CCC NewsNotes September 15, 2001
 Volume No 57 Issue No 15

Terror and Faith: The Task Of A Faithful People, Service For William Caswell, 
Silent Auction Needs Volunteers, Donations, Silent Auction Calling For Creative Cooks, Too,
More Auction Requests, Don't Forget These Events, Jesus Seminar Nov. 2-3, 
CMMC Launches Website, News Notes Deadlines, CCC Staff
Terror and Faith: The Task Of A Faithful People
(The following is an abridged version of Rev. Jim Todhunter's sermon
on Sun., Sept. 16.)
Evil is real. Who could doubt it? Evil is dehumanizing, death-dealing,
seeking to destroy the fabric of human society and human hope. Evil is a
spiritual force. Our faith teaches that people are not evil. People are
created in the image of God. But evil can take people over. And since evil
is a spiritual power, the only true, lasting way to combat evil is through
spiritual means, through prayer and love. Our nation's diplomatic and
military tasks are to protect the U.S. from people and states possessed of
evil and hatred. War has come. But we need to say this with the same grim
and tragic tone that characterized Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural
Address, when looking back on the Civil War, he simply said, "And the war
came."
At the same time, we need to discern our spiritual task. That task is to not
allow ourselves to be possessed by evil and hatred, even as war comes. We
cannot eradicate evil from the world by any human means. It is all we can do
to face the evil in our own hearts. The justification for the
terrorists' attempts to kill Americans and threaten our society is
that they are convinced that we are the ones who are evil.
For the person of faith, the goal is not vengeance, but justice.
Jesus' teaching of love of enemy and turning the other cheek is a
clear repudiation of actions motivated by vengeance. Vengeance is universal,
deeply rooted, very human and profoundly dangerous. The emotional release
vengeance offers is momentary and illusory. We may briefly feel strong and
walk tall, but the fact is that beneath this, the hurt and loss are still
there.
In order to avoid the dangers of acting vengefully, we must honor that space
between the wounding and the meaningful action. To stay put with the pain
allows us the time and space to grieve. And it is urgent that we do so.
Without grieving the pain of our loss and the depth of our vulnerability, we
are not allowing time for wisdom to settle in and guide us. Justice is
taking all those actions to protect the safety and integrity of the
community and its people. Justice is seeing that the guilty are held
accountable.
My sense of the present moment is that we are experiencing both the
temptation to vengeance and, at the same time, the struggle for wisdom and
control of our passions, so that we can weigh consequences and not make bad
mistakes. I am encouraged that Americans have been quick to condemn those
isolated hurtful attacks on fellow Americans of ethnicity. I am encouraged
by Secretary of State Colin Powell's and President Bush's
patient building of support among our allies. Our elected and appointed
officials now deserve all our heartfelt prayers.
In personal terms, our faith speaks to us today in our individual journeys
of the soul. The hardest thing for us to live with are our wounds and our
vulnerabilities. It is our natural human inclination to construct our lives
in such ways that we try and deny this. But then something happens and our
world is forever changed. We say it all seems unreal. But the truth is that
what we are experiencing now is real. No protection.
We are wounded, and we are vulnerable and nothing can change that in life.
But as people of faith, we don't have to stop there. Somehow, what we
need to say is that "God is God." God is our refuge and our strength. What
ultimately comforts and heals is not of this world, but from God alone. The
Psalmist says that though the ocean roars and the earth shakes beneath our
feet, and we know in our hearts that nothing will ever be the same again,
God is still God. These are not just idle words of comfort during hard
times. This is the very core of what it means to be people of faith.
Here I will add something about our need to be aware of our anger. Anger is
absolutely part of grief. And anger is the hardest feeling for Christians to
deal with. But anger is a door you have to go through. It must be dealt with
or it will get you. Talk about it. Just keep talking to one another. Keep
the tears flowing and feelings coming. Do something helpful. We have been
inspired by the thousands of volunteers who have come forward. And take care
of yourself by doing something that has hope and beauty in it.
This tragedy has come home to our congregation in the most painful way
imaginable. Bill Caswell grew up in this church. He and his wife Jean and
daughter Jennifer attended here last Christmas Eve. He helped his dad haul
furniture out of our building over to 9601 Colesville Rd. Randy and Jean
have suffered the most hideous of heartbreaks, yet again. They are ours.
They belong to us. Mother Teresa once said that the only way to love in the
world is one person at a time. There are limits to what any of us can do for
the friends and families of the 5,000 people who died last week. But there
certainly are things you can do for this family. Pray for them. Our faith
teaches that prayers have power. Come to the service for Bill next Sunday.
Your presence, even if wordless, will make a tremendous difference. Do
something in Bill's memory: a donation, a service to other victims,
and let them know you are doing it to honor Bill. Make a donation to "Hope
From The Rubble," the special fund set up by the National Disaster
Ministries of the UCC. And pray.
Rev. Jim Todhunter
Service For William Caswell
A memorial service for William Caswell, son of CCC members Jean and Randy
Caswell, will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Sun., Sept. 23 at Marvin Memorial
United Methodist Church, with a reception immediately following. Caswell,
54, of Silver Spring, was aboard American Airlines Flight 77 when it was
hijacked and crashed into the Pentagon. He was a physicist and former
University of Maryland faculty member who worked as a civilian for the Navy.
As a child he attended CCC Sunday School, and he and his wife Jean were
married at CCC on May 5, 1983 by Rev. Len Ebel. He is survived by his wife,
daughter Jennifer and stepson Sean O'Connor.
Silent Auction Needs Volunteers, Donations
Oct. 13 is approaching fast and the Silent Auction Committee is hard at work
planning a fun-filled evening. So far, we have some wonderful items donated
for the silent auction, including spectacular dinners, brunches and other
food-related events, three pieces of original artwork from our incredibly
talented members, a vacation by the shore, two handmade quilts, vintage
jewelry, and a variety of unique and innovative services and items
(including a trip to and from the airport).
We're still looking for items to auction, so if you're able and
willing, put your creativity and talents to work and consider the following:
     Art, collectibles and crafts
     Services
     Food
     Travel
If you're able to make a donation or volunteer the evening of the
auction, please contact David Bobbitt at (301) 887-0054; or
drbobbitt2000@yahoo.com by Sept. 30.
David Bobbitt
Silent Auction Calling For Creative Cooks, Too
We want to make the Silent Auction for the benefit of the Keystones Campaign
an event to remember. The Ratner Museum, where the event will be held Sat.,
Oct. 13 at 7:30 p.m., is both an elegant and spiritual setting. The art work
and sculpture on display there is alone worth the trip.
No event is complete without food, and the committee has decided that the
food should match the setting. We would like to serve substantial hors
d'oeuvres to accompany the beverages. Cake will be served later in the
evening. We need volunteers to sign up to furnish the following (or sign up
for something we have not even considered):
Spring rolls, dumplings, meat balls, roll-ups with vegetables or meat, small
quiche, small pizza bits, small chicken kabobs, vegetable tray and cheese
tray. Shell fish and pork are not allowed to be served in this setting, but
any other ingredients are fine. Signing up is your way of helping to make
this a special event in the life of our church. Please contact either
Shirley Coll (301) 299-9616; collday@erols.com, or Sue Dollins (301)
585-8874; Suedollins@cs.com if you can help.
Shirley Coll, Silent Auction Committee
More Auction Requests
A cash wine bar will be offered at the church dinner and silent auction. We
are asking members of the church to donate bottles of wine -- red and white
are needed, and you can take an income tax deduction for the donation.
Also, we want to give gift bags to all attendees. This could be a great
chance to advertise your service, company or business. A small gift or
coupon would be appropriate. We need quantities of 200 for adult items and
50 for kid items. We also are looking for bags, and they can include your
logo. Contact David Bobbitt -- (301) 887-0054 or drbobbitt2000@yahoo.com.
Don't Forget These Events
     Qi Gong meditative exercise classes resume on Thurs., Sept. 20 at 10
     a.m. at Marvin Memorial Church's Room 204. The cost is $6 per
     class.
     Day trip to St. Michael's, that charming waterfront village on
     the Eastern Shore is scheduled for Sat., Sept. 29, from 9 a.m. to 5
     p.m. Visit the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, boutiques and galleries
     and lunch in a choice of St. Michael's many restaurants. The bus
     will leave MMMC parking lot at 9 a.m. and return by 5 p.m. The cost is
     $20 plus lunch. Reserve a space on the bus now with a $20 deposit,
     payable to CCC, designating "St. Michael's." All CCC members are
     invited. This is a Saturday event, making it possible for some who are
     unavailable during the week.
Jesus Seminar Nov. 2-3
Jesus Seminar On The Road will be held Nov. 2-3, and is sponsored by CCC,
the Interfaith Families Project of the Greater D.C. Area, and St. Luke
Lutheran Church of Silver Spring.
The topic is "The Historical Jesus - So What?"
Speakers include Arthur J. Dewey, professor of theology at Xavier University
in Cincinnati. He is the author of four books, including "Spirit and Letter
in Paul," (1996), and "The Word in Time" (1990). His bi-weekly Friday
morning commentary is heard on NPR station WVXU.
Speaker Hal Taussig teaches biblical studies at Union Theological Seminary,
Chestnut Hill College and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. A
Danforth Fellow, he is the author of "Jesus Before God: The Prayer Life of
the Historical Jesus" (1999). The seminar will be held at St. Luke Lutheran
Church, 9100 Colesville Rd. in Silver Spring.
The Jesus Seminar examines this question: what difference does the
historical Jesus make for contemporary self-understanding and culture? The
work of the Jesus Seminar gives us a better understanding of Jesus'
teaching, and how it differs from the proclamation of the early churches.
The rediscovery of the teachings of the historical Jesus has, in turn,
opened up the possibility for contemporary religious commitments that focus,
not on Jesus himself, but on what he envisioned: a radical perspective of
what it means to live in the world under God's rule.
This seminar will address the allegations of Jesus Seminar critics, who say
the Jesus Seminar has produced a non-Jewish Jesus, and will look at the
implications of this new understanding of Jesus for relations between Jews
and Christians.
For those who pre-register by Oct. 12, the cost for all sessions is $45. For
those registering after Oct. 12, the cost for all sessions is $50.
Additional family members who register for all sessions are $40 each.
The cost to attend a single lecture on the evening of Fri., Nov. 2 is $10.
The cost to attend a morning workshop on Sat. Nov. 3 is $25; the cost of the
afternoon workshop on Nov. 3 is also $25. For further information on the
seminar, go to the CCC website and click on NEW, or phone Elaine Wunderlich
at (301) 604-1758.
Another source of general information on the Jesus Seminar can be found
online at http://www.westarinstitute.org/Jesus_Seminar.
Volunteers are needed for Nov. 2-3 to help with this event. The seminar
organizers need folks to manage book sales, setup, registration and catered
lunch coordination. If you are interested in being a part of this exciting
event, please notify Marvin or Elaine Wunderlich at
Wunderlichs@christ-ucc.org, or phone them at (301) 604-1758.
CMMC Launches Website
From September's Dateline CMMC:
     Log on to www.communityministry.org -- CMMC's new website. The
     website will grow as CMMC adds new information about activities,
     programs and member congregations. Check it out and send CMMC ideas
     about what you want to see included in the website. Make sure your
     congregation has a link to the CMMC website. Contact Penny Wallace for
     website information: (301) 315-1100, or
     prwallace@communityministry.org.
     The new East County Services Center on Briggs Chaney Road still needs
     community volunteers. Volunteers will greet clients, provide resource
     information and assist them with filling out forms. Call Rosetta
     Robinson at (301) 315-1105 to volunteer.

News Notes Deadlines
PLEASE NOTE: Deadline for the Oct. 1 issue is Thursday, Sept. 27 at 5 p.m.
News Notes editor -- Susan DeFord (301) 649-3093, or sjdkjk@erols.com
CCC Staff

The Rev. Jim Todhunter, senior minister; the Rev. Linda Carder, assoc. minister; John Touchton, director of music; the Rev. Dale Ostrander, director of programming for older adults; Toby Ratcliffe, church school   coordinator; Richard Meyer, property administrator; Ruth Avery, office administrator.

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