November 17, 2023

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

“Sing to our God with Thanksgiving; sing praise with the harp of our God –

who covers the heavens with clouds, who provides rain for the earth,

who makes grass sprout on the mountains and herbs for the service of the people,

who gives food to the cattle, and to the young ravens when they cry.

God does not thrill to the strength of the horse, or revel in the fleetness of humans.

YHWH delights in those who worship with reverence and put their hope in divine love.” 

   Psalms 147:7-11 (The Inclusive Bible)

We have, for too long, entrusted the development of church doctrine to those who had a vested interest in codifying God’s Word. That is, to people who were very good and making rules and “constructing” theological systems. For several hundred years, seminaries required their students to take “Systematics” or “constructive” theology. It was all supposed to fit together neatly in a way that could guide the thoughts and actions of believers and keep them from   committing sin. And it was all very academic. Which is not to say it wasn’t important or relevant, but rather that it focused the rational and the logical.

What got neglected in this approach was the heart and the spirit. And what got undue emphasis was the idea that humans have “dominion” or “rule” over what God has created. When the environmental movement began to gain traction, through Earth Day and legislation establishing the EPA, churches were caught flat-footed. We couldn’t construct a Creation Theology that would negate the role of humans in following the rules, and we had no rules about taking care of creation. We thought that the land and the people on it were ours to dispose of as we wanted. Even now, we are often confronted with understandings of religion that give us carte blanche in the decisions about natural resources.

That’s why I like turning to the Psalms periodically. The Psalms make it clear that what we see around us does not belong to us, at least not unconditionally. In the passage above, the Psalmist makes it clear that it is God who provides for creation, it is God who sustains life, it is God that keeps it all in balance. And our role? To worship this God in reverence. To sing praise to God with thanksgiving. To put our hope in this God’s divine love. There is nothing logical about this. We cannot create a rule-based system that will induce our thanksgiving. It is something that must spring forth from our hearts. And our hearts will not generate this kind of praise by means of an academic exercise. In my experience, it is most likely to happen when we join a community of believers who tell their stories of what God has done for them.

When that happens, the heart swells! When that happens, the songs burst forth! When that happens, the only explaining we need to do is that we have put our hope in God’s divine love, and we have not been disappointed. We may go through tough times. It may be hard for us to keep faith.  But just look around at all that God is providing! Think about the possibilities that lay before us in this neighborhood among God’s most vulnerable Children! And what do we have to offer? Divine Love. And if God’s love is at the heart of all that we say and do, then how can we fail? So sing to our God with thanksgiving! Amen.

           Pastor Davis Sickelka, Interim Pastor 

 Pastor Dave’s Schedule

Pastor Dave will be in the office on Saturday, Nov. 18, Tuesday, November 21 and Wednesday, November 22. He will not be in Flint the week following Thanksgiving Due to an expected arrival of another grandchild. Please keep all involved in the delivery in your prayers. Always call to make sure he’s around before coming to the office because a pastor’s schedule is always in flux.

 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                                           davidsickelka@peopleschurchofflint.org. If you have an urgent need for pastoral care outside of office hours, text or phone (515)720-6389.

Good Things Happening in and around us

 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 Sundays. We’re currently reading Tears Dry & Wounds Heal by Leon El-Alamin. Join us either in person at church or just click HERE to join us virtually. 

 Vigil for Racial Justice is still gathering 1-2 pm Thursdays on the Genesee Courthouse lawn.

Text Alerts are available, go here to sign up!

November 03, 2023

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

Presbyters (elders) who do their work well are to be doubly honored, especially those who preach and teach. For scripture says, “Don’t muzzle the ox while it is threshing the grain,” and “Workers deserve their wages.”

  Timothy 5:17-18  (The Inclusive Bible)

So I set out to give you all a standard stewardship message. I have a whole file of them and let’s face it, the principals involved in making decisions about our tithes and offerings don’t change all that much over the years. It’s a matter of considering what resources we are entrusted with, what needs have to be met, and what God is calling us to do. Nothing really earth-shaking in any of that….well, God, I guess. God can be earth-shaking. And we, as a congregation, are facing something that makes this stewardship campaign a little different.

We are on the cusp of extending a call to the person who will be the next minister of Peoples Church. And a big part of that decision is hiring a full-time employee (That’s how clergy are   classified by the IRS). By doing so, a congregation takes on the responsibility of providing for the person’s livelihood (as Paul suggested to Timothy 2 millennia ago). But this is more than just a Human Resources issue. Yes there are wages and benefits to consider, but also the minister’s sense of call and their professional development. It involves the tacit understanding that when your leader leads, people will follow (or at least not throw up roadblocks!) It involves respecting the work and wisdom your minister offers, as well as the need for rest and Sabbath time.

You will be stewards of a new relationship, and it will entail learning what is essential for a new person’s life to flourish and bear fruit. There will be new rhythms to this ministry and new gifts to apply to the work.  Supporting this work may require that you adjust your assumptions about what a minister is. You may have to make some changes in order to provide a safe and healthy work environment and learn a new set of worship orders. Your new “elder” (to use Paul’s parlance) will serve this church best if they are able to thrive in this position, and if every member of their household thrives as well.

One of the maxims about stewardship is that “Money follows mission.” That is, if a cause or  endeavor captures the essence of what people care about and animates their lives, then they will be much more likely to put time and energy and resources into that effort. We are soon  going to be asked to make a commitment, but it won’t just be spoken words and written agreements. It will require an investment. It will include financial and material support, but also emotional and spiritual support. It will include the risk of being vulnerable and sharing the joys and losses of life. It will include a willingness to nurture healthy boundaries and interactions. And it will require faith…. Faith that God’s Spirit is at the heart of it all. For the covenant you are about to make is one that relies heavily on the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and our ability to  recognize it.

So be in prayer. Be attentive to what God is saying. Be open to a future that will require much of you. Because that is how congregations thrive and how each of us finds meaning in our lives. Amen.

          Pastor Davis Sickelka, Interim Pastor 

 Pastor Dave’s Schedule

Pastor Dave will be in the office Tuesdays and Wednesdays through November 22. He will be out of town the week of Nov. 27. Do call to make sure he’s around before coming because a pastor’s schedule is always in flux.

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:                                      davidsickelka@peopleschurchofflint.org. If you have an urgent need for pastoral care outside of office hours, text or phone (515)720-6389.

Good Things Happening in and around us

 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 Sundays. We’re currently reading Tears Dry & Wounds Heal by Leon El-Alamin. Join us either in person at church or just click HERE to join us virtually. 

 Vigil for Racial Justice is still gathering 1-2 pm Thursdays on the Genesee Courthouse lawn.

Text Alerts are available, go here to sign up!

October 20, 2023

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

Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought of what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine. I will repay, says the Lord.”

 Romans 12:17-19 (The New Revised Standard Version)

Since my last article, the world has changed. A fragile truce (we can’t really call it peace) was broken by hordes of HAMAS militants breaking through the barrier between Palestine and Israel, and conducting a terror campaign of murder, kidnapping and violation. In response, Israel launched rockets and bombarded Gaza into mostly rubble. Hundreds (perhaps by the time you read this it will be thousands) are dead on both sides. My heart aches…..again. I have dear friends who are Jewish, and I feel their pain, their frustration, their rage. I also know people who are connected to the Palestinians. And I know many who have been working for a solution to the “Palestinian Question,” committing time and energy and passion to that effort. And now it seems that the future is bleak. There are, at this writing (October 13) ultimatums and defiance being exchanged. Israeli leaders have promised vengeance. And leaders of other countries, the U.S. included, want to assert their friendship with Israel.

 But we in the U.S. have been down this road ourselves. In the agonizing days after 9-11, we turned our grief into retribution. We struck back hard, even in places that had nothing to do with the terrorist attacks, entangling our military in Afghanistan and Iraq. Our efforts to plant a new government there were futile and our exit from Afghanistan was a humiliation. If we would be a friend to Israel, perhaps, as we cry and lament the calamity that has befallen them, we should put our cultural arms around them, look them in the eye through tears and say, “This is not the way.”

 And no, I cannot put myself in their shoes. I have no frame of reference that gives me any insight as to what it is like to be the victim of genocide. I do not have parts of my family tree that were erased by Hitler’s “Final Solution.” But I do have some branches that were cut off by WWI. And I firmly believe that war is not what God wants. And I am deeply committed to making peace in this world…a peace that is more than the absence of violence. It must include justice and security, the right to exist and the right to move about freely, access to an economy that allows for prosperity. In short, Shalom.

 Make no mistake, HAMAS, and now Hezbollah should be made to answer for their crimes, and the Arab nations ought to be at the forefront of that effort. But for now, it is time to stop the shedding of innocent blood….no matter who is inflicting the wounds.

         Pastor Davis Sickelka, Interim Pastor 

 Pastor Dave’s Schedule

Pastor Dave will be in the office Tuesdays and Wednesdays through October. Do call to make sure he’s around before coming because a pastor’s schedule is always in flux.

 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                            davidsickelka@peopleschurchofflint.org. If you have an urgent need for pastoral care outside of office hours, text or phone (515)720-6389.

Good Things Happening in and around us

Neighborhood Welcome...

OSA has decided to end our Tuesday and Thursday coffee and donuts Neighbors Welcome at the end of October.  Some people have mentioned an interest in continuing with a different activity for the winter season.  Please contact me if you have an idea for or interest in continuing to engage with our neighbors during the winter.

Karen Eaton 810-288-9036 

 Hat, Mitten & Sock Tree…

From now until  Sunday, December 17th. The church will be accepting donations of winter hats, mittens/gloves  and socks  to be placed on a Christmas tree until the time they are to be given away.  If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact  Jay Cummings  or the church office.

 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!

NEW Adult Forum Book… Starting this Sunday, August 13th, at 9:30 am we will be reading           White Evangelical Racism: The Politics of Morality in America, by Anthea D. Butler. . 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.

Text Alerts are available, go here to sign up!

October 06, 2023

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

Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, to be like us. Let them be stewards of the fish in the sea, the birds of the air, the cattle, the wild animals, and everything that crawls on the ground.” God looked at all of this creation, and proclaimed that this was good – very good.

   (Genesis 1:26, 31 The Inclusive Bible)

The Neighbors in Need offering, which we will receive during the month of October, supports the UCC’s ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. Two-thirds of the offering is used by the UCC’s Justice and Witness Ministries to fund a wide array of local and national justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and direct service projects. Through our national Justice and Local Church Ministries office, https://tinyurl.com/2bfytatb, you can find resources, news updates, and action alerts on a broad spectrum of justice issues.

Working with members of the UCC Justice and Peace Action Network (a network of thousands of UCC justice and peace advocates), Justice and Witness continues its strong policy advocacy work on issues such as the federal budget, voting rights, immigration, health care, hate crimes, civil liberties, and environmental justice. Neighbors in Need also supports our American Indian  neighbors in the UCC. One-third of the offering supports the UCC’s Council for American Indian Ministries (CAIM).

 Historically, forebears of the UCC established churches and worked with Lakota, Dakota, Nakota, Mandan, Hidatsa, Arickara, and Hocak in North and South Dakota, Wisconsin, and northern   Nebraska. Today there are 20 UCC congregations on reservations and one urban, multi-tribal UCC congregation in Minneapolis, Minnesota. These churches and their pastors are supported by CAIM. CAIM is also an invaluable resource for more than 1,000 individuals from dozens of other tribes and nations who are members of other UCC congregations in the U.S 

 As we pool our resources and contribute to this annual offering, we affirm the blessing of God on Creation. The grants from this fund go a long way toward making that blessing a reality for many who suffer from the results of our carelessness with creation. And as with most things these days, you can make your contribution online at ucc.org/nin.

        Pastor Davis Sickelka, Interim Pastor 

 Pastor Dave’s Schedule

Pastor Dave will be in the office Tuesdays and Wednesdays through October, with the exception of Oct. 18. Do call to make sure he’s around before coming because a pastor’s   schedule is always in flux.

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                            davidsickelka@peopleschurchofflint.org. If you have an urgent need for pastoral care outside of office hours, text or phone (515)720-6389.

     Froggy Faith by Phiwa Langeni

( from the “Daily Devotional “ shared by Leslie Cummings)

 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” – John 6:35 (CEB)

 The backyard pond I inherited is the best thought detangler and distractor. The dozen or so goldfish playfully weave themselves between each other and the aquatic flora decorating and oxygenating their home. Amongst the fish and plants, I’ve  discovered three frogs that also hang out in and around the pond. Sometimes they’re sunbathing on the ledge of a rock or, my favorite, floating with relaxed limbs in the water with just their bubble-like eyes above the surface.

 The internet quenched my additional curiosities about frogs. For example, did you know that frogs don’t drink water? Instead, they hydrate by absorbing the water they need through their skin. Because of this, their environment is crucial for their health. It’s important for them to be near clean water. If the water is dirty or has too much salt, that could be dangerous or even fatal for the frog.

 My latest ponderments have me wondering about the various ways we humanfolk satisfy our thirsts. Beyond regularly drinking an appropriate amount of water, how are we intentionally cocreating environments that support and sustain health for ourselves and the world around us? How are we bettering the many forms of life in our care? What unexpected discoveries invite us into frivolous curiosity and restorative rest?

 Indeed, may these enigmatic amphibians and the world around them plunge us more deeply into faithful engagements with and in ours.

 Prayer

Oh, that we might be purposefully quenched by your living waters! Whether tending or being tended to, embolden us to satiate your desire for a just world for all.

Good Things Happening in and around us

Neighborhood Welcome...

OSA has decided to end our Tuesday and Thursday coffee and donuts Neighbors Welcome at the end of October.  Some people have mentioned an interest in continuing with a different activity for the winter season.  Please contact me if you have an idea for or interest in continuing to engage with our neighbors during the winter.

Karen Eaton 810-288-9036 

 Hat, Mitten & Sock Tree…

From now until  Sunday, December 17th. The church will be accepting donations of winter hats, mittens/gloves  and socks  to be placed on a Christmas tree until the time they are to be given away.  If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact  Jay Cummings  or the church office.

 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!

NEW Adult Forum Book… Starting this Sunday, August 13th, at 9:30 am we will be reading           White Evangelical Racism: The Politics of Morality in America, by Anthea D. Butler. . 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.

Text Alerts are available, go here to sign up!

September 22, 2023

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

My sisters and brothers, what good is it to profess faith without practicing it?

Such faith has no power to save.

If any are in need of clothes and have no food to live on, and one of you says to them,

“Goodbye and good luck.

Stay warm and well-fed,” without giving them the bare necessities of life, then what good is this?

So it is with faith. If good deeds don’t go with it, faith is dead.

  (James 2:12-14,The Inclusive Bible)

Christians have a hard time with “works.” We learn, from those who have gone before us and from wise saints among us now, that God’s grace is a gift, and that no one can “earn” their way into heaven by good deeds. It is a matter of faith and trust that salvation comes to us. But at the same time, Matthew 25 tells us that if we ignore the needs of “the least of these” we have ignored Jesus. The parable of the Good Samaritan tells us that stopping to help is the way that we “prove neighbor” to those who need us, fulfilling the requirement to love our neighbors.

Part of the difficulty, I think, is that for hundreds of years the Protestant/Catholic divide encouraged us to adopt an “us/them” attitude. Protestants pointed to the rituals and sacraments of “the Mother Church” as evidence that they did not believe in grace. Catholics looked at married clergy and the abandonment of tradition as evidence that Protestants were not part of the fold, and so, outside of God’s grace. It is way more complicated than that, but the point is, we wrestle still with how to embody our faith without making that embodiment a condition of God’s love.

We at Peoples Church have taken seriously the words of James quoted above. We understand the importance of acting in the world with compassion and justice. We put our faith into practice by providing for those in need. We regularly hand out bus passes, food, water, coffee, donuts, and smiles. We remember the names and family members of those we help. We pay utility bills, rent, and medical bills for those who can’t afford to do it on their own. The primary fund for that is the Pastor’s discretionary fund, and we encourage all of our folk to support it with special gifts. The need for this resource is deep and ongoing.

But that is not what makes us God’s people. It does not get us into heaven or out of hell. It is mostly a response to knowing who and whose we are. We have the means to help and we follow a Savior who gave us the revelation of how loving others is supposed to work. So if the God who first loved us, who refuses to give up on us, who enriches our lives with grace and peace has shown us how important it is to love others, then why on earth would we not do that? And how better to do that than to give others what they need?

So we can assert that salvation is the free gift to all God’s children and at the same time affirm that “works,” or acts or charity still are the sign and evidence of a life of faith. May God bless all of our sharing so that faith might grow. Amen.

       Pastor Davis Sickelka, Interim Pastor 

 Pastor Dave’s Schedule

Pastor Dave will be in the office Tuesdays and Wednesdays through Sept. and Oct. but do call to make sure he’s around before coming because a pastor’s schedule is always in flux.

 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                            davidsickelka@peopleschurchofflint.org. If you have an urgent need for pastoral care outside of office hours, text or phone (515)720-6389.

   Narcan Administration Training

 “The Narcan administration training that was scheduled for September 17th will be held this Sunday, September 24th instead following our worship service (with allowance for time to get coffee and snacks!!!)

If you are someone who helps on the plaza or who deals with the public in your community, this training can be of great help to you and the people you serve. The training only takes 30-45 minutes.”

Thanks, Pastor Dave

Good Things Happening in and around us

 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!

NEW Adult Forum Book… Starting this Sunday, August 13th, at 9:30 am we will be reading           White Evangelical Racism: The Politics of Morality in America, by Anthea D. Butler. . 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.

Text Alerts are available, go here to sign up!

September 08, 2023

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

I, Wisdom, am the habitat of sound judgment; the source of clear thinking.

To revere YHWH is to abhor evil.

I despise pride and arrogance, corrupt behavior and deceptive words.

I have good counsel and sound judgment; I have understanding and power as well.  Rulers reign because of me, and administrators issue just judgments.

Because of me governors govern well, and the noble apply justice.

I love those who love me; and those who seek me out zealously find me.

 (Proverbs 8:12-17,The Inclusive Bible)

Over the years, I have written many “Back to School” articles for newsletters. The process of educating our children (and many of our adults) is so complicated and life-changing, that a whole lot of time, energy and resources is devoted to it. Every household with school-aged   children has to buy supplies, clothes, lunch tickets and candy bars (to fund band trips and athletic teams). It is clear that we still value educating our kids, no matter what the political  pundits say.

 But this year, I am more inclined to point to something more useful to all of us than a formal education – wisdom. In the Hebrew scriptures, Wisdom is personified, always as a woman calling to those who are “simple” or “foolish.” There is a whole category of literature in our scripture that has the label of “Wisdom.” Proverbs is in that category. It reminds us that while it is important to develop our intellect, we must also pay attention to how we use it. Human history is checkered with the horrors of experimentation on humans, the enslavement of humans, the exploitation of living things and the earth itself. We continue to launch into space the machines created by some very smart people but give no thought to the dangers all of that space junk poses for future launches.

 The exercise of the intellect without wisdom is a recipe for disaster. And yet, we do not seem to value wisdom. We rush to develop technologies for self-driving vehicles and artificial intelligence with little reflection on how such technology may impact our culture.

 Wisdom, says the Proverb, loves those who love her, and can be found by those who zealously seek her. I hope and pray that all of those who are engaged in formal education develop a love of learning and, more importantly, a love of wisdom. Amen.

       Pastor Davis Sickelka, Interim Pastor 

 Pastor Dave’s Schedule

 Pastor Dave will be out of town September 8-15. He plans to be in the office Sept. 19, 20, 26 and 27 but do call to make sure he’s around before coming because a pastor’s schedule is always in flux.

 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                            davidsickelka@peopleschurchofflint.org. If you have an urgent need for pastoral care outside of office hours, text or phone (515)720-6389.

Good Things Happening in and around us

 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!

NEW Adult Forum Book… Starting this Sunday, August 13th, at 9:30 am we will be reading           White Evangelical Racism: The Politics of Morality in America, by Anthea D. Butler. . 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.

Text Alerts are available, go here to sign up!

August 25, 2023

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

“Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in   prison, as though you were in   prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured”

(Hebrews 13:1-3, NRSV)

As the Letter to the Hebrews draws to a close, its author (we don’t know who wrote it) wants to impart some last words of advice and blessing. I find it to be good advice for our time as much as it must have been back then: Love each other, be hospitable to people you don’t even know, don’t forget about people who are incarcerated or are being tortured.

In our society, like a lot of others, there seems to be an expectation that when someone gets a prison sentence, they no longer deserve our care or attention. The same thing happens when the elderly go into a care facility….out of sight out of mind. But there is nothing in our religious traditions that encourages this forgetfulness. In fact, it seems that scripture depicts God as being especially attentive to the prayers of the incarcerated. The Hebrew word for “redeemer” implies that God functions as the one who buys the freedom of the prisoners, not exactly like paying bail, but not too far from it.

In our congregation, we pray every Sunday for our members who are incarcerated. We don’t identify them as such, but we do say their names. I’m wondering now if not identifying their situation is a good idea. How can we remember them as if we are with prison with them if we don’t know that’s why they are on our prayer list? How can we support their families, advocate for their rights, work for their release, if we don’t know they are there?

Elsewhere in this edition, you will see a promotion for a Rally in Support of 2nd Look legislation. It is a proposed change in our state laws to provide a mechanism for the review of the sentences of those who are serving life without parole. The need for such changes is partly due to mandatory sentencing requirements that were often inappropriate, partly due to advances in our understanding of brain development, and partly due to cases in which there is clearly rehabilitation of the offender. The proposed legislation would not automatically let people out of prison, just provide for a review of sentences and a consideration of changes in how we view potential risks and weigh them against the individual’s maturity and rehabilitation. Collectively, we can decide what is the best path forward for all involved.

Peoples Church is hosting the rally because this is a justice issue that doesn’t get much press, due to the stigma and fear that attaches to those who we sent into the prison system. But if we remember them, remember them as if we were in prison with them, we might think about this differently.

So the next time we join together in prayer on a Sunday morning (or whenever you access the recorded version), pay special attention to the names Lawon, Mark, Gabriel, Jamie and Myreon, (Earl is still on our list, but is now paroled.) and remember them as if you were in prison with them. Amen.

      Pastor Davis Sickelka, Interim Pastor 

 Pastor Dave’s Schedule

Pastor Dave will be out of town August 24-30 to attend a class reunion. He will also be out of town September 8-14. He plans to be in the office Sept. 5, 6, 19 and 20, but do call to make sure he’s around before coming because a pastor’s schedule is always in flux.

 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                            davidsickelka@peopleschurchofflint.org. If you have an urgent need for pastoral care outside of office hours, text or phone (515)720-6389.

Good Things Happening in and around us

 Upcoming Affiliate & Community Activities

National Lifers of America, Inc. is at Flint Michigan.

Drawing inspiration from the success of our Local Chapter 1024 and the impactful Citizens for Second Look event on July 22 in Detroit, we're thrilled to announce our upcoming event at the Peoples Church of Flint, located at 503 Garland Street, Flint.

Prepare for an engaging and enlightening day with an impressive lineup of speakers including, but not limited to, Representative O’Neal, Johnell Allen-Bey, Leon El Alamin, Lorenzo Harrell, Jack Wagner, and Gregory Wines. And guess what? We're keeping our Emcee under wraps for now – stay tuned for the exciting reveal!

Expect much more than just talks – there will be giveaways, children's activities, and even clothing up for grabs. Join us as we dive into Second Look Legislation, fostering both education and community interaction. Our events thrive on community   involvement, and we look forward to welcoming individuals from all walks of life on Saturday, September 16, from 11 am to 1:30 pm.

Be a part of the movement for criminal legal reform – show your support, relish complimentary hamburgers, hotdogs, chips, and beverages, and engage with your community while learning about the importance of Second Look legislation.

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!

NEW Adult Forum Book… Starting this Sunday, August 13th, at 9:30 am we will be reading           White Evangelical Racism: The Politics of Morality in America, by Anthea D. Butler. . 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.

Text Alerts are available, go here to sign up!

August 11, 2023

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

“Don’t you even fear God? We are only paying the price for what we have done, but this one has done nothing wrong!”

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your glory.”

   (Luke 23:40b-43, The Inclusive Bible)

His name was Kevin Wagner and August 23rd will mark the first anniversary of his death. He died on our plaza just outside the door of our main entrance. I realized recently that many of our members never knew about this, so I thought I ought to make you all aware of it.  He died of toxic levels of cocaine and fentanyl in his body – an overdose. His death, like most deaths of this type, was ruled an accident. We might quibble about that, assuming that he chose to put those substances in his own body, in effect taking his own life, or that someone laced his cocaine with the fentanyl, poisoning him with at least depraved indifference (I am a fan of Law & Order so I know these things). But for now, the ruling of the M.E. stands. Accidental Death…preventable for sure…but accidental.

 Kevin’s death was witnessed by people across the street and it upset them terribly. Death is  always hard to see, even when it is a “welcome” relief. Our neighbors saw it and some thought we should not have subjected them to it. That is understandable. It was also captured by our security cameras. So some of us saw it after the fact. It was hard for us to watch as well.

Luke preserves for us an exchange between two thieves and Jesus, all crucified together outside the gates of Jerusalem. One of the thieves derides Jesus, expecting that if he was who he claimed to be, he ought to stop their suffering and save them. The other thief intervenes, resigned to his fate and accepting responsibility for his own end. But then he adds something odd: “Remember me,” he says to Jesus, “When you come into your glory.” (Some translations say “Kingdom.”). It’s odd because Jesus is in the same predicament they are! He is hanging on a cross, about to die. Does the second thief believe in resurrection? Does he think God will swoop down and rescue Jesus? Why is it important that he be remembered, if not spared death?

 Culturally, most Jews of that time understood that being remembered was the same as continuing to live. That’s why oral versions of genealogy were incorporated into written scripture. The worst thing that could happen to a Jew was to die without anyone to remember them – to be “Cut off” from the community. Today, we do our remembering differently. We place headstones in cemeteries and we create monuments and endow scholarships, but most of us do hope, even if that hope is a little irrational, that we will be remembered.

So I’ve made a note to myself for August 23rd. I’ll probably step out onto the plaza for a few  moments and remember Kevin….someone I don’t think I even met….and I’ll probably say a  prayer and think about people struggling with addictions and with being without a place to sleep.

And I’ll be more attentive to the signs that Jesus is coming into his glory. Amen.

     Pastor Davis Sickelka, Interim Pastor 

 Pastor Dave’s Schedule for august

Pastor Dave will be in Flint on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for the next couple of weeks, but will be out of town August 24-30 to attend a class reunion. Always call to make sure he’s around before coming because a pastor’s schedule is always in flux.

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 davidsickelka@peopleschurchofflint.org. If you have an urgent need for pastoral care outside of office hours, text or phone (515)720-6389.

Good Things Happening in and around us

Michigan Conference Minister to Speak at Peoples Church of Flint

The Rev. Dr. Lillian Daniel  will speak at the regular service of worship at Peoples Church on this coming Sunday, August 13th. Rev. Dr. Daniel routinely visits and preaches at the worship services of the churches of the Michigan Conference of the United Church of Christ. Peoples Church is especially aware of the benefits of being connected to our denominations as we continue in the search process for our new minister. Please plan to be in attendance on this Sunday to hear a message of hope and inspiration.

 Pastor Search Committee Update...The search continues, even on lazy hot summer days!

We are actively reviewing resumes and Zooming with candidates. The process of discernment - finding a match between a Pastor and our congregation that allows both to grow and become something new - is hard and joyful at the same time.

We find ourselves challenged. We are learning, growing, and finding ways to be open so we can move forward with love and honesty as we journey together.

We are grateful for your support, prayers, and patience while we continue along this path to new beginnings.

 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!

NEW Adult Forum Book… Starting this Sunday, August 13th, at 9:30 am we will be reading           White Evangelical Racism: The Politics of Morality in America, by Anthea D. Butler. . 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.

Text Alerts are available, go here to sign up!

July 28, 2023

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

“A voice commands, “Cry out!” and I answer, “What will I say?”

“All flesh is grass and its beauty is like the wildflowers:

The grass withers and the flower wilts when the breath of YHWH blows on them. How the people are like grass! Grass withers and flowers wilt,

But the promise of our God will stand forever.”

   (Isaiah 40:6-8, The Inclusive Bible)

It’s about the time of year that I begin to count on a little bit of a reprieve from yard work. The heat of summer induces dormancy in the grass, even if it stays green. It doesn’t grow as fast and my once-a-week mowing drops back to every 10-14 days. The hedges are trimmed by now and the gardens are shifting from needing to be weeded to needing to be dead-headed. And it gets hot. If there are still any climate change deniers out there, I invite them to come and work in my yard, or better yet, go to the fields in California and risk their lives alongside the farm workers, who can’t afford NOT to be in the furnace that our atmosphere has become. The heat domes are no longer limited to desserts and equatorial locations, but are wreaking havoc in the meccas of retirement communities and European vacation spots like Corfu and Greece. The sun has  become a threat to our lives instead of the source of life!

The 40th Chapter of Isaiah is apt for us to read in this climate of change. It begins what most  Bible nerds refer to as Second Isaiah, and yes, I quoted it last month also (Thanks for noticing). Judah was still reeling from a national disaster: a devastating war, a siege of Jerusalem, starvation and disease and deportation. They had seen the destruction of the city of Jerusalem and the destruction of their beloved Temple. First Isaiah saw it coming and spoke a message of God’s judgment – the same God that blessed them with life now cursed them with death – or so it seemed.

Second Isaiah brings a message that opens the possibility of a different understanding. God is offering vindication, a new beginning, a path in the wilderness. Isaiah-the-second is charged with a task: “Cry out!” The Prophet’s response is (like mine on many a Saturday night!) “What will I say?” And then, the text becomes ambiguous. We cannot be sure if what follows is God’s answer to the Prophet or if the Prophet continues ruminating on the futility of life. Grass fades, flowers wither, the breath (or Spirit or wind) of God is incompatible with life! How the people are like grass before God’s angry judgment. But the judgment is not the last word, and maybe wasn’t even there when the worst possible thing came to be. In the heat of the moment, it seemed a lot like judgment, but now, maybe…just maybe, we mistook misfortune and tragedy for God’s punishment.

Peoples Church has had its share of misfortune. You all know more about that than I do. It may seem as though there is a judgment connected with that, when in fact, it is more about the opportunities that have been opened for us. Whatever we might have lost or left behind, the “word” or “promise” of God has never left us!

So while the grass and flowers may have wilted a bit (or a lot) in the intensity of the summer heat, there is still work to do! There are still people who need to hear the message of hope that we carry. There are still people who languish in prisons of the criminal justice system, of the chains of violence and addiction, of the callousness of systems and structures that dehumanize them. There are still people who know only judgment from those who carry the banner of religion. It is our job to raise our voices and say, “Here is your God!”  Amen.

    Pastor Davis Sickelka, Interim Pastor 

 Pastor Dave’s Schedule for august

Pastor Dave will be in Flint on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for the first three weeks of August. Please do call the church office to make sure, because a pastor’s schedule is always in flux.

If you would like to make an appointment to speak to Pastor Dave in person, please call the church office at (810)767-491 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.

Good Things Happening in and around us

 Michigan Conference Minister to Speak at Peoples Church of Flint…

The Rev. Dr. Lillian Daniel  will speak at the regular service of worship at Peoples Church on Sunday, August 13th. Rev. Dr. Daniel routinely visits and preaches at the worship services of the churches of the Michigan Conference of the United Church of Christ. Peoples Church is especially aware of the benefits of being connected to our denominations as we continue in the search process for our new minister. Please plan to be in attendance on Sunday, August 13th to hear a message of hope and inspiration.

 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!

July 14, 2023

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

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? YHWH is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. This God does not faint or grow weary; with a depth of understanding that is unsearchable. God gives strength to the weary, and empowers the powerless. Young women may grow tired and weary, young men may stumble and fall, but those who wait for YHWH find a  renewed power: they soar on eagles’ wings, they run and don’t get weary, they walk and never tire.”

 (Isaiah 40:28-31, The Inclusive Bible)

The middle of July is for the most part unremarkable. There are no holidays or celestial occurrences that give us reason to wonder at the mystery of creation. But for me, there is an anniversary that alters how I think about my role among you: It has been a year since I began working at Peoples Church as your interim minister. There is nothing inherently remarkable about that, except that the average search process takes about 18 months (That’s a pre-Covid number, so don’t hold me to it!). If Peoples Church holds to that average, and there is no reason to think that it won’t, then I don’t have a lot of time to tick off all the things on my to-do list! But then, I work better under pressure, so in the grand scheme of things, it’s all for the best!

The 40th Chapter of Isaiah is a good place to read for me at this time. It begins what most Bible nerds refer to as Second Isaiah. Second Isaiah was the Interim Prophet. There had been the worst possible disaster: a devastating war, a siege of Jerusalem, starvation and disease and   deportation. First Isaiah saw it coming and spoke a message of judgment. Second Isaiah saw the coming of a new era: the return of the exiles and a time of rebuilding. “Prepare the Way of the Lord, make straight a highway in the dessert, the exiles are coming home!” Now Peoples Church has not been through anything like what Judah had been through. A change in ministerial leadership is normal in the life of a congregation. But the congregation can feel a little like they are in exile in the time of transition. It is exhausting to have to defer programs and decisions to a nebulous and uncertain future. Decisions that can’t be put off have to be made provisionally, wasting precious volunteer time and energy.

So the message of Second Isaiah is apt: Wait on the Lord. It is not just a new minister that we are waiting for, it is the Creator of the ends of the earth, One who does not grow tired or weary or frustrated or anxious. Our job is to cultivate and exercise our faith, so that it remains strong, so that we can discern God’s will, so that we can tap into that vision of ministry that animates and excites us. In your Garland Declaration, you chose a passage (well, Jesus chose it first, but you chose it for your own) from Third Isaiah. You committed to the garland of flowers, the oil of gladness, a cloak of praise. I know it’s hard to remember that when you are bone tired and out of ideas or inspiration, but it is still who you aspire to be.

For my part, my work will gradually shift to preparing the way for the one God is sending. I will be making sure that the transition is a smooth one, that pastoral care needs, passwords, contact information and resources are readily available. But most of all, that you all are enthused and excited for what God is about to make happen as you put yourselves at God’s disposal. We are still waiting. There is a lot of work to be done. We have good and gifted people with their hearts in the right place and their shoulders to the wheel. With faith in the God who makes all things new. We forge ahead, making the most of the time we have, and looking forward to the time when we soar like eagles. Amen.

   Pastor Davis Sickelka, Interim Pastor 

 Pastor Dave’s Schedule for july

Pastor Dave will be in Flint on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Please do call the church office to make sure, because a pastor’s schedule is always in flux.

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.

  Join the Movement Toward Radical Justice

 Jay and I traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana June 30th to July 3rd for the UCC’s General Synod 34. Over 2000 people were gathered there.

As part of General Synod 34, there was a call to “Join the Movement”. The UCC is trying to become an antiracist church. Every setting of the UCC, from the local churches to global partners, has a role to play in expanding our practices of antiracism and strengthening our capacities as partners and participants in the burgeoning racial justice movements of our time. The movement for racial justice cannot be separated from faith commitments to do justice and love our neighbors. For information about this movement go to jointhemovementucc.org.

We attended a fundraiser dinner for Join the Movement which featured Ibram X. Kendi. He is the director of the Center for Antiracism Research at Boston University. He is also a history professor there. He wrote How to be an Antiracist which our Adult Forum group at Peoples Church has read. I have a video of his speech at Synod.

Another highlight was a luncheon we attended which had Bryan Stevenson as the speaker. He is the founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative which is a human rights organization. He wrote Just Mercy which is also a book the Adult Forum members have read. He is responsible for establishing the Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery,   Alabama which is also known as the Lynching Museum. Members of the Adult Forum at Peoples Church traveled to Montgomery several years ago to experience the memorial. Bryan Stevenson can be heard if you google his name or go to YOUTUBE. Also I have a video of his speech at Synod.

The keynote speaker was Nadia Bolz Webber. She was familiar because she spoke years ago at the Michigan Conference. She is a Lutheran pastor and founder of House of All Saints and Sinners in Denver, Colorado. She has written several books and is considered a public theologian. At that time we took several cars of youth from Woodside Church on Court Street to hear her in Lansing. The high school church school class then read one of her books.

We went to a committee hearing on the Resolution, “Encouraging Plant Based Living”. You may recall that Pastor Deb originated that resolution in the Michigan Conference. It did make it through the committee and was debated on the floor of the Synod. It was, however, rejected. The main point was for it to be discussed for delegates to learn about the issue.

The new General Minister and President of the UCC is Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson. She was introduced at one of the sessions we attended. She is very impressive. This will be the first time the UCC will be led by a black woman.

In 2025 General Synod will be in Kansas City. We hope to be there!

Leslie Cummings, for the Environmental Justice Team

Good Things Happening in and around us

 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.

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!