Gathering the Spirit's Energy

The Gathering is Aflame with Energy and Spirit

Sunday, May 23, is Pentecost - an observance historically and symbolically related to the Jewish harvest festival of Shavuot, which commemorates God giving the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai fifty days after the Exodus. In Christian churches, Pentecost commemorates the descent of the Spirit upon the followers of Jesus as described in the New Testament book of Acts during these Jewish "fiftieth day" celebrations in Jerusalem. For this reason, Pentecost is sometimes described as the "Birthday of the Church".

On this day commemorating the Spirit's Presence experienced in a new way, we will celebrate and explore the Spirit's stirrings and wild activities among The Gathering - and in a curiously very appropriate way, we'll do that by having a "Community Conversation Regarding Our Priorities" - aka a Gathering-wide business meeting. This spring, the Community Connecting Workgroup and the Worship Planning Workgroup have put much prayer, energy and planning in to The Gathering, and they have much to share with the group as a whole - like the proposed summer schedule, the proposed fall schedule, a marketing effort, and the need to spend money to purchase things like a projector so we can watch movies again!

So the evening will be full of engaging with the Spirit and deciding things that shape who we are. You are encouraged to participate. The Gathering is a collaborative community where, just as our bell banner symbolizes, each voice is unique and important in making up the whole chorus (see purpose below). We say we welcome all into the "full life and ministry of The Gathering" and that doesn't just mean others - it means us, too!

Recognizing the time issue, we will not have a regular pot-luck; feel free, however, to bring a sack supper if you'd like.

Sunday, May 23, 5:30 pm, 618 Locust Street.


The Inclusive Still-Speaking Spirit

Isobelle Fox recently participated in a United Church of Christ first-of-its-kind weekend at the UCC "church house" in Cleveland, Ohio. Isobelle, who shared her enthusiasm, satisfaction, and sacred experience with The Gathering on Sunday night, May 16, writes:

On May 7-9, I had the honor of joining a group of 18 other individuals from UCC churches all around the country, in Cleveland, Ohio. We came together for the purpose of forming a representative body of transgender people to work with the UCC and the Coalition for LGBT Concerns in advancing the cause of education and advocacy on behalf of gender-variant people within the church.

The result of our efforts over those three days is perhaps best expressed by the mission statement that we developed during the meeting:

The UCC GenderFold Action Alliance empowers and supports transgender/gender-variant inclusion through education, leadership development and advocacy.

My time in Cleveland was very powerful and inspiring. I met a lot of wonderful and passionate people, and I look forward to participating in the work of the UCC GenderFold Action Alliance in any way I am able as it moves forward.

Izzie also expressed appreciation to The Gathering for its offering on March 7 designated for the scholarship fund of the UCC Transgender Caucus to help as many people as possible attend this event.

While Izzie was at the national church house, she met a group of young people and the pastor from Plymouth United Church of Christ, Houston. This group was there to learn more about the UCC. The pastor, Rev. Dr. Ginny Brown Daniel, is the pastor who was so helpful to Ellen in January when Ellen was stranded in Houston. What's that saying about a small world?


Wesley Daily Soup Kitchen

Thanks to Jessica Rios, plans are coming together for us to share a sacred meal while living our practices of service and compassion (and probably humor and joy, too) this coming Saturday. Jessica writes:

Hello Wesley Gatherers!

Once again we will get together at Wesley Soup Kitchen, Saturday, May 22nd. Just a little note to sync everyone for Saturday. With everyone's effort it will be a lovely day. I'm looking forward to it! Some of you will be helping serve and some with the food part. Thanks to you we will have enough to serve meatball subs, soup and salad for 150 people! Items can be dropped off by 9:30 at Wesley, 301 W. 18th St. Or they can be dropped off at Pavia the day before (in the Cactus Hotel.) The sandwiches are very filling and can be easily prepared. If you would be interested in helping with the food, serving or cleaning up after lunch let me know. It's always nice just having us all together, so any way you would like to participate will be great! My cell is 325-340-2720. Alex has already signed up to serve, and this is his first time so he's looking forward to it!

Those of us who've served at Wesley know it's a great experience - spiritual, humbling, fun - and tasty! Hope you all can join the effort.

Prayers for Others and Ourselves

* Trudy's son and family live and work in Bangkok, Thailand, which is a dangerous place to be right now.

* Bob Ballentine is in the hospital in Waco.

* Ellen is heading back to Phoenix Friday-Monday for a "candidate weekend" with Encanto Community Church.

* Larry and Irene's daughter is getting married Saturday.

* Larry has seriously injured his back - which is going to make walking his daughter down the aisle quite a painful challenge!

* The Gulf Coast eco-system continues to be awash, literally, in oil and chemicals.

* Clean-up and recovery continue for the survivors of the floods in Tennessee and Kentucky and also for those impacted by the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile.

* The differences of race and culture continue to cause strife and conflict among the people of North America.

The Gathering received $211 Sunday, May 9; $161 will go to the Children's Miracle Network and $50 was given to The Gathering. On Sunday, May 16, $223 was given: $95 for The Gathering and $118 to help complete our ministry project of personal hygiene kits for Back Bay Mission.


Upcoming Events

5/22/2010: Wesley Daily Soup Kitchen, Saturday, May 22, 10-1:30-ish.

5/23/2010: The Gathering "Community Conversation Regarding Our Priorities", Sunday, May 23, 5:30 pm, 618 Locust.

5/30/2010: No Gathering on Sunday, May 30, due to Memorial Day Weekend.

6/4-6/2010: South Central Conference Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana. I'll be there!

6/6/2010: The Gathering Worship, Sunday, June 6, 5:30 pm, 618 Locust. Nancy is coordinating worship as I'll be returning from the South Central Conference Annual Meeting.

6/7/2010: Quaker Sitting, Monday, June 7, 6:30 pm, 2701 Briargrove Lane. Contact Nancy for more info.


Contact Information

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


About Us

We are a sanctuary for those on a liberal religious path and a beacon of progressive thought and action in San Angelo.

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.

Practices:

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

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.


Links of Interest

UCC

Speaking of Faith