Notes from Neal

Posted: Friday, June 27, 2008

This Coming Sunday, June 29, 2008

             In Adult Education, at 9:00 am in Weaver Hall, Chuck Burrows will continue to report on his recent trip to Sam Ysidro, the border town near Tijuana , Mexico , and the meeting of the UCC Environmental Task Force.  As part of the experience, Chuck learned about environmental justice and ecological issues in this area of the world.  We will also continue our discussion of the resolution (in process) called, tentatively, “Responsible Church Meetings” that has been prepared by the Peace, Justice, and Stewardship of Creation Team of Crossroads.  The resolution will be submitted to the Coordinating Council of the Hawai‘i Conference UCC, and subsequently to the 2009 General Synod of the United Church of Christ.

            At the 10:30 Worship Service, we will again be treated to organ music by the young organist Joey Fala, a talented and gifted musician, who is with us for four Sundays this summer while Paul Bornand is attending a convention of the American Guild of Organists in Minneapolis. Joe is a student of Katherine Crosier and a recipient of a scholarship fund established by our own Don Conover.

            As part of the service, Ernest Harada will also be offering a gift of music, the hymn “Great is Your Faithfulness.”

            In the sermon, I will take the opportunity to say something about the task of truth telling in the church.  This, in a way, is a follow-up of last week’s sermon, “Confessions of a Preacher.” The sermon will be based upon an intriguing passage from the Book of Jeremiah ( Jer 28:1-11) in which the prophet comes face to face with the false prophet Hananiah.  Is it possible to tell the truth about the world and ourselves in church?  What might the obstacles be to telling the truth in church?  If in church we can indeed tell the truth, how does that affect the way we hear the news coming from the world?  And how do we hold fast to hope in the midst of discouraging news? 

            Hope to see you Sunday!