the heartbeat€¦ · the heartbeat when we vote do we do so for the sake of the community, the...

Right and Righteous : By Pastor Chi

The Heartbeat

When we vote do we do so for

the sake of the community, the

less fortunate or self interest?

When we welcome all? Do we

love as Jesus did?

This church is a bea-

con of light that shines out the

love of Jesus in to a communi-

ty that dwells in too much

darkness. The UCC stands for

justice, equality, respect and

love for all. Be proud, yet

humble, for you can and do

represent right and righteous-

ness.

Events of the past few weeks

have brought to the forefront

in discussions, letters to the

editor and political debates

opinions and views on what is

right, and what is righteous.

The United Church of Christ

has been, as it has been the

case in the long history back

to our Pilgrim forefathers, in

the forefront of these discus-

sions. The current issue is

same sex marriage. The

UCC's history is a remarkable

one of leading as a church on

what was to become the cor-

rect (right) and justice

(righteous) side of the ques-

tions of slavery, women's

suffrage and civil rights. A

church before its time? Or, a

church just being true to its

roots - the teachings and life

of Jesus Christ?

The answer to the first is

pretty obviously yes. We

only need look at the history

of the United States. The

answer to the second may not

be so clear to many as we are

bombarded by fundamentalist

sound bites about "what the

Bible says" and "Christian

values". The answer is also

made more difficult by our

tendency to act in our own

best interest under the guise

of independence and Ameri-

can individualism. So much

of what is now considered the

paradigm in which we live as

Christians is in fact a relative-

ly recent, primarily in the last

two hundred years, revision of

the Way of Jesus.

We, in our church, and the

UCC do take the Bible very

"seriously, but not literally" to

paraphrase Marcus Borg. We

do go back to the source, the

words, the actions and the

teachings of Jesus as the foun-

dation of our theology. Back

to those basic roots without

trying to modify them beyond

application to the new age and

culture we live in versus that

of the time Jesus walked the

roads of ancient Israel.

This can make being

a Christian much more diffi-

cult. Trying to really follow

Jesus, to walk in his footsteps,

is much harder than utilizing

scripture to justify actions that

exemplify your prejudices and

desires. Just as Jesus faced

opposition from the Pharisees,

those true to his Way do also.

We are asked to be disciples,

servants, in our lives. Jesus'

life centered around, his

teachings uplifted and his acts

uplifted the poor, the ill, the

alien, the stranger, the orphan

and the widow. Jesus brought

all the disenfranchised in to

his community. Following

his death all these became a

community of followers of his

Way. We are part of that

community in this day.

When we speak do

we do with the words of Je-

sus? When we act do we do

so with the actions of Jesus?

Nampa United Church of Christ ~ An Open and Affirming Church ~ All Are Welcome

2nd ~ Tasha Taylor

4th ~ Aiden Haskell

9th ~ Peg Wolfe

14th ~ Mae Burton

20th ~ Jordan Williams

20th ~ Nichole LaRae

**Please let us know if you

have a date to add.

BIRTHDAYS &

ANNIVERSARIES

UCCNAMPA.ORG

Worship at NUCC

Sunday School: 9:40am Sunday Worship Service

10:45am

*Children’s Church is during the service:

Grades K-5

Nampa United Church of Christ

In Christ's Love, Pastor Chi Morgan

Sunday Servers for November

The Heartbeat

Communion:

Nov. 2nd ~ Ed & Diane

Gather Place Treats:

Nov. 2nd ~ Rodríguez’s

Nov. 9th ~ Robertson’s

Nov. 16th ~ Melissa & Valeda

Nov. 23rd ~ Morgan’s

Nov. 30th ~ Carol

Greeters:

Nov. 2nd ~ Marilyn, Erika, & Janet

Nov. 9th ~ Chris & Carol

Nov. 16th ~ Melissa & Valeda

Nov. 23rd ~ Rodríguez’s

Nov. 30th ~ Rodríguez’s

1. Who was the mother of John the Baptist?

2. Who was the mother of Isaac?

3. Who was the mother of Jacob & Esau?

4. Who was the mother of Joseph

& Benjamin?

5. Who was the mother of King Solomon?

6. Who was the mother of Samuel?

7. Who was the mother-in-law of Ruth?

Weekly at Our Building...

Ushers:

Nov. 2nd ~ DeGiorgio’s

Nov. 9th ~ Robertson’s

Nov. 16th ~ Rodríguez’s

Nov. 23rd ~ Carol & Harve

Nov. 30th ~ Harve & Chris

Fellowship Treats:

Nov. 2nd ~ Marilyn, Erika & Janet

Nov. 9th ~ Stover’s

Nov. 16th ~ Birthday Cake

Nov. 23rd ~ Potluck

Nov. 30th ~ Thanksgiving Leftovers

Candles:

Nov. 9th ~ Chris & Carol

Worship Leader:

Nov. 2nd ~ Chris

Nov. 9th ~ Harve

Nov. 16th ~ Ed

Nov. 23rd ~ Lori / Audree

Nov. 30th ~ Laura

Sermon Verses:

Nov. 2nd ~ Psalm 43

Nov. 9th ~ Matthew 25: 1-13

Nov. 16th ~ Matthew25: 14-30

Nov. 23rd ~ Matthew 25: 31-45

Nov. 30th ~ 1 Corinthians 1: 3-9

Sermons When Chi is Out of Town:

Nov. 9th ~ Laura Creech

Nov. 16th ~ Lori Roberts

UCC Worship

Sunday School 9:40

Service 10:45am

Sinai Pentecostal

1:00 to 3:00

Center for

Prayer & Worship

4:30 pm to 9:00 pm

AA - How it Works: 12-

1pm

Office Open: 10-2


1pm

TOPS: 12 - 2

AA-Are You Willing?

6pm to 7pm


1pm

Office Open: 10-2


1pm

Center for

Prayer & Worship

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm


1pm

Center for

Prayer & Worship

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm

OABB 10-12pm


1pm

Center for

Prayer & Worship

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

“Encountering Scripture” in Sunday School

We are continuing our Faith Practice study in En-

countering Scripture. This month we will be digging

deeper into Scripture itself and how to build a deeper

understanding of our Still-Speaking God.

The key verses are John 1:1-14 and 2 Kings 2:1-14.

We would love to have you whenever you can come

as we grow together in relationship with each other

but greater yet with the Lord.

Bible Trivia: Mothers

Meetings This Month

Sunday - November 23rd

We will be having our Council meeting right

after the morning Worship Service.

Please bring your favorite dish to share.

Council & Pot-luck

Office Hours

Tues. 10am—2pm

Thurs. 10am—2pm

Voice mail and e-mails are checked on

a daily basis. Feel free to leave a mes-

sage if you have any needs or ques-

tions. Thanks!

Wednesday, Nov. 19th

6pm—Christian Education

7pm—Trustees

8pm—Deacons

Worship Committee Tuesday, Nov. 25th - 7pm

Annual Budget Meeting *Sunday, November 23rd

This was postponed from Oct. 26th

Bible Trivia Answers

1.

Elizab

eth

2.

Sarah

3.

Reb

ekah

4.

Rach

el

5.

Bath

sheb

a

6.

Han

nah

7.

Nao

mi

November is Stewardship Month! SURPRISING GIFTS My brother always said he didn’t want to have children, so I was a bit anx-

ious when his son, Christopher, was born. Happily, I was surprised, relieved and

thankful to see how much he loved that little baby. He was too! He marveled,

“When I look at that innocent face, I realize I would give my life to keep him

safe.”

God surprises us with such amazing, transforming gifts!

Scripture assures us that first God gives to us: “God reached out in love and

surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence.” We can take heart;

God knows our needs and hopes and wants only the best for us.

God’s gifts enliven our capacity to respond with our gifts. In the next few

weeks, remember how good God has been to you and give thanks for the wonder

of your life. As you pray about making your pledge of support for the ministry of

our church on November 23, with a confident and hope-filled heart let your re-

sponse flow naturally. When we open our hearts to God, our response may sur-

prise even us. May God… who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invig-

orate your work, enliven your speech. – 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 from The Message

55 S. Midland Blvd. Nampa, ID 83651-2422

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Pastor Chi Morgan (208) 250-6531 Cell (208) 466-6581 Office

Office Hours: Tues. & Thurs. 10am to 2pm

Pastor Chi’s Email:: [email protected]

Office Email: [email protected]

The Mission of Nampa UCC is to be a community centered in the Holy Trinity that hears the still speaking God with an open heart and welcomes all.

ALL ARE WELCOME

The Heartbeat A Place Where Everyone Is Welcome We Are An Open And Affirming Congregation

SEND TO:

November is Stewardship Month!

Please consider prayerfully your giving for 2015. We will be collecting

Pledge Cards on Sunday, November 23rd. The Trustees have worked hard

this year on creating a balanced budget for the first time in many years.

Your financial support allows Nampa UCC to continue with God’s work.

the heartbeat€¦ · the heartbeat when we vote do we do so for the sake of the community, the...

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