Affirmation of Welcome
Reformation, a congregation of Christ's Church, welcomes everyone to join with us in a journey of faith. We are committed to providing worship, programs, ministries and pastoral care to all, regardless of religious background, age, color, ability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, economic status, or national origin. Everyone is welcome in this place, where the love of God is the foundation of all that we say and do!
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Mid - May 2021 Newsletter |
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The Reporter
Reformation Lutheran Church
ALL Are Welcome & Affirmed Here!
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Worship Service Update
Beginning May 2, we are beginning an in-person worship service at 10:00 AM. Initially, this will be done via a reservation process. Please see additional information below for further information on making a reservation. In addition to this, and in order to ensure the health and safety of our congregation, we will continue to broadcast the service online via Facebook Live. Please join us for worship online HERE.
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The Mustard Seed Project
As a pastor who resides in Columbia, SC I wish to express my concern about the possible tabling or voting down of a ban on the dangerous practice of conversion therapy within the city. From what I understand, this comes under the pressure of those —
who mostly reside outside the city of Columbia
— decrying the auspices of religious freedom.
First, conversion therapy is a barbaric and terroristic process, in an attempt to force children to choose a life-identity that is not where their psychological, body, hormones, and chemical makeup is leading them. A few years ago Reformation took a group to watch “Boy Erased”. It was a movie based off a true story about a boy who was forced by his family, especially his pastor father to enter a Conversion Therapy program. These so called “therapies” used biblical text to attack, harm, and dehumanize this young man, “God will not love you the way you are.” So they could rebuild him into their perception of what a “biblical” male should be. It was horrific.
Second, religious freedom is not the freedom to attack a person’s humanity, and misuse biblical text as a weapon to psychologically harm anyone who doesn’t conform to a said religious belief. I say misuse because I believe the Bible is an honest record of God’s faithfulness, even in the midst of disobedient and wayward children. It is not a document to reverence such human behavior. In fact when Jesus was asked about the law of Moses, when it was going to be used as a weapon by the teachers of the law, “He said to them, ‘It was because you were so hard-hearted...’” But because the interchanged I reference started with the Pharisees question of divorce, those of the “conversion ilk” are quick to point out Jesus’ reference to male and female becoming one flesh to prove their heterosexual point. But... the question was not about their sexual relationship, rather it was about the absolute power of the male gender, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?" Any cause?! That is a question of one gender’s absolute power over the other. Jesus shoots it down with one flesh language, which in the light of the question asked, is an answered of full equality.
I fully believe this theological exchange was not about sexual identity because a few verses later, Jesus finalizes their gender misconception with, “For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can." Eunuchs are those who were described as sexually defiled by the Levitical laws, but as early as the prophets, the use of that law was being called into question... by God!
“...and do not let the eunuch say,
‘I am just a dry tree.’
For thus says the LORD:
To the eunuchs who keep my sabbaths,
who choose the things that please me
and hold fast my covenant,
I will give, in my house and within my walls,
a monument and a name
better than sons and daughters;
I will give them an everlasting name
that shall not be cut off.”
Yes, Isaiah is so sure of this inclusiveness of God’s message, he puts it into a poem or song. Yes, God’s righteousness calls all of us to be that inclusive. I believe this barbaric conversion therapy is completely opposite of where God’s righteousness is leading us, and has nothing to do with religious freedom.
My prayer is that Columbia’s City council will all vote to uphold the ban so that this city will continue to grow as an open and inclusive city.
Peace,
Pastor Tim
PS. Some contacts to express our concerns:
Mayor Benjamin's office
Councilmember Sam Davis
Councilmember Tameika Isaac Devine
Councilmember Howard Duvall
Councilmember McDowell
Councilmember Rickenmann
Councilmember Brennan
Editor's Note: This edition is revised with the correct spelling of the first name of Councilmember Tameika Issac Devine.
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Register to attend in-person worship service at Reformation
We are excited to announce that in-person worship at Reformation resumed in May.
Under current guidelines, we can have up to 50 people present in a worship service. There are 39 spots available for registration and 11 reserved for weekly worship leaders.
To help us comply with these guidelines, and to keep everyone safe, to attend a service, we ask you to register one of the 3 ways listed below.
OPTIONS TO REGISTER
3) Call the church office at 803.252.1507 if you do not have internet access or an email address.
Members who can access the link on the homepage of the website and have an email address are asked to register electronically. If you have already called the church office to register to attend the May 2 service, you are all set and registered.
You will need to sign up for the specific service you will be attending as well as the number of people joining you. One slot = one individual, it does not equal a slot per family. For example, if three people wish to join for in-person worship, you will need to select three slots for worship at the desired 10 a.m. service.
Please register and reserve your spot online no later than Noon on each Thursday before the date you wish to attend. The slots are first come, first served. Sunday, May 23 and May 30 are available for online registration. If you happen to develop COVID symptoms, become ill, test positive for COVID or need to cancel your RSVP for any reason, please call the Church Office: 803-252-1507 or reply to your confirmation email immediately.
For those who are not yet ready and feel safer worshiping at home, we will continue to offer worship via live-stream at 10 a.m. each Sunday.
These guidelines and protocols are in an effort to make you as safe as possible when you choose to join Reformation for in-person worship.
We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible soon!
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Treasurer Report for March 2021
April Income $18,104.19
April Expenses $20,839.98
April Deficit $2,735.79
YTD Deficit $30,877.31
As always, thank you for your continuing support of the church and its mission.
Sharon Baldwin, Treasurer
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Save the date and join us!
Reformation Lutheran Church Picnic
at Dreher Island State Park
on Lake Murray
Date: Saturday, June 12
Time: 11am until?
Address: 3677 State Park Rd, Prosperity, SC
Shelter #5
Everyone is invited to come and enjoy Dreher Island State Park! We have reserved a shelter that has easy access to the lake for swimming, fishing and boating, as well as hiking trails along the lake. Bring your kayak, canoe or other boat, float or inner tube, hang out at the picnic tables or bring your own chair to sit by the lake. If you want to do some fishing, SC fishing licenses are available at the park store (on the left as you come into the park) for $5. Loaner rods and reels are available there, too.
If you have a portable grill or one that is easy to transport, please bring it along. There is one charcoal grill available, but we would like to have more. We will be able to cook hamburgers and hotdogs or your meat of choice that you will bring for you and your family. Please also bring a side dish or dessert to share.
A reminder that it costs to get into the park unless you have a state park pass:
$3 per adult
$1.50 per senior
$1 per child ages 6-15
Age 5 and under—free
Please call the church office (803-252-1507) to let us know you’re coming, so that we can have a rough headcount, and also if you’re bringing a grill.
Hope to see you there!
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Adult Sunday School update
Adult Sunday School meets from 8:30 to 9:30 each Sunday morning.
Participants can join the class in person in the Parlor or by Zoom.
This earlier time gives any who want to do Sunday School via Zoom but worship in person time to drive to the building after Sunday School.
The Zoom Meeting ID for the new Sunday School time is: 863 6536 3737.
May Schedule
May 23 Methodist Church
May 30 Moravian Church
June 6 Presbyterian Church
June 13 Religious Society of Friends
June 20 Roman Catholic Church
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ANNUAL BEACH RETREAT
COASTAL RETREAT CENTER
ISLE OF PALMS, SC
****SAVE THE DATE***
SEPTEMBER 6-12, 2021
Come and experience spiritual renewal
Bible studies, fun activities, great food.
Come for the entire week or just a few days.
Cost is $90 per room per night and $10 per day for food-(10 and under -free)
If interested, please contact Kathy Bupp at:
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From the ELCA website
Faith and Society
The ELCA is a church that believes God is calling us into the world — together. As part of this call, we seek the common good for society, provide moral vision and are committed to addressing social and cultural injustices and issues. The ELCA participates in God’s just and loving purpose for all of creation in many different ways, from the daily actions of members as citizens, to efforts in social service, to public witness for justice.
In response to God’s gracious love that seeks justice, the ELCA equips and nurtures us for our callings in the world, fosters social service and ministries of mercy, encourages learning and moral deliberation around social and cultural concerns, enacts social teaching and policy documents, interprets and applies social policy, and partners with agencies, organizations and institutions dedicated to service and justice.
Resources and opportunities for participation in addressing social concerns are found on many ELCA Web pages; see especially those dedicated to Publically Engaged Church, you can also find the ELCA social messages and statements here.
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1118 Union St. Columbia, SC 29201
803-252-1507
Tim Bupp, Pastor
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