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
INTERIM’S INSIGHTS
If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging symbol.
(I Corinthians 13:1, The New Revised Standard Version)
As the weather is (slowly) warming up, we see more and more brave or perhaps, foolhardy souls taking to the streets on their motorcycles. And while I have nothing against those who do so, one thing I find mildly annoying is that newer motorcycles have the capacity to blast music at decibel levels that drown out any other normal sounds. It is somewhat understandable, given that motorcycles themselves are generally loud (although there is really no reason for them to be). But, I mutter to myself, why should I have to listen to music someone else likes? In my mind, it is noise with no redeeming value as art or as expression. And aren’t there laws that limit the amount of noise a vehicle can make?
The Apostle Paul, in writing to the Corinthians, was trying to reign in some of the excesses which were brought to his attention. The church was divided, with some claiming to follow Apollos, a former leader, and some following Paul, and others claiming other allegiances. Some were claiming a higher status because they could speak in tongues, others because they were educated or had important jobs in the church. Paul’s exasperation is evident as he gives them advice, but in Chapter 13, which we sometimes call “The Love Chapter,” Paul distills his argument to something that seems obvious to us, and yet, is also the thing I think we most often forget – loving others is at the heart of everything we do. That is incredibly hard to do, especially as we are faced with difficult choices and people who disagree with us, who experience faith in ways that are foreign to us, who have different solutions to our common problems, or who play the wrong music as they ride their motorcycles.
This summer, two of the denominations that we belong to, the American Baptist Church (ABC) and the United Church of Christ (UCC) will have their official meetings, the UCC in Indianapolis the first week of July and the ABC in Puerto Rico June 23-25. There are always lots of inspiring speakers and events at these gatherings, as well as important decisions to be made about finances, theology and social issues. What we might also discover is that there are people who disagree with us. Outside of the cocoon of our own congregation, we are exposed to the breadth and diversity of a national and international assembly of folks. This is not a bad thing. It helps us practice being the Church.
At Peoples Church, we pride ourselves on being “joyfully defiant.” I celebrate with you the freedom that gives us to be actively opposed to the systems and powers that oppress and dehumanize and dispense pain and death. But our joy cannot be based on the conviction that we are right and others are wrong, nor can it derive from legislative or policy victories. It must be rooted in the love we have for those we defy, even those who work for “the other side.”
We cannot ignore the command of Jesus to love one another. We cannot forget that loving those who love us is the easy bit. The challenge we face is loving our enemies. Without that component, we are just another point of view in a chaotic cacophony of loud voices – a noisy gong, a clanging symbol, a motorcycle with loud pipes and a louder stereo. So perhaps a good exercise for us would be to start in the laboratory of our own congregation. To speak and listen for understanding and consensus, and be lovingly and joyfully defiant for the sake of a just world.
Amen.
Pastor Davis Sickelka, Interim Pastor
Pastor Dave’s Schedule for May
Due to various meetings and family obligations, Pastor Dave will be in Flint on the following days:
Week of May 8th : Tuesday and Wednesday
Week of May 15th : Out of Town
Week of May 22nd: Tuesday and Wednesday
Week of May 29th : Tuesday and Wednesday
If you would like to make an appointment to speak to Pastor Dave in person, please call the church office at (810)767-4911 between 10:00 and 2:00 M-F, or email him at david.sickelka@peopleschurchofflint.org. If you have an urgent need for pastoral care outside of office hours, text or phone (515)720-6389.
less is best
The roads around where I live are full of potholes and in rotten shape. A few years ago some of my neighbors managed to get 51% of other neighbors who have curb cuts onto the main street connecting us to sign a petition to the township to repair our section of the decrepit street. Door to door we went meeting many baby-boomers and a number of others much younger. This was the only way to get the road rebuilt. The number of times we heard, “It isn’t my problem. Let the next owner worry about it,” is disheartening. Many did not what to hear about how we created the problem. Maybe we should be responsible and take care of it, not passing it on to another generation.
This memory comes to my mind as I write these articles and think about the monstrous damage we have done to the environment. The environment needs a human response of caring, responsibility and sacrifice, not a constant whine of lo que será, será accompanied by a callous shoulder shrug. The enormity of the environmental challenge is enough to overwhelm the boldest and most courageous earth stewards. We need to remember that each of us can’t do it all alone. Neither can the whole body of human effort do it all without us.
Constantly keeping in mind that less is best is a good place to start and stay awhile for each individual. Efforts are being made on the UCC Synod, Conference, Association and even local church levels to encourage us to reduce our meat eating. This effort needs some muscle and guess what each and every one of us are pieces of the muscle that is required. Do what you can. Do something. But don’t pass the responsibility for what you should do off to the next generation. Start with a little (have at least two meatless day a week) and work up. You can do it if you are not already.
For some practical reason to do less consider this article, “Let’s Talk About the Biggest Cause of the West’s Water Crisis” (https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/23655640/colorado-river-water-alfalfa-dairy-beef-meat). The decreasing water levels in the Colorado River are but a drop in the bucket (so to speak) in the global experience of melting ice sheets at both poles, Midwestern and European flooding along major rivers (https://watchers.news /2023/01/23/widespread-floods-across-europe/) and rising sea levels. Yet the Colorado River Story is devastating. Take a peek yourself by clicking on the link.
“A number of short-term solutions should be enough to help Colorado River states get through the next few years…But it won’t be enough to simply change farming practices in the Western US, as Ruddell, a co-author of the Nature Sustainability paper, noted to me.
That means altering the demand side of the water supply-demand equation and shifting diets globally to foods that use less H2O, which ultimately means less meat and dairy, as well as fewer water-intensive tree nuts like almonds, pistachios, and cashews (nut milks, however, require much less water to produce than cow’s milk).
Agriculture isn’t just the largest user of water in the Southwestern US, it’s the largest globally, consuming 70 percent of freshwater withdrawals. And what we need in the Southwest and beyond isn’t just climate adaptation, but dietary adaptation.” (quote from the Colorado River link above)
Here is a link to How to Eat Less Meat. Start small (with less) if that is where you are. In any case, be a part of the solution that our generation of humanity offers, not a part of the problem the world faces.
Kendall Brown, for the Creation Justice Team
Good Things Happening in and around us
The Neighborhood Welcome Program…Has been open for about a month and is quickly gathering steam. From five visitors the first week we now have a dozen plus regulars and expect to grow as weather gets better and word continues to spread. We are open from 11am to 1pm, Tues & Thurs. A few of our guests are showing up for worship and making themselves at home on Sundays by helping with after-worship pickup. There is a two pronged plan for the program:
First, to minister to people in our neighborhood by offering warm shelter space (winter) and a cool place all year for companionship, conversation and finding Christ’s love.
Second, to give our members place to be present, visible and interactive with our neighbors - all essential if our mission is to grow and for us to be Intentionality Incarnational.
Join in anytime just to have coffee and good conversation with new friends. Also, we already could use more volunteers. Kendall Brown, Jay Cummings and Rett McAllister will be delighted to hear from you.”
It was good to see you all yesterday. Thanks Kendall.
The Search Committee Update... A couple weeks ago Peoples Church acted as a neutral pulpit for another congregation. This may have caused some concern. Let me assure you that when we get to the point where we are ready to introduce a candidate to our congregation, we will announce it clearly.
The process of finding a new Pastor is a long, careful. and deliberate journey. We are just beginning the process of getting to know a few candidates who have expressed interest in People’s Church. This will entail a zoom meeting to get to know them and help us determine whether to move forward with a more formal interview.
At the point that we feel we have found one or two candidates that really seem to fit, we will ask them to preach in a neutral pulpit. This will include the search committee members only, giving us a good idea of how the person interacts with a congregation. This would give both the candidate and our team the opportunity to talk freely about Peoples Church, the Flint area, and how we might find our path forward together.
Dee Johnson, Member of the Search Committee
Plaza Event Planner…The Patio & Grounds Committee is looking for a volunteer to act as an Event Planner. This person along with the P&G Committee will conceptualize, schedule and organize events to be held on the Plaza. If you’re interested in volunteering please see Dale Emery.
Join us by clicking the adjacent link: Book Group Zoom Link:
Upcoming Affiliate & Community Activities
IN THE CONGREGATION
Links are on the church calendar. Need more info? Just ask!
Links are on the church calendar: t.ly/ALHB. Need more info? Just ask!
Adult Forum, meets at 9:30 am on Sunday’s. Starting Sunday, March 19th we will be reading The 1619 Project by Nikole Hannah-Jones. Join us either in person at church or via Zoom .
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!