Saturday E-news September 12, 2020 |
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Who is your god?
As we know from our study of Scripture, many of our ancestors interpreted what was happening in their lives as being directly caused by God as punishment or reward for their behavior. If there was goodness in their lives, like an abundant harvest, it was because God was rewarding them for being good. If there was suffering in their lives, like their Temple being destroyed, it was because God was punishing them for being bad.
Standing in the intersection of a pandemic, raging fires, economic instability, rampant racism, extreme political divisiveness, and so much more, this line of thinking could take us into very negative beliefs about ourselves, our world, and our God.
Although many of us consider ourselves far more sophisticated in our thinking, most world religions still teach some version of this. Most world religions, including much of mainstream Christianity, teach an understanding of God’s justice called “retributive justice.” Retributive justice is dualistic, meaning it separates people into good or bad, events into reward or punishment, and focuses on what we could call an economy of merit---we each get what we earn.
This is appealing to our egos because it gives us a false sense of control. But it does not reflect the complexity of reality. And it is damaging because it identifies God as Ledger-Keeper and Punisher rather than Healer, Forgiver, and Reconciler. And if this is how we see God, it is likely how we also see ourselves and each other. Alternatives to retributive justice are rehabilitative justice and restorative justice, both of which emphasize a person’s capacity for transformation and a community’s need for healing. Restorative justice operates on an economy of grace and mercy. Restorative justice does not deny wrongdoing and injury. Afterall, what it not acknowledged cannot be changed. But restorative justice does not stop there. It seeks to tap into the awesome power we’ve been given around binding and loosing, encouraging us to seek freedom for ourselves by seeking healing in our relationships, our communities.
In Sunday’s lessons, we encounter two radically different ways of being in the world. In our lesson from Genesis, we hear part of the story of Joseph, who was treated terribly by his brothers but went on to provide for them in a time of profound need, believing that God had used every circumstance for ultimate good. Joseph’s God was Reconciler and Restorer, and so Joseph was also a reconciler and restorer. In our gospel lesson, we hear the story of the servant who was forgiven an enormous debt but failed to forgive a much smaller debt of someone else. This servant’s god was an unmerciful Ledger-Keeper, and the servant behaved in the likeness of his god.
As we reflect on our lessons this week, we might ask, “Who is our god?” And as we engage the immense suffering of the world and our own lives, we might ask, “In whose image and likeness am I meeting this suffering?”
Reverend Sonya Reichel
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With Facebook, if you have an account, you can add comments and prayers while watching the service.
This will look similar to Facebook Live except that you will not be able to comment or add prayers. Unlike a Zoom meeting, your personal video does not show, it is more like watching TV. The passcode is Faithec.
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Click here to read a full financial update from our Treasurer, Lynne Thomas.
Mailing Address for Donations:
Faith Episcopal Church
PO Box 966
Shingle Springs, CA 95682
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Compline Service
Wednesday, September 23rd at 6:30 p.m.
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Just a few spaces remain for this service. Please register to attend.
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Faith Church has been very generous in donating $1045 to the Bishop's Discretionary fund for fire relief. More is still welcome! You can donate using the link below, choose Community Outreach as the purpose and put Fire Relief in the memo.
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Mission Team Updates and Opportunities |
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Hope For Humanity Thank You
On March 8, just before the lockdown, Jim and I made a presentation to the congregation about the need for replacement textbooks and funds to support the lunch program at Hope and Resurrection Secondary in South Sudan. Despite the pandemic and our not meeting together at church, the people of Faith Church donated over $2,600, and the Mission Team of Faith awarded a $900 grant for food. Thank you for your consistent generosity and interest in Hope and Resurrection Secondary and its mission to educate South Sudan's future leaders. Mary and Jim Higbee
The Executive Director of Hope for Humanity sent a thank you letter, and in part said:
Thank you for awarding Hope for Humanity, Inc. with your generous charity. Your gifts this year and for so many years continue to support Hope and Resurrection Secondary School (AKA The Higbee's School), an Episcopal Mission School in the African bush of South Sudan...
Hope for Humanity, Inc. Board of Directors and I want you to know that your generosity has worked in miraculous and unexpected ways during COVID19. We hope that by the end of 2020 we can report that more academic learning has taken place on the campus. But, please know that if schools remain closed in South Sudan, we plan to donate the remaining food purchased for this year's lunch program to a local food program near the school so that your donation will indeed go to feeding children in South Sudan.
Mary and Jim Higbee
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SHELTER AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR THE HOMELESS
Faith Episcopal Church Missions Team has been aware for several months that Nomadic Shelter for this coming winter is not a possibility. COVID 19 makes the Nomadic Shelter model unsafe for volunteers and guests.
This predicament has led to a new effort to help the homeless. It is called Project Room Key. This effort is currently helping homeless people who are most vulnerable to COVID. In other words it is helping those with “other health concerns.” Once identified, the most at risk are housed (motel) and supported for health services and other county programs they attend.
Those involved are:
1. El Dorado Community Foundation
2. Marshall Hospital
3. The Sheriff’s HOT Team
4. Western Slope Coalition for Affordable Housing
5. Upper Room Dining Hall
6. Project Room Key and the Nomadic Shelter
7. Jennifer LaForce, a Non-Profit Consultant and Grant Writer
8. Faith Episcopal Church
THE GOAL: The El Dorado Community Foundation has set a goal of $200,000 for housing, food, and supportive services. The long run goal is to purchase a physical site so that this program will have permanence in our county.
F.E.C. PARTICIPATION: The FEC Missions Team has approved a grant of $900. This grant was matched by FEC congregants who gave an additional $1600 for a total of $2500. Yes, FEC has already given over 1% of the total amount of $200,000. Our Missions Team and our congregants are dedicated to genuinely supporting local mission needs.
If you would like to contribute to the Project Room Key effort, click the link below choose Community Outreach and put Project Room Key in the memo.
Thank you for your support.
Your Missions Team
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Outdoor Blessing of the Animals, Sunday, October 4th at 1 p.m.
Outdoor Compline Service, Wednesday, October 21st at 6 p.m.
Outdoor Trunk-R-Treat and Scavenger Hunt
Saturday, October 31st from 3 to 5 p.m.
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Senior Lunch Bunch - Invite Your Friends |
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Resources and Other Information |
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You can view a Liturgical Calendar for Upcoming Weeks with Links to the Lessons for Sundays and Major Holy Days from the Revised Common Lectionary (as adapted for use in Episcopal worship) at the following link:
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OFFICE HOURS
There are no established office hours during this time. The message machine is being checked once per week. The best way to reach the Admin team is to email the church at faithec@faithec.org.
PRAYER REQUESTS
If you or someone you know is in need of prayer, please email prayer requests to faithec@faithec.org.
PASTORAL SUPPORT
Reverend Tom Gartin
Reverend Sonya Reichel
CONTACT INFORMATION CHANGES
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Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are still taking place, both in-person and via Zoom, see the details below and visit the links for other resources.
Cameron Park: 5:30 p.m. every evening, 3077 Alhambra Drive, Suite D
Diamond Springs: Noon, four days per week, 677 Pleasant Valley Rd. (see link for details)
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