Sunday 9/30/07

Liberalchurch was led today by member and soon-to-be called to a new pulpit, Rev. Jamie Risser who gave the message based upon a poem by Rabbi Rami Shapiro titled "Religion is Made Up". Because Heidi, Jamie's wife, was sitting down in the nursery and no one was signed up to be there that day, I volunteered to watch their 13 month old son so she could be a part of the service. So unfortunately I didn't get to hear his message, but others who talked to me afterward said they really enjoyed it. On the second rainy day in a row, the church was very full! Our love will go out with the Risser family as they head to Maryland in October with the prospect of starting out on a new life journey together in a new community of faith.

Following worship, several of us from Open Circle headed over to Presbyterian Church of the Apostles where liberalchurch members had helped to organize the event Called To Be Peacemakers. The program opened with a group of friends who have formed a band singing the 70s song, Peace Train by Cat Stevens (which I have been playing in my van CD player lately so it was nice to hear it live!). Rev. Jack Nelson Palmayer gave the keynote speech about how his experience as a college student in India seeing the extremes of the caste system and how that had been a turning point in his life to be called to live a life that seeks peace and justice. There were a variety of workshops people could attend following the address by Palmayer. Peace and justice groups had display tables, some with items to sell, in the community hall of the church where people gathered to talk and learn about these groups such as Veterans for Peace, The Peace Alliance, Every Church a Peace Church, Free Trade Coffee, Economic Oportunity International and others throughout the afternoon. Children enjoyed the chance to make origami peace doves and cranes, drum, sing, play win/win games, and make friendship necklaces and bracelets. The event drew a respectable attendance although as the afternoon grew long, many had to leave so by the time the speaker for the U.N. Millenium Goals began to talk those gathered had dwindled.

Special thanks to Mary Hall, Veda Kanitz, Rick Gingrich, Jerry LeFever and Faye LeFever who assisted in the event by providing help with publicity, food, and attending the event along with Roxanne Mindeman, Kennedy Mindeman and his friend Macin Minnik, Katie Kanitz, Taylor Hall, and Chloe and Katrina Culler.

Liberalchurch will be hosting the second gathering in this series of Peacemaking Events--hopefully sometime in the next 3 months.

Welcome back to those friends and members of liberalchurch who enjoyed a much-deserved weekend respite along the north shore of Lake Superior this past weekend. Your presence was missed--but not your spirit as it was still with us!