Unconditional Forgiveness

Image by OZinOH via Flickr

Dear Friends of Nexus Church,

By Request sermon series begins Aug 30
Early in the summer you voted on the four sermon topics on which you'd most like me to preach.  With fear and trepidation, I'll begin the series this coming Sunday, Aug. 30.

Our focus Sunday will be "Unconditional Forgiveness, Part 1."  The scripture will be the story of the prodigal son.  We'll explore if it's really true that God welcomes us with open arms whatever we've done and whenever we "return."

This Sunday is the first of a two-part sermon on forgiveness.  The following Sunday September 5 I will reflect on what I consider to be the hardest part of forgiveness:  forgiving others when they mistreat us and asking others to forgive us when we mistreat them.

This Sunday we have a special treat: Nancy Wheeler and her husband Brandon will inspire us with their acoustic guitar music.  We'll share our joys and our concerns in prayer.  Krista Bramlage will lead the children in New Explorers.  Pam Benjamin and Eric Middlebrook will set up our worship space and make announcements.

And don't forget after church
Kim Martin and Corinne Cross are hosting an end-of-summer pool party at their home immediately after church on Aug. 30.

Hop in the pool or stay dry and enjoy yourself in the yard. Have a wonderful meal.  Relax.  Find out what Nexus folk have been up to over the summer.  Make a new friend.

Just bring yourself (and family or friends) and a side dish.  Kim and Corinne are supplying everything else.

Their address: 6407 Sauterne Dr, Liberty Twp., OH 45011.  Questions: 513-863-0705

Opportunities for service

• Sunday evening, Sept 13 - The 6th Annual Ramadan Iftar Dinner at the Islamic Center near I-75 and Tylersville road.  The evening includes a tour of the mosque, a special program, and a sundown dinner that celebrates the end of daily fasting observed by Muslims during the month of Ramadan.  For more information, see Sandi Lerman.
• Saturday Morning, Sept 26 - The 20th Annual Walk to STOP AIDS! at Sawyer Point.  It's a 5-mile walk along the Ohio and Kentucky sides of the Ohio River.  See Dana Johnson to join our Nexus team of walkers.

Corn fields, wheat fields, mountains, and birthday cake
As you can tell, Vince, Xenia, and I are back from our 3,500 trip to Colorado. What a grand trip!

Most importantly, Vince's Mom had a joyous celebration of her 80th year.  His family does not have a tradition of "big" family celebrations, so taking his mom to visit with her 86 year-old sister for two days and then returning to Denver for a surprise party attended by 45 of her friends was a BIG event.

In that setting I was introduced as Mom's son-in-law of 18 years, and that was indeed a blessing, as I know you can appreciate.

This was my first vacation time since I came to Nexus last November.  I know you were well treated on Aug 16 and 23 with two top-notch guest preachers.  Thanks to the Rev. Jan Griesinger and the Rev. Reg Olson for preaching.  Thanks also to the Rev. Barb Hobe for being on call for pastoral emergencies.

Have you spoken up about health care?
At NexusChurch we emphasize that our faith should be connected with our lives.  At the moment there's no more important issue facing our collective life than the questions surrounding health care.

As your pastor I therefore ask: have you made your voice heard about health care?

In recent weeks it seemed to me that some were using the health care issue primarily as a means to "overturn" the results of last November's election.  But I read in today's newspaper that some prominent religious leaders are backing away from a 30-year commitment to adequate health-care for all.  (See, for example,  http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/28/health/policy/28catholics.html?_r=1&hp )

Isn't it time for progressive religious folk to let our opinions be heard?

Blessings for you today and every day,

Mike

Website Update-We're mobile baby!

Image via CrunchBase

If you've wanted to browser the Nexus from your mobile phone (or if you just didn't have Flash and couldn't view it properly), now you can.  Our site is now completely viewable from a mobile device.  Now you can listen to the sermons (just in case you slept in one Sunday morning or were out enjoying nature) streamed from our website on your iPhone or other mobile device.

Some other new features should be available in the coming months.  But, this is a pretty big one.  A lot of people who you might have steered to the site couldn't view it well on mobile devices.  And, now they can check out a sermon or two while they're on the go.  We don't have true Podcasting yet (should be coming soon). But, as long as you're connected, you can stream the sermons.

Our website is here:  www.nexusucc.org , pass it along.

Old Pride!

Image by Xavier Fargas via Flickr

Dear Friends of Nexus Church,

Corn fields, wheat fields, mountains, and birthday cake
Tomorrow morning Vince and I will pack up the car and head west on I70 across Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, and Colorado until we come to Vince's Mom's in Denver.  There we'll help organize a week-long 80th birthday celebration for Mom (shhh - there's a secret party, too).

We're taking a driving vacation so that we can take along our little dog Xena.  It will be leisurely trip, since we stop at about every other rest stop and stretch our legs.  The scenery may not be "exotic" but isn't it a blessing just to be with those you love?

This is my first vacation time since I came to Nexus last November.  You'll see below that you will be treated on Aug 16 and 23 with top-notch guest preachers.  Be sure to come to church, and let me know what you think.

While we are out of town, please call me at the regular church cell number (513-708-7803) if you have any critical need of pastoral care.  I have found that often a telephone conversation can be very helpful.  If immediate face-to-face conversation is needed, I will contact our own the Rev. Barb Hobe to make arrangements to meet with you.

Old Pride: All Shall be Well Enough
This Sunday Aug 16 our guest preacher -- the Rev. Jan Griesinger from Athens, OH -- will reflect on "Old Pride: All Shall be Well."

I know that you will want to hear Jan's reflection.  I first heard her speak at the Ohio Conference of the UCC.  In a very few minutes she caught everyone's attention with her celebration of being "old."

Jan is a co-founder of  the Susan B. Anthony Memorial UnRest Home Womyn's Land Trust where she currently lives. She currently serves as national Co-Director of Old Lesbians Organizing for Change.  Jan is Director Emerita of UCM:  Center for Spiritual Growth and Social Justice at OhioUniversity (1976-2004).

Chip Bramlage and the Nexus Singers and Band will inspire us with music.  We'll share our joys and our concerns in prayer.  Krista Bramlage will give the Children's Message and then lead the children in New Explorers.  Sandi Lerman will teach us new sign language.  Helen and Karl Ulrich will set up our worship space,  make announcements, and read Scripture.

Reg Olson to preach Aug 23rd
What does it mean to have church in a gymnasium?  Come Aug 23rd to hear our very own the Rev. Reg Olson discuss "Surely the Lord is in this Place"

We know Reg as a faithful supporter of Nexus Church who almost always takes a front-row seat along with his wife Barb.   You may not know that Reg is a retired United Methodist clergy person.  He was born and raised in the Evangelical & Reformed Church (which joined with the Congregational Christian Church in 1957 to form the United Church of Christ).

By Request sermon series begins Aug 30
Early in the summer you voted on the four sermon topics on which you'd most like me to preach.  With fear and trepidation, I'll begin the series on Sunday, Aug. 30.  I don't (yet) have a "flashy" title, but the sermon topic will be forgiveness.  Do we "need" forgiveness?  If so, who? What? When? And how?

And don't forget after church on Aug 30
Kim Martin and Corinne Cross are hosting a pool party at their home immediately after church on Aug. 30.

Blessings for you today and every day,

Mike

Nexus News- August 7, 2009

Image by bandita via Flickr

Nine months, one week

If I were pregnant, I'd be awaiting the birth of a child.  If I were in school, I'd be awaiting promotion to a new grade.  As your pastor now for nine months and one week, I'm eager to see where our journey together with God will lead us.

Several of you tell me that you notice God's Spirit actively working in and through Nexus church. I am aware that everyone now connected with Nexus is taking new steps - small steps and big steps.  I see you doing things you never thought you could.  I see you claiming new ministries of service and compassion and hospitality.  I see you letting the word of God challenge you.

I am also aware that many are dealing with situations they had never expected.  As a community, we know about loss - loss of relationships, loss of health, loss of income, loss of certainty.  And as a community, we are beginning to trust each other enough to grieve our losses together.

As a community, we're also learning how to celebrate together.  We are blessing marriages and relationships, welcoming births, blessing homes, and baptizing children and adults.  We're also inviting family and friends to "check out" Nexus Church.

I am truly blessed to be your pastor and friend.  I appreciate your growing willingness to invite me into the joys and concerns of your daily lives.  Vince and I are refreshed by your continuing hospitality.  We thoroughly enjoy living in this corner of Ohio.  Thank you for making it all possible.

Kayaking, fishing, canoeing, and conversation

What a wonderful and relaxing time last Sunday at the Nexus family and friends picnic and outing!  Our group included 15 adults, 5 children, and 2 dogs.  We arrived by car and bicycle.  We ate and ate, talked and talked, and many of us went down the Little Miami River by canoe or kayak. Some fished in the river and others played cards.

Already, I'm getting notes from folks who couldn't make it last Sunday but are saying they will definitely be there "next year."  So I guess we've started another Nexus tradition.

Many helped make the event possible - thank you!  Helen Ulrich and her family deserve special thanks for finding such a good place, making the arrangements, doing publicity, and setting things up.

And mark your calendar for Aug 30
Kim Martin and Corinne Cross are hosting a pool party at their home immediately after church on Aug. 30.

Pop Quiz Update
Last week I asked you a question about the racial and ethnic backgrounds of students in the Lakota School District.  Thanks to one of the faithful readers of this note, I now have the latest available data from the 2007-2008 school year:

• What percentage of students in the LakotaSchool District are students of color?  21%
• What percentage are white or Caucasian? 79%

I shared this information last Saturday morning at a Sacred Conversation about Race which I helped lead with the leadership team for the Southwest Ohio Northern Kentucky Association of UCC churches.  Some in the group, especially those who were born and raised in ButlerCounty, were most surprised to see how much Butler County has changed from their childhood and youth.

The whole conversation was very positive and hopefully will encourage many other sacred conversations about race.  To me, it was a vivid reminder that the sooner we talk about the issues that can be used to divide us, the sooner we will discover the common humanity that unites us.

Enough, Already!
This Sunday August 9 the theme is "Enough Already!"  How might we respond when life give us more than we think we can bear?  Our point of departure will a fascinating story from the life of the ancient prophet Elijah.  You can read the story in 1 Kings 19:3-8.

Chip Bramlage and the Nexus Singers and Band will inspire us with music.  We'll share our joys and our concerns in prayer.  Krista Bramlage will lead the children in New Explorers.  Sandi Lerman will teach us new sign language.  Ty and Brian Smith will set up our worship space and make announcements.

See you Sunday at 10:00 a.m.!

Blessings for you today and every day,

Mike