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EQUALITY NEWS: We will have information available on the proposed LGBT civil rights ordinance that will be presented to the Volusia County Council this fall. It says in a nutshell that no one shall be denied employment, accommodations or commerce because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. The organizers, Volusia Equality, are asking businesses and organizations, including our church, to give them an endorsement.
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COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Sept. 1, Wed., 6:30 p.m. – Metropolitan Business Association, September Social mixer, 310 Lakeside (301 E. Pine St., Orlando) RSVP at MBA’s Facebook Page
SEPT. 3-4, noon-7 p.m. – Name That Book contest at Barnes & Noble, 1900 W. ISB, Daytona Beach. Benefit for Volusia Literacy Council. Match a quote with a classic literary work and win prizes. Free
SEPT. 3-9 - One of the year’s most-anticipated films opens Friday, (09/03/10) in New Smyrna Beach, courtesy of Cinematique of Daytona. ``The Kids Are Alright’’ will play through Thursday, Sept. 9, at The Beacon Theatre, 1401 S. Dixie Freeway, New Smyrna Beach (386-428-8484). And again, in order for the nonprofit, fine-arts film society to stay, your help is needed. The Members receive a discount on ticket prices -- and Cinematique receives the benefit from the financial foundation (more information is available at www.cinematique.org) of public support. To fund its current films and in support of a major development in the works – a theater home to the 20-year-old organization along Beach Street in downtown Daytona Beach – additional fundraisers are planned at Quanita's Dance Studio in Daytona Beach. Quanita is donating her dance instruction and space to help us raise funds. Tickets are $30 per couple, dance lesson and wine and cheese mixer afterward. More information will be forthcoming. Tickets can be obtained from the Website www.cinematique.org.
Another event to raise money for the new theater and for the Daytona Beach Film Festival, which will be Nov. 12-14 at News-Journal Center and the new Ivy Lane Theater, will be Oct. 22 at the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Daytona Beach. Previews of the film festival offerings will be screened, with wine, cheese and auction items to be offered. More details also will be announced.
Here is the film for the coming week:
THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT (Sept. 3-9; USA; rated R for strong sexual content, nudity, language and some teen drug and alcohol use; 104 minutes): Julianne Moore, Annette Bening, Mark Ruffalo. Writer/director Lisa (``High Art’’) Cholodenko recounts how two children, conceived by artificial insemination and raised by a lesbian couple, have their lives turned upside down when they meet their biological dad in this offbeat comedy. `` This love letter to gay-marriage supporters is respectably entertaining filmmaking,’’ says The Hollywood Reporter. -- Jennifer Farance
SEPT 4 – Bestienne Schmidt "Home Stills" exhibit opening, Southeast Museum of Photography, Hosseini Building, Daytona State College. Continues through Nov. 7. Large photos and drawings that look at gender role and identity. Schmidt’s work is influenced and informed by commercial photography from the ‘50s and ‘60s which depicts life at home of women in different poses of domesticity and gender stereotypes. Also on display: "Rwanda/Intended Consequences" by Jonathan Torgovnik. The exhibit brings together images and text that reveal the intensely personal accounts of Rwandan rape victims and the children born as a result. Torgovnik provides a glimpse into the lives of these women and their children through portraits and interviews that expose their daily struggles and feelings about raising a child who is a constant reminder of genocide. Free. Museum hours: Tues, Thurs, Fri: 11-5p.m. Wed: 11-7p.m. Weekends: 1-5p.m. The museum’s information hotline is (386) 506-4475.
SEPT 8, Wed., 6-9 p.m. – Second Wednesday Social sponsored by the Living Room of Brevard County (Brevard’s Pride sponsor.) Bapa’s Bistro at the new Holiday Inn, at I-95 and Highway 60 in Titusville. The Living Room invites attendees to distribute business cards or job resumes.
SEPT 9, 6 p.m. – Lecture by CBS news correspondent Don Teague. He recently published "Saved by Her Enemy," about an Iraqi woman’s journey from Iraq to the U.S. Gale Lemerand Auditorium, Willie Miller Center, Embry-Riddle. Teague also has covered the Fort Hood shooting and the Gulf Oil spill. Free.
SEPT. 9 – Start of the "So You Think You Can Sing" contest in conjunction with Orlando Pride. First-round tryouts are at the Parliament House, Orlando and continue at other clubs Sept. 16 and 23. Finalists compete Oct. 10 to win the title of "Pridol." Cover charge $10
SEPT 10, Fri., 11 a.m.-3 p.m. – Day of Caring volunteer projects sponsored by United Way. Several United Way agencies are inviting the public to get a taste of volunteer work by spending a few hours doing landscape work, room painting, carpet cleaning, reading to young children, doing craft projects with clients, etc. at various locations. Details and sign-up info: http://www.liveunitedinvolusiaflagler.org/dayofcaring
SEPT. 14. Tues, 2-3:30 p.m. – Art lecture, "The Art of the Highwaymen," by Mary Ann Carroll, the only woman who was part of a group of young African-American folk artists who painted Florida landscapes. Presented at Daytona State Collect, Building 1200, by the Wisdom in Senior Education (WISE) program for seniors. Free. For more information or to make a reservation, visit www.DaytonaState.edu/Foundation or call Kent Ryan at (386) 506-4425.
SEPT. 14, Tues. 5:30 p.m. – Meeting of Volusia Equality to organize support for a county ordinance to protect LGBT civil rights. Followed by Business Guild monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. Clubhouse Restaurant, 600 Wilder Blvd., Daytona Beach
SEPT. 16, Thurs. 7 p.m. – Love Welcomes All - A gay-affirming interfaith group in North Carolina, will sponsor a lecture by theologian, author and television commentator John Dominic Crossan. First Congregational Church, 1735 Fifth Ave. West, Hendersonville, N.C.
SEPT. 16, Thurs. 6-9 p.m. – "Pride and Protest" - Opening of a gay history display and LGBT art exhibit at City Arts Factory, 29 S. Orange Ave., Orlando. Exhibit continues through Oct. 13. Details:
OCT. 10 -- Orlando Pride—"A Pride of Olympian Proportions" (Greek mythology theme.) Special guests include singer Martha Wash of the Weather Girls ("It’s Raining Men") and Olympic diving champion Greg Louganis. Entertainment starts 2:30 p.m. at the Lake Eola stage.

Jeremiah 2:4–13 or Sirach 10:12–18 or Proverbs 25:6–7;
Psalm 81:1, 10 –16 or Psalm 112; Hebrews 13:1–8, 15–16;
Luke 14:1, 7–14

Sunday Sermon Recap – Aug. 22. In his last synagogue teaching before His crucifixion, Jesus healed a bent-over woman, only to be chastised for doing work on the Sabbath. Once again, he appealed to people to view the Law as a pathway for helping others, not as an obstacle course. If donkeys and cattle can be fed on a Sabbath, don’t humans deserve just as much? Rev. Beau noted this miracle, as recorded in Luke, is especially remarkable because he summoned a woman to leave the rear screened-off area reserved for women and come forward to the men’s section to be healed. Her spine had been deformed for many years, and Jesus could have told her to come back after the Sabbath. But he chose to act immediately. In the same way, when we encounter people who need help, the Holy Spirit directs us to act immediately, not put them off for another day.

-- We’re collecting recipes this month for our "Family Feast Cookbook," a collection of down-home favorites contributed by church members and their relatives and friends. Please e-mail a favorite dish to Tom at brownt218@yahoo.com, or neatly type or print it up. Please include a sentence or two of chatter about the recipe – how you learned about it, whether it has ethnic or regional significance, etc. Also be sure to proofread so that all measurements are accurate! Steve is the latest to contribute – thanks, Steve.

Our fall yard sale/bake sale/50-50 raffle is on tap for either Oct. 16 or 17. Please store your donations at your home until we get close to the sale date.

Thanksgiving from Steve Parker in DeLand (friend of Ruth Stanley), who received a cancer-free report from his doctors. “There is soooo much more to say but I will wait until I stop shaking first… , Steve wrote. “THANK YOU all for all your support, prayers, and other stuff. Today is a GOOD day to be ALIVE!”

Thanksgiving from Earl White at the veterans’ home in Fort McCoy – He sent a note saying he is feeling stronger. “The prayers from the church must be taking hold,” he wrote. Earl welcomes notes or calls -- Room number 141, 12801 N.E. 139^th Pl, Fort McCoy, FL. 32134. Tel. 352-236-0823

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

AUG. 27, Fri., 7 p.m. – FLAGLER’s WEEKLY DRUMMING CIRCLE meets at the stairway to t he left of the Flagler

Beach Pier. All ages and all skill levels welcome. It is helpful if you can bring your own percussion (drums, rattles, etc.)

but if you don't have any we always have extra. Please contact Aynne McAvoy 386-437-9791 for more information,

or see http://www.meetup.com/Flagler-Beach-Drum-Circle/

AUG. 29, Sun. 11:30 a.m. – One Daytona monthly meeting, New Church Family. Topics: The Porch,

scholarship fundraising.

SEPT 1, Wed. 6-9 p.m. -- Opening reception for “Oh, Mary, That’s So Camp” exhibition at Stonewall

Library & Archives, Fort Lauderdale. Exhibit continues through September and Octobe.

SEPT 8, Wed., 6-9 p.m. – Second Wednesday Social sponsored by the Living Room of Brevard County

(Brevard’s Pride sponsor.) Bapa’s Bistro at the new Holiday Inn, at I-95 and Highway 60 in Titusville. The Living

Room invites you to distribute business cards or job resumes.

SEPT 10, Fri., 11 a.m.-3 p.m. – Day of Caring volunteer projects sponsored by United Way. Several United

Way agencies are inviting the public to get a taste of volunteer work by spending a few hours doing landscape

work, room painting, carpet cleaning, reading to young children, doing craft projects with clients, etc. at various

locations. Details and sign-up info: http://www.liveunitedinvolusiaflagler.org/dayofcaring/

SEPT. 16 – Love Welcomes All. A gay-affirming interfaith group in North Carolina, will sponsor a l

ecture by theologian, author and television commentator John Dominic Crossan. 7- 8pm. First

Congregation Church, 1735 Fifth Ave. West, Hendersonville, N.C.

NOV. 6-8 – The Annual convocation of the International Christian Community Churches Our

denomination will meet at the Hilton in Greenville, SC. Registration fee is $55, which includes

3 meals. Lively worship services, insightful workshops on Bible study and ministry, annual

business meeting, and great networking. This is a valuable chance to meet your extended

family from churches throughout the Carolinas and Georgia.

Nov. 12-14 – Daytona Beach Film Festival, details coming soon.

Some thoughts from rev susan –A time to mourn

To everything there is a season,

A time for every purpose under heaven:

A time to be born,

And a time to die;

A time to plant,

And a time to pluck what is planted;

A time to kill,

And a time to heal;

A time to break down,

And a time to build up;

A time to weep,

And a time to laugh;

A time to mourn,

And a time to dance…

Ecclesiastes 3

I don’t suppose there are any of us who could say we really enjoy

grieving. The very definition of the word frames the intensity of

the pain.

Grief – keen mental suffering or distress over affliction or loss;

sharp sorrow; painful regret; anguish, heartache, woe, misery;

sadness, melancholy, moroseness.

As the writer of Ecclesiastes writes this beautifully melodic verse,

I guess I would say he was in a season.

I don’t know any of us who love all seasons equally. As a matter

of fact, most of us have at least one season of the year that we just

downright hate. We dread its arrival and we endure its length; and

we are happy to see it go.

For me, it’s winter. I don’t enjoy the cold sometimes my body aches

when the temperature drops.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about the importance of seasons in our

lives and what God intends to work in us during our “time to mourn.”

It began in the Garden when sin entered. The mourning of the death

of intimacy with God and with each other. The mourning of the loss

of peace. The mourning of the loss of grace. The loss of home and heart.

And ever since, we as humankind have faced grief. Certainly Jesus

came to reverse the curse, to heal our brokenness, to restore our

relationship with God and others, but we all have a pretty good sense

that we are not living in the fullness of that restoration. We believe

that one day grief will end. Sorrow will be no more. Tears will be wiped

away, but we are not there yet.

So in the current time on earth, there is a time to grieve. Most can

embrace grieving over the death of someone they have loved, but

how many of us embrace grieving over the other losses in our life?

Hasn’t life taught us to suck it in, be tough, just go on? No use

crying over split milk, right?

I am learning that those thoughts have a measure of deception

in them. There is a time to mourn; a time to grieve. If we shortcut

that process by stuffing our grief inside, what does that mean

for us as individuals?

I am discovering an inner truth that for me requires a facing of

grief; a looking straight into it; a walking through the valley instead

of around it.

If we go back to the Garden, let’s take note that God did not allow

Adam and Eve to handle their grief in any of these ways. He didn’t

allow them to skirt any of the issues. Now He did make provision

for their ultimate healing. He did give them hope. He did redeem.

But He didn’t sweep anything under the rug.

In fact, God boldly brought Adam and Eve face to face with the shame

of their sin. He boldly brought them to truth. He boldly spoke of

consequences. He boldly called for them to face grief.

God would not allow them to skip over their need to grieve.

And doesn’t repentance include the element of grief? If we

only make a mental assent to our failure and try to turn over a

new leaf, it never works. We can’t change without repentance.

Repentance requires looking honestly at what sin has cost us,

whether it be our sin or the sin of someone else against us.

That honest look breaks our heart. When we face our sin,

we grieve.

But for today, my point is, “There is a time to mourn; a time to grieve.”

My choice is to refuse to deeply feel pain. I prefer stuffing it in.

I’d rather not think about it. But in my journey of healing, I have

found that those ways of relating have never really worked for me.

My lack of honest dealing with grief has shown up in my physical

body, my emotional well-being, my mental health, my relationships,

and my spiritual paths. It just doesn’t work for me any longer.

In truth, it never did.

The healing journey that I am finding is requiring me to grieve.

As I grieve, I must come to the place that says “Without God

I can do nothing.” Without God I can’t truly heal. Without God

my life can’t be fixed. Then the season changes.

In embracing true deep grief, my tears have provided the water

for the growth of my soul. The winter ends, the sun warms.

So maybe you think that reading about grieving is depressing.

It seems to me, more than I knew before, that grieving is living life

in truth, facing pain so that I can see deliverance.

So don’t deny your grief. Experience it in its fullness. And then

know that just as the writer of Ecclesiastes said, “To everything

there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven.”

And seasons change.

A time to mourn gives way to a season of laughter and dance.

A season of hope and healing. Springtime in your heart and

soul are just around the corner.

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ONLINE OUTREACH – Our Facebook page received 6 visits last week,

compared to 7 the previous week.

The Porch’s page received 9 visits, compared to 1 visit the previous week

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HALIFAX URBAN MINISTRIES ASKS FOR HELP. A letter from

Rev. Troy Ray (posted on our bulletin board) notes that private

donations to HUM, its biggest source of funds, are running

$91,000 below target so far this year. We know the great work

HUM does in feeding needy families and running the North

Street homeless shelter. Please consider a dollar or 2 for the

donation can on our entrance table.

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FILM REVIEW -- (From the JourneyWithJesus.net blog).

Something to think about as the U.S. debates how much longer

to continue its military campaign in Afghanistan….

Afghan Star (2008)—Afghanistan

During decades of oppression under the Taliban, music and dancing were banned as immoral,

but this fascinating documentary records the resurgence of pop culture in Afghanistan by looking

at a single television show. And it's not just any television show; it's a carbon copy of "American Idol"

called "Afghan Star" that's produced by Tolo TV. And just like in the west, the show is a cultural

phenomenon, with over 11 million people (a third of the country) casting their votes by cell phone

for their favorite performers. Director Havan Marking takes us behind the scenes of the television

production, into dilapidated halls for auditions in a half dozen cities all over the country, and onto

the streets for interviews with ordinary people about the controversial but popular show. But in this

show art is politics, and it's fascinating to see how one contestant in particular risked her life by

what she did on stage. Most of the film follows four finalists (two men and two women), three of

whom are from different tribes — and so pop culture might even be a force for national unity. In

Afghani with English subtitles.

CHURCH NEWS

NEW TITLES for our church-library bookshelves. A big thank you

to Richard F. for donating several books about LGBT youth.

These are mainly psychology, sociology and counseling books.

Titles include “The New Gay Teenager” by Ritch Savin-Williams

and “Dude, You’re a Fag” by C.J. Pascoe (a young woman

sociologist who spent several months hanging out with kids

at a high school)

ATTN FILM FANS -- Are you interested in helping promote quality

films in the Daytona community? Cinematique is looking for a volunteer

tto serve on its board. Contact Jennifer Farance for more information.

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++++++++++++++++++++++++OK….Have you read this far yet??? – Susan and Tom are condensing Word Up to reduce repeat items,

and make sure priority church items are up at the top. Your ideas for what

you’d like included – or omitted – are always welcome. Better yet, send along somethingof your own! E-mail it to info@newchurchfamily.org

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"People get into a heavy-duty sin and guilt trip, feeling that if things are going wrong, that means that they did something

bad and they are being punished. That's not the idea at all. The idea of karma is that you continually get the teachings that

you need to open your heart. To the degree that you didn't understand in the past how to stop protecting your soft spot,

how to stop armoring your heart, you're given this gift of teachings FROM JESUS in the form of your life, to give you

everything you need to open further."

~Pema Chöd

RECYCLING -- Keith reminds us to save flip-top can tops for the church jar; this benefits the Children's Home Society. Also personal

grooming items (soap, toothpaste, shampoos) for Halifax Urban Ministries.

OUR BULLETIN BOARD -- As you sip your coffee or soda after church, check out our bulletin board lots of new

items about the Trevor Project, Lambda Legal's lawsuits for gay equality, updates on Halifax Urban Ministries, etc.

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HANDYperson JOBS WANTED by Mike B. Basic house repairs, landscaping, etc. (386)965-2987. (You can also contact Mike at our church service nearly every Sunday)

USED BOOKS FOR SALE – KingChamp Books, operated by Tom B., has about 2,500 books for sale online at www.kingchampbooks.com. Mostly non-fiction but also some detective stories and fiction classics. NCF and Guild people get 10 percent off. Check the “Church Benefit” category for 200-plus books being marketed to benefit NCF.

Looking for a job? Have something to sell? We will be glad to include a brief ad for you at the bottom of our Word Up newsletter. No charge. Send a sentence or 2 of text to newchurchfamily@bellsouth.net)

CALLING ALL WANNABE MUSICIANS – Bless Lloyd and John for their wonderful contributions of music each week!!! They are encouraging more members of the congregation to get involved in providing special music for our worship service. If you’d like to try singing or playing an instrument, please speak to them. God says “make a joyful noise.”

HAVE AN IDEA FOR SOMETHING TO ADD TO “WORD UP?” EMAIL YOUR ITEM OR SUGGESTION TO susan-5678@hotmail.com