Jesus Wants Universal Healthcare

Last night over 140,000 people from all kinds of religious persuasions joined in phone call with President Obama and many clergy and lay people from all over the country. These folks came from all walks of life, from all over the political spectrum, to express their concerns that a health care plan must be developed that provides coverage for all of God's children.

We heard from people like Rev. Heyward Wiggins, who had a parishioner in his congregation die, because he couldn't afford blood tests that would have detected his cancer in time to treat it, and many others with similarly heartbreaking stories.

President Obama and his Domestic Policy Director Melody Barnes spoke directly to the issues that people of faith care about most, and addressed the moral dimensions of the health care debate.

Over the next 40 days, people of faith are leading a national campaign for health care reform. While members of Congress are in their home districts, we’ll be holding hundreds of prayer vigils and in-district events. We’ll sign petitions, write our representatives, organize a nationwide conference call for people of faith, and air a national TV ad –all to say the faith community supports health care reform.

40 Days for Health Reform is an effort from the faith community to make clear to Congress that quality, affordable health care for every American family is a moral priority for millions of people of faith.

Health care reform is far too important of an issue to let special interests hijack the debate with disruptions and distractions. 40 Days for Health Reform is moving the debate forward with a nationwide TV ad featuring local clergy and lay leaders supporting reform, prayer rallies and in-district meetings reaching over 100 Members of Congress, and a call-in webcast featuring President Obama and diverse faith leaders.

Join the call, take the pledge, sign the petition:

http://faithforhealth.org/

Revive Us, O Lord . . . . so your people can laugh and sing!

Well, it happened quicker than most people thought possible.

Of course, that’s what usually happens when working in God’s realm, isn’t it?

We are being shown again and again that God’s plans are far grander than anything we can dream up, and God’s time is far different from our time.

Within days of the sign going upon the church property, a full-price offer was tendered.
After negotiations with all parties, the Congregation met in a called meeting August 16, 2009, and took action to accept the offer to purchase the church building.

The building is being purchased by another church seeking to move out of the city and expand its program and reach.

With 250 members, they have immediate plans about how they would use the space and bring life and purpose back to the rooms of the building.

So, the sale includes a negotiated arrangement to lease-back certain space for our exclusive use — using the entire older wing of the building: the chapel room, the large Sunday school room, the smaller office room and a couple of rooms down stairs.

Because of the way we have asked the agreement to be structured, it is a three year ease with no cash outlay by us at any time during the year — and includes the heat and utilities.

Some of the funds could be used to renovate the rooms and make them useful to us, and the bulk of the money would be invested in an endowment with the Presbytery that could provide us with around some $60,000 in annual income.

And, we are out from under the expense of owning, operating and maintaining the building — which are expected to be around $87,000 this year alone.

Clearly, God is not finished with this church yet!

There is more sacred work to be done.

Recently, a local church had a sign out in front that read:
When a door closes, God always opens another.

When a door closes, God always opens another.

Our task now begins to give answer to the question: Now what?

In a very real way, we have been given a reprieve.
We have been given another opportunity.

What are we to do with the next three years?

Where is that new door and what does it open to?
Let the prayer of the Psalmist be our prayer: Revive us, 0 Lord . . . ! (Psalm 85-6)
Let this be our Bible verse of the day
— let it be the Bible verse for the days ahead.

Let us be open to be aware of the God-nudges that will lead us into a clearer picture of what we are to do — and what we are to become.

Let our prayer be that of the Psalmist: Revive us, 0 Lord . . . !
And, for the same reason as the Psalmist — so we can laugh and sing!

For too long, we have been living in the doldrums
It doesn’t have to that way,

God does not intend for any of us to live down-in-the-dumps.

God wants us all to spend our days laughing and singing.

Our Sacred writings proclaim a way of living for folks who are down and out.

Changing your attitudes — changing your way of looking at things can lead to a life of laughter and song!

So, let us pray over and over again in the days ahead:

Revive us, Lord . . . .
so your people can laugh and sing!