ARTS & MISCELLANEOUS
 

Carry Me
by Tim Lowly

Brian Volck in the on-line blog “Image: Art, Faith, Mystery” writes: “Lately, I’ve been reading some works at the intersection of theology and the impaired body. As a physician trying to live as a Christian, thatís where I spend much of my professional time. While I treasure idealized portrayals of the human figure in classical and Italian Renaissance art, I, like you, perhaps, am an imperfect body in a suffering world. In my life and work, I experience pain and suffering less as a brutal shattering of perfection than a familiar, often ironic companion - Here’s where I find the work of (21st century) visual artist Tim Lowly so compelling. His daughter, Temma, who appears frequently in his paintings, has a constellation of impairments Lowly never disguises. - Lowly lovingly places his daughter in contexts which neither idealize nor demean her.
(continued)
Faith-Related Links & Blogs

(Blogs are like on-line journals kept by individuals with the addition that they are often interactive.

Often visitors may comment on entries and create discussion. These sites are not related in any way to First Congregational Church and are provided only as a way to provoke thought on faith and faith issues.)

Philocrates (commentary on liberal religion and politics)
Image:Art, Faith, Mystery
BuildingBridges
Faith Stories
thecampbell chronicles
Killing the Buddha
Emerging Church Blog
Soul Gardeners
Ragamuffin Minister
Blog.Culture and Faith.com

UCCTruths
(critiques of UCC policies and actions, particularly those of
Natl. Office)

Calendar

August 3-August 10, 2008

Sunday, August 3

10 am - Worship, Sunday School, Nursery
11 am - Coffee Hour
11:30am - Continuing “Sacred Conversations about Race”

Monday, August 4

3:30 pm Worship Committee mtg.

Tuesday, August 5

7-8 am - Exercise
10 am - Women’s Study
6:30 pm - Troop 16/Cub Scouts

Wednesday, August 6

Thursday, August 7

7 - 8 am - Exercise
9 am - Bulletin articles deadline

Friday, August 8

6:30 am - Men’s Breakfast - Denny’s

Saturday, August 9

10:30 am - Neufeld Memorial Service (Sanctuary)
10 am - 3 pm - Quilters (Fireside)

Sunday, August 10

10 am - Worship, Sunday School, Nursery
11 am - Coffee Hour
4 pm - Chick Flicks

GREATER WORLD GIFTS - Bakersfield’s ONLY Fair Trade Store is open. Come check it out. Open Wednesdays 10 am - 8 pm and Sunday 11 am - 1 pm.

ONGOING EVENTS

“Sacred Conversations on Race” continue…

Our last Sacred Conversation was held July 20. The conversation went in a number of directions. As we spoke about our own experiences and backgrounds, folk began to realize how little we know about one another.
While there is a strong desire to bring in representatives of other groups (that’s being worked on), it was also recognized that we can’t have a conversation or dialogue unless we know ourselves. We won’t be able to discover connections if we have so little understanding of ourselves that we can’t see what we have in common. We also began to recognize there are a
number of different kinds of diversity that exist both within the congregation, and throughout Bakersfield. To deal with all this, we will spend our next conversation getting to know each other and looking at our own backgrounds.
What have we carried forward from our various ethnic heritages? What do we appreciate? What might we have found limiting or restricting? How have our backgrounds influenced how we see and relate to others.

August 3, Fireside Room. About 20 minutes after the service.

“Will Read for Food”

The meeting to discuss “The Kite Runner” will be Saturday, September 6th at 6 pm. For more information contact Nancy Bacon.

Tuesday Study Group - “Becoming Fully Human” by Joan Chittister

…is a six-week study meeting every Tuesday at 10 am in the Fireside Room,
let by Rev. Steele. Please join us for discussion of this timely,
effective video.

Quilting Group

Quilters will meet in the Fireside Room, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on August 9th and
August 23rd– All are welcome!

Directory Update

Please contact the church office if you have a change in address, home or cell phone number, e-mail address, or if you would like to be included on the birthday list.

Please keep collecting those General Mills Box Tops for Education.

We divided up a good amount to children who attend schools collecting
the box tops. The collection container is located in the narthex. Box
tops are found on cake mixes, toilet tissue, Kleenex, Bisquick and many
more items.

FUTURE EVENTS