E-lation! August 2020 Edition
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But what does the Lord require of you,
but to do justice, love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
-Micah 6:8
Twice now, I have had the experience of walking across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. It is holy ground. It was there in 1965 that three pivotal marches in Civil Rights history began: Bloody Sunday, Turnaround Tuesday, and the March to Montgomery, culminating in the passage of the Voting Rights Act. Clergy from around the country (including my father and Paul Varga, one of South Church’s former Associate Pastors) were in attendance at Turnaround Tuesday, because by then Dr. Martin Luther King had become involved and had issued the invitation. Thousands showed up to walk with King on the March to Montgomery not long thereafter. However, King was not there for the first march, Bloody Sunday. John Lewis, though, was there, along with many other faithful, uncelebrated foot soldiers.
Earlier this week, watching Lewis’ flag-draped casket being pulled across that bridge on a horse-drawn cart for one last time was a sight I’ll never forget. The utter simplicity of the procession spoke volumes about his humility and his impoverished beginnings. It was a powerful reminder that what the prophet Micah’s declaration requires of us is not talking about justice: it is about doing justice. It is about having the courage to show up as people of faith wherever there is injustice and, as Lewis said, “do something; say something.” It is about having the courage to get into what he called “Good Trouble.”
Jesus was God’s most extraordinary act of “showing up.” In Jesus, God showed up in the lives of everyday people, healing, teaching and preaching, yes, but listening, walking, eating, sleeping, arguing, and laughing, too. As the body of Christ, we are challenged to show up where we’re needed so that God may work through us. The fact that we are living in a time of pandemic simply means we need to be more creative in doing it.
During the month of August, I encourage us all to read Ibram X. Kendi’s book How to be an Anti-Racist, to watch the movie Harriet, and to check out the Racial Justice Café and other resources on our website by clicking on the Racial Justice Resources button. We will announce in the next e-Lation! how and when we will be gathering in September to begin a conversation about how we can better “do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our God.’’
Holding you all in grateful prayer.
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How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
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Antiracism is a transformative concept that reorients and reenergizes the conversation about racism and, even more fundamentally, points us toward liberating new ways of thinking about ourselves and each other. At its core, racism is a powerful system that creates false hierarchies of human value; its warped logic extends beyond race, from the way we regard people of different ethnicities or skin colors to the way we treat people of different sexes, gender identities, and body types. Racism intersects with class and culture and geography and even changes the way we see and value ourselves. This book takes readers through a widening circle of antiracist ideas; from the most basic concepts to visionary possibilities that will help readers see all forms of racism clearly, understand their poisonous consequences, and work to oppose them in our systems and in ourselves. Kendi weaves an electrifying combination of ethics, history, law, and science with his own personal story of awakening to antiracism. This is an essential work for anyone who wants to go beyond the awareness of racism to the next step: contributing to the formation of a just and equitable society. A copy of the book is available online or at the local bookstore. If you are interested in participating in a book discussion this Fall or have any questions, please contact Rev. Jed.
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This movie is set in Maryland during the 1840’s is a biographical film about Harriet Tubman. Araminta "Minty" Ross married to a freedman, John Tubman. Minty is still a slave herself on the Brodess farm, along with her mother and sister. Brodess' adult son Gideon finds Minty praying, and castigates her, saying God does not care about the prayers of slaves. When Mr. Brodess dies and Gideon offers Minty for sale, she has a vision of herself escaping to freedom, and she decides to run. She leaves her husband behind, fearing that he would lose his own freedom. During her travels, Minty is presumed dead, but successfully makes it to Philadelphia via the Underground Railroad, assisted by Quakers and other abolitionists. In Philadelphia, she meets Marie Buchanon, the fashionable daughter of a freed slave who was born free and is now a boarding-house proprietor, and William Still, an abolitionist and writer. She is encouraged to take a new free name, and she calls herself Harriet after her mother. Throughout her life, she personally freed more than 70 slaves on the Underground Railroad and returned as a Union spy during the Civil War, leading 150 black soldiers, who freed over 750 slaves. We invite you and your family to watch this film this summer. |
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The murder of George Floyd in early June was a tipping point in the 400-year struggle of African Americans to break free from white oppression, racism and institutionalized violence against black bodies. People all over world have protested in the streets and a time of systemic change is upon us. Please be sure to check out our resources on our website to further educate ourselves.
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During the month of August, the Faith in Action committee is asking for donations to support the UCC Strengthen the Church mission. This offering reflects the shared commitment of all settings of the United Church of Christ to cooperatively build up the UCC. The funds raised support leadership development, new churches, youth ministry, and innovation in existing congregations. Your support of this offering will help the UCC fulfill its commitment to creating a just world for all by investing in new ministries and practices that meet the emerging needs of local communities. The UCC will grow stronger by strengthening each of its local conferences. You can donate by mail, online or drop it in the church mail box. |
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75th Anniversary Hiroshima & Nagasaki Remembered |
Every year, all over the world, people gather to remember the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. On Friday, August 7 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. it will be the 75th anniversary of those bombings. You are invited to gather with American and International peace groups, for a live streamed remembrance. The speaker will be Masako Wada, who as a young girl in Nagasaki survived the bombing, she is now the Assistant Secretary General of Nihon Hidankyo, the Japanese organization of survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This remembrance will be hosted by Kevin Martin, President of Peace Action with the ceremony will be led by Reverend Elizabeth Theoharis co-chair of the Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. For more information check out this link.
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Interim Associate Pastor Update |
The Interim Associate Pastor search process is moving forward. A Request for Transitional Leadership reflecting the mission, congregational life, spiritual life and financial snapshot of South Church was submitted and posted on both New Hampshire Conference and National of the UCC sites in mid-July. Over the next few weeks we anticipate hearing from Interim Clergy who apply for the position and setting up preliminary interviews. Once the search committee has found a good match, we will recommend a candidate for Council approval and inform the congregation. We anticipate that once the interim pastor is here that the process of discerning our mission going forward and going through the search process for a settled pastor (and colleague for Jed and staff) will take at least 18 months. We look forward to keeping you updated. Please call any one of us with any questions you may have!
In Faith, Janet Zeller, Will Delker, Jay Haines and Jed Rardin
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Mark your calendars. The proposed date for the Annual Meeting is Sunday, October 4. Check the website for more information as it becomes available.
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During the month of August, Jed will be on vacation. We have lined up the following guest preachers:
August 9 - Gyme Hardy
"Washing Our Windows"
August 16 - Derek Waldron
"The Mighty Shall Fall"
August 23 - Israel Cawley
"The Hope Among Us"
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The Genesis Women's Circle spearheads the "CAMEL Project," which is a letter writing initiative, where we keep in touch with "College and Military through Emails and Letters." If you think your college student would enjoy hearing news from South Church throughout the school year, please send Deb Lincoln your student's college email, "snail mail" address and birth date so we can send friendly letters, birthday wishes and a Valentine goody package from their South Church Family. Letters may seem a bit "old fashioned," but sometimes tangible from "home" makes all the difference.
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Hello South Church Friends!
As you may know, earlier this summer the Faith in Action Ministry asked for donations of small toys and games for the most vulnerable children of Mill Brook and Broken Ground Schools. Although I do not serve on the Faith in Action ministry, I work as an ELL (English Language Learner) tutor at Broken Ground, so I helped with the coordination between the church and schools. In addition to collecting many games, toys, puzzles, and other fun items, the church also collected over $300 to spend at Gibson's Bookstore. We used this money to purchase thirty-five different activity books for children of different ages. From your gifts, each child in the Broken Ground ELL Summer School Program got a deck of cards, an activity book, some art supplies, and a Beanie Baby toy (so they would have a reading buddy). Then on Monday, when the biweekly food deliveries were going out to families, we loaded the buses not only with food, but with all of the playground balls, remaining activity books, and other items you donated. I wish you could have been there with me to see the smiles as children and their families picked out special items for themselves. They were so excited and appreciative! I hope you know that what might have seemed like a small gift to you meant the world to these children, especially because they got to choose for themselves. Thank you so much for extending radical love to others in a time when it seems to be in short supply.
With gratitude,
Jill Smart
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Concord Coalition to End Homelessness |
Our 1st Annual Bluegrass BBQ!
Outside, reserved pick-up times, take it "to go" or picnic on-site
(safely distanced).
LIVE MUSIC ALL DAY!
Get your tickets now for the Bluegrass BBQ, August 9, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Don't miss the chance to feast on an amazing BBQ, support the work of the Concord Coalition to End Homelessness (CCEH), and listen to live bluegrass music in a safe outdoor setting or feel free to take it home!! One of the bands is Peabody's Coal Train, featuring our own Jason Teaster!
Take your amazing meal home, or stay and find a distant picnic spot by the river at the Everett Arena. Click here to buy tickets and see more detailed info on the menu and the music. Tickets MUST be bought in advance. South Church is a Sponsor of this event.
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Summer Office Hours
Monday & Tuesday 7a.m. to 2p.m.
Wednesday & Thursday 8a.m. to 4p.m.
Friday 8a.m. to 12noon
The office will be closed for vacations on August 10, 11, 24 and 25.
The office will also be closed on September 7 for Labor Day.
We will resume our regular hours on Tuesday, September 8 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
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