We Love

Love: The New Commandment

Gathering for worship this Sunday, May 2 at 5:30 pm, 618 Locust.

Jesus: "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another."

Rumi: "If you want to know Love, become 'we'."

Cynthia Bourgeault: "The goal is...the luminous capacity to 'love our neighbor as ourself.' Not as much as ourself - there is no comparative here - but as our very self."

Richard Evans: "Jesus' commandment is not about what you believe but about how you live."

How does one actually live Love? What are the possibilities if we actually became "we" and lived this Love? We'll explore these radical notions during worship Sunday night. As a concrete effort to become "we", our offering will be designated for the "Strengthen the Churches" offering of the UCC. The Gathering has been the recipient of this offering through the gifts of other churches because it

supports the creation of UCC new church starts. It also helps renew and revitalize existing UCC churches and supports the work of the God is Still Speaking Ministry, which shares the extravagant welcome to all.

Our potluck will be anything you'd like to bring that conveys the notion of living love.

The text in the "Love" mandala (pictured above) reads:

What does it take to open a door? Love.

The Complexity of Loving One's Neighbor and One's Self

As Richard's quote above implies - sometimes it's a lot easier to "believe" something than it is to actually "live" it. For instance, many say they believe all people are made in the image of God. Many say they believe they are to "love their neighbor as themselves." Many would agree with the Sufi saying: "Wherever you turn, there is the face of God." But as we see in the recent immigration bill in Arizona, fear can impede our ability to see God's face in others, it can interfere with recognizing the Divine image in or living love towards those we fear. Regrettably, fear, hatred, and oppression of the "least of these" is now the law in Arizona. I appreciate the words in a letter from the UCC Southwest Conference (which includes Arizona) - "As people of faith we affirm and live by the biblical imperative, 'When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.' (Leviticus 19:33-34)."

Closer to home, West Texas Organizing Strategy seeks to live Jesus' new commandment by seeking justice and dignity for all the residents of the community. After all, a community is only as healthy and strong as its most vulnerable members. At the Candidate Accountability Session this past Sunday, Bernie Coffee noted that the Divine "fullness of time", or "kin-dom of God" will come when all experience justice and wholeness but noted, "How can we recognize the 'fullness of time' if we don't know what's going on with our neighbors?"

One of WTOS projects for the summer is feeding the 10,000 Concho Valley school age children who rely on the school lunch program for a daily balanced meal. More information about how we will participate will be forthcoming.


What a Perfectly Pleasurable Time was Had at the Pet Blessing & Picnic

What a beautiful day and time we had Sunday for our picnic and pet blessing. Much thanks goes to Crockett and Ann for sharing Ponderosa Park with us. Ever the hospitable hosts, they even provided an incredibly wind-free temperature-perfect day! We also appreciate Fred and Marilynn's contribution of Arby's meat, buns, and sauce - what a great beginning point for the rest of our treats. And thank you to everyone else for sharing your animals with us and for generously giving $253 to the Humane Society in honor of Kristin Stanley, our "retiring" webmaster and administrator.

Pets we gathered into the community and received blessings include: Dita, Deannie, Red Raider, Molly, Che', Indie, Pebbles, Lacy, Nicki, Fritz, Trey, Dottie, Lucy, Rosie, Belle, Angel, Lucy, Jasmin, Kibette, Sassy, Frieda, Igor, Blackie, Pearl, Peanut, and Bandit.

If anyone has pictures, it would be great to share them and add them to our webpage.


Living Inclusivity

May 7-9, 2010, the Transgender Caucus of the United Church of Christ (UCC) will hold a gathering in Cleveland, OH, for transgender people affiliated with the UCC. Historically, the transgender community has not been adequately represented in the life of the church. Also transgender persons have not had a place at the national level to connect with other transgender persons around their particular issues and concerns. This meeting has been called to address these issues. Isobelle Fox will be attending the Caucus and will share her experiences with us during the May 16th Gathering, 5:30 pm.


Queen in Shining Armor

Need rescuing? How about someone to save the day? Would you settle for someone playing a knight - shining armor optional? Sounds like you're looking for Valerie Tedford Queen - who's been cast as one of the knights in Angelo Civic Theatre's production of Camelot. The performance runs April 30 - May 15, and if you want to cheer for Valerie, just look for the shortest knight on stage. For more information, contact Angelo Civic Theatre.


Celebrations to Share

The Oneness Blessing Retreat went very well. The Blessing will be offered again this Sunday, May 2, 1:30 pm. Contact Karen McGinnis for more information.

We continue to find ways to expand the welcome of The Gathering.

The Community Connecting Workgroup is imagining and planning and developing an advertising effort and is applying for a Still Speaking Media with a Mission grant.


Concerns to Hold Close

The entire Gulf Coast - birds, wetlands, ocean creatures, fish, those who make a living from the environment, etc, as it is impacted by the rig explosion and oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Families and co-workers of those killed in the explosion.

Haitians and Chileans as they continue earthquake recovery.


Upcoming Gatherings

Monday, May 2: Quaker Sitting.

Quaker Sitting is scheduled for Monday, May 3, 6:30 pm, at Nancy York's house: 2701 Briargrove Lane. Contact Nancy at nly1@verizon.net for more information.

Sunday, May 9: A Celebration of the Feminine. In honor of Mother's Day, you are invited to share poetry, readings, drawings, paintings, pictures, stories, sculpture, scriptures, songs, and whatever else that deals with sacred feminine. It can be about the sacred role of motherhood, a spiritual mother, the Divine Feminine, a particular mother or mother-figure, Mother Earth, etc. Because Neil and I will be out of town, Pat Hines has agreed to lead the evening. patricia.l.hines1@verizon.net

Sunday, May 16: Service Sunday. We will make personal hygiene kits to be used by people who are homeless. We will also hear about Izzie's experiences of the Transgender Caucus trip. Nancy is coordinating the evening. nly1@verizon.net

Saturday, May 22: Wesley Daily Soup Kitchen. We prepare and serve lunch. Jessica Rios is coordinating. jesejane@gmail.com

Sunday, May 23: Community Conversation re: Our Priorities (A Gathering Business Meeting - which is very important and will be worthwhile!).

Sunday, May 30: Memorial Day Weekend.

Sunday, June 6: Worship.


What We Hold Together

ONA (Open and Affirming) Statement:
The Gathering affirms the inherent dignity and sacredness of human beings and the value of all life in the universe. We welcome and celebrate persons of all racial and ethnic heritages, all gender identities and sexual orientations, and all faith perspectives into the full life and ministry of The Gathering.

Practices:
Service, Integrity, Inclusiveness, Love, Compassion, Humor, Joy

Purpose:
Our dynamic community offers you an inclusive spiritual home. We gather as works-in-progress in a chorus of Divine Mystery, committed to the possibilities in all God's creation through authentic relationship.


Contact The Gathering:

thegatheringsanangelo@yahoo.com
325-374-1566
Karen Schmeltekopf

Links to our Webpage and Blog are also on this website under "Links."