Bi-Monthly News and Notes

January 26, 2015 / DBCC

The Douglass Divas

Will meet at Friendship House, the home of Martha Thomas on Sunday, January 25, 2015 at 4:30pm. Enter the front door on 4th Street and let the receptionist know that you are here for the Diva Group. We will finish the book by Rev. Sharon Watkins on wholeness. All are welcome!

Sunday School Guest, Rev. Dean Burcalos

On February 1st Rev. Dean Bucalos will lead the adult Sunday School class on the topic of ending solitary confinement in prison. The class begins at 9:45 a.m. on the second floor.

Weekend Retreat

Come join us for a weekend away at Red River Gorge on April 10th-12th! There will be board games, big breakfasts, intentional fire, and great company. It will be $50 for food and lodging and friends are always welcome. Please let Clare know if you're interested (clare.rutz@gmail.com).

Maybe I'm the Call (Mark 1:14-20)

January 25, 2015 / DBCC

There are folks who've lived too long with the belief that they don't amount to anything because of what color they are, or where they were born, or whom they love, or because of what kind of shape their bodies or brains are in, or because their bank account doesn't sport the requisite robust balance.

There are a lot of people out there who need to know the love of God that tells them they were made for more than defeat and despair, that tells them their suffering and oppression is a failure of the system and not their destiny, that offers to them God's vision of a new world where they are what matter and that all the things that currently define their misery are not.

And, whether it conforms to your idea of what a call is supposed to look like or not, you just might be God's idea of what it takes to reach them, to love them, to heal them. You might be it.

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Come and See (John 1:43-51)

January 18, 2015 / DBCC

Due to some technical difficulties, the audio portion will be added later in the week. Until then, you can always read the manuscript below. Be on the lookout for the audio to be posted on social media!

There are some things that just don’t make sense until you actually have to live them out. Christianity happens to be one of them. There isn’t any way to dumb it down so that it will make sense.

Following Jesus is difficult. It requires us to turn the other cheek, to love our enemies, and to pray for those who persecute us—which, in a world filled with violence, abusive authority, bureaucratic indifference, and people bent on blowing up cars and flying planes into buildings, can seem almost impossible.

Moreover, following Jesus requires not only that we love our enemies, but that we extend that love to people who don’t quite rise to the level of enemy, but who are nevertheless different enough from us that we’re constantly tempted to think of them as other, as those people.

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Regarding Beer with (or without) Jesus ...

January 13, 2015 / DBCC

So, tonight a number of us will be attending a worship meeting with the folks at The Diersen House this evening. Because of this, we can't be sure that there will definitely be folks posted up at Hilltop for this evening's gathering of Beer with Jesus & Friends. This, of course, doesn't mean no one will be there--though there probably won't be. But since we aren't sure, we just wanted to make anyone thinking of joining aware of the situation.

Have a wonderful evening! We hope to see you next week.

Bi-monthly news and notes

January 12, 2015 / DBCC

Worship @ The Dierson House

Please join us for worship at New Life in Christ Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a congregation inside The Diersen House, a halfway house for women, located at 1218 West Oak St.

Rev. Candasu Cubbage will lead the service at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, January 13th

All are welcome to attend, if you would like to meet at the church and ride with someone please call the church office by Monday, January 12th.

In Recognition of ...

We celebrate the 7th anniversary of Rev. Derek Penwell as the Senior Minister at Douglass Blvd. Christian Church. We are so very blessed to have him here and thank him for his faithful leadership.

Volunteer Needed

I am looking for a volunteer who would be willing to hang out in the church office when I am on vacation and answer the phone and greet potential visitors. If you are interested please give me a call in the office at 452-2629 and let me know.

Interested in CW&W

Would you like to volunteer to be a shepherd on Sunday morning during Children Worship & Wonder? Amy Elam-Krizan is working on the spring schedule now. If you have an interest or would like to know more about the program please let Amy know.

Many Thanks

Thank you to all at Douglass. The Christmas Bonus was deeply appreciated. It is just a blessing to be here on Sunday's and also work here. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Joanna

I would like to take this time to thank each of you for my Christmas bonus. It is nice to be appreciated.

Thank you, Brenda

I would like to thank the members of Douglass Blvd. Christian Church for the Christmas bonus, it was deeply appreciated.

Neil

Thank you all for the Christmas gift. You remain to be my extended family that makes this place feel like home, and your generosity, kindness, and company is most valued.

Love, Clare

Let me express my deepest gratitude for your Christmas gift. You are very kind to remember me, and I promise to put it to good use. This is also a good time to thank you for the opportunity to be the organist at Douglass and to serve with such wonderful, talented people.
Happy 2015 to you all!

Alan

Dear Friends, Words cannot express my gratitude and appreciation for you all. I want to thank you for the many cards, gifts, and the very generous bonus I received. I truly could not be more blessed. Wishing you all a very healthy, happy 2015.

Jennifer

To our our family at DBCC: Once again my family and I are amazed and gratified by your generosity to us during the Christmas season. We want to offer you our thanks for your thoughtful gift, but even more importantly for the love and support you show us throughout the year. We couldn't be happier to be included among such a wonderful community.

Thank you, Derek

Friends, I'd like to thank all of you for your generous gift this holiday season. It is a rare opportunity to work with folks who so often and so gladly show appreciation and gratitude with such warmth and enthusiasm. You all are truly an exceptional group of people and I'm glad to call myself one of you. Here is hoping all of your holiday seasons were bright and merry! Happy New Year!

Geoff

Dear all: I am so thankful to be part of the DBCC family. I am writing this to specifically thank you for the staff Christmas bonus, but also to thank you for the music YOU bring to our worship every week. From weekly hymns to the Christmas Concert, I see every note we make here at Douglass as an act of worship to an awesome God. Thank you for your musical, spiritual, and financial support of our music program.

Ben

Happy 101st Birthday!

Millie Rott celebrated her 101st birthday on January 3, 2015. If you would like to send her a be-lated card her address is: Christian Health Center 920 South 4th St #1 Louisville, KY 40203

Good Lord, Show Me the Way (Mark 1:4-11)

January 11, 2015 / DBCC

Candi is back, y'all.

Check her out at her blog, or in the Twitterverse

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'Camp Douglass' Cabin Retreat, Part trois

January 11, 2015 / DBCC

"Grease fires go for a while. You can get a lot of grilling done."

Hey, all. We're going camping again. We've secured another cabin in Red River Gorge, and we're looking to fill it up with awesome.

When

April 10-12, 2015. We'll be carpooling, so time of departure is TBA.

Where

The Manor, Red River Gorge.

A spacious (approx. 2400 sq. ft.) four-bedroom cabin, Cliffview Manor is able to sleep fifteen people. The amenities include: a large great room, dining room, kitchen, outdoor dining sunroom, outdoor hot tub, three flat screen satellite televisions, DVD/VCR, stone fireplace, large covered front porch, wrap around deck and phenomenal views everywhere you look. The location provides a perfect place for weddings, reunions, retreats, large families or guests just needing a little more space to spread out in.

FYI, this was the cabin we stayed in last April. Pretty boss.

How much?

$50.

Only $50.

Food and lodging included. (That's probably less than you'd spend that weekend anyway).

What you missed last time

This. All of this.

Also, the time before that ...

I'm in. Who do I contact?

Email Clare (clare.rutz@gmail.com).

We hope to see you all there!

Suffering, Sorrow, and Being Nine Years-Old

January 08, 2015 / DBCC

By Derek Penwell

I had a baseball game that day, beginning and ending my career as a catcher for Dog ‘n Suds at the tender age of nine. I was nearsighted and my glasses didn’t fit beneath the mask. Every time I turned my head, the mask moved slightly, as did my black nerd glasses, which made every pitch a funhouse adventure.

After I got home, following yet another losing game, and parked my orange Huffy with the black and orange striped banana seat, my mom met me outside and said, “There’s been an accident.”

Not knowing quite what to say, I said, “Who?”

“Jamie,” she said. “He and Michael were playing with lighter fluid out in the woods, and Jamie was burned badly.”

I remember wondering how it might be possible to be burned “goodly.” But all I said was, “What happened?”

“I don’t know, honey. His mom just called. I think he’d like to see you.”

Beer with Jesus Relocated!

January 06, 2015 / Geoff Wallace

Hilltop is closed! We're across the street at Silver dollar. Cmon in!

Lift Up Your Eyes (Isaiah 60:1-6)

January 04, 2015 / DBCC

Our ability to hear Isaiah has as much to do with where we’re standing when the message comes as with what the message says. There are a lot of folks here today who are pretty well situated. But there are other folks in the world who are trying to figure out how they’re going to make it through the week without their whole world falling apart.

There are folks sitting among us who have a pretty big stake in ruling the world, who believe that the next great opportunity is just around the corner, and that they’ll never fall so low that life won’t find a way to bear them up. But there are other folks, sitting right in this room, that understand that the world isn’t knocking down any doors to give them a shot, and that the safety nets most of us take for granted are shaky, at best, and illusory, at worst.

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Beer with Jesus & friends: New Years Edition

December 30, 2014 / DBCC

Nothing special. Except that it's almost 2015. And we wanna hang out.

6pm at Hilltop Tavern.

Be advised, the UofL Bowl game begins at 6:30. The place may be a bit rowdy. But we hope to see everyone there!

My Eyes Have Seen Your Salvation (Luke 2:22-40)

December 28, 2014 / DBCC

We have a pretty good idea what Anna and Simeon and Mary were so overjoyed by that it caused them to break out in song, because in many ways, I think, we're waiting for someone too—hoping against hope that we'll recognize God's anointed when we finally behold him. Not the angry, cursing waiting, not the waiting of despair or apathy, not even the waiting of those frantic to take back a little control, but the patient impatience of those who see a world that is not what God wants, and who look for a spark of light on the horizon signaling that God has come near, determined that, as much as it's up to us, a place for peace and justice will be made ready for God's reign to be revealed in all its fullness and glory.

As much as anything, Christmas prepares us to wait actively, patiently impatient with a world often overrun by violence and inequity—helping us to form the words of the song we are preparing ourselves to sing as we anticipate God's unfolding reign of peace and justice.

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EDIT: Don't forget! Christmas Eve Service at 5PM

December 24, 2014 / DBCC

See you there.

Merry Christmas!

I'll Make You a House (2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16)

December 21, 2014 / DBCC

How are you supposed to control a God like that—an unpredictable God, who's always showing up at the most inopportune moments? If I could just get God to stay in one place, then at least I’d know where God was when I needed something, and where I should avoid being when I didn’t want to see God.

David wants to build God a house, domesticate God. David wants to keep an eye on God, do away with the surprises and outbursts, maintain a little control. But God’s having none of it. God refuses to be placed in a box, put on a leash, available at our beck and call. The Spirit moves, the wind blows where it will.

That can be either good news or bad news, depending on where you happen to be standing when you hear it.

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Collecting Presents for Family Scholar House

December 18, 2014 / DBCC

DBCC just delivered over 80 presents to Family Scholar House for single mothers and their children for Christmas. If you don't know this great organization, follow the link above to check out the wonderful work they do!

categories / Christianity, DBCC, Social Justice
tags / Family Scholar House, Christmas, Justice, Compassion

DBCC Choir Christmas Concert This Sunday

December 17, 2014 / DBCC

Everyone is invited to join us this Sunday for the annual DBCC Choir Christmas Concert and Tasting Tea. This event is one of our favorites and is sure to be a treat. The concert begins at 5:30PM with the Tasting Tea to follow. There will be lots of hors d'oeuvres and hot drinks to go around, but if you're so inclined, bring a finger food or dessert to share.

It's a lot of fun, you all. Please don't miss it.

Voice of the People: Travis Myles

December 16, 2014 / DBCC

Travis Myles was presiding elder a few weeks ago. These are his words from the table that Sunday:

Since almost the beginning of time, there have been US's and THEM's: Cain and Abel, women and men, black and white. liberal and conservative. If humans are good at one thing, it's putting ourselves in any number of boxes, and then labeling those not like us in one way or another as a THEM.

But at this table, there are no labels, boxes, or lines. All are welcome and all truly means all. Those who have been excluded by others in the church. They are welcome here. Those who work to make the church open to all. They are welcome here. And, possibly the hardest lesson that I have to learn over and over again, even those who attempt to exclude others from this table. They are welcome here too. All who come to this table will find love and peace.

What Good News? (Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11)

December 14, 2014 / DBCC

The good news of Advent isn't just something we sit around waiting for, twiddling our thumbs with stars in our eyes. The good news of Advent . . . at least in part, is supposed to be us.

That’s right, we who’ve received the good gifts of God’s grace and blessing are now intended to be the good gifts of God’s grace and blessing to a world dying to see God, a world struggling just to keep its head above water.

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The Word of Our God (Isaiah 40:1-11)

December 07, 2014 / DBCC

The promise of Advent is that because God has already come to us one time, lo these many years ago now, we may cling to the promise that God will come again for us—and is even now among us, seeking out and living among those who’ve been abused by the system, placing a hand on the shoulder of those who’ve known only the despair of powerlessness, spending time among those who’ve lost their children and their dignity to a world that fails to value them.

Take heart! Fear not! Our eyes shall behold the royal procession of our God. Indeed, we, ourselves, are meant to be drum majors and trumpeters in that royal procession, embodying a word from God about hope, peace, joy, and love to a world that's given up on ever hearing it again.

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Come to Alan Martin's Holiday Organ Recital!

December 04, 2014 / DBCC

On December 7th at 4:00 p.m., Alan Martin will be delivering an Holiday Organ Recital here at DBCC. Alan just joined us earlier this fall, so we haven't really seen him stretch his pedal legs yet. This organ recital is sure to encourage him to show off a little bit. Composers include Zipoli, Bach, Brahms and Handel. It's sure to be a really great.

Hope to see you there!

UPDATE: The recital starts at 4pm.