WEEKLY PASTORAL LETTERS
April 12, 2024
Dear Friends,
Please know you are warmly invited to be with us at our Worship Service this Sunday, April 14th at 11:00 AM, either in person or in
our beautiful, historic Sanctuary or via Zoom.
I will be speaking about a theology of cherry blossoms. We try to hold on to what is essentially transient, and miss the beauty when
we do. The Gospel story of Jesus asking Mary Magdalene to not touch him is our text.
Through Word, Sacrament, music, and prayer, you will be reminded that you are precious, sacred, and beloved of God,
always.
Contact me at revfederici.tuc@gmail for a Zoom link.
With grace and peace,
Rev. Bill Federici
Senior Pastor
March 29, 2024
Dear Friends,
Rev. Katja and I are very happy to invite you to be with us for our Bilingual Festival Easter Worship Service at the United Church/Die Vereinigte Kirche, either in person, or via Zoom.
Our theme this year is "Tears of Joy." Our Meditations (in English) will have a look at the Easter story in the Gospel of John. (John 20:1-18) I will focus on Peter and the Beloved Disciple; Rev. Katja will lift up Mary Magdalene. Matthew McCarroll and Claudia Dziobek will offer the readings.
Raymond Soukup will play Brahms. The Choir will sing J.S.Bach and H. Purcell.
Steven Cunningham is our trumpeter. We will sing Birgitta Sunderland is at the Zoom console; Kevin Rost is preparing a Coffee Hour.
Our gathering this Easter Sunday takes a firm stand for courage over fear, life over death, and Love over hate.
May you be filled with all the hope, peace and joy of the power of Easter!
Blessings,
Rev. Bill Federici
Senior Pastor
March 21, 2024
Dear Friends,
Please know you are warmly invited to be with us at our Worship Service this Palm Sunday, March 24th, at 11:00 AM, either in
person or in our beautiful, historic Sanctuary or via Zoom.
I will be speaking about the crowd that greets Jesus as he enters the city, and the moment when Jesus is alone in the temple.
Through Word, music and prayer, you will be reminded that you are precious, sacred, and beloved of God, always.
With grace and peace,
Rev. Bill Federici
Senior Pastor
March 8, 2024
Dear Friends,
Please know you are warmly invited to be with us at our English Language Worship Service this Sunday, March 10th, at 11:00 AM,
either in person or in our beautiful, historic Sanctuary or via Zoom.
I will be speaking about how our anger is an energy that we can transform, thus placing it in the service of Love.
Through Word, music and prayer, you will be reminded that you are precious, sacred, and beloved of God, always.
With grace and peace,
Rev. Bill Federici
Senior Pastor
February 23, 2024
Dear Friends,
Please know you are warmly invited to be with us at our English Language Worship Service this Sunday, February 25TH, at 11:00 AM, either in person or in our beautiful, historic Sanctuary or via Zoom.
I will be speaking about Jesus’s first miracle at the wedding in Cana, and how we might become miracle workers by being present to our lives with compassion and Love.
Through Word, music and prayer, you will be reminded that you are precious, sacred, and beloved of God, always.
With grace and peace,
Rev. Bill Federici
Senior Pastor
February 17, 2024
Dear Friends,
I am very happy to invite you to be with us for our English Worship Service this Sunday, 2.18, at 11:00 AM, either in our Sanctuary or via Zoom.
This week we observe the beginning of Lent. I will be speaking on the spiritual meaning of fasting, mourning, and weeping, per Chapter 2 of the prophet Joel This text calls us to take stock of how supple our hearts can be. We will also have a look at Jesus' raising of his friend Lazarus, (John 11), a preview of Easter.
Our Choir will sing J.S.Bach and C.W.Gluck. Guest Musician Raymond Soukup will play J.S.Bach and Franz Schubert. Birgitta Sunderland is at the Zoom console; Kevin Rost is preparing a delicious Coffee Hour.
As we begin our Lenten journey to Easter, let us remember all those who suffer. May our gathering have a ripple effect of hope, peace and Love for all.
Blessings always,
Rev. Bill Federici
Senior Pastor
February 10, 2024
Dear Friends,
Please know you are warmly invited to be with us at our English Language Worship Service this Sunday, February 11th, at 11:00
AM, either in person or in our beautiful, historic Sanctuary or via Zoom.
As we observe the Feast of the Transfiguration, I will be speaking about what it means to be enlightened.
Through Word, music and prayer, you will be reminded that you are precious, sacred, and beloved of God, always.
With grace and peace, Rev. Bill Federici
Senior Pastor
January 25, 2024
Dear Friends,
Please know you are warmly invited to be with us at our English Language Worship Service this Sunday, January 28th, 11:00 AM,
either in person in our beautiful, historic Sanctuary or via Zoom.
Using the Book of Jonah, I will be speaking about those times when we feel as if we are in “the belly of the beast”, and how
these dark nights of the soul can be a means of transformation.
Through Word, music and prayer, you will be reminded that you are precious, sacred, and beloved of God, always.
Please contact me at revfederici.tuc@gmail.com for a zoom link for the Worship Service.
With grace and peace,
Rev. Bill Federici
Senior Pastor
January 13, 2024
Dear Friends,
Please know you are warmly invited to be with us at our English,Language Worship Service this Sunday, January 14th, 11:00 AM,
either in person in our beautiful, historic Sanctuary or via Zoom.
I will be speaking about how Jesus' invitation to “Come and See” in the context of how we balance our lived and felt experience
with the claim that sacred writings have on our lives.
Through Word, music and prayer, you will be reminded that you are precious, sacred, and beloved of God, always.
Please contact me at revfederici.tuc@gmail.com for a zoom link for the Worship Service.
With grace and peace, Rev. Bill Federici
Senior Pastor
December 21, 2023
Dear Friends,
It is our pleasure to invite you to join with us for our Bilingual Festival Christmas Eve Worship Service this Sunday, 12.24, at
5:00 PM either in our Sanctuary or via Zoom.
This Service, conducted in English and German, is always beautiful and memorable as we reflect on the meaning of Jesus’s
birth through word, music and prayer.
We will be speaking on the Baby of the Manger as “A Light Filled Center” even yet bringing a sense of clarity and hope to our
present day.
The Commonwealth Brass Quintet will offer seasonal preludes beginning at 4:50PM, and will continue to enhance the music
throughout the Service. Our Choir will be singing pieces by J.S.Bach, H. Jungst and Boris Ord,
Please contact us at either revfederici.tuc@gmail.com or revalbrecht.tuc@gmail. com for the Zoom link.
We gather in the prayer that the beautiful news announced by the angels of peace on earth; good will towards all can become our
healing reality for all people.
Grace and Peace,
Rev. William T. Federici and Rev. Katja Albrecht
December 15, 2023
Dear Friends,
Please know you are warmly invited to be with us at our English Language Worship Service this Sunday, December 17th at 11:00
AM.
On this Third Sunday of Advent, I will be speaking about how we might think of the Baby of the Nativity and the Person of the
Resurrection in light of Jesus saying that He is the Alpha and the Omega.
Through Word, music, and prayer, you will be reminded that you are precious, sacred, and beloved of God, always.
Please contact me at revfederici.tuc@gmail.com for a Zoom link.
You are also invited to hear the Washington Saengerbund, D.C.’s oldest singing club, in their Christmas Concert in our Sanctuary at
4:00PM with a reception to follow.
With grace and peace,
Rev. Bill Federici
Senior Pastor
December 6, 2023
Dear Friends,
Please know you are warmly invited to be with us at our English Language Worship Service this Sunday, December 10th at 11:00
AM.
On this Second Sunday of Advent, I will be speaking about Joseph’s role in the Nativity, and how he embodies a certain kind
of quiet that we might emulate.
Through Word, music, and prayer, you will be reminded that you are precious, sacred, and beloved of God, always.
Please contact me at revfederici.tuc@gmail.com for a Zoom link.
With grace and peace,
Rev. Bill Federici
Senior Pastor
November 24, 2023
Dear Friends,
I am happy to invite you to be with us in Worship this Sunday, 11.26, at 11:00 AM, either in the Sanctuary or via Zoom.
This Sunday is the last of the Church Year, and most fittingly, is designated "Reign of Christ Sunday." The Church Year culminates with a Sunday that celebrates the binding, transforming, healing energy of the Christ as having the Last, and ultimate, Word.
We will have a look at what this means in a sermon titled "The Excellence of Christ." Selections from Matthew 4, I Corinthians 3 as well as some help from Jonathan Edwards will ground our thinking.
Steven Carman is at the piano, offering Chopin. Birgitta Sunderland is at the Zoom console.
Please note that the Advent & Christmas season schedule is below.
May we continue to pray for peace where there is war, for courage where there is fear, for hope where there is despair. May the Love and the Excellence of the Christ be with you, yours, and all the world.
Blessings,
Rev. Bill
November 10, 2023
Dear Friends,
Please know you are warmly invited to be with us at our English Language Worship Service this Sunday, November 12th, 11:00
AM, either in person in our beautiful, historic Sanctuary or via Zoom.
The Rev. Jerrold Foltz is our guest preacher. He will be speaking about what distracts us from the work of justice and peace.
Through Word, music and prayer, you will be reminded that you are precious, sacred, and beloved of God, always.
Join us at 5:00 PM for our annual St.Martin Lantern Walk from the church to Lafayette Park. For more information, on the Walk and
Lantern crafting at 4:00PM, check us out at The United Church+Die Vereinigte Kirche on Facebook.
Please contact me at revfederici.tuc@gmail.com for a zoom link for the Worship Service.
With grace and peace,
Rev. Bill Federici
Senior Pastor
October 28, 2023
Dear Friends,
Please know you are warmly invited to be with us at our ZOOM ONLY English Language Worship Service this Sunday, October
29th at 11:00 AM. Due to street closings around Marine Marathon, we will gather on-line, not in person.
I will be speaking on how we might recognize our "shadow", and come to live more clearly and compassionately.
Through Word, music and prayer, you will be reminded that you are precious, sacred, and beloved of God, always.
Please contact me at revfederici.tuc@gmail.com for a Zoom link.
With grace and peace,
Rev. Bill Federici
Senior Pastor
October 21, 2023
Dear Friends,
We are delighted to welcome you to our Bilingual Festival Reunion Worship Service this Sunday at 11:00 AM. We will celebrate all who have been and are connected to our church. We will be speaking on the theme of “A Re-turn Home,” as we consider the invitation to willingly tune into God’s presence in our lives.
Our choir, under the direction of Steven Carman will be singing Bach and Darwall. Other musical guests will offer pieces on the organ and the piano. Past German pastors will offer readings and greetings.
For a Zoom link, please contact either revfederici.tuc@gmail.com or revalbrecht.tuc@gmail.com .
Please know how very welcome you are to join us. Through Word, music, prayer and fellowship, you will be reminded that you are always precious, sacred and beloved of God, always.
Grace and blessings,
Rev. Bill Federici & Rev. Katja Albrecht
October 6, 2023
Dear Friends,
Please know you are warmly invited to be with us at our English Language Worship Service this Sunday, October 8that 11:00 AM,
either in person in our beautiful, historic Sanctuary or via Zoom.
I will be speaking on a way of seeing that is grounded in Christ and fueled by Love. Through Word, music and prayer, you will be reminded that you are precious, sacred, and beloved of God, always.
Please contact me at revfederici.tuc@gmail.com for a zoom link.
With grace and peace,
Rev. Bill Federici
Senior Pastor
September 23, 2023
Dear Friends,
Please know you are warmly invited to be with us at our English Language Worship Service this Sunday, September 24th, either in
person in our beautiful, historic Sanctuary or via Zoom.
We will be welcoming the Rev. Jerry Foltz to the pulpit. He will be speaking on Christ and culture.
Through Word, music and prayer, you will be reminded that you are precious, sacred, and beloved of God, always.
Please contact me at revfederici.tuc@gmail.com for a zoom link.
With grace and peace, Rev. Bill Federici
Senior Pastor
September 8, 2023
Dear Friends,
Do you need to be reminded that your life is precious? That there is a sacred dimension to your everyday activities? And, above all,
that you are beloved of God always?
Please know that you are warmly invited to be with us at our Worship Service at 11:00AM this Sunday, September 10th, either
in person in our beautiful, historic Sanctuary or via Zoom.
I will be speaking how we might read our lives as an ongoing story of God’s Love made tangible.
Through word, music and prayer, you will have the opportunity to be inspired and empowered.
Please contact me at revfederici.tuc@gmail for a zoom link.
Be blessed; be well!
Rev. Bill Federici, Senior Pastor
August 25, 2023
Dear Friends,
Do you need to be reminded that your life is precious? That there is a sacred dimension to your everyday activities? And, above all,
that you are beloved of God always?
Please know that you are warmly invited to be with us at our Worship Service at 11:00AM this Sunday, August 27th, either in
person in our Sanctuary or via Zoom.
I will be speaking about developing an expanded sense of prosperity, one that centers on Divine Love.
Through word, music and prayer, you will have the opportunity to be inspired and empowered.
Please contact me at revfederici.tuc@gmail for a zoom link.
Be blessed; be well!
Rev. Bill Federici, Senior Pastor
August 11, 2023
Dear Friends,
Do you need to be reminded that your life is precious? That there is a sacred dimension to your everyday activities? And, above all,
that you are beloved of God always?
Please know that you are warmly invited to be with us at our Worship Service at 11:00AM this Sunday, August 13th, either in
person in our Sanctuary or via Zoom.
I will be speaking about how the lenses we wear, and the baggage we carry, affect our reading of sacred texts. Through word, music and prayer, you will have the opportunity to be inspired and empowered.
Please contact me at revfederici.tuc@gmail for a zoom link.
Be blessed; be well!
Rev. Bill Federici, Senior Pastor
July 28, 2023
Dear Friends,
I am happy to invite you to our Worship Service this Sunday, July 30th, at 11:00am either in the Sanctuary or on our sacred Zoom grid.
I will be speaking about "Spiritual Stethoscoping."
Is our intuition really the voice for God? How is listening to, and acting on, intuition a form of prayer? How do we discern between the guidance of the expanded view of the Christ within us from that of the small self?
We will take up these questions in light of Proverbs 3: 1-10 and Matthew 6: 1-6, both timeless instructions for connecting with the Holy Spirit.
Steven Carman will be at the piano offering selections from Liszt, Chopin and Clementi. Birgitta Sunderland is our technician ensuring a seamless experience for our Zoomers. The link is below, and the Order of Worship is attached. Kevin Rost is preparing the Coffee Hour. Steven, Birgitta, Kevin and I welcome you and look forward to your vital presence.
Let us lift up all who are being strongly affected by the excessive heat advisories. Let us remember all those who are suffering physically, emotionally, spiritually. Let us remember that we gather in the power and the presence of the Christ not just for ourselves but for the healing of the world.
With grace and peace, Rev. Bill
July 22, 2023
Dear Friends,
Do you need to be reminded that your life is precious? That there is a sacred dimension to your everyday activities? And, above all, that you are beloved of God always?
Please know that you are warmly invited to be with us at our Worship Service at 11:00AM this Sunday, July 23, either in person in our Sanctuary or via Zoom.
I will be speaking about "reaping and sowing"; one of the easiest ways to connect with the Divine for ourselves, and with others.
Mardon Sharipov returns to the piano, playing beautiful selections from Chopin, Handel and Rachmoninov.
Through word, music and prayer, you will have the opportunity to be inspired and empowered.
Please contact me at revfederici.tuc@gmail for a zoom link.
Be blessed; be well! Rev. Bill Federici, Senior Pastor
July 7, 2023
Dear Friends,
Do you need to be reminded that your life is precious? That there is a sacred dimension to your everyday activities? And, above all,
that you are beloved of God always?
Please know that you are warmly invited to be with us at our Worship Service at 11:00AM this Sunday, July 9th, either in
person in our Sanctuary or via Zoom.
I will be speaking about how we might develop an investment strategy for our God-given talents and purpose.
Through word, music and prayer, you will have the opportunity to be inspired and empowered.
Please contact me at revfederici.tuc@gmail for a zoom link.
Be blessed; be well! Rev. Bill Federici, Senior Pastor
June 9, 2023
Dear Friends,
Do you need to be reminded that your life is precious? That there is a sacred dimension to your everyday activities? And, above all,
that you are beloved of God always?
Please know that you are warmly invited to be with us at our Worship Service at 11:00AM this Sunday, June 11th, either in
person in our Sanctuary or via Zoom. I will be speaking about how relationships are the crucible of a satisfying life.
Through word, music and prayer, you will have the opportunity to be inspired and empowered.
Please contact me at revfederici.tuc@gmail for a zoom link.
Be blessed; be well!
Rev. Bill Federici, Senior Pastor
May 25, 2023
Dear Friends,
Do you need to be reminded that your life is precious? That there is a sacred dimension to your everyday activities? And, above all, that you are beloved of God always?
Please know that you are warmly invited to be with us at our Worship Service at 11:00AM this Sunday, May 28, either in person in our Sanctuary or via Zoom.
We will be celebrating the Feast of Pentecost. I will be speaking about how the Holy Spirit work to keep us connected both personally and collectively with the Divine.
Through word, music and prayer, you will have the opportunity to be inspired and empowered.
Please contact me at revfederici.tuc@gmail for a zoom link.
Be blessed; be well!
Rev. Bill Federici, Senior Pastor
May 19, 2023
Dear Friends:
A guy lost his house keys, and was looking for them on his porch.
His partner arrived and asked what the guy was doing, and of course he told her.
'I am curious, " she said, "where was the last place you saw them?"
He answered, "Definitely in the kitchen."
She continued, "Why in the world would you be looking for them on the porch?"
Confidently, he replied "Because the light is better out here."
And that is the point of the Ascension.
The disciples are looking elsewhere for what is right there--in their "enlightened hearts" as Paul says.
On Sunday, May 21st, at 11:00 am, I will speaking on how we might use the Light of the embodied and ascended Christ to experience life more compassionately, more justly and more peacefully. Where we direct our gaze, heaven could be.
We wil hear music by J.S. Bach and Robert Shaw,and texts from the Book of Acts and Ephesians. An Order of Worship is attached, as well as the Zoom link.
Grady McPeak will be hosting the Zoom experience. For those of you joining us in the Sanctuary, we will celebrate Grady at Coffee Hour as he receives his Master's degree. We are happy that he will be staying on at G.W.U. to pursue a Ph.D. in Computer Science.
As we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension, let us remember that we gather not only for ourselves, but for the healing of the world.
Grace & Peace, Rev. Bill
May 13, 2023
Dear Friends:
Do we absolutely trust God, or do we trust other things more?
These "things" used to be called "idols"---and that is still a good term to describe all that we give power to that is less than God, less than Love.
On Sunday, we will take up the story of the ultimate Biblical idol, the Golden Calf in Exodus 32: 1-8. What is intriguing is that Aaron's solution to the people's discontent "Seemed Like a Good Idea".
Yet, the Golden Calves we continue to make are never ultimately satisfying.
We will touch on the work of Donald Winnicott, an influential British psychoanalyst, whose work with mothers and babies helps makes sense of the people's reaction to Moses' disappearance as well as our own times of grief and bewilderment. I John 1: 24-26; 4:1 is our companion text.
Rev. Katja will open the service and offer the readings. The Choir will sing anthems by Bach and Berger. Steven Carman will play Pachelbel and Boyce. Birgitta Sunderland will ensure a good experience for our Zoom congregation. The link is below, and an Order of Worship is attached.
The Congregational Meeting will follow immediately after the Service.
Please do join us this Mother's Day, whether in person or via Zoom, as we lift up the steadfast Love of the One who is always creating, sustaining and nourishing us.
Grace and Peace, Rev. Bill
May 5, 2023
Dear Friends:
The Washington Saengerbund, D.C. oldest chorus, will hold their Spring Concert, Saturday, May 6th, 3:00 pm at The United Church. We are so pleased to be their hosts! Please consider treating yourselves to a music filled afternoon.
Sunday begins at 9:30am with our German Language Worship Service with Rev. Katja Albrecht preaching. Please contact her at revalbrecht.tuc@gmail. com for the link.
In John 14: 1-14, Jesus tells us that we can do the works that he did; in fact, "Greater Works Than These", we can do. He also gives us the foundation for this saying. It all has to do with the strength and power that comes from our relationship to both his teachings, and ultimately, God. What does it mean to heal? What is healing? What part does the Holy Spirit play in our practice to be Light and Love for all, including ourselves? Psalm 31: 1-5, 15-16 is our companion text.
We will also celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Zoomers may prepare their own elements. As always, gathering around the Table, whether in person or on our sacred grid, is a grace-filled experience. Literally!
The Choir will sing Bach and Thatcher. Steven Carman will play Canning and German. Matt McCarroll will offer the readings and assist in serving Communion. Birgitta Sunderland will ensure a good experience for those joining us on Zoom.
Please note that a Congregational Meeting for the purpose of extending the Senior Pastor contract will be held on May 14th, following the Worship Service. Infomation about proxy voting and the motion itself will be forthcoming from our President Nancy Leach.
Please do join me, Matt, Steven, Birgitta and the Choir for what will be a wonderful way to start this month of May! You may contact me at revfederici.tuc@gmail.com for the link.
Grace and peace, Rev. Bill
April 23, 2023
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, April 23rd, at 11:00 am we will ask whether we are "Persisting in Joy"? Living from, and into, the great fact of Easter should be the way we experience our everyday lives. Easter is, in fact, not a once a year holiday, but a way of life.
The power of Love Triumphant, Love Invincible, having the Last Word about all we encounter--both sorrow and happiness---is a power that we can use to navigate life, both personally and collectively.
Jesus says that he has come so that our "joy might be full". Yet we hesitate to truly embrace this. Looking at verses from Mark 1, the "gospel of immediately", we shall concentrate on the healing of Peter's mother-in-law, which can be a paradigm for turning our woundings into something for good.
John 15: 9-11, and Mark 1: 15-20, 21-22, 29-31 are our texts.
The Choir will sing Bach; soloist Megan Ortman will offer a piece by Schubert . Steven Carman will play Mascagni and Lang. An Order of Worship is attached.
Grady McPeak will host our morning at the Zoom table. The issue with volume for our Zoomers has been addressed. The link is below.
This will be a wonderful way to celebrate the promise and possibility of Easter, and gather, whether in person or on our sacred Zoom grid, to ground ourselves in the God who loves, cares and sustains us. Please do join us!
Grace and Peace, Rev. Bill
April 14, 2023
Happy Eastertide!
Once again, I extend my gratitude to all who made Easter so wonderful; with a special thank you to Anna Maria Boss and Ramon Giron who read the texts last Sunday.
In the German service at 9:30 a.m. we are blessed to host guests attending the DELKINA Conference (German Lutheran Churches in North America) and a group of German volunteers for "Action Reconciliation Service for Peace". Rev. Katja will preach on our "Dawning Awareness - of God and of Self" in reflection of Jakob's story told in Genesis 32.
This Sunday, we will contemplate what Easter might for you, personally, and for us, collectively. Paul in I Corinthians 15 states that the rising of Jesus from the dead is real, and notes that "He Was Seen." If we are not preaching about, and having faith in, the Risen Christ, all of our talk and all of our belief is "in vain." That is a strong statement which we will explore. How do we bear witness to Love Invincible, Love Triumphant? What does Easter say about life eternal? How might we act differently while living into the great fact that we are born from Love, live in Love, and will return to Love? John 21: 1-17, the story of the risen Jesus making breakfast on the beach for his disciples, will help ground our thinking.
The Choir will sing Bach, and Baker. Steven Carman will play Johnson and Lemmens. Birgitta Sunderland has met with our consultant and has worked hard at fixing the issue with the Zoom platform. She will host what will be a seamless experience.
If you would like to receive the links to our services or the bulletins, please send an email to revfederici.tuc[at]gmail.com or revalbrecht.tuc[at]gmail.com.
At 3PM in the Sanctuary, pianist Sara Daneshpour, long time friend of our church, will offer a concert with selections from Bach and Chopin.
Please do join us this Sunday for a time of contemplation, empowerment and healing!
Grace and peace, Rev. Bill
April 7, 2023
Dear Friends:
Rev. Katja and I are very happy to invite you to our Bilingual Festival Easter Sunday Worship Service in English and German at 11:00AM, April 9th.
Steven Carman and trumpeter Steven Cunningham will begin the festivities at 10:50 AM with Preludes by Stanley, Boyce and Handel.
The Choir joins us today with selections from Saint-Saens, Bach, and Harris. Ramon Giron and Anna Maria Boss will offer the reading, Luke 24: 1-35, in English and German respectively.
Rev. Katja and I will preach (in English) on "Hope Risen", meditations on the disciples and Jesus on the road to Emmaus.
We will be celebrating the promise of new life with the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Zoomers may prepare your own elements.
Birgitta Sunderland will be ensuring that our Zoom congregation will have a seamless experience.
Steven and Steven will close out the Service with a selection from Handel.
As we tell this story of Love Invincible, Love Triumphant, let us pray that the Easter message reaches, heals and turns right-side-up our broken and fractured world.
Katja, Steven, Birgitta, Ramon, Anna Maria and the Choir will be excited to share this time of peace, joy and Love.
Grace and peace, Rev. Bill
March 31, 2023
Dear Friends:
This Palm Sunday, we invite you to two services at the United Church.
At 9:30 AM, there will be a German Language Service with Rev. Katja preaching.
At 11:00 AM , Rev. Bill will preach the English Service.
The readings for the 11:00AM Service, Psalm 118: 1-2, 19-29, nd Matthew 21: 1-11 feature the image of gates. The Psalm talks about the GATES OF GOD, and Jesus enters Jerusalem via the gate to the city. Perhaps we might think of Holy Week as a gate as well. My sermon will have a look at the events of Holy Week as a paradigm for our own journey in the Divine, fueled by the steadfast love of God.
The Choir will sing Kauffman and Gibbons, Steven Carman will play Murrill.
Birgitta Sunderland will ensure that our Zoomers have a seamless experience. It will be great to catch up at Coffee Hour with you.
Please join me, Steven, the Choir and Birgitta for what will be an inpsiring and empowering hour!
Please send an email to either revalbrecht.tuc@gmail.com for the German Service or revfederici.tuc@gmail.com for the English if you would like to have the link and a copy of the bulletin.
Grace and peace, Rev. Bill
March 24. 2023
Dear Friends,
The cherry blossoms are at peak bloom - that is one reason to come downtown this weekend.
However, you just might want to do that on Sunday after our wonderful 11 a.m. service. Because the church is new every week - you can make it new this Sunday by blessing us with your presence! (And if you want, bring a friend, too!)
We are very happy to have Rev. Darryl! Moch with us again. He will be preaching this Sunday and Rev. Katja will join him as our liturgist.
Rev. Darryl will preach a sermon titled "Transformation In 40: From Chains To Change" which is inspired by readings from Matthew 4, 1-11 and Psalm 40.
There will be music abundant with a Vocal Ensemble present, Steven Carman playing the organ and two hymns for us to join in.
Grady McPeak will be the Livestream host making sure that the "Zoomers" will have a good experience as well. Please send an email to revalbrecht.tuc@gmail.com if you would like to have the link and a copy of the bulletin.
Be well and be blessed - and "see" you Sunday!
Rev. Katja
March 18, 2023
Dear friends,
I am very happy to invite you to our Services at The United Church this Sunday, March 19, 2023,
German Service at 9.30 a.m. and
English Service at 11 a.m.
We will continue reflecting on our theme for Lent: "Hope Glowing - a Journey of Exploring Resilience".
In the German Service we will be reflecting on God's promise of a Covenant of Peace and Mercy.
In the English service we will be focussing on the journey of a woman from the First Testament, Hagar. In a sermon titled "The Knowing Look" we will have a chance to revisit our own encounters with "the looks" as well as a very specific glance which Hagar experiences. Her journey is one of struggles, some beyond our imagination. And one of incredible resilience. As we will see.
Steven Carman and Megan Ortman will indulge us with music on the organ and vocal.
I am very grateful to everybody who has contributed to this service and I want to acknowledge that Kevin not only does a wonderful job in preparing the bulletin (you can find it attached to this email) - he also is making the most delicious Coffee Hour after the service possible! Thank you for both, Kevin!
Birgitta Sunderlang will make sure that we are one church worshipping - in the Sanctuary and via Zoom.
Please write an email to revalbrecht.tuc@gmail.com if you would like to receive the Zoom link and the bulletin.
I am so looking forward to "seeing" you on Sunday!
Be blessed
Rev. Katja
March 10, 2023
Dear friends,
we are approaching a wonderful weekend at The United Church!
First, let me please remind you of the "Music for Food"- concert to benefit the Foggy Bottom Food Pantry Saturday, March 11, 7 p.m.:
Young artists, all of whom have piano lessons with Mardon Sharipov at United Church, are ready to perform their recently studied pieces in a concert. They are performing to benefit the Foggy Bottom Food Pantry. Many thanks to the performers and to their teacher, Mardon!After the concert, we will ask for donations. And there will be a small reception afterwards.
It would be wonderful if you could attend the concert. And it would be great if you could spread the word and invite your friends, colleagues, family members and anyone else you can think of! Please find the program attached to this email!
If you can't be there, consider donating - to support the efforts of the young artist and the Foggy Bottom Food Pantry. You can do so by clicking Donate on the TUC website (theunitedchurch.org/giving). You can put your donation in the general budget and send us a note that it is for Music for Food. You may also make a check payable to "Music for Food".We are very excited to have this concert! Thank you in advance for your support!
I am very excited that my dear colleague, Rev. Audrey Price will bless the church with her presence, her gifts, her sermon this Sunday, March 12, at 11 a.m.
If you want to know a little more about Rev. Audrey's spiritual and professional journey, please see the attached bulletin.
Henrietta Kundert, our Chair of the Worship and Nurture Committee, will welcome Audrey at the church and she will also be the lecturer. The readings will be taken from the Book of Exodus (capter 17: 1-7) and from the Gospel of John (chapter 4: 5:15).
And "Wade in the Water" is the hymn Rev. Audrey picked to go along with her sermon.
After the wonderful debut of the Vocal Ensemble last week we are looking forward to experiencing them again with music by Bach and Martin How. And Steven Carman will perform pieces by Ravel and Walther on our beautiful organ.
Birgitta Sunderland will be taking care of the needs of those of you who are joining via Zoom so that you may be a welcome in our (virtual) Sanctuary!
Kevin Rost will have prepared yet another wonderful Coffee Hour - a good opportunity to enjoy some treats and really good Coffee. And to get to know each other better.
Please write an email to revalbrecht.tuc@gmail.com if you would like to receive the Zoom link and the bulletin.
Have a blessed weekend and "see" you soon!
Rev. Katja
March 3, 2023
Dear friends,
I am very happy to invite you to the 11 a.m. service this coming Sunday.
It will be a very joyful service for many reasons:
First of all we will be celebrating Benson Ball's Baptism together and it will be wonderful to welcome him, his family and his godfathers in our beautiful Sanctuary.
Then we are also invited to share the Holy Communion together.
And thirdly, we will be blessed to have a small vocal ensemble contributing to the music in the service.
We will be inspired by Mary Oliver and readings from the Book of Genesis and the Gospel of Matthew.
Steven Carman will lead the vocal ensemble and will be playing Mozart and Haendel and Pachelbel.
Rev. Albrecht's sermon is titled "Resilient Reminders" and she will invite us to reflect on the sources of resilience in our lives, in our world and last but not least in our faith.
Birgitta Sunderland will make sure that those of you who are joining remotely will be able to celebrate in a meaningful way as well. If you want to take part in Communion, please have a piece of bread and a sip of wine or grape juice ready.
Please write an email to revalbrecht.tuc@gmail.com if you would like to receive the Zoom link and the bulletin.
Blessings on your weekend
Rev. Katja
February 24, 2023
Dear Friends,
We are sending this email on the day that the war in Ukraine has been going on for one year exactly. We have seen and heard what this aggression means to the people in Ukraine and to those who have fled to neighboring countries and even to the US. Many in our community have donated money to help. It is our continuing prayer that peace will be found and safety for all of those who suffer from this war.
Merciful God, our thoughts are with the people of Ukraine and our hearts go out to all the victims of this war. We pray for peace knowing that your peace is strength, your peace is life. May your peace come! Amen.
It is our great pleasure and privilege to invite you all to our Worship Service this coming Sunday.
We are looking forward to a wonderful time together and we are very, very grateful that Carolyn Hart has accepted Rev. Bill's invitation to be one of the guest preachers during his Sabbatical.
Carolyn is a 2nd-year seminarian at Virginia Theological Seminary and is interning as a hospital chaplain at INOVA-Alexandria Hospital. Carolyn went to seminary after a long career in global public health, leading the international division and the Washington office of a health consulting and program implementation organization called John Snow, Inc. She is a member of Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ in Arlington, VA, and is in their care in the discernment process for ordination in the UCC.
Carolyn will preach a sermon titled “The Worth-Ship of God.” She writes about her sermon: "The theme of my sermon is "worship" and how (I think) we modern folk, as we respond to the culture around us, might be downplaying this aspect of our faith."
Steven Carman will play Bach, Walther and Alain. Evie Downie will be shepherding our guest though his time with us and she will also be the lecturer.
Birgitta Sunderland will make sure that the experience is as enjoyable as possible for those of you who take part via Zoom.
If you would like to receive the link for participating via Zoom, please send an email to revalbrecht.tuc@gmail.com.
Blessings and Peace,
Rev. Katja
February 18, 2023
Dear Friends,
I am very excited to invite you to The United Church for this coming Sunday.
At the close of this "most love-centered week" of the year, we will reflect on "A Loving Challenge" - a Sermon title that can be read and understood in two different ways at least.
What does it mean to be loved and to be love at the same time? And how does God, Love Itself, play into this?
Readings from Deuteronomy and Leviticus will inspire us as well as the greatest Ode to Love from the Newer Testament: 1 Corinthians 13!
Steven Carman will play works by Elgar, Davies and duBois and we will enjoy being a community drawn together in the Sanctuary and way beyond via Zoom.
Birgitta Sunderland will be the Livestream host - and she will make sure everybody will have a wonderful "remote experience" as well.
We invite you to our Coffee Hour after the Service, an excellent opportunity to get to know each other better and to enjoy coffee and treats.
I would also like to bring to your attention again that there is a way to help the people suffering from the impact and damage of the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria - as well as those who are mourning the many, many lives lost.
Please read what Carol Sanford, chair of our church's Outreach Committee, has written:
“We are now collecting donations for Turkey and Syria earthquake relief, and will be sending them to UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief. You may make an online donation via Vanco at www.theunitedchurch.org/giving by selecting the United Methodist Committee on Relief, or write a check to The United Church with UMCOR - Earthquake in the memo line. As you know, the need is great. Any amount will be appreciated and put to immediate use.”
Please feel free to reach out to Rev. Katja (revalbrecht.tuc@gmail.com) to receive the Zoom Link and a copy of the bulletin.
February 11, 2023
Dear Friends,
it is my great pleasure and privilege to invite you all to our Worship Service this coming Sunday.
We are looking forward to a wonderful time together and we are very, very grateful that
Rev. Darryl LC Moch
has accepted Rev. Bill's invitation to be one of the guest preachers during his Sabbatical.
Rev. Darryl! brings a lot of energy to his ministry and an abundance of gifts.
Some of you might have experienced him in his role as the Director of the CAC Mass Choir as we shared a selection of its performance during previous services. We are aware and especially grateful that Rev. Darryl! is our guest during Black History Month!
Rev. Darryl! will preach a sermon titled
Twinkle Twinkle - Shine Bright Like A Diamond
drawing inspiration from Isaiah 60: 1-7 and Matthew 5: 13-16. He writes about his sermon:
"The challenges in the world are all around us and sometimes seem to collide with the Church. God is still speaking and calling us to do more and be more to bring about a just and equitable society that reflects who we are as Christians and who God is to and for all people."
Steven Carman will play Bach, Pachelbel and Walther and Nancy Leach will be shepherding our guest though his time with us.
Birgitta Sunderland will make sure that the experience is enjoyable for those of you who take part via Zoom.
I would also like to bring to your attention again that there is a way to help the people suffering from the impact and damage of the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria - as well as those who are mourning the many, many lives lost.
Please read what Carol Sanford, chair of our church's Outreach Committee, has written:
“We are now collecting donations for Turkey and Syria earthquake relief, and will be sending them to UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief. You may make an online donation via Vanco at www.theunitedchurch.org/giving by selecting the United Methodist Committee on Relief, or write a check to The United Church with UMCOR - Earthquake in the memo line. As you know, the need is great. Any amount will be appreciated and put to immediate use.”
Please feel free to reach out to Rev. Katja (revalbrecht.tuc@gmail.com) to receive the Zoom Link and a copy of the bulletin.
Have a blessed and healing Sunday!
Rev. Katja
February 4, 2023
Dear Friends of the United Church,
I am very grateful to be able to invite you to the 9:30 a.m. German Service and the 11 a.m. English Service this coming Sunday.
On our journey toward Easter we will explore the (re)sources of hope. It will be an exploration of our minds and souls as well as of the Divine.
This Sunday Emily Dickenson will lead us into our time together.
And the Prophetic words of Isaiah 55, 8-12will follow, guiding us toward the Divine dynamics of cause and effect. As will the Gospel reading taken from Luke 8 (4-15). Rev. Katja will preach on "The Thing With Hope", recurring on the readings as well as the report Joachim Lenz, Provost in Jerusalem, gave during the last "Lunch with the Pastors".
In the English Service Evie Downie will be the lecturer and she will also be assisting in Holy Communion. For those of you joining via Zoom, please have a piece of bread and a sip of wine or juice ready if you choose to join Communion!
Steven Carman will play music by Pachelbel, Krebs and Walther. The Prelude will start at 10:55 a.m.
Birgitta Sunderland will make sure that the livestream is an enjoyable experience.
We will all be very happy to be in worship with all of you!
Best and blessings
Rev. Katja
P.S.: If you want to join via Zoom, please reach out via revalbrecht.tuc@gmail.com and we will provide the Zoom link!
January 26, 2023
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, 1.29.23, we will complete our sermon series, "From Schnorrer to Mensch", as Jacob meets the Angel in a pivotal moment of realization, intimacy and blessing. Jacob has met angels before. What makes this encounter different? What might it mean for us to greet an angel?
We will draw on the fascinating and ultimately very touching work of Henri Corbin, a 20th century writer, who defies categories--theologian, philosopher, critic--and yes, Angel.
According to Corbin, we continue to "fall upwards" into the heart of the Divine. In doing so, we also continue to extend and deepen, our experience of "sacred, precious, beloved" to self and others.
Selections from Genesis 32, and Acts 8: 26-38, the story of the encounter of Paul and the Ethiopian courtier, will ground our thinking.
Steven Carman plays Pachelbel, Zachau, and Walther. We will hear Billy Collins' poem "Questions about Angels" as our Time of Centering.
Rev. Katja offers the Pastoral Prayer, and will extend a Blessing to me, as I begin Sabbatical next week.
With Kevin's and Nancy's culinary help, I am hosting an extended Coffee Hour to mark the beginning of my two-month Sabbatical. We will be hosting in the Cooper Lounge!
I return on April 2nd, Palm Sunday.
On Saturday, I will send an e-mail with details about coverage for preaching and care.
In short, Rev. Katja will be the "Pastor on Site" and will preach four English services as well as coordinating care and communication. Guest Preachers will be with you on the other four Sundays.
Meanwhile, please do join us for what I pray will be a time of blessing and healing. The Zoom link is below; an Order of Service is attached. By the way, I love the Cover I selected. Paul Gaugain's "Vision after the Sermon" literally illustrates the prayer I use to open every sermon------
Gracious One,
You are with us as we speak. You are with us as we hear.
May our speaking and our hearing
---together--- be of benefit and Light
for all. Amen.
With joy, peace &. blessing, Rev. Bill
January 19, 2023
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, we continue our series on Jacob, "From Schnorrer to Mensch", as Jacob meets Rachel, the love of his life. We will see Jacob as "benoni"...that person, who according to Chassidic thought, is "in between", on the road to wholeness in God. We will look at Genesis 29: 21-30. As Jacob deceived Isaac, so Jacob is deceived by his uncle Laban ino marrying Leah, rather than Rachel, as promised. How does one deal with duplicity? How can we; like Jacob learn from our life experiences, both positive ad negative, so that on "meeting the Angel" we might grow into our fullness in the service of Love Itself, God. Our texts are Genesis 29: 21-30, and Colossians 3: 12-16. Our Tiime of Centering is from Mary Oliver.
Steve Carman will play Pachelbel, J.C.Bach, and Vetter.
The Zoom link is below.
Your presence in the Sanctuary or on Zoom is much appreciated.
Please do think about gathering with me for an hour of reflection and healing.
Blessings and peace, Rev Bill
January 14, 2023
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, we begin a three week sermon series, titled" From Schnorrer to Mensch" which will look at Jacob and Esau, Jacob and Laban, Leah and Rachel, and finally Jacob with Joseph.
This week as we look at Genesis 25 and 33, as Jacob steals and dissembles, and heals and reconciles, respectively.
I am very excited about spending time with Jacob before I begin my sabbatical, February 1.
Steven Carman will play Pachelbel, Buxtehude. and Armsdorff.
Please join me either in the Sanctuary or on Zoom. THe link is below, and an Order of Service is attached.
Blessings, Rev. Bill
January 7, 2023
Dear Friends:
I pray that 2023 is off to a great start for you and yours.
This Sunday, January 8th, at 11:00am we will celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany, and observe the Sacrament of Holy Communion.
Our theme this week is to have a look at "Another Kind of Christmas Story." Matthew's text of the three kings visiting the baby Jesus is set against a background of the plotting of Herod to do away with the Messiah, and his trying to get the Three Kings to innocently participate in this.We will have a look at all the ways that our inner and outer Herods try to ruin the Good News of Jesus Christ for us. Our texts are Mattehw 2:1-12, and Isaiah 60; 1-6.
Steven Carman will play Bach, Pachelbel and Zachau.
Zoom participants may prepare their own elements for the Sacrament.
I look forward to seeing you either in the Sanctuary or on Zoom.
With many blessings, Rev. Bill
December 23, 2022
Dear Friends:
We are delighted to invite you to our Christmas Eve Bi-Lingual Festival Service, tomorrow, 12.24, at 5:00PM.
The Service, conducted in English and German, will be a time to savor all the blessings of this Season. We will hear Christmas music by the Commonwealth Brass, sing Carols, and listen to the Christmas stories in the Gospels of Luke and Matthew. Your pastors will offer (in English) a meditation on "Hope Dawning."
You may join us either via Zoom, or in our beautifully decorated Sanctuary. Preludes begin at 4:50pm.
We wish to thank all who have assisted in the preparation for this Festival Service; our hearts are full of gratitude.
We will not offer a service on Christmas Day, however, our United Church of Christ Central Atlantic Conference staff has put together a Service that you can watch on Christmas Day, or at your convenience. You might even see some familiar faces in the Virtual Choir! The You Tube link is https://youtu.be/qGS9cT7sisQ
Please enjoy, and thanks to Freeman and his Staff for this lovely gesture.
With Comfort & Joy,
Rev. Bill & Rev. Katja
December 16, 2022
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, the Fourth of Advent, at 11:00am, we come to the culmination of Advent---a moment before Christmas itself, a time to begin to prepare to let both the message of the Christmas Story and the conclusion of A Christmas Carol begin to take root and grow in our hearts.
Our Luke text, 2: 1-20 resonates with us on many levels; Scrooge's transformation in Dickens' tale can bring us to tears. There is much to be gleaned as we think about "Swaddling Souls.”
George Walser offers our readings, the Luke and Isaiah 9:2-7. Steven Carman will play arrangements from Handel's Messiah.
I look forward to seeing you in the Sanctuary or on our Zoom grid!
At 4pm, in the Sanctuary only, we celebrate the return of the Washington Saengerbund, D.C's oldest singing club, for a Christmas concert. This is always a highlight of our year, and it is a joy to welcome them back!
With Comfort and Joy, Rev. Bill
December 10, 2022
Dear Friends:
This Third Sunday of Advent, 12.11, has us contemplating "Extraordinary Visitations"---Mary to her cousin Elizabeth in Luke's Gospel, and the Ghost of Christmas Present to Scrooge in A Christmas Carol.
Mary sings the Magnificat; Scrooge continues to "unfreeze".
Both of these texts demonstrate the power of consciously not being a bystander to Life, and leaping into the present, where all things can happen.
Our texts are Luke 1: 46-55 and Psalm 46: 5-10. Rev. Katja will offer the readings and the Pastoral Prayer. Steven Carman will play arrangements from Handel's Messiah.
At 12:15pm, both on Zoom and in the Sanctuary, we will hold a Congregational Meeting to hear about, and vote on the proposed Budget for 2023, and the Report of the Nominating Committee. Materials and an Agenda for the Meeting will be sent out tomorrow.
Please join us as we continue to celebrate the promise and the possibility of all that Christmas means.
With Comfort & Joy, Rev. Bill
December 3, 2022
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, 12.4, at 11:00 am, both in the Sanctuary and via Zoom, we continue our exploration of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol in tandem with one of the most beloved texts in the Newer Testament--Luke 1: 26-38--the story of Gabriel announcing to Mary that she will carry the Messiah.
Life, to be satisfying, is an engagement of giving and receiving. We are at one time or another, both Gabriel and Mary. We seek to offer the peace and Love of God to all we encounter. At the same time, we also are recipients of this Good News. We learn to "let God be" to us, nourished and sustained by steadfast Love, we become empowered agents of healing and restoration. As Scrooge encounters the Spirit of Christmas Past, Dickens invites us to clear away all that haunts us with regret.
We will celebrate the Sacrament of Lord's Supper; those zooming in may prepare their own elements; those attending in person can pick up their Communion kits as you enter the church.
Steven Carman will play J.C.Bach. An Order of Service is attached, and the Zoom link is below.
Immediately following the English Service, and an enhanced Coffee Hour, you are heartily urged to participate in Part One of the Greening of the Church. We will hang the garlands from the balconies, as well as other Christmas decorations. Next week, the tree and poinsettias go up, with your help.
A Congregational Meeting will be held at 12:15pm both in person and via Zoom to vote on the proposed 2023 Budget and the report of the Nominating Committee.
I pray that the rhythm of this Season is one of an ever growing confidence in the Steadfast Love, made so clear, in the Baby Jesus and the person he grew to be.
With Comfort and Joy, Rev.Bill
November 25, 2022
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, November 27th, at 11:00 am we begin our worship journey to Christmas! The First Sunday of Advent sometimes catches us by suprise as we wind down from Thanksgiving.
Nevertheless, it is a good time to take stock of how we can express Love & Light, Comfort & Joy.
This year we will begin an exploration of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol in tandem with traditional Advent and Christmas texts. Over the next weeks, we will asking the question, "Scrooge or Jesus?". In other words, we have a decision to make about how we go about our lives---do we want to live miserly, diminished lives or lives of compassion, justice and joy?
We begin this week with exploring two visitations----Marley's Ghost to Scrooge, and Gabriel to Joseph. What is the difference between an angel and a ghost? What haunts us? What fetters or chains do we needlessly carry about? What is the relation between the atmospheres we live in and our ability to transcend traumatic or stressful circumstances?
Kevin Rost will offer the readings, Isaiah 11: 1-2, 6-10 and Matthew 1: 18-25. We will hear selections from the first chapter of A Christmas Carol as our Time of Centering. Steven Carman will play Walther, Bach and Vetter.
I look foward to being with you either on Zoom (link below) or in the Sanctuary. An Order of Service is attached.
Please note that there will be a Congregational Meeting at 12:15pm on December 11th to vote on the proposed 2023 Budget and the Report of the Nominating Committee.
Above all, I urge you to let the beauty and promise of this Season resonate with you and yours for
Blessings, grace and peace, Rev. Bill
November 17, 2022
Dear Friends:
We will celebrate Thansksgiving Sunday, this week on November 20th at 11:00am both in the Sanctuary and on Zoom.
Though our readings from Luke and Colossians, we will learn that as we sow seeds of kindness and compassion, our lives reflect our citizenship in the Body of Christ, the Reign of Heaven.
Gratitude is our passport!
Dylan Rexroth will offer our readings; Steven Carman will play Bender, Videro and Johnson.
You are invited to donate to the Thanksgiving Offering, the proceeds of which go towards the salary of a social worker under the auspices of the Downtown Cluster of Churches. Our Church has supported this position for many years though this offering. You can write a check; either place it in the offering plate or send to the Church Office, with "Thanksgiving Offering" written on the memo line. Or, you can contribute via Vanco, on our website, theunitedchurch.org. You may select the tab for the General Budget, and then send an email to Bob Shue, Financial Secretary, rshue@cox.net, specifying the Thanksgiving Offering.
Nest Sunday, November 27th, we begin Advent . I invite you to consider this season as a pilgrimage--a time to take stock, set priorities and intentions in the Light of Christmas. I also urge you to be present---either in the Sanctuary or on Zoom--so that this Advent might extend blessing, comfort, hope and joy to you and yours.
Grace and peace, Rev. Bill
November 11, 2022
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, 13 November, at 11:00am, we take up the Book of Esther, the first of two sermons concluding our series on the Shekinah.
The Shekinah is the embodiment of wisdom, compassion, care and justice. We will see how this Holy Spirit, works through Esther and Mordecai in "Creating Justice."
Esther is about beauty, politics, unfair decrees, and the principle of reaping what you sow. Above all, it is about being present for the time we live in as an agent of the Shekinah Herself.
Two companion texts from the Newer Testament round out and enhance our exploration, I Timothy 6: 12, and Galatians 6: 7-9.
Steven Carman will play Pachelbel, Chopin and Bender. An Order of Service is attached, and the Zoom link is below.
As we contemplate the story of Esther, we have an opportunity to once again be in awe of how the Spirit works through us, and as
us. Let us gather in anticipation of inspiration, empowerment and healing!
Blessings, Rev. Bill
November 3, 2022
Dear Friends:
On Sunday, 11.6 at the 11:00 English Service we will consider the questions Leviticus raises. Leviticus is "The Book Nobody Reads and Everyone Hates." Why is it still in our sacred writings? Why are selected passages used to diminish people and other passages ignored? Why does something become a sacred text? What if it outlives its usefulness? What are some of your non Biblical writings that are sacred to you?
Steven Carman will play Bach, Chopin and Pachelbel.
We will observe Holy Communion, with those at home preparing their own elements; those present in the Sanctuary will collect their elements as they enter.
This will be a great time to take stock of what sacred writing resonates and does not resonate with us.
Blessings, Rev. Bill
October 29, 2022
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, as we gather on our Zoom Grid, we will celebrate Reformation Sunday, the 505th anniversary of the day that Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of All Saint's Church in Wittenburg.
As the Church, both Universal and Local, is literally re-forming the ways in which we bear witness to the Gospel, we ask a most urgent question: how can we steward this precious legacy with creativity, courage, and imagination?
Three beautiful texts will anchor our thinking about how we, as the people of The United Church can live into our mission to make "sacred, precious and beloved" tangible:
Jesus' teaching on new wineskins from Matthew,
Luke's story of the raising from the dead of the widow of Nain's son,
and Paul's call in Ephesians to know that we can live into the fulness of the Love of God.
We will hear some breathtaking pieces from J.S.Bach whose music is the very flavor of the Reformation. Rev. Katja will offer the Pastoral Prayer. And you will find out why the sermon is titled "We Need the Eggs."
I remind you that we will be meeting only on Zoom, due to the Marine Corps Marathon in DC. You can sign on beginning at 10:50am for our Worship at 11:00am for a time of fellowship. We will, of course, have a virtual Coffee Hour afterwards.
The link is below; an Order of Service is attached.
I especially urge and invite you to be with us this Sunday. Please know that there is power, actual spiritual power, that comes from being gathered together in the name of the Divine.
As we extend the energy and the presence of Christ, your presence is very much needed. In fact, you are essential.
With peace, joy & love, Rev. Bill
October 22, 2022
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, 10.23, at 11:00AM in the Sanctuary and on Zoom, we continue our exploration of the issues raised by the apocryphal Book of Susanna.
Susanna's intentional faithfulness to the Covenant sets the Shekinah, the Holy Spirit in motion, throughout her ordeal, her trial and ultimate the justice carried out on her behalf. We will have a look at the privilege of those who were in positions of power, the status quo, and those it diminishes. Above all, we will talk about how those who are without voice and in fear need allies to bear witness to their innate sacredness, preciousness and belovedness. The sermon is titled "Old Relics from Wicked Days: Part Two." Selections from the Sermon on the Mount will be our companion text.
Steven Carman will play Bender, Shearing and Pachelbel.
Read against the current trend of violence towards, and diminishment of, women, our time with Susanna will help us discover our own possibilities as witnesses for justice, compassion, care and wisdom in the service of Divine Love.
Rev. Katja asks that you consider donating any winter coats or clothing to our Foggy Bottom Food Pantry. Donations may be brought to the Church on Sundays, or contact Kevin at the Church Office, 202-331-1495.
Blessings with Peace, Rev. Bill
October 16, 2022
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, in the Sanctuary and on Zoom, at the 11:00 English Service, we will take up the first half of the Apocryphal Book of Susanna, with the second half next week.
Susanna is a story of misogyny, lust, abuse of power, objectivication, and finally justice. Susanna is shockingly relevant and incredibly disturbing. As we lift up the issues this powerful text raises, we can consider how these "Old Relics from Wicked Days" are still with us. We will add Jesus' teachings on "right seeing" from Matthew's Sermon on the Mount. Susanna is ultimately about regarding each other with unadulterated honor and respect.
Steven Carman will play Walther and Pachelbel. An Order of Service is attached, as well as the Zoom information.
Please join me either in the Sanctuary or on our sacred Zoom grid. I am anticipating our time together to be thought provoking and healing.
Blessings always, Rev. Bill
October 9, 2022
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, 10.9 at 11:00am, we will continue our exploration of the Book of Ruth.
Ruth's ending is a classic example of how "all things work together for good" when life is lived in Covenant.
The power of her vow to Naomi creates the circumstances where everyone is satisfied. We will have a deeper look at this vow, and the power it carries, as it creates beauty, justice and love. We will consider the power of vow in our own lives.
Our companion text is a selection from Romans 8. The sermon is part of a series , "Glimmer, Glean, Glow", exploring the power of the Shekinah moving the lives of Ruth, Esther and Susanna.
Steven Carman will play Thalben-Ball, Whitlock and Bach. An Order of Service is attached.
I am happy to see you either in the Sanctuary or on the Zoom Grid.
Peace and Blessings, Rev. Bill
October 1, 2022
Dear Friends:
10.2 ENGLISH SERVICE AT 11:OO AM
I am excited to announce a sermon series that will focus on the Books of Ruth, Esther and Susannah---texts which are rich in love and lift up women.
I love RUTH and so do many of you. The four short chapters are radical narratives of Steadfast Love. Although God is never mentioned explicitly, the Divine permeates every line of every passage.
We sense the Shekinah, the female embodiment of the Holy Spirit of wisdom, compassion, care and justice, percolating in and as through the lives of Ruth and Naomi. We will focus on RUTH 1: 16-19, famous for its poetry. ROMANS 8: 18-28 is the perfect companion text.
The sermon is titled "GLIMMER, GLEAN, GLOW."
Jon Sanford will offer the readings; Steven Carman will play Bach, Garlick and a chorale from the Bohemian Brethren.
We will observe Holy Communion; Zoomers can prepare their elements, those attending in person will pick up their kits as they enter. An Order of Service is attached; and the Zoom link is below.
COVID PROTOCOLS
Masks are no longer required at our Worship Services, although they are recommended.
We will continue to social distance with certain pews being marked off. Council will assess this as we come into the last months of the year.
UKRAINIAN FAMILY SUPPORT
Bob Shue, our Financial Secretary and your Ministers are so happy to announce that we have received $5935.36 to assist Mardon Sharipov in helping relocate his friends, the family from Ukraine.
This exceeds our goal of $5000.
We have also received $6312.06 for aid to Ukraine through UMCOR.
This is a total, so far, of $12,247.42for our combined projects.
We have completed our fundraising for the Ukrainian family.
We will continue to accept aid to Ukraine through UMCOR.
Your generosity and support is a beautiful demonstration of how Love meets our needs, tangibly and materially. Katja and I thank you!
Peace with Gratitude, Rev. Bill
September 25, 2022
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, 9.25, at 11:00am, in the Sanctuary and via Zoom, we turn our attention to the Shekinah, the female embodiment of wisdom and compassion.
We see the Shekinah "GLIMMERING WITH LOVE" in the stories of the Hebrew midwives and Pharoah's daughter rescuing Moses from Exodus 1 and 2. These texts are about remembering God, remaining steadfast to what is true, and what it might take to create a miracle in the face of adversity, injustice and ruthlessness.
Our companion text is Luke 1: 46-55, the Magnificat, a hymn to the power of God making the world "right side up."
Rumi is our Time of Centering; Rev. Katja will offer the readings.
Steven Carman will play Thalben-Bell, Whitlock, and Bach. An Order of Service is attached.
Please join us for a time of contemplation and empowerment as we consider how we also might remain steadfast to the steadfast Love of God. We look forward to seeing you either in the Sanctuary or our sacred Zoom grid.
Blessings, Rev. Bill
September 17, 2022
Dear Friends:
Like the Israelites in the opening chapters of Exodus, we often find ourselves in a state of exile. Our anxieties, diminishments, worries, sadness, despair and fears , both personal and collective, seemingly separate us from the promise and hope of the Covenant. We find ourselves living anxiously, on edge. In Chapter 3, God assures Moses that God has heard the "groanings" of God's people. That assurance is with us today. Perhaps one of the most profound spiritual practices we have is "LEARNING TO LAMENT". With some help from Jesus weeping at the tomb of Lazarus, Luke 11: 35, and Jeremiah's heart breaking words, Jeremiah 8:18-9:1, we will discern the difference between complaining and lamenting. Our lamentations, giving shape to our deepest troubles and heard by the Divine, are a way to actively "break the trance of exile."
Our Time of Centering will be a selection from Rumi.
Steven Carman will play Tomlinson, Hurford and Stanley.
An Order of Service is attached.
Please do join me either in the Sanctuary or on Zoom for a time of gathering ourselves to be empowered and healed.
Blessings & Light, Rev. Bill
September 8, 2022
Dear Friends:
Today, we lift up the life and legacy of Queen Elizabeth II. She was the very definition of "steadfast".
This Sunday, September 11th, two guests will grace our Sanctuary and the Zoom grid.
The Rev. Amy Reumann returns to our pulpit, preaching a sermon titled "From Useless to Useful". Her text is from the Book of Philemon. Amy is the Director of Advocacy for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Her preaching has been very well received at TUC, in both German and English Services.
Raymond Soukup returns as guest musician; he will play selections from Franz Liszt.
Please give Amy and Ray a warm TUC welcome!
Peace and blessings, Rev. Bill
September 3, 2022
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, 9.4, at the 11:00 AM English Service, I will talking about covenant, the absolute cornerstone of UCC theology.
Covenant defines the relationship between the human being and God--an experience of the steadfast Love of God shaping the very nature of what it means to be alive. This "vertical" covenant spreads out, meeting others on the "horizontal"---preciously, sacredly, belovedly.
The Christian tradition(al) marks a difference between the "Old" Covenant as found in the "Old" Testament, with the "New" Covenant as found in the "New" Testament. Is that old/new language helpful, or does it give rise to a dubious hierarchy between the Jewish and Christian traditions? Is there really a difference or is it one continuous experience of Covenant? Is newer necessarily better than older?
I am going to offer another way of looking at Covenant as "A SWEET SPOT OF COINCIDENCE", where the vertical meets the horizontal,the human meeting the Divine, transforming and completing both.
We will flesh out this idea with help from Jacob's dream, the Prodigal Son, my grandmother, and the 1968 and 2012 Volkswagen Beetle. I am particularly excited about this!
We will also celebrate Holy Communion. Those Zooming in can prepare their own elements of juice and bread. Those attending in person will pick up their individually wrapped elements as they enter.
MATT NEUENDORF will offer the readings, Genesis 28: 10-17 and Luke 15: 20-32, and will represent the congregation at the Communion Table. Our Time of Centering is Mary Oliver's poem, "The Journey." STEVEN CARMAN will play Pachelbel, Chopin and Shearing. GRADY MCPEAK returns as our Technical Assistant. An ORDER OF WORSHIP is attached.
Please join me either in the Sanctuary or on the Zoom Grid. I pray that this Worship Service of Word and Sacrament stirs your creativity, your imagination and your hearts with hope and joy!
Blessings, big and small, Rev. Bill
August 27, 2022
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, 8.28, at 11am, we will spend some time "THINKING ABOUT JESUS ". We will ask ourselves the same question he asks the disciples in Matthew 16: 13-14, "Who do you say I am?"
After reviewing some of the classic theories, I will offer some thoughts on Jesus' own response in Luke 7: 18-22, where he points out his healing and restoring work. How can we answer another classic question, "What would Jesus do?", as we bear witness to this world that so desperately and urgently needs healing and restoration?
STEVEN CARMAN will play BENDER, CHOPIN and PACHELBEL. We are happy to have BIRGITTA SUNDERLAND as our Zoom tech covering for Grady. An Order of Service is attached.
I am happy that we are exploring the basics of our faith; it is good to know the "fundamentals" as they resonate uniquely with our own lives. Please join me either in person or on Zoom for an hour of inspiration and empowerment. Birgitta, Steven and I look forward to this time together.
Blessings, Rev. Bill
August 19, 2022
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, we continue our series on prayer. Last week, we talked about how to speak to God; this week we will concentrate on "HOW TO LISTEN TO GOD." The Divine is always with us, like an eagle supporting, sustaining and caring for Her young. (DEUTERONOMY 32: 9-12) As we become more and more aware of this relationship, we begin to experience and trust the guidance that we seek when we pray. The tricky part is to make sure we are listening to that part of ourselves that is always in alignment with the Divine, rather than our ego. When we are remembering God and ourselves, we experience that "peace that passeth all understanding." (PHILIPPIANS 4: 4-7)
REV. KATJA will offer the readings as well as a selection from the work of Mechthild of Magdeburg, a medieval mystic. Katja and family lived and served in Magdeburg and the surrounding area.
STEVEN CARMAN will play MICHEELSON, CHOPIN and PACHELBEL. We welcome BIRGITTA SUNDERLAND as our Zoom tech support who is covering for Grady. An ORDER OF SERVICE is attached.
I pray that this Service, whether you experience it in the Sanctuary or on Zoom, will fill you with a deep sense of the healing, steadfast Love of God.
Blessings with Kindness, Rev. Bill
August 13, 2022
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, we will explore "HOW TO TALK TO GOD."
So many people believe there is a formula that one must follow, and more troublingly, that God only listens to those we would characterize as "faithful." Nothing could be further from the truth that God is always and everywhere for everyone, a willing ear.
Jesus's instructions in Matthew 6: 5-6, and the story of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11: 1-9) will jumpstart our thinking.
STEVEN CARMAN will play MONNIKENDAM, CHOPIN and PEETERS>
This will be a very practical hour, one in which I hope you discover your innate connection to the listening and healing Divine. Please join me either in the Sanctuary or on Zoom.
Blessings, Rev. Bill
August 6, 2022
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, we return once again, to the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus' literally sublime teachings about how to experience God's time, God's Reality, while negotiating this far from perfect world, a world and a reality that we have collectively created.
On many levels , about many things, there seems to much anxiety and fear about the future. In the same vein, but slightly different, here is much fretting and fussing about the past. How can we not default to these settings? We can learn to develop THE STRENGTH TO SUSTAIN GRACE. How can we take care of the present moment so that we ensure a future and reframe a past in the light and in the energy of God, Love Itself?
MATTHEW 6 (verses from the sermon on the mount) and LUKE 9 are our texts. STEVEN CARMAN will play MOZART, CHOPIN and BACH.
We will observe the SACRAMENT OF COMMUNION. Those Zooming in can prepare their own elements. Those attending in person can pick up the bread and juice as you enter the Sanctuary. Many thanks to Kevin who s preparing the bread as he did last month.
I am happy to be back in the Sanctuary this Sunday.Please join me if you are in town. I anticipate a Service that will bring blessings, empowerment and healing.
Peace, and Lovingkindness,
Rev. Bill
July 29, 2022
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us that to be effective healers and witnesses to Love Itself, it is a matter of 'BEING LIGHT, BEING SALT". Further on, he tells us how to develop an eye that will always perceive what is Divine, what is Holy, in any situation. We will spend some time reflecting on how these instructions can be the most practical and "sound" way to go about our lives. Readings from MATTHEW 5 & 6 and HOSEA 11 will ground our thinking.
Guest musician Eric McAfee will play Pachelbel, Scriabin, and Tchaikovsky, from the Sanctuary.
I sm looking forward to seeing you on our sacred Zoom grid for a tie of inspiration and healing.
Blessings, Rev. Bill
July 22, 2022
Dear Friends:
Psalm 40 has an intriguing image; the Psalmist sings of being pulled "FROM A MIRY BOG", also translated as from the miry clay. Using the stories of Joseph being raised from the pit, Genesis 37, and Jesus healing a blind person, (after two tries) Mark 8: 22-23, we will consider the ways we can come "unstuck" from all this is holding us back from living lives of Light and Love in the service of God.
We will hear the music of TORELLI, PURCELL and BIBER.
Many thanks to Matt McCarroll for his preaching last week.
Through our good friend Mardon Sharipov, we have the opportunity to assist with sponsoring a Ukrainian family of three who are now in the United States. Donations would go towards defraying the cost of the relocation expenses.You can donate via check payable to The United Church with “Ukrainian family” in the memo, or via the designated tab at Vanco. (Donations to The United Church are tax deductible.) We are aiming at raising $5000.
For further information contact either Rev.Bill or Rev Katja.
We continue to accept donations for Ukraine via UMCOR.
I am looking forward to seeing you on our sacred ZOOM grid this Sunday for a time of healing and restoration.
Blessings and Kindness,
Rev. Bill
July 17, 2022
Dear Friends:
I am happy and proud that our Council President Matthew McCarroll will be in the pulpit this Sunday, 7.17. Matt will be preaching on"A PERSONAL REFORMATION", his reflections on some of the differences that set the United Church of Christ apart from other denominations, and how that has influenced his journey from a more traditional liturgical tradition to ours.
Matt has selected the story of Noah in GENESIS 9 and II TIMOTHY 1:11-14 as his texts.
You will hear the music of VIVALDI, PACHELBEL, (yes, the famous Canon in D) and DES PREZ.
We are working on making the Zoom audio more clear. If there are any problems with Zoom, please contact Grady in the Chat feature. We want to be sure you enjoy the Service, but it is hard for me and others to receive and respond to texts while we conduct the service.
Through our good friend Mardon Sharipov, we have the opportunity to assist with sponsoring a Ukrainian family of three who are now in the United States. Donations would go towards defraying the cost of the relocation expenses.You can donate via check payable to The United Church with “Ukrainian family” in the memo, or via the designated tab at Vanco. (Donations to The United Church are tax deductible.) We are aiming at raising $5000.
For further information contact either Rev.Bill or Rev Katja.
We continue to accept donations for Ukraine via UMCOR.
Please support Matt in what will be a time of inspiration, empowerment and healing eithe in person or on Zoom. Testimonies are powerful, and this will be a very fine one!
Blessings, Rev. Bill
July 10, 2022
Dear Friends:
Gabrielle Bernstein writes, "Guidance is available to me now. I know that angels, ancestors and spirit guides are always t hand. I do not walk alone."
In other words, we live in legacies.
Legacies of "angels, ancestors and spirit guides" that continually form our stories. Who are these guiding energies for you?
Who are the people who have shaped your story? What "angels" have been there for you when you most needed them? How have those who have gone before continue to be present to you?
The sermon will explore how we might be "CALLING ON YOUR CLOUD OF WITNESSES."
LUKE 9: 28-36 and selections from HEBREWS 12 will ground our thinking.
STEVEN CARMAN will play MOZART, CHOPIN and J.S.BACH.
Through our good friend Mardon Sharipov, we have the opportunity to assist with sponsoring a Ukrainian family of three who are now in the United States. Donations would go towards defraying the cost of the relocation expenses.You can donate via check payable to The United Church with “Ukrainian family” in the memo, or via the designated tab at Vanco. (Donations to The United Church are tax deductible.) We are aiming at raising $5000.
For further information contact either Rev.Bill or Rev Katja.
We continue to accept donations for Ukraine via UMCOR.
Please join us for a time of empowerment and healing.
Blessings and kindness, Rev. Bill
July 2, 2022
Dear Friends:
If you scratch beneath the experience of polarization, you find many energies, none of which are good, all of which are insidious. Not one empowers us to love our neighbor as ourselves. Not one leads to healing. Not one leads to the New Jerusalem, God's Reality, where Love has the first and the last Word.
How, then, can we "wipe away the sorrows of the world?" How can we realize, in the words of Bertrand Russell, that "LOVE IS WISE, HATRED IS FOOLISH"? We will use the wisdom of Solomon, Jesus and Shantideva to inspire us to choose love over hate, and courage over fear.
REV. KATJA will offer the readings, I KINGS 3: 16-28 and MATTHEW 7: 1-5. Guest musician RAYMON SOUKUP will play BRAHMS, FAURE, and RACHMANINOFF.
We will celebrate THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER.
Our Zoomers are invited to prepare their elements. For those attending in person, please note that we will use the little kits, but only for the grape juice. KEVIN ROST is baking bread, and will prepare individually sealed portions from that loaf. This is much more in the spirit of the Sacrament!
As we gather this Sunday, whether in person or on our Zoom grid, please know that we gather not only for ourselves, but for the healing of all that ails the world.
Blessing, peace, and kindness, Rev. Bill
June 25, 2022
Dear Friends:
How do we access THE POWER OF A GOD-RICH DAY?
Perhaps it is not so much what we do during the course of a day, but how we go about our experiences. Setting our intentions, grounding ourselves as "sacred, precious, beloved" can change everything from running errands, to relationships, to the way we react to the world around us. Luke's lily of the field and John's doubting Thomas will help us reflect on the way we go about our day to day , and how we remember our daily existence.
We are happy that MARDON SHARIPOV returns as guest pianist. Mardon will play selections from CHOPIN's Nocturnes and Preludes. This will be a real treat for all of us!
An Order of Service with details of music and readings is attached. I am sponsoring Coffee Hour for those attending in person to celebrate the 31st Anniversary of my Ordination.
Through our good friend Mardon, we have the opportunity to assist with sponsoring a Ukrainian family of three who are now in the United States. Donations would go towards defraying the cost of the relocation expenses.You can donate via check payable to The United Church with “Ukrainian family” in the memo, or via the designated tab at Vanco. (Donations to The United Church are tax deductible.)
For further information contact either Rev.Bill or Rev Katja.
We continue to accept donations for Ukraine via UMCOR.
As we extend Love, we receive Love into our days. Please join me either in person or on Zoom for a time of intentionally thinking about our possibilities for empowerment and healing.
Blessings, Rev. Bill
June 18, 2022
Dear Friends:
I have been grateful for these weeks of vacation and am happy to return to the pulpit this Sunday when we are observing Juneteenth, Father's Day, and one of the most shocking and urgent stories in the Bible---the parable of the rich fool.
Luke's text is the story of a person who has spectacularly missed the point. It is not so much that he has possessions, it is his emphasis on them that is so sad. This is a tale of lost opportunity, missed connection and never seeing beyond the material. The question remains, how do we, then, live lives "rich toward God?"
I am very proud that my nephew, Michael, will be joining me for a dialog sermon titled "THE POWERBALL OF THE RICH FOOL."
I believe you will find his perspective, that of someone just entering the work force, very meaningful. And, "powerball" was a great auto-correct incident, which you will see describes why the rich fool was a fool.
George Walser will offer the readings; PSALM 42: 1-5 and LUKE 12: 13-21. Rev. Katja will open the service and give the Pastoral Prayer. Steven Carman will play J.S.Bach.
By the way, as I am celebrating Father's Day with my family in New Jersey, Mike and I will be coming to you via Zoom; those at home will see us on speaker view, and those in the church will see us on the big screen. This technology, will allow Zoomers to participate as readers, etc. in the future.
A worship bulletin is attached. We printed the hymn right from the New Century Hymnal. Kevin has asked me to note that it is difficult to get a "flat" image.
The Office is closed Monday, in honor of Juneteenth.
Please join us for what will be a time of empowerment, rest and healing.
Blessings, Rev. Bill
June 11, 2022
Dear Friends:
it is my pleasure and I feel very honored to invite you to our Special Service this coming Sunday, June 12, at 11 a.m., in which our
readings and the sermon will be centered around The United Church's mission, the Foggy Bottom Food Pantry.
We will "Address Food Insecurity" as we are experiencing it right now. The rising prices for food and gas, rising rent expenses are troubling families in our region. We will hear from both Dominic Kerstjens, the Director of the Foggy Bottom Food Pantry, and from Rev. Katja Albrecht in their joint sermon. They will share their takes - from a more societal and a more theological perspective - on the importance of "Food Security". We will give thanks for all the volunteers involved in the work of the Food Pantry and we will share our joys and concerns.
Steven Carman will play Bach, Zachau and Pachelbel.
Please find the bulletin to the service attached and also the invite to the Special Service.
We are looking forward to seeing you "in person" or via Zoom!
Be blessed
Rev. Katja
June 3, 2022
Dear Friends:
Perhaps the reason why the Holy Spirit can be somewhat elusive to our understanding is that it is CLOSER THAN BREATH. This Sunday, 6.5, as we celebrate the Feast of PENTECOST, we will look at how the Spirit can be accessed in our daily lives in the service of God. Readings from EZEKIEL 37 and JOHN 20 will help us flesh this out.
We will also have HOLY COMMUNION, gathering both in the Sanctuary and on Zoom. If you are with us in person, please pick up your Communion kit as you enter. If you are with us via Zoom, you may prepare your own elements. Either way, the Table is one of much grace and gratitude.
STEVEN CARMAN will play ROBERTS, PEETERS and MONNIKENDAM.
We will also honor CHRISTA LINDER and INGRID BISHOP who have been the face of hospitality at our coffee hours over the years with a FESTIVAL COFFEE HOUR beginning at 10:30am following the German Service. We thank them heartily as they "retire" from this activity. Of course, we will continue the celebration after the English Service, as well. We extend our thanks to NANCY LEACH and KEVIN ROST for organizing and providing the treats!
I will be on vacation after Sunday, and will return to the pulpit on June 19th.
I look forward to this most special Pentecosst. Please join us either in person or via zoom for a time of empowerment and healing.
Blessings, Rev. Bill
May 28, 2022
Dear Friends:
The bigger the suffering, the bigger our hearts (can)become.
The bigger our hearts (can) become, the bigger the healing.
Not only for ourselves. For everybody. Ever. Always.
Isaiah 52: 2; 54: 2 & Romans 8: 35, 8-9 remind us how to do that. How to remember Love. How to, in fact, and how to, in practice, carry our hearts.
Especially when we are on the verge of shutting down. Especially when we overwhelm. Especially when we bear the unbearable. Especially now, in the aftermath of yet another "yet again " slice of hell.
This Sunday, 5.29, we gather for Worship at 11:00am, in person or on Zoom.
My sermon titled "the bigger the suffering the bigger (my)(your)(our)hearts" was jump started by e.e. cummings "i carry your heart", which is our Time of Centering. You can find the full text of the poem in the attached bulletin.
Rev. Katja will offer the Isaiah and Romans.
I am tremendously happy that Mardon Sharipov--our good friend and brilliant concert pianist/teacher--is our special guest musician. He will play Schubert, J.S.Bach and Lizst.
We remember this Memorial Day weekend those who have served, those who are serving, and those who will serve our country. Our debt and our gratitude for them is beyond measure.
We remember the children, teachers, parents and staff of the Robb Elementary School in Ulvade, Texas. We especially remember those who were killed. May there be Light. May there be Comfort.May there be Love.
May our Sunday gathering be filled with healing.
Always blessings, Rev. Bill
May 21, 2022
Dear Friends:
God is always speaking to us. Not usually in dramtaic revelations, but often in "a still, small voice." Yet this voice competes to be heard above the clamor of our lives, and of the world.
How migjht we be "transformed by the renewing of our minds?"
How can we trust and interpet the ways God speaks to us? Leaning to listen and respond is our hope, personally and collectively, "vertically and horizontally."
I KINGS 19: 11-13 and ROMANS 12: 1-2, 9-1 are our texts as we begin "TRUSTING THAT STILL SMALL VOICE."
STEVEN CARMAN will play BEETHOVEN, LEROY ANDERSON and ZDENKO FITCH.
Please join us for a time of renewal, inspiration and empowerment either in person or on line.
Blessings, Rev. Bill
May 14, 2022
Dear Friends:
What does it take to truly rely on God? To be willing to ask for help with whatever we might be facing? We have been taught to be self-reliant and independent. Yet, life does not work that way.
We are interdependent, especially as members of the Body of Christ.
This Sunday we will consider what "TAKING THE HAND OF GOD" could mean for us. We will revisit the story of Peter raising Dorcas from the dead, focusing on his gesture of offering his hand to raise her up. (ACTS 9: 36-43) ISAIAH 49: 15-16 is our companion text, in which God tells us that we are engraved on God's hands.
REV. KATJA will open the service and offer the readings. STEVEN CARMEN will play WALTHER and PACHELBEL.
I will sign on at 10:50am to say hello to our zoomers.
For those of you joining us in person, we will have a coffee hour immediately following the service in Roth Hall. We do need people to host the coffee hours. Ask me for details about ordering a box of coffee (approx $22.) from a local Starbucks close to the Church. We will reimburse you, of course, or you can ask that this be credited to you as an in-kind contribution.
Katja, Steven and I look forward to welcoming you either on line or in person to a time of inspiration, empowerment and healing.
Blessings, Rev. Bill
May 7, 2022
Dear Friends:
I invite your presence either in person, or on Zoom, to our Festival Service of Worship observing Mother's Day, and the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, this Sunday, 5.8, at 11:00am.
God is "beyond all human telling." Yet, in order to describe our experiences of the Divine, we use images, some of the most common being God as Father and as Mother. As familiar as this is, and as biblically based as this is, metaphorical and even literal, eyebrows, are raised. Why?
How is this resistance related to the increasingly blatant misogyny and sexism in the United States? How can we relate to the Divine Feminine in a way that is restorative and healing for all humans? What does the process of "GOD-MOTHERING GOD" look like?
Selections from ACTS, RUTH and the apocryphal GOSPEL OF MARY MAGDALENE will flesh out these questions.
CAROL SANFORD will be our Reader. REV. KATJA will offer the Pastoral Prayer and the Lord's Prayer at the Communion Table. STEVEN CARMEN will play SCHUBERT, SCHUMANN and MENDELSSOHN.
We will be gathering for the SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER----if you are at home, you can prepare the elements of bread and cup, if you are with us in person, you can pick up your Communion Kit as you enter.
We will also be gathering for COFFEE HOUR, virtually at 10:45am, and in person directly after the Service either outdoors on 20th street or in Roth Hall! depending on the weather.
NANCY LEACH will be baking in response to the many, many, many, many requests for her famous selections! MATT NEUENDORF and I will host and serve!
A report from our Finance Committee.about our collection for UKRAINE follows the Zoom info. Your amazing generosity is much appreciated, as are your prayers for bearing witness with all who suffer. May there be Light!
Grace and Blessing, Rev. Bill
May 1, 2022
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, 5.1. we will take up two very practical texts--LUKE 6: 36-38, and II CORINTHIANS 9: 6-8.
Jesus tells us that we get what we give. Paul tells us that we reap what we sow.
If you want love, be love. If you want peace, be peaceful. If you want to be understood,be understanding. If you want to be forgiven, forgive. It is all about clarity of perception, giving and receiving, cause and effect. It's that simple. And yet, it's not. You have to be adept at "BOOMERANG PRACTICE."
Guest organist JO AN ROTHENHOEFER will play HANDEL and J.S. BACH. DYLAN REXROTH will offer the readings.
VIRTUAL COFFEE HOUR starts at 10:40 AM. Simply sign onto the Zoom Link.
Please join us for a time of healing and empowerment. I look forward to seeing you in person or on line.
Blessings. Rev. Bill
April 23, 2022
Dear Friends:
Living and being in the reality of God's Love can, and should, be our experience, both personally and collectively. How can we not only glimpse, but sustain, this vision?
This Sunday we will take up these questions as I suggest that "EASTER IS IN THE DETAILS." We are constantly being invited to look beyond this "upside down world" to recognize the signs of one that is "right side up"---brimming over with the promise, possibility and reality of Easter. A close reading of JOHN 20: 1-18 will help focus our thinking.
REV. KATJA will open the Service, and offer a Time of Centering, and the Reading. STEVEN CARMAN will play ALAIN, ZACHAU and FISCHER. We will sing "Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain."
If you are with us online, please join our new VIRTUAL COFFEE HOUR beginning at 10:30AM. I will sign on then, and we can have a chance to say hello and catch up. Simply click the Zoom link.
Steven will be giving the Prelude before the Service begins, ending in time for our "new" start time of 11:00AM.
Katja, Steven, Grady and I look forward to your presence either in-person in the Sanctuary, or online viz Zoom.
Please do join us for a time of empowerment, inspiration and healing.
All the blessings of Eastertide, Rev Bill
April 15, 2022
Dear Friends:
Please celebrate EASTER SUNDAY, 4.17, with us either in person or on line with ZOOM in our FESTIVAL BILINGUAL WORSHIP SERVICE. Trumpet preludes will begin at 10:45 am; the Service will begin at 11:00am.
STEVEN CARMAN and trumpeter STEVEN CUNNINGHAM will offer music by BOYCE, STANLEY and HANDEL.
REV. KATJA and I will preach on "PASSIONATE JOY" using the Easter Gospel of JOHN 20:1-18. WERNER LINDER and VANESSA KRAMER will read the Gospel.
We look forward to sharing this time with you.
Blessings, Rev. Bill
Dear Friends:
Holy Week begins this Sunday, 4.10 as we observe PALM SUNDAY and celebrate HOLY COMMUNION.
Every Palm Sunday, I wonder about the fickleness of the crowd.
The same people that greeted Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem with cries of "Hosanna" on Sunday betrayed him with cries of "Barabbas" on Friday.
Yet, "BEYOND THE FICKLE, SOMETHING REMAINS."
What never changes? What remains consistent, steady, unconditional? I will suggest that it is the Covenant, which always points to the "sacred, precious and beloved" within you and everyone else. Jesus perceived this on his inexorable movement to Resurrection, "the new thing" of ISAIAH 43: 16-21. So can we.
The famous procession into Jerusalem, LUKE 19:29-40, will be our companion text.
STEVEN CARMAN will play SAINT-SAENS, J.S.BACH, and BRAHMS. We will sing "All Glory, Laud and Honor".
As we observe HOLY COMMUNION, Zoomers are invited to participate with their own choice of bread and juice. Those attending in person will pick up a Communion kit at the entrance, as we continue to observe health protocols. Lyrics for the hymn are noted on the back of the attached Order of Worship.
We have raised $2350. so far for relief efforts in Ukraine. Thank you!
For those of you who wish to contribute, you may do so with a check or through Vanco on our website under "Giving."
As we enter Holy Week, the war in Ukraine continues. We are are witnessing as I wrote a few weeks ago, "scenes of unbearable and unecessary heartbeak, misery and violence."
May there be peace where there is violence.
May there be courage, where there is fear.
May there be hope where there is despair.
May there be Light.
May Love Itself have the last word, sooner rather than later.
Grady and I welcome you online and in person for a time of healing and for the benefit of All.
Always blessings, Rev. Bill
April 2, 2022
Dear Friends:
The beauty of Easter is that God, Love Itself, does the work of transformation. Jesus was raised by God, not his own willpower.
That same "ALCHEMY OF EASTER" is present in our lives as well.
We will have a closer look at how that process happens as we read I CORINTHIANS 13: 1-13, Paul's great hymn to Love.
As we become workers for Light and Love, we are called to a different way of seeing, and thus, being in the world. MATTHEW 27: 45-52 is our companion text.
STEVEN CARMAN will play BRAHMS, and we will sing "Come Forth O Love Divine." For our "Zoomers", you will find the words to this hymn on the reverse of the attached Order of Worship.
Katja, Steven, Grady and I look forward to being you with in person or on the Zoom grid!
Blessings, Rev. Bill
March 26, 2022
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, we are "ANTICIPATING EASTER" in a more focused way. Lent is meaningless without Easter. Is the reverse true? As we approach the fact of the Resurrection, we have to pass through Good Friday. What is the meaning of the cross? Of Jesus' death? What does this have to say about the meaning and end of suffering? How does Love Itself have the last word? We will explore a practical and healing concept of Atonement.
PSALM 19: 1-12, and LUKE 22: 14-20, 39-52 (the Last Supper and the healing of the centurion's ear in Gethsemene) will help focus and inspire our thinking.
STEVEN CARMAN will play MOZART on the piano and we will sing a hymn as well (accompanied by the organ.) Please note that there is an ORDER OF WORSHIP attached with hymn lyrics included.
On another note, please ignore any requests from me coming coming from an unfamiliar email. This seems to be a phishing scheme, so please, of course do not respond, and report to your mail server.
If you wish to donate to relief efforts for Ukraine, you may write a check payable to The United Church or use Vanco.
Vanco can be accessed on our website, theunitedchurch.org, by choosing the "Giving" tab. Once on the page, you may choose United Methodist Committee on Relief, UMCOR. We use UMCOR as 100% of the collection goes directly to the cause.
Grady and I look forward to seeing you on Zoom, or in person for an hour of inspiration, refreshment and peace.
Please hold Ukraine in your prayers for justice and peace.
Blessings always, Rev. Bill
March 18, 2022
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, March 20th, we return to the Sanctuary, offering the Worship Service both in-person and on Zoom at 11:00AM.
Please note that as we are looking out for the most vulnerable among us; masks are required, as is social distancing. Your cooperation is most appreciated!
What is the meaning of Jesus' death? How has this singular event been interpreted throughout the centuries? How can we come to an understanding of the Atonement that is both practical and healing? PSALM 63: 1-8, and LUKE 22: 14-20 will be our texts for the sermon titled "ATONEMENT: ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN."
REV. KATJA will offer the readings. We are happy to welcome STEPHEN ACKERT, former TUC Music Director and good friend of our congregation, as our guest musician. Stephen will play WILBUR HELD and J.S.BACH.
Please note that an ORDER OF WORSHIP is attached. As we will be singing a hymn this Sunday, you will find the words to "What Wondrous Love Is This" printed directly in the order.
If you wish to donate to relief efforts for Ukraine, you may write a check payable to The United Church or use Vanco.
Vanco can be accessed on our website, theunitedchurch.org, by choosing the "Giving" tab. Once on the page, you may choose United Methodist Committee on Relief, UMCOR. We use UMCOR as 100% of the collection goes directly to the cause.
We continue to pray for Ukraine:
May Peace come.
May the Light be present.
May the Love that is God infuse all.
Blessings, Rev. Bill
March 12, 2022
Dear Friends:
We gather on our Zoom grid this Sunday, 3.13, at 11:00 AM focusing on experiencing Lent as a season for taking an intentional, committed stand for the power and presence of God, Love Itself.
Each one of us responds uniquely to this invitation as we discern where Love is present or lacking in our lives, both personally and collectively.
Our texts, Psalm 27 and Luke 4: 1-13 will explore how we might trust in "The One Who is Our Journey and Our Destination", even when we are tempted otherwise. As we clear the way for a heightened sense of "precious, sacred and beloved", we will find ourselves sacrificing not what we love, but rather, all that keeps us from love.
Bob Shue and George Walser will offer our readings. We will hear the music of Venetian Baroque composer Francesco Cavalli.
Birgitta Sunderland will be my co-host, covering Grady who is away this Sunday.
As the war in Ukraine continues, we are witnessing scenes of unbearable and unecessary heartbeak, misery and violence.
Let us remind ourselves that we bear witness with "all who weep, and watch and wait."
May there be Light.
May there be Hope.
May there be Courage.
May there be Strength.
May there be Love.
Always blessings, Rev. Bill
March 5, 2022
Dear Friends:
We observe the First Sunday of Lent this week, 3.6, at 11:00am Eastern, on our Zoom gathering.
Perhaps this is the year that we wind up LOVING LENT.
These 40 days before Easter can be an opportunity to intentionally reflect on our ability to be healers of all that obstructs the experience of Love Itself. How can we turn this ability into a daily habit? How might we translate the material into the spiritual?
Isaiah's definition of a fast (ISAIAH 58: 6-11) and Jesus' call to find our treasure/heart (MATTHEW 6: 19-2) will help ground our exploration.
We will pick up the closing of the Joseph cycle next week as we develop our Lenten theme, "from exile to home".
REV. KATJA will offer the readings; we will hear the music of J.S. BACH.
If you wish to donate to relief efforts for the Ukraine, you may write a check payable to The United Church or use Vanco (available on our website ,theunitedchurch.org) Either way, please note that your gift is for Ukrainian relief. We then send this collection to UMCOR, the United Methodist Community on Relief where 100% of funds collected go directly to the cause.
We continue to pray for Ukraine:
May Peace come.
May the Light be present.
May the Love that God infuse all.
Katja, Grady and I look forward to your presence with us on our sacred Zoom grid as we begin the journey to Easter!
Blessings, Rev. Bill
February 26, 2022
Dear Friends:
We head into this weekend and our gathering on our Zoom grid this Sunday, 2.27, at 11:00am with a great deal of sorrow for the invasion of Ukraine.
It is interesting that we conclude our close reading of the story of Joseph this weekend after the traumatic and terrorizing events of this week.
There is a happy end to the story of Joseph, his brothers and his father, Jacob. Yet, this story of forgiveness, healing and Divine Love having the last word begins with envy, aggression, terror ,and a bullying that leads to metaphorical death .
Yet, Joseph resolves his trauma with "SALT AND TEARS"in a heartbreaking scene of healing, forgiveness and reconciliation. (GENESIS 45).
How might Divine Love have the last word in our personal and collective traumas? Is it even possible to love our enemies, as Jesus states? (MATTHEW 5: 43-48) How can we be fully present to ourselves and the world in the face of aggression, internal and external? PSALM 37: 1-7 is our companion text as we consider these urgent and timely questions.
JON SANFORD will offer the readings; REV. KATJA will open the Service. We will hear the music of ECCLES and DONIZETTI.
As we gather, please keep the people of Ukraine in your prayers.
May we bear witness in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.
May this needless aggression cease.
May the peace that passes all understanding be present.
May there be Hope.
May there be Light.
May there be Healing.
May there be Love Itself.
Blessings, Rev. Bill
February 19, 2022
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, 2.20 at 11:00am, we will gather on our Zoom grid to continue our exploration of the Joseph cycle in GENESIS.
Last week, we looked at some non traditional interpretations of the story of Joseph and Potiphar's wife. ON THE OTHER HAND, there is a great deal to be said for the traditional interpretations. Although this text is not in the Lectionary, and hardly ever preached on, I consider it a key text in Joseph's continued "becoming" and a paradigm for how we handle those moments when the Covenant holds and sustains us.
I am very indebted to members of last week's LUNCH WITH PASTORS for these insights.
PSALM 23 and PHILIPPIANS 4: 8-9 will help flesh out these thoughts.
We will hear the music of NICOLA MATTEIS.
GRADY and I look forward to seeing you, anticipating healing, inspiration and empowerment.
Blessings, Rev. Bill
February 12, 2022
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, 2.13 at 11:00 AM, we will be thinking about "THE OTHER SIDE OF DESIRE."
Reading GENESIS 39: 1-11 closely, we will see that the story of Joseph refusing to be seduced by the wife of Potiphar is much richer and complex than the traditional interpretations of this text would suggest. Yes, Joseph has become more self aware, yet is he really a model "goody two shoes?" Is he playing a game of power, privilege and advantage?
Why is Potiphar's wife without a name? How is her villanized desire for Joseph any different than the desire of the Patriarchs?
How is sex weaponized in this text? How is the fear of the feminine so present so early on in the Bible? How is God and Covenant rumbling underneath the narrative?
You will find that beginning to answer these questions reveals the very human side of desire and love, bubbling up a different and more profound question: What does Desire look like when it is without disguise?
Paul's beloved words in FIRST CORINTHIANS 13: 1-7 will be an elegant antidote to the turmoil of Genesis 39. We will celebrate this image of Love---seamless, steadfast and divine.
NANCY LEACH and HENRIETTA KUNDERT will offer the readings. The music is particularly just gorgeous this week. We will hear Cherubino's aria from MOZART's "Le Nozze di Figaro." Our other selections are from the ECCLES brothers, working during the reign of Charles II.
Nancy, Henrietta, and Grady join me in inviting you to our sacred Zoom Grid, knowing that your presence, personally and collectively, is an energy for Good and Love. We lift up this "seamless, steadfast and divine" Love with much Peace, and much Joy.
Blessings, Rev. Bill
February 5, 2022
Dear Friends:
The story of Covenant is a love story.
You might call it the beginning and source of all love stories.
The Divine is with us guiding us, knowing us, hearing us, even when we are in "exile" from our trust selves, feeling diminished, perhaps even traumatized.
As we continue with GENESIS 37: 18-28, we see Joseph at the absolute lowest point of his life; being left for dead by his brothers in the pit, sold to passing merchants, subsequently arriving in Egypt. As we consider SILENCE & MEMORY this Sunday, we will ponder Joseph's tragedy, the effect of his brothers' callousness, and Jacob's suffering. This close reading on one hand is haunting and enigmatic, and on the other , is an invitation to consider the possibility of resolution and healing.
JOHN 14: 15-17 is our companion text.
REV. KATJA will offer the readings. We will hear the music of MONTEVERDI and TALLIS.
Katja, Grady and I look forward to your wonderful presence at Zoom Church at 11:00 AM, this Sunday, 2.6. As we gather on our sacred grid, we invite and anticipate healing.
Blessings, Rev. Bill
January 29, 2022
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, 1.30, at the 11am "Zoom Church" English Worship Service, we begin our journey with JOSEPH in the closing cycle of stories in GENESIS. Forgiveness and reconciliation, trauma and healing, are the great themes of these texts. We see how God is present and how the Covenant is faithful through the span of life, givng meaning and a sense of wholeness, or redemption.
This week, we meet Joseph---unformed, unwise, and bordering on just this side of unsufferable. His dreams sound arrogant; his demeanor is provoking. Yet, he remains his father Jacob's favorite, 'THE APPLE OF HIS EYE." In this opening story of favoritism, envy and a multi colored coat ,GENESIS 37: 1-11, we can discover our own inner Jacob, Joseph and brothers with compassion and gentleness. MATTHEW 20: 20-28 is our companion text.
We will hear the music of Estonian composer, ARVO PART.
DEB PATTERSON will read our texts; REV. KATJA will offer the Pastoral Prayer. An Order of Service is attached.
Katja, Deb, Grady and I look forward to being with you on our sacred Zoom Grid. We gather for the good and the healing of the world beginning with ourselves.
Blessings, Rev. Bill
January 22, 2022
Dear Friends:
After looking over the syllabus for my nephew's intro to New Testament class, and then forgetting who exactly was Hannah in one of the books of Samuel in the Older Testament, I thought it might be a good idea to have a Sunday devoted to BIBLE STUDIES.
The sermon will be an overview of how the entire Bible works, and how it is constructed. We will break down the Older and Newer Testaments, looking at the different Books. We will talk about how we approach these sacred texts on their own terms, and how we can develop our own reading strategies. it will be a fun and instructive morning!
The music of MOZART will enhance our learnings; our texts are selections from PSALM 139 and JOHN 1.
Grady and I welcome you to a time of insight, inspiration and healing. Your presence on our Zoom Church grid is essential and appreciated!
On a related note, at our 1.18 Council Meeting, members agreed that we will continue our Zoom Only format for Worship through the month of February, as we continue to evaluate the effect of the pandemic.
Blessings, Rev. Bill
January 15, 2022
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, 15 January, at the 11:00 AM English Service, we will begin to consider what " A PEACEFUL MIND IN THE SERVICE OF GOD" looks like.
Paul's joyous advice in PHIIPPIANS 4: 4-9 is to fill our minds with thoughts of what is beautiful, good and true, all the while rejoicing. These thoughts are literally empowering, the basis for healing all that obstructs our sense of Love having the First and the Last Word.
We will see a specific case of that as we re-visit the Hebrew midwives, Shiprah and Puah, in EXODUS 1: 8-22. Defying the Pharoah's instructions, the midwives, in an act of stunning courage and brilliant transgressive energy, set off a series of events that culminate in Moses.
Rev. Katja will offer the Opening Prayer and read our texts.
We will hear the music of GREGOR JOSEPH WERNER, a contemporary of Haydn. Werner's work has been largely ignored and rarely recorded. How appropriate to lift up his voice to surround the Hebrew midwives as they lift up their voices on the behalf of the threatened diminished.
Rev. Katja, Grady and I look forward to our time together!
Blessings, joy, Rev. Bill
January 8, 2022
Dear Friends:
I trust and pray this finds you and yours well, keeping safe, keeping well and keeping blessed!
This Sunday, 1.9., we observe the Feast of the Epiphany. I believe that the reason why the stories of the Baby Jesus and the Three Kings, MATTHEW 2: 1-12, and the Finding of Moses, EXODUS 2: 1-7, resonate so much with us is that they touch "THE TENDER CHILD WITHIN US. " C.G.Jung would say that each of us carries, an imprint of the child archetype deeply and tenderly within our psyche.
This imprint is original and unique to our Self. Accessing its power and presence brings us closer to the Divine.
Using our very rich and fascinating texts, we will ask how we might protect ourselves from all the Herods and Pharoahs of this world? How might we recover from wounds and traumas? How might we gift this inner child so that it breathes and grows?
We will hear three selections from the music of ANATOLY LYADOV, a 19th century Russian composer who has been described as "a kind of Faberge of music" blending "exquisite craftmanship and delicate beauty." This is absolutely perfect music for a winter Sunday!
Grady and I look forward to seeing you on Sunday on our Zoom grid for what will be a time of beauty, inspiration and healing In the meantime, may you be protected from storms within and without.
Blessings, Rev. Bill
January 1, 2022
Dear Friends:
Our gathering this Sunday on our sacred Zoom Grid will be our first for 2022. I wish you a New Year filled with happiness, health and a precious sense of Love.
One of the sweetest rabbinic commentaries on Moses meeting the Burning Bush says that Moses was so curious at what he was seeing ,that his neck actually elongated, stretching and craning until he was satisfied. (EXODUS 3: 1-7) As we enter this New Year, how might we be stretching and CRANING FOR GOD? What are the many ways we use to find our ultimate source of peace, content and healing? How might we stretch our usual ways of approaching the Divine, so that personally and collectively we expand into the fullness of that "peaceable kingdom?" LUKE 2: 15-20, our companion text, tells the story of the shepherds, curious to see what was happenng in Bethlehem.
We will hear the music of G.F. HANDEL, and REV. KATJA will offer the readings.
We will observe the SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER, a beautiful way to begin our time together in this New Year. You may prepare bread and either grape juice or wine at home for our Zoom Communion.
We look forward to being with you this Sunday, anticipating a time of reflection, inspiration and healing.
Blessings, Rev. Bill
December 25, 2021
Dear Friends:
Rev. Katja and I are looking forward to our Worship Service, this Sunday, December 26th, at 11:00AM on Zoom Only.
We will have a "dialogue sermon" in which we will consider what it means to be SWADDLING THE LIGHT. As Mary wrapped Jesus in swaddling clothes, so we can instinctively cherish and protect the Christ Light within us so that it might go forth and be a loving energy, a restorative force for ,and in ,our everday experiences of Creation. Our texts from ISAIAH and LUKE will set the stage for our joint sermon.
We will hear musical selections from the Central Atlantic Confernce Choir and he German Congregations of Ottawa, Toronto and Washington, D.C.. We will reprise of Betsy Bishop's beautiful singing of Lauridsen's setting of O Magnum Mysterium, accompanied by images of the Nativity.
While this Sunday Service follows soon after Christmas Eve, we know that any opportunity to gather for the good and the healing of our world. Please join us on our Zoom grid as we bear witness with "Love's adventure" in the world.
Blessings, Rev. Bill
December 18, 2021
Dear Friends:
In a sermon titled "WINDOW ON ANOTHER WORLD", we will contemplate the meaning of the Nativity scene---and how it might be a catalyst for the coming of peace, and good will for all.
We will have a close reading of LUKE 2: 1 -20 with ISAIAH 12:2-6 as our companion text.
MATT NEUENDORF will read out texts; STEVEN CARMAN will be at the piano offering works of BOELLMANN and GARDNER. We will hear the hymn tune AWAY IN A MANGER. REV. KATJA will offer the PASTORAL PRAYER.
We will also honor the work and presence of long time member George Madill in a special Blessing, as he prepares to take leave of his work starting and running the Foggy Bottom Food Pantry.
On this Sunday before the holiday, we pause and take stock of what it means to celebrate the birth of the One who turned the world "upside right.”
Peace, Blessings, Rev. Bill
December 11, 2021
Dear Friends:
Carl Jung taught that our lives reach deeper levels of meaning and satisfaction when we realize that we are "EMPOWERED BY SYMBOLS."
Using the beautiful MERODE ALTARPIECE, we will consciously consider the "disguised symbolism" in our everyday lives that point us to God.
The Merode, created in the studios of Roger Campin, the Master of Flemalle, is a gorgeous example of a Northern Renaissance genre, the triptych, a three panelled painting.The central panel depicts the Annuciation , flanked on one side by the donors, and to the right, St. Joseph in his workshop.
As we examine the details of the Merode, we will be creating our own imaginal"triptychs"---thinking about our "donors", the way God comes to us, and those who support us.
We will hear readings from PSALMS, ISAIAH and LUKE, including the Magnificat, Mary's song of empowerment.
STEVEN CARMAN will play BOELLMANN and PACHELBEL. We will hear the hymn tune of IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER.
Immediately after the service, those present will be invited to finish decorating the Sanctuary Christmas tree and hang the balcony swag. Poinsettias are available for $11. and may be dedicated to loved ones, past and present. You may contact Nancy Leach at nlleach@verizon.net for more information.
I am always excited to share the Merode with you. It has become an United Church semi-tradition, and I am happy to respond to a few requests for this again!
Grady, Steven and I look forward to being with you either in person or on Zoom this Sunday, I will be available at 10:50 am to greet those on Zoom.
With blessings and joy, Rev. Bill
December 4, 2021
Dear Friends:
As we celebrate this Second Sunday of Advent, in reality, we are "EXPECTING WHAT HAS ALREADY ARRIVED".
Advent is traditionally a time of waiting, or expecting, the birth of the Christ. It seems to me to be more helpful for our spiritual practice to re-frame Advent as a time to remind ourselves that we are never separated from the ever present energy of the Christ, closer to us than our very breath. And yet, we live in a world that is still waiting on the Messiah. What can we learn from this tension between "the now and the not yet?"
Rev.Katja will offer the readings from ISAIAH and LUKE. We will hear music by ZELENKA, PRAETORIUS and BRITTEN. An Order of Service is attached.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS 11:00 AM ENGLISH SERVICE IS BEING OFFERED ON ZOOM ONLY
SO ALL MAY PARTICIPATE IN THE CONGREGATONAL MEETING.
This Congregational Meeting will begin at 12:10PM on zoom with the same link for the English Service below.
We will hear about and vote on the proposed 2022 budget. More information will follow in a separate email.
Katja and I look forward to being with you for a time of reflection, empowerment and healing.
Peace, Rev. Bill
November 27, 2021
Dear friends,
It is the time of year again where all of the sudden we celebrate the first Sunday of Advent!
We are very grateful and happy to announce that Rev. Amy Reumann will be our guest preacher this coming Sunday, Nov. 28. Her sermon title is "Apokalypse Now"!
We will be celebrating the start of the Advent season with the lighting of the first candle on our Advent wreath.
Nancy Leach will serve as our Zoom host and will offer the opening prayer.
Steven Carman will offer music by Andreas Nikolaus Vetter, Johann Walther and Johann Sebastian Bach.
If you have some time to stay after the service, that would be wonderful, because we would like to start the greening of the church this Sunday.
The bulletin for the service will be available at the church and will be sent out tomorrow with another email
We are very much looking forward to the service on Sunday!
Be blessed,
Rev. Katja
November 19, 2021
Dear friends,
It is my honor and my privilege to have been asked by Rev. Bill to preach this Sunday as he is taking a well deserved vacation.
The service will be blessed by beautiful piano music, composed by Chopin and Bach and performed by Steven Carman. Readings from Psalm 85 and Matthew 25 will enrich our reflections.
During this special Season, where the liturgical year comes to a close and Thanksgiving is near, the sermon will address what it means to OPEN UP FOR A CLOSE. Obviously, there is tension in this title, in this approach. It reflects the tension we experience these days. As we look back on the past months, there is a lot to be grateful for. And there are people who will not be at the table with us this coming Thanksgiving.
I trust that our sacred community is able to hold all of this.
I trust that God will bless our time together.
Please bless us with your presence either at the church or via Zoom.
Be blessed,
Rev. Katja
November 13, 2021
Dear Friends,
As we prepare to gather for the 11:00 am Worship Service this Sunday 11.14 we might "think on these things":
We come to a point in our spiritual practice when we realize that if we live by TRAVELING ON THE HOLY SPIRIT, life becomes more fulfilling, more compassionate, more meaningful.
The Spirit carries us through moment by moment. We learn to trust that there is a Something much larger than us that is the very energy that creates, nourishes and sustains us in every aspect of living.
Peter's short walk on the water (MATTHEW 14:22-33) and selected verses from HEBREW 11 on faith (or trust) will literally ground our thinking.
STEVEN CARMAN will play CHOPIN and BACH; a selection from HERMANN HESSE will help center us.
I will be available at 10:50 to greet and catch up with those joining us online.
I am especially looking forward to this Service with much anticipation for our mutual empowerment and healing.
Blessings, Rev. Bill
November 6, 2021
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, 11.7, at 11:00 AM, we will observe both the Feast of All Saints, as well as gathering around the Communion Table, both in person and on the Zoom grid.
The concept of "saints" has a unique and quite beautiful understanding in the Protestant tradition. It encompasses all those living out the Gospel of Jesus Christ; all those bearing witness to the Light and Love of God. In this understanding, every meeting with another human being has the potential for blessing and affirmation. We can be CROSS LIGHTS for each other, no matter how deep or simple the relationship.
Selections from TOBIT and LUKE 7: 11-17 will be our guides into these thoughts. REV. KATJA will open the Service, and join me at the Communion Table. STEVEN CARMAN will play J.S. BACH and the hymn tune, ADORO TE DEVOTE.
REV. KATJA, in addition to reading our passage from Philippians, will join me at the Communion Table.
As we celebrate THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD' SUPPER, it is with great joy that I remind you that in our house, all of you, without restriction or conditions, are welcome to participate in Holy Communion. Those attending in person will pick up a pre-packaged kit of grape juice and wafer as they enter, and will serve themselves at their seats.
Our Zoomers may prepare their own elements of bread, juice or wine.
I will be available on our Zoom grid at 10:50 AM to greet and catch up with those participating online.
Many of you have contributed to our Thanksgiving Offering via the special envelopes. As we have no written material in the pews, Bob Shue, our Financial Secretary, suggests that those wishing to make an offering either send a check to the Office or place it in the collection plate on Sundays with a notation that it is a Thanksgiving offering.
We look forward with joy for this Service as we remind ourselves of how much we can "saint" each other, nourished and sustained by the Grace of the Sacrament.
Blessings, Rev. Bill
October 30, 2021
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, 10.31. at 11:00AM, we celebrate REFORMATION SUNDAY in a sermon titled "PRESSING CONCERN; CHANGING FORM."
The Church Universal is simply the community gathered around the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The way that community is organized and lived out depends very much on the contemporary concerns that press on it---all that needs to be healed, all that needs to be celebrated. The impulse that Martin Luther had when he nailed the 95 Theses to church doors in Wittenberg is the same impulse that we inherit today---how can this container for the Divine be most effective so that people develop a sense of their, and all creation's,innate preciousness, sacredness, belovedness?
The form changes, but the core message of Jesus does not. We are held, always, in an unbreakable Covenant based on God's Steadfast Love.
GENESIS 28: 10-19 and PHILIPPIANS 12: 12-13 will ground our thinking.
REV. KATJA will open the Service, and offer the Time of Centering. STEVEN CARMAN will play J.S. BACH and we will hear the tune of
EIN' FESTE BERG, (A Mighty Fortress Is Our God), a classic anthem of the Reformation.
I will be on Zoom at 10:50AM to greet and catch up with our on-line friends. We have appreciated your gratitude and feedback about our hybrid service. Whether you are on line on the zoom grid or attend in person, we look forward to you presence as we gather to celebrate this Covenant of Love.
Blessings, Rev. Bill
October 23, 2021
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, we will have an in-depth look at GUIDES FOR HEALING, as we hear the story of the healing of the blind man by Jesus in MARK 10: 46-52. What can we learn from this instantaneous healing as we seek to be witnesses and healers in our own lives? JEREMIAH 31: 7-9 is our companion text.
REV. JAMES SEMMELROTH-DARNELL will offer the readnings.
We welcome back STEVEN CARMAN to the piano bench. Steven will play two pieces by Bach and will offer Hymn 345 from the New Century Hymnal. An Order of Service is attached.
Healing is a large and important topic. Rather than just relegate the miracles of Jesus to the time and place of the Gospels, we ask what it means to take seriously his command to "go and do likewise".
Blessings, Rev. Bill
October 16, 2021
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, 10.17, at the 11:00 English Worship Service, we will explore exactly how we can live our lives as ADVENTURES WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. As we consciously and intentionally commit our day to God, Love Itself, we activate the energies of the ever present Spirit within. This infallible and instinctive Voice equips us to be compassionate witnesses for Love. As Jesus promises, we are literally re-minded of our purpose and possibility, individually and collectively.
ROMANS 8: 26-27 and JOHN 14: 15-21, 26-27 will ground our thinking.
REV. KATJA will open the Service. Guest Pianist RAYMOND SOUKUP returns with the music of J.S.BACH and ELGAR. A Order of Worship is attached.
There is still time to make plans to attend a performance of HANDEL's MESSIAH tomorrow, Saturday, 10.16 at 3pm at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation. Our dear member JON SANFORD is part of the ARIOSO CHORALE ,Friday Morning Music Club, which will present this always relevant and moving masterpiece. See fmmc.org for more information.
Katja, Grady and I look forward to seeing you either in person on on Zoom this Sunday as together we all create a sacred time and space for the benefit of all Creation. I will be on Zoom at 10:50am to say hello and catch up before the Service.
Blessings and Peace, Rev. Bill
October 9, 2021
Dear Friends:
What are the SIDE EFFECTS of living in the Peace of God? How can you, and others, tell that you are living a life of Love and Light? A life of contentment and happiness?
This Sunday, 10.10,at 11:00am ,we will have a look at the gifts or fruits of the Spirit in GALATIANS 5: 22-23. These are the signs by which you find that you are living a life of a beauty evben beyond human telling, a life that "God has prepared."( I CORINTHIANS 2: 9-10.)
Guest Pianist RAYMOND SOUKUP joins us, playing the music of MENDELSSOHN and HINDEMITH
For those of you who are Zooming in, I will be available on the Grid at 10:50am to greet you and catch up a bit. An Order of Service is attached for your convenience.
I am very much looking forward to being with all of you--either in person or on the Zoom Grid---to create a time of reflection, inspiration and great joy.
Blessings, Rev. Bill
October 1, 2021
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, 10.3 at 11:00AM, we will explore how "GRATITUDE IS THE FASTEST PORTAL" to peace within.
Paul gives us very specific instructions about this in PHILIPPIANS 4: 6-7. The great and moving story of Elisha and the Widow of Zarephath,
I KINGS 17: 7-16, reminds us that even in the midst of despair and death, this sense of "precious, sacred and beloved" is our touchstone. Like the Widow, we will learn the recipe for experiencing this surpassing and surprising Peace of God.
STEVEN CARMAN returns to the piano this week, offering the music of PACHELBEL and KAUFFMAN celebrating thanksgiving.
We will observe THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER. This will be our first hybrid Communion.
Those attending in person will pick up a pre-packaged kit of grape juice and wafer as they enter, and will serve themselves at their seats.
Our Zoomers may prepare their own elements of bread, juice or wine. REV. KATJA, in addition to reading our passage from Philippians, will join me at the Communion Table.
It is with great joy that I remind you that in our house, all of you, without restriction or conditions, are welcome to participate in the Sacrament. This moment of Grace, at "the Lord's table", will go a long way in nurturing and sustaining our deepest joys and our deepest hopes, through the power of the Christ, our Love and our Excellence.
Blessings always, Rev. Bill
September 24, 2021
Dear Friends:
We are excited that this Sunday, September 26, at 11:00 am, our Worship Service will be offered both in-person and on zoom. If you live in the area and feel comfortable in attending our service in person, please do so. We have taken every measure to make the Sanctuary a safe environment. Of course, we will be zooming , reaching our friends beyond the metro DC area. This will be the first English Service offered in hybrid format, and look forward to your feedback.
We will be spending time with the same texts as last week; LUKE 1: 5-23 and LUKE 1: 26-38. Zechariah and Mary have a bit more to tell us as they are MEETING GABRIEL: PART TWO. We will emphasize our own meetings with the angels---how they move us to fulfill and live the best life that God has intended for us. We will have a look at the place of miracles in our lives---miracles as defined by the shift in perspective from fear to Love.
A selection from RUMI will be our TIME OF CENTERING; REV. KATJA will offer the readings. We will hear the music of GALUPPI and CIMAROSA.
We look forward to seeing you either in person or on line. Whether you join us in person or on line, we are united as one---gathering for empowerment, inspiration and healing.
Blessings, Rev. Bill
September 11, 2021
Dear Friends:
We live caught between heaven and earth.
In her remarkable presentation at Lunch With the Pastors, Deb Patterson described this space as a "limen"--the threshold "between", a pause, the experience of sensing that we are indeed living in/and between two worlds--the one we create and more importantly and urgently, the world God creates and intends.
At the deepest level, we know this to be true. On one hand, there is a basic fear that escalates from anxiety to terror. And on the other, a more urgently needed hand, there is a Love that embodies wholeness, compassion and justice. Which world will we choose? Which will we serve? Which will we work to bring "down" to earth?
This Sunday, our texts will explore this theme. The very familiar to us REVELATION 21: 1-5 continues to remind us of this consciousness where is there is no more pain, no more death, no more sorrow. And Jesus tells us simply and clearly that when bodies are broken and blood is spilled, we must vigilantly re-member. That is to say, we are called to literally put back together the sense of the Christ as the first and the last Word.
How does this happen? In a post 9/11 world, we must urgently realize the power of basic loving kindness to and for one another. We can wear "SQUARE HALOS".
REV. KATJA will offer the TIME OF CENTERING and the PASTORAL PRAYER. We will hear (and see) some of the most beautiful music HANDEL ever wrote. Our newest staff member GRADY MCPEAK will serve as co-host. I wish to extend my deepest thanks to Matt Neuendorf, Evie Downie ,Matt McCarroll and Rev.Katja for co-hosting our English Service throughout our time on Zoom.
We invite your presence on the Zoom church grid--itself a "liman"...a space of sanctuary, a space that contains our sorrows and joys, quite simply, a space that heals.
With many Blessings, Rev. Bill
September 4, 2021
Dear Friends:
I hope and pray this finds you all well wherever you may be this Labor Day weekend.
Due to unexpected delays, with a subsequent ripple effect on arranging schedules to finalize both our physical and technical preparations, the Reopening Task Force has decided to push back our reopening the Sanctuary for worship to SEPTEMBER 19th, when we will launch our hybrid services, offering in person worship and Zoom livestreaming at both the German and English services.
This Sunday, 9.5, we will explore how we might "hear through" the voices of negativity and fear that keep us from living and being the energy of the Christ to the fullest. By entrusting ourselves to the care of ANGELS BRIGHT AND FAIR we are lifted to a place where we can be witnesses to the power and presence of Divine Love in and through all situations, no matter how dire, no matter how unbearable.
Two rich Gospel texts will help us make this entrusting tangible and practical----MATTHEW 2: 13-21, the story of the angel appearing to Joseph warning him to escape Herod and bring Mary and the Baby Jesus to safety, and MARK 7: 24-37, emphasizing the importance of insistence and centering for healing.
REV. KATJA will offer the TIME OF CENTERING. Both she and MATT NEUNDORF will read our texts. We will hear music by HANDEL, including the aria "Angels bright and fair" which inspired the sermon title.
As you plan ahead, please note that we will hold a 20th ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11 MEMORIAL via Zoom on Saturday, the 11th at 11:00 am, zoom info to follow next week.
Katja, Matt and I invite your presence on our Zoom grid this Sunday creating a space for peace and healing, both personally and collectively.
Blessings always, Rev. Bill
August 28, 2021
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, 8.29, we remind ourselves that "GOD IS ALWAYS ON OUR SIDE", always creating, nurturing, sustaining us. What often blocks us from experiencing this is when we hold on to anger and guilt. JAMES 1: 17-27 offers some advice about how to deal with these blockages to seeing and experiencing the steadfast Love of God, and our gospel text, JOHN 1: 1-5 helps set an ever bigger context, something to hold on to especially in chaotic times. As we continue to witness scenes from Afghanistan ,we seek to be "doers of the word" as James suggests and John confirms.
We will hear the music of FRANZ SCHUBERT, and a very special TIME OF CENTERING. MATT NEUENDORF is our co-host.
We look forward to this hour of inspiration and healing, as we gather to be witnesses of Light and Love for the entire world.
Blessings, Rev. Bill
August 21, 2021
Dear Friends:
So much, and definitely more than we think, goes into reading. From a recipe to directions; from Colette to Tolstoy, we bring different strategies, expectations, conditionings to the page. Actually, "page" can mean any sort of media, from book to tablet, or Deb's paintings to Carolyn's magazine.
What about the sacred page? What happens when we read "THE BIBLE: SWEET & BITTER?" Jesus has one answer (LUKE 6: 46-49) and REVELATION 10: 1-10 has another. Collectively and personally, this will be a time to take stock of our "blindness and insight."
We can then be fully engaged in what the great Roland Barthes calls "the pleasure of the text, " for healing and restoration.
ALEX CASENDINO will offer the readings; REV. KATJA will bring us the TIME OF CENTERING, and MATT NEUENDORF will be our co-host.
We will hear two beautiful pieces of FRANZ SCHUBERT arranged for cello and guitar.
We gather this Sunday mindful of the tragedies unfolding both near and far. We lift up the people of Afghanistan, Haiti, and all that need peace, and healing, including ourselves.
Blessings, Rev. Bill
August 14, 2021
Dear Friends.....
Jesus' instructions to not worry and to "consider the lilies of the field" might make us ask IS THIS FOR REAL? Do these teaching have any relevance or reality in our technology based fast paced world? We will have a close look at MATTHEW 6: 25-34 as we answer this question in the affirmative! Our companion text LUKE 7: 18-22 will help us get an even clearer answer to the question "How is God happening right now and right here, no matter what the circumstances?"
We hear music by VIVALDI.
REV. KATJA will offer the Time of Centering, LINDA SHOJEI and NANCY LEACH will offer the readings. MATT NEUNDORF is our co-host.
We look forward to sharing this hour of inspiration, peace and healing.
Blessings, Rev. Bill
August 7, 2021
Dear Friends:
The story of Martha fussing and fretting in the kitchen while her sister Mary sits at Jesus' feet is arguably one of the most controversial texts in the Newer Testament. (LUKE 10: 38-42) Jesus' scolding Martha is, to say the least, not very thoughtful, and decidedly unfair. When we read this text literally, there is simply no redeeming Jesus.
Yet, what if we were to read this as an internal process going on in each of us as we did the story of the Prodigal Son last week? The conclusion of our sermon series, "PROVOCATIVE TRIANGLES: THE GOD BLOCKER", will explore that in distracting and distressing ourselves, we forget that the claiming of the power, the presence and the energy of God is always the very best foundation for our everyday experience. Our companion text, MATTHEW 6: 25-34, helps clarify how we might always be centered in the Divine, AND be "in the kitchen."
RAMON GIRON will offer the readings. We will hear two exquisite pieces by VIVALDI. Our Council President MATT MCCARROLL will serve as co-host.
Matt, Ramon and I look forward to your presence on our Zoom grid as we gather in the Holy Spirit of healing and empowerment, not just for ourselves but for the entire world.
Blessings, peace, joy, Rev. Bill
July 31, 2021
Dear Friends:
The heart of the Covenant is the steadfast love of God, a love that creates, sustains and nurtures us. However,there is something within us that resists this very good news. In the parable of the Prodigal Son, (LUKE 15: 11-32) we see this Love at work as the father lavishes his love and care in a great act of reparation as the prodigal returns home. Yet, many identify with the pique of the elder brother who seems taken for granted. We will take up the issue of THE PRODIGAL FATHER in part two of our semon seriens on PROVOCATIVE TRIANGLES. What if this parable is best seen a process that takes place within each of us?
CAROLYN TURGEON will share the LUKE reading; MATT NEUENDORF is our co-host. We will hear the music of F.J. HAYDN and a love song well known in the 60's. PSALM 78: 23-29 is our companion text.
Please join us for an hour of healing and reparation, and a chance to focus on the steadfast love of God at work, despite ourselves, in our everyday experience.
Blessings, Rev. Bill
July 24, 2021
Dear Friends:
And so we begin a three part sermon series on 'PROVOCATIVE TRIANGLES"--
7.25 David, Bathsheba, & Uriah / II SAMUEL 11: 1-15
8.1 Prodigal Son, Elder Brother & Equally Prodigal Father/LUKE 15:11-32
8.8 Mary, Martha & Jesus/LUKE 10: 38-42
These texts resonate with us in surprising, confusing, inbdeed provocative ways and often come very close to invoking our shadows.
This Sunday, 7.25, we will experience our first triangle--II SAMUEL 11: 1-15, a deeply felt tale of lust, betrayal, lies and murder. King David not only abuses his power, he does so with a great deal of sneak and shade. Or, as the Tibetans say, he acts with a "twist." What does it mean to act with a twist? How can we be aware when we are about to off road emotionally, spiritually and ethically?
In our companion text, LUKE 10: 38-42, we watch Jesus being tempted by power, ease and privilege. Rather than twisting, Jesus remains steadfast in being Love. And, so can we.
YOANNA FEDERICI will offer the LUKE text; WERNER LINDER, the German pieces of our Service. We will hear the music of THOMAS TALLIS, and center ourselves with RUMI. MATT MCCARROLL is our co-host.
I am happy to invite you to LUNCH WITH (A) PASTOR this WEDNESDAY, 7.28 , AT NOON. I had mentioned that I would offering this from time to time during the summer. I would like to receive your thoughts and wisdom on our upcoming texts, particularly the classic MARY/MARTHA split. This will be a refreshing and fun hour.
I will send out more details, and the ZOOM info on Tuesday.
Werner, Yoanna, and Matt join me in welcoming you to Zoom Church this Sunday; consider our grid an oasis of joy, peace and blessing. We gather for the healing of all beings.
Many blessings, Rev. Bill
July 16, 2021
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, we take up Part Two of our sermon series on the Ten Commandments, or TOP TEN PIECES OF LIFE ADVICE. We will concentrate on the commandments against murder, adultery, stealing, lying and lusting as well as the one about honoring parents.
While all of these can be taken quite literally, there is also a symbolic aspect to each of them that makes them applicable to everyday life. Taking this seriously goes a long way to making life on the horizontal Covenant a source of happiness, peace and justice.
EXODUS 20: 12-21 and I CORINTHIANS 12: 12-13 are our texts.
We will hear the music of MICHAEL HAYDN. MATT NEUENDORF is our co-host.
For those of you who have been having trouble signing onto Zoom, please note that there is a quirk that we were unable to fix. Please note the instructions in bold in the tech info below.
Matt and I look forward to welcoming you to a time of refreshment during these hot days, anticipating inspiration, healing and empowerment.
Peace, and Joy, Rev. Bill
July 10, 2021
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, we begin a two part sermon series on THE TOP TEN PIECES OF LIFE ADVICE, or the Ten Commandments. The first half of the 10 is stated positively, "thou shall" the second, negatively, "thou shall not." Perhaps reversing those "shalls" and "shall nots" will open us up to a deeper understanding of what is essentially a guide to living our lives grounded in God' steadfast love.
As we practice the basic tenets of this Covenant, we find ourselves overflowing with compassion, peace, and even happiness, with ourselves, and all beings.
EXODUS 20: 1-11 will be our focus, along with Jesus' observation on how his Gospel is essentially a commentary on what he calls the "Law".
By recasting the Commandments as "life advice", we might remove the obstacles to a fresh and more satisfying reading.
We will hear selections from of FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN 's MASS IN THE TIME OF WAR.
Matt Neuendorf is our co-host.
I am sorry to announce that our Music Director Steven Carman's mother Roberta, passed away in June, and a service is being held today (Friday) in Nebraska. We lift up Steven and Thomas with prayers of comfort and Light.
Matt and I look forward to seeing you on Sunday for a time of refreshment and healing.
Peace, blessings, love, Rev. Bill
July 3, 2021
Dear Friends:
As we observe American Independence Day this Sunday, we can wonder whether a more accurate term might be "interdependence". As John Donne writes " no man (sic) is an island". That thought extends to matters of spirituality and faith. In a sermon titled ONE HEART, MANY HANDS we will have a look at the moving story of Aaron and Hur holding up Moses' tired arms (EXODUS 17: 8-14) and the story of the friends' cutting a hole in the roof so that their friend might be healed by Jesus (MARK 2: 1-12). How do we hold one another up? How do we help each other heal? How do we hold the image of God up in our everyday lives?
We will hear the music of HAYDN. REV. KATJA will offer the PASTORAL PRAYER.
We so look forward to welcoming you to this sacred Zoom Grid on this Summer morning for a time of refresment, inspiration and healing.
Peace, Joy, Love, Rev. Bill
June 26, 2021
Dear Friends:
Tomorrow, 6.27, our English Worship Service will focus on our "ORIGINAL CALLING". This is an opportunity to reflect on what God is asking us to be. When we discover what we are, we can then figure out how we are.
Like the stained glass in our Sanctuary, each of reflects the steadfast, unconditional, always "surely remembering" Love of God uniquely and originally.
Selections from EXODUS 17 as Aaron and Hur hold up Moses' tired arms, and GALATIANS 5: 22-26 will anchor our thinking. MICHELLE PAASCH will share the TIME OF CENTERING from Ephesians.
REV. KATJA will offer the PASTORAL PRAYER. We will hear piano works by JANACEK. MATT NEUENDORF returns as co-host; we thank EVIE DOWNIE for covering.
Katja and I are happy to welcome you to this space for contemplation and action, inspiration empowerment, and a clear sense of God's constantly expanding Love.
Peace, joy, blessings, & Love, Rev. Bill
June 18, 2021
Dear Friends:
On Sunday, 6.20, we take up THE BOOK OF JONAH which can be considered ONE BIG FISH STORY in two senses. First, the episode with the whale usually gets all the attention. Secondly, JONAH emphasizes the fantastic and exaggerates the point. For me, the real bequiling begins halfway through the text as Jonah is spit up on the beach. God displays a wry sense of humor as the book moves to its compassionate and beautiful conclusion, with ,perhaps, the very best last line of any book of the Bible.
JONAH says a lot about God's steadfast, unconditional Love for all beings. It makes a strong case for how being in sync with the Divine works out much better for us than when we try to escape or thwart our innate preciousness, sacredness and belovedness , personally and collectively.
Another trouble on the sea tale is our companion text---MARK 3: 35-41.
We will hear the music of FLORENCE PRICE and GEORGE GERSHWIN.
We will lift up the meaning and the promise of JUNETEENTH throughout the service, as well as observe FATHER'S DAY.
I am happy and honored to share the morning with EVIE DOWNIE, who will offer the German language pieces of worship as well as being our co-host.
As we prepare for this healing, restorative Service, let us savor this opportunity to be together on our Zoom grid, as we celebrate the power, the peace and the presence of God. Evie and I look forward to seeing you.
Blessings, Love, Joy, Rev. Bill
June 12, 2021
Dear friends,
I am very happy to invite you on behalf of The United Church to a very special Sunday Service.
It was on June 23, 1991 that Rev. Bill was ordained as a minister - blessed for his path into his own ministry. He has touched many lives since then - in Greenwich, CT, at Emmaus UCC in Vienna, VA and at The United Church+Die Vereinigte Kirche - and beyond that in different settings. It will be a celebration of thanksgiving as well as a Service.
Bill has chosen the main reading from Revelation 21 and he has provided the music by Bach and Glass.
Some additional parts of the service will be a surprise for Bill.
I am honored that he has asked me to preach in this service. The sermon title will be, of course, "Precious, Sacred and Beloved"!
We are all very much looking forward to our time together on Sunday!
Best and blessings
Rev. Katja
June 5, 2021
Dear Friends:
What are the things, the people, the situations, the lives that point to God? How can we get a sense of seeing and being in this world through lenses that always give a deeper, more loving, view? We will take these questions up in a sermon titled THE GOD-POINTER based on Jesus' instructions to be "born again." (JOHN 3:1-8) Perhaps being born again is not so much an evangelical rally as a call to live so as to bring healing and transformation to all in the name of the Divine. (ISAIAH 61: 1-3)
REV. KATJA will offer the Pastoral Prayer, and we will hear the music of J.S. BACH.
Please save 3-5pm JUNE 27th for an in person gathering at the U.S. NATIONAL ARBORETUM at the Grove of State Trees Picnic Area. We will provide more information as we get closer to the date.
We look forward to gathering this Sunday in a spirit of joy and peace, knowing that our being together has a positive effect for all.
Blessings, Rev. Bill
May 29, 2021
Dear Friends:
It seems this Memorial Day weekend as if we are at a pivotal moment in our collective experience of the pandemic. Perhaps the larger question is not "what" is open or closed physically, but rather, are "we" open or closed?
Personally and collectively, we might ask the question, "Where are our hearts, our minds, our bodies?" How do we go forward with confidence and trust in all the possiblities of Covenant? How do we further our experience of the Holy Spirit, the very energy of God, for healing and transformation?
We will take our wisdom from ECCLESIASTES 3: 1-8, GALATIANS 6:9. and JOHN 2: 1-8, in a sermon, titled "CALM & ANXIETY PRACTICE. "
REV. KATJA will offer the readings. We will hear music by COUPERIN and CHOPIN.
As we look forward to this Sunday's "Zoom Church", we lift up and remember all the commitment, courage and sacrifice of all those who have served, or are serving, in the Armed Forces.
Rev. Katja and I are happy for your presence on our grid, as all of us, together, create a time bearing witness to the power and the presence of God.
Blessings & Love, Rev. Bill
May 22, 2021
Dear Friends:
Rev. Katja and I are happy to invited you a Festival Bilingual Worship Service this Sunday at 11:00AM celebrating the feast of Pentecost/Pfingsten which observes the coming of the Holy Spirit on the disciples, empowering them to bear witness to the Gospel.
In our meditations (in English) , we will be exploring the power and presence of the Holy Spirit as it works within us and through us. Our texts are ROMANS (Time of Centering) and ACTS 2: 1-21.
ANNA MARIA BOSS and WERNER LINDER will reads ACTS in German and English. We will hear a selection from the Central Atlantic Mass Choir, (with TUC/DVK participants) and music by J.S. BACH and HANDEL.
Following the service, Council President MATT MCCARROLL will host a TOWN HALL MEETING on re-opening the church buildings, concentrating on the Sanctuary. The zoom link is the same.
We look forward to being with you as we gather as Church in all the possibility and promise of the Holy Spirit.
Blessings, Rev. Bill & Rev. Katja
May 15, 2021
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, we celebrate the FEAST OF THE ASCENSION in a sermon titled GRAVITY: ASCENT.
As Jesus ascends into the heavens, the disciples are looking up. An angel reminds them to look down.
This is the rhythm our spiritual lives, a constant process of glimpsing heaven--that state of perfect Love--and returning to our everyday to translate those "heavenly glimpses" into lives of compassion, justice and beauty for ourselves and others.
Rather than being overwhelmed and disappointed by all that ails us, we are inspired to live grounded in this awareness of the possibility of God With Us---always.
Jacob's ladder (GENESIS 28: 10-17) with angels ascending and descending is our companion text to Luke's ascension text. (LUKE 24: 44-53).
REV. KATJA will offer the readings, and we will hear the music of J.S. BACH and PHILIP GLASS.
Katja and I are happy for your presence with us; as we gather together we generate healing, empowerment and joy in and by the very power and the very presence of the Christ.
Blessings and Love, Rev. Bill
May 8, 2021
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, we will have a look at the aprocryphal BOOK OF SUSANNA.
Why is Susanna not in every edition of the Bible? Why is this work so timely? Susanna is a compelling story of innocence , sexuality and the place of women. Above all it is a story of how THE WAY WE LOOK AT EACH OTHER affects the way we live in this world. JOHN 15:9-12 is our companion text.
We will hear the music of CRISTIANO GIUSEPPE LIDARTI. REV. KATJA will offer the PASTORAL PRAYER.
Katja and I welcome your presence to this service for a time of healing, inspiration and empowerment.
Blessings, Rev. Bill
May 1, 2021
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, 5.2, we will take up THE ESTHER TWIST in the conclusion of our sermon series on this compelling "theological novella"( Rev. Katja).
For such a hopeful, and inspiring book, ESTHER takes an unfortunate twist in Chapter 8, and then winds its way to a rather gruesome ending. There is an ominous rumbling underneath this deceptively joyous text, a rumbling that erupts in very timely questions about power, polarization, and vengeance against an Other that constantly changes its face and place.
I KINGS 3: 16-28, the story of Solomon and the two mothers fighting for the custody of one baby will be our companion text.
We will hear a anonymous setting of the baroque Jewish liturgy's KOL HANESHAMA based on Psalm 150 and a selection from a recently discovered 17th century oratorio based on Esther by Christiano Giuseppe Lidarti.
RAMON GIRON joins us as liturgist, and REV. KATJA will offer the Pastoral Prayer. All three of us invite you to this Sacred Grid, a time and a place that resonates with the power and presence of hope and beauty.
With Love and Blessings,
Rev. Bill
April 24, 2021
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, the 25th, we begin a two part series on the BOOK OF ESTHER. Reading Esther in "such a time as this" helps us examine the issues of BEAUTY & UGLINESS that abound in this deceptively joyous text.
We will have a look at the healing power of beauty as it confronts the ugliness of wayward and arbitrary power and the diminishment of others, through racism, misogyny and violence.
Esther is the savior of her people, yet that that victory is a complicated and ultimately troubling one, as compassion and justice for all goes missing, and vengeance takes their place.
Selections from the first part of ESTHER and Jesus' instructions on asking and receiving (MATTHEW 7: 7-10, 12) help ground our thinking.
We will hear the poetry of BILLY COLLINS and pieces from HANDEL's ESTHER oratorio in the 1718 version. REV KATJA will offer our pastoral prayer.
Our UCC Central Atlantic Conference Minister, the REV. FREEMAN PALMER will be our guest. We are very delighted that Freeman, who some of you met at Lunch with the Pastors,will be worshiping with us. I know you will give him a warm TUC welcome!
Katja and I look forward to your presence as we seek healing, inspiration, and empowerment in the "beauty of holiness."
Blessings with Love, Rev. Bill
April 17, 2021
Dear Friends
This Sunday, the 18th, we will be exploring THE EXTRAODINARY ORDINARY. How does the Divine manifest her presence in the everyday round of the "verbs and nouns" that make up our day to day, hour to hour experience?
We miss out on so much when we believe or have been conditioned that the power and the presence of God is separate from that experience. Living with this "sense of wonder" completes God and completes us as we live out the expression of Divine Love.
Two beautiful readings ground us; ISAIAH 49: 15-16, which describes a mothering God who holds us engraved on her hands, and JOHN 21: 1-17, the story of the risen Jesus making breakfast for his friends on the beach.
DEB PATTERSON and CHARLES FREEMAN will share our readings. We will hear music by HAYDN and an expanded version of COILSFIELD HOUSE, a traditional Scottish folk tune that we heard on Palm Sunday. "Coilsfield House" has been the most asked about piece of music since we began zooming and you will enjoy this version. REV. KATJA will offer the pastoral prayer.
Katja and I are so happy for your presence, your energy and the very obvious care and joy you bring to our gathering. We look forward for a time of restoration and healing.
With love and blessing, Rev. Bill
April 10, 2021
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, 4.11, in a sermon titled HEART WITNESS we take up the issue of how we come to know the truth of what we believe? The story of the Doubting Thomas raises questions about questions themselves, doubt and faith.
Our texts are I John 1: 1-5 and John 20: 19-29. Rev. Katja will offer the Pastoral Prayer, and we will hear music by J.S. Bach.
We thank all who joined us for our Festival Easter Service last week. We look forward to your continued presence as we celebrate the mystery, the power and the joy of the Risen Christ!
Blessings, Rev. Bill
April 3, 2021
Dear Friends:
We are so happy to invite you to our EASTER SUNDAY BI LINGUAL FESTIVAL SERVICE , April 4th at 11:00 AM via Zoom.
We will celebrate our WAY BACK INTO LOVE, in a sermon, shared by Katja and Bill , and preached in English, that will examine Jesus' rising from the dead as a paradigm for how we might heal and transform ourselves, personally and collectively, with a sense of renewed hope and joyous buoyancy. As we continue to live into the demands made by this pandemic, we come to our Zoom grids this Easter anticipating and renewing the strength and courage we so need and desire.
Prayers and our Easter Gospel (MARKUS 16;1-8, MARK 16: 1-8) will be offered in German and English. CLAUDIA DZIOBEK and JONATHAN FERRANTE will be our liturgists. We thank EVIE DOWNIE for serving as co-hostl
We will hear a selection by the UCC CENTRAL ATLANTIC MASS CHOIR, which includes NANCY LEACH, ANNA MARIA BOSS, KATJA and JON SANFORD.
Other musical pieces will include works by Vesselina Serafimova and J.S.Bach.
We welcome you to this Easter celebration with all of our hearts.
Blessings, Rev. Bill & Rev.Katja
March 27, 2021
Dear Friends:
This Sunday we will observe PALM/PASSION SUNDAY with a look at three moments in the life of Jesus during Holy Week---his arrival into Jerusalem, his time in Gethsemene, and his death on the Cross, in a sermon titled EVERYDAY CRUCIFIXIONS. (JOHN 12;12-16 and LUKE 22: 39-51; 23: 44-49)
How can these moments resonate with us in our own life? What does it mean to say that "Jesus died for our sins?" How is it possible to hope in Easter during the sadness and the bittersweet of Holy Week?
RAMON GIRON and MATTHEW MCCARROLL will be our liturgists reading the texts; REV. KATJA will offer the Pastoral Prayer.
We will see and hear a video of our soprano soloist ADRIANA GONZALEZ COLLINS singing "How Great Thou Art", as well as a poignant piece of traditional Scottish folk music, "Coilsfield House".
All of us look forward to your presence on our Zoom gathering for a time of blessing and healing.
Peace,
Rev. Bill
March 20, 2021
Dear Friends:
As we commemorate the first anniversaries of the pandemic, we can take stock, this last Sunday of Lent, of what this time means, both personally and collectively.
In a sermon titled "THE WINTERS OF OUR DISCONTENTS", we will examine the wisdom of looking back, with a twist on the story of Lot's wife, GENESIS 19: 23-26, and the courage of looking forward with, and in, the power and the presence of the Christ, (ROMANS 8: 31. 35. 37-39)
REV. KATJA and MATT NEUENDORF serve as liturgists. We will hear the music of J.S. BACH.
Thanks to Matt, who is chairing our Membership and Marketing efforts, we now have a You Tube, channel where the sermons are posted after the service. The link is below.
YOU TUBE
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcX9oLCepzdouVXq_FukOXg
We invite you to a time of reflection, inspiration and healing. Please join us; your presence at Zoom church adds so much to the spirit and the power of our gathering.
Blessings, Rev. Bill
March 13, 2021
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, 3.14, we will explore the antidote to envy and jealousy---empathetic joy in a sermon titled "JOYOUS EMPATHY". This is when we take delight in other's sucess, happiness or good fortune.
JAMES 3: 13-18 and a selection from the GOSPEL OF MARY will help ground our thinking. REV. KATJA will offer our PASTORAL PRAYER, and we will hear the music of CHOPIN.
Please join us for a time of inspiration and healing.
Blessings,
Rev. Bil
Dear Friends:
This Sunday, 3.7, we continue with our Lenten series on the Seven Deadly Sins, or hindrances to Love, with a look at Envy.
Envy is what jealousy turns into when it becomes out of control. Envy leads to war and destruction within, and without. The antidote to this poison is empathetic joy, a concept that many of you have resonated with over the last several weeks. We will examine BITTER ENVY; JOYOUS EMPATHY through the story of Cain and Abel (GENESIS 4: 1-9) and comments from the Epistle of JAMES 3: 13-18, along with a little help from DANTE.
REV. KATJA will share the Pastoral Prayer. We will hear the music of COLDPLAY and SHAWN MENDES in versions by the VITAMIN STRING QUARTET.
Katja and I welcome your presence to this Zoom church gathering, anticipating empowerment and healing.
Blessings,
Rev. Bill
P.S. Thank you to all who attended "Our Buddhist Cousins" last night.
27 February 2021
Dear Friends:
Anger is an neutral emotion. It just is. It just arises. It is what we do with it, in the very next moment, that decides whether it freezes and festers, or moves and heals. Anger, then, is either a gateway to transformation, or a hindrance to Love. If we pause, and look at what is making us angry, we will find that there are UNDERLYING CONDITIONS that are being masked, and are the root of what actually needs to be healed.
Even Jesus was not exempt from anger. We will take a look at two consecutive moments ,MARK 11: 11-17, in his life when his anger froze,(the withered fig tree) and when his anger moved (the cleansing of the temple). PSALM 130 is our companion text.
ANNA MARIA BOSS will read the Gospel; REV. KATJA will offer the Pastoral Prayer. We will hear selections from THE WAY OF THE BODHISATTVA, and music by HEINRICH SCHUTZ and ANDREAS GLEICH.
Please join us on this Second Sunday of Lent. Katja and I welcome your presence to our zoom church gathering.
Blessings,
Rev. Bill
21 February 2021
dear friends.....as we enter the season of Lent, we have an opportunity to take stock, and set our minds, hearts, and bodies on the road to Easter.
Our gospel text, MARK 1: 9-15, tells of Jesus being in the wilderness WITH WILD BEASTS AND ANGELS. what untamed energies and lingering hindrances are we dealing with at this time? How might we open to angels, those flashes of divine intuition?
GENESIS 9: 8-17 is our companion text. We will hear a poem by BILLY COLLINS, and music by JS BACH. REV. KATJA will share our readings.
Katja and I look forward to seeing you on our zoom church gathering for a time of inspiration, empowerment and healing.
Blessings,
Rev. Bill
13 February 2021
Dear Friends:
Valentine's Day falls on this very Sunday, the 14th.
We are going to mark this coincidence at our Zoom Church gathering, lifting up Divine Love Itself in all its steadfast beauty and power. We can see the sacred in what is considered "secular".
Jesus tells us, with astonishing authority, that we must build our lives on an unshakeable rather than a wobbly foundation (MATTHEW 7: 24-29). Using his symbol of house as a metaphor for our lives, we will consider how to live in such a way so that our joy, and the joy of all, might be "complete" ( JOHN 15: 7-12) .
In a sermon titled "SWEETHEART", we will borrow the exquisite concept of the four "divine abodes" from our Buddhist cousins , as we construct a heart/house/life based on lovingkindness, compassion, empathetic joy and equanimity.
REV. KATJA will share the readings of our texts.
We will hear a poem by MARY OLIVER and the music of JON BATISTE, including a standard from the great American songbook.
Theologian Carter Heyward defines God as "the power of Love in relation".
Or as Prince, the legendary musican, sings, "Love isn't Love, until it's had."
Please join us in celebrating this Love Itself, in motion, in covenant, in relation, in having, in giving, in healing.
Big Love, Big Blessings,
Rev. Bill
5 February 2021
Dear Friends:
How long does it take to heal? Or rather, what can the process of true freedom from all that ails us look like? Is that process the same for everyone?Or does it vary according to severity and temperment? How can we derive blessing and meaning from past and present trauma, both personal and collective?
In a sermon titled NOT SO FAST, I will juxtapose the story of the healing of Peter's mother in law (who immediately rose from her sickbed and served a meal), MARK 1: 29-39 with that of Jacob wrestling the angel until he received a blessing, GENESIS 32: 22-32.
YOANNA FEDERICI and RAMON GIRON will read our texts. REV. KATJA will offer our pastoral prayer. We hear poetry by BILLY COLLINS and music by JON BATISTE.
Please join us for a time of remembering Whose we are, and in that healing light, the beauty of What we are.
Blessings, Rev. Bill
Dear Friends:
The United Church of Christ, nationwide, is observing Health and Human Service this Sunday, a wonderful opportunity to pause and ask ourselves what it might mean to heal and to be healed. How might we recover from what ails us? What is the connection between body, mind and spirit? Where is our soul in this model of the human being? How does the Divine enter in? In a sermon titled "DAY TO DAY, STRENGTH TO STRENGTH" we will consider these questions.
A healing story from MARK 1: 21-28 and PSALM 84 will ground our thinking. Rev. Katja will offer the readings. Once again, the music of J.S. BACH will remind us of the power and the presence of God.
On a very practical note, we ask that you sign on to Zoom church no later than 11:15am. Signing on and coming in during readings, prayers and the sermon can be very distracting to those already on the grid, and the pastors who are conducting the service. Being mindful of this will go a long way in respecting the flow of the service and the experience of all who are gathered.
We look forward to your joining us for a time of inspiration, empowerment and healing.
Blessings and peace,
Rev. Bill
January 24, 2021
Dear Friends:
In a sermon titled AIRPLANE MODE/ARK MODE we will continue to pick up on a theme that has been quite popular---how can I go about my day energized, protected and guided by Love? How can I realize the preciousness, sacredness, belovedness of all that I encounter? How can I sustain " a good mood"?
I CORINITHIANS 13: 1-14 is once again our text accompanied by selections from GENESIS 8, the story of Noah and the dove.
REV. KATJA joins me as liturgist and will offer the pastoral prayer.
We will hear music by BACH, always a reminder of the presence and the power of God.
Blessings,
Rev. Bill
January 16, 2021
Dear Friends:
At this time of high anxiety and overwhelm, we are called to BE (EVEN MORE) VIGILIANT FOR LOVE. As the people of God, we are called to part all the mists that would obscure Love Itself dwelling with us. As we work towards making justice and compassion tangible right now and right here, we take our place as fearless and gentle workers of the Light of God.
The great prayer from DANIEL 2 and selections from II CORINTHIANS will ground our thinking together.
LINDA SHOJEI will read the prayer from DANIEL; REV. KATJA and I will share the PASTORAL PRAYER. We will hear the music of JOSEF MYSLIVECEK, who inspired MOZART.
We especially lift up the legacy of , and call on, the inspiration of DR. KING in this service as seek to be empowered, healed and restored in the name of Love Itself, the power of the Christ.
Blessings,
Rev. Bill
9 January 2021
Dear Friends,
Shock. Outrage. Repugnance. Frustration. Anger. Fear. Horrific. Disbelief. These are just a few of the words I have heard people using to describe their response to the events at the Capitol earlier this week. For many. so much more was breached than the building itself---above all, a sense of trust.
And yet, even though we enter this second Sunday of 2021 with shocked psyches, we observe Epiphany, the feast of the showing of the Baby Jesus to the Three Wise Ones.
We might remember that Jesus' birth was surrounded by events that were far from sublime. Lurking behind this visit of the three kings, was the sinister threat of Herod, who was seeking to kill the Messiah.
We might remember that when Love Itself shows its face, often there is an undertow of what is not Love, seeking to hamper, diminish, destroy the Good. Perhaps our most practical task as the people of God is to BE VIGILANT FOR LOVE, a task we will examine in a sermon of the same name.
ISAIAH 60: 1-6 and MATTHEW 2: 1-12 are our texts; HANDEL will be our music.
Please join me in this opportunity for reflection, empowerment, and healing.
Blessings,
Rev. Bill
2 January 2021
Dear Friends
I hope you are entering into the New Year with hope and trust in Love Itself, energized by a clear sense of the comfort and joy we have been preaching.
This Sunday, we ask "WHAT IF 2021 WERE A HOUSE PLANT?" In a sermon of the same name we will come to see how that question is neither wry nor whimsical!
ISAIAH 43: 19 ("behold I will do a new thing! Can you not perceive it?) and REVELATION 21: 1-6a (the vision of the New Jersusalem) will help us know the difference between setting an intention and making a resolution. One works, the other doesn't! One waits on God; the other is unmoored!
Jonathan Ferrante will read the Newer Testament text; Rev. Katja will share the Pastoral, and other prayers and blessings with me. I am looking forward to this hour of inspiration and intention! Now you know which works!
May all the blessings of 2021 connect with your heart's deisres.
Comfort and Joy,
Rev. Bill
26 December 2020
Dear friends,
We enter 2021 with social media and others making predictions for the new year. This Sunday we will hear THE ONLY PREDICTION THAT COUNTS, a look at selections from ISAIAH's prophetic vision of the meaning of the Christ event and the second half of the nativity story. These texts point to the unshakeable certainty of Love Itself transforming, empowering and healing all.
Rev. Katja will offer the pastoral prayer. We will hear the music of John Eccles and Morten Lauridsen, and the UCC central Atlantic conference choir (including Nancy leach and katja).
I am looking forward to this last Sunday of the year, an hour of enjoying the beauty and possibility of Christmas as it makes a home in our bodies, minds and spirits.
Blessings, rev. Bill
19 December 2020
Dear friends,
What might it mean for us to birth the Christ right here, and right now in the midst of this unusual Christmas season? This Sunday, in a sermon titled ORIGIN STORY- HIS AND OURS, we read a portion of the nativity story (Luke 2:1-7) and jesus’ announcement and owning of his mission (Luke 4:16-21). We can then ponder how all of us might own and share in the healing energy and comforting joy of “Jesus Christ, the apple tree”. This phrase is taken from a poem , reprinted below, dating from 1761 by the Rev. Richard Hutchins.
We will hear this beautiful poem set to the music of ELIZABETH POSTON. J.S.BACH rounds out our musical selections. WYNNE PAASCH and REV. KATJA join me as liturgists.
Katja and I are happy you will join us for this CHRISTMAS SUNDAY celebration of our origin story, anticipating healing, inspiration, and empowerment. We are grateful for your presence at our zoom church gathering.
Comfort and Joy,
Rev. Bill
The tree of life my soul hath seen,
Laden with fruit and always green;
The tree of nature fruitless be,
Compared with Christ the Appletree.
His beauty doth all things excel,
By faith I know but ne’er can tell
The glory which I now can see
In Jesus Christ the Appletree.
For happiness I long have sought,
And pleasure dearly I have bought,
I missed of all but now I see
It’s found in Christ the Appletree.
I’m weary with my former toil
Here I will sit and rest a while
Under the shadow I will be
Of Jesus Christ the Appletree
With great delight I’ll make my stay
There’s none shall fright my soul away
Among the sons of men I see
There’s none like Christ the Appletree
I’ll sit and eat this fruit divine
It cheers my heart like spirit’al wine
And now this fruit is sweet to me
That grows on Christ the Appletree
This fruit doth make my soul to thrive
It keeps my dying faith alive
Which makes my soul in haste to be
With Jesus Christ the Appletree
——Rev. Richard Hutchins, 1761
12 December 2020
Dear Friends,
We are happy to welcome BETSY BISHOP to our pulpit this Sunday....Betsy’s sermon is titled RIPPLES AND ECHOES, and is based on PSALM 139:7-12 and the MAGNIFICAT, LUKE 1:46-56. Betsy writes: “In this season of Advent, we feel nostalgic and hear the echoes of our lives. They are there on the holiday ,sic, the decorations, the traditions, the feeling of love that somehow seems even more poignant around this time of year. But what if we are hearing echoes and feeling the ripples made by so much more than our childhoods? What if unlikely events happening to unlikely people are the ripples we are experiencing? Stranger yet, what if we are not hearing, but becoming the echo?”
We will hear the music of Benjamin Britten. Rev. Katja joins me as liturgist.
We look forward to this healing and empowering service!
We will hold a Congregational Meeting directly after the service to hear the report of the nominating committee and to review and approve the 2021 Budget. Please find the agenda, the report of the nominating committee and budget information attached to this email
Blessings,
Rev.Bill
6 December 2020
Dear Friends,
We continue our advent “tidings of comfort and joy” as we ponder “CARRYING THE CHRIST.” As we read Luke’s celebrated and beloved texts of the annunciation (LUKE 1: 26-36) and the visitation (LUKE 1:39-45) we can ask how this double reading demonstrates the covenant of God’s steadfast love, how the Christ is different from Jesus, and how we are called to carry and make tangible the energy of the Christ itself for our times.
Rev. Katja and Nancy Leach join me as liturgists. We will hear the music of Gustav Ho,st, John Eccles and Benjamin Britten.
We invite you to join us for a time of empowerment and healing in this sacred season.
Blessings,
Rev. Bill
28 November 2020
Dear Friends,
This Sunday we begin to explore our Advent theme of TIDINGS OF COMFORT & JOY with a look at our sense of WAITING & HOPE as we begin this blessed season of the church year.advent is a time of waiting as we mark the birth of the christ child. and yet we are waiting for something that has already happened. how can we live into this paradox? how can the christmas event take place beyond time and place in a way that is meaningful and healing for us? how can we prepare our hearts for the once-again birth of Love Itself as we practice a "revolutionary patience" in the face of pandemic, transition, and a very different holiday season?
ISAIAH 40: 1-11 and MARK 1: 1-8 will accompany us in this exploration. REV. KATJA will join me as liturgist. We will enter into the mood of the season with settings of ADESTE FIDELES andPUER NATUS IN BETHLEHEM, timeless reminders of the beauty of this most sacred time of year.
Blessings,
Rev. Bill
21 November 2020
Dear Friends,
GRATITUDE is much in our minds as we celebrate Thanksgiving later this week. To be thankful is one of our basic instincts, yet it is often blurred by the day to day. A look at DEUTERNOMY 8:7-18, and LUKE 17:11-19 will help us develop a gratitude practice that will keep us focused on, and grounded in, Love Itself.
We will hear more piano works of CLAUDE DEBUSSY. Alex Casendino is our liturgist. Rev. katja will offer the pastoral prayer. Please join us for a time of renewal and empowerment.
Peace and blessings,
Rev. Bill
14 November 2020
Dear Friends,
Radiance is not simply a cosmetic term, it is a sign of our very substance, as we seek to be the Light of God in our precious, sacred, beloved and interdependent creation.
This Sunday, we will explore what it means to BE RADIANT in our everyday life. Moses’ face shone with light as he came down the mountain with the tablets of the Ten Commandments, EXODUS 34: 29-25, so much so, that he wound up wearing a mask to protect the people! A close reading of I JOHN 2: 1-11, 3:1-3, will help us set our personal and collective compass as we journey to the New Jerusalem. In this context, we observe the FEAST OF ALL SAINTS, focusing on how those who have passed on can inspire and help us through the power of lineage.
We will hear music by CLAUDE DEBUSSY. REV. KATJA will offer the PASTORAL PRAYER, and joins me in offering this zoom gathering as a time of reflection, restoration and healing for ourselves and the world.
Be safe, be well, be blessed,
Rev. Bill
7 November 2020
Dear Friends,
You might say that we are in a Gethsemane moment—a time of uncertainty, a time of anxiety, a time to take stock, and yet a time to commit to the just and compassionate work of God, a time to proclaim the message of the Gospel of Love. In a sermon titled IMPATIENT FOR LOVE, we will have a look at how we might heal in the midst of polarization, divisiveness, cynicism and anger. Jesus in the garden (LUKE 22: 39-51) and Cain and Abel (GENESIS 4:8-10) will be our springboards into these concerns.
We will hear the music of Jean Baptiste Barriere and Ola Gjeilo. RAMON GIRON will read the gospel text, and REV. KATJA will offer the pastoral prayer. We invite you to a time of pausing and remembering the sacredness, preciousness and belovedness of all creation.
Blessings,
Rev. Bill
30 October 2020
Dear Friends,
How do we maintain our spiritual poise and trust in God in the midst of times of HIGH ANXIETY? Many are asking a variation of that question these days before the election, even as the pandemic continues, and fatigue of all kinds is setting in.
How can we develop resilience and compassion for self and others? PSALM 43 And MATTHEW 22: 34-39 will help us begin.
We will hear music by J.S.BACH. REV. KATJA will offer the pastoral prayer.
I know Katja joins me in offering this service as a time of taking stock, gathering strength and empowerment for the healing of all that is not Love Itself.
Blessings,
Rev. Bill
24 October 2020
Dear Friends,
I am happy to announce that I have invited Rev. Katja to preach the English Service this Sunday 10.25. Since the pandemic started, Katja and I have had what seems to be one continuous conversation about how to manage a very different world with grace and resilience. You have certainly heard some of the fruits of my perspective on that conversation in my preaching; it is high time you should hear Katja’s! I will be present, of course, and will read the texts, and offer the pastoral prayer. In Katja’s words:
It has been a while since I have preached in English, but I am so looking forward to sharing some of my thoughts with you. By relating to a text from Ephesians 4, I will focus on the question: How do we carry on in these times? Is there a bridge into a better time? And what do the railings of such a bridge look like?
In this search Mark Twain and the Peanuts might make a brief appearance...
The music will be by J.S. Bach, his great takes on "Sleepers Awake", performed by YoYo Ma as the Prelude and by the Washington Bach Consort as our Anthem.
Blessing always,
Rev. Bill and Rev. Katja
17 October 2020
Dear Friends,
The way we are seen is often the way we see ourselves...our origin stories, those moments when we are aware of ourselves in relation can either diminish us or elevate us....perhaps no collective story of origin is as harmful and denigrating as that of Adam and Eve being expelled from the garden of eden. In a sermon titled FALLING INTO LOVE, we will deconstruct this founding myth of the Judeo Christian tradition to suggest that the so called “fall” is actually God’s desire for us to take our place as the creations of Love Itself, called to transform all the sorts and conditions of this life into occasions of grace, justice and compassion.
We will hear music by PHILIP GLASS.
REV. KATJA joins me as liturgist and MATT NEUENDORF serves as co-host of our zoom gathering. We welcome you to this service with anticipation of inspiration, healing and empowerment.
Blessing always,
Rev. Bill
10 October 2020
Dear friends,
IS WHOLENESS POSSIBLE? In a sermon of the same name, we will have a look at the concept of wholeness. Is it possible for us to be truly together? Whole? Is wholeness the contemporary version of salvation? Are we ever truly satisfied? How do our desires keep us on the journey to this elusive goal? Is our quest for wholeness a source of our basic anxiety?
Selections from GENESIS 2 and Paul’s metaphor of the mirror in I CORINTHIANS 13: 9-12 will be our guides into these questions.
We will hear music by RAMEAU.
Matt Neuendorf is our cohost, and we look forward to welcoming you to this zoom church gathering in anticipation of inspiration and healing.
Blessings,
Rev. Bill
3 October 2020
Dear friends,
Envy, I believe, is at the root of much of what prevents us from Being-Love-Itself. Envy, unlike jealousy, which can be healthy in small, motivating doses, is the state of hate, seeking to destroy those who have what we think we lack . Envy simultaneously wears the masks of aggression and negativity.
With Paul’s mirror metaphor, FIRST CORINTHIANS 13:9-13, and the story of Jacob and Esau, concisely told in HOSEA 12: 3-7, as well as the psychoanalytic perspective of Melanie Klein, we will explore A GOSPEL OF ENVY AND GRATITUDE.
RAMON GIRON and ALEX CASENDINO wil read our texts; REV KATJA will offer the pastoral prayer. We will hear music by BEETHOVEN and SCHUBERT.
Blessings,
Rev. Bill
26 September 2020
Dear friends,
In a sermon titled HOLY COMPLAINING, SACRED TREMBLING we will consider how it seems the world is experiencing a collective overwhelm. It seems that as we continue to bear witness to the power and presence of Love Itself, we often “murmur”, “complain” and “quarrel”, to quote the experience of the Israelites wandering in the desert en route to a promised land that seems ineffable, Intangible and impossible.
Yet their complaints bore positive fruit—in the form of manna and water. As we “work out our salvation” (wholeness, healing) with “fear and trembling”, perhaps we can realize that our discontent is a key to bringing down tangible blessings that will ensure not only our personal, but our collective, “clarity of heart, peace of mind, ease of being.”
Selections from EXODUS 16 and 17 and PHILIPPPIANS 2: 1-7, 12-13 are our texts. REV. KATJA will offer the pastoral prayer; we will hear music by BEETHOVEN AND RAMEAU.
Katja and I invite you to our zoom church gathering for a sense of comfort, light and peace.
Blessings,
Rev. Bill
19 September 2020
Dear Friends,
As the Israelites wander in the desert after being saved from oppression and diminishment, they complain. Yet that complaining leads to God giving them daily manna, their source of nourishment and sustainment. (EXODUS 16: 2-15) We will have a look at this BLESSED COMPLAINING so that we might glean from this text the notion that even our contemporary complaints can paradoxically lead to blessings, new ways to live Love Itself that nourish and sustain us. MATTHEW 20: 1-16 is our companion text.
We will hear the music of JEAN PHILIPPE RAMEAU, and REV. KATJA will offer the pastoral prayer.
Katja and I welcome you to this zoom church gathering, our 25th, with joy and anticipation of inspiration, empowerment and healing.
Blessings, Rev. Bill
12 September 2020
Dear Friends,
Jesus’ instructions on asking and receiving (MATTHEW 7: 7-12)are an invitation to embark on a healing journey with Love Itself, in and as, our daily lives. Often we do not “TAKE THE TICKET” in the great Spirit it is offered because we are at a loss to actually know how to go about healing.
On Sunday, I will explore how it is possible to construct an healing prayer without being formulaic, or magic, but rather as a treatment that addresses our specific desires with “ warmth, love and happy expectancy.” In fact, we will have congregational participation as we demonstrate prayerful responses to personal and collective needs. GENESIS 2:5-7 is our companion text. REV. KATJA will offer the pastoral prayer. We will hear two piano pieces by LEOS JANACEK, the great Czech, who is one of my favorite composers.
We welcome you to our zoom church gathering with all of our hearts, anticipating much joy and much healing. Be safe, be well, be blessed,
Rev. Bill
5 September 2020
Dear Friends,
There is no bigger hindrance to the awareness and experience of Love than judgement. We will look at two similar gospel texts, LUKE 6: 37-42 and MATTHEW 7:1-5 on “JUDGING NOT,” Jesus’ instructions on removing the log from our own eyes before removing the speck from another’s. What are these conscious and not so conscious “logs” that blind us? How can we learn to discern rather than judge? How do we deal, in light of these teachings, with social media, the news, others?
We will hear some choral music of the remarkable late Finnish composer EINOJUHANI RAUTAVAARA. RAMON GIRON is our liturgist, REV. KATJA will share the prayers and MATT NEUENDORF is our zoom co host.
We welcome you to our zoom church gathering with a sense of joy and anticipation of empowerment. Inspiration and healing.
Blessing always,
Rev. Bill
29 August 2020
Dear Friends,
It takes Jesus two tries until the healing of the blind man in MARK 8:22-26 is complete. This gives me great hope and encouragement as we seek to be healers, witnesses for Love Itself, both personally and collectively. In the first of a series on how to heal, we will think about “CLOSING THE GAP” between the noble and grand vision of God’s reality in PSALM 91 and our sometimes pedestrian and diminished actual experience, especially in these strange, urgent and possibly remarkable times.
We will hear some beautiful J.S.BACH in piano transcription; BACH is a profound guide to Life with the Divine.
ALEX CASENDINO serves as liturgist; council president MATTHEW MCCARROLL will share the prayers. A special thank you to MATTHEW NEUENDORF for co-hosting, as REV. KATJA is participating in the annual ecumenical service at the German school on zoom this year.
Matt, Alex and Matt join me in welcoming you to this service for empowerment, inspiration, and healing.....your presence at our zoom church gathering is a joyful reminder of the power of community.
Be safe, be well, be blessed,
Rev. Bill
22 August 2020
Dear friends,
This week, we concentrate on MORE HEALING ENERGIES as we look at JOHN 5:1-9, the healing of the man at the pool, and MARK 2: 1-4,11-12, the story of those who cut a hole in the roof so that their friend might be healed. We will go into more depth about what it means to heal and to be healed, particularly the role of the community.
We shall hear more J.S.BACH, from pianist VIKINGUR OLAFSSON.
Rev. Katja and I are so grateful for your presence at our zoom gatherings. May our time together be a time of restoration, empowerment, and healing.
Grace and blessings,
Rev. Bill
15 August 2020
Dear friends,
Arriving from the far edges of their jointly known world, the Queen of Sheba’s visit to King Solomon ( I KINGS 10: 1-13) was a demonstration of HOW TO BECOME A (SPIRITUAL) ASTRONAUT. As we fearlessly and curiously explore our inner space, we translate those qualities to fearless and curiously extend the boundaries of our outer space, our known world. Jesus offers some teachings on how to accomplish this in the great and noble newer testament text of the lilies of the field. (LUKE 12: 22-32)
We will hear more transcriptions of the music of J.S.BACH by pianist VIkingur Olafsson.
RAMON GIRON is our liturgist; REV. KATJA will share prayers.
Immediately following this English service, we will have a congregational meeting to extend the contract of Rev. Katja. You will hear details from the German and Staff/Parish Relations Committee.
Katja, Matt McC, and I welcome you with great joy to this Zoom church gathering. We anticipate blessings and healing along the way.
Grace and peace , Rev. Bill
8 August 2020
Dear Friends,
Healing is about consciously and intentionally seeing Love Itself always and everywhere. That seeing is an act that transforms the world, a literal reshaping of misery, an authoritative casting out of the “demons” that beset us, personally and collectively.
MARK 1: 21-28, 32-39, and MATTHEW 12: 22-25, 28-29 will be our guides to BINDING THE STRONG ONE, teachings from Jesus on how to fearlessly and immediately subdue and transform our mode of seeing and experiencing the world from despair to hope, from fear to Love.
We will hear Johann Sebastian BACH, a perfect companion along our journey in the Sacred.
GABRIELLE METZGER and REV. KATJA join me as liturgists.
We keep in mind the people of Beirut and all those who suffer, remembering that our gathering this Sunday is an act of hope, of compassion, of Love Itself. Katja, Matt McC, and I welcome you to our “zoom church “with all of our hearts.
Always blessings,
Rev. Bill
2 August 2020
Dear Friends,
To heal is to bring Love to bear witness on and with “ all that weeps...watches....waits,” revealing and uncovering the power and the presence of the Christ.
Our HEALING ENERGIES are innate, instinctive, indelible. Yet,like the apostle Peter, as we seek to heal, we often sink under the weight of doubt, sometimes subtle, often pernicious. (MATTHEW 14:22-32).
In the story of Jesus raising the daughter of Jairus, MARK 5: 21-24, 35-43, we find clues on how to heal, without doubt, without fear. As we rise to the challenge and promise of these remarkable days, this is a timely and poignant teaching.
We will hear Arvo Part’s “Christmas Lullaby” and Morten Lauridsen’s setting of “ Sure is the Shining Night”, a poem by James Agee.
Rev. Katja and I are glad for your presence at our zoom church gathering, and pray for an hour of empowerment, inspiration and healing.
Blessings,
Rev. Bill
25 July 2020
dear friends:
This Sunday, in a sermon titled POSSIBILITY ANGELS we will examine the moment in GENESIS 18:9-15, when Sarah laughs as the visiting angels predict that she will bear a child despite the fact that she considers herself (and Abraham) beyond that very possibility. Her cynicism is turned to joy as she within a year bears a son. We will have a look at our own moments of “settling” for a lot less than what is on offer from the Divine, and learn how to make the leap from the impossible to the possible. ROMANS 8:
24-28 is our companion text.
MATTHEW MCCARROLL is our liturgist; REV. KATJA will offer the pastoral prayer.
We will hear music by Norwegian composer HENRIK ODEGAARD.
You are invited to stay on after worship for a VIRTUAL COFFEE HOUR which will be a great way to end the morning.
I would like to offer an eveniIng BIBLE STUDY with the sermon text of the upcoming week as our focus beginning this TUESDAY, 7.28 from 7:30-8:30pm. Depending on how it goes, this study would be offered on those Tuesdays when council and trustees are not meeting. Save 7.28, 8.4 and 8.25.
Katja, Matt and I look forward to welcoming you on Sunday for a time of healing and empowerment. Your presence is vital for our zoom church gathering.
Peace and joy, rev. Bill
18 July 2020
Dear friends,
Jesus says that he has come so that we might have life, and have it abundantly....what might it mean to live life in the affirmative? A life that recognizes and most critically, heals, all that ails us personally and collectively? As we practice and develop a radical hospitality, we will find that we are entertaining “ANGELS UNAWARES” as wisdom, compassion and justice become, indeed, abundant.
We will draw on the work of French writers Jacques Derrida and Helene Cixous as we examine GENESIS 18: 1-8 and JOHN 1:1-5, 14b, and 10:10. Rev. Katja joins me as liturgist.
The music from Norwegian composer HENRIK ODEGAARD that will serve as our selections this service is completely stunning and original. I am very excited to share this with you, and connect it to our sermon. A bit of WILLIAM JAMES will be our time of centering.
Your presence contributes to our healing, inspirational, empowering Zoom church gathering. Katja and I, along with Council President Matt McCarroll, invite you to this time with much joy.
Grace, Light, Love,
Rev. Bill
11 July 2020
Dear Friends,
In a sermon titled EM/BEDDING THE OTHER, we shall conclude our series on the BOOK OF RUTH. Focusing on the colorful third chapter, we will explore what it means to have/be a body in this world, and how we might heal and transform our collective experience through what is “other” to us. An excerpt from the SONG OF SONGS is our companion text.
We will hear piano works by Icelandic composer Gabriel Olafs.
Follow us on INSTAGRAM at dc_unitedchurch and TWITTER at @DC_united church.
Your presence is vital to our zoom church gathering. Please join us for a time of inspiration, healing and empowerment.
Grace and blessing,
Rev. Bill
4 July 2020
Dear friends,
In a sermon titled WORKING IT THROUGH TO LOVE we will pick up our series on the BOOK OF RUTH, which we had started right before the pandemic. As we read selections from chapters 2 and 3, we will discover how the Divine is at work in Ruth’s life in a foreign land bringing all circumstances to a good fruition. Using Ruth as an example of a soul in exile, we will explore how we might discover the power and presence of God working in us, as us, and for the good of all. Our companion text is GALATIANS 6:2, which asks us to bear each other’s burdens.
We will hear music by MOZART and contemporary film composer MARK SUOZZO. REV KATJA (who is preaching in German on Galatians) will offer our pastoral prayer.
Your presence is vital for our zoom church gathering; please join us for a time of empowerment, inspiration and healing.
Grace and blessing,
Rev. Bill
27 June 2020
dear friends,
Tomorrow, in a sermon titled WHEN BEAUTY MEETS WISDOM, we shall explore the legendary meeting of the Queen of Sheba and king solomon in I KINGS 10:1-13. This auspicious encounter is a symbol of how we might bring about an abundance of the riches of compassion, justice, beauty and wisdom to this world. Our companion text is COLOSSIANS 2:1-10.
We will hear music by ARVO PART and CYRILLUS KREEK. RAMON GIRON is our liturgust and REV. KATJA will offer our pastoral prayer.
We look forward to your presence at our zoom church for a time of healing and empowerment.
Grace and peace,
Rev. Bill
20 June 2020
Dear friends:
How do we see each other? Do we see the beauty, power and diversity of how our innate “precious, sacred, beloved” expresses itself through ourselves and all others? Or do we see a disfiguration of this basic truth? In a sermon titled “ NAMASTE, MY LOVE”, we shall examine these questions in light of the healing of Naaman the leper in II KINGS 5, and Paul’s observations in II CORINTHIANS 13.
STEVEN CARMAN will be our liturgist; REV. KATJA offer the pastoral prayer. We will hear piano music by FLORENCE B. PRICE, and hear a beautiful selection from MARY BAKER EDDY as our time of centering.
Please join us for a time of healing and empowerment. Your presence is vital for our zoom church.
Grace and peace,
Rev. Bill
12 June 2020
Dear Friends:
Sandwiched between a raising of the dead and a miraculous feeding in the remarkable 4th chapter of II KINGS, is a text about poison and healing. The story of how Elisha turns a tainted dinner into a healthy meal is a call for us to examine the poisons we might consciously and unconsciously take in. In a sermon titled “DON’T EAT POISON” we will have a look at the way we and society feed on or accept racism, inequality, privilege, materialism and all else that keeps us from being Love. Although we will concentrate on this text, the sequence of these three stories can be a blueprint for healing all that is ailing and destroying us, personally and especially, collectively.
MATT NEUENDORF will read II KINGS 4: 38-41 and our companion text, LUKE 7:11-17, Jesus’ raising of the son of the widow of Nain. REV. KATJA will offer the pastoral prayer.
Our music will be selections from the work of one of America’s first black female composers, FLORENCE B. PRICE.
We look forward to your vital presence at “zoom church”; a time of healing and empowerment for Good, for Love.
Blessings, and grace,
Rev. Bill
6 June 2020
Dear Friends:
This has been a week of outrage and sadness, of a great unsettledness.
This week, in a sermon titled A SPIRIT FOR HARD TIMES, we will have a look at the workings of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We will see that we are never alone in our despair, but always have an advocate to remind us of who, and whose we are.
Jonathan Ferrante will read PSALM 23 And John 14:15-21. We will hear music by Icelandic composer Olafur Arnalds.
Your presence is vital for our zoom church; we look forward to seeing you!
Peace, blessings,
Rev. Bill
2 June 2020
Dear Friends:
The power of a spiritual community gathered for intentional healing prayer is a power that derives its' strength from the Holy Spirit.
It is a power in the service of Love Itself.
it is a power that embodies compassion and wisdom
It is a power that establishes justice.
In these opening days of the season of Pentecost, we invite you to a community wide call to prayer.
At 3:00PM each day, beginning Wednesday, June 3rd through 3:00 PM Wednesday, June 10th, you may pause your activity, and offer The Lord's Prayer/Die Vater Unser either silently or audibly.
You will know that you are uniting with others in The United Church/Die Vereinigte Kirche in a moment that can, and will, have tangible and often surprising effect.
Grace and Peace,
Rev. William T. Federici, Senior Pastor
Rev. Katja Albrecht, Pastor for German Ministries
Matthew McCarroll, President, The United Church Council
30 May 2020
Dear Friends:
This Sunday at 11:00 AM, Rev. Katja and I are pleased offer a Bilingual (English-German) Worship Service observing the Feast of Pentecost/Pfingsten.
We come into Pentecost, the birthday of the Church, with heavy hearts and outraged spirits over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis earlier this week. Will there ever be an end to racism, violence, hatred and fear? Is the promise of a New Jerusalem, where Love Itself is the only power and presence, an impossibility? Will that vision ever be our Reality? How do we see through the "smoky mist" that blurs and distorts our seeing one another in the Light of God, as members of one Body, animated and sustained with the energy of the Christ?
As Jesus ascended, he promised us that he would not leave us orphaned, but would send an Advocate, the Holiest of Spirits, that descends on us, giving us courage and energy to continue his work, his Gospel. Through the Spirit that is as close as our very breath, we can turn the world right-side-up, living in and through a divine compassion to bring about justice, establishing the Reign of God on this earth for all.
In a joint sermon, preached in English, Katja and I will examine this issue of seeing through the "SMOKY MIST" (a phrase from the Pentecost text.)
Katja will take up the work of the Holy Spirit in the community, particularly the Church. I will concentrate on how we might learn to see one another in our truest Light, through the power and presence of this Spirit Advocate.
Prayers and readings will be offered in both English and German. You might wish to download the attached liturgy to follow along. We will hear music by Olafur Arnalds and Max Reger. Our texts are I CORINTHIANS 12: 4-13 and ACTS 2: 1-21.
We invite and look forward to your presence on Zoom, Sunday, 5.31, at 11:00 AM.
With blessings and love,
Bill and Katja
23 May 2020
Dear friends,
We certainly missed being together last Sunday due to the worldwide problems with zoom. What I think are the best parts of the sermon on the Holy Spirit I was to have preached will be used next week on Pentecost. I didn’t send it out this week for that reason.
This week we watch Jesus ascend to heaven after the forty days after that first Easter. Angels ask the disciples why are they standing around, gazing into the skies, and direct their attention to the earth. Paradoxically, Jesus’ ascension is actually a call for us to be “GROUNDED IN LOVE.” Being grounded in this restorative sense of love can empower us to be fearless in the face of all that ails us personally and collectively. That lack of fear leads to healing. We will be introduced to the GOSPEL OF MARY and hear a story from another ancient text, THE ACTS OF PAUL AND THECLA.
We will hear music by Estonian composers, arvo part and cyrillus kreek. Katja will offer the pastoral prayer and read our ACTS text. Michelle Paasch will read the gospel. Marvin Silver, our UCC Associate Conference Minister will be joining us, and will offer the benediction. I am very happy that Marvin can be with us!
We look forward to seeing you; your presence is an essential part of our zoom church gathering.
Blessings, peace and joy,
Rev. Bill
17 May 2020
dear friends:
In JOHN 14:15-21, Jesus tells us that he will not leave us orphaned, but will send an Advocate, commonly understood to be the Holy Spirit. In traditional models of God based on the Trinity, the Holy Spirit remains the most elusive and ineffable. I believe that is because the Spirit is “ AS CLOSE AS BREATH.”
I will explore how we can access and use this power and presence to transform our everyday lives and the life of the world, especially in moments such as the one we are living through.
PSALM 66: 8-20 is our companion text. Rev Katja will read our texts.
Your presence is so vital to our zoom gathering; I look forward to seeing you online.
Peace and blessings,
Rev. Bill
9 May 2020
dear friends:
Do we have the courage, like ZECHARIAH 13:6 to ask each other “ what are the wounds in the midst of your hands?” God Herself tells us through ISAIAH 49:15 “behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” These verses are in a textual pas de deux—-divine hands and human hands,experienced together, offer a way into a fuller understanding of the ineffable, undecidable moment in JOHN 20: 11-18 when Jesus asks Mary Magdalene to not use her hands by touching him.
In a sermon titled “OUR MOTHER, WHO ART IN THE MIDST”, I will “touch “ on this play of images, which ultimately reveals that in the way we are held by our God, our wounds will heal our wounds, personal and collective. Our musical offerings, BUXTEHUDE and CAROLINE SHAW will deepen these thoughts.
YOANNA GERWEL FEDERICI and I will read Czeslaw Milosz’ poem “Encounter” As our time of centering in the original Polish and English respectively, as we continue to think about the larger meaning of translation. MIRIAN TSUCHIYA will read the JOHN gospel text above. REV. KATJA will offer the pastoral prayer.
As we honor mothers, past, present and future, let us lift up the image of the Great Mother, that maternal image of our God, healing is, empowering us, restoring us, now and always.
Love and Peace and Blessing,
Rev. Bill
2 May 2020
dear friends,
Once again we gather via zoom, proving that the church universal is not confined, but transcends space and time...For many, the idea of God is too big, too majestic, too loaded with tradition, fear, and vagueness. God remains unearthly, ungrounded, detached from human experience. And that is exactly the opposite of the core message of the Gospel: our God is Love Itself manifesting in us, through us and as us.
A close reading of JOHN 21:1-14 will help us understand that everyday life is infused with the power and the presence of Divine Love. We are called to translate that power and presence from the most ordinary to the most extraordinary circumstances. Jesus making a seaside breakfast for his friends encourages us to take our “GOD IN SMALL BITES.” PSALM 23 is our companion text.
REV. KATJA will offer the pastoral prayer. BILLY COLLINS is our time of centering and MAX RICHTER will be our musical meditation.
With peace and blessing,
rev bill
25 april 2020
dear friends:
tomorrow, 4.26., in a sermon titled THE ANGEL FINDS YOU, i am going to talk about two things, all based on one beautiful text; LUKE 24: 13-35--the story of two disciples spending the first easter evening with jesus--and not recognizing him until afterwards.
the familiarly-called "road to emmaus" text is full of humor, and a down to earth quality that has you loving, not judging, these two.
here's what i'm about tomorrow:
1.your guardian angel is right with you; the moment you recognize that your guardian angel is right with you, is the moment you realize that your entire life is quite simply and quite beautifully, the movement of the Love of God, expressed uniquely and tangibly. we'll explore what i mean by "guardian angel", and how to recognize this moment, so that you are aligned with God's power and presence.
2.who are your companions as you travel through your life?
there are different levels of relationship, each one, from random encounters that are not so random, to the ones that are life long, and everything in between, are an opportunity to create the Divine on the spot. we'll even talk about how we relate to those who have passed on. Theologian Carter Heyward defines God as "the power of Love in relation." I agree.
i am thrilled to welcome the rev. dr. audrey price to our service. audrey is an associate conference minister in (our) central atlantic conference, and is with us as a friend, not in an official capacity. i am happy that she will read the emmaus story, as well as selections from PSALM 116.
rev. katja will offer the pastoral prayer. a poem by billy collins is our time of centering. handel and max richter round out our time with music.
let us not miss out on bringing the healing power of unshakeable Love Itself to this particular "strange and urgent" moment in our history.
let us lift up all those who suffer in body, mind and spirit.
may our time together tomorrow be a time of oasis.
may we sit not only for ourselves , but for the healing of the whole world.
grace, blessings and peace,
rev. bill
April 18, 2020
dear friends.....
We all have a bit of the doubting Thomas within us. And, we should. Healthy questioning, healthy doubt is, I believe, essential for our progress on the spiritual path. Yet, at some point for some people, this healthy doubt petrifies into something else. A stone of cynicism, negativity, and condescension for what lies beyond the material, beyond what we can experience with the senses. In a sermon titled YOUR DEFAULT MODE, we will explore how our mindset can reflect and create the promise of Easter.
Matthew McCarroll will read JOHN 20: 19-31. PSALM 19 is our companion text. BACH and ROSSINI will round out our time together. I am grateful for rev. Katja’s expertise in hosting our zoom church.
All is going very well with the Roth Hall renovation. Demolition has been completed and construction has begun. Many thanks to our trustees for their care with this project. 🙏
We continue to hold the entire world in our prayers for healing and restoration. May the promise of Easter be with us all.
Grace and blessings, rev. Bill
Holy Saturday 2020
Dear Friends:
strange and urgent times call up strange and urgent angels.
"strange" because these angels might be unexpected, unfamiliar, disturbing, shaking us out of our individual and collective complacencies and cowardice.
"urgent" because mercy, compassion, justice, freedom and Love Itself must have the final word sooner rather than later.
When I wrote those words at Advent/Christmastide, I had no way of knowing just how much we would be shaken out of our "normal"; no way of knowing that Easter 2020 would be unlike any other one in our histories.
And there lies an exquisite invitation: to look beyond the stone that has been blocking our hearts; to experience this heart-space individually and collectively, as our starting point to be the Love of God for self and others, without fear, without fetter.
Rev. Katja Albrecht and I will explore those themes in a joint sermon titled "The Heart Bears the Longest Part",based on JOHN 20: 11-18.
Traditionally bilingual on Easter, our modified worship will include prayers and a reading in German.
Thanks to our beloved Christine Goerke making the connection, we will offer a recording of celebrated composer Nico Muhly's "Let the World in Ev'ry Corner Sing" as a way into the sermon. We are so grateful to Nico for working directly with us in selecting just the right one of his pieces for our Easter service. "Honored" doesn't begin to cover it! You might wish to go to nicomuhly.com to learn more about this brilliant, talented being whose sense of what is "precious, sacred and beloved" comes through his profound and gorgeous work.
An Order of Service is attached, including words to the anthem.
We would respecfully ask that you please do not email, text or call us Sunday morning either before or during the Service regarding technical aspects of zoom.
As we continue to live into this "pause", let us remember that God, Love Itself, is present in the risen Christ, just as much now in 2020 as it was in long ago Jerusalem.
Grace, Peace, Calm,
Rev. Bill Federici
Senior Pastor, The United Church/Die Vereinigte Kirche.
24 March 2020
Dear Friends:
It seems as if the whole world is on "pause." I can assure you that what is not on pause is the Love of God. In ways subtle and not so subtle, the Divine is always with us---empowering, restoring, and healing. We are mindful of the challenges, fears and anxieties that are coming to the fore at this time. We are equally mindful that beyond that is that steadfast Love and Peace that know no boundaries. How to access that? Over the past few weeks I have found it helpful to stop, breathe, and remember two verses from our sacred writings:
"Be still and know that I am God"--Psalm 46
and especially I Kings: beyond the wind, the earthquake and the fire there is that "still, small voice."
Somehow, and this is Grace at work, everything resets and recalibrates.
Recalibrating our spiritual community has been the priority of Rev. Katja and myself. It seems as if we will not meet in person for the next few weeks, although we will evaluate every two weeks. We are committed to the power of social distance to flatten the curve of the spread of the virus. We don't want to put anyone at risk. It is hard, given our normal tendencies, to live into Sylvia Boorstein's famous saying, "Don't just do something, sit there." By sitting---readjusting our normal lives --we are actually doing something that will contribute to the healing of this pandemic.
We will continue to reevaluate, but we are adjusting how we are in contact with you, and how you can be in contact with one another.
Beginning this Sunday, March 29th, at 11am, you will have the opportunity to join a ZOOM video or call for a modified Worship experience. Rev. Katja and I will offer prayers, readings, some thoughts and an opportunity for you to join the conversation. If you have any prayer requests, please send them to one of us in advance of the service.
Katja will provide the instructions. Meanwhile, you will need to download the ZOOM app onto your devices. Trust me, it is easy. I joined a few calls, and I am not the most technically savvy among us. Again, Katja will provide clear and easy instructions. In short, you will click the link she will provide, or call the number also provided.
Beginning Wednesday, March 31st, we will offer a Virtual Lunch with the Pastors, at NOON. Once again, this will be a ZOOM call, and Katja will provide the links.
I am grateful to Katja and her technical talents.
Just to be clear, the Food Pantry will continue; they are following strict protocols.
Katja and I are always available for counseling, care or just a chat.
Please lift in healing prayers all those who are sick, all those who are on the front lines of the pandemic, students who will have missed these last months of their Senior year. May we live into this pause with grace, courage and perseverance.
Grace and Peace,
Rev. Bill Federici
Senior Pastor