The Messenger
JUNE 2022 From The Pastor’s Pen Page 1 Mitzvah Day(s) Page 2
FROM THE PASTOR’S PEN
Holy Cow Wear Orange Page 3 Pentecost Offering Chips & More Page 4
Indeed, while “all things” do not work for good, nevertheless God does work for good in all things.
Human and Civil Rights for Marginalized Communities Mark Your Calendar Page 5 Sing Praise to God That’s Entertainment Page 6
(Pastor’s Pen cont.- page 2) 1
in the middle of the verse after the word “good” – “We know that all things work together for gooda for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” And when I look at the footnote at the bottom of the page, it reads, “Other ancient authorities read, God makes all things work together for good, or in all things God works for good.” It is a footnote that offers a theologically profound statement – that in the midst of terrible events, unforeseen catastrophes, and human anguish and heartache, God is working to bring good from evil. God is working to bring hope from despair. God is working to initiate new life where there was no life. The footnote affirms what God had accomplished at the crucifixion, where God transformed the death of One into the means of salvation for all, and accordingly the most awful event in human history was infused with the power for new life. Although God’s love can be crucified, God’s love will never be defeated. Indeed, while “all things” do not work for good, nevertheless God does work for good in all things. God is walking with us, embracing our hurt and replacing it with healing, weaving our tattered lives into a tapestry of hope, and transforming the darkness into a new dawn. In all things God is working for good by inspiring greater love for our fellow human beings, by making us more attentive to the needs of our neighbors, and by shaping the church into a true image of the body of Christ. And that’s not just some small footnote to be ignored. Blessings, tom
The simple definition of mitzvah is commandment. But, is generally used as a command to do good deeds out of religious duty; the emphasis being on deeds, not just positive thoughts and prayers. The Mitzvah Day Weekend, sponsored by Temple Israel and supported by the Akron Area Interfaith Council, is June 25 and 26. If you are able and willing, The Mitzvah Day Weekend offers us dozens of opportunities to put our faith into action. Some examples of the opportunities to help are: Cookies For Kids-bake and deliver them for the Ronald McDonald House Akron-Canton Area Foodbank-sort and pack food Habitat for Humanity-duties may include painting, siding Project Linus- make fleece blankets for Akron Children’s Hospital (Mitzvah cont on page 6) 2
Join thousands of American brothers and
sisters who will wear orange June 3-5 to support National Gun Violence Awareness weekend. The faith community is being asked to Pray for those who have lost their lives to gun violence and those who live with the trauma of this epidemic. The hope is our prayers will lead to commitment and action. A first step, Help raise awareness:#WearOrange this weekend. Other ways to get involved: Pray for those impacted by gun violence in Akron/Northeast Ohio Join others at www.momsdemandaction.org, or contact Joyce Penfield, the Akron Lead for Moms Demand Action, at jpenfield2016@gmail.com, Purchase “End Gun Violence” shirts at wearorange.org Find a local event: https://act.everytown.org/event/wear-orange-2022/search/ Post a selfie on your social media platform & let others know why you :#WearOrange Why orange? One week after Hadiya Pendleton, a 15-year-old high school student from Chicago, marched in President Obama’s second inaugural parade, she was shot and killed one mile from the Obamas’ Hyde Park home. Hadiya’s friends asked classmates to commemorate her life, and the lives of hundreds killed by gun violence each year in Chicago, by wearing orange. They chose orange because hunters wear the color to warn other hunters not to shoot. Now, Wearing Orange for Gun Violence Awareness is observed nationally on the first Friday in June and the following weekend each year. This Sunday, hear what the Governing Board learned from Holy Cow Consulting, and about some of the options that can be taken to move our congregation forward. 3
Pentecost Offering
Building a Life of Faith Josh Davenport-Herbst has a hard time saying no to his parents, especially when it comes to doing church stuff. Unlike most kids, both of his parents are PC(USA) pastors and unlike many of his peers, he doesn’t like crowded spaces, loud noises or too much excitement. Josh is among nearly 5.5 million people in the U.S. on the autism spectrum. That Josh has difficulty with communication and social in“These folks need a youth means teractions. So, attending the Presbyterian Youth Triennium in group, too. These, too, 2016 was a formidable challenge for him. are children of God.” Held every three years, Triennium draws over 3,000 highschool-age youth, youth leaders and young adults. The Triennium’s plenary sessions are known for are their energizers, which may include flashing lights, loud music and big crowds. Josh’s father, Rev. Dr. Timothy Davenport-Herbst, pastor of St. Paul Presbyterian Church in San Angelo, Texas, points out, “If you’re not the kind of person who thrives on that, there’s no place for you.” Then he adds, “These folks need a youth group, too. These, too, are children of God.” (Pentecost Offering con’t on page 5)
Chips & More Workers with Barberton Tree Service helped Tim Meyer get several to-do items off of his list. They demolished that stack of yew branches that were piled up next to the garage, chipped up the remains of the buckthorn tree (those remains have been tossed back-and-forth across the property line of the neighboring apartment building for several years), removed the big branch that has been threatening to drop off the black walnut tree on the back side of the parking lot, cut down the dead crown on the apple tree just to the left of the parking lot drain, and to gave us access to the chips in their truck. (They couldn’t set up the chipper to drop our chips into a pile on the parking lot.) Now there is just a small pile of wood chips left near the gate to the mission garden 4
(Pentecost Offering Human and Civil Rights con’t from page 4) for Marginalized Then a door, actually a balcony, opened. Communities NCCC’s Governing Board approved the opportunity to host an Tim saw a way for people to enjoy the upcoming International Visitor Leadership Program, on Thursday, th experience away June 16 . The program will consist of representatives from six countries, who will engage in a 90 minute discussion on the subject from the noise. Later, on Instagram, he on “Human and Civil Rights for Marginalized Communities.” posted, “Triennium The U.S. Department of State and Meridian International Center ar- opened the entire top ranged the program. Some of the key objectives include: balcony just so peo● Understand best practices to prevent and address human rights ple with sensory isviolations against members of marginalized communities; sues could join in!” ● Explore building local capacity to document abuses and advoCreating a welcomcate for rule of law to protect the rights of victims; ing space for all of ● Discuss advocacy strategies to reform discriminatory laws and God’s children is policies and to develop improved legislative protections; what the Pentecost ● Plan public education campaigns to promote tolerance, inclu- Offering is all about. Gifts to the offering siveness, and/or awareness of minority communities and their support the Office of contribution to society; and Presbyterian Youth ● Examine interfaith dialogue and cooperation efforts in comand Triennium, the munities at risk for violence Young Adult VolunThe participants for this event are from Egypt, Ethiopia, Germany, teer Program and the Montenegro, Poland and Tajikistan. “Educate a Child, When I googled IVLP it took me to eca.state.gov/ivlp, which is Transform the on the U.S. Department of State’s website. World” national initiative. Each congregation Mark Your Calendar retains 40% of the Sunday, June 5— Pentecost Sunday Pentecost Offering Tuesday, June 7—AAIC Meeting, from 12-1:15 at Temple Israfor youth ministries el / Zoom in our community. Friday, June 10—HESBURGH the movie will be shown at 7 pm, at St. Hilary’s Please give generSunday, June 19—Juneteenth ously; when we all Monday, July 18 to Thursday, July 21—ICCC Annual Conferdo a little, it adds up ence in Dublin, OH (register today!) to a lot. 5
That’s Entertainment Potluck Picnic & a Play at Porthouse Theatre Jackie Horton is handling the tickets for this theatre outing. If you are interested in taking in
Little Shop of Horrors On June 30th, please see her as soon as possible. The price of the tickets is $25/person. The show starts at 8:00 p.m. If you would like to take part in the potluck picnic, which will be held at Porthouse starting at 6:30, please sign-up on the sheet in the hall, with your name and what items you plan to bring. The Fellowship Committee will supply the chicken, wine, iced tea, paper plates, napkins, cups and eating utensils. Guest are being asked to bring appetizers, salads, vegetables and desserts. Coffee can be purchased on site. (Mitzvah cont from page 2) Brown Bag Blessings- bag lunch or dinner for those at the Haven of Rest Habitat for Humanity-help at the ReStore at 2301 Romig Road, Akron On Sunday, from 3-4:30, a panel discussion of police and judicial reform in working with persons with disabilities and mental illness will be held at Temple Israel, followed by a dinner at 5:00. Anyone is welcome to the dinner for the chance to eat and visit with our fellow faith community members. The panel discussion can also be viewed via Zoom. All the times, opportunities, and sign-up can be found at mitzvahdayakron.com. There are some pamphlets on the table by the bulletin board, that detail all the information. If you have questions, please call Cathy King. 6