Monday, October 30, 2006
Welcome to the UCC fold; fear not ...
Here's my take on the United Church of Christ: Come follow Jesus. We promise not to get in your way.
--ER
Devotion for Monday, October 30, 2006
by Dan Peeler
Cathedral of Hope
Dallas
But Jesus, not heeding the word spoken, said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Fear not, only believe”. Mark 5.36
Yesterday, our Children’s and Youth Ministries had our annual “Who’s Afraid of Halloween” party. There was the usual variety of spooky costumes making our regular attendees barely recognizable, along with too much candy, a marionette show, an embarrassment of donated prizes and the expected spookiness that always makes the event one to remember. No one converted to Celtic nature worship or took up witchcraft, however, despite the fear some folks have of this mixed up and generally manufactured holiday.
Unless they are told otherwise, children do not fear that they will be cursed or otherwise spiritually scarred for life by painting a little greasepaint on their faces and saying, “boo.” The Christ that they learn about every week removes that sort of fear from their lives and besides, he always enjoyed a good party, too. (On Sunday night, we witnessed the Body of Christ celebrating even again with more marionettes, cake walks and pumpkin decorating contests at our All-Church Halloween party.)
It turned out to be quite appropriate that we participated in so many joyous events on this particular Sunday because on Saturday we learned that all of us had a significant reason to party. The United Church of Christ, by a considerable margin had voted on that day to accept the Cathedral of Hope’s request to become a member church of their denomination.
Our Halloween parties turned out to be a metaphor for UCC’s initiative in demonstrating what a courageous body of the followers of Jesus could demonstrate to the world in the war against fear, proving their own commercials to be quite accurate in welcoming all of God’s Children into the community of the Spirit.
I was honored to be among those who attended the historic vote that took place in a beautiful little country church in Reisel, Texas, and from that day forward, I’m sure this late October season of celebrations and Reformations will have an even deeper personal reason for this particular body of the United Church of Christ in being more thankful to God than ever for reasons to party; and reasons to worship so gracious a God.
-30-
--ER
Devotion for Monday, October 30, 2006
by Dan Peeler
Cathedral of Hope
Dallas
But Jesus, not heeding the word spoken, said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Fear not, only believe”. Mark 5.36
Yesterday, our Children’s and Youth Ministries had our annual “Who’s Afraid of Halloween” party. There was the usual variety of spooky costumes making our regular attendees barely recognizable, along with too much candy, a marionette show, an embarrassment of donated prizes and the expected spookiness that always makes the event one to remember. No one converted to Celtic nature worship or took up witchcraft, however, despite the fear some folks have of this mixed up and generally manufactured holiday.
Unless they are told otherwise, children do not fear that they will be cursed or otherwise spiritually scarred for life by painting a little greasepaint on their faces and saying, “boo.” The Christ that they learn about every week removes that sort of fear from their lives and besides, he always enjoyed a good party, too. (On Sunday night, we witnessed the Body of Christ celebrating even again with more marionettes, cake walks and pumpkin decorating contests at our All-Church Halloween party.)
It turned out to be quite appropriate that we participated in so many joyous events on this particular Sunday because on Saturday we learned that all of us had a significant reason to party. The United Church of Christ, by a considerable margin had voted on that day to accept the Cathedral of Hope’s request to become a member church of their denomination.
Our Halloween parties turned out to be a metaphor for UCC’s initiative in demonstrating what a courageous body of the followers of Jesus could demonstrate to the world in the war against fear, proving their own commercials to be quite accurate in welcoming all of God’s Children into the community of the Spirit.
I was honored to be among those who attended the historic vote that took place in a beautiful little country church in Reisel, Texas, and from that day forward, I’m sure this late October season of celebrations and Reformations will have an even deeper personal reason for this particular body of the United Church of Christ in being more thankful to God than ever for reasons to party; and reasons to worship so gracious a God.
-30-
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