On Sunday, February 28, Dr. Stephen Patterson will be our special guest at a luncheon lecture and conversation on the Lenten topic “Rethinking the Meaning of Jesus’ Death.”

Dr. Patterson, a professor of New Testament at Eden Theological Seminary, is a respected Jesus scholar and author of several texts including Beyond the Passion: Rethinking the Life and Death of Jesus. Patterson serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Biblical Literature, is Contributing Editor of the Bible Review, and is a Fellow of the Jesus Seminar, a group of scholars who reflect critically on the historicity of Jesus’ life and the life of the early Church.

This will be one of our last opportunities to engage in dialogue with Dr. Patterson as he is leaving Eden at the end of the semester to take a new teaching position in Oregon. Our time with Dr. Patterson will begin at 12:30 p.m. following worship and will include a potluck salad and bread luncheon. There will be an opportunity for questions and answers with the event ending at 2pm.

For more information or to register, please email brianskirk at yahoo.com

Coldplay, the Clash, The Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix will never sound the same again after seeing the Young@Heart chorus, a group of Massachusetts senior citizens who thrill audiences worldwide with their unusual — and unusually poignant — covers of rock songs. This funny, humane, and heartwarming documentary follows the elderly ensemble as they prepare their latest public concert. (PG)

This event begins at 7 p.m. in the Fellowship Room. A short conversation follows the film. The popcorn is free!

Go here to see the full slate of upcoming Reel Faith offerings.

As news outlets report on the earthquake in Haiti, three of the issues consuming the headlines are refugee resettlement, adoption of Haitian orphans, and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians in the United States. Jennifer Riggs, Director of Refugee and Immigration Ministries, a ministry funded by Week of Compassion and administered by Disciples Home Missions, offers the following important information:
 
The U.S. government is constantly reassessing the situation and changing its plans about how to deal with the crisis as related to Haitians in the United States and Haitians who may try to come to the United States. The following is the current situaion on these issues.
 
1. No Haitians are being considered by the U.S. government for resettlement into the United States. In fact, efforts are underway to prevent Haitians from getting in boats and attempting to come to the United States on their own. If any Haitians do make it to the United States, they will most likely be placed in the Krome detention center in Miami or in tent cities nearby and will not be allowed to be resettled. Guantanamo Bay is being prepared to receive those who are picked up by the U.S. Coast Guard on their way to Florida. 
 
2. There is no program for the care of or adoption of Haitian orphans into the United States. A few orphans have been allowed into the country because they lived in American-run orphanages and/or were already in the process of being adopted by Americans. These were children who were orphans before the earthquake. In all disaster situations, children are never sent to another country until there is certainty that their parents and other relatives are not alive. It is possible that in the future there may be a program for the adoption of Haitian orphans, but that would be months away. If such a program was developed, the preferred location for the placement of those orphans would be within Haitian communities in the United States.
 
3. Haitians living in the United States may now apply for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). They have only six months (from 1/21/10) to apply for TPS and have to have been in the Unites States as of 1/12/10. Refugee and Immigration Ministries (RIM) is consulting attorneys and beginning to prepare information to help Disciples Haitians determine whether or not applying for TPS would be a good decision in their individual situations. Church World Service is working to determine which of its refugee resettlement offices could provide legal assistance for Haitians in filling out the proper forms. In the next few weeks, RIM will make available a guide to help Haitians think through their options, understand the requirements of TPS, and know where and how to apply for TPS.
 
The crisis in Haiti is complex, touching on each aspect of the work and witness of Week of Compassion gifts — Relief, Development, and Refugee issues are all at the heart of the long-range response to which we are committed. We will continue to update you on all aspects of our ministry as the relief, refugee and development mission fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Thank you so much for your work and generosity. It is truly an honor to partner with each and every one of you.
 

To find out more about how Week of Compassion is helping in Haiti go here.

What could be better during the freezing temperatures of January than a good old-fashioned Chili and Fudge Cookoff?  How about a hymn sing thrown in for good measure?

On Sunday, January 31, the Worship Team and Arts Ministry of Union Avenue will partner to host a joint fellowship event after worship at Noon in the Dining Room.  The event will include our annual Chili and Fudge cook off.  Attendees are encouraged to enter their best chili or fudge in the tasting contest (and those contributing either get to attend the event for free).  Come taste a wide variety of chili and fudge and vote for your favorites.  Throughout the lunch, the Worship Team will be hosting a hymn sing, using songs suggested by members of the congregations. Hymns will fit into three categories: traditional, contemporary, and camp songs.  A small admission fee per person will go to support the arts ministries of Union Avenue.