Month: October 2017

A butterfly is attracted to beauty. It clings to sweetness and embraces the aroma of each fresh flower. It does not destroy. It accents and honors life and creation.

We can honor Sargent La David Johnson’s life and preserve his legacy. Let us put away hurtful words. Sacrifice a few minutes today. Pause, “Park and Pray at 1:11 pm” in memory of Sgt Johnson. Say sweet words of comfort for his loved ones. Let us pray:

Loving God, thank you for the life and spirit of Sargent La David Johnson who sacrificed his life in service to our country. God in your grace and mercy comfort those who grieve. Silent the angry hearts who ignite painful gestures and blow harmful words like a hurricane of dissension. Quench the fires that burn through the fabric of truth and wholeness. Rescue us from fire and smoke that clouds our vision and attempts to turn lovers into haters. Shower our nation with your peace. Let your Light shine on the good and the wicked so together we might overcome that which weighs us down. Lift us up so we might truly be “one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all.” May we remember Sargent Johnson always with loving admiration. Bless us Almighty God to be great lovers of You and one another. In the powerful name of Christ. Amen

Participants: Enno Fritsch, Organist; Rev. Michelle Madsen-Bibeau, Interim Minister, BCC; Earnest Cox Minister of Music, BCC; Delbert L. Collins, Soloist;
Sharon Mazyck, Soloist; Lon Plynton Guitar, Sheila Austin, Flute; CJ Washington, Drums; Ellie Alves, Dominic  Lemus; Lukas Enno; Michael Alves; Pastor Chontell N. Washington, Pastoral Associate, BCC; Diane Chain Cochran, Reader; Christeen Hum Estrada, Director of Children’s Ministries, BCC; April Brown, Reader; Walter Hope, Reader; Valerie Tutson, Story Teller; Rev. Dr. Kathy Henry, Reader; Rev. Dr. Damaris Whittaker, Keynote Preacher; Sylvia Delaney, Reader; Carlos Vega, Soloist;
Kevin Nelson, Chair Deacon, Reader; Rev. Barbara Libby, Interim Conference Minister, RI Conference, United Church of Christ (RICUCC); Frances Munro, President RICUCC Board; Rev. Gene Dyszlewski, RICUCC; Rev. Gary Bagley, RICUCC Committee on Ministry; Rev. Brendan Curran, Prayer of Installation.

While we are limping away

and earthquakes and terrible fires,

and from great failures in compassion,

not to speak of the small

and so personal pain in lives

of all the folks in all our churches,

we do these simple things

that all the world calls crazy —

we put water on children,

and we install a woman of God.

We need your courage, Cleo

someone to send a dove

for an olive branch of peace,

someone to mix in a little leaven

and pulling over to pray at 1:11,

someone to carry spices to every place

where sad people need to hear

about the resurrection,

someone to speak Pentecost words

that does not know “churchy” language

but recognizes the truth in a life

that knows both mess and message,

the rim of the dark horizon

and the dawn of hope.

*************************************************************

God’s grace be with you this autumn day of celebration and every day of your ministry.

– Maren C. Tirabassi, October 8, 2017

“At least 50 people were killed and more than 200 injured in a shooting on the Las Vegas Strip during a country music festival Sunday night. It is the deadliest mass shooting in US history.” CNN News

Awesome God we need you every hour, every minute and every second. Cover us with your love. Bless us with your grace. Merciful God, stop the bloodshed and assaults against life and livelihood. We pray for healing in our Savior’s name. Amen