Reconciling United Methodists in NE and friends: Another year of Spiritual Awakenings!
Here is some inspiration for us today from Matthew 5 that was part of the lectionary lesson last Sunday! I hope you appreciate the part about being at the "end of your rope" as much as I do! I am thinking that sometimes when we are at the END OF OUR ROPE is when we meet God and see God!
I guess I have been meeting God a lot lately! And just when we are at the "end of our rope" sometimes is when we discover new miracles I am finding too!
We also have some good news below: Jimmy Creech's long awaited Memoir / book and story is being published after eleven years and will be out in April with Duke U Press! See the links, the Good News and Invitations for February!
Matthew 5
You're Blessed
1-2 When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said: 3"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.4"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
(see the rest of the Beatitudes from THE MESSAGE at the end of this email)
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We are blessed now to celebrate the publishing of Jimmy Creech's new book/ memoir telling his story entitled :
Adam’s Gift: A Memoir of a Pastor’s Calling to Defy the Church’s Persecution of Lesbians and Gays
His memoir is eleven years in the writing and below are links:
Here is the Link to Duke U Press - if you want Jimmy to come and speak at your conference, retreat, college, university, seminary, church, or event to share about his new book coming out April 1, 20 contact Duke U Press or Chris Weedy: chrisweedy@gmail.com
http://www.dukeupress.edu/
Facebook link......
Start a book group using this new book / memoir, use it for classes, studies, colleges, retreats, seminaries -- or start a support group: hear our stories, tell our stories to include All God's children!
If you want Jimmy to come and speak / share on his new book: be sure to contact Duke U press or Chris Weedy: chrisweedy@gmail.com
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More good news that Horizons of Faith has Bishop John S Spong coming --
March 25 - 27, 2011 to Omaha First UMC for their TENTH Anniversary WEEKEND! Read some Spong books, check out Bishop Spongs Website and register today for the service Friday night, events Saturday and preaching, new music composed and musicial experiences Sunday! www.horizonsoffaith.com An overview brochure is on this website too! Print it to share with friends!
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Good news that there at TEN new Reconciling Communities in the last two months with RMN!
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INVITATIONS for local churches and local Reconciling UM's in NE and beyond:
We invite you to seek out Spiritual Awakenings this winter! Seek out spiritual partners!
Read some Bishop Spong books with friends, meet in a coffee shop or at coffeetime on Sunday morning -- start a reconciling group of friends or a Sunday School class.
Order Jimmy's new book and have a discussion group around it! Read books and share this summer, have a BBQ or go to a Pride event!
We invite your local church and friends to celebrate RAINBOWS OF HOPE in May, June and July, 2011 (or anytime) : Plan an ART SHOW with Art work of all ages with RAINBOWS of HOPE as the theme -- gather or create Rainbow Art, create Rainbow banners at your church, have children do an art show of Rainbows, do a RAINBOW Photography Exhibit, fibers, paintings, drawings, origami, clothing, bags or Quilts! Have an opening for your art show!
Celebrate Rainbows of HOPE in your faith group by collecting Rainbows of HOPE: for a Rainbow Suitcase, a Rainbow Basket, a Rainbow Table, a Rainbow party, a Rainbow movie night, a Rainbow trunk or have a Rainbow bake sale to share Rainbows of HOPE and collect funds for RMN. Find and create Rainbows that people can wear like: Rainbow pins, hawaiian leis, RMN Rainbow Logo lapel pins ($2 each by calling RMN offices), Rainbow ribbons, Rainbow crosses, create Rainbow bags -- stoles, jewelry, bags, shoelaces, prayer beads or scarves!
You don't have to have an organized reconciling group to have a coffee meetup or lunch meetup and start collecting rainbows or sharing stories, struggles and hope.
We invite you to do a Reconciling Birthday Fundraiser : have coffee with friends and give money to RMN / Summer email offering for RMN instead of giving gifts to each other.. write down your birthdays and send cards!
Our local OPEN HEARTS group is hoping to start a Rainbow Suitcase in February to take RAINBOWS of HOPE to Annual Conference, MFSA dinner, meetups, gatherings, art shows, benefit concerts, dinners, movie nights with Rainbows that people can wear to symbolize HOPE as we Believe Out Loud and take Reconciling on the Road this year to Awaken our SPIRITS.
We invite you to collect one page STORIES from Reconciling friends -- and create a booklet of stories from your local church or group of friends to share with others locally: Rainbows of HOPE stories, Sacred stories, Awakening stories, Coming out stories, HIV AIDS stories or name it yourself! Bring your stories to events.
Carpool with friends to Rainbow events like Horizons of Faith, have a Movie night, Art Show, Pride events this summer, collaborate with other faiths, do coffee meetups, collaborate with a PFLAG gatherings or other faith group, let people know about SING A NEW SONG CONVO coming, and AIDS walks in Sept. www.nap.org www.RMNetwork.org
If you want to contribute Rainbow items to the OPEN HEARTS Rainbow Suitcase let us know -- or start your own Rainbow suitcase or basket to share Rainbows with others! ( mvetter@charter.net ) RMN lapel pins can be purchased for $2 each through RMN offices.. or find other Rainbow pins, cut up Rainbow ribbon to wear or create a t shirt.
Start a Rainbow Resource Crate .. we started one locally with DVD's, books and other resources! Some were given by an anonymous donor! Send us your GLBT DVDS if you have one to share or start one or show it to friends! Check with the Resource Center in Lincoln to see if they need DVD's about equal rights for All God's children! They do have the DVD " CALL ME MALCOLM " that is an outstanding DVD -- a personal faith transgender story.
You are invited as local reconciling groups to write a PETITION to General Conference 2012: for changes to the Discipline - to be more inclusive of all persons. UM indiviuals, churches, groups, congregations can write Petitions to General Conference. The deadline is March 15, 2011 to Conference Offices to submit them for Annual Conference 2011. If approved they go to General Conference in the Spring of 2012 -- There is a later deadline this spring for Petitions that do not go through Annual Conference June 2011... check online.
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There is a GREAT DIVERSITY ART EXHIBIT at MONA in Kearney through April 3.
"A Greater SPECTRUM ART Exhibit" at the Museum of Modern Art downtown Kearney will awaken your spirit as you view the art of 22 ARTISTS from the last 100 YEARS in NE. Many of the artists had to be researched and FOUND first!
This has been a FIVE YEAR PROJECT for the Curator at MONA and what a journey. For info go to the website for MONA in kearney! Take to the road when the storms clear.. .. nine of us went over on a cold winter Saturday from Grand Island! This show is in FIVE rooms at MONA and if you need a day trip this is the ONE for this spring! IT ends April 3! Ernie Chambers has three pieces of art in the show and SaraAnn McWilliams Levell who grew up in Lincoln had Methodist / AME grands who started Christ Temple in Lincoln at the turn of the Century .. this church is still going in Lincoln!
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If your group or a group of NE RUM Friends want to plan a Reconciling Meetup at Annual conference June 1 - 4, Lincoln St marks UMC : a Lunch, Coffee shop, Dinner, Info table, Movie night, Benefit Concert, Rainbow Suitcase, Rainbow Party, Dance, Art show Opening -- or visit to an Art Gallery / book shop, Story time, Labyrinth, visit to an ice Cream shop, Roca and Rocaberries -- Silent Auction, Walk a thon or Fundraiser for NE Statewide Reconciling Network or UM Global AIDS fund -- contact Wendy Smith or Maureen Vetter -- or promote it yourself with your local church or group: wsmith28@gmail.com or mvetter@charter.net
Here are the rest of the Beatitudes from "The Message" by Eugene Peterson:
5"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.
6"You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.
7"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.
8"You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
9"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.
10"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.
11-12"Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.
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www.RMNetwork.org for more info -- we invite you to sign up as an RUM, to give offerings and gifts, to hear stories and take actions! Get Flashnet on email by requesting it and resources for local churches and persons! Join the 300 plus RUM's in NE today! (reconciling united methodists) SING A NEW SONG Convo is coming in August!
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