SUMMER READING- James Carroll's PRACTICING CATHOLIC

Readers of this BLOG know I like to do recommended reading ( see archives for thorough list). A fascinating book with which I am currently working is James Carroll's PRACTICING CATHOLIC.

I highly recommend this book for current Catholics, former Catholics, 'fallen away' Catholics, those involved in relationships with Catholics and EVERYONE who wishes to come to a deeper understanding of Catholicism and religion in America. I expect this will become a required text in college/grad courses dealing with religion in our country and with Catholicism.

It is my belief that just as Protestantism had/has MANY GIFTS which have benefitted Catholics( love for the Bible, Biblical scholarship, singing in church, worship in one's own language) so too does Catholicism offer a multiplicity of gifts that can enrich Protestant religious experience.

Likewise, the mainstream theological traditions which formed Catholicism and those church communities that developed out of the Reformation provide necessary background and foundation for a mainstream Christianity in this 21st century, a Christianity that offers a viable alternative to the excesses and weak theology and Biblical knowledge one finds all too often within the so called 'religious right.'

If you are not Catholic and want to really take Catholicism seriously and learn more about your Catholic friends and neighbors, this is the book for you. If you are Catholic and want to read something that resonates with what may have happened within your own family, grab hold of this book...

PB

MICHAEL JACKSON

Today is the Memorial Service for Michael Jackson, an event televised by all of the major networks. The fact that this is happening is a fascinating phenomenon in and of itself. The reaction to his death, as is so often the case with that of so many 'stars' ( e.g. Elvis, John Lennon and various athletic and entertainment figures) raises all kinds of interesting questions. Here are but a few:

1. Why do so many attach such emotional investment to people whom we don't even know?

2. Why do so many hold such public figures in such high esteem?

3. Why such intensity of the emotion of GRIEF when our knowledge of the person comes from video, CD, television, the Internet and I Tunes? After all, we live in a world in which people are wracked with grief because of tragedies in their personal lives, a world which suffers death each day, in the form of WAR, POVERTY, and HUNGER....

In Michael Jackson's particular case, much of his life was far from laudatory. I hope we are not suggesting it's sensible or acceptable for middle aged men to live out a childish, Peter Pan like life!

Now, having said all of this, I want to say a few other things as well:

* Michael Jackson was an immensely talented singer and performer whose work had the power to touch peoples' souls. I first encountered MAN IN THE MIRROR when a Youth Group member brought the video to a retreat I was leading many, many years ago.....It was downright moving and inspirational....

* Michael Jackson stands in line of a great tradition of music in the African American community. One cannot easily discount his working class roots in the economically challenged city of Gary, Indiana. If anything, this fact has been woefully underplayed in the press.

* Finally, Michael Jackson was a troubled soul who yearned for peace, love and joy in his life. Clearly a victim of abuse in his childhood, he sought inner happiness and desired the same for others. It is sad that this quest took the turns that it did, turns which eventually led to the silencing of a great voice at all too young an age.

May Michael Jackson alas find peace in the loving arms of His Creator. May we who witness this media blitz maintain perspective and keep our own focus fixed not on those things glitzly and transitory, but keep ourselves fixed upon GOD!

Augustine's words, true for Michael Jackson, are true for us as well:

' Our hearts are restless, O God, and they will not rest until they rest in Thee'

May His soul and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, REST IN PEACE.
AMEN+

A GREAT TIME TO COME TO CHURCH.....

While I'd certainly support going to church anytime, I'd like to encourage summer church attendance. There is something about the relaxed pace that makes it very special. In addition, it is a great time to visit a church, explore, search or reconnect.

I'd also like to encourage families with children to consider summer worship......It is a great time to help children really familiarize themselves with intergenerational worship....

Hope to see you soon in church---

PB

An intriguing Biblical statement

In this weekend's reading, from 2 Corinthians 12, Paul writes of his struggle with a ' thorn in the flesh'.....

Though he never describes what this thorn is, much has been written about it and HIS struggle can provide inspiration for us as we ourselves struggle with the finitude and imperfection of our own humanity....

Hope to see you in church this weekend as I will preach on the topic:

POWER AND WEAKNESS

PB

AMY GALLATIN IN UNION

On July 26, our church is pleased to host the musical artist AMY GALLATIN as we celebrate the 275th anniversary of the Town of Union.

More info is posted on this BLOG ( see right column) and at www.unioncc.com

Hope to see you there!!!

Pastor Bob

A POEM AND OTHER WRITTEN WORDS.....

In my early summer reading, I came across a great poem I had not encountered for years.......Those of you from my church can most readily identify with it...

As years go on, I am more and more convinced of the value and strength of small churches in our land and in our world...

Click on the link below for this poem by e.e. cummings:

http://www.geocities.com/soho/8454/749.htm

As a Father's day gift, I just received the final collection of the late John Updike's short stories entitled MY FATHER'S TEARS.......There is some incredible writing in there, including the short story by that title.....Also, his VARIETIES OF RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE based on 9/11 is really powerful...

PB

ON A PERSONAL NOTE......

As you can see from the post below, I spent some time in church talking about the subject TEAM SPIRIT. Since then, I've had the fun experience of being on a postseason ride with my South Windsor High baseball team that leaves us one win away from a State Championship game. If you want to get achance to see some good high school baseball, you can tune in to http://www.sportingnewsct.com/ for a live videocast of the June 10 ( Wednesday) game in the state semifinals.......

BROADCAST TIME IS 3:30 on Wednesday afternoon....

PB