Bible Study via Zoom Meeting on March 18th

Hello All,

Beginning this Wednesday at 7 pm we will be holding our Bible Study via Zoom video conferencing.

In order to join by video, you need to download the Zoom app on either your computer or smartphone.

Once done, click on join a meeting....

And enter the Zoom ID for the Bible Study meeting:  323 451 784 

If you don't have a computer or smartphone with a camera, you can call in using one of the phone numbers listed below.

The bible study meeting is scheduled to start at 7 pm and end at 8:45 pm.

Let us all be patient as we move into this new "doing church by video" phase in our lives.

Much love,

Dan

Dan Lundquist is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Bible Study- Wednesday at 7 pm

Zoom meeting ID:  323 451 784

Time: Mar 18, 2020 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

        Every week on Wed, until Apr 29, 2020, 7 occurrence(s)
        Mar 18, 2020 07:00 PM
        Mar 25, 2020 07:00 PM
        Apr 1, 2020 07:00 PM
        Apr 8, 2020 07:00 PM
        Apr 15, 2020 07:00 PM
        Apr 22, 2020 07:00 PM
        Apr 29, 2020 07:00 PM

Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.

Weekly: https://us04web.zoom.us/meeting/vpYuc-ypqTMugXSYEZ6dzUzeReeF8s5SbQ/ics?icsToken=98tyKuqqrT8vG9OdtF_Ha7MqW5X9b8_Ml3Z2mZp4pknhGRVJZzHzM8QaIedMEumB

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/323451784

Meeting ID: 323 451 784

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Meeting ID: 323 451 784
Find your local number: https://us04web.zoom.us/u/fdtN79CBRd

Sunday Worship Cancelled for March 15th

Dear Grace Family -

After much prayer, consideration and conversation the Grace UCC Council has decided to cancel worship services tomorrow, March 15.  We will make a decision for our services each week until the worst of the COVID-19 infection is over.  As the caregivers of Grace, we feel that protecting those who are most vulnerable to illness is of utmost importance.

I'd like to take a moment to quote someone who I feel is wise and loving beyond measure and who is truly a sage among us, Kelly Ospina:

I just want to remind everyone our weekly gathering is how we fill our own buckets to go out in the world and live our faith, but going to worship is not what makes us faithful. 

We are in the time when we prepare ourselves for ressurrection. If ever there was a good time to draw inward, to reflect, to prepare for renewal this is it.

As a reformed Catholic, I still look to Mother Theresa as a personal hero. One of her quotes is if you really want to change the world, go home and love your family. Now is the time to do just that. 

We will come together again soon. This is not a full stop, just a comma because as we of all people know, God is still speaking.

So - with those words ringing in our ears, I encourage you all to follow the www.cdc.gov guidelines for health and well being during this crazy time.  Know that you are loved and if you need ANYTHING at all over the coming weeks, please reach out to your Grace Family.  We are here to love you unconditionally - no matter who you are or where you are on life's journey.

In love, light and peace,

Chris Syltevik

Moderator, Grace United Church of Christ, Flemington

Building Bridges - February 20th

Karen Buys leading

10 participants

For this discussion, we stepped away from the text to consider an article by Te-Nehisi Coates, “The Case for Reparations”.

It may be found here: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/06/the-case-for-reparations/361631/

The discussion began with several definitions of reparations. [I’m not going to reproduce those here; the reader can look them up as an exercise.] As might be imagined, this entire topic brought up a lot of discussion, and I have tried to represent some of the statements made (not always an exact quote).

“What’s the problem with reparations?”

Several responses were offered: Who gets them? In what form? How much will they be? Who pays for them?

Reactions of Whites to reparations would probably be best represented by their (previous) reactions to Affirmative Action and “Welfare Queens.”

Damages are not merely monetary, but of opportunities lost as well.

Mention was made of the changes in the Alabama prison population when opportunities for education was made available: recidivism was reduced; how was this paid for? There were no costs incurred: local churches sent unpaid volunteers into the prison to teach.

The Coates article notes that reparations payments to Israel were made before an overhaul of the German educational system. There, education was not an impediment to payment; it was an outgrowth. In addition, the payments made had an element of recency, being paid out shortly after the end of World War 2, whereas slavery ended more than 150 years ago, and subsequent egregious episodes (Jim Crow, etc.) were still a long time ago (100 years, 50 years,…). Pyaments were also made for losses of a tangible nature (property, art, jewelry).

In moving forward with reparations, the questions were asked, How do we overcome “We are not accountable”? How do we overcome, “There are people in our society who deserve our help”?

How do we make the system “fair”?

-       Acknowledge that the current system is not fair

-       Accept our (Whites) accountability

-       Make changes

Some additional readings were circulated following the discussion:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/business/reparations-slavery-japanese-american-internment/

https://www.npr.org/2020/02/15/805991106/early-novel-written-by-free-black-woman-called-out-racism-among-abolitionists?utm_campaign=storyshare&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social

Homework for next week: “White Fragility” chapters 8-10