March 2015 Edition
www.grandrapidsfumc.org
March is an incredibly important month in the life of First Church. We have been working our way through a Lenten congregational study of a book by Rev. Dr. James Forbes, Jr. His book is titled “Whose Gospel? A Concise Guide to Progressive Protestantism.” We are combining the book study (of which there are 7 different groups meeting at different times throughout the week) with a sermon series titled “Challenging Questions for Challenging Times!”
quickly was that I admired Dr. Forbes’ Please make every effort to join us ability to be a very responsible bibli- for a “teaching” session on Saturday, cal interpreter while being relevant and March 14 from 1:30 to 3:30 pm. We responsive to the culture shifts that have also asked him to do a book-signare occurring in the 21st century. His ing during that time. chapter titled “A Lifelong Course in Sexuality” is the finest reflection about Saturday evening at 7 pm, we will host his own growth and understanding on a Community Worship Celebration that topic that I have ever read. Dr. service. Dr. Forbes is one of the direcForbes was able to function as a skilled tors of the “Drum Major Institute,” an teacher who challenged me and the organization that works for social jusChristian community to grow in our tice and change around the world. He understanding of homosexuality and works with Martin Luther King, III, work toward fully welcoming and in- and Andrew Young. We will also have cluding all people regardless of sexual some special music from our Heartorientation. In my view, he served as a side neighbors. prophet in his book, carefully dealing with the other very important topics Then, Dr. Forbes will be our pulpit It is my hope that by summer, the of race, economic justice, violence and guest for both services on Sunday, members and friends of First Church war, and ecology. March 15. will have a clearer and more precise definition of what it means to be a I admire Dr. Forbes’ ability to be a very responsible Progressive Christian... and then, what Biblical interpreter while being relevant and responsive to it might mean in our ability to refine the culture shifts that are occurring in the 21st century. and focus our theology with our ministry. I am a firm believer that what we do as both a person and a congrega- I was so imtion, is based upon what we believe. pressed with the There is a connection between behav- book that I asked ior and values. our staff to read the book and talk I have known of Dr. James Forbes for about it during many years. I have admired him from each of our staff a distance. I had read about him in meetings in the periodicals and I had heard excerpts fall. It was then from his preaching. Several years ago, that I decided our eldest daughter bought me a book that I would try to reach Dr. Forbes about the Riverside Church in New and see if he would be available to What an incredible opportunity for York City. That is when I got better come to our church and be with us for our congregation. What a way to enacquainted with his life and ministry. a weekend. He graciously agreed. large our Lenten journey as we grow to be faithful disciples of Jesus. Invite Then, last September when Pigeon Dr. Forbes was named by Newsweek a friend to join in our journey... and and I were in Seattle, I found the book, magazine as being one of the twelve I hope to see you, not only for the “Whose Gospel” in one of the book- most effective preachers in the Eng- Forbes weekend, but throughout the stores. I began reading the book im- lish speaking world. Ebony magazine season of Lent. mediately. In fact, I read the Introduc- twice named Dr. Forbes as “one of tion and the first chapter several times America’s greatest black preachers.” Blessings to you. before moving on. What I learned Pastor Bob Hundley
inside
Intentional Faith Development
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Pastor’s Message
Radical Hospitaliy 1
Risk-taking Mission and Service
Passionate Worship 5
Extravagant Generosity 4
3 Compassionate Care
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