Rebecca--Mother of Nations
Genesis 25:19-34, Matthew 13:1-9
July 10, 2005
By Rev. Marcia Hauer

I loved my two sons--loved them more than I can say. I'd waited --we'd waited 20 long years for such a gift from God and when I finally became pregnant.....What a blessing! What a glad time it was! I had finally proven my worth as a woman! But then it began. I didn't know then that there would be twins when the baby began to move. At first I was ecstatic! Strong movement is a good sign, but day after day the movement grew stronger and more intense until finally, I thought the child would rip me in two! I didn't know if I would live to see this child born.

I had always been one of God's faithful ones. I had always prayed often and my prayers often were answered. I asked God for a wonderful husband--the man God wanted for me. Then God gave me Isaak, the son of Abraham, the ancestor of God's chosen people. I prayed when I realized that I would have to leave home to be with Isaak. It was hard to leave the familiar land and all the people who were dear to me, but I was willing to go to this place that I could only dream existed. God eased that journey even though it was hard. Then I met Isaak, the laughing one or so his name led me to believe. But Isaak never laughed. Don't misunderstand, I was happy with Isaak, he was good to me, but, it was as if his gaze turned inside of himself. Something had happened to him to make him so...distant and strange. He wouldn't tell me much about it--only that he and his father had once gone out together to worship God and to sacrifice, but that they hadn't taken a ram or a goat or anything along with them. He said that he met God face to face that day. I always wished that Sarah had lived long enough for me to have been a daughter to her--to tell me stories about the family, about Isaak and his growing up. I heard that Isaak had an older brother, but no one wanted to talk about him either and both Isaak and Abraham made it clear that neither he nor his kin were welcome here.

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CONNECTIONS
UPUMC
• Dinner and Movie, Lily, Wednesday, July 6, 6:30pm, Errol Stephenson Hall.
• Staff-Parish Relations Committee, Monday, July 11, 6:30pm, Errol Stephenson Hall.
• Administrative Council, Monday, July 11, 7:30pm, Errol Stephenson Hall.
• Lunch Bunch meets at Joe’s Crab Shack, 101 SE Columbia Way, Vancouver, Tuesday, July 13, 12:30pm. Let Bev Read know you are coming.
• Donut Sale fund-raising, Thursday, July 14, 7:30am-noon, at church. Volunteers needed.
• Trustees meet Monday, July 18, 7pm, Errol Stephenson Hall.

THE LARGER CHURCH
• Creation Vacation, Friends meet July 5-9, Camp Magruder, Oregon Coast.

THE COMMUNITY
• Garage Sale at Bill Thomasson’s, July 8-10. Volunteers needed before and during.
• National Issues Forum Moderato Training, Friday, July 15, 8am-5pm, PCC Sylvania Campus, Sylvania Cafeteria. Call Ken Dodge, 503-240-5600, x 202 to register, e-mail Tuition and parking fees waived for North Portland residents.
• Children’s Relief Nursery, Volunteer Orientation, Wednesday, July 20, Noon-1pm, 8425 N Lombard.

FUTURE EVENTS, FOR YOUR CALENDAR
• Plan to be a Family Friend at Creation Vacation, Tuesday-Saturday, July 5-9, 2005.
• Back-To-School Readiness Fair, sponsored by the Caring Community of North Portland, Saturday, August 13, 11am-2pm, Roosevelt High School, 6941 N Central.
• All-Church Beach Retreat at Camp Magruder, Friday-Sunday, September 16-18, 2005.

WEEKLY AT UPUMC
• Choir practices Sundays at 9:30am, Tuesdays at 6pm, Sanctuary.
• Men’s Group. Tuesdays, 10am, Narthex.
• Let’s Go Walking, Wednesdays, 1pm, Narthex.
• Morrison Child and Family Services, Errol Stephenson Hall and Nursery, Wednesdays, 9am-Noon.
• Alcoholics Anonymous, Narthex, Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays at 8pm, weekly.
• Overeaters Anonymous, Wednesdays at 7pm, Saturdays at 3pm.
• Peninsula CDC Youth Council, Mondays, 1-3:30pm, Errol Stephenson Hall.


THE NURSERY IS STAFFED DURING WORSHIP


PLEASE DON’T GO HUNGRY. WE HAVE FOOD IN OUR PANTRY, LOCATED IN THE HALLWAY LEADING TO ERROL STEPHENSON HALL, TAKE WHAT YOU NEED.

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Marriage Equality and the General Synod of the United Church of Christ

A Statement by The Rev. John H. Thomas
General Minister and President

June 28, 2005


At a time when high stakes decisions before the church set us on edge with one another and threaten to unnerve us, a beloved hymn of the German Reformed tradition calls us back to the center and grounds us in the piety that is at the heart of the Christian faith:

Jesus, I live to Thee, the loveliest and best;

My life in Thee, Thy life in me, in Thy blest love I rest.

I pray these words will shape our spirits during these next days, for the resolutions before the United Church of Christ General Synod on many issues, but especially on marriage present us with one of the most challenging decisions we have faced in recent years. For many, extending the full and equal legal rights and privileges to same gender couples as those afforded to heterosexual couples, and offering the same blessing and discipline of the church, seem entirely consistent with the over three decade long trajectory of General Synod actions and the accompanying reception process in the church. As a matter of justice and of pastoral care, affirming marriage equality would be a bold step, but one that continues a journey we have been on for a long time as a church.

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LAMBIE
Genesis 22:1-19; Psalm 13; Matthew 10:40-42
June 26, 2005
Rev. Dr. Jeanne Knepper

Isaac was my little “Lambie�, right from the beginning. Maybe it was his dear curly black hair, or the way he nuzzled me when he suckled. Or his skipping eyes. Oh, he was everything I could ever want, my sweet Lambie, born to undo all the disgrace and judgment, born to bring laughter to my old age. It had been cynical laughter at first, I admit that freely. But it turned to joyous laughter, to giggling laughter. His name was Isaac, Laughter, and he was my Lambie; he made me a bubbling spring. All it took was a touch to his soft head, just that, so simple, and all the separation, all the isolation, it was like nothing.

I suppose I turned my attention away from Abram—but hadn’t he done the same to me, gone all calf-eyed when Hagar got pregnant, reaching out as she passed, laying a fond hand on her swelling belly. He was so thrilled to finally have a son. He brought her sweet dates and choice pieces of meat, “To make good milk,� he said, “to feed my baby boy.� He called her “Wife.� I reminded him that she was my serving woman. He told me he’d taken her as a second wife; that she was his wife; that I’d have to adjust.

Well, what could I do? He was my husband, my brother, my only family for so many miles. I depended on him; I served him; I loved him; I learned to live with it. Until there was Lambie. And then, and then . . . I know now that I was wrong. I fought. I argued. I pestered. I begged. “Drive her away,� I demanded. “If you ever want peace in your home, there can be only one of us, only one wife, only one son. Choose, Abram. Choose.�

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