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."

All Creatures Great & Small

Embracing Earth Day
22 April 2010

The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it; the world, and those who live in it. Psalm 24:1

Second Perfectly Pleasurable Picnic and Pet Parade
Set for Sunday, April 25, 5:30 pm

Sunday's Gathering, April 25, is all about fun, frolic, and furry friends. We'll picnic at Ponderosa Park (in Mertzon's Ponderosa Estates) - eating, playing, fishing, and also blessing our animals. So, of course, family members who happen to be animals are welcome! If, for whatever reason, you're beloved critters are not able to be with us Sunday, blessings will also be offered "in abstencia." (They must be present, though, if they want to participate in the pet parade, etc. That seems only fair, don't you think?) Bring your pets for a blessing or just yourself and a friend (and/or your friends' pets) for an outdoor fun time under the trees on Spring Creek.

Our offering will be designated for the Tom Green County Humane Society in honor of Kristin Stanley, who designed and has managed our webpage for the past year. And in case you didn't notice, she and her feral cat colony have been in the local paper this week.

Fred and Marilynn Johnson will supply Arby's beef, buns,and sauce for our fun get-together and Crockett and Ann Light are reserving the Ponderosa Park. Gatherers are invited to bring side dishes, desserts, drinks, & ice. Ann suggests you let her know what you're bringing so we'll have a well-rounded and tasty meal. She also suggests you bring lawn chairs, insect repellent, fishing gear, and toys - either your own or your pets.

Directions to the Ponderosa Park:

Go south on Highway 67 toward Mertzon. Exactly 11 miles past the Super WalMart, there is a turning lane in the middle of the road and a sign in the right of way (on the right) which says "Ponderosa Ln." (this is a new sign-used to say E. Bryant.)

Turn left, cross railroad, follow Ponderosa Lane until you see Ponderosa Park sign on left (Rio Villa road)

Go down road 'til it dead ends at Spring Creek and you are there. If you get lost, call Light's cell - 325-234-1586


Coloring UCM's World & Cookie Fundraiser

If you haven't been in the United Campus Ministries building in the last couple of weeks, you will hardly recognize it! It is no longer the UCM of our memories - and it's certainly not our ancestors' UCM! The students have colored their world - the walls are purple, green, red, and all kinds of other colors. They've painted murals, quotations, and comic figures across the building. It's lively and visually stimulating - and the good news is that students are participating and investing in the ministries, too.

The new webpage is up and running, and I noticed a number of Gatherers in the pictures! And speaking of Gatherers involved with UCM, if you're interested in helping with the cookie effort for this weekend's Children's Fair, they're still collecting ready-made cookie dough. Deliver to UCM, 2453 Dena Drive, any time before 5 pm Friday, or call me and I'll get it to them. If you'd like to help with the actual baking, show up at Emmanuel Episcopal Church Saturday anytime between 9-4.


WTOS Candidate Accountability Session this Sunday

West Texas Organizing Strategy is holding a City Council Candidate Accountability Session on Sunday, April 25 from 3-5 p.m. at St. Paul Baptist Church, 1011 Martin Luther King. Ellen King and I will both be participating and welcome any and all other Gatherers!

The WTOS Agenda, developed from 72 different public meetings with families of area churches expressing issues which create stress for families, includes diversity; a living wage; water; equity in education; infrastructure; affordable housing; integrity in our justice system; and health, safety, and civil rights.

Kids, friends, and family members are all welcome. The music will be great. And, you will be able to gain some insight into 3 of the 7 people who wield much decision-making power for all of us. In turn, the new San Angelo City Council members will understand by seeing our numbers that Diversity, Equity, and Living Wages are just a few of the issues that DO mean a great deal to voters!

Offering for April 18

The Nature Conservancy - $203
The Gathering - $155
Total - $338


Journalist Bill Moyers Sends Greetings to The Gathering

In brainstorming ways to get The Gathering known in the Concho Valley, the Community Connecting Workgroup decided to invite Bill Moyers to speak. After all, in addition to being someone many in The Gathering admire and someone who would attract positive attention to The Gathering, Mr. Moyers is a fellow Texan and also a fellow UCC-er! (Mr. Moyers and his family joined a UCC church 43 years ago and have been active participants in the denomination ever since.) Besides that, he knew and liked my Uncle Ed Schmeltekopf.

So on behalf of the Workgroup and The Gathering, Neil Snipes wrote Mr. Moyers and invited him to San Angelo. While Mr. Moyers declined the invitation, he wrote a very gracious personal reply, which can be found in its entirety on our blog. Much thanks go to Alan Prest for posting the letter and for continuing to update and maintain the blog. Once you've read the letter, you might want to check out the address Mr. Moyers gave at the UCC General Synod meeting in 2007. It's well worth reading.


Future Gatherings

Sunday May 2: Worship. If you would like to help co-plan, please talk to me.

Monday, May 3: Quaker Sitting. At Nancy York's house. Contact Nancy for more info.

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, the Divine Feminine, a particular mother, Mother Earth, etc. Because Neil and I will be out of town, Pat Hines has agreed to lead the evening. For more information, please contact Pat.

Sunday May 16: Service Sunday. We will be making hygiene kits for people who are homeless and receive services at Back Bay Mission, Biloxi, Mississippi. For more information, contact me.

Saturday, May 22: Preparing and Serving Lunch at Wesley Daily Bread Soup Kitchen. More information to come.


Harmony Prayer

May all we say and all we think be in harmony with thee, God within us, God beyond us, maker of the trees.
- Chinook prayer, Pacific Northwest Coast, North America

Contact information

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

Practicing Silence before Barking

Contemplative Meditation

Theologian Paul Knitter speaks about a "Sacrament of Silence." He states:

If the Divine is truly a Mystery that is beyond all human comprehension, beyond all human ideas and words, then any spiritual practice must make room - lots of room - for the practice of silence.

We will explore this practice Sunday night when local Zen Buddhist practitioner Jon Blann leads our time of meditation. Jon will briefly introduce us to the practice of Zen, we will do one short period of zazen (seated meditation) and kinhin (walking meditation), and we will finish the service with a tea ceremony. Jon states:

Zen is the pure experience of the dynamic reality as it is in this moment. It is not a philosophy. It is not a metaphysical way of explaining the world. Zen is practice. So although we use and respect academic study, teaching, and ritual, we emphasize practice. When we are walking, we walk; we when are sitting, we sit; when are drinking tea, we drink. This is Zen practice.

Please bring a cup for the tea ceremony.

More information about Zen and the San Angelo Zen Center can be found here. The San Angelo Zen Center is associated with the Maria Kannon Zen Center in Dallas, whose lineage is from Japan.

Our meal will consist of typical Buddhist and/or Japanese fare. In honor of the upcoming Earth Day, and out of respect for all sentient beings and all creation, our offering will be designated for The Nature Conservancy.

Sunday's Gathering
Contemplative Meditation
April 18, 5:30 pm
618 Locust Street


Continuing the Conversation...

As usual, Gathering discussions are engaging and thought-provoking. Such was the case with last Sunday night's discussion led by Neil Snipes. Per your request, Neil has made available the Gandhi article which served as the foundation for the discussion and also the podcast he mentioned by Apollo astronaut Dr. Edgar Mitchell. Since I can't figure out how to link to the article, please let me know if you'd like it, and I'll get it to you.

We gave $210 to the Tom Green County Adult Literacy Council and $135 to The Gathering.


Second Perfectly Pleasurable Picnic and Pet Parade Set for Sunday, April 25, 5:30 pm

Sunday's Gathering, April 25, is all about fun, frolic, and furry friends.
We'll picnic at PonderosaPark (in Mertzon's Ponderosa Estates) - eating, playing, fishing, and also blessing our animals. So, of course, family members who happen to be animals are welcome! If, for whatever reason, you're beloved critters are not able to be with us Sunday, blessings will also be offered "in abstencia." (They must be present, though, if they want to participate in the pet parade, etc. That seems only fair, don't you think?)

Bring your pets for a blessing or just yourself and a friend (and/or your friends' pets) for an outdoor fun time under the trees on Spring Creek.

Fred and Marilynn Johnson have offered to supply Arby's beef, buns,and sauce for our fun get-together and Crockett and Ann Light are reserving the Ponderosa Park. Gatherers are invited to bring side dishes, desserts, drinks, & ice. Ann suggests you let her know what you're bringing so we'll have a well-rounded and tasty meal. She also suggests you bring lawn chairs, insect repellent, fishing gear, and toys - either your own or your pets.

Directions to the Ponderosa Park:

Go south on Highway 67 toward Mertzon. Exactly 11 miles past the Super WalMart, there is a turning lane in the middle of the road and a sign in the right of way (on the right) which says "Ponderosa Ln." (this is a new sign-used to say E. Bryant.)

Turn left, cross railroad, follow Ponderosa Lane until you see Ponderosa Park sign on left (Rio Villa road). Go down road till it dead ends at Spring Creek and you are there.

If you get lost, call Light's cell - 325-234-1586.


Living Our Practices

We begin our ONA statement with the sentence:

The Gathering affirms the inherent dignity and sacredness of all human beings and the value of all life in the universe.

Our 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.

Because we believe in the inherent dignity and sacredness of all, and because we are committed to the possibilities in all God's creation, and because one of our Practices is Integrity, we are members and participants of West Texas Organizing Strategy. WTOS is hosting a Candidate Accountability Session, Sunday, April 25, 3:00 pm, St. Paul Baptist Church, 1011 MLK Blvd. The candidates vying for City Council positions in the May 5 election (Johnny Silvas, Paul Alexander, Robert Bankster, Kendall Hirshfeld, Jeffrey Harris) will be asked questions regarding the following issues important to San Angelo: Living Wages, Water, and Infrastructure - including issues related to zoning codes and energy costs. Letting these candidates know we are paying attention to these issues and will hold them accountable is a simple, but critical activity in working to make San Angelo a place where no one and no neighborhood is marginalized. You are encouraged to participate - after all, all politics are local!


Upcoming Gatherings

Sunday, April 18 - Contemplative Meditation: Zen Sitting

Sunday, April 25 - Animal Blessing and Picnic

Sunday, May 2 - Worship

Sunday, May 9 - To Be Determined

Sunday, May 16 - Service Sunday:
We will make hygiene kits to be used by people who are homeless.

Sunday, May 23 - Community Conversation re: Our Priorities

Sunday, May 30 - Memorial Day Weekend

Sunday, June 6 - Worship


Interesting Things You Should Know

Quaker Sitting
Monday, May 3

Serving Lunch at Wesley Daily Soup Kitchen
Saturday, May 22


Gatherers have been busy on behalf of the group:

The Worship Planning Workgroup met Monday, April 12 and put together the above schedule of Gatherings. The Gathering is a collaborative community, and you are invited to help co-plan, co-lead, or just shoot the breeze about one or more of our Gatherings. To chat and/or help with a particular evening, talk to Karen. For more information about helping, call or e-mail Karen.

The Community Connecting Workgroup met Thursday, April 15 and began visioning a fall advertising effort. Lots more information to come. In the meantime, if you'd like more info about and/or to help with either workgroup, talk to Karen.

Never place a period where God has placed a comma because....

God IS still speaking!

Contact information

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

Sacredness in San Angelo

Sacred Discussion

This coming Sunday, April 11, we will travel to the Himalayan Mountains to study with world-renowned spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi. Well, ok, the commute will actually be a little closer than India - Promenade Square, 618 Locust Street. And the leader will actually be renowned Neil Snipes. But we will encounter Gandhi as we discuss his perspectives concerning reasons to believe in God.

The article Neil will use to facilitate the conversation begins with the following paragraph: "There is an indefinable mysterious Power that pervades everything. I feel it, though I do not see it. It is this unseen Power which makes itself felt and yet defies all proof, because it is so unlike all that I perceive through my senses. It transcends the senses. But it is possible to reason out the existence of God to a limited extent."

Our offering recipient has yet to be determined. As for our potluck, Gandhi was a vegetarian, and eventually a "fruitarian" from India, so our potluck is anything that falls into these categories. I can hardly wait to see what ends up on the table!

Hope to see you at 5:30 pm, 618 Locust, Sunday, April 11.


Touching Lives

Recent Offerings

March 21, 2010
Total Given - $344
Samaritan Counseling Center -$229
The Gathering - $115

March 28, 2010
Total Given - $425
Remote Area Medical - $250
The Gathering - $175

Gift from North Texas Association - $250

April 4, 2010
Total Given - $600
The Gathering - $600


Celebrations & Concerns

We Celebrate:

Easter;

a wonderful Easter service;

the beautiful spring wildflowers;

Quaker sitting - 8 attended;

Beth and Harold's 9 year granddaughter Jessica who received an award in archaeology from the Georgia Council of Professional Archaeologists;

the nuclear arms treaty;

We hold in the Light:

Raleigh, West Virginia;

Those impacted by the increasing violence in Iraq;

The Geen Family;

Ellen as she visits with a church in Iowa this
weekend;

The employees of Cano's Jewelry, especially the person who shot the robber and also
the family of the man killed in Cano's Jewelry

Haitians who are now coping with the rainy season;

Those impacted by recent earthquakes in Chile, Mexico, Indonesia.


Upcoming Events

The Gathering - Sacred Discussion, this Sunday, April 11, 5:30 pm, 618 Locust Street

Worship Workgroup Meeting, Monday, April 12, 6:30 pm, Baker Street Coffee House

Community Connecting Workgroup, Thursday, April 15, 6:30 pm, Neil's office, 16 E. Beauregard

The Gathering - Contemplative Meditation, Sunday, April 18, 5:30 pm, 618 Locust

West Texas Organizing Strategy Meeting, Thursday, April 22, 2010, 7 pm, St. Paul Baptist Church, 1011 Martin Luther King, Jr.

City-Wide Candidate Accountability Session for May elections, hosted by WTOS, Sunday, April 25, 2010, 3 pm, St. Paul Baptist Church, 1011 Martin Luther King, Jr.

Quaker Sitting, Monday, May 3, 2010

Wesley Daily Soup Kitchen, May 22, 2010


Resurrection Blessings,
Karen Schmeltekopf
325-374-1566
thegatheringsanangelo@yahoo.com


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.