Making Sense of the Senseless -- A Conversation about Charleston and Racial (In)Justice in America

Making Sense of the Senseless -- A Conversation about Charleston and Racial (In)Justice in America

President Obama delivering the eulogy for Reverend Clementa Pinckney, who along with eight others was killed in the Charleston shooting.

Hi friends,

We'll be gathering at the Saluda church this Sunday at 5pm and heading down to Lake Sheila (weather permitting) for Stone Soup. Bring a bathing suit if you want to swim. There are some picnic tables but feel free to bring a lawn chair if you have one. Also, please bring something for a picnic potluck to share. 

Over the next several weeks, we'll be talking about race relations in America and exploring possibilities for racial reconciliation, beginning with some open dialogue about the tragic shooting in Charleston on June 17. 

We will also be looking at hymns from the African-American gospel tradition and exploring how those hymns might be understood and experienced by those of us outside that tradition. 

Hope to see you all there.

Stone Soup love,

Steven

Ephesians 2:14-16 (NRSV)

For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. 

Picture credit: www.cnn.com

Stone Soup Picnic with Columbus

Stone Soup Picnic with Columbus

Stone Soup will gather at 5 p.m. in the parking lot of the church to carpool down to Columbus UMC.

We’ve been invited down to share in a picnic. They will provide the burgers and dogs, everybody else can bring salads/veggies or dessert.

We will also have a joke potluck, so bring a favorite joke.

Psalms 55:14

We who had sweet fellowship together Walked in the house of God in the throng.

Acts 2:42

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Vigil in Solidarity with the People of Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church

We will meet as an open and ecumenical community on Sunday June 21st at 5 p.m. on Main Street in Saluda (in the pavilion if raining) to pray and sing, cry out and confess, mourn and protest in solidarity with the people of Emanuel AME Church and their community. After we bear witness to the atrocious murders committed in the Charleston church this week and mourn the loss, we will process (on foot if you are able, or in cars if preferred) up to St. Matthews Church, Saluda's historically black church. There we can continue our acts of solidarity by discussing pertinent issues in our own lives and in our own community. Light refreshments will be provided.

Here is the pastoral letter on racism released by the United Methodist Council of Bishops on May 7, 2015:

"Grace and peace in the name of Jesus Christ!

We, the bishops of The United Methodist Church, are meeting in Berlin, Germany, 70 years after the end of World War II.  As we gather, we renew our commitment to lead, as together we seek to become the beloved community of Christ.  

We are a church that proclaims the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world.  On every continent, people called United Methodist are boldly living the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.  Yet, the people of our world are hurting, as injustice, violence and racism abound.  Our witness to the dignity of all human life and the reign of God is needed now more than ever.

Our hearts break and our spirits cry out, as we see reports of migrant people being attacked and burned in the streets of South Africa, note the flight of Jews from Europe, watch the plight of Mediterranean refugees and see racially charged protests and riots in cities across the United States that remind us that systems are broken and racism continues.  The evidence is overwhelming that race still matters, that racism is woven into institutional life and is problematic to communal health.  This reality impacts every area of life – in the church and in the world.

Racism is prejudice plus intent to do harm or discriminate based on a belief that one is superior or has freedom to use power over another based on race. Xenophobia is an unreasonable fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers or of that which is foreign or strange.  Racism and xenophobia, like other sins, keep us from being whole persons capable of living up to our full potential. They deny the profound theological truth that we are made in the image of God with the handprint of love and equality divinely implanted in every soul.

As bishops of the Church, we cast a vision for a world community where human worth and dignity defeat acts of xenophobia and racism. We acknowledge that silence in the face of systemic racism and community fears serves only to make matters worse.

We commit to lead, model and engage in honest dialogue and respectful conversation and invite people of faith everywhere to join us.  Let us repent of our own racial bias and abuse of privilege.  May we love God more deeply and, through that love, build relationships that honor the desire of people everywhere to be seen, valued, heard and safe. As we proclaim and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ, may we lead the way in seeking justice for all, investing in and trusting God’s transforming power to create a world without hatred and racism. 

As United Methodists, we affirm that all lives are sacred and that a world free of racism and xenophobia is not only conceivable, but worthy of our pursuit.  We renew our commitment to work for a Church that is anti-racist and pro-humanity, believing that beloved community cannot be achieved by ignoring cultural, racial and ethnic differences, but by celebrating diversity and valuing all people.

“This commandment we have from him: Those who claim to love God ought to love their brother and sister also.” 1 John 4:21 (CEB)

Thanks for the Campout

Just a reminder: No Stone Soup on Sunday 6/14 because we met around the campfire last Thursday.
See you next week 6/21
Here are a few pics from the camping trip.

Stone Soup Camps Out at Orchard Lake!

Summer Fun-- School's Out -- Orchard Lake Camping
Thursday June 11 and Friday June 12 (extended stay through Sat night 13th)
Pay Orchard Lake Fees on your own
Here is the info from Beth on the logistics:

Due to most attending graduation and celebrations on Wednesday, we will delay the start of the Camp Out to Thursday.

Plan to set up tents any time after 11AM on Thursday June 11^th.

Stone Soup will be held Thursday eve along with a Mexican Fiesta dinner, volleyball and wiffleball games.

Bring something Mexican to share for dinner.  Mexican Pot Luck!

Friday AM – we are invited to Edna’s for breakfast at 9:30AM. Her house is walking distance from the campground.

She provides all  the food – we just need to help serve and clean-up.

Friday eve – we’ll do American Fare – bring hot dogs, burgers, something to share.  More games and smores.

On Saturday – some will head to the BBQ fest, some will stay at the campground, some will need to pack up.

We can plan the day as we go.

The Harris family will bring wood for the fire pit and a couple of grates for cooking hot dogs, etc.

We have a small camp stove, but please bring one too -  if you have one.

I will bring a coffee pot,  and power strip. There is only one electrical outlet at the campsite – with two plugs.

Please bring your own drinks, lunches and snacks for your family/party.

There is a water faucet at the site for washing dishes or drinking, but we usually prefer bottled or a jug of water. 

Remember a tarp or two… lantern, bug spray.

If we get heavy rain, and especially thunderstorms, it is best to either get in your car and go to the covered pavilion.

The pavilion area also has a game room with couches, bathroom, should we need to seek refuge.

Please chime in with any other questions you might have.

Thanks,

Beth

Thursday night at 8:30 p.m we'll have Stone Soup worship time.
Our theme will be "Who or What Do You Serve?"
Bob Dylan wrote:

You may be an ambassador to England or France

You may like to gamble, you might like to dance

You may be the heavyweight champion of the world

You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls.

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed

You're gonna have to serve somebody,

It may be the devil or it may be the Lord

But you're gonna have to serve somebody.

Might be a rock'n' roll adict prancing on the stage

Might have money and drugs at your commands, women in a cage

You may be a business man or some high degree thief

They may call you Doctor or they may call you Chief.

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed

You're gonna have to serve somebody,

Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord

But you're gonna have to serve somebody.

Paul writes in Galatians:

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Can't wait to see you there!

(there will be no Stone Soup on Sunday 6/14 since we're meeting on Thursday eve) 

Be Still...

‘Be still, and know that I am God!
   I am exalted among the nations,
   I am exalted in the earth.’
Psalm 46:10

How do you know what you know?
Is this the "right" person?
What should I be doing with my life?
Is that God's word for me or is that my mind doing that?
This Sunday, we'll talk about this, we'll pray about this and we'll practice "being still".

So come on out to the church at 5. We'll go up to Judd's Peak/Orchard Hill to worship and work on how do you know what you know.
Bring picnic stuff to share and chairs or blanket to sit on.
If it's raining we'll meet inside at 5.

Stone Soup meets on Thursday evening (the 11th)  this coming week!

Peace
Rob

Creator/Redeemer/Sustainer...

This is Trinity Sunday on the Church Calendar, so we will talk about the implications of the three-fold nature of God: Father/Son/Holy Ghost or Creator/Redeemer/Sustainer.

We'll meet at 5 pm at the Wesley Cottage. We're planning a rain or shine outing. Picnic around the campfire if it is sunny and picnic under cover with rain. All this at Rob's house. So bring bring stuff to cook over a fire (we can use the grill in case of rain) and picnic kind of stuff to share.

The scripture we'll use for reflection is John 3:1-21, also bring any other scripture or readings you want.

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.” The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

 ‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

 ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

 ‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgement, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.’ 

Remember our annual School's Out Camping At Orchard Lake. You can pick when you want to come. You can just do daytime or camp through the night June 10-13 (Wed-Sat).  We'll do Stone Soup around the campfire probably on Thursday night. I'll keep you posted as the schedule develops. The days are different from what we normally do because school ends on Wed and the BBQ festival is that weekend. Have no fears though, Edna will still be serving her famous breakfast.