Friday, November 25, 2011
Here and now...a regular letter from Rev David Loar
Here and now... It is November 25th. I shared in a wonderful family centered Thanksgiving yesterday. Today I am getting ready for Lunch on Us at Miller Ave UCC in south Akron in a neighborhood where folks don't have much else than family...if they have family. We expect to feed 125 people and I am grateful for the Fairlawn West folks who have offered to cook and serve...and share fellowship with all the folks present. Sunday begins the season of Advent in preparation for the celebration of the birth of the Prince of Peace. I know a few of our folks who will be fasting during Advent. That is a very good spiritual discipline to help be focused on the meaning of Christmas for we who follow Jesus. Another is the giving of alms to the poor. This is an ancient Christian discipline which helps us to focus on the other...not ourselves. Two very good programs for alms giving are Charity Water and One Day Wages. Now is a good time to slow down and pray and listen to God. Something big is coming. If we are too tired or too distracted, we will miss it. There is no question about that. When during then rest of the year people tell me they are angry with God or frustrated with God, I can lay odds they were not prepared for the coming of God's child and thus they haven't really met God yet. They missed it even though they participated in a season called "Christmas.". I feel sorry for those folks and pray for them. Remember how Jesus keeps telling us about the first being last and the last being first. Jesus' rule is upside down from the way the world does things. So instead of a big build up to a climax at a holiday, Jesus and Advent slow us down so we are rested and attentive when he is born. Otherwise Christmas is a quick tip of the hat and we rush off to whatever is next to try to make us feel good and pump us up. Oh how I look forward to the peace and quiet and rest of Advent...and just being with God, the light of the world, in the darkest of times. Grace and peace, David |
Sunday, November 20, 2011
God is in the sheep and goat business, sermon
Friday, November 18, 2011
The Caller newsletter for Nov 18, 2011
The Caller – newsletter of Fairlawn West United Church of Christ “offering hospitality to all God's children”
Fri, November 18, 2011
In prayer...
-Jane Davis, Life Care Center of Medina 2400 Columbia Road, Medina, OH 44256
-John (& Julia) Glass, 647 Cliffside, Dr, Akron 44313. 330-836-4418.
-Florence Steigle, 1047 Edgemere Ct#1, Akron 44321 (Sumner on Ridgewood)
Giving Plan for 2012 and the Joash Box
This Sunday we encourage you to bring in your Giving Plans and place them in the Joash Box in the front lobby. Joash was a king of Judah who placed a chest outside the sanctuary to collect offerings from the children of God to restore the Temple. Forms for the Giving Plan are available in the front lobby or you can simply contact our Financial Secretary, Kasey Ziska what your offering plan is for 2012, financialsteward@fairlawnwest.org .
Lunch on Us at Miller Ave UCC for the people in the neighborhood
Lunch on Us is held the last two Saturdays of each month at Miller Ave UCC in the Summit Lake neighborhood as folks often find their food running out towards the end of the month and as a way to just sit down and visit with one another. We are hosting LoU on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 26th. We will probably be serving around 100 people. The menu will be chili, shredded cheese, crackers, chips, cookies, coffee, hot chocolate and lemonade. If you could make chili or cookies, and/or help serve (we will meet at the church bldg at 11:00 am and end the meal around 1:30 pm at Miller Ave UCC at the corner of Miller Ave and Edison St in south Akron).
Potluck and Hanging of the Greens Wed Nov 30th, 6:00 PM
We will have our monthly potluck on the 30th in the Fellowship Hall. Please bring food to share with others. After the meal we will do the hanging of the greens for the Advent and Christmas season.
Fairlawn West Preschool
The Preschool now has openings for children age 2,3, and 4. If you know of families with children this age, please invite them to consider the excellent program we offer.
Transgender Day of Remembrance Observance Today in Cleveland
The Transgender Day of Remembrance was set aside to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. The event is held in November to honor Rita Hester, whose murder on November 28th, 1998 kicked off the “Remembering Our Dead” web project and a San Francisco candlelight vigil in 1999. Rita Hester’s murder — like most anti-transgender murder cases — has yet to be solved. Although not every person represented during the Day of Remembrance self-identified as transgender — that is, as a transsexual, crossdresser, or otherwise gender-variant — each was a victim of violence based on bias against transgender people. The deaths of those based on anti-transgender hatred or prejudice are largely ignored. Over the last decade, more than one person per month has died due to transgender-based hate or prejudice, regardless of any other factors in their lives. Day of Remembrance publicly mourns and honors the lives of our brothers and sisters who might otherwise be forgotten. Through the vigil, we express love and respect for our people in the face of national indifference and hatred. Day of Remembrance reminds non-transgender people that we are their sons, daughters, parents, friends and lovers. Cleveland is holding the Transgender Day or Remembrance (TDOR) on November 18th starting at 5:45pm with a walking vigil from the Free Stamp on the corner of 9th and Lakeside over to Cleveland City Hall where the rest of the program will be. Jake Nash of our congregation is helping to organize the memorial and David Loar will be giving the invocation.
Other activities:
-Transgender Support - Group 4th Thursday of the month
-Centering Prayer gathers the 1st Sunday of the month at 10:45 am and the other Sundays of the month at 8:45 am in the Fireplace Room
-Bible Reading & Reflection – Thursdays at 9:30 am in the Vista Room. We are now reading the teaching letters of Paul beginning with Galatians
-Food Pantries-bring in staple foods, paper products and personal hygiene products for the Miller Ave UCC and Williard UCC Food Pantries. Miller Ave can use dry cereal, pop tarts, canned foods with pop tops, toilet paper, and corn bread
Sunday Worship
Sun Worship 9:20 am in the sanctuary
Fairlawn West United Church of Christ, 2095 W Market St, Akron, OH 44313
an Open and Affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ
330-864-2179 office@fairlawnwest.org http://www.fairlawnwest.org
Info updates, Twitter, Facebook, Blogs
The Rev. David Loar is in the Pastor’s study Mon 8:30 am to 10 am & 11:15 am to 12:30 pm, and Wed, & Fri from 9am to 12 noon and at the Nervous Dog Coffee Bar, 1520 W Market Street on Fri from 1:30-4:00pm for conversation. He can be reached other times at 330-760-7169 pastor@fairlawnwest.org
Ministries of Outreach and Service
-Family Promise hosting homeless families every 9 weeks in our building for supper, overnight sleeping, and transportation. Contact David Loar if you would like to help. pastor@fairlawnwest.org; 330-760-7169. Next time we host is the week of October 30th.
-Fairlawn West Preschool. Janet Black & Pam Stanley, Co-Directors. 330-864-4685, preschool@fairlawnwest.org
-Williard Food Pantry, 742 Johnston St, Akron. Serving the 3rd Tues of the month & the following Saturday, 9 am-12 pm
-Donate canned and staple foods, and personal hygiene items for the Williard UCC and Miller Ave UCC food pantries in the front lobby. The need is great!
-Lunch on Us on Saturdays throughout the year at the Miller Ave UCC Mission in south Akron for around 125 individuals who are homeless and/or low-income. We are hosting Nov. 26th and will need your help in meal preparation and serving.
