See You Sunday!

The Adult Discussion Group reconvenes on Sunday, September 13 at 9:00 am.  They'll discuss different ideas for the year and plan for future topics.  Children's Sunday School reconvenes following the Time with Children during worship.  Middle Schoolers will meet in their new lounge; elementary age will meet in their new room located next to the nursery.  Check out the new digs!

And speaking of new digs, come early, get some coffee, and marvel at the Gathering Space.

The choir is back, too!  See you Sunday! Annie

It's Done!!

Wait until you see the Gathering Space complete-it's beautiful!!  Come early on Sunday and look around and enjoy it yourself-you made this happen!!  The coffee will be ready early, so grab a cup of coffee and enjoy the new digs.  If you want to go downstairs, you can also look at the new middle school lounge and Sunday School room.  We've been working hard to get everything ready for Sunday!!  Use the new doors to get the full effect and avoid the stairs.  Also, both sides of the drive are now open.

Also, don't forget other things happening:

• Food Outreach Food Pack, Saturday, 8-12
• Sweet Tomatoes Fundraiser, 5-8, Tuesday 9/15
• Church Work Day, Saturday 9/19, 8-12
• Garden Dedication, Sunday, 9/20

Also, get your flu shots here!  The Visiting Nurses Association will be here on Sunday, October 4, after church, to give flu shots.  Cost is $25.  Look in the bulletin for more information.

The website address is again www.faithdesperes.org Thre's a link on the right side for the church calendar.

And last but most important, I hope you can come this Sunday at 3 pm for the memorial service to celebrate the life and resurrection of Jim Case.  A reception in the Gathering Space will follow.

Website

As you know, we have a new website.  Some of you have asked about the address.  We're trying to get the old website address (www.faithdesperes.org) mapped to the new website (www.faithdesperes.squarespace.com).  If you're looking for up-to-date information, visit us at the squarespace address.  When we get the old address mapped to the new site, we'll let you know.  Thanks!

Sunday

Hope to see you Sunday at the Old Meeting House (2250 N. Geyer Rd.) for worship at 10:30 and the celebration of the baptism of Elizabeth Benben! 

Health Care Reform

I've been exchanging e-mails for the past two weeks with a couple members who are interested in health care reform.  I also had some casual conversations about health care reform with some people after worship one Sunday not long ago.

I'm no expert on health care.  I'm not a doctor, and I don't pretend to be one on tv.  I haven't had much time lately to even read the newspaper or watch news shows.  So, when the issue of health care reform as it pertains to the church came to my attention, I felt woefully inadequate to address the subject.  About the only thing I could say was, "I know Jesus healed everyone, not just those with the right insurance."

But then I read the scriptures for this Sunday.  (You can find them here.)  And I found myself back-pedalling.  Because in the story from Mark, Jesus doesn't want to heal the woman's daughter. 

So I started thinking about this story in light of the debate about health care.  As people of faith, what are we called to do (if anything)?  Do we/should we have a voice?  What should that voice be?  Is it possible to have a voice amidst the shouting matches?  What do the scriptures call us to do?

These are lots of questions, but what do you think?  I'm going to try to sort out my thoughts so I can present a coherent message on Sunday.  What about you?  What are your thoughts?

Annie