Greetings St. John’s Family and Friends,
As you know we have been sharing the powerful developments in our denomination,
with the StillSpeaking Initiative, the new TV ads scheduled to hit the airwaves
today (Dec. 1st) and our own St. John’s print ads in the SF Weekly
all month!! We have worked hard to prepare St. John’s for visitors and
responses we may expect from the public. The UCC is once again speaking not
just within the safety of our churches but to the World. We are sharing God's
wide welcome! That can be uncomfortable for some who think they possess the
only key to God.
Well, the stir has begun! Yesterday CBS and NBC decided that airing sitcoms,
reality shows and often violent and biased news is more relevant than airing
the UCC's Still Speaking TV ads. They decided our ads about the inclusive
welcome of God are too "controversial" !!!
Below you will find the press release sent out over the Worldwide Faith News
network (www.wfn.org) from the UCC national office. Wherever you find yourselves
on the spectrum of reactions to this news, the truth is that this IS a powerful
moment in the life of the United Church of Christ. We don't have to be silent
and watch privatized media keep us from telling the gospel truth of God’s
welcome of all God’s children. We can speak out! In fact we must ACT.
Our viability as a Church and how our nation sees the UCC depend on the way we
respond to this corporate blockade.
Read CBS’s response in the Press Release below. How outrageous that CBS and NBC
presume to tell a Christian denomination that God is not inclusive and does not
expect faithful children to be also! Can inclusivity be too controversial? We
in the UCC assert that “God is Still Speaking” in this day and age, through each
of us, and we value the diversity of that expression.
We at St. John’s sometimes laugh that being a lavender-friendly church in San
Francisco isn’t very unique. But what is unique is that we belong to a
lavender-friendly Christian denomination! Now that’s good news!
I include some contact information at the end of this e-mail. If you feel so
called, write an e-mail or note and send it to all these places! Personalize
the note with who you are and why you, yourself, are writing. You're also
welcome to forward this email.
Throughout history folks have tried to quiet the people who have
proclaimed radical divine truths. Thank goodness they are never completely
successful, for the message goes on.
God
IS
Still Speaking,
--Kyle
Rev. Ms. Kyle Ann Lovett, Pastor
St. John's United Church of Christ
501 Laguna Honda Blvd.
San Francisco CA 94127
tel: 415-731-9333
fax: 415-731-9367
e-mail: pastor@sfstjohnsucc.org
web:
www.sfstjohnsucc.org
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