Good bye

This will my last post to the Federated Forum since I have accepted a new position as the Interim Association Co-Minister for the Chicago Metropolitan Association of the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ.

I had hoped that this would be a weekly post that would generate dialogue and interaction between members and friends of our church. That didn't happen and that's okay. We learn through trying new things and we need to know when to let go. So thank you for sharing this time and space with me!

Pastor Rita

witness for love

Thank you to those of you who were able to go to Cicero yesterday to participate in the counter-witness against Fred Phelps. I failed to mention in my e-mail yesterday the wonderful treatment we received from the Cicero Police Department. They brought a paddy-wagon over so we could take turns warming up inside it (so now if you’re asked if your pastor has ever been in the back of a police paddy wagon—you can proudly say yes), brought us boxes of hot coffee from Dunkin Donuts and at noon brought cheeseburgers from McDonald’s. They were phenomenal!

I also want to share with you how impressed I was with the young NIU students who organized and witnessed with us yesterday. They were calm--they were supportive--they knew it wasn't about them. When reporters came over to get statements or pictures they asked that they not be photographed--that they were there to support the family and nothing more. In an age when most of the media attention goes to bratty and "it's all about me" behavior--these young people provided this pastor with a deeply valued example of the true goodness of humanity.

The days ahead for all of us in the DeKalb/Sycamore community are going to be tough. I know, however, that we will be in this together and there will be many opportunities for us to witness for love.