CONGREGATION + COMMUNITY NEWS
PEOPLES PRESS
Joyfully Defiant for the Sake of a Just World
a congregation of the United Church of Christ, the Alliance of Baptists & the American Baptist Churches
Thinking Green, Hildegard of Bingen
(1098-1178)
An Early Creation/Justice/Peace Advocate
Hildegard of Bingen loved the earth and saw the connectedness of all things, the oneness of all. I think that I am in her spirit by saying, that if you were born on this earth (most humans were) then you are a part of this earth and the earth is a part of you. The atoms and molecules of this earth are also a part of you and by being born you are now a part of the atoms and molecules of this earth. Furthermore, this earth is a part of the solar system, the solar system is a part of the milky way galaxy, our galaxy is one of countless galaxies in a vast universe. And recently, some scientists are writing about how our universe may simply be just one of countless universes. You are a part of a huge multi-universe show. You are more than a human being; you are being itself.
She viewed the human body and mind as creation in miniature. The whole cosmos is in each of us as each of us is in the cosmos. Hildegard also saw a life force energizing and radiating through each of us and all the cosmos. She had a name for this “Viriditas” which to her was a divine, animating vitality found throughout creation. In nature, the greenness so prevalent and visible was an expression of this animating life force at work.
Hildegard is also one who leads us into the spiritual side of inclusiveness and worldwide religious ecumenism. Her writings, paintings, music and poetry are expressions over and over of what Carl Jung calls archetypes of the collective unconscious or what Joseph Campbell calls universal metaphors found in all religions. Matthew Fox writes about his experiences of meeting with native Americans for discussions about religion. Meeting with Navajos or Sioux, he has discovered that his audiences instinctively relate to Hildegard and find the connections between her understanding of the cosmos and their understanding of creation. They also find the connections between their art and hers in the parallels between their symbols for religious experiences found in Native American sand paintings and Hildegard's mandalas.
Green, the vital life force of God, is so significant to Hildegard that many who love her today, cannot think of her without thinking green.
O Leafy Branch
O leafy branch,
standing in your nobility
as the dawn breaks forth:
now rejoice and be glad
and deign to set us frail ones
free from evil habits
and stretch forth your hand
and lift us up.
by Hildegard von Bingen
2 Principles lifted up here From: 17 Principles of
Environmental Justice
3) Environmental Justice mandates the right to ethical, balanced and responsible uses of land and renewable resources in the interest of a sustainable planet for humans and other living things.
4) Environmental Justice calls for universal protection from nuclear testing, extraction, production and disposal of toxic/hazardous wastes and poisons and nuclear testing that threaten the fundamental right to clean air, land, water, and food.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hildegard_of_Bingen
https://climatejusticealliance.org/
Kendall Brown
for the Creation/Justice Team
GOOD THINGS are HAPPENING in and AROUND US
Sometimes It’s Not What You Do But How You Do It That Makes A Difference
Mark Jones our member who is incarcerated at the Handlon Correctional Facility, sent (emailed) a Father’s Day card to the men of the church. It reads as follows:
May the God of Hope fill you with all the Joy and Peace as you trust Him. Romans 15:13
His message said … To all the fathers in the Peoples Church LOVE MISS YOU
(this message was shared by Laura Eufinger)
TRANSITION UPDATES
Hello Peoples People! As we enter another month, things are in full swing with our various teams. Dale is moving forward with the Peoples Plaza plans. Our guest pastors continue to inspire and challenge. The Board met in June and reviewed our current masking policy. We have decided to maintain our masking and vaccination requirements for at least another month. Our objective is to revisit each month.
Pastor Dave will begin as Interim Pastor on July 18th and will be joining us for service on Sunday 24th. He will be giving his first sermon on the 31st. If you have any needs, concerns, or questions, please reach out. Communication is key while we move through these changes. Remember, for weekly sermon information, please refer to the calendar on our church webpage. calendar on our website
Jamie Schmidt, Moderator
natesmamajamie@gmail.com; 810-287-8308
SEARCH COMMITTEE UPDATE
Weekly meetings of the Search Committee continue and we are now eager to hear your thoughts on what makes a sermon impactful. What do you expect? What are you looking for? What makes you want to hear more? Please go to the link below to find a list of options from which we would like you to choose up to five responses.
We'd like to hear from you before July 11. We received 26 responses to the previous survey--thanks again!--and would love to hear from even more of you this time around. Your time spent on this is of great value to us!
https://forms.office.com/r/JPr7kmDXGR
Thanks so much!
Carla Pierik, Chair Search Committee
IN THE CONGREGATION
Links are on the church calendar. Need more info? Just ask!
Adult Forum, 9:30 am Sundays, is reading Heather McGee's, The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together. Join in by zoom or in person at church. And let us know if you need a book.
Thursday Evening Study Group is reading A People’s History of Christianity by Diana Butler Bass. Books will be on the welcome table at church. Need one shipped? Call the church office at 810-767-4911!
Vigil for Racial Justice is still gathering 1-2 pm Thursdays on the Genesee Courthouse lawn.
New Text Alert System. We have shifted to a new text messaging service. If you're in our church directory, you're all set. If you're not, go here to sign up!