What’s Going on at the Church
On June 20th, we had 2 events happening simultaneously!!
Our first distribution from our food pantry was tended by members of the church and the Lafayette Mason Lodge! Al Shipley organized the distribution. The pantry is located in the former library of the church. We are using the shelves to store non-perishable food items. We will be hosting other distributions in the future. However, if you are in need of an emergency distribution, please call the church and we will arrange a time for you to come by and get a bag or two.
Outside we were celebrating the grand opening of the Union Street Resource Center (USRC) Community Garden! Mayor Ray Giacobbe cut the ribbon alongside Council members Darlene Eastman, Dave Brown, Danni Newbury and Jeff Brooks, USRC Director Cheryl Anne Cammann, Rahway’s Best owner Joie Nodarse, First Pres member Sue Krivenko, and David Holmes was accompanied by his fiancé, Hakiema.
The creation of the garden was the idea of David Holmes. David and Cheryl Anne worked hard to take this from idea to reality! Many volunteers from the church attended work parties to build, move, and fill the raised bed gardens. Northfield Bank gave funds to purchase the soil through Councilwoman Eastman. At the ribbon cutting, attendees signed-up to help tend the garden. Loyalty Food Truck provided free hot dogs and sodas to attendees.
All of this happened one of the most beautiful days of the year! God’s blessing is upon us in so many ways!
“Weighing Truth and Life”
The first of the 12 steps is recognizing that while we have agency, and many abilities and gifts, when it comes to “transformation”, we don’t have that kind of power. As we considered in the last article, “only a recognition of powerlessness can do the job correctly”. The second and third steps of the 12-step process are aligned with each other and the first. They are: we came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us, and we decide to turn our lives over to God, as we understand God. Richard Rohr shares some insights about these two steps.
“The phrase we came to believe reminds us that the surrender of faith does not happen in one moment, but is an extended journey, a gradual letting go, unlearning and handing over. To finally surrender our selves to healing, we have to have 3 spaces open up within us: our minds, closed down hearts, and defended bodies. That is the work of spirituality – of a power greater than ourselves – and it leads to luminosity and greater seeing.
To keep the mind space open, we need some form of contemplative or meditative practice. To keep the heart space open, we need several things. We all need some healing in regard to our carried hurts from the past. We need to be in right relationship with people so that we can be loved and touched at deeper levels (and vice versa). Finally, the heart space is opened by right-brain activities such as music, art, dance, nature, fasting, poetry, games, life-affirming sexuality, and more.
God comes to us disguised as our life, and all we can do is keep out of the way, note our defensive behaviors, and keep our spaces from closing down. The immediate embrace is from God’s side, and the effectiveness is whatever time it takes for us to come to believe: which is the slow and gradual healing and reconnecting of head, heart, and body so that they can operate as one.
The part of the third step that says, “as we understand God” is important in two ways. First, it makes space for numerous ways to conceive of God (in and from many religions and traditions). However, each of those ways has to recognize God’s true nature because we will never truly turn our will and life over to any other kind of God except a loving and merciful one. We have been graced for a truly sweet surrender if we can radically accept being radically accepted – for nothing. Love responds to love alone, and has little to do with duty, obligation, or requirements. It’s easy to surrender when you know that nothing but love and mercy is on the other side.”
Blessing and Peace, Ed
Looking to donate to our thrift sales?
If you have any furniture to donate, please take a photo of what you have and send the photos to office@1stpresrahway.org. At this time, we’re not accepting clothes or shoes.
Members usually work on Wednesday’s for our sales from 10:30 am -1:30 pm. If that’s not a convenient time for you to drop off donations, other arrangements can be made. Please email the church office and your request will be forwarded to the “sales crew” so they can respond to your inquiry.
As always, thank you to all who donate. Our sales have been a great success this year because of you!
Important Message from the USRC Board of Directors:
Please read these guidelines about Squier Hall and the formation of the USRC Board of Directors, who will be overseeing the groups meeting in Squier.
As part of the guidelines, please use this form if you have any concerns so that they can be addressed.
Interested in Getting Involved?
We have a lot of different ways for you to get involved – short-term projects, one-time opportunities, working with our livestream technology on Sundays, plus much more. Click on the button below to see what we have on our ‘volunteer wish list’. As more opportunities become available, we will be sure to update our listings.