The Light of Love

Gathering for Exploration and Discussion

This Sunday we will gather for exploration, reflection and conversation concerning the notion of unconditional love. Teresa Rylander and Howard Green will facilitate the conversation, and they use as their foundation an interesting collection of writings from the Tao te Ching, John Shelby Spong, and Dale Allen Hoffman.

The offering will be designated for Bread for the Journey and the potluck theme is Light and Easy. Join us 8 August 2010 at 5:30 pm, 618 Locust.


Celebrations All Around!

I celebrate our recent anniversary celebration and am very appreciative of many who helped make sure the evening was meaningful. I will write more about this when my 11 y.o. niece is no longer visiting from Houston and I have recovered my life. :)

I also celebrate the recent ruling by Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker declaring the California law defining marriage as a union only between a man and a woman unconstitutional. Below is the statement written by Rev. Jo Hudson, Ph.D., Senior Pastor at Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ in Dallas. I am delighted and proud that one of The Gathering's sister congregations in both the UCC and the North Texas Association of the South Central Conference is Cathedral of Hope.


A Pastoral Response to Proposition 8 Ruling

August 4, 2010 – Today, Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker declared the California state law that defines marriage as a union of one man and one woman unconstitutional. I applaud this ruling and believe that Judge Walker has issued a just and fair ruling that pleases God. The journey to full marriage equality for all Americans is still before us. But I have faith that the God who created each of us and called it good is with us in this journey and will see it through.

As the world’s largest predominantly lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender congregation, we stand with the 18,000 same-sex couples who have already been married in California and with the hundreds that have been married here at the Cathedral of Hope in our 40 years of ministry. We also stand with every gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender person who has courageously made covenant with someone they love despite the laws in our nation. This is a day of celebration and joy and we have seen the realm of God come closer to the earth and for that I give God thanks. Rev. Jo Hudson, Ph.D., Senior Pastor, Cathedral of Hope, Dallas, Texas

We seek to be a community of compassion and welcome. We bring all that we are and all that we yet can be, to the safe and holy place.

Namaste,
Karen Schmeltekopf