This Sunday is a particularly special day in the life of the church: we are honored to have the United Church of Christ’s nominee for General Minister and President, The Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson, preaching! Dr. Thompson has served in various capacities within the UCC, and she and I have worked together for many years, so it is quite an honor to have her to join us. I hope that you will make a special effort to come and bring a hearty welcome to our special guest. For more information on her nomination and the process to affirm her nomination at General Synod at the end of June, click here.
An important update from me: just a few days into the role, it became clear to me that my work at the UN would have too many conflicts with my ministry at this church. Because you are my priority, I asked Dr. Thompson to receive my resignation, which she did graciously. It was only a couple of days into things, which is allowing us to make this transition to the next person much more smoothly. We still have much left to do in our collaboration to bring peace and justice to the world, so the opportunities abound - just differently. I now return to my search for additional employment with more clarity on how we would need to structure the roles so that I can keep The Park primary in my commitments.
This week, we are honored to host global guests to the UN’s Commission on the Status of Women. You will find the workshops we are hosting listed, below. If you’d like to attend, please come!
I hope that you will join C. Anthony Bryant as he leads our next Jazz Vespers (see the information below)! We are challenging each of us to come - either in person, or online - and to bring one more person. We’ve invited our neighbors, with flyers shared with the surrounding buildings, as an act of evangelism. So please come! It is WORTH IT. I promise.
I can’t wait to worship with you and our special guest on Sunday, beloved.
Pax,
Pastor Kaji
Scripture: Exodus 17:1-7 (ILB) below and John 4:5-42:
1 The Israelites left the desert of Syn to travel by stages, as YHWH had directed them. They camped at Rephidim, but found no drinking water. 2 Again they turned on Moses, saying, “Give us drinking water.” Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test YHWH?” 3 But the people were thirsty, and complained even more to Moses. “Why did you bring us out of Egypt only to make us and our children and our livestock die of thirst?” 4 Moses appealed to YHWH. “What am I to do with these people? They are ready to stone me!” 5 YHWH answered Moses, “Take some of the elders and move to the front of the people. Take with you the staff with which you struck the Nile. Go! 6 I will wait for you there by the rock of Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.”
And Moses did so, in the sight the elders. 7 Moses named the place Massah, “Testing,” and Meribah, “Quarreling,” for the Israelites tested YHWH when they said, “Is YHWH with us or not?”
Pastor Kaji’s office hours are Tuesdays between 10:00 am – 12:00 pm.
Please reach out to the church office to schedule an appointment regarding Pastoral Care and Other Church Business.
Guest Preacher this Sunday:
United Church of Christ General Minister and President Nominee
The Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson
The Park welcomes The Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson to preach on March 12, 2023 at 11:00 am ET. The Rev. Dr. Thompson, if elected, will be the United Church of Christ’s historic first woman and first Black woman General Minister and President, the top position in the denomination. She currently serves the UCC in the national setting as the Associate General Minister and Vice President for Wider Church Ministries and Co-Executive for Global Ministries. Global Ministries is a common missional witness of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ.
The Rev. Dr. Thompson, who immigrated to the United States from Jamaica as a youth, is a thought-leader in the important process of decolonizing Christianity, particularly as leader of the denomination that established the first churches in the colonies on the US mainland.
Dr. Thompson's sermon is titled "These Living Waters," on the texts Exodus 17:1-7 and John 4:5-42. Any and all are welcome to attend the service in person or online.
As part of the 67th annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW67), the UN’s largest annual gathering on gender equality and women’s empowerment, taking place this year from 6 – 17 March under the theme, “Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls”.
Please note that FPWA will only accept applications via referral, made by a case manager, Social Worker, or other FPWA member-agency advocate on behalf of the potential applicant. We cannot accept applications directly from individuals
Met Council’s project, SenioRepair,ensures New Yorkers 60 years and older stay safe at home. Through the program, seniors can request support in installing and repairing bathtub grab bars, light bulbs, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, window locks and screens, and so much more. For more information or to determine eligibility, please call929-292-9261or emailcmacal@metcouncil.org.
