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In the Meantime... This issue of our newsletter is dedicated to the memory of Helen Grant She loved this church dearly and served in just about every leadership capacity. In thanks to God for her life, I'd like to share some of the homily I gave at Helen's memorial service. It is based on Isaiah 58:9b-12 and Matthew 25:31-46. I'm not shy about asking 93 year olds what they wish to have included in their memorial services. So one day, when I visited Helen and Muong, we discussed today's service... when I asked, "If you could say anything to those gathered, what would it be?" She immediately responded, "Keep the faith, kids" So, on behalf of Helen, I say to you, "Keep the faith kids" Helen's life was all about keeping the faith. Not a narrow, dogmatic faith. Not a faith that said I have the truth and you don't, but a faith that reflects our scripture readings -
When I asked Helen if she had a favorite motto, she said it was the YWCA's mission statement: Our mission is to empower women and girls and to eliminate racism, Eliminating racism was a passion of her life decades before it became a popular movement. Helen and several other women from the Y joined this church in 1942 specifically because of the church's public stand against the internment of Japanese Americans. In her tenure at the Y, she worked to end the discrimination within that organization that had African American women playing basketball, but not swimming; and African American women in domestic roles, but not in professional leadership. She told me that she was most proud of her work through the Y to bring about fair housing in California. Keep the faith kids - As the Executive Director of the Oakland Y for decades, Helen was an obvious champion of women's rights. Even during times like the 1950's when women were supposed to return to the confines of home and disappear from public life, Helen continued her powerful leadership in Oakland. She was the first woman moderator of this church and held that position three times. Behind the scenes - mentored other women to become leaders, most significantly, women of color. Keep the faith - kids - Remember that community and relationships are central. Even if your house bums down when you're 80 years old -- rebuilding a neighborhood is as important as rebuilding a house to live in, Even if your church struggles through declining membership -- relationships are central to continue; it's worth keeping a flame of community alive. Keep the faith, kids - Helen had an amazing combination of greatness and grace. She didn't need to build some people up by tearing others down. She was a visionary leader, but wasn't threatened by developing other strong leaders. She was a firm advocate for justice, but tolerant of people with diverging opinions. She could enter a smoke?filled old?boys back room and emerge intact, holding court with mayors, council people, and others in power. Keep the faith, kids Even if you put yourself in the middle of struggle for justice and see destructive self?interest run amok, don't get cynical or bitter. Life is still worth celebrating. It's still worth going to the Bellevue Club or Trader Vic's and having a party. It's still worth rooting for Cal, although probably not Stanford. Keep the faith, kids Helen lived life on her own terms. She trusted in what she knew was right. From political arguments with the men of her family to social concerns in a wider arena, she trusted her heart. She trusted that the light within her illuminated as well than prevailing popular opinion. Helen, in the words of Isaiah, raised up foundations of many generations to come. She kept the faith. She was a repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in. Our world is better because she kept the faith, she let her light shine. Oakland is better because she kept the faith, she let her light shine. And you and I are better, because she kept the faith and because she shared that vision and that faith with us. I thank God for the life of Helen Grant! Blessings, Lois We will celebrate the life of Helen Grant and other saints of this church and of our lives during worship on November 3rd, when we plan to plant a peace pole on our corner. [back to top] We Are One (For Helen) Years do not separate the young from the old. Born as a child of God, so shall you die a child of God, Because you have know your creator. No division between the young and old. Life's beginning to the end is our time to embrace life with all our strength, fulfilling God's calling. A child looks to the old for answers, the old look to the child to remember A child is as important to the old, as the sun is to the earth. The body may change with time, but the mind is as young as a child. It's the answer from the mouth of the old and wise That nourishes the belly of youth [back to top] What's Happening. Worship in the Park/Picnic: What a glorious, reverent, beautiful day with a goodly number of friends and members all enjoying a great time among the majestic redwoods. Advanced menu sign-ups resulted in a variety of goodies being available. david Sturdevant, Mark Little, and Deborah Winters were great in their musical offerings. Group singing and a spontaneous chorus added to the mix. And, as always, Rev. Lois inspired us. This is another of Plymouth's annual events. Plan to be a part of b it all next year. Youll be glad you participated. |
Other Events that pomote fellowship: The First Friday of every month games, music, and fun abound. David and his musical group entertained us in September. Intergenerational Bible study is a group for all ages. Lois leads us in a variety of ways tD provide all ages with growth and thought-provoking ideas while having great enjoyment Spiritual Meditation: is a group that meets every Wednesday from 1:00-2:00 p.m. All are welcome to join us, when possible, as each Wednesday is a segunto itself. Worship Prelude Time: When you come to church 10 minutes before the 11:00 a.m. service, you are in for a true musical inspirational treat, such as Roger Glenn and his flute renditions a couple of weeks ago; Mark Little and others set a worshipful beginning mode to the service. You really want to be there! Helen Grant's passing. All who knew Helen, of all ages, loved her and benefited from her humanity and wisdom. Her memorial service was on Saturday, September 21st. I just want to share one historical note regarding just one of her contributions. Helen loved baseball, especially the A's. She learned of the Super Saver Group days. She said to Bill and me: "I'll take care of the tickets for this event if you'll see to the tailgate party." Thus was born an Annual Event for Plymouth Event - the A's game/Tailgate Party. Birthday Sunday. This is planned for the 2nd Sunday of each month and is intended to honor those having birthdays and anniversaries. Honorees, please try to be present so we can enjoy your company on a special day. (If your birthday or anniversary is not listed in the recent directory, please let me know the month and day.) Thanks! [back to top] Notice of Congregational Meeting
SPECIAL NOTES:
Carol Dabney, Church Clerk September 16, 2002 (510) 839-5512 [back to top] Senior Wellness Fair
[back to top] WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED? Remarks given at the Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California, September 11, 2002 Sponsored by the Oakland Coalition of Congregations. There are many, many appropriate words of reflection that could be spoken tonight. Perhaps the most profound word of reflection would simply be silence. However, I feel called to speak a particular word out loud this evening. I feet especially called as a representative of Protestant Christianity from the United States. As a Christian, my particular path to the Divine is to allow Jesus to be the face of God turned towards me. I want, however, to say to my Christian brothers and sisters, that I am not less of a Christian because, I acknowledge there are other faces of the Divine turned towards other people. I want to say that greater faithfulness does not automatically mean greater exclusiveness. I want to say that my devotion to the path of Jesus has only become richer through Buddhist meditation, Jewish Seders, and Suft prayers. Sometimes, even we who cherish interfaith conversation may unconsciously believe that those who are exclusive in their faith - those that deny the legitimacy of other religions are somehow more devout than we are. It is often assumed that an inclusive faith is easier to discard and is less cherished than that of a faith that seeks to reign in triumph over all other religions. But my word to you tonight is that we need to speak loudly and dearly to our faith traditions that it is precisely because we are plumbing the depths of our faith, it is precisely because we are fully committed to remaining faithful to the spiritual essence of our heritage, it is precisely because we are passionate about our faith that we recognize and honor fellow serious seekers on neighboring paths. Dogmas & religious doctrines are only one layer of expression of the mystery of life and of the divine. They may be entry points to and metaphors for deeper realms of the spiritual life. But the deeper we go on our own path; the deeper we experience divine mystery for ourselves and are content to honor it as mystery; the deeper we seek to follow the wisdom of the ages; the more easily we connect with the sacred core of other religions. Is my God big enough to encompass more than my own limited understanding of the divine being and divine activity? Is the Holy One of your life wondrous enough to include more dimensions than what your own mind can hold? The test of a faith should not be in its claims to own God. The test of a faith should be in its ability to increase compassion and humanity. If we've learned anything in the past year, I hope and pray we have learned that treating faiths other than our own with reverence and holding all of our sisters and brothers as equal partners in the realm of the sacred, is foundational to true peace with justice. [back to top] |
In the Meantime... by Rev. Lois Mueller