| Quick News From Jane
Jane Fisler Hoffman, Interim
Conference
Minister |
Dear Friends in Christ,
- This week is the annual week of prayer for
Christian Unity. Some years ago, I was
in Mexico on a mission partner trip during this week
and was amazed and joyous to hear a Mexican Roman
Catholic priest preach on the urgency of Christians
living out the unity Christ gives. Perhaps it is
different here in California but in other places where
I have been, rarely have I heard or do I hear of
United Church of Christ congregations giving attention
in worship or in special events
to this week that focuses on this central
part of our identity: "that they may all be
one". I know that by now most sermons and
worship services are already planned for this coming
Sunday but if unity in Christ is not already part of
that plan, I encourage you to make it a special focus
of congregational and pastoral prayers. Can
anything be more urgent in our divided world than we
as Christians (and particularly we of the United
Church of Christ who have claimed this name and
vocation!) showing the world the power of unity in
God's gift of love, in Christ?
It is also possible that your local community may be
holding an ecumenical service for this week of
prayer---in greater Los Angeles, the service is
January 25 at 3:30 p.m. at Pasadena Christian
Church . I hope to see some UCC
folks there! Please publicize your community
ecumenical prayer services in your church and plan to
attend. If there isn't such a service in your
community, get some neighbor leaders together and plan
for next year. It is a taste of the kindom to
worship God and pray for unity with those from whom we
differ about other things!
- How do we who have 'enough' live justly
and lovingly in these times when every day another
person loses their job or home? Like
all of you, I'm sure, Milt and I have been praying
about how we might somehow reach further into our
budget, beyond our tithe and regular charitable
giving, to help in some way. We are contacting
area pastors to ask about the most effective (and well
operated) services to families (food banks,
shelters) to which we might give a monthly
portion. This morning I was reading the UCC
Calendar of Prayer (you can find it on ucc.org) and
was touched and inspired by this story from Sri Lanka,
reported by a Global Mission intern: Girls
in a home for children of the war there are
practicing 'nesam' (love of family) by
"roasting grains to prepare flour to give to poor
families at a church operated nursery school.
These grains come from the girls' own lunches from
which they each set aside a handful to share with
those less
fortunate." At
a recent meeting of the Council of Religious Leaders,
those of us gathered talked about how we can and must
encourage our church, synagogue and mosque leaders to
take leadership in our own communities
to dig deeper into our own resources (our 'lunches')
to love and care for God's family. Each person,
family and congregation will need to find our own
specific ways but do it we must, not tiring
of doing good (Gal. 6:9).
You are in my prayers and I
ask to be in yours as we all seek God's guidance in
finding and giving yet another 'extra grain'.
As always, I am yours in Christ,
Jane Fisler
Hoffman | | |
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