Pacific Currents - May 2005
“Pacific Currents”by Rev. Dr. Mary Susan Gast, Conference Minister, May, 2005 THIS WAS THE YEAR…
This was the year of the God is Still Speaking ad campaign. This was the year when the United Church of Christ was headline news - and, mostly, our name was rendered accurately. This was the year that John Thomas and Bernice Powell Jackson and Ron Buford appeared on CNN, talking theology and history. This was the year when public radio and "Christian Century" and "The Village Voice" and "The Nation" all decided to consult with UCC folks on issues of faith and action. This was the year that we found ourselves talking to acquaintances we ran into and to people we met on airplanes about the United Church of Christ. This was the year that our churches welcomed new members and visitors who came seeking the United Church of Christ and raised awesome amounts of money to continue to get the word out that "Jesus didn’t turn people away. Neither do we," and "No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here." During my eight years as your Conference Minister we have, as a Conference, actively pursued an understanding of covenant, and an ethic of hospitality. The serendipitous - or graced - moments when our TV spot was declared out of bounds by two major networks propelled us into new realms of appreciation for and commitment to the truths at the heart of our identity and calling as the United Church of Christ. May we press on with joy and exhilaration that God IS still speaking. And let it be said of us that we are still listening, with all humility, to the reality and mystery of the Holy One’s message. ~ Mary Susan
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this page last updated on Tuesday, July 5, 2005 |
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