Churches pray and remember victims

Churches pray and remember victims

Source: Knoxville News Sentinel - Knoxville, TN, USA

Author: Amy McRary & Eric Vreeland

Date: 3 August, 2008

People join in song at the Church of the Savior United Church of Christ on Saturday during an interfaith service of healing to pray for those who died and were wounded at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church on July 27.

Healing continues following deadly church shooting

Healing continues following deadly church shooting

Source: WBIR-TV - Knoxville,TN,USA

Author:

Date: 2 August, 2008

Saturday morning the Church of the Savior United Church of Christ hosted an interfaith prayer service. Members of that church's congregation, ...

Reflections on a Church shooting – (This one happened to be in a Liberal Church)

Reflections on a Church shooting – (This one happened to be in a Liberal Church)

Source: Healthy Liberal Christianity

Author: Wayne Gustafson

Date: 30 July, 2008

And let’s learn to listen compassionately to one another. If we only love those who are our friends, then we necessarily contribute to the vilification of our enemies. Healthy Liberal Christianity takes Jesus’ mandate to “love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us” very seriously. It won’t feel good like revenge is supposed to. It won’t help us pat ourselves on the back because we’re right and our enemies are wrong. But it might extract out of a violent culture a little bit of the very venom that keeps the violence going. And that is worth a lot

Wayne
No matter who you are or where you are in life's journey, you're welcome here!
The United Church of Christ

NYE Youth

NYE Youth

Source: Progressive Revelation

Author: Barb Powell

Date: 29 July, 2008

Megan Diesselhorst, of Little River United Church of Christ in Annandale, Va., composed a prayer that called those attending NYE's closing worship to remember the tragedy at the church. The prayer was read during the NYE closing worship service Sunday evening:

"O God of Peace and Love,
"You have been with us on this journey of growth, discovery, and reflection. We are amazed at the signs that you have given to us to show us the way to a better life of love, creation, and harmony. We confess that we all have faults, differences, and doubts. As your children we ask for your forgiveness and guidance to heal our brokenness. We are entering into a period of mourning for the victims of the shootings this morning at Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church. We ask for your comfort and the strength of your love for the victims, the shooter, and their loved ones. As a generation that has been confronted by 9/11, the shootings at others schools and colleges, as well as war, we trust in your power and wisdom to lead us to create a world of peace and wholeness. We leave here inspired, and ready to love. In your name we pray. Amen."

Tragedy at Tennessee UU Church

Tragedy at Tennessee UU Church

Source: St. James United Church of Christ

Author: Admin

Date: 29 July, 2008

Three thousand young people from the United Church of Christ are in Knoxville this week, attending the UCC’s National Youth Event - only a few blocks from the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church.

The Greening of Religion

The Greening of Religion

Source: Sustainable Business Design

Author: dr. n

Date: 29 July, 2008

Another denomination promoting environmentalism is The National Council of Churches of Christ which sponsors the Eco-Justice Program. The program works with member Protestant and Orthodox denominations to protect and restore God's Creation. One example is the Church of the Savior, United Church of Christ, in Knoxville, Tennessee which has a compost bin, uses mugs instead of styrofoam, and purchases green power.

Knoxville Church Assassin Had "Hate Agenda"

Knoxville Church Assassin Had "Hate Agenda"

Source: Dungeon Diary

Author: Hardy Haberman

Date: 28 July, 2008

In the meantime, we need take extra care to avoid another tragedy like this. Unfortunately, it means being on-guard and aware of our situations at all times. As a member of a liberal church, the United Church of Christ, I have seen the threats leveled at us and our congregations, but it will not dissuade us from our mission of carrying God's word and grace to everyone.

Apparent hate crime against inclusive Knoxville church

Apparent hate crime against inclusive Knoxville church

Source: Quality Loudoun

Author: David

Date: 28 July, 2008

The Rev. Don Prange, pastor of the Open and Affirming St. James United Church of Christ (which just last month hosted the emma’s revolution concert with Equality Loudoun) says that the attack

ought to help us realize that the words of Jesus about ‘taking up our own cross’ in following his leadership are not just rhetoric. Whatever the ultimate story in this situation turns out to be, I would hope that we are all feeling a deep sense of solidarity with our sisters and brothers of this UUA congregation in Knoxville for their own spirit of being ‘open and affirming’.

Sunday in Tennessee

Sunday in Tennessee

Source: Let’s Shell (blog)

Author: SJ

Date: 28 July, 2008

Whether or not the alleged hatred of liberals plays out to be the motivating factor here (seems like unemployed would be a better bet, but there are many unemployed people and relatively few opening fire on Unitarian churches), this event also provides a sobering counterpoint to the sermon I heard yesterday in the local United Church of Christ church I now attend.

Cohen To Speak About Black History Month

Cohen To Speak About Black History Month
Eye Witness News (ABC-24): 02-21-2007

"Congressman Steve Cohen (TN 9) will speak at the Second Congregational United Church of Christ on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. as part of LeMoyne-Owen College's Black History Month event "Bridging the Gap Between Government and Community."

Webinar Series: Leading Causes Of Life

Webinar Series: Leading Causes Of Life
ORLive: 02-17-2007

"Rev. Gary R. Gunderson, D.Min., M.Div. is senior vice president for Health and Welfare Ministries for Methodist Healthcare in Memphis. Larry Pray is a pastor with the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church and a Senior Pastoral Scholar for Methodist Healthcare."