From the Pastor:

The other day, during lunch, I was watching the noon news and I saw a promo for an up-coming story about an 85 year old woman whose church had notified her that she would no longer be allowed to teach Sunday School. Naturally I waited to hear “the rest of the story.” I was not surprised to find that the woman, who was being dismissed after more than 50 years of teaching Sunday School, had precipitated this action by simply being a woman. I thought that it was a little odd that it took the congregation 50 years to discover that fact. One would have thought that they might have had a clue about that when she was married at the church sixty years earlier, but it was a Baptist congregation so things take time to get through committees.

As troubling as that decision was for me, even more troubling was the fact that this was not a little church down in the ‘Bible Belt.,’ This was First Baptist Church in Watertown, New York, which was probably an American Baptist Church. They mentioned how autocratic the new young pastor was, and they interviewed him. He was insistent that his actions were a reflection of his deep commitment to scripture, and he had no question that his decision was the right one.

I found myself wondering about this young man… Where was he educated? More importantly I began to wonder about this congregation… Why weren’t they better educated about the American Church, Fundamentalism, and Biblical interpretation?

I regularly talk to people who attend very conservative congregations… because they like the music… because they have a good youth group, and they tell me that the pastor of that congregation’s beliefs don’t really affect my beliefs. I hear people say that about the growing fundamentalism in our country and that concerns me, because I see the same things happening in other religions throughout the world… fundamentalism grows and women are marginalized and oppressed.

About a week ago I was speaking with the Registrar from my seminary. She was telling me that she had been reading through the Bible with a friend, and that they were having problems with the ethnic cleansing which takes part in places in the Hebrew Bible. Does God approve of genocide? So how can we live with scripture? We live with it as a community of faith, which talks together about how and where in scripture we hear the voice of God most clearly. For me this is why we have Christian Education programs. To me Sunday School is of great value because it is the place where we talk together about what we believe and why. It is in the openness of that setting where ideas are expressed and questioned by others, that “the Faith” is forged into our faith for this day.

The “Kick-Off” of our Sunday School will be on September 10^th at 9:45. If you are part of a class then come out. If you have children bring them, but Sunday School isn’t just for children. If you are not in a class then come on Sunday the 10^th and meet, in the Social Hall with me, and we can talk together about what might be a good course of study. I have lots of books and ideas.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Wednesday Evening Programs will resume in the Fall, on Wednesday, September 6th.

Sunday September 3^rd Communion

12:00 Noon Choir practice will be at this time every Sunday immediately following Church Service.

Wednesday September 6^th

6:15 p.m. Dinner

7:00 p.m. Congregational business meeting to discuss our church education programs and growth for the future.

September 10^th

Sunday School Kick-Off:

This year we will have the following children’s classes:

Pre-School/Primary- Judy Weimert & Diana Romano

Youth I - Susan Edwards & Don Romano

Youth II - Glenn & Deb Morris

For adults we will have the following classes:

· The “Explorers Class” will be studying the uniform lesson, which is beginning with a study of the Early Christian community in book of Acts.

· If you are a Young Adult our an Adult with children in Sunday School consider coming to talk with Fred, at 9:45 about some possible areas of growth for you in Christian Education.

· The “Pathways of Faith Class” will continue their study of the series “Living the Questions” looking at the serious issues which face people over the course of living.

Dedication of the Courtyard Renovation immediately following Worship Service. Refreshments will be served.

September 11th - 12 Noon Annie Armstrong Circle meeting in the home of, Leah Holland, 410-823-2042. Please bring a sandwich.

September 11^th - 7:30 p.m. Needles and News

meeting at the home of Helen Ross, 410-343-1849.

September 13^th - 7:00 p.m. HandBell Choir. This is the first practice of the new season. Come and join Dan Moore and the choir.

8:00 p.m. Deacons’ Meeting.

September 23^rd - 6:00 p.m. Mystery Dinner

Come get together with or bring friends to a dinner being planned by Bruce and Susan Edwards. The food will be great but the problem will be… Just what was it that I ordered? The menu will be written in some strange language, and you will have the opportunity of ordering several items a la cart. Who knows; you may end up with soup and a fork… Hope it’s thick; or you might just get pickles and a milk shake… Hope you’re pregnant. Come and have a good time, and I am certain that Bruce and Susan will make sure that no one goes home hungry.

September 24th - Pick-up cakes for Our Daily Bread and return by Saturday, Sept. 30^th.

September 25^th - 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sarah’s Hope. Come when you can.