Our journey through the church year begins with Advent.  And though we might like to begin with shouts and acclamation, a hard and hearty “happy new year,” there is something entirely different about this beginning.  Our year, as does the spiritual life, begins with longing, a deep yearning for a better day:

Awash in seas of injustice, or wars and rumors of wars; sensing systems of domination and scorn we long for peace and justice in human life, in our communities and among the nations of the world.

As we journey through our cities and towns on cold, dark nights we see people seeking food, families in need seeking shelter and rest, children, cold, seeking warmth.  Our longing becomes a cry:  How long O Lord?  How long?

As we move inward we meet our restless hearts.  Facing ourselves we see that somehow we have  settled into some kind of spiritual arrhythmia, a rhythm of life that cannot sustain. But it is here, too, that we meet our longing…,  knowing…, that somehow in the deep down of life, there is a pulse, a beat that engenders, nurtures and loves all that is.

With this deep longing, you would think that there is something we can do to fix things — bending and turning things aright.  You’d think…. But, we know that as we bend and turn things around things often get twisted.  We become a bit Orwellian expressing ourselves in doublespeak:  “War is Peace?” See?  Twisted. Not only are the best things in life — peace, love, hope, joy — free, they are a pure gift: the gift that we receive in the advent, in the coming of Jesus Christ. No bending, no twisting called for or needed.  But, what are we to do? We wait.  We wait in our deep longing. How long O God?

Advent is also a time of promise. The light will come. God will breakthrough into human life, into your life.. Beyond the horizon of all hope, Bethlehem, the stable, shepherds and angels tell us:  the love of God is embodied in Jesus Christ.  As we receive Christ our hearts pulse with the steady rhythm of life.  God’s mercy becomes our own. We come to embody Christ’s love in our very human lives. In this we find that the One who has come, Jesus Christ, comes again and again.  Not only is there a second coming, there is the continual coming of love into the world.  Thanks be to God.

 Blessings,

A campaign to feed the hungry and confront food-related injustice

The national office of the United Church of Christ is launching an 11 day mission (November 1-11, 2011) to feed the hungry and confront food-related injustice around the world.

Our Outreach Team is inviting EVERyONE, members and friends,  to share in this historic effort in some personally meaningful way – from bringing 1 extra can of food to our regular in-gathering of food for the FISH Pantry on November 6 and/or by sharing in events listed below:

1) Our church has made available copies of letters written to 11 national and international leaders inviting them to join in Mission 1.  (Bulletin Board, Friendship Hall, October 2).

2) Bring food to the church on  November 6 as the church gathers food for our neighborhood food pantry, FISH.  Note:  1 person is preparing 11 food bags with 11 food items in each.

3) Join a 1 meal, or 1 day fast during Mission: 1, contributing the money you would have spent on food to be divided between a local and national anti hunger organization.  (See related article on fasting.) Note: 1 church member is fasting the 11 days and contributing.

4) Participate in the “Fast Meal” on November 6 at noon at the church. .  The Outreach Team will provide a Fast Meal option of water and juice for those who are fasting, or a traditional soup lunch, with contributions supporting local and national organizations. There will be a sharing of the reading of Isaiah 58:6-9; prayers for the hungry; prayers for food policy leaders; letters to officials seeking more just food policies through Bread for the World.

5) Finally, put YOUR name and act on a post-it on the huge “Mission: 1 Calendar” on any 1-11 days you will be involved in Mission: 1

Let’s put FIRST Congregational UCC in the middle of Mission: 1!
(See: www.ucc.org/mission:1)