A Message from Pastor Tony

A Message from Pastor Tony

Dear friends:

Thank you very much for such a wonderful send off. We were so grateful to see so many of you there. The tacos were a great idea!

We have arrived in Cleveland safely (2600 miles in 5 days!), less than 24 hours before the movers. The cat slept much of the drive. Our furniture and boxes have been unloaded (it will be some time before they are all unpacked!), and Darrell's car, which we shipped, has arrived as well.

We are waiting to hang the beautiful oil painting of the Sonoma Coast until after we've done some painting. We know it will look great in this house. Thank you for that generous and notable gift. 

You will always be in our thoughts and prayers. 

Love in Christ,

Pastor Tony and Darrell

18728 Sloane Ave 
Lakewood OH 44107 

Recap for Tony's Farewell Fiesta By Sue Day

Recap for Tony's Farewell Fiesta

By Sue Day

By coincidence - Pastor Tony's farewell luncheon and party fell on Mexico's Independence Day (September 16), so we had a Mexican Fiesta theme with Mariachi music playing in the background. About 70 people attended. Freshly made gourmet tacos were available on the deck with four 12-foot tables laden with pot luck dishes in the Social Hall. A special Mexican cake, Tres Leche (three milk cake) was decorated with "We love you, We will miss you, Your ACC Family".

Concha and Javier decorated the Social Hall in green, white and red, the national colors of Mexico.

Our gifts to Tony and Darrell included: royal blue t-shirts with ACC's stained glass love dove logo, a photo album that will contain photographs of attendees, two wool hats knitted by Ruth Robinson and Linda Young with plaques initiating Tony and Darrell into the Order of the Worthy Tam, and finally an original oil painting entitled "Sonoma Coast" by local artist Iris Sabre. Tony and Darrell often drove to the ocean for rest and rejuvenation.  

After lunch 20 singers from the Oakland Gay Men's Chorus**, with whom Tony often sang, performed "It's a Wonderful World".

Assisting Sue Day, Coordinator, were the following: Nina Harmon, Sara and Randy Laferte, Ruth Robinson, Dudley Thompson, Concha Delgado, Bill Day, Helen Winters, Elena Caruthers, Jaima Roberts, Barry Cammer, Alan Gardiner, Ron Yourd, Natalie Morrison, and Beatrice Gonzalez (our facilities caretaker's wife) who made Uruguayan cookies with caramel and vanilla icing with coconut flakes.

** This talented group will be giving a Christmas Concert at ACC on December 9 at 4 PM! Save the Date!!

Spectrum: Blue Theology with Rev. Deboray Streeter

Spectrum: Blue Theology with Rev. Deboray Streeter

September 23 @ 11:30 am

You are invited to join us in the Fireside Room for a Spectrum presentation by Deborah Streeter on Blue Theology. The program starts just after you've had a chance to get a cup of coffee after worship today.

Rev. Deborah Streeter is authorized by the United Church of Christ to be "Minister for Blue Theology," preaching and teaching about ocean spirituality and ocean stewardship.

She is a member of two churches; La Selva Community United Church of Christ, and the Christian Church of Pacific Grove, where she co-founded their Blue Theology program, which provides learning/serving/retreat opportunities for youth and adults on ocean stewardship and spirituality. She writes a weekly "Blue Theology Tide-ings" blog on Facebook and at:

www.bluetheologytideings.blogspot.com & www.bluetheology.com

Deborah has served as a local church pastor, campus minister (UC Berkeley), hospital chaplain (Stanford Hospital), associate conference minister for the UCC and editor of their monthly regional newspaper. She has taught at Pacific School of Religion and in Santa Clara University's Environmental Studies program.

Into the Future by Barry Cammer

Into the Future

By Barry Cammer

First of all, traveling mercies for Tony and Darrell - and their cat. Tony and Darrell made the decision to leave, but I'm sad to see them go. Even though this is a good move for them, I have to imagine that they feel a little fear and anxiety for the unknown. My prayer for them is that these next few weeks and months feel more like an adventure with its attendant excitement; like going downhill on a roller coaster. We scream bloody murder and they scream for joy at the bottom, before we do it all again. It is inappropriate to contact Tony and Darrell from this point forward, but holding them in prayer is not only okay, but a good thing.

We, too, are on an adventure, with more than a little unknown in our future. Trust me when I tell you that wringing of hands won't do any good. What will do some (or a lot of) good is that we remember. Remember that we are a community of faith where we love, care for, and nurture each other. Remember that we are a community where everyone has a role. I remember teaching Vacation Bible School in Eastern Oregon in 1984 after my first year of seminary. I found myself joyfully singing, "All God's children have a voice in the choir, some sing low, some sing higher, some sing out loud on the telephone wire. And some just clap their hands, or paws, or anything they've got now..." Remember that we are surrounded by Spirit, holding our journey, encouraging us and guiding us on our path of choosing our next settled pastor.

So take a few minutes right now, as you read this, and lift in prayer the following:

Tony, Darrell and their cat.

Nina and the entire church council

For the interim search committee and for the person they choose

For the pastoral search commit and for the person who will become our next pastor

For each other at Arlington Community Church

For our transition time

For ourselves

And finally, a word about who we are. As a pastoral counselor, I've worked with lots of people who have ended a relationship. So often, they want to immediately look for a new relationship as a means of healing what hurts. More often than not, they bring their broken heart, anger and disappointment to a new relationship and live out their hurt in unhealthy ways. I always suggest that an individual do some personal work after a relationship. Be clear about who you are, do the healing and grief work that's needed, and then bring THAT strong person into a new relationship.

I'd like to take this moment to suggest that this transition to new pastoral leadership is a perfect time for us to fully claim who we are as a community of faith. I'd like us to clarify our strengths, acknowledge our limitations, do our grieving and healing and bring THAT congregation into a new relationship with a new pastor. A pastor does not define who we are. A pastor reflects who we are. Who are we? Who are we becoming? And how can you help move our community forward into the future?

Rev. Barry Cammer

P.S. We're going to have a variety of preachers for the next 6-8 weeks. So maybe this is a good time to share that, while I liked and appreciated Tony's preaching, I never come to worship to hear Tony. I come to be with my community of faith - all of you. So I ask that each of you commit to worshiping with us MORE during this transition, not less. We are so much more alive and stronger when everyone shows up. Your presence is felt. Your absence is also felt. Worship with us.

Upcoming Preachers

September 30 - Barry Cammer

October 7 - Dorothy Streutker

Interim Search Process Update for the Congregation

Interim Search Process

Update for the Congregation

Tony spoke in his last sermon about doing things together. Over the next months, we will be "Being Church" in our continuation of worship that feeds and inspires us, running the day to day operation of the church, reaching out with mission work, and planning for new Pastoral Leadership.

I was asked recently if we would "vote on the new minister". Because we are a Congregational Church and our "Polity" structure calls for "bottom up" governance of the church, we have a Congregational Meeting to approve of bylaws, budgets, officers, and the appointment of a new settled minister. After our interim minister is selected, in place, and facilitating our work together, we will be launching a search for a "settled minister". That search will involve the congregation in many ways: sharing our dreams and needs, developing a profile of our church that will serve us in years to come, forming a Search Committee, and ultimately (in a Congregational Meeting after we have been introduced to the final candidate), and (yes indeed) voting on a settled minister. That process has been known to take from months to a couple of years. It will be the job of the interim minister to facilitate the involvement of the congregation in that process.

In the meantime, some matters - for efficiency sake - are under the approval of the elected Church Council.   The search/approval process for an Interim Minister is one of those matters. The Elected Church Council will be voting on the Interim Minister.

ACC Bylaws: Under section titled Ministers

Section F. The Interim Period between Pastorates: Upon notice of a pastoral vacancy, the Church Council shall meet within a week to determine the pastoral needs of the church. When those needs require that a Minister be called to fill the vacated pastorate, the Directors shall take two actions:

1. Appoint an Interim Minister Search Committee to seek a candidate for Interim Minister, who shall do the specialized work needed during the interim period between the departure of a minister and the calling of a candidate for the vacant pastorate. The Interim Minister Search Committee shall consist of not less than three (3) nor more than seven (7) active Members.

a. The Interim Minister Search Committee may contact the Northern California Nevada Conference placement officer responsible for interim ministry, for advice and counsel; and shall ultimately introduce a candidate to the Church Council.

b. The terms of the interim ministry contract shall be reviewed and approved by the Church Council.

c. The interim candidate shall be called by at least a three-fourths vote of the Council members present.

2. Begin the search for a permanent minister, by setting in motion the steps in Section C, Calling a Minister.   (Section C, will be printed here later.)

The Interim Search Committee (Linda Young, Anita Baker, and Ruth Robinson) continues to move forward. Finding candidates that are qualified for this unique role is not easy, but some promising candidates are emerging. In the meantime, we extend gratitude to Barry, Susan and the whole team that is planning a worship structure and arranging for pulpit support in the weeks to come.

Linda Young,

Interim Search Committee Chair

Creation Justice is More Than Being Green by Ruth Robinson

Creation Justice is More Than Being Green

Ruth Robinson

This week's blog is different than what you have come to expect from Person of the Planet. It is a book suggestion and a reason to read "The 57 Bus". A brief review:

Heartbreaking but infused with compassion, this true story is riveting. The short, compelling chapters of The 57 Bus peel back issues of race, class, and gender in a subtle, empathic way. The writing is intense and insightful, and the reader comes away more aware and feeling more compassion for both teens. 

Kensington and El Cerrito Libraries selected this book for a Two-Cities-One-Book read. We may remember the horrific incident five years ago in Oakland about two teens, one calls themselves (correct new grammar) "a-gender", and the other boy is, well, a boy. One expresses themself by wearing skirts and a baseball hat; the other by being seemingly tough among his peers. Then there was Bus 57, AC Transit, taking the kids home from school.

And a kid was set on fire. This is their story. You can get your very own FREE copy of the hardback at either Library, on the condition you will either return it OR share it with others. It is not long, but compelling; not difficult to read, but contains information we need to hear.

Justice issues, especially around creation matters, are much more than recycling the church bulletin each week.

Bonus: the author is speaking at the EC Library on Oct. 9th, and there will be public discussion groups for both adults and teens later in the month.

September 2018 Council Notes

September 2018 Council Notes

Is your pledge up to date? Some people prepaid their 2018 pledges in December, giving us a 'cushion' of funds to start this year. Other pledge payments have been a bit slow, and we have now used up the 'cushion' to help pay the bills. Currently, pledge income is behind budget by about $7,000. If you can, please bring your pledge current, or let our Financial Secretary, Carol Lloyd, know if your plans have changed.

Godspeed, Tony and Darrell: The send-off fiesta on Sunday September 16 was a typical ACC event - plenty of laughter, good food, bright music, warm hugs. About 80 people attended, including the East Bay Gay Men's Chorus. Farewell gifts included Worthy Tams for Tony and Darrell (but appropriately styled for Midwest winters. I hope there are photos somewhere!), hand-made placemats from Clavel, Love Dove t-shirts, and a beautiful painting of the Sonoma coast.

Interim Worship Plans and Search for Interim Pastor: We will see some new and some familiar faces leading worship in the next few months. Barry Cammer has volunteered to coordinate the arrangements and to preach occasionally. We also have other gifted preachers in our community, so watch your Parishscope to see who is coming next. Our preacher on September 23 will be the Rev. Deborah Streeter, whose "Blue Theology" ministry embraces stewardship of our planet, and particularly of the ocean.

In the meantime, the Interim Search Committee is reviewing resumes and holding interviews. When they have settled on the best candidate, they will recommend that person to Council for approval. This is the procedure set forth in our by-laws.

Building Improvements: We have replaced old ductwork and three old furnaces with clean new ductwork and two furnaces. Thanks to Javier, the most weather-beaten face of the building on Rincon Road has been power-washed, primed, and painted.

If you would like more details about any of these items, ask our moderator, Nina Harmon. Complete council minutes are available in the administrative office.

Faith is a Verb.. Musings by Pastor Tony September 14, 2018

Faith is a Verb.. Musings by Pastor Tony

September 14, 2018

Friends:  

My last Sunday is in 2 days, so this is my last column I write here. In a few weeks, I step into a new role as the Minister for Committee on Ministry Development and Leadership, to train people across the denomination in how we educate and form people for ministry and how we support Clergy in their ministries. At the heart of this is what churches need, and the changing landscape of churches. Clergy are being trained to address these changes, even as churches are known for their resistance to change and insistence on honoring tradition. In my 8 years as your pastor, we have addressed some of these traditions that may be blocking us from stepping into God's promised future.

Some in our congregation may feel like the changes we have undertaken together are cataclysmic, white others will feel like we are still too stuck in the tradition to be relevant in our world today. For me, the truth is somewhere in between. The cataclysmic shifts that are occurring in our church mirror those in our world, and for us to pass on any legacy as a congregation we must adapt to the changes, which may feel like we have abandoned all tradition. The tradition, though, is always held by God, as is the change, and the weird, wild, wonderful, woozy feelings we get as we live into the change. We have weathered many changes together, and we know there are always more to come, and I believe we have truly honored the traditions in ways that help with the changes.

I have often heard that a good preacher will comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. The challenge of modern church and ministry is that most of us like being comforted while few of us like being afflicted ( including me); and yet, growth of any kind, whether personal or as a congregation, must include some discomfort and maybe even pain. I hope I have struck a balance, pushing for uncomfortable change while also offering pastoral care during the process, and I pray that I have done this with the health and future of the church in sight.

We don't often get to both live through radical change and see the fruits of our labor be harvested. This is doubly true for clergy who join and lead a community for a season, and leave, relying on God to bring others to lead the harvest. This is part of my sadness as I leave, knowing that your lives and the life of this congregation will continue to change, and I will only get to watch it from afar. I do look firward to hearing what you and God discover together in the future.

Blessings, friends, on your continued ministry here at Arlington Community Church. Be open to some change. Honor the traditions, and also recognize when they are blocking growth. Love each other, love your neighbors, love this planet. This is what we have been handed from our forbears; May it be what we hand to those who follow.

Love in Christ,  

Pastor Tony

Faith is a Verb… Musings by Pastor Tony August 3, 2018

Faith is a Verb…      Musings by Pastor Tony     August 3, 2018

In about 6 weeks we will do a ritual of release, in which I will ask your forgiveness for mistakes I have made, and you will ask me for forgiveness for mistakes you have made. As we approach that time, I am reflecting on the many things we have accomplished together, as well as the things that are still left yet to do. I remember 8 years ago feeling a sense of hopelessness or mistrust, which is no longer palpable. Since then, we have grown in faith, hope, trust, and we show this with the building improvements and the Person of the Planet programming.

One thing that we did not accomplished is growing the numbers in our little congregation. New attendees and members have mostly balanced the deaths and losses, and more than 1/3 of our attendees have been here less than I have; yet, we could not actually bump the numbers up. Eight years ago, even though research shows how difficult it is for congregations to jump to the next size up, I naively believed we might be able to do that. Congregation size is due to many factors including: the pastor; the congregational culture; location; infrastructure of building and leadership; programming; history of choices around staffing, outreach, finances; music and worship style. None of these is in isolation. Changing the size of a congregation is complex, requiring changes to those factors and more.

Knowing this, and still wondering if we made any mistakes around church growth, I recently listened to a favorite NPR podcast, Hidden Brain, a conversation with experts on sociology. The episode called “Creating God” (July 16, 2018)  looked at the study of the evolution of religion, naming how integral religion was for our species to go from smaller roaming tribes of 35-50 to becoming settled in much larger cities. In small groups of a few dozen people, it turns out, you can trust each other because it is easy to keep an eye on each other; in larger groups, it was suggested that we need an external force to judge and punish those who break the norms of the society and create trust.  In ancient societies, God and religion became that judge and ethical arbiter, as well as the source of trust. As those tasks became more the realm of the government, God became described as more forgiving and benevolent.

As fascinating as that is to me, what stopped me was the number-- 35-50, a few dozen--the average number we have maintained for worship over the last 8 years. Our species evolved to be in the size of our congregation! We belong to a congregation that is natural for our species!

We say that faith is not measured in numbers; but can we claim, in this numbers-hungry, data-driven society that our faith is not related to how many people attend or how large our treasury is? Yes. Our small-sized congregation allows us to make decisions as a group, prioritize all voices rather than just a few, act out of unity rather than merely following the leaders, and test visions and dreams in casual conversations to get a pretty good sampling before we vote. We see who is present on a Sunday, and more importantly, who is missing and ask after them. In fact, as I think of all that we have done and will do with just this size congregation, I am convinced that God is in our midst, in this size, in ACC, and will continue to be in the future!  

Peace,                                                                                   

Pastor Tony

Interim Minister Search Committee

Interim Minister Search Committee

August 3, 2018

The Council has appointed an Interim Minister Search Committee for the purpose of finding an interim minister to serve the congregation after Tony's departure, and to help the congregation form its priorities and search for a settled minister. The Interim Minister Search Committee consists of Linda Young, Anita Baker, and Ruth Robinson. Moderator, Nina Harmon is working closely with the committee. We have met with the Rev. Davena Jones, from the Northern California - Nevada Conference of the UCC to learn about the procedure for selecting an Interim, and to share with her the drafts for a job posting proposal. The ACC Bylaws require Council approval for the interim job posting. Therefore, the Council will meet on Monday to review the committee's proposal. Once approved, it will be posted nationally. If you have questions, you are welcome to speak to any of those on the committee. After we have an interim in place, ACC will need a broader Search Committee to be formed. That committee will work with the Interim to search for a settled minister. Please pray with us as we move forward to meet the needs of the ACC congregation.   

Linda Young, Interim Search Chair