This past Sunday Alayne Jaffe and I had the honor of receiving a very special gift. This gift was not one of material treasure nor was it one of the “fruits of the Spirit” that the Reverend Christensen spoke of in his sermon on January 17. Rather, this gift was unique and memorable because it came from the heart from a Unity parishioner. This congregant expressed to the two of us more than just a profound sense of joy and gratitude that our church opened our doors to another. In the course of our conversation, she shared a part of her life history. For the past several years she had the opportunity to visit other congregations, attend their worship services, and to join in fellowship with other believers. What made our church special for her was that our little congregation, with a big heart, was the only congregation in which every member greeted her with an affection smile and a sincere “Welcome.”

Watching the heartfelt emotion of our Unity guest, I was proud of our congregation. As the Still Speaking commercials indicated, “Jesus never turned anybody away, neither do we.” I’m proud to be part of a congregation where “bouncers” guarding the entrances with red velvet ropes are non-existent and instead is replaced with the extravagant love of our Lord which seeks to continuously live by the words “here is the church, here is the steeple, open the doors and see ALL the people.” 

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The January 10th congregational meeting agreed to a rental agreement with Unity Fellowship Church, who had been meeting in Oyster Point.  Rent is $1000 per month.  Worship and religious education at 9:00 A.M., using the sanctuary, the language lab room and the Meals on Wheels room.  They will use the rest of our space according to calendared space available, while keeping their existing church office offsite.  The Rev. Ginny Roll is their pastor. 

Unity would like to plant a tree to celebrate their new meeting place and our property care chair Bill Howell and I have picked the site of the former maple tree that shaded the church picnic.  Look for a river birch tree in that spot soon!

Welcome, Unity Fellowship Church!  We're already enjoying meeting in the halls and parking lot and street.  We look forward to new partnerships as they develop!

Every time we encounter a new ministry, and check the space available in our small building, isn't God's hand at work when we always seem to find the room for "just one more?"

Pastor Michael

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Tomorrow, January 3, the Unity Fellowship Church will begin meeting at our church at 9:00 A.M. for worship, religious education, and fellowship time.  Our leadership agreed to welcome them for the month of January, since they were losing their lease and use permit at their previous site in Oyster Point office park.  We will be holding a special congregational meeting right after worship on Sunday, January 17th, to decide whether to accept their proposal for a long-term rental agreement.

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Once there were four wise men in the east, scholars and astronomers, living in a tower.  Three of them spent all their time at the top of the tower, scanning the sky and consulting their learned texts.  The fourth tried diligently to keep the tower clean and ready for study, and spent all his time at the bottom of the tower, ordering the servants to stay ahead of the mud, dust, and cobwebs.  One night the three wise men said, "We're off to the west, to follow the new star!"  The fourth wise man said, "Star, what star?"  May you have stars in your eyes, even if there's mud on your shoes.

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We celebrate Evolution Sunday on February 15th, marking the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, the father - along with Mr. Wallace - of the general theory of evolution.  Darwin's work is as earth-shaking in biology as Faraday's in physics and electricity or Newton's in mathmatics, especially calculus.  Yet Darwin still draws a strong reaction while the others are just in the textbooks as "fathers of science."  Darwin still challenges our notions of who we are and where we come from, or does he?

You may have seen many a local van with the Christian fish eating the Darwin fish.  I usually have an "evolve fish" - one with little legs - on my car, except that I've also put a cross on it, too.  I find no threat in God creating the world - especially human beings - through evolution.  God is supreme, and can do whatever God wants to do.  So the issue is not, "could God do things a certain way?" but "How did God create all that is?" and "Where do I belong in all that God has made?"

When asked to explain my views to both literalist Christians and skeptical humanists, I say, "God tells only the truth, never lies.  God has given us both the rocks and the Bible.  Our job is to figure out the message they contain."  For me, the geological and biological record is a wonderful description of the power and majesty of God.  The Biblical record is a lyrical account (actually 2 accounts) that state in ancient language and folk beliefs, "Our God did that!"  The biblical record then centers around God coming to Israel and the world in Jesus, calling us to new life, loving us despite rejection and death, and triumphing over death itself, bringing new life to all people.

Many folks want the technology benefits of science, but want to keep a non-scientific and magical view of life.  Even fundamentalist terrorists - totally against reason and freedom - use the technology of mobile phone communication to do their evil work.  While both science and religion are disciplines - organized areas of study - that have their limits and can only answer certain questions.  Some of the most important questions can only be answered by personal faith and commitment - in science and religion, both.  By faith and some knowledge, I believe God made the world according to the physical records we have.  By faith and some knowledge, I believe that the historical Jesus of  Nazareth is also the living Lord of today - who is calling you and me to follow him with our hearts and our brains fully employed.

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We started in the afternoon Monday, preparing supper, and finished after breakfast and all the cleanup was done today, Tuesday.  Two nights a year, we gather together to host the homeless through the PORT program, serving almost 100 persons this time  at Chestnut Memorial United Methodist Church here in Newport News.  Whether you were breaking eggs, tossing salads, registering guests, cleaning up, handing out sleeping pads, or organizing the food and staff, THANK YOU!  Join us at a different time, a different place, but with the same needs of our neighbors next winter!

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Today's (January 9, 2008) Daily Press features an article about immigrants and their use of our English as a Second Language laboratory here at Warwick UCC, plus our used coat ministry.  Congratulations to Bucky Holmes, Sue Howell and Brenda Tagge, who staff the lab.

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