The Body's Wisdom

Our bodies sometimes teach us lessons we can’t learn any other way.  I have learned to slow down, because in the last three months I developed an autoimmune disease that made it difficult to walk.  I have learned to ask for help, because I was not able to do simple tasks like carrying groceries upstairs.  I have learned to receive care, because for the last 10 days I have been hospitalized at Rush University Medical Center to get plasmapharesis treatments.  I have been blessed with visits, cards, prayers and phone calls every day from church members, family and friends.

The good news is that thanks to hundreds of prayers, great medical care, and the nurturing quilt of love I experience through First United Church, my body is healing.  I can once again walk without a cane, my energy, strength and balance have improved dramatically, and I will go home on Friday. I am grateful for all of this care, which allows me to continue to serve with my full capacity as your lead pastor.  I plan to be in worship this Sunday, Sept. 2, and will be back in the office next week.

 I will need your help in the weeks ahead.  If you would like to be part of Team Julie, formed by the deacons to offer helping hands and support, send me an email at jrh@firstunitedoakpark.com. You will be connected to a website where I will post updates on my health and list specific tasks for which I need assistance.  I also invite the community to pray with me from 9:00 to 9:10 am each Sunday in the chapel, beginning Sept. 2.  Your spiritual support is a sign of God’s grace. 

I am also grateful for our gifted church staff and lay leaders as we prepare for Gathering Day 9.9.12.  This year’s theme is Gather Together and Grow Together.  It’s a new beginning for a new church year, and education resumes at 9:30 am and worship at 11:00 am each week.  

9:30 am Sun., Sept. 9  –

·       Church school students and families will gather in the sanctuary.

·       Everyone else will gather in the lounge, chapel and conference room to update your membership information, make sure we have your photo, and sign up for small groups, adult classes, mission and service opportunities.

·       Our adult education leaders will introduce new classes available this year.

11:00 am Worship - We welcome our sanctuary choir and guest preacher, Rev. Vertie Powers, Associate Conference Minister for the Chicago Metropolitan Association of Illinois Conference United Church of Christ.  Her sermon will be “Growth is Within Our Grasp.”

12:15 pm Fellowship – We will enjoy root beer floats on the patio.

The body of Christ that is this church will teach us lessons we couldn’t learn any other way . . . when we gather together and grow together.

In Christian love,

Julie R. Harley, lead pastor

 

 

 

 

Closed and Not Affirming

Friends,

Our congregation is shopping for a new church database system.  To our shock, two companies refuse to do business with us because they "do not condone" gay relationships or same-sex couples or families.  Here is my response to them.

August 18, 2012

Beloved Members of the Body of Christ who serve on the staff of Church Community Builder and Elexio,

One week ago, I was privileged to conduct a wedding in our church for two wonderful people who have been in a committed relationship for 18 years.  God’s love shines forth in their lives.  They both have good jobs in health care and serve people each day.  They are caring, compassionate, faithful, joyful Christian people with a fantastic sense of humor.  They wrote their own vows and designed their own rings, and they told me their wedding day was the best day of their lives.

            Their names are Karen and Carla, and it just so happens that they are both women.  You can call them gay or lesbian or a same-sex couple.  But Jesus wouldn’t call them that.   Jesus would call them children of God, disciples in faith, members of the Church.  Like me, they are part of the body of Christ.

            A few months ago, I was privileged to baptize a baby named Kai, born to a couple who have been married for five years.  One of Kai’s parents is an associate pastor on our church staff.  Kai’s mother works for Oprah Winfrey.  Kai’s parents are warm, giving, intelligent, talented, amazing Christian people who have traveled around the world.  Their names are Leah and Chris, and it just so happens they are both women.  You can call them gay or lesbian or a same-sex couple, but Jesus wouldn’t.  Like me, they are part of the body of Christ.

            Twenty-five years ago, I participated in the ordination of one of my seminary classmates.  Jeffrey was brilliant, pastoral, gifted and called by God to serve as a minister.  He also happened to be gay.  But Jesus wouldn’t call him that.  Jesus would say he was an outstanding pastor and teacher of the church, a good shepherd to his flock, and an inspiring spiritual leader.  Like me, he was part of the body of Christ. 

            I have a dream that someday people of faith will be judged not by their sexual orientation, but by the content of their character.  I have a dream that someday all people will be welcomed as equal members of the body of Christ, not judged as lesser in value or excluded from membership.  As the Apostle Paul said, “There are many members, yet one body.  The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you,’ nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’”  (Romans 12:20-21)

            Many of our gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered friends are baptized believers.  The Holy Spirit has given them gifts which they use in leadership and service.  They celebrate the sacrament of communion at Christ’s table.  They read and interpret God’s holy Word.  They pray and they tithe.

 You too are members of the body of Christ.  Yet your company has told our church staff that we may not purchase your church database system because some of our members live in households where partners happen to be of the same gender.  With the love of Christ filling my mind, heart and spirit, I must say to you that this is deeply painful for all of us at First United Church of Oak Park.  It is painful for two reasons. 

First, I am grieved that you would judge my sisters and brothers in faith as unacceptable or unfit to serve Christ’s ministry and mission without witnessing the blessedness of their lives.  If only you could see the love in their relationships, in their families, among their children and the incredible leadership they provide in the church. 

Second, I am saddened that you are deprived of coming to know these sisters and brothers as friends and neighbors, fellow workers for the kingdom and witnesses to the gospel.  You would find your life enriched and deepened.

The product you sell is designed to build relationships and to grow the church.  I cannot be silent as you refuse to provide service to our congregation, and I cannot condone your use of “homosexuality” as a sin that you compare with “bestiality, witchcraft and necrophilia.”  Jesus never excluded anyone, though his radical grace was shocking to many.  Your refusal to serve our church does not reflect the love of Christ, it does not build relationships and it will not grow the church.

Please reconsider your position on this issue.

Your sister in Christ and member of the body of Christ,

Rev. Dr. Julie R. Harley
Lead Pastor

Dreams Come True

Move from providing charity to changing structures of injustice. - From the First United 2020 Vision Statement

Our congregation knows how to provide charity, which in the original Greek means "love."

We give people state IDs, we provide free food, clothing, shelter, and spiritual guidance.  We help people find jobs.  We help people get benefits for which they are eligible.

But how can we change the system that causes our neighbors to be poor, to be homeless, to be hungry and to lack education?  That was the question we asked ourselves two years ago.  How can we do justice?

So we came up with some new ideas, and today I can tell you that dreams really do come true. 

Last year we gave our first microloan to a man who was released from prison after serving 20 years.  He was exonerated with DNA evidence, and he came to Oak Park to begin a new life.  This gentleman came to our Walk-In Ministry and told them his story.  And our Faith in Action Committee worked with him to provide a microloan of $2,000 so he could get an apartment and look for a job. 

Last month, that man returned to the Walk-In Mnistry with a check for $2,200.  He repaid the loan with 10 percent interest.  That is what you call a dream come true.  Now the microloan fund is up to about $15,000, and we are looking for our next recipient.

But there's more.  Our Education and Mentoring Team last year wanted to do more to support students over the summer, who often lose reading skills when they are out of school.  So our team worked with Iglesia Unida de Cristo in Berwyn and the Niebuhr Center at Elmhurst College to set up a summer tutoring program with the support of our congregation. 

Twenty students in grades K-8 met with six Elmhurst College education majors for eight weeks, two nights a week.  They read books together, played games and shared meals.  They built relationships.  They achieved their learning goals.  And we will continue to work with the Berwyn congregation in future ministry. 

With work and prayer and God's vision, dreams really do come true!