Changing Our Mind

On Thursday, October 19, at 7 p.m., I’ll lead a study on the book Changing Our Mind by David Gushee. In this book, Gushee—a past president of the American Academy of Religion and a past president of the Society of Christian Ethics—details how he changed his mind about LGBTQ+ inclusion in the church. Childcare will be available. The books are now available and can be picked up at the back of the sanctuary. The recommended donation for the books is $17.

The Threat of White Christian Nationalism

I wanted to be sure and share this information from Joyce Marr with you:

Kansas Interfaith Action (KIFA), is an organized group of Kansans from various faith traditions who are invested in building a more loving, safe, compassionate Kansas. This group is sponsoring forums across the state to discuss the threat of White Christian Nationalism and how it impacts policy and what people of faith can do about it. Mark your calendar for Sunday, November 5 when the forum comes to Manhattan. Time and place to be announced ASAP.

LGBTQ+ Inclusion Meeting Thursday

From David Procter and Amy Westfahl:

The next LGBTQ+ inclusion meeting will be at 7:00 p.m. on September 28.  This meeting will feature Caela Simmons Wood, pastor of First Congregational United Church of Christ, who will talk about leading an affirming church here in Manhattan. All are welcome! Childcare will be provided. If you have any questions, please contact Amy Westfahl at amy.westfahl@gmail.com or Dave Procter at dprocter@ksu.edu.

New Church Directory!

From Jenny Hutchinson, Chair of Christian Family and Friendship Commission:

CHURCH DIRECTORY — It is time to get an updated photo directory. Our own Wendee Grady will take photos for the directory this year—no sales pitch from a company. Just show up for your picture, verify your info, and move on! There will be a digital version of the picture that you can request after we are done, but we will not be printing any pictures. Please sign up on the sign-up genius for a time slot. If we run out of slots, we ask that you show up during one of the available windows, and we will try and squeeze people in as time allows. Also, if you prefer to submit a photo you already have, that works as long as they are digital. They can be emailed to Kimberlyjonesivester@gmail.com before Oct 15.

Link: https://bit.ly/3ZqsoOY

I Have NOT Been Hacked!

I have not been hacked, at least not technically. My email and my phone number are secure. But it would seem that scammers have made the pastor/parishioner connection between me and many of you. My phone number and email address are listed on the back of the bulletin. If you get a message that claims to be from me but doesn’t come from that email or that phone number, then it isn’t me. If you have questions, please call, text, or email me. (At the number and address listed on the back of the bulletin.)

Voices: Keep Going

“If you are tired, keep going; if you are scared, keep going; if you are hungry, keep going; if you want to taste freedom, keep going.” — Harriet Tubman [1]

[1] Harriet Tubman as quoted in David P. Gushee and Colin Holtz, Moral Leadership for a Divided Age: Fourteen People Who Dared to Change Our World (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Brazos Press, a Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2018), Kindle, 105.