|
This Sunday we continue our reflections on the three seasons of Grace described by John Wesley and the United Methodist Tradition. Last week we reflected on prevenient grace (the grace that is previous to justifying grace -- calling us into God's Love). So this Sunday we will reflect on justifying grace. The UMC writes:
"Prevenient grace prepares us for justifying grace. 'Justification,' said Wesley, 'is another word for pardon. It is the forgiveness of all our sins, and ... our acceptance with God.' Justifying grace is the assurance of forgiveness that comes from repentance, from turning toward God's gracious gift of new life. It is being reconciled and realigned with God and the acceptance of God's atoning act in Jesus Christ..."
| | |
Wesley's description of his experience at Aldersgate Street on May 24, 1738, perhaps portrays the meaning of justifying grace: 'About a quarter before nine, while he [the leader] was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ. I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine and saved me from the law of sin and death.'
Realizing our identity and worth as being rooted in the one to whom we belong is the essence of justifying grace. To accept that identity is to enter the doorway into a whole new existence. It is an identity we can never earn, nor can it be taken from us. Continuing the analogy of the house, justifying grace is the doorway and the process of walking through it. The door is open with a welcome sign on it."
(https://www.resourceumc.org/en/content/a-wesleyan-understanding-of-grace)
| Have you ever experienced your heart strangely warmed and discovered the free gift of God's love and grace that you could not earn? On Sunday, we will explore a story in the Bible (John 8:2-11) where Jesus demonstrates this grace in his response to someone who has been labelled a 'sinner'. I imagine her heart was warmed by his love for her. Justifying grace reminds us that we do not deserve the grace of God, but God freely responds in grace to bring us back home to God's Love. What's ours to do is to respond to this grace. If we respond with receptivity to God, we are led into the next season of grace -- sanctifying grace (which we will explore on May 25th). The above image of this story is from https://www.patheos.com/blogs/lostinaoneacrewood/2019/03/27/adultery-jesus-writing-on-ground/. | | |
I hope you will join us this Sunday as we explore a beautiful story in scripture that teaches us about the gift of justifying grace.
Blessings,
Karla
| | |
May 25
In the liturgical calendar, Easter 6 is Rural Life Sunday. In the medieval church the days between Easter 6 and Ascension were called “Rogation Days”—Rogation being from the Latin word meaning prayer/to ask. Parishes dedicated time to pray for the earth and their fields as they prepared for sowing the season’s crop. In some places the whole parish would walk the boundaries of the fields and pray for blessing.
Whether a church is located in a rural, suburban, or urban context, Rural Life Sunday is an opportunity to explore the interconnectedness and interdependence of humans and creation and to wonder together about the right, loving relationship between people and the land.
In the United Church of Christ and other Protestant churches, Rogation Sunday is now known as Rural Life Sunday. On May 25, Zwingli will be observing Rural Life Sunday and praying for the fields and crops being planted or to be planted. If you like, bring a packet of seeds to symbolize all the seeds you are planting on your farm or in your garden -- or an image of cows, pigs, chickens, . . . to symbolize the animals you are raising. We will be placing them on our Celebrate Rural Life Sunday Table (like we did for Earth Day a few weeks ago).
We will also be focusing on the third period of Grace John Wesley taught: Sanctifying Grace. Please join us as we pray for your farms and that of all farmers, as well as celebrate God's sanctifying grace in our lives!
| |
Vacation Bible School for families
all ages welcome!
In joyful partnership, Grace UMC and First UCC Belleville invite you to ‘Waves of Wonder” Family Nights, a special Vacation Bible School for families, children and adults (and grandparents) of all ages!
Four evenings of fun, faith, and friendship will include a light dinner, music, bible stories, crafts and games. We hope you will join us for all or as many sessions as works for you. Bring your family and friends!
5:30-7:30 pm June 5, 9,11,and 12
at First United Church of Christ, 130 E Church St., Belleville
For more info or to register: phone: (608-424-3572) email: office@bellevillefirstucc.org
| |
An Invitation from the Wisconsin Conference to learn more about Immigration Concerns
Want to learn more about the immigration crisis? Sign up to attend “Immigration Update: How Faith Communities Can Be in Solidarity and Advocate for Immigrants,” a Zoom workshop scheduled by the Wisconsin Conference Immigration Working Group from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Monday, May 19. Aissa Olivarez, a lawyer with the Community Immigration Law Center in Madison, will provide an update on recent changes to U.S. immigration policy, discuss the best ways in which faith communities can stand with immigrants, and provide a refresher of immigrants' rights in the event of an interaction with federal agents. Register for the workshop at https://tinyurl.com/msr38fv3. Please note: This workshop will not be recorded.
| |
Gaza and the West Bank: A Struggle for Survival Amid Genocide with Rev. Khader el-Yateem
May 29, 7:00 PM | Midvale Lutheran Church, Madison
Israel’s extreme violence in Gaza and the West Bank is uprooting entire communities, destroying homes, displacing civilians, many of them children, and depriving inhabitants of food, water, shelter and medical care. This violence is putting the continued existence of the entire Gazan people at risk and making each day a struggle for their survival. The question is no longer when peace will come, but whether the people of Gaza and the West Bank will survive long enough to see it. This presentation aims to shed light on the lived experiences of Palestinians under siege, the international silence surrounding their suffering and the resilience they continue to show in the face of what many are calling a slow, unfolding genocide. It will also lift up some of the resistance to Israel’s action in Gaza that is going on around the world.
| |
Rev. El-Yateem, a highly respected Arab-American leader and community organizer, was born in Bethlehem in 1968 and emigrated to the United States in 1992. One of Rev. El-Yateem’s primary focuses is promoting open dialogue and unity, especially among Christians, Jews, and Muslims.
Rev. El-Yateem serves as Executive Director for Service and Justice at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Prior to this appointment, Rev. El Yateem served as the Assistant to the Bishop and the Director for Evangelical Mission in the Florida-Bahamas Synod of the ELCA.
This event is hosted by Midvale Lutheran Church (4329 Tokay Blvd, Madison), and sponsored by the Interfaith Peace Working Group, the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin - ELCA, and the Wisconsin Council of Churches.
Register here.
| |
Is anyone in your family graduating this spring?
Please let our pastor know if you have 8th grade, high school, college, (undergrad or graduate level), or tech school graduates so we can schedule a Sunday to honor and celebrate their accomplishments.
| | |
Do you have a guest room for a UCC Pastor, wife and child on Oct. 3-5?
Pastor Forrest Genthner serves as minister of the UCC Church in East Millinocket, Maine. He, his wife and 2 year old daughter will be traveling to Madison, WI on October 3rd and 4th as they follow the University of Maine Women's Hockey team (they will be playing at the University of Wisconsin).
They are curious if there is a church member interested in providing them with a spare bedroom so they can connect with fellow UCC brothers and sisters while in Wisconsin. They would also love it if a family took them in and showed them the sites in this area of Wisconsin.
Due to their dietary restrictions (vegan), they would provide their own meals and will bring a pack 'n play for their daughter to sleep in, so just a guest room for he and his wife would be needed. They will most likely be driving so would also appreciate a parking spot. So if anyone from Zwingli wants to talk with Pastor Genthner about the possibility of hosting him and his family, contact Pastor Karla for details.
| | |
Looking for an opportunity to express your opinion on US public policy?
As a member of the United Church of Christ, Zwingli is supported with resources by our national offices. Among these resources is an Office of Public Policy and Advocacy in Washington DC. This Office gives information to understand the issues and legislation -- and the ability to easily express our opinion to our political leaders. Go to this website to access these opportunities to express yourself (if you do not have a computer, check out your local library).
We will update this announcement with new opportunities (as they are added - bolded) so you can know the current issues you can respond to. You can also get alerts in your inbox by signing up here. Currently, there are opportunities to express your opinion on: Help Protect our Right to Speak Out Against Injustice: Urge Congress to Vote NO on the Budget Reconciliation Bill, End the Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza. For Mother's Day: Tell Congress NO CUTS for Federal Support to Mothers and Children, Tell Congress It's Time for Moral Courage, This Earth Day, Support Environmental Justice for all! As You File Your Taxes, Say Yes to Peace, Tell Congress to pass a Moral Budget, Support for Humanitarian Aid and Peace-making is non-negotiable; Protect Govt Funding; Protect DEI; Protect Medicare and Food Stamps; Protect Trans, Nonbinary and Intersex Civil Rights; Protect Everyday Consumers; Have a Heart for God's Planet; Foreign Aid; Federal Funding Freeze; Supporting Survivors of Human Trafficking; Immigration Policies; Trans Protection; Voting Rights; Affordable Internet; Indian Boarding Schools; and Military Aid to Israel. We know that some of you want to put your faith beliefs in action and hope those of you who wish to advocate find this resource useful.
| | | | |
