Hello Friends:

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Bombs rained down on Iran over the weekend. It’s not a new occurrence in the Middle East, but this time, the bombings were carried out by U.S. forces. Is this a distraction—a misdirection from poor economic policies and home-grown terrorism? Is a president flexing his muscles, giving him yet another opportunity to brag and demonize anyone who opposes him? Will actions like these escalate tensions in an area already too beset by war? What is the response of the peace-loving and justice-seeking Christian community? How can we most effectively resist these actions? These are the questions with which we must grapple in the days, weeks, months, and years ahead.

 

This weekend is the Twin Cities Pride festival. UBC is sharing a booth with our friends at First Congregational church. So, stop by the booth (we’re number 66) in the religious (purple) section. For some reason, we’re right in between the Satanists and the Atheists. That ought to make for some good discussions.  It’s always great to celebrate and not be threatened by diversity of thought, belief, orientation, and identity. Inclusion is something to be welcomed and affirmed.

 

The grab bag topic for this Sunday is Matthew 18:18-20. This is known as the great commission. Many scholars think that it is a late addition to Matthew’s Gospel. It includes an admonition to preach the Gospel to every creature and codifies, for the first time, the Holy Trinity as part of a baptismal formula. And, it’s a beloved passage for many of us. But is it more important than, say, the Sermon on the Mount?  What does the Great Commission have to do with the Great Commandment and the Great Criteria? I attended an Alliance of Baptists conference a year or so ago and the focus was on the same passage of scripture, only the topic was, provocatively, “Decolonizing the Great Commission.” I’ll talk about all of this and its intersection with the Pride celebration on Sunday. Kevin Branting, Jean Lubke, and Kim Donley will be teaming up to provide music for Sunday and Violet Butler will be the worship leader.

 

The deadline for the July Newsletter is Wednesday, June 25th. Please submit your pictures, stories, and announcements to Chris Follett at chrisf2828@yahoo.com.

 

We are moving our Worship Planning retreat until sometime in August. If you are interested in participating, please contact Violet Butler at violetbutler77@gmail.com. 

 

Our program and fiscal year ends on June 30th. So, if you have not completed your pledge for ’24/25, this is the week to do it. You can always give at ubcmn.org/giving. 

 

Check the schedule below for more of what’s happening this week.

 

​Blessings and Peace,

 

Doug Donley