November 1-30; Vol 58 - First Community Church

Take HeartPeace on Earth–– The Reverend Ms. Deborah Lindsay, Minister of Spiritual CareIn my ongoing research on multifaith bridgebuilding, I ran across a reflection written 50years ago by Pope John XXIII. This was the popewho gifted to the world Vatican II. The SecondVatican Council threw open wide the doors ofthe Catholic Church to new ways of thinkingand believing and new relationships with otherfaith traditions. While many Catholics mourn theloss of that spirit of openness and reform in theirchurch, the teachings of Vatican II offer a faithfulperspective for all of us on multifaith encountersin the 21 st century.About the same time, John wrote a letter entitled Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earthin Latin) in which he identified four pillars for peace: truth, justice, love andfreedom. His ideas speak as powerfully today as they did then:-Truth brings each individual to acknowledge his or her own rights, but also torecognize his or her own duties toward others.-Justice leads people to respect the rights of others and also to fulfill their duties.-Love goes beyond justice, for it makes people feel the needs of others as ifthey were their own and this empathy leads them to share their own gifts withothers, not only material goods but also the values of mind and spirit.-Freedom, finally, is a factor in building peace when it allows people to actaccording to reason and to assume responsibility for their own actions.I read about John's pillars of peace in Islam and Other Religions, a compilationof essays about interfaith relationships.* The author of this particular essay,Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald, writes about the importance of balancing ourown faith with openness toward others:Being open-minded does not imply being without personal convictions. On thecontrary, rootedness in one’s own convictions will allow for greater openness,for it takes away the fear of losing one’s identity. It thus facilitates theunderstanding of the other’s convictions.Such openness leads to the admission that the whole of the truth is not juston one side. There is always a need to learn from others, to receive from them,to benefit from their values and everything that is good in their traditions.Dialogue in this spirit helps to overcome prejudices and to revise stereotypes.More understanding and faith, fewer prejudices and stereotypes. Doesn’t thatsound like a starting point for peace on earth?Blessings,Advent byCandlelightTuesday, December 11, 7 pmGrace Hall, North CampusFind a time of peace during theholiday rush. You are invited to acandlelight service that centers onthe hopeful anticipation and quietpreparation of the Advent season.Advent by Candlelight will includeTaizé singing, a meditative form ofgroup worship that speaks to theheart.This is a perfect opportunity for allages to see what Taizé is. The servicewill include a story and simpleprayers.Grace Hall will be filled withcandlelight. Bells will welcome you.This is a service for everyone and anopportunity to share the true spiritof the season by inviting friends andneighbors.A freewill offering will be taken.Chipper/ShredderNeededThe Seeds of Hope Community Gardenat North Campus needs a chipper/shredder to process the garden wastesin a compost pile.If you have such equipment that youare no longer using, please considerdonating it to the church.Contact Dick Helland at 614 457.9662to arrange the transfer and tax credit.*Fitzgerald, Michael L., 'The Witness of Monotheistic Religions' in Islam and OtherReligions: Pathways to Dialogue. Irfan A. Omar, ed. New York: Routledge, 2006.6 November 1 - 30, 2012