November 21, 2007 by RevLurch.

As I’ve been gearing up for the Action plan part of our consultation process with Dr Hunter it struck me that we will be in the midst of writing our action plans during Christmas.   With this in mind, I wrote the following for Grace Notes, the church newsletter.

God is Here

In just a few short weeks it will be Christmas.  The kids will present their Christmas program they have been working so hard on and we will sing Silent Night together by candlelight.  Presents will be received and given and all will be merry and bright.

 

Yes, Christmas is a beautiful time of year.  I’m as excited as I used to be when Grandpa took me to the penny candy store.  GOD IS HERE!

 

That’s exciting and earth shaking news.  So earth shaking that it took a host of angels to announce it.  This is no ordinary happening:  GOD IS HERE!

 

This Christmas, I’ve noticed God more than ever.  It’s not that he has been absent in the past but the evidence of God is clearer to me than ever.  I am convinced that God is getting ready to do a new thing:  GOD IS HERE!

 

Over the next couple months there will be people hard at work (maybe even you) writing action plans to go with all of Dr. Hunter’s recommendations.  Our Action Plan Task force will be taking all of those plans and prioritizing them and overseeing their implementation.  Oh yeah, did I mention?:  GOD IS HERE!

 

If you haven’t had a chance to read our written report, please do so.  The only way to really know what the recommendations say is to read them for yourself.  It is important to read the totality of what is recommended and to keep in mind that we will not be able to do everything at once.  We are continuing to discern God’s will for us because:  GOD IS HERE!

 

As we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and work on our action plans remember the Good News of Christmas:  GOD IS HERE!

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November 7, 2007 by RevLurch.

Dr Kent Hunter from Church Doctor Ministries will be with us Sunday 11/11/07 to share his recommendations for our ministry together.  I’ve had a chance to review his recommendations and I can’t wait for others to see and hear what he has to say.  I am excited for our future together.  Dr. Hunter has opened my eyes to God’s gifts in this place that even I didn’t see.  I hope that others will catch the vision and we can move forward in the confidence of our ministry in Jesus Christ.  Come and see.  Even if you have never come to Grace before, you will be blessed by what you will hear and see because you will see Christ.  Check out the schedule at churchdr.graceluckey.org

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November 3, 2007 by RevLurch.

Read the following in Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson’s Racial Justice Statement.

Speak out against hate crimes and other racial injustices in our communities and work to strengthen legislation that supports and protects civil rights

At another place, he asks for honest discussion on the topic so here goes. When people start talking about hate crimes it makes me nervous. All crimes are hate crimes, period. Murder, for example is the greatest example of hate.

Do I destroy someones property unless I somehow hate them? And how does property damage, for example, become worse when there is “hate?” How do we figure out if someone hates? If someone is murdered, does it really matter if the killer hated them because of their race? Isn’t murder, murder? What thought will be illegal next?

Some random questions I don’t expect answers to. I expect to be asked to repent of my racism because I asked them.

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