What Do You Want Me To Do For You?- Nexus News 10/09/09

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Dear Friends of Nexus Church,

Looking ahead
Want to learn more about Nexus Church?
The New Member Class will be held after church at the Y on Nov 1, 8, and 15 from noon until 1:30 p.m.

In the three-week series, anyone considering membership is invited to join with me and other special guests. We'll have a light lunch and friendly conversation. Childcare can be arranged.  To "reserve" your spot, please let me know.  If you decide to join Nexus Church, new members will be received on Sunday, Nov 22.

Celebrate our 3 years of service
Is your calendar marked for a special celebration Sunday afternoon, Nov 22?  We'll have special guests from regional and national ministries of the United Church of Christ.  If you're interested in helping plan this, please let me know.

Spend part of your Thanksgiving helping others
On Thanksgiving Day Nov 26 at 11:00 a.m. Nexus folk are invited to help out with a Community Thanksgiving Luncheon at First St John's UCC in downtown Hamilton.  The church doors are open to any and all of the people in downtown Hamilton who may not have other possibilities for Thanksgiving.

You can be as active or "low-key" as you like. One of our roles is to welcome folks into the dining room and have conversation with them.  Another role is to provide background music for the luncheon.

The coming week at Nexus
Sunday, Oct 11:  What do you want me to do for you?
Our focus this Sunday is about living with power and greatness.  In Mark's gospel (10:35-45) James and John ask Jesus if they could sit at his right and left hand. But Jesus will have none of this!  He teaches a new kind of greatness and power -- the power of being a servant to others.

It's a powerful teaching that goes right to the heart of how we today might live. I'll suggest that the first step is to ask a simple question, "What do you want me to do for you?"

The Nexus Band and Singers will inspire us with music.  We'll share our joys and concern in prayer.  Katie Kool will lead the children's program.  Vince Benabese will prepare the projected material.  Kim Martin and Corinne Cross will set up the worship space, make announcements, and read scriptures.  And --in the spirit of continuous improvement -- Reg Olson will help the congregation do a very quick assessment of the service.

Neighbors in Need helps make another world possible.
Continuing this Sunday Oct 11, you are invited to make a special donation to Neighbors in Need.

This is a special mission offering of the United Church of Christ that supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States.

Giving to Neighbors in Need is an excellent opportunity for us to join with other UCC churches across the country and make another world possible.  To be sure it's properly credited, please place your offering in the special envelopes available on the welcome table.

Wednesday, Oct 14: Learn more about Islam
You are invited to join with Catholics and Muslims at St John the Evangelist Church in West Chester for a dialogue series on Islam and Christianity.  Each Wednesday night is independent of the others, so you can come to any session.

Blessings for you today and every day,

Mike

Nexus News- 09/29/09

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Wednesday, Sept 30: Learn more about Islam
Nexus folk are invited to join with Catholics and Muslims at St Johnthe Evangelist Church in West Chester for a dialogue series on Islam and Christianity.

It begins Wednesday, Sept 30, with an Introduction to Islam from 7:30to 9:00 p.m.  The series continues on Wednesdays in October when participants will meet in small groups, Christian and Muslims together, to share their experience and faith on a variety of topics. 

St John the Evangelist Church is on Cincinnati-Dayton Road just north of West Chester Road.  The meetings will take place in the Pavilion, a older one-story building located near the old sanctuary.  The entrance is directly from Cin-Day Road.

Sunday, Oct 4:  Gender, marriage, divorce, and children
Now that the By-Request sermon series is over, our Sunday worship will once again be focused on the standard Scripture readings (called the Lectionary) used by many Protestant and Catholic churches around the world.

This Sunday in Mark 10:2-16 Jesus takes on a host of thorny topics.  What starts off with a “simple” question about interpreting religious law becomes a challenging discussion about gender, marriage, divorce, and children.

The Nexus Singers and Band will inspire us with music. We'll share in prayer our joys and concerns.

Our worship will close with a brief observance of World Communion Sunday and then adjourn for our monthly first-Sunday potluck lunch.  Stay tuned for more news about that.

Neighbors in Need helps make another world possible.
Starting this Sunday, you are invited to make a special contribution to Neighbors in Need.

This is a special mission offering of the United Church of Christ that supports ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States.

Two-thirds of the offering supports a variety of justice initiatives on issues such as the federal budget, voting rights, immigration, health care, hate crimes, civil liberties, and environmental justice.
One-third of the offering supports the UCC established churches with the Lakota, Dakota, Nakota, Mandan, Hidatsa, Arickara, and Hocak in North and South Dakota, Wisconsin, and northern Nebraska..

Giving to Neighbors in Need is an excellent opportunity for us to join with other UCC churches across the country and make another world possible.  To be sure it’s properly credited, please place your offering in the special envelopes available on the welcome table.

Report: Out in the community with Nexus

1. September was a busy month for Nexus folk to be active and visible in  communities throughout southwest Ohio.
2. In Oxford, Sept 10:  Judy and Warren Waldron invited Mike Underhilland Ed Shriver to join them for a special Ramadan dinner with Muslim students at the Campus Ministry at Miami University.  After the wonderful buffet meal, Christian, Muslim, and Jewish students talked about the ideas of fasting in each of their religions.
3. In West Chester, Sept 13: Nexus had its own table at the 6thAnnual Ramadan Iftar Dinner held at the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati near I75 and Tylersville Road.  Nexus folk included Sandi Lerman; Ty, Brian, Kayla, and Shayna Smith; Vince Benabese; and Mike Underhill.  We were joined in our table discussion by Jamil Shehzadj and other members of the Islamic Center.
4. In Lebanon, Sept 18 and 19:  It was a wonderfully hectic time as a team of Nexus volunteers fed, provided activities, and took care of three homeless mothers and their very active eight children.  Nexus folk included Helen Ulrich; Todd, Alice, Tyler, and Caitlin Henry; Leslie Baum; Janet Crawford; Vince Benabese and Mike Underhill.
5. In Cincinnati, Sept 26:The rains held off long enough for the Nexus team to complete the beautiful 5-mile walk to end AIDS.  Our virtual team (some weren’t able to walk because of illness and work) included Danna Johnson, Kay Martin, Corinne Cross, DJ and Marion Beauford Martin, Ty Smith, Vince Benabese, and Mike Underhill.
6. In Centerville, Sept 26:  Six Nexus members and friends joined the sold-out audience for the Jason and deMarco concert at Cross Creek Community Church.  While the music was great, Cross Creek Church really showed how a full-fledged justice ministry can attract support from young, middle-aged, and older folk.
7. In Butler County, Sept 28:  Lisa Schare, chair of Ohio Catholic Democrats of America, took questions from Barbara and Reg Olson and Mike Underhill about how to organize progressive people of faith.

Please let me know about other activities that I missed.  Nexus is not (yet) a numerically large presence in Southwest Ohio but we certainly already are a hopeful witness for equality, fair treatment, tolerance, and deep Christian faith in Southwest Ohio.

I look forward to seeing you Sunday!

Blessings for you today and every day,

Mike

Spiritual Fruits- Not Religious Nuts

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Dear Friends of Nexus Church,

Is It True? God Wants Spiritual Fruit, not Religious Nuts 
The By-Request sermon series concludes this Sunday Sept 27 with an examination of Religion and Spirituality.   Using Matthew 9:10-13 as our starting point, we’ll see that the current issue of Religion and Spirituality has deep roots and a most “respectable” history in Christian thought. 

In worship Sunday we will be inspired by the Nexus band and singers. We'll share our joys and our concerns in prayer.  Pam Benjamin and Eric Middlebrook will set up our worship space, make announcements, and read scripture.

Have a good meal (and raise money for Nexus)
If you eat at the Applebee’s Restaurant on Princeton Road this Sunday and give them the special flyer, they will donate 10% of your bill to Nexus Church.  Copies of the flyer will be available at church.

You don’t have to be a member of Nexus; just give them the flyer.  So invite your friends, family, sports team, etc!

Learn more about Islam
Nexus folk are invited to join with Catholics at St John the Evangelist Church in West Chester for a dialogue series on Islam and Christianity.  It begins Wednesday, Sept 30, with an Introduction to Islam, at 7:30 p.m.  .

Urgent action needed against murders of church leaders in Colombia
As part of the United Church of Christ, we support missionary work around the world.  Our UCC missionaries always work in partnership with local churches and are on the leading edge in standing up for justice and peace.

I encourage you to consider a request received this week from
Rev. Michael Joseph. Global Ministries Missionary in Bogotá, Colombia:

So far in 2009 six Protestant church leaders from southern Córdoba have been murdered by paramilitary armed groups. Several attempted murders and dozens of death threats have caused the forced displacement of hundreds of people. Some churches have been literally caught in the crossfire. In one town six pastors were threatened to be killed if they failed to make extortion payments. A significant number of the victims were targeted for their community leadership in land-rights struggles and for opposing the violence affecting their communities.

Please read more and take action: www.colombiacalling.blogspot.com

Blessings for you today and every day,

Mike


Mike Underhill
Pastor

Nexus Fundraiser- September 27th

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

After the service this coming Sunday (September 27th) some of will go out to lunch at Applebee's.  Applebee's will donate 10% of our total bill back to Nexus church.  In fact, all day long, anyone eating at Applebee's and presenting the attached flyer will help Nexus out because Applebee's will donate 10% of the total back to Nexus.  If you have friends, family, clubs or any other group or individual you can invite, please do.  You do not have to eat with our group to earn the credit for Nexus.

You MUST present the flyer for Nexus to get credit.  Please print it out and bring it with you.

http://tinyurl.com/ksgdlt

Nexus News- September 18, 2009

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Dear Friends of Nexus Church,

How many ways will you connect with Nexus Church?  Here are some ideas.

Connect with worship this Sunday
Heaven and Hell - Hope for Here and Now
When you voted on topics on which you'd like me to preach, "Heaven and Hell" was the second highest vote getter.  And that's our focus this coming Sunday, Sept 20.

I will preach Sunday morning on "Heaven and Hell - Hope for Here and Now."  We'll use John 5:21-29 as our starting point to consider your questions:  Is there a bad place (hell)?  Where did the idea of "hell" come from and how has it changed over time?  What is heaven like?  What about life after death?

In worship Sunday we will be inspired by the Nexus band and singers.  We'll share our joys and our concerns in prayer.  Corinne Cross and Kim Martin will set up our worship space, make announcements, and read scripture.

Connect with the community next Saturday, Sept 26
1. A river walk to help stop AIDS
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.  For questions, ask Dana Johnson (513-461-3107). To join Team Nexus:
http://stopaids.kintera.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?ievent=320065&lis=1&kntae320065=2193256EF66C49D898491A77E44F11F6&supId=0&team=3504069&cj=Y

2. A Christian music concert
Saturday Evening, Sept 26: Recording artists Jason and deMarco are in concert at 8:00 p.m. at CrossCreekCommunityChurch on Miamisburg-Centerville Road, about 35 minutes north of Nexus.

The duo performed as part of "RiverCity Saturday" at the UCC General Synod in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in late June of this year.  The Dallas Voice says, "Jason & deMarco have developed a beautiful and highly unusual duet technique."  DNA Magazine declares, "The duo aims to mix a spiritual message with a strong mainstream aesthetic and their symbiotic approach is definitely working.

Tickets are $20 per person.  To reserve a ticket, please contact Vince Benabese (vbenabese@gmail.com) no later than this Sunday, .Sept 20.

Connect with those of other faiths

• Wish your Jewish friends Happy New Year
• Tonight, Friday the 18th, is the beginning of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.  The Yom Kippur observance begins Sunday evening, Sept 27.
• Learn more about Islam
• Nexus folk are invited to join with Catholics at St John the Evangelist Church in West Chester for a dialogue series on Islam and Christianity.  It begins Wednesday, Sept 30, with an Introduction to Islam, at 7:30 p.m.  See Sandi Lerman for more details.

Blessings for you today and every day,

Mike

Christianity and World Religions

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Dear Friends of Nexus Church,

This week I invite you to be part of the wondrous ways that God is Still Speaking through Nexus in the world, Nexus in the community, and Nexus in our country.

Nexus in the world
Christianity and World Religions
When you voted on topics on which you'd like me to preach, Christianity and World Religions was the top vote getter.  And that's our focus this coming Sunday, Sept 13.

I will preach Sunday morning on "Commitment without Superiority." How do we acknowledge the legitimacy of other paths to God but understand Jesus' words "no one comes to the Father but by me"?  How should Christians respond to people of other faiths?  Should we try to convert them? We'll begin with a close look at John 14:1-11.

In worship Sunday we also welcome back Chip Bramlage and the Nexus band and singers.  We'll share our joys and our concerns in prayer.  Krista Bramlage will lead the children in New Explorers.  Leslie Baum and others will read scripture. Helen and Karl Ulrich will set up our worship space and make announcements.

And then in the evening many of us will go to the 6th Annual Ramadan Iftar Dinner at the Islamic Center near I75 and Tylersville road. Thanks to Sandi Lerman for promoting and organizing our participation.

Nexus out in the community
1. A meal with homeless families

Friday evening and Saturday morning, Sept 18-19: As part of the Inter-faith Hospitality Network in Lebanon, Nexus folk prepare food and activities for homeless families. See Helen Ulrich for details.

2. A river walk to help stop AIDS

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.

3. A Christian music concert

Saturday Evening, Sept 26: Recording artists Jason and deMarco are in concert at 8:00 p.m. at Cross Creek Community Church on Miamisburg-Centerville Road, about 35 minutes north of Nexus.  Tickets are $20 per person.  For more details, see Vince Benabese.

Nexus in our country
1. God is Still Speaking in ButlerCounty.

Yes, God is Still Speaking in the current debates over health care reform.  That's the message I took last week to one of the events in Butler County where many gathered to understand why reform is needed.  (The picture below was carried in the Hamilton Journal News)

 
2. A petition from 100,000 in UCC churches across the country

The United Church of Christ is continuing its historic support for health care for all persons by encouraging the signing of a petition that will be shared with legislative decision-makers, both Republican and Democrat.

The actual wording of the petition can be found on the link below, but the following points stand out:

• Coverage for all people
• Access regardless of ability to pay
• A full set of comprehensive benefits
• A choice of physicians and other providers
• Elimination of racial and ethnic and other health care disparities
• Waiver of pre-existing condition exclusions without age limits
• A robust public health insurance option.

I encourage you, as an issue of faith, to consider adding your signature to this petition and forwarding it as broadly as possible. I would think that, in the spirit of the Great Physician whose message we carry, universal health care is a critical moral issue.

The UCC is seeking 100 thousand signatures in ten days.  Will you add your voice?

To add your name to the petition, go to
https://secure3.convio.net/ucc/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=443&JServSessionIdr002=h3ux8uvd87.app306b
 
Blessings for you today and every day,
Mike

Nexus News- September 5, 2009

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Dear Friends of Nexus Church,

By Request sermon series continues Sept 6
Forgive, forget, and move on - that's the advice of many helpful experts in human behavior.  But is that REALLY what Christian forgiveness is all about?  Do we forget about injustice?  Do we remain defined by the ways other have mis-treated us?  How might we "move on" with our lives?

These are some of the questions on my mind as I prepare for this Sunday's exploration of forgiveness.  You asked me to preach on "forgiveness," but, friends,  it was too big a topic for one sermon.  This Sunday Sept 6 I will conclude the sermon I started last week: Unconditional Forgiveness.

Our focus this Sunday will be 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 will be inspired with the acoustic guitar and bass music of Nancy Wheeler and Mike Kiely.  We'll share our joys and our concerns in prayer.  Krista Bramlage will lead the children in New Explorers.  Our service will conclude with Holy Communion, assisted by Janet Crawford. Ty and Brian Smith will set up our worship space and make announcements.

No potluck this month
Because of the wonderful end-of-summer pool party that Kim Martin and Corinne Cross hosted last week, we will NOT have our usual first-Sunday potluck lunch after church this week.

Instead, I've been told that you may expect special muffins and other goodies to go along with your coffee, tea, and water.

Opportunities for service

• Share a meal with our Muslim friends -- Sunday evening, Sept 13 - The 6th Annual Ramadan Iftar Dinnerat the Islamic Center near I75 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.
• Share a meal with homeless families -- Friday evening and Saturday morning, Sept 18-19 - As part of the Inter-faith Hospitality Network in Lebanon, Nexus folk prepare food and activities for homeless families.  See Helen Ulrich for details.
• Talk a river walk to help stop AIDS -- 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.

Ty and Brian Smith in the New York Times
In case you missed it, here's a link to last week's article in the New York Times based in large part on interviews with Ty and Brian Smith:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/27/fashion/27SKIN.html?_r=1

The article "Black Hair, Still Tangled in Politics" appeared in the August 28th edition of the international newspaper.  Featured in the Fashion and Style section, the article is a great example of what happens when you connect your faith and your life.

Just call me a nag - have you spoken up about health care?
Here's an easy way to connect your faith and life.  Go to this website and let President Obama know what you want done about health care:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

It will send an e-mail to the President.

Blessings for you today and every day,

Mike

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