Sunday, July 14: Candles lit in memory of Debbie Leal. Her funeral was held at UPC on July 9.
Thursday, July 18: Grill’s On, 5:30 pm. Grill and tables will be ready to go. Bring a lawn chair, a friend, something for the grill and/or a side to share, and join in conversation, fellowship, and fun. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, we’ll move inside.
Embracing (and Learning From) Our HistoryYou’ve probably seen historical items all around the church, plaques and papers and pictures scattered in every corner. We’d like to get these things organized, so in August (date to be determined) we’re planning the first “history day.” The first step is inventory: we’ll gather things together, lay them out on tables, and figure out what’s what. From there we will determine how to properly archive our church history. If you are interested in participating in this (or know of somebody who should be involved) please contact the office or Pastor Paul.
From Pastor Paul: “Toward Sunday” It has always struck me how much of Morgan Park has its head turned back chronologically, illuminating the past. It is fair, given the arch of our town’s history, but this is certainly new for me. I grew up in suburbia outside of Chicago, in a house that was younger than I was. I worshiped in a church that was no older than my parents. I played with friends that, like me, had moved to a “new” place, away from their family history. New roots….if roots were planted at all. Honestly, when my parents move away from suburbia, no matter the good memories, I won’t miss it much. I guess I am used to things changing. But I am unique in this situation, I know. For many residents of Morgan Park, and likewise many members of our Church, history deeply matters. All around me are vestiges of the way things used to be. Old pictures with faces I don’t recognize. Brass plaques with names unfamiliar. Stories, in each and every one. I want to hear those stories, and politely ask for you to share them with me. I want to know their names and hear about their lives….but to be honest, I don’t want to live there. I want to see new faces and hear new stories. I want to MAKE new stories! I think of how Jesus honored his history, pausing there, to honor the wisdom of the prophets and the history of the peoples, but certainly not ceasing to create the new thing he came here to create. Perhaps the neighbors you knew in town have moved away, but even if you can name the families that lived in that house for the past thirty or more years, do you know who lives there now? Their names? What they do for work? The things they love and the struggles they face?
Our Sunday Gospel finds Jesus being challenged with the question: “What is the greatest commandment?”, which can be summed up simply: “Love God, Love each other.” Our church, and community, have changed, but our desire to fulfill God’s commandment through Jesus has not. How can we be good neighbors? How can we honor the unchanging call of God?
Let’s talk,
Pastor Paul