Ordination Day

July 15, 2007, the day I was ordained into the partoral ministry of the United Church of Christ. The good-looking galoot by my side is my husband, Paul.

What a journey this was. There were points along the way when I wondered if the day would come.

I am thankful for those that God sent to accompany me along this circuitous path, a number of whom were present at the ordination. Sallye, Doug, Michael, Deb, Joe, Brenda, Jan, Beth, John, Mom, Rob, Liz, Drew, Helen W., Helen S., Ernest, Betty, Jean, Chris, Amy, Tyler...the list goes on. The clergy who laid hands on me were Anglo, African-American, Filipino, married, divorced, straight, gay, UCC, Baptist, Methodist and who knows what all. This was, as several commented, the Church as it is supposed to be. And as the UCC motto states: "That they may all be one." (John 17:21)

I am also thankful for those who accompanied me through the rocky roads leading to this day, and who could not be here: Jackie, Emily, Butch, Steve, Laurie, Richard, Diane, Pat, Julia, Paul M., Laura, Gay, Ed, Rob L., Kris, Carolyn and a host of others.

Some of them know that I have gotten to this day. Others do not, but I know they will rejoice. Thank you for being there, lifting me, supporting me, guiding me.

What Would Sadden Jesus

What would sadden Jesus?

I imagine the refusal by High Point Community Church to keep its commitment to provide a memorial service for Cecil Sinclair, a Navy veteran who happened to be gay.


According to the news story
http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/66436.html the decision was not a matter of hatred or discrimination, but principle. So what is the principle involved here?


Could it be this one:

10While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples.

Matthew 9:10

Possibly this principle:

2At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" 6They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." 8Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
11"No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."2At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" 6They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." 8Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
11"No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."

John 8:2-11

What does it mean for us to be Christ -like?

It is to love, our God, our neighbor, and our enemy.