Pastoral Article: Four Skills We Need to Develop
July is a slower month for us.
We don’t have a board meeting, and we try to slow down a little. It’s an opportunity to breath deeply, rest up, and get ready for rest of the year in ministry together. Of course, with the pandemic still raging, we are far from anything normal. Still, our call continues. I am so thankful to those in our church who weigh the risks and join the marches and vigils in our community, demanding change and transformation.
Later this month, we will continue our prayerful, Spirit-filled Epiphany process to dream of who God is calling us to be as a church, developing a future story.
Please pray for that important work.
Recently in my Doctor of Ministry classwork, I had the chance to listen to Kris King, a community organizer from Oklahoma City. She talked about four key skills that are important to building relationships and developing leaders. I think these skills are part of who we are at University Christian Church, even if we sometimes need refreshing in their value and practice. I think they are also key to who Jesus is and how Jesus was able to gather disciples and connect with so many as he built his resurrection movement.
The four skills are:
Anger: One of the questions that Kris asked us to find out from each other was what makes us angry. Another way to ask the question is - what breaks our heart? We aren’t talking about bad traffic or annoyances or even what the news media tells us to be angry. We are to get in touch with those moments in our life when we experienced and witnessed injustice. Jesus knew those well, including that moment in the temple when he flipped over some tables. What if we shared some of those stories and explored ways to make anger a tool in enacting changes for safer, transformed communities?
Humor: When things are tense or when we are just trying to build bridges of understanding with each other, humor is a great cross-cultural tool. Humor, to me, is linked to humility. We need to laugh at ourselves, at how serious we can be sometimes, and about the absurdity and fun in life. Doing work as a church can be stressful, so what a gift it is to have some fun and make each other laugh. Sometimes, in our ability to be silly, we discover more about each other. I remember that Marcus Borg once called Jesus one of the first Jewish stand-up comedians, because he had a way with words to grab our attention and break the tension. That’s a gift we need more of.
Curiosity: In an election year especially, our conversations can be tense. We are feeling the anxiety. Sometimes, we discover our friends and neighbors are passionately opposite of us on some issue that we care deeply about. What if, instead of diving into a flame war, we tried to find a way to stay open and curios? Tell me more. Who are you? Why do you think about that issue in that way? Curiosity reminds us to humanize each other, staying open, even a little, to learning new ways of understanding the world and each other. Jesus’ curiosity was evident in the way he observed all of Creation and even the way humans went about their business, weaving those into parables and stories that helped us look deeper than what is on the surface.
Imagination: Finally, we must have imagination. Imagination is the belief that something more is possible. Our political system has very little imagination at times. Our leaders seem to offer us little imagination of what might be. Even our churches, we sometimes spend too much energy trying to make an old way of being faithful fit for these unusual times. We need imagination, to see through Jesus’ eyes at what is possible, a kingdom breaking in here and now. Truth be told, I am so grateful for so many of the young people out marching, because they believe something more is possible.
I invite you to sit with these. Where do you see them at work in our church? Where could we do better? How might we need to regroup and try afresh to build connections with each other and our neighbors?
May God, who has led us to this moment, continue to lead us into the unknown that is our world, eager to make a difference, ready to do our part to dismantle racism and all oppression, and willing to be transformed.
Amen!
— Rev. Nathan
We 
You at the Intersection
Update from the UCC Board
- Led the congregation into Hope Partnership for Missional Transformation resulting in a very thorough and revealing assessment of where our congregation are is situated after 60 years and what our hope for the future might be. The Hope Partnership process continues. Please go back and re-read the assessment report we received from the Disciples of Christ Board of Church Extension. It is especially valuable considering the last six months. View Report
- Participated in a diversity workshop with Nikki Lerner, a gifted speaker and spiritual leader who helped us discern how we can be better listeners even with our differences.
- Studied, discussed, and eventually decided to undertake major repairs to the roof of the building in early winter 2020. While this repair cost us a little under $20,000, we were fortunate to have the money in hand and to work with a contractor who extended to us a significant discount. By undertaking this work, we avoided what would only have led to an even bigger repair job down the road.
- Approved the development, funding and hiring of a part time education coordinator, our own Katrina Dodro, to help support our work with children.
- Appointed a task force to evaluate our pastor. The board reviewed and approved the evaluation and the recommendations from the task force. The President and President-Elect worked with our pastor to implement recommendation.
- Filed vacancies on the board as needed. We welcomed Gisela Martinez to fill an unexpired at large position. She was elected to this position in May.
- Led the annual meeting and election of the whole congregation
- The board prepared in advance for the ability to hold our meetings virtually. By the time it became clear that we would not be able to meet face to face, the board easily transitioned to virtual meetings. We have not met face to face since January, yet we have been able to fully carry out the work of the board. We have most importantly supported Rev. Nathan Hill's appointment of a re-opening task force
Finally, the board has the responsibility for overseeing the financial life of our congregation. Thanks to the adept management of our financial secretary, treasurer and the finance committee, what started as a deficit at the beginning of the 2020 fiscal year has ended with a surplus. Our wholehearted gratitude goes to you, each participant in our congregation, for your very faithful stewardship of your time, talent and treasure during this past year. You will hear more from our treasurer, John Farley, about the state of our budget in this same newsletter. Please see update below.
Thank you for your support of your board of directors throughout this year.
May God bless you.
UCC Budget Update
Currently, the financial condition of the church remains strong. As we approach the end of the fiscal year, we anticipate a surplus in the operating budget of about $5,000.
Previously this spring, the Board of Directors decided to postpone this year's stewardship campaign until later in the year. The Board also decided to "roll forward" the current operating budget of $311,000 until a formal campaign could be completed. At our recent meeting Monday evening, the Board formally approved a modified budget for the first six-months of FY21. While most of the budget items remain the same, a few adjustments were made due to cost increases and the hiring of a Music Director (Jack Perdue). No changes were made to salaries and Outreach giving remains at 6%. Overall, these changes result in a projected deficit of $5,000 for the entire year.
During the upcoming months, a stewardship campaign will be conducted and a revised budget will be developed to cover the last six months of FY21. A congregational meeting will be held in the fall to discuss and approve the 6-month FY21 budget.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact John Farley or Chris Bock.
John Farley, Treasurer
Chris Bock, Chair, Finance Committee
Announcements
Zoom Meeting Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/93972023641
Meeting ID: 939 7202 3641
Password: 914256
One tap mobile : 301 715 - 8592
Upper Room Devotional Books
We have received the Upper Room Devotional books for the month of July and August, these books will available at the Communion & Community Event for pick up this Saturday. However, if you would like a devotional book mailed to you please email the church office cucoffice@verizon.net or call 301-864-1520.
We need your help!
Needed: 3 people to each provide 9 complete bag lunches to be handed out at the Day Center on Thursday, July 16. They should each include a sandwich, fruit, beverage, chips and dessert. You can be creative or purchase prepackaged items to include with a sandwich. Please contact Barbara at 301-422-9344 or marshbarbd@aol.com to volunteer or for more information. Thank you!
