#42 A LIBERAL CHURCH REACHING OUT IN OUR COMMUNITY

WHERE I WENT AND WHY
I think this is the first time a church's sign has drawn me in.  Wedgewood Church's sign often has unique messages.  When I found out it was Church of Christ, I became more interested and when I saw this statement on their website, I knew I had to go.

"Wedgewood is a United Church of Christ congregation, with Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim, agnostic and atheist members and Christians from many different traditions."

WHAT TO KNOW IF YOU WANT TO GO

Wedgewood Church is at 4800 Wedgewood Dr. at the corner with Tyvola Rd. near The Senior Center and Marion Diehl Park.  There was plenty of parking and dress was casual.

REFLECTIONS ON WORSHIP

MOOD

This was a very friendly church.  Several folks greeted me and asked my name before I sat down and  others came over to me before the service started.  They are very child friendly and have a back "pew" of rocking chairs next to a shelf of infant/toddler toys.  Coffee and water are on the other side, inside the sanctuary. It is a small congregation.  Only about 40 were in attendance the day I visited.  With 4 "Rev"s listed in the bulletin that is a ration of 10:1!!

Rocking chair area

Coffee opposite the rocking chairs

 The service began with everyone reciting the "Extravagant Welcome" and continued with a :"Left Hand of Fellowship" where folks greeted you and extended their left hand. 

MUSIC

The young man clapping performed the Gospel number.

The music consisted of a very talented 7 member choir and a pianist/music director.  Their tight harmonies made them sound much bigger than just 7 members.  One young man did a call and response Gospel selection to "Where God Leads I Will Follow" that was as good as I have heard from any African American Gospel choir.  Two different female soloists sang wonderful solos, one with the pianist and another with pre-recorded music.  That said, all of the music was done as anthems, though some in the congregation joined in the choruses. Though there were 2 different hymnals in the pews, no hymns were planned for the congregation.

MESSAGE

The first message was a children's sermon by the co-pastor, Rev. April Johnson.  She asked what is God's favorite color and God's favorite shape.  After some discussion, it was decided that God loves all shapes and colors, though one young man still needs to be convinced that God could speak through girls!! LOL  After the children's sermon, the children were dismissed to Children's Church.  

Before the sermon, Courtney Leak spoke in a part called "Part of My Story."  Warning us that she would probably cry, she told us through her tears about losing 2 babies at the birth of her son.  He was one of set of triplets.  She said that folks often quoted Romans 8:28 to her during this tragic time:  "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God."  She declared that this was NOT very helpful, for losing 2 babies can never be good.  However, God never promised us that life would be easy or without trials.  And that through this trial, she became stronger, and is able to honor  those she counsels in her work in their pain, and knows that she cannot fix them, but BE with them and help them through it.

The scripture for the day was John 10:1-10 read dramatically by Rev. Marsha Tegard and Rev. Chris Ayers.  In it Jesus describes himself as the Shepherd and gatekeeper to his sheep. "I came that you may have life abundantly."  Rev. Ayers spoke about false gates such as Mar-a-Lago ($200,000 initiation fee), and gates that have been put up to restrict health care to the poor and elderly.  He then went back to the scripture and noted that the sheep know the master's (Jesus') voice, and choose to follow Him, gaining abundant life. He told a story of a young man born without arms who wanted to play basketball.  He said that though folks wanted him to play soccer or anything else, he had listened to his inner voice, and followed it to work at basketball. He went out for the team and worked harder than anyone.  After sitting on the bench all season, the coach put him in the last few minutes of the last game.  He hit 2 three pointers.   He  prayed that we would hear the voice of God in familiar and unfamiliar ways.

OBSERVATIONS AND OUTREACH

• The only outreach highlighted at the service as a faith workshop being led by a member of the church and church deacon who is an Executive Organizational Consultant and Spiritual Counselor.
• The church was very thought provoking, but I think I got a little "tuna fish" (see blog post #1) as far as the message and music goes.
• On their website they list numerous ways they "Change the World" such as participating in Room in the Inn, a peanut butter and jelly ministry to the homeless, raising money for Syrian refugees, the 2nd Harvest food bank, and housing Transcend, a non-profit support group for the transgender community.
• They had a part in the service call May's Saint and Sinner where they recognized the saint and sinner in all of us and highlighted Avery McCray, an 11 year old who is suing Trump on climate change.  She, they declared is speaking "truth to power."
• Another section called "Core Values" on their website describes them as a liberal church:

• The Johnson Amendment has been in the news again this week and it has got me thinking about how churches "should be involved" in politics and the world.  I like Wedgewood's statement  "that separation of faith from politics is not acceptable for people of faith".  However I thought the "dig" at Mar-a-Lago, painted too many people with the same brush without knowing their values.  I agree that churches, their parishioners, and pastors should work for justice in the world and stand up, speaking truth to power as the prophets did.  However, Jesus also said, "Render to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God, what is God's". (Mark 12:17)  I am not comfortable when pastors equate Trump to the devil or Beelzebub or Obama to Moses (as happened at other churches I've attended).  Deifying or demonizing politicians does not advance the goal of social justice, but just draws "red lines" in the sand.  I also think that churches should not publish "how to vote" pamphlets (with specific candidates endorsed), but should help their parishioners apply their faith in the real world and make their own informed choices.  Time is best spent in my opinion in providing ways for parishioners to work for justice in concrete ways using their gifts of time, talent and treasure.
• Again, a thoughtful response from the worship leader.  My comments about the Johnson Amendment (just above) were just an observation I've had as I visit many churches, and I didn't mean to imply that Wedgewood  tells its parishioners how to vote.  Here's their comments:
• Greetings Deb,

   Last week was very hectic for me, so my apologies on just getting back to you. I see that I have missed the date for consideration of my comments before your publishing this piece. I am excited that Wedgewood is among your list of places to attend (and blog about) and I hope you will return once you have accomplished visiting the 50 churches. My only concern was the ending of your blog which could be interpreted that Wedgewood was a church that tells people how to vote or denotes devil/savior status to political candidates. We do not, the beautiful yet at times messy reality about Wedgewood is that we share a variety of different views and affirm this about our members ( be they lay or ordained). We do speak passionately about experiences of oppression and discrimination while holding the humanity of persons who perpetrate and benefit from these practices. Thank you for sharing your blob with me as well as for highlighting our church!  

  
  

  Peace and blessings

  Rev. Malu 

THIS WEEK'S EXTRA

  THE BULLETIN