(from Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth, p. 150)

The December newsletter is on the news page of the website!
Here are the links:

The News page.
(Includes the list of newsletters, the blog and the calendar)

Just the December newsletter.

A printable version of the December newsletter.

DECEMBER 4

SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT

Texts: There Was a Time: An Advent Poem by Fr. Joseph Breighner
(see below) & Luke 1:46-55

Conception

Our Advent Candle word for today is conception. Conception points us to
the reality that the faithful life isn't always about something we do,
but something that happens to us/through us.It's about being a vessel
for something greater.That knowledge does not excuse us from action, but
rather emboldens us to act because we are not so overwhelmed at the
thought of doing it alone.

Preaching: Robert McClellan
Writing Prayers: Beverly Dale
Children's Time: Ken Gritter
Co-officiating communion: Dick Fernandez & Robert McClellan
Setting up & serving communion: Bob Case
Cleaning up & serving communion: Jim Gerhard
Picking up communion bread: Barbara Tilley
A/V Tech: Chris Purdom
Quote: Katherine Huseman
Greeters: Nicole Diroff & Sarah Hill
Liturgist: Pauline Abernathy
Lighting the Second Advent Candle: Holly Phares
Coffee Hour: Barbara Purdom & Lee Pugh
Shepherds: Deb Burnham & Russ Baldwin
Counting Offering: Susan Teegen-Case & Jean Erb
Taking Recycling: Verona Stern
Taking Food Donations to Cathedral: Jim Gerhard

---

There Was a Time: An Advent Poem

There was a time when there was no time,
When darkness reigned as king,
When a formless void was all that there was
in the nothingness of eternity,
When it was night.
But over the void and over the night Love watched.
There was a time when time began.
It began when Love spoke.

Time began for light and life, for splendor and grandeur.
Time began for seas and mountains, for flowers and birds.
Time began for the valleys to ring with the songs of life,
and for the wilderness to echo with the wailing of wind
and howling of animals.
And over the earth, Love watched.

There was a time when time began to be recorded.
A time when Love breathed and a new creature came to life.
A new creature so special that it was in the image and likeness of Love
Of Love who is God.
And so man was born and the dawn of a new day shone on the world.
And over man, Love watched.

But there came a time when the new day faded.
A time when man who was like God tried to be God.
A time when the creature challenged the creator.
A time when man preferred death to life and darkness to light.
And so the new day settled into twilight.
And over the darkness, Love watched.

There was a time of waiting in the darkness.
A time when man waited in the shadows,
And all creation groaned in sadness.
There was waiting for Love to speak again--for Love to breathe again.
And kings and nations and empires rose and faded in the shadows.
And Love waited and watched.

Finally, there came a time when Love spoke again.
A Word from eternity--a Word
Spoken to a girl who belonged to a people not known by the world
Spoken to a girl who belonged to a family not known by her people
To a girl named Mary.
And all creation waited in hushed silence for the girl's answer.
And Mary spoke her yes.
And Love watched over Mary.

And so there came a time when Love breathed again
When Love breathed new life into Mary's yes.
And a new day dawned for the World
A day when light returned to darkness, when life returned to dispel death
And so a day came when Love became man--a mother bore a child.
And Love watched over Love--a Father watched His Son.

And, lastly, there came a time when you and I became a part of time.
Now is the time that you and I wait.
Now we wait to celebrate what the world waited for.
And as we wait to celebrate what was at one time, we become a part of that time
A time when a new dawn and a new dream and a new creation began for man.
And as a part of time, Love waits and Love watches over us.

Fr. Joseph Breighner

NOVEMBER 27

FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT

Texts: Ephesians 5:6-14 and The Passion in Her Whisper by Meister Eckhart (below)

Quote:

If all the tenderness in this world could reflect
from my eyes, would you accept
that love?
If all
the forgiveness
the heavens have known could be offered
from one
face,
would you accept that
divine pardon?
In His sublime sanity—
every moment God offers
that to
us:
anything that might comfort.

--St. Francis of Assisi

Preaching: Deb Burnham
Writing Prayers: Deb Burnham
Children's Time: Verona Stern
Lighting the Advent Candle: Verona, Sam & Leah Stern
A/V Tech: Barbara Purdom
Quote: Deb Burnham
Greeters: Chris Purdom & Timon Idema
Liturgist: Ginny Rice
Coffee Hour: Chris Purdom & Mariska Idema
Shepherds: Russ Baldwin, Todd Koser
Counting Offering: Deb Burnham & Mike Ehling
Taking Recycling: Chris Purdom
Taking Food Donations to Cathedral: Barbara Purdom

---

The Passion in Her Whisper

by Meister Eckhart

Only in a dream could this happen:
such terror that I have seen in eyes, and men abusing women,
and cries from the pores
of the sky.

So how to wake the sleeping?

I was once consumed in thought,
trying to make sense of a very unwanted experience,
when a bird’s tune called to me from a
nearby limb.

And this brought me understanding, that audience with love,
and the way beauty can let us hold her
in mind and
arms.

The passion in the earth’s whisper
grew so loud
I woke.

Now I cannot deny
All is
He.

The deadline for the DECEMBER newsletter is THIS COMING THURSDAY,
November 17^*, by NOON. Please send all contributions HERE by
that time.



* The date is earlier than usual because the office is closed on
Thursday and Friday of next week for the Thanksgiving holiday.

NOVEMBER 20

THANKSGIVING

Texts: "Thanks" by W.S. Merwin (see below) & Joel 2:21-27

Quote:

Both abundance and lack exist simultaneously in our lives,
as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which
secret garden we will tend...when we choose not to focus on what
is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance
that's present--love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of
nature and personal pursuits that bring us pleasure--the
wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience Heaven on earth.

--Sarah Ban Breathnach

Preaching: Holly Phares
Writing Prayers: Barbara Purdom
Children's Time: Carrie & Ellie Pierce
A/V Tech: Todd Koser
Quote: Holly Phares
Greeters: Charlene & Vic Compher
Liturgist: Susan Pierce
Coffee Hour: Katie Day & Katherine Huseman
Shepherds: Ginny Rice & Maurine Doggett
Counting Offering: Deb Ahrens & Russell Baldwin
Taking Recycling: Barbara Purdom
Taking Food Donations to Cathedral: Chris Purdom

---

Thanks

by W.S. Merwin

Listen
with the night falling we are saying thank you
we are stopping on the bridges to bow from the railings
we are running out of the glass rooms
with our mouths full of food to look at the sky
and say thank you
we are standing by the water thanking it
smiling by the windows looking out
in our directions

back from a series of hospitals back from a mugging
after funerals we are saying thank you
after the news of the dead
whether or not we knew them we are saying thank you

over telephones we are saying thank you
in doorways and in the backs of cars and in elevators
remembering wars and the police at the door
and the beatings on stairs we are saying thank you
in the banks we are saying thank you
in the faces of the officials and the rich
and of all who will never change
we go on saying thank you thank you

with the animals dying around us
our lost feelings we are saying thank you
with the forests falling faster than the minutes
of our lives we are saying thank you
with the words going out like cells of a brain
with the cities growing over us
we are saying thank you faster and faster
with nobody listening we are saying thank you
we are saying thank you and waving
dark though it is

The November newsletter is on the news page of the website!
Here are the links:

The News page.
(Includes the list of newsletters, the blog and the calendar)

Just the November newsletter.

A printable version of the November newsletter.