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A hymn to God's welcoming love |
| After the defeat of "A" -
Here's a hymn you may want to use on Sunday.
[2-20-02]
We just received this note from the Rev. Bruce
Gillette of Pittman, NJ, offering a hymn written by Carolyn Winfrey
Gillette, which acknowledges out church's uneasiness with Jesus'
attitude of welcome toward all people.
Dear Doug,
For your possible use on the Witherspoon web site:
On February 19th, the Presbyterian News Service
reported that a majority of the presbyteries in the Presbyterian Church
(USA) voted against the amendment A with its proposed wording that
church leaders' "suitability to hold office is determined by the
governing body where the examination for ordination or installation
takes place, guided by scriptural and constitutional standards, under
the authority and Lordship of Jesus Christ."
Our troubled church needs our prayers. Augustine said
those who sing "pray twice" so the following hymn might be a
good one to sing this Sunday by churches who seek to welcome all God's
children who are diverse in "gifts and traditions ... in race and
in culture and family design":
O God, in Your Love
ST. DENIO 11.11.11.11 "Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise"
O God, in your love, you have made us unique:
In gifts and traditions, in service we seek,
In race and in culture and family design--
Diverse are the branches in Jesus the Vine.
Lord Jesus, you came to bring God's love on earth;
You welcomed the outcasts and showed us our worth.
You reached out to people whom others despised--
You said all are precious in God's loving eyes.
O Christ, with your welcome your church feels unease:
We stand at closed doors tightly holding the keys.
Yet this is your body, the church that you love--
O Lord, do you weep for your church from above?
So may your church welcome in loving accord
All people who want to serve Jesus our Lord.
O Spirit, unite us in Jesus the Son--
In mission and ministry, God, make us one.
John 15.5; Luke 15; Matthew 7:7-11; I Corinthians
12:12-26; John 17:21-22
Music: Welsh Folk Hymn, Adapted in Caniadau y Cyssegr,
1839
Text: Copyright © 1998 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights
reserved.
This hymn is in Gifts of Love: New Hymns for Today's Worship by
Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (Geneva Press, 2000). 305 South Broadway,
Pitman, NJ 08071 Phone: (856)-589-8444 Email: Bruce.Gillette@ecunet.org
You are welcome to share the hymn with neighboring
pastors, church musicians or other online friends, but please include
the copyright and contact information for permission to use the hymn.
Blessings on you and your ministry.
Grace and Peace,
Bruce
Bruce & Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, Co-Pastors
First Presbyterian Church, 305 South Broadway, Pitman NJ 08071
Office Phone: (856)-589-1050 Home Phone: (856)-589-8444
Email: Bruce.Gillette@ecunet.org
Church Fax: (856)-589-1051
Church website: http://www.firstpresby.org/
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Visit
our lively
new website! |
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GA actions
ratified (or not) by the presbyteries
A number of the most important actions of the 219th
General Assembly have now been acted upon by the presbyteries,
confirming most of them as amendments to the PC(USA) Book of Order.
We provided resources to help inform the
reflection and debate, along with updates on the voting.
Our three areas of primary interest have been:
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Amendment 10-A,
which removes the current ban on
lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender persons being considered as
possible candidates for ordination as elder or ministers.
Approved! |
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Amendment 10-2,
which would add the Belhar Confession to our Book of
Confessions. Disapproved, because as an amendment
to the Book of Confessions it needed a 2/3 vote, and did not
receive that. |
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Amendment
10-1, which adopts the new Form of Government
that was approved by the Assembly. Approved. |
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Some blogs worth visiting |
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PVJ's
Facebook page
Mitch Trigger, PVJ's
Secretary/Communicator, has created a Facebook page where
Witherspoon members and others can gather to exchange news and
views. Mitch and a few others have posted bits of news, both
personal and organizational. But there’s room for more!
You can post your own news and views,
or initiate a conversation about a topic of interest to you. |
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Voices of Sophia blog
Heather Reichgott, who has created
this new blog for Voices of Sophia, introduces it:
After fifteen years of scholarship
and activism, Voices of Sophia presents a blog. Here, we present the
voices of feminist theologians of all stripes: scholars, clergy,
students, exiles, missionaries, workers, thinkers, artists, lovers
and devotees, from many parts of the world, all children of the God
in whose image women are made. .... This blog seeks to glorify God
through prayer, work, art, and intellectual reflection. Through
articles and ensuing discussion we hope to become an active and
thoughtful community. |
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John Harris’ Summit to
Shore blogspot
Theological and philosophical
reflections on everything between summit to shore, including
kayaking, climbing, religion, spirituality, philosophy, theology,
politics, culture, travel, The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), New
York City and the Queens neighborhood of Ridgewood by a progressive
New York City Presbyterian Pastor. John is a former member of the
Witherspoon board, and is designated pastor of North Presbyterian
Church in Flushing, NY. |
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John Shuck’s Shuck and Jive
A Presbyterian minister, currently
serving as pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton,
Tenn., blogs about spirituality, culture, religion (both organized
and disorganized), life, evolution, literature, Jesus, and
lightening up. |
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Got more blogs to recommend?
Please
send a note, and we'll see what we can do! |
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