This week

This week:

Monday: FYI in the morning, Dr, Fred will meet with his covenant group.

Tuesday: Folks are talking about it and are eager for another walk. The labyrinth makes a return engagement to the Fireplace lounge. All Day. Everyone is invited to walk—in just a few minutes, reduce stress, reorganize your mind and spirit, and relate to God. Barbara Catterton brings the opportunity to do art as you reflect. Please join us and bring your friends.

6:30 PM UCMHE student board, at Panera’s, 78th & Dodge.
8:00 PM Inclusive Spiritual Seekers in the Council Room, 3rd floor, MBSC. A time fore reflection, medication, discussion and blessing.

Friday : Peace with Justice JSAT—we continue our action/reflection/prayer/group model to advocate for student groups purchasing and distributing only sweat free T-shirts. We help groups rethink the cost of buying things cheap.

Friday night through Sunday: Walter Brueggemann is coming to First United Methodist Church, Omaha. (70th and Cass) Through a special offer of the leadership of the event, UNO students are being offered an opportunity to hear one of this generation’s best biblical thinkers. From Friday night through Sunday morning, you can come to any of the lectures. Just get in touch with me for information. (basically, show up and tell them you are a UNO student and you know me). The schedule is available by following the links at First United Methodist Church (www.fumcomaha.org). Dr. Fred will moderate a discussion group on site, Saturday at noon. This weekend will be really cool. Contact me.

Other FYIs.

Last week, during our Second Saturdays of Service at Habitat for Humanity, UCMHE received the coveted “Best New Volunteer Group of 2006” award. The award is a solid hickory handled hammer with the Habitat for Humanity logo and the name of our group etched in. The original hammer belongs in the archives, but if you’ve been part of the H for H second Saturday’s project, you can have your own hammer. A caring donor has offered to make funding available so you can have your own hammer. Just contact me for details.

Coming on April 15, 2007, the Peace Expo, 1-5 PM. We’re sponsors of the event which is designed to educate and relate peace advocates from Nebraska. Cindy Sheehan is the featured speaker. Lori Young is taking a leadership role in the student to student departments. We’re working with leaders from the Social Work areas, and the Feminist Majority to make this happen. We’ll also be selling copies of Sheehan’s most recent book as a fundraiser. Want to volunteer as a Marshall? Salesperson? Advocate? Furniture mover? Advice giver? Please contact me. We’d love for you to be faithful and useful.

The Hope video project continues. Interviews with students on camera, answering these questions: What is hope and where do you find it. You can be part of this project. Just bring a smile and attitude!

It Takes a Team

The Schedule for the week:

Tuesday, 2:30 PM Peace and Justice Intern meeting
7:30 PM Spring planning
8:00 PM Inclusive Spiritual Seekers
Wednesday--noon lunch at the Library Cafe
6:30 PM Misquoting Jesus, last session, St. Luke UMC, 120th & Dodge
Thursday--11-1PMquiet time int he food court. Ha!

Conversations by appointment of by hanging out.

What do you want to do this spring? We're taking a poll, so let us know.


Whether it’s a single or an album, the Grammy Awards have demonstrated that successful things happen when it’s a group effort. Not only did a group (Dixie Chicks) win album of the year, there was a long list of people who were given credit for the success of the album. “I’m Not Ready to Make Nice” is album of the year, and though it’s title sends a testy message (born, I suspect, from their outspokenness against the war in Iraq), the three stars were happy together on stage; and they were happy to thank others for their success.

I saw this same group success this week. Jackson Katz came to UNO to address students concerning gender violence. The events in the Nebraska room were highly successful: 200 students came to the lectures and workshop, and we believe this will make a positive impact on the lives of students at UNO. This project was made available through a grant provided to UCMHE and matched by several organizations and clubs on campus. The event was also co-driven by Erin Cron of student programming, Tumie Gobagoba of the Women’s Center, Lisa Oliveto from the Counseling Center as well as UCMHE. The work of many was necessary to make the Katz event successful.

Another successful gathering took place on Saturday as several of us went out to help at a Habitat for Humanity site. We were putting up sheetrock in a very cold house. The only heat was heat blower supplied by the friendly plumbers who were on site to finish their installations. In addition to the UCMHE gang, Robert was there from Offut, and there was a group of three Sudanese volunteers. Wreath (yep, that’s his name, just like a Christmas wreath), Peter and Paul were there cutting holes in sheetrock and putting the screws to those ceiling sheets. There was a group working, and it was great to be among them.

Maybe you’d like to be part of a group that makes a difference. Come join us and sense a closer connection with good people and with God.

--Fred




This week's blog

Is God fumbling, too?

This week at UCMHE; Blog below

Tuesday: Jackson Katz;
11:15, 4PM & 7PM I the Nebraska Room at MBSC

8:00 PM Inclusive Spiritual Searchers: A group of an inclusive, spiritually focused young adults just helping each other and the community out along the way. A one-hour emerging worship/meditation event. MBSC, Jenkins Room

Wednesday: 7PM Planning for Peace Expo, Jenkins Room MBSC

Thursday: 11:00 AM. Hanging out in the Library cafe

12;30 PM, MBSC Cafeteria, Student Board Meeting, mostly free food and conversation about needs, desires and upcoming events you’d like to see.

Saturday: Work for Habitat for Humanity, as part of our 2nd Saturdays of Service; meet at Caffeine Dreams at 8:30 AM, we’ll carpool and drive to the worksite; we work until noon.

Planning is underway for bringing drumming, a portable labyrinth, a special theological event, and a leadership or service project for spring break. Two new Worship services at area churches look interesting to me: a U2 worship at First Christian Church (you can see this church from the library café) is in mid February, and a Taize` service begins monthly March 4 at 5:30 PM, First United Methodist Church (across the street from the Omaha Community Playhouse. This is all about worship with a long period of silence in the middle. It will be a version of what we do on Tuesday nights.


Blog

The Super Bowl is over and I’m glad for that. Watching my sentimental favorite go down in missed snaps and two picks was disheartening. I wondered how such major mistakes could happen. As usual, the group was with and I called better plays than the coaches and shared our opinions on how to reverse what was happening.

I do that with God, sometimes, too. If God is calling the plays, it may be that God needs to call more blitzes and reduce the number of missed snaps and the number of picks. We can look to the Iraq war as a bumble, as hopes for the future of that country and ours are dashed against the miss-stepping stones of moving the policies of ideologues and iconoclasm ahead of issues of justice. This removes hope on all sides, and the less strong and patient lash out in response. Gathering together over a common future remains remote. Shi’a and Sunni and Kurd are in search of sturdy dignity, honor and hope. How does God allow, or condone that? Or is God fumbling? I don’t believe God operates that way. I think it’s just us.

We are on the same search as other parts of the world. We have the same dream: dignity in our living with one another, honor for our traditions and growing beliefs, and our hopes for the future. I think we’ve got some responsibility for making that all happen for us and for others. God operates in the heart of faith. Why not join that operation? God can use the help.

--Fred

More on Rosa Parks and hope

Calendar this week & blog below


The video of the New Orleans trip (December 30, 2006-January 6, 2007) is complete and available on DVD. Call or write for a viewing or a copy!

Here are this week's regular meetings:

Tuesday:
12 Noon Peace Studies; 1313 Harney, room 206

3 PM Peace with Justice Internship, MBSC

6:30 PM Tower Room Peace Expo Planning Meeting (students at UNO), (Save the Date for the Peace Expo: April 15)

8 PM Inclusive Spiritual Searchers, Jenkins Room (see below blog for details). whether you’re a conservative or a liberal Christian, Catholic, LDS, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, or simply Agnostic—we welcome you as you search for your God with other questioning, spiritually focused young adults.

Wednesday: 6:30 PM Misquoting Jesus, St. Luke UMC, just south of 120th & Dodge. You’re welcome to join us at any session.

Thursday: Ally coordinating group, MBSC

12 Noon Responses to Intimate Partner Violence planning, MBSC, SPO



Tuesday: Jackson Katz on Campus 4 & 7 PM in the Cornhusker Room, MBSC


I invite you to give me a call or write for a meeting time!

Blog: The Real Rosa



Today I spent about an hour walking through the Nebraska Room at Milo Bail Student Center. It’s not a huge room, but it was full of photos, drawings and stories of people—African Americans people. These are the lives of people who have made a difference in America and the African American Community. (The rest of the week, there will be more diversity celebrations, so if you have time, drop in during the noon hour.)



One of the stories we often hear is that of Rosa Parks. She has been described by Garrison Keillor as a woman “who was not an activist. She was just a woman with groceries who was tired.”



Well, there’s more to the story than that. There’s a great book out there “The Impossible Will Take a Little While” by Paul Rogat Loeb. He has this little tidbit to share about Rosa:



By the time Rosa got on that bus, she “had by that time been a civil rights activist for twelve years, was the secretary of the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and act not alone but in convert with and on behalf of others. The summer before her arrest, shed’ taken a ten-day workshop and met with an older generation of civil rights activists at the Tennessee labor and civil rights center, Highlander Folk School, which is still going strong today. The first NAACP meeting that Parks attended addressed the issue of lynching, an all-American form of terrorism so accepted in the resp



ectable circles that gentlemen smoking cigars and ladies in the Sunday best allowed photos to be taken of themselves standing in front of black men being burned and hanged. )the pictures can be seen in all their horror at the National Civil Rights Museum, in Memphis.) Out of this black legacy and, more important, the years of struggle to overcome it, came the courage and determination of Parks and people like her—a community of like-minded souls….



Nothing cripples the will like isolation. By the same token, nothing buoys the spirit and fosters hope like the knowledge that others faced equal or greater challenges in the past and continued on to bequeath us a better world. Even in a seemingly losing cause, one person may unknowingly inspire another, and that person get a third, who could go on to change the world, or at least a small corner of it. Rosa Parks’ husband, Raymond, convinced her to attend her first NAACP meeting, the initial step on a path that brought her to that fateful day on the bus in Montgomery. But who got Raymond Parks involved? And why did that person take the trouble to do so? What experiences shaped their outlook forged their convictions? The links in any chain of influence are too numerous, to complex to trace. But being aware that such chains exist, that we can choose to join them, and that lasting change doesn’t occur in their absence, is one of the primary ways to sustain hope, especially when our actions seem too insignificant to amount to anything.” (p. 7)



Rosa Parks’ refusal to move to the back of the bus did not come by accident; nor did it come in isolation from other people. The story of Rosa Parks on the bus in Montgomery was the story of character and group support: the result of multiple pieces of history, hard work, determination, and the refusal of a group to continue to acquiesce to apartheid in America.



One of the pieces of faith in Christ (as I see it) is the importance of being in connection with other folks who are also on a journey. I agree with Loeb, though, that we need to be linked in a chain of hope for our world.



--Fred




Dr. Fred Richart
Campus Minister at UNO
for United Christian Ministries in Higher Education
(sponsoring churches: United Methodist, United Church
of Christ, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and Presbyterian)

frichart@cox.net
cell and office: 402-659-5795
blog is: unocampusministry.blogspot.com

A Few Words of Hope

Calendar this week & blog below


Thanks to the courageous who worked at Habitat for Humanity in the snow on Saturday!
I'm working ont he video of the trip to New Orleans over Winter Break. I'll be on campus most of Tuesday and Wednesday this week. email or call for appointments!

Here are this week's regular meetings:

Tuesday: 12 noon Peace Expo Planning (Save the Date, April 15)
3 PM Peace with Justice Internship, MBSC
8 PM Inclusive Spiritual Searchers, Jenkins Room (see below blog for details)
Wednesday: 6:30 PM Misquoting Jesus, St. Luke UMC, just south of 120th & Dodge.
Thursday 11 AM Responses to Intimate Partner Violence planning, MBSC, SPO

Blog: A Word of Hope

Yesterday I went to Clair United Methodist Church to present UCMHE campus ministry material to the congregation. What I got was the pulpit.

The pastor for the morning had been called and it was agreed he wouldn’t need to bother coming because of the small crowd anticipated. Getting through six inches of snow on an Omaha Sunday morning would be daunting for most. In the meantime, I called the church at 8:58 am to ask if worship was still on. I didn’t want to make the trip if the building was to be closed. Worship was at 10:30 am, as usual, I was told.

I mounted my snow traveling chariot and arrived at 10:15. The parking lot was plowed but there were few cars.

When I entered the sanctuary, I was approached by the lay reader for the morning, Sandy. After introducing myself, she asked, “Would you bring us a message this morning?”

“Absolutely!” was my response. Quick, let me think.

She said easily, “I will pray for you” and she sat down next to me, while I opened a NRSV supplied by Carlotta, an usher. She prayed for me, too.

Memories of Nigerian, and I think most of African, Christian culture went through my mind. In those churches, when a visitor arrives at worship, particularly a visitor who looks like s/he comes from a different town or culture, it is expected that the visitor will bring greetings. Greetings include, but are not limited to, a person’s history, church life, elders who have been important, how everyone’s health is in the house and how grateful the visitor is for God’s love, how that person came to be in relationship with God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit, a favorite scripture (memorized), then a blessing for the gathered congregation.

I’d forgotten my responsibility as a visitor. I did not come to worship completely prepared.

On the other hand, I recalled a story about Henry Nouwen. Henry was a Roman Catholic. He was Dutch. He was a priest. He was a seminary professor who expanded a great deal on the topic of how God was always about and expecting us to “create space” for others. That really was his message, though he talked about it in several books he published. I recalled watching him in front of the altar with his arms outstretched to implicate us all in God’s business of including people, all people. Later, he spent a number of years at a place called, L’Arche. I believe this was in Montreal. This was a home for those whose mental and/or physical problems were extraordinary. Sometimes residents were completely unresponsive or borderline catatonic. To Henry, it did not matter what their issues were, he was there for them, creating spaces of love and compassion. In between the two places, seminary and L’Arche, Henry would go on retreats. One time he was in the middle of a month-long time away from his busy schedule. He was deep into it. Reading, writing, planning, and silence. A message came from the retreat director, asking him to address a group of high school boys who were on the grounds. Henry reports his first thoughts were that he did not have time! He was writing a book, he was on a retreat of seclusion, and he was way too busy for this intrusion. The director responded, “Henry, all these boys want are a few words of hope. Certainly you can offer them that.”

Of course, like Henry, I could do that. It was not a monumental project, beyond my scope, training or experience. Had I experienced hope? Had I met God anywhere? I could answer those questions. In fact, because I am part of UCMHE at UNO, I realized I did have words of hope for the gathered faithful. After the children’s choir belted out “This Little Light of Mine”, I was offered the pulpit. I began, “I have been asked to offer a word of hope on this snowy Nebraska morning.”

So, in Nigerian/Nebraska fashion, I went on, with the prayers of Sandy and Carlotta, the model of Henry and my own experiences of God perched there with me. I felt with them and the congregation, I was among friends.

Perhaps you can offer your stories and connections as well. People will be encouraged. And that may be just what is needed.

--peace,

Fred

Spiritual Searchers--from Lori:

The tribe has spoken and we're moving ISS (Inclusive Spiritual Searchers) to Tuesday nights instead of Wednesday nights. It will still be at the same time, 8:00 p.m., just a different day.

This week was awesome, and thanks to everyone who came. Next week will be just as great--perhaps better!

Get ready for a short message and a deep discussion followed by some meditation and time with your God. Afterwards, we might go out for coffee if people are game!

Still confused what ISS is? Well, first of all, we don’t claim to have all the answers.
What we do have in common is that we’re looking for the same God, and not all of us do it in the same way or share the same beliefs. So, whether you’re a conservative or a liberal Christian, Catholic, LDS, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, or simply Agnostic—we welcome you as you search for your God with other questioning, spiritually focused young adults.

Back from New Orleans

This Week at UCMHE; blog below

Serving opportunities:

∑ Saturday am. We plan to meet to work on a Habitat for Humanity house. We need to coordinate with the folks at Habitat for Humanity, but we can probably work. Stay tuned for more details.

Managing the World and Coordinating opportunities:

∑ Tuesday 4:00 PM. UCMHE Board meeting.

∑ Helping plan the set up the Peace Expo for April 15, 2007. We’ll find a great way for groups interested in Peace to meet & greet.

Worship Opportunities: Lori Young

∑ We’re getting ready to meet 2nd Semester, Wednesday nights at 8PM on campus. Lori Young is taking on a leadership role here. Join us as we plan for the spring schedule and Wednesday night’s events: Emerging Worship; progressive, intensive, thought and sense provoking.


Now the blog:

The trip to New Orleans was difficult physically and spiritually, but well worth it!

The bus ride was 22 hours each way. The six days in between were both fulfilling and sustaining. We gutted houses, put down a tile floor in another, spent time on roofs with standard materials as well as sealing leaks on a metal roof. We put in soffets, drywall and a bathtub and painted exterior and interior areas. We served the people who needed it most.

There were a few by products as well. We learned a great deal. First, we learned that the strength of people is in the community they are part of. The victims of Katrina are scattered, so the sense of community is, too. A recent guestimate put the current population at 180,000 people. Before the storm, there were over 400,000 people. The sense of being fractured is still alive among these folks. The sense of community is partitioned off. Our presence, and that of others helped bring a sense of belonging. Second, we learned we had enough skills and energy to make good things happen. We were up early, had our devotions (thanks Lori!) and were out the door at 7:30 am. We worked until 4 or 5 PM. Some of us were energetic volunteers and some were more skilled. We learned from each other. People were trained in installing p traps, dura rock and drywall mud. And third, we learned God is present in our participation and sharing. New Orleans folks continued to give us accolades for coming down to help. They felt grateful for our coming. They told us this in their personal stories and they told when they found us in fast food restaurants and gas stations. They really did give us a sense of joy. God is good.

Some math for you all and the influence serving others can have: UCMHE has sponsored two previous trips to the Gulf coast. Last year, there were five students from UNL that went with us. Those five joined us again. In addition, Because we were going and they were going, students from Iowa, South Dakota and Utah joined us. There were grandparents and grandchildren, mothers and daughters, folks in their teens and seventies. We built some generational bridges on the trip as well. I appreciate the work of our UNO folks: Lori Young, Jon Derrick, Kevin Bradley, Renee Gosch, Maijada Aljamei. We hope to have their stories in coming editions of this blog.

People are still needed and there is great opportunity to continue this help. If you’d like to go with us during Spring break, please let us know. If there’s enough interest, we can make it happen. In the meantime, we wish you

Peace,

--Fred

habitat for humanity

This Week at UCMHE; blog below

Due to finals week, normal activities and gatherings will continue, but be on an informal basis.

Monday: The Peace with Justice intern meeting is rescheduled to Monday morning at 10 am in the Crimson Room.

This week we will host a leadership meeting to set details for the Volunteer mission trip to Gretna (near New Orleans) LA. So far there are ten students from UNO, five from UNL and a few who are on a fishing expedition to go with us. We will be on the bus with folks from a variety of area churches as well.

Responses to Intimate Partner Violence Planning meeting will be Thursday at 10:00 am in SPO.

While this week looks like a slower week schedule wise, it’s not. Call or write for details.



Now the blog:

Saturday was our Second Saturday of Service project. One of our four purposes is to “be useful”. Christians, in our view, should be useful to in our culture. This fall, we’ve adopted Habitat for Humanity as our thing to do. This year, Omaha’s Habitat for Humanity has been busy building seven homes for folks who qualify. Next year, they’re going for fourteen!

Anyhow, twelve of us met up at Caffeine Dreams at 8:30 AM on Saturday (yes, pilgrims, that the morning time). After filling out forms and receiving some excellent liquid refreshment, we had a quick orientation and went on to the headquarters at 22nd and Ames for our assignment, which turned out to be 4421 Himebaugh Avenue. This area of town was new to some of our drivers, so we snaked our way through the streets of O! as a unit.

Our job, according to Mike and Kate, (Americorps supervisors from fabulous Cheboygan, WI) was to help prime and paint the interior of the house, This house, and others, will be dedicated by the end of the year and occupied shortly thereafter. If we could get things painted, electrical switches could be installed, the cabinets could be hung and flooring and carpeting installed in the next two weeks.

We put ourselves to the paint, cleaned our brushes at the halfway point and came back to finish painting the kitchen/living room area. We left the bedrooms to those who would come after us in the afternoon.

Giving ourselves to help others is a practical adult skill. It’s a mature thing to do. And it was fun, too.

Here are some photos for you and comments:

“It was fun—even in the cold! Better than sleeping in!” Declan McElroy
“At the end of today, I know I’ll feel like I really did something worthwhile.” Laura Sectell
“Eggshell is a texture, not a color! And it was amazing.” Jordan Farrell
“I like helping the community” Sarah Pierson

Know Yourself

This Week at UCMHE; blog below

Learning Opportunities

• Monday: noon: Misquoting Jesus—chapter 7 led by Dr. Fred Richart, in the circle area, food court, MBSC

• Wednesday night: 8:30 PM dinner at the Richart’s for conclusion of “Misquoting Jesus” who meets Jon Stewart.

Serving opportunities:

• Sign up now for the volunteer work trip to Gretna (New Orleans) December 30-January 6.

• Saturday am. We meet to work on a Habitat for Humanity house.

Managing the World and Coordinating opportunities:

• Tuesday 1:30 PM I’ll be helping to fold fliers to mail to parents of UNO freshmen. This is a cooperative effort with the Catholic and LCMS campus ministries. About 2 hours.

• Helping plan the set up the Peace Expo for April 15, 2007. We’ll find a great way for groups interested in Peace to meet & greet.

Worship Opportunities:

• We’re getting ready to meet 2nd Semester, Wednesday nights at 8PM on campus. Peer Minister Lori Young and Peace with Justice Intern John Owens are leaders here.

Now the blog:

I’m dedicating myself to revitalizing my spirit and body. So I’m reading the Bible, focusing this time of year on Matthew and Isaiah and other prophets. This is good for my soul.

Physically, I’m swimming in the HPHER pool several times a week. This is OK on my knee joints and it is good thinking time. (However, I have a concern: Why is it when I go into training, I immediately find a way to not think about what I’m doing? Every day I lose track of my laps!)

Last week after my Wednesday swim, I fell into a conversation with two students. One was in ROTC. The other was his buddy. We discussed the role of physical fitness in the regime of the student, and how good it felt to workout. We are doing it for different purposes, though. The one was getting ready for an anticipated stint in Iraq. The other was doing judo to keep fit and alert. It was easy to imagine that because he had his judo kimono all folded up. I don’t remember the color of his belt to tell you his ranking.

Who knows how, but we started talking about legalized gambling in Nebraska. He was for it, and I was against it. His logic was not persuasive (lost money to Iowa, to which I responded about increased costs to society; freedom of choice vs. good of the community; I want to do it because I’m of age vs. it’s time to take a view of what Jesus would do, etc.)

“OK” he said, “How do you feel about it?”

That was a low blow. I was ready with arguments against gambling, but I’d forgotten about how I felt about it. He deserved an answer and I should know where I stand on an issue like this one.

When I was twelve, my grandmother took a $2 bet of mine to the window at AKSARBEN. I lost it all. The pain was great enough so I never went back. True, I wistfully wonder what I would do with the Powerball jackpot, (starting with giving away the first 10%) but I never get in line to lay my money down.

Churches, including our sponsoring denominations, take an official stance against legalized gambling because it destroys society, preys upon the poor, and provides the dream “Hey, I can get something for nothing.” It’s all a lie, and the bulk of the profit goes to the casino owners who are all out of state, or out of the country.

Years ago, a relative of mine came back from Viet Nam duty with a drug and alcohol habit and a budding gambling addiction. He graduated from to the head of the crazed class of bettors, putting up the house payment and shoes for the kids on the NFL. He was helpless—and that was when there was no legal gambling in Iowa.

I said, “I think the whole idea of legalized gambling ticks me off. It is a lie and it destroys society, and that goes against the Jesus I know.”

“Well, you’ve got a point there.”

It was a reminder that having opinions and thoughts rarely convince anyone of anything. Believing what you say, though—that’s a different matter.

--Fred

Compassion and Responsibility

This Week at UCMHE; blog below

Learning Opportunities

Monday: noon: Misquoting Jesus—chapter 6 led by Dr. Fred Richart, in the circle area, food court, MBSC

Tuesday: Noon: The God within—led by Barbara Catterton; Library coffee area
Folding and mailing a flyer to parents of freshman students, 1:30 PM at Pacific Hills Lutheran Church. We need your help.

Wednesday: noon: Community of Faith—led by Liz Polivka; MBSC food court.

Thursday: Nebraska AIDS project, 10am – 2pm. Check UNO enotes for more details

Friday: Planning: Responses to Intimate Partner Violence ( we’ve scheduled Jackson Katz for Februrary 6, 2007)—meeting at SPO 11:30 am.

And we’ll be putting out flyers to get the word out about the trip to New Orleans, leaving December 30. Please fill out yours and email it in or send it to me. Questions? I’ll be happy to answer them. More info below.

Next week: Misquoting Jesus group Meets at 6 PM Wednesday for supper. Bring something to share. RSVP me for the address and details.

Now for the blog:

Compassion and Responsibility

I’ve just finished listening to Karen Armstrong’s book, “The Great Transformation: The Beginning of Our Religious Traditions.” In this book, she comments about the Axial Period which begins in the 9th century B.C.E.: “we often equate faith with doctrinal conformity, but the traditions of the Axial Age were not about dogma. All insisted on the primacy of compassion even in the midst of suffering.”

The difficulty in our lifetime is not simply identifying the things about which we can be compassionate. Out difficulty also resides in being compassionate at all when we see so many needs, difficulties, criminal activity and war on television, hear it on the radio, or read about it in print. We note terrorism through car bombings and warlords, natural disasters like tsunamis, hunger, starvation, disease and global warming issues.

Suffering requires a compassionate response.

I just received a copy of “An Inconvenient Truth.” I watched in some months ago and ordered a copy. This is a movie that is really a simple explication of issues of the physical planet—global warming. Using his Mac and Keynote (the OSX version of .ppt), Al Gore takes us on a journey of what’s wrong with our planet, and how we might nurse it back to health. Taking responsibility for this shift in our consumer habits is being compassionate; and it also can be responsible. Being compassionate can also mean we’re responsible.

Here’s a story I heard about Texas. In years now gone, when land changed hands through wills and estates, the bottom areas were considered more valuable. This was because oil rigs could more easily get to the oil and gas from a lower ground level. But the oil wells dried up over time, and now there’s a new money maker there—electrical power generated by wind. Huge farms (after all, this is Texas), have allocated lots of space for these wind machines. The best wind farms are at the tops of hills, where the wind is most likely to be unencumbered.

In those parts, the folks who got the worst land and least amount of money through family estates, now have the best land and the good money through wind generated electricity—and the electricity is clean and responsible.

Life’s not perfect but sometimes there are ironic twists that make us all smile. Shifting when we can from coal, oil and other types of fossil fuel to those energy forms that are renewable is a compassionate, and responsible, way of living for our planet.

--Fred






Random House, the publisher, says about Armstrong’s book:

“In the ninth century BCE, the peoples of four distinct regions of the civilized world created the religious and philosophical traditions that have continued to nourish humanity to the present day: Confucianism and Daoism in China, Hinduism and Buddhism in India, monotheism in Israel, and philosophical rationalism in Greece. Later generations further developed these initial insights, but we have never grown beyond them. Rabbinic Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, for example, were all secondary flowerings of the original Israelite vision. Now, in The Great Transformation, Karen Armstrong reveals how the sages of this pivotal “Axial Age” can speak clearly and helpfully to the violence and desperation that we experience in our own times.

Armstrong traces the development of the Axial Age chronologically, examining the contributions of such figures as the Buddha, Socrates, Confucius, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, the mystics of the Upanishads, Mencius, and Euripides. All of the Axial Age faiths began in principled and visceral recoil from the unprecedented violence of their time. Despite some differences of emphasis, there was a remarkable consensus in their call for an abandonment of selfishness and a spirituality of compassion. With regard to dealing with fear, despair, hatred, rage, and violence, the Axial sages gave their people and give us, Armstrong says, two important pieces of advice: first there must be personal responsibility and self-criticism, and it must be followed by practical, effective action.

In her introduction and concluding chapter, Armstrong urges us to consider how these spiritualities challenge the way we are religious today. In our various institutions, we sometimes seem to be attempting to create exactly the kind of religion that Axial sages and prophets had hoped to eliminate. We often equate faith with doctrinal conformity, but the traditions of the Axial Age were not about dogma. All insisted on the primacy of compassion even in the midst of suffering. In each Axial Age case, a disciplined revulsion from violence and hatred proved to be the major catalyst of spiritual change.”

(You can also look up Dr. Armstrong in an interview with Bill Moyers at: http://www.pbs.org/now/transcript/transcript_armstrong.html)


--Fred

Time is running short to sign up for the “volunteer to make a difference” trip to New Orleans during the Christmas break (December 30-January 8).

Here’s what you get for $250:

• Round trip passage to Gretna

• Food while you’re there

• An opportunity to serve those who have been busted by Hurricane Katrina

• Worship opportunities with a progressive bunch

• A week out of Omaha

Here are some tips for raising the money:

• Do some research on the project and the needs in New Orleans: the city and the towns around are still suffering from Hurricane Katrina

• Decide you want to do something tangible,

Then, ask for support and arrange time to make a difference:

• Ask your parents

• Ask some friends

• Write a note to grandma

• Ask your church, synagogue or civic organization

• Talks to your boss at work

Most folks will lend a hand if you tell them what you’re going to do.

Interested folks should give me a call. You can be a member of any faith group. I’ve included 2 pdfs that can get your thinking started and your body motivated.

Honoring Colleagues

This Week at UCMHE; blog below

Learning Opportunities

Monday: noon: Misquoting Jesus—chapter 6 led by Dr. Fred Richart, in the circle area, food court, MBSC

Tuesday: Noon: The God within—led by Barbara Catterton; Library coffee

Wednesday: noon: Community of Faith—led by Liz Polivka; MBSC food court.

And we’ll be putting out flyers to get the word out about the trip to New Orleans, leaving December 30. Lori will be designing them, so expect something creative and dynamic.

Now the blog:

Last night I attended a gala event (read fundraiser) honoring five people who have made a difference. I’ve known all five since the early 90s when this historic gathering began. Each of the five has a different story to tell, but the stories always came back to this: our faith is about building relationships with people and listening to the answer of this question: “What are the most important problems in your community?”

The answers to this question was heard, compiled and deciphered with others across Omaha. Research was done to identify core issues and previous responses, what could, might and should be done, and finally plans were laid to do something about three of the main issues. Continuing process included this information was taken back to the people to mentioned the problem in the first place. The session would then go something like this: “This is what heard was the problem, this is how some of us looked at it, and this is what we plan to do about it. Does this make sense to you?”

Speaking truth to power is a Jesus thing. It can be euphoric, but it is most often a process of slogging through the fears and inertia laden pockets of community. Physics is operational in the community: what is at rest remains at rest unless acted upon by an outside force. There are always reasons why things remain the way they are, and it’s usually because it’s easier that way or someone gains or retains power or profit because it is that way.

With further information, Omaha Together One Community (almost forty churches of a variety of types) moved into the community to change it. My honored colleagues took a leadership role in gathering folks into this new way of doing church, building relationships and changing community based on research. It’s a God thing, and the community is better and more about what God is than before.

So to experiment with community, why not just invited someone for coffee, or whatever, and inject into the conversation: How is it in your community where you live? And see what happens and if God gives you a clue. Who knows what you and your friends might do next?

Time is running short to sign up for the “volunteer to make a difference” trip to New Orleans during the Christmas break (December 30-January 8).

Here’s what you get for $250:

• Round trip passage to Gretna

• Food while you’re there

• An opportunity to serve those who have been busted by Hurricane Katrina

• Worship opportunities with a progressive bunch

A week out of Omaha
Here are some tips for raising the money:

• Do some research on the project and the needs in New Orleans: the city and the towns around are still suffering from Hurricane Katrina

• Decide you want to do something tangible,

Then, ask for support and arrange time to make a difference:

• Ask your parents

• Ask some friends

• Write a note to grandma

• Ask your church, synagogue or civic organization

• Talk to your boss at work

Most folks will lend a hand if you tell them what you’re going to do.

Interested folks should give me a call. You can be a member of any faith group.

Here's one spot to go to get you thinking: VIM

--Fred

A week after the election

This Week at UCMHE; blog below

Learning Opportunities

Monday: noon: Misquoting Jesus—chapter 5& 6 led by Dr. Fred Richart, in the circle area, food court, MBSC

Tuesday: Labyrinth at the Fireplace lounge most of Tuesday, beginning at 9am. Don’t miss this spiritual awakening event.

Noon: The God within—led by Barbara Catterton; MBSC food court

Noon: Islam 101: led by Dr. Paul Williams, Room 207, 1313 Farnam on the Mall
This Wesleyan Live event is organized by UCMHE for you for six Tuesdays. This week we learn about Relations between Muslims and Christians—how Muslims view Christians. Call me for a ride.

UCMHE Board will meet at 4PM, John Owens and Lori Young will be introduced and talk a little about their projects/faith/style.

Wednesday: noon: Community of Faith—led by Liz Polivka; MBSC food court.

Thursday: we’ll meet at the Westwood Heights movie Theater to watch the UNO Film Society entrants and winners. More details this week.

And we’ll be putting out flyers to get the word out about the trip to New Orleans, leaving December 30. Lori will be designing them, so expect something creative and dynamic.

Now the blog:

Last week I reflected on voting your values. I hope you did.

This week, I want you to act on your values, and if one of your values is to be compassionate, I urge you to sign up for the trip to Gretna (near New Orleans) during the Christmas break (December 30-January 8).

Here’s what you get for $250:

• Round trip passage to Gretna
• Food while you’re there
• An opportunity to serve those who have been busted by Hurricane Katrina
• Worship opportunities with a progressive bunch
• A week out of Omaha

Interested folks should give me a call or email me and I'll send you an application. You can be a member of any faith group.

--Fred

Voting Week--do God's best

This Week at UCMHE; blog below

Learning Opportunities

Monday: noon: Misquoting Jesus—chapter 5 led by Dr. Fred Richart, in the circle area, food court, MBSC
Tuesday: noon: The God within—led by Barbara Catterton; MBSC food court
Noon: Islam 101: led by Dr. Paul Williams, Room 207, 1313 Farnam on the Mall
This Wesleyan Live event is organized by UCMHE for you for six Tuesdays. This week we learn about Relations between Muslims and Christians—how they view each other. Call me for a ride.
Wednesday: noon: Community of Faith—led by Liz Polivka; MBSC food court.
Saturday morning: working for Habitat for Humanity; Anna Cox is coordinator. Email her with your plans to be there. She’ll have details.


Next week: in addition to the regular schedule, there will be a Labyrinth at the Fireplace lounge most of Tuesday, beginning at 9am. Don’t miss this spiritual awakening event.

Also, the UCMHE Board will meet at 4PM, Tuesday. These are the sponsoring denomination representatives. John and Lori will be introduced and talk a little about their projects/faith/style.

And we’ll be making plans to get the word out about the trip to New Orleans, leaving December 30.


Now the blog:

This is voting week and there’s really no excuse for you not to vote, if you’re of age and your leg’s not broken or something. Don’t forget to vote your values. The values of this ministry are:

Free food—It’s all about fellowship and getting together. Some candidates are not about explaining their views out there. Instead, they seem to be all about division, creating hate, etc. Those are not my values. Free food and gathering is about inclusion. My values say we’re all in this life thing together. I think God values all people—no matter who they are or where they live.

Make yourself Useful: Not only do we expect ourselves to be useful, we expect to have a chance to be useful. This is where I go with that thought during election week: I vote for candidates who provide opportunities for people to be useful. We want opportunities to make the world better, not more cost effective. (Oh, and did I mention there’s a seat for you on the bus to New Orleans on December 30?—we can help out victims of Hurricane Katrina).

Be Sweat Free: Biblical Justice is a good thing. If you spend much time in the scriptures, you can quickly come to the conclusion that God has a spot for the poor, and has an expectation of those who are wealthy. My thinking is that God expects the wealthy to help the impoverished. Does your candidate/proposition work to help the impoverished, and just as importantly, does your candidate work to change the system that creates and sustains poverty? (Oh, and did I mention there’s a seat for you on the bus to New Orleans on December 30?—we can help out victims of Hurricane Katrina).

Progressive talk about God is a value. A wise woman once said, “A good question is worth a thousand words”—that’s four typed pages, double spaced. Some of us (you’re welcome to join us!) meet on Mondays at noon to talk about how the Bible was compiled and has been changed over centuries. But at the same time, there is truth about God’s love on the pages we have. That’s a miracle! Does your candidate have optimism or pessimism? Does your candidate have a plan to let God’s love out? (Oh, and did I mention there’s a seat for you on the bus to New Orleans on December 30?—we can help out victims of Hurricane Katrina).

Yep, these are values worth voting for, and that’s what I plan to do.

--Fred

Two New Peers!

This Week at UCMHE; blog below

Learning Opportunities

Monday: noon: Misquoting Jesus—chapter 4 led by Dr. Fred Richart, in the circle area, food court, MBSC
Tuesday: noon: The God within—led by Barbara Catterton; MBSC food court
Noon: Islam 101: led by Dr. Paul Williams, Room 207, 1313 Farnam on the Mall
This Wesleyan Live event is organized by UCMHE for you for six Tuesdays. This week we learn about Jihad. First day is free, Tuesdays after that are at a big discount. Call me for a ride.
Wednesday: noon: Community of Faith—led by Liz Polivka; MBSC food court
Thursday: Coffee with Together, Inc. 7:30am to 9:00am Regency Court, 120 Regency Pkwy, Omaha,NE; Mark Foxall, UNO, is the speaker. Check it out at http://www.togetheromaha.org

Together Inc. of Metropolitan Omaha was founded after the tornado disaster in 1975. The natural disaster, which left hundreds of families homeless, hungry, and in great need, spurred religious leaders from several denominations to organize the "Together" cooperative effort. This effort provided for ongoing human needs, primarily, the basic necessities of life: food, clothing, and shelter.

Providing free emergency help in an attitude of neighborly love, Together, Inc. is supported by contributors from churches, synagogues, businesses, foundations, and individuals of nearly every faith.

And there’s more—

There is good news for UNO students this week. I’m happy about it.

First, John Owens-Ream has become an intern for the Peace with Justice program at UNO. This means John will spend five hours a week in projects to increase awareness concerning use of sweatshop made goods. In the spring, John will also be involved in organizing the Omaha Peace and Justice Expo on April 15. This Sunday afternoon time will help connect all those organizations in Omaha that have peace as their central focus. Cindy Sheehan will speak. Through a regular process of prayer, reading, reflection and action, John will become acquainted with a life of justice that rests on the strong bedrock of a growing spiritual life. No kidding.

Second, Lori Young has become a peer minister on campus for UCMHE. That means Lori will spend about five hours a week in the planning, organizing, leading and shaping UCMHE campus ministries. Her creativity, strength, energy and focus will be a welcome addition to help what God is accomplishing on campus. This is really exciting because Lori has a wide ranging faith background that encourages her outgoing and searching attitude.

Look for more from these students the UCMHE in the coming weeks and months. Woohoo!

Darfur demands a response

This Week at UCMHE; blog below

Learning Opportunities

Monday: noon: Misquoting Jesus—chapter 2& 3 led by Dr. Fred, in the circle area, food court, MBSC
Tuesday: noon: The God within—led by Barbara Catterton; MBSC food court
Noon: Islam 101: led by Dr. Paul Williams, Room 207, 1313 Farnam on the Mall
This Wesleyan Live event is organized by UCMHE for you for six Tuesdays. This week, it’s women in Islam—fairly controversial, by our standards. First day is free, Tuesdays after that are at a big discount. Call/write for a ride.
Wednesday: noon: Community of Faith—led by Liz Polivka; MBSC food court

Coming up: Movie nights, on Thursdays beginning November 2 if we get a little leadership from you. Dinner, movie, discussion and brief worship. Something for you and your friends.

Blog:

I saw a terrible show tonight on TV. It was about Darfur, in Sudan, and the crush of genocide.

A doctor who serves 25,000 refugees by himself provided descriptions that rival anything I’ve ever heard: raping women, killing men and throwing their bodies into the water supply so no one ever returns. Children and the aged are who are left behind, or rather, left to walk to a refugee camp. One woman loaded her grandchildren on a donkey and walked for three days to get there.

60 minutes went on to describe how the UN is being stymied by the Arab government, which is forcing out native Africa citizens. The New York Times online (www. nytimes.com) says the UN envoy has been asked to leave the country. You can check his blog at www.janpronk.nl. Look for Darfur links. In his latest commentary, he concludes: “During my last visit to South Darfur I saw some consequences: new displacements of people, desperate, because they did not know where their future lies; growing mistrust amongst the population in authorities, in rebel commanders as well as in the African Union. They feel totally unprotected. Khartoum seems blind to these developments. The standard reflex is to deny that a battle took place, to dismiss news about tribal clashes, to discredit the messenger, to belittle the number of casualties, to sketch a rosy picture of the implementation of the peace agreement, and to blame the international community for everything that goes wrong.”

(I found this at Westend UMC in Nashville )The Darfur region of Sudan is mainly populated by African Muslims who have been in dispute with the Sudanese government for many years about a host of issues. Since 2003, however, there has been a concerted effort by “Janjaweed” militias to destroy the people of Darfur through unprecedented violence, which has been supported by the Sudanese government. These militias are largely Arab Muslims, and thus there are significant racial tensions as well as a long history of conflict. It is estimated that since 2003, four hundred thousand people have been killed, 2.5 million refugees are displaced, and 3.5 million people are at risk for starvation. Humanitarian aid has been difficult to provide because of the ongoing instability in the region, interference from the Sudanese government, and until recently, a lack of attention around the world.

To read more about some of the current efforts in Sudan, see www.savedarfur.org (a coalition of organizations including the Church World Service) and a recent statement from the Rev. Randy Day, General Secretary of the UMC General Board of Global Ministries. As citizens and as Christians we each have some responsibility to help build a better world:

If you faint in the day of adversity,
Your strength being small;
If you hold back from rescuing those taken away to death,
Those who go staggering to the slaughter;
If you say, “Look, we did not know this”—
Does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it?
And will he not repay all according to their deeds?
Proverbs 24: 10-12

Any solution to the Darfur tragedy must come from concerned citizens around the world through their respective governments. There are several bills currently on the table in the U. S. Congress. One of the most important is the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act, voted unanimously by the U. S. Senate (S. 1462) at the end of 2005 and passed overwhelmingly by the U. S. House of Representatives (H. R. 3127) in April (2006). One way you can help is to encourage your Senators and Congresspersons to help move this legislation through the appropriate conference committee and on to the President.

Nebraska emails are:

Senator Ben Nelson: www.senate.gov/~bennelson/contact/email.cfm
Senator Chuck Hagel: http://hagel.senate.gov/
Congressman Lee Terry: http://leeterry.house.gov/contact.shtml
Congressman Jeff Fortenberry: http://fortenberry.house.gov/feedback.shtml
Congressman Tom Osborne: http://www.house.gov/osborne/contact.htm

A possible message looks like this (I found this at Westend UMC in Nashville and adapted it):

"I am writing to express my concern about the ongoing tragedies in the Darfur region of Sudan. As you know hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and over two million people have been displaced because of their race. The Janjaweed militias continue to destroy lives, and the Sudanese government’s support of this genocide is well-documented. Five hundred more people die every day because of violence, starvation, and disease.

I appeal to you to become part of the solution. We must get more involved. Clearly Darfur represents very complicated issues and solutions are going to be difficult to come by. The people of Darfur deserve peace. They need to have their human rights restored. As a concerned citizen, an active Christian, and a member of United Christian Ministries in Higher Education at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, I am trying to get more involved and help. I hope that you will, too.

Please use your influence to move the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act, versions of which have already been passed by both the Senate (S. 1462) and the House (H. R. 3127), through any conference committee, and on to the President. Thank you for your anticipated leadership."

The massacre of these people is unconscionable. We must do something.



--Fred

Darfur demands a response

This Week at UCMHE; blog below

Learning Opportunities

Monday: noon: Misquoting Jesus—chapter 2& 3 led by Dr. Fred, in the circle area, food court, MBSC
Tuesday: noon: The God within—led by Barbara Catterton; MBSC food court
Noon: Islam 101: led by Dr. Paul Williams, Room 207, 1313 Farnam on the Mall
This Wesleyan Live event is organized by UCMHE for you for six Tuesdays. This week, it’s women in Islam—fairly controversial, by our standards. First day is free, Tuesdays after that are at a big discount. Call/write for a ride.
Wednesday: noon: Community of Faith—led by Liz Polivka; MBSC food court

Coming up: Movie nights, on Thursdays beginning November 2 if we get a little leadership from you. Dinner, movie, discussion and brief worship. Something for you and your friends.

Blog:

I saw a terrible show tonight on TV. It was about Darfur, in Sudan, and the crush of genocide.

A doctor who serves 25,000 refugees by himself provided descriptions that rival anything I’ve ever heard: raping women, killing men and throwing their bodies into the water supply so no one ever returns. Children and the aged are who are left behind, or rather, left to walk to a refugee camp. One woman loaded her grandchildren on a donkey and walked for three days to get there.

60 minutes went on to describe how the UN is being stymied by the Arab government, which is forcing out native Africa citizens. The New York Times online (www. nytimes.com) says the UN envoy has been asked to leave the country. You can check his blog at www.janpronk.nl. Look for Darfur links. In his latest commentary, he concludes: “During my last visit to South Darfur I saw some consequences: new displacements of people, desperate, because they did not know where their future lies; growing mistrust amongst the population in authorities, in rebel commanders as well as in the African Union. They feel totally unprotected. Khartoum seems blind to these developments. The standard reflex is to deny that a battle took place, to dismiss news about tribal clashes, to discredit the messenger, to belittle the number of casualties, to sketch a rosy picture of the implementation of the peace agreement, and to blame the international community for everything that goes wrong.”

(I found this at Westend UMC in Nashville )The Darfur region of Sudan is mainly populated by African Muslims who have been in dispute with the Sudanese government for many years about a host of issues. Since 2003, however, there has been a concerted effort by “Janjaweed” militias to destroy the people of Darfur through unprecedented violence, which has been supported by the Sudanese government. These militias are largely Arab Muslims, and thus there are significant racial tensions as well as a long history of conflict. It is estimated that since 2003, four hundred thousand people have been killed, 2.5 million refugees are displaced, and 3.5 million people are at risk for starvation. Humanitarian aid has been difficult to provide because of the ongoing instability in the region, interference from the Sudanese government, and until recently, a lack of attention around the world.

To read more about some of the current efforts in Sudan, see www.savedarfur.org (a coalition of organizations including the Church World Service) and a recent statement from the Rev. Randy Day, General Secretary of the UMC General Board of Global Ministries. As citizens and as Christians we each have some responsibility to help build a better world:

If you faint in the day of adversity,
Your strength being small;
If you hold back from rescuing those taken away to death,
Those who go staggering to the slaughter;
If you say, “Look, we did not know this”—
Does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it?
And will he not repay all according to their deeds?
Proverbs 24: 10-12

Any solution to the Darfur tragedy must come from concerned citizens around the world through their respective governments. There are several bills currently on the table in the U. S. Congress. One of the most important is the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act, voted unanimously by the U. S. Senate (S. 1462) at the end of 2005 and passed overwhelmingly by the U. S. House of Representatives (H. R. 3127) in April (2006). One way you can help is to encourage your Senators and Congresspersons to help move this legislation through the appropriate conference committee and on to the President.

Nebraska emails are:

Senator Ben Nelson: www.senate.gov/~bennelson/contact/email.cfm
Senator Chuck Hagel: http://hagel.senate.gov/
Congressman Lee Terry: http://leeterry.house.gov/contact.shtml
Congressman Jeff Fortenberry: http://fortenberry.house.gov/feedback.shtml
Congressman Tom Osborne: http://www.house.gov/osborne/contact.htm

A possible message looks like this (I found this at Westend UMC in Nashville and adapted it):

"I am writing to express my concern about the ongoing tragedies in the Darfur region of Sudan. As you know hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and over two million people have been displaced because of their race. The Janjaweed militias continue to destroy lives, and the Sudanese government’s support of this genocide is well-documented. Five hundred more people die every day because of violence, starvation, and disease.

I appeal to you to become part of the solution. We must get more involved. Clearly Darfur represents very complicated issues and solutions are going to be difficult to come by. The people of Darfur deserve peace. They need to have their human rights restored. As a concerned citizen, an active Christian, and a member of United Christian Ministries in Higher Education at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, I am trying to get more involved and help. I hope that you will, too.

Please use your influence to move the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act, versions of which have already been passed by both the Senate (S. 1462) and the House (H. R. 3127), through any conference committee, and on to the President. Thank you for your anticipated leadership."

The massacre of these people is unconscionable. We must do something.



--Fred

October 8

This Week at UCMHE; blog below

Learning and Friend happy Opportunities

Monday: noon: Misquoting Jesus—chapter 2 led by Molly Brennan, in the circle area, food court, MBSC
Tuesday: noon: The God within—led by Barbara Catterton; MBSC food court
Noon: Islam 101: led by Dr. Paul Williams, Room 207, 1313 Farnam on the Mall
This Wesleyan Live event is organized by UCMHE for you for six Tuesdays. First day is free, Tuesdays after that are at a big discount.
Wednesday: noon: Community of Faith—led by Liz Polivka; MBSC food court
Saturday: 8-12 noon Habitat for Humanity—coordinated by Anna Cox

Coming up: Movie nights, on Thursdays beginning October 26 if we get a little leadership from you. Dinner, movie, discussion and brief worship. Something for you and your friends.

Blog:

Grab a friend by the hand and go to “Man of La Mancha” at UNO. It runs this week through Saturday night. All the elements are there: outstanding story, solid cast, great music, directing and a fast pace. “Why should I?” you ask.

Easy answer. It will be good for you soul, your outlook on life, and it will challenge you to change the way you think about doing your life. It goes right along with what I believe: recognizing Jesus in the people around you, and diligently working for a more just world.

The story’s hero is Don Quixote de la Mancha. You might say he’s a man from nowhere because LaMancha is a desolate area in Spain. He’s thrown into a highly populated dungeon, to wait until he is put on trial by the Inquisition. His heresy? He followed the rules and foreclosed on a tax delinquent church. The next level of story is the play within the play. Don Quixote is tried by his dungeon mates, and in response he invites them to be part of a play. The players are the good the bad and the beautiful and everything is turned upside down, especially the female lead, Aldonza, who is dubbed “Dulcinea” by don Quixote. She eventually becomes what he sees in her, and she becomes what she believes herself to be. She gets it and begins the process of bringing out the loveliest and most courageous in herself and others. Don Quixote is the model, a transformed life is the result.

Don Quixote is incongruous—he just doesn’t’ seem to fit in his society. He doesn’t see “what’s really there”—power, money and getting your share. Instead, he’s about truth, courage, and not giving up to the illusion of evil. Some of his monologues declare his journey and sound confessional. Dick Glasser, director, calls these “moments of clarity.” Instead of confessing to a priest for absolution, Don Quixote confesses some of his confusion to his friends, which results in clarity: clarity of purpose, clarity of desires, clarity of self. In the end, we can see him as congruent, not incongruent. He sees people for what they are: people with inner beauty. One might say, children of God.

The musical is fun, too. Lots of jokes, a comic sidekick, Sancho, a wonderful pair consisting of a horse and a donkey, an innkeeper who becomes lord of a castle, a traveling ditch digger who becomes a troubador. This is a play with laughs all the way through.

You might want to make a night of it. A few of us met at Espana in Benson for Spanish Tapas, read from Monty Python’s Inquisition, and reviewed historic heresies against the church (Montanism, Arianism and the usually suspects—like being Protestant). What fun!

Go with your friends! Let me know how you liked it!

--Fred

October 1, 2006

Hey!

Aren’t you glad you can’t be burned at the stake for heresy? Check out Friday night info below.

Bored? Why not spend a year overseas! Checkout Thursday Schedules.

And for those who like the whole enchilada, here’s the

UCMHE Calendar for this week:

Study groups

Monday: Misquoting Jesus group meets at the circle table, in the east section of the food court. Lovely views with all the windows. Chapter 2

Tuesday: The God within. Last we discussed witchery. We could have saved that faith stance for Halloween! Look for us in the food court at noon.

Wednesday: Community of faith. Look for us in the food court at noon.

Thursday: UCMHE will have a table at the UNO health fair. If you have time to help set up, please let me know. I’m bringing a palm tree and will need help. (yep—it’s electric); also, a tv, books, signups, Habitat for Humanity Information, Katrina aid information (for our post Christmas trip) and more.

Additionals this week:

Thursday Noon, we’ll have several twenty-somethings who have put their lives on the line across the globe being visible in community organizing and faith building. You will find this helpful. Call or write if you’d like a seat at the table.



Friday night: Man of LaMancha—I have tickets for 8 and we’ll have supper together, review the top five church heresies and go to the musical—they will have snacks after the show and time to talk to the players.



The 2006 UNO Health Fair will be held Thursday, Oct. 5, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the second floor of the Milo Bail Student Center. It is open to all faculty, staff and students.

The event is sponsored by Student Health Services (SHS) and the Wellness Stampede, UNO's health promotion program.

The 2006 theme is "Discover the Treasure of Your Health." Approximately 30 vendors will offer a variety of free screenings, information and giveaways.

The free screenings will consist of a vision test, skin cancer examination, blood pressure checks, a body composition test and a chair massage.

Comprehensive blood draws will be available at the fair. They will include a cholesterol panel and thyroid, kidney, liver, blood sugar and diabetes screens. The cost is $22, and the confidential results will be mailed directly to participants' homes. For an additional $12, males can have a prostate cancer screen included in the blood results.

A 12-hour fast is required for all lab work. Registration must also be completed before the event. To register, call SHS at 554.2374. Editor's note: The UNO Spirit Committee has designated this activity as a UNO spirit event.



Coming up:

Islam 101: six Tuesdays at noon beginning October 10. 13th and Farnam, room 207. Dr. Paul Williams will be presenter in this “Wesleyan Live” Teleconference. Dr. Fred (me) will offer the introduction to each topic. Material will be available via email in .pdf format. $20 cost, split with the UCMHE program.


Hands on at Habitat for Humanity, October 14, 8-12 am. (second Saturdays of Service). Anna Cox is coordinator of this time to bring healthy support to those who qualify for housing and are willing to put in 350 hours of sweat equity. We’ll meet at the Habitat for Humanity office and will receive our assignments. No tools required—they’re on site. But you can bring your favorites. Email me for more information.

Movie nights: How about Thursdays beginning October 26-through November 16? We’ll meet, have dinner (free food) watch a movie, dialogue about it and have a brief worship. Let me know if you’d like to help coordinate.



Blog:

Spending time with God, with friends, serving others so the world changes for the better, and providing justice when we can is crucial. Lots of folks want to have things go well for them. That’s natural. Much of life, however, is learning to do the things that make good things happen, and to be the person that is clear about what you want.

For example, I was in a hardware store on Thursday. I’ve been in this store lots, so everybody in the store recognizes me. The owner had a question for me. But he couldn’t remember what the question was. He asked for my phone number and I gave it to him. He said he’d call me when he remembered what the question was. It was easy letting folks know I was available. That made things go well, and that was easy.

Three weeks ago, Anna Cox stepped forward to work with Habitat for Humanity. She gave up an afternoon to be part of a movement dedicated to changing the world, one house at a time. Again, that made things go well, and that was a little more difficult. But the results for Joseph, who has a wife and eight children, the results will be transforming.

Eight students hang out at lunchtime on Mondays in the Food Court to talk about how the bible has been misused over the last two thousand years. This gathering is all about claiming the bible, as it is, for ourselves. This student work involves committing ourselves to this truth: that God loves us. This work is difficult to do, because we share what we think. And we are also observed for who we are. Some in our group are not Christian, but are very interested in Christianity. Not all Christians invite questions. We do. Not all world religions are question oriented. We are. That difficult and powerful work is ours, and you’re welcome to join us in it.

Blessings.

Fred

September 24

UCMHE

This Week at UNO:

Our goal is to provide meaningful religious discussions of depth and power. Look for the green table cloth with fish.

Monday Gathering, noon, MBSC food court: Session two of “Misquoting Jesus: The Story of Who Changed the Bible and Why.” Bart Ehrman tells the story behind the mistakes and changes that ancient scribes made to the New Testament and shows the great impact they had upon the bible we use today. He frames his account with personal reflections on how his study of the Greek manuscripts made him abandon his once ultraconservative views of the Bible. (from the cover).

Last week we shared our hopes for this time together: learning about Christianity from a variety of world religion perspectives; get some perspective about how the Bible is used by fundamentalists, evangelicals, traditionalists, progressives and ourselves; be centered enough to be less judgmental. My hopes are that we read the book and the bible, and we share leadership.

If you have a friend who might be interested in such a discussion, please feel free to bring them.

This week: chapter one. Q’s what does it mean to be a religion “of the book.” What do you think of Marcion, Iraneaus, and Hegel? (ha! Hegel’s not in the book, but he’s important. Because he gets credit for a crucial way of looking at things—thesis, antithesis, synthesis; write a song about that and bring it).

Tuesday Gathering: noon, MBSC food court: God within. Barbara Catterton is leader. These are spiritual pieces written by college age folks. This week’s is about a young woman’s reflection on witches and goddesses.

Wednesday: Gathering: Community: Liz Polivka is leader, Noon at the food court. The Bible reflects strong light on the

Thursday: 10 am at SPO. RIPV—you can join us in the planning for the February event—Responses to Intimate Partner Violence. We received a $3,500 grant and we’re using it to leverage additional support for a day of learning.

Mornings this week, I’ll have a presence in the fireplace lounge area. Informal conversation and legitimate religious endeavors will be the norm. You’re welcome to join in. Our ministry needs student energy and spiritual growth. Please help out with growing our program and relationships. Talk to me for specific suggestions.

Is gathering signatures to end Bookstore support of sweatshops in your future? Let me know about your feelings!

Program thoughts for the near future:

1. a group of three or four recent college graduates spent a year on the world stage volunteering in severe situations. If you want your life to be meaningful, this might be a way for you. See us Thursday, October, 5 at noon MBSC.

2. Movies should be seen and reflected upon. There are lots out there and could be the focus of Thursday night gatherings for dinner and a movie with reflections and brief worship. Let me know if you want to volunteer to help. Free Food!

3. Next Habitat for Humanity Saturday: October 14; please feel free to offer yourself as coordinator.

4. Islam 101: a teleconference course for you, 13th and Farnam, reduced course costs and free lunch for registrants. Taught by Dr. Paul Williams. Tuesdays beginning October 10.

5. Katrina relief volunteer work: Near New Orleans, December 31-Jan 7







I delivered a sermon at Elkhorn Hills United Methodist Church this morning. I talked about our two basic hungers:

1) to live a life that has meaning and
2) to be included and cared for

My hunch is that we all want these two components in our faith lives. Sure, free food is great, but what about meaning? We all know we want stuff, but we also know we want meaning--What we do should matter and make a difference.

I also think we want to be in a group or with another person that cares for us--deeply and without reservation. Along with independence and being able to be self-sufficient, we want to be able to share our lives of importance.

What I want to help develop at UNO is a group of at least 12 people who want to live lives with meaning and who want to learn to care deeply about each other and others.

God is key for all this to take place. We hear about God in scriptures and in songs and from those who have been in touch with God's spirit. We can learn more about God by being together learning and sharing ourselves--deeply.

Let's talk more.


--Fred

This week

This Week at UNO and Commentary

Our goal is to provide meaningful religious discussions of depth and power.

Monday Gathering, MBSC food court: Session one of “Misquoting Jesus: The Story of Who Changed the Bible and Why.” Bart Ehrman tells the story behind the mistakes and changes that ancient scribes made to the New Testament and shows the great impact they had upon the bible we use today. He frames his account with personal reflections on how his study of the Greek manuscripts made him abandon his once ultraconservative views of the Bible. (from the cover).

Yep, we’re going to get started. Bring $5 and a great attitude and I’ll hand you a copy. We’ll talk about how Jews and Christians were a people of the book. If we get cranked up we might even delve into the idea of Christian Canon.

Tuesday: Gathering; God within: Barbara Catterton, Noon at the food court

For those who have been to the Gulf Of Mexico to help out, and those who are thinking of going:

SPO to Host Sept. 19 Performance of "Voices of Louisiana"

The UNO Student Programming Organization (SPO) and the Voices Foundation will bring the "Voices of Louisiana" theatrical production to campus Tuesday, Sept. 19. The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held at 7 p.m. in the Milo Bail Student Center Nebraska Room.

The Evacuation Theatre Troupe of the Voices Foundation travels across the United States with its Louisiana-based production. Subject matter in the production spans from the Louisiana Purchase to the present. With humor, the troupe, recounts the events leading up to the Louisiana Purchase, as well as takes a poignant look at the contributions and recent hardships of Louisiana. (including the impact of Hurricane Katrina)

Wednesday: Gathering: Community: Liz Polivka, Noon at the food court

Thursday: 10 am at SPO. RIPV—you can join us in the planning for the February event—Responses to Intimate Partner Violence

11:30 am Cabinet Lunch at Jason’s Deli

Items related to our purpose and in our future:



October 6: Student global volunteers: MBSC. Join us for lunch as we listen to some recent college graduates who are changing the world in Northern Ireland, Kenya and Argentina. You could be on the radar, too.

October 10 Islam 101: noon teleconference, downtown at 13th & Farnam, taught by Dr. Paul Williams. Six weeks. Special student rates.

October 14, Habitat for Humanity, 8 am - noon.

In our future: Thursday night movies, food, discussion and a brief emerging worship.



Commentary:

I was speaking to the Dietz United Methodist Church people this morning. I was talking about you and me.

Not you individually, just you as students, people hungry for a meaningful life; you who are thinking about risking something to get your life in balance and to become whole.

The people were surprised by my description of people who come to campus, ready to tell us all we’re going to hell in a handbasket. They were grateful there are so many of you who are not willing to believe it, but instead are reflecting about a loving God, our responsibilities, and that God can be noticed in our midst.

People were delighted to know God is leading us to another trip for Katrina repair work—putting homes and lives back together. They were also hopeful because we are partnering our energy with Habitat for Humanity to help build homes for low income people, on a regular basis. Our numbers and supporters are growing and we are becoming more supportive of one another.

I’m thinking of a balanced life—one that is faithful and energetic, one that takes care of each other and the earth, all in the name of God’s love.

Please join us for any of our events and see what God is doing in us and around us.

--Fred

This week

This Week at UNO and Commentary

Our goal is to provide meaningful religious discussions of depth and power.

Monday Gathering, MBSC food court: Session one of “Misquoting Jesus: The Story of Who Changed the Bible and Why.” Bart Ehrman tells the story behind the mistakes and changes that ancient scribes made to the New Testament and shows the great impact they had upon the bible we use today. He frames his account with personal reflections on how his study of the Greek manuscripts made him abandon his once ultraconservative views of the Bible. (from the cover).

Yep, we’re going to get started. Bring $5 and a great attitude and I’ll hand you a copy. We’ll talk about how Jews and Christians were a people of the book. If we get cranked up we might even delve into the idea of Christian Canon.

Tuesday: Gathering; God within: Barbara Catterton, Noon at the food court

For those who have been to the Gulf Of Mexico to help out, and those who are thinking of going:

SPO to Host Sept. 19 Performance of "Voices of Louisiana"

The UNO Student Programming Organization (SPO) and the Voices Foundation will bring the "Voices of Louisiana" theatrical production to campus Tuesday, Sept. 19. The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held at 7 p.m. in the Milo Bail Student Center Nebraska Room.

The Evacuation Theatre Troupe of the Voices Foundation travels across the United States with its Louisiana-based production. Subject matter in the production spans from the Louisiana Purchase to the present. With humor, the troupe, recounts the events leading up to the Louisiana Purchase, as well as takes a poignant look at the contributions and recent hardships of Louisiana. (including the impact of Hurricane Katrina)

Wednesday: Gathering: Community: Liz Polivka, Noon at the food court

Thursday: 10 am at SPO. RIPV—you can join us in the planning for the February event—Responses to Intimate Partner Violence

11:30 am Cabinet Lunch at Jason’s Deli

Items related to our purpose and in our future:



October 6: Student global volunteers: MBSC. Join us for lunch as we listen to some recent college graduates who are changing the world in Northern Ireland, Kenya and Argentina. You could be on the radar, too.

October 10 Islam 101: noon teleconference, downtown at 13th & Farnam, taught by Dr. Paul Williams. Six weeks. Special student rates.

October 14, Habitat for Humanity, 8 am - noon.

In our future: Thursday night movies, food, discussion and a brief emerging worship.



Commentary:

I was speaking to the Dietz United Methodist Church people this morning. I was talking about you and me.

Not you individually, just you as students, people hungry for a meaningful life; you who are thinking about risking something to get your life in balance and to become whole.

The people were surprised by my description of people who come to campus, ready to tell us all we’re going to hell in a handbasket. They were grateful there are so many of you who are not willing to believe it, but instead are reflecting about a loving God, our responsibilities, and that God can be noticed in our midst.

People were delighted to know God is leading us to another trip for Katrina repair work—putting homes and lives back together. They were also hopeful because we are partnering our energy with Habitat for Humanity to help build homes for low income people, on a regular basis. Our numbers and supporters are growing and we are becoming more supportive of one another.

I’m thinking of a balanced life—one that is faithful and energetic, one that takes care of each other and the earth, all in the name of God’s love.

Please join us for any of our events and see what God is doing in us and around us.

--Fred