Presbyterian Heritage Sunday has been set aside by the General Assembly of our denomination as an annual day to celebrate, reflect upon, and learn more about the long and rich history of Presbyterianism in America. It falls on the Sunday closest to May 21, the date of the opening of the first General Assembly in 1789. The theme this year is: “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”
As a More Light Congregation of the Presbyterian Church( USA) we, together with other Presbyterian congregations who have joined this movement, will express in our worship service what it means to take a stand for the full inclusion of all into the membership and leadership capacities in our denomination. More Light Sunday comes three weeks before the meeting of the General Assembly. At this Assembly, once again, there will be overtures that address issues of discrimination and injustice for gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender individuals .The theme of this year's Assembly, to be held in San Joes, California, is “Do Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly with your God”. Printed below is a statement released by More Light Presbyterians.
It’s about time for all disciples of Jesus Christ to take a stand
for those who are still denied full participation in our church ‑
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender sisters and brothers,
whom God loves and calls to faith and ministry.
It’s about time to end
the task forces, studies, judicial cases, interpretations,
and other abuses
that continue the unconscionable discriminatory policies of our church.
It’s about time to lay aside our fears:
Fear of the unknown ‑ fear of schism,
Fear of those who are different.
“God is love…there is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.”
1 John, 4:16, 18
It’s about time to do the right thing,
to delete G-6.0106b which has created so much strife in our beloved church.
It’s about time to trust in God’s wildly inclusive love,
and remove the boundaries we have set
around God’s free, unmerited grace.
It’s about time to make our church a welcoming community,
where everyone has an equal place at God’s table.
It’s about time!
Adopted by the National More Light Presbyterians Board of Directors, Feb.18, 2008
Ten years ago, or even five, a program like this would not have taken place. Awareness that environmental deterioration, primarily global warming, which is a moral and spiritual issue, has swept through the religious communities rapidly. People of all faith groups are awakening to the realization that God's creation is under threat and that the life support systems of the planet are being compromised by excessive use of fossil fuel, consumerism and all forms of industrialization.
Although the Environmental movement on the secular level is at least 30 years old, the religious communities are at last assuming a leadership role in addressing the 21st century's greatest threat.
On Sunday, June 8, long ago members of the South Haven Presbyterian Church (way back when it was still in South Haven) will be revisiting us. John Deitz will be leading worship – joined by Floyds, “Tangier” Smiths, Carmans, Millers, Hawkins and others who would have been sitting in our pews in 1828 when the present “meeting house” was built. They will recall the early days of the church established in 1740 as an outpost of the Town church in Setauket. We hope to have available objects used by the congregation now on loan to the Bellport-Brookhaven Historical Society.
