Welcome to West Park United Church of Christ

New Century Hymnal #394 In Christ There Is No East or West

GLORIA PATRI Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.

Psalm 130

New Century Hymnal #278 Creator God, Creating Still

Mark 3:20-35

Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory, forever. Amen.

Reckon with your fears Stephanie Spellers’ Radical Welcome

When we ask people to change, we’re going into their deepest programming. Every individual has an iceberg – which you see above- and below are the myths, patterns. Even though most change is external, people are afraid of what it will do to their internal world, their iceberg. They see change, they feel threatened. If you change this, will I disappear? Eric Law

“Call it what you like- resistance, anxiety, hesitation, paralysis, defensiveness – fear is always with us, and perhaps never more than when the world and the systems that have anchored us start to change.”

“Especially when our cherished institutions and private communities are threatened with change, it is quite natural to recoil, hunker down and resist like hell.”

Fear of the other “Anyone would feel a bit uncomfortable in the presence of someone whose perspective, practices, history, hopes even their looks and smell, seem at least on the surface- and perhaps even after some exploration – dramatically different from your own.”

“I am wary when people say. “If you just get to know people, you realize we’re really all the same underneath.” Actually we are and we are not.”

Difference is difference

“ Of course we find ourselves anxious in relationship with the one who is OTHER to us, and particularly the marginalized, oppressed OTHER.” “This person’s very presence reminds us of- and perhaps represents some fundamental threat to- our own unearned privilege.”

Fear of the OTHER is so primal, so powerful. It resides deeper than most of us know or would want to admit

Fear of change Personal “Fear anything that shifts us out of own central identity”

Fear of change Personal Interpersonal “when one person changes a habit”

Fear of change Personal Interpersonal Institutional

Fear of change Personal Interpersonal Institutional Cultural

Sound of Fear I come here to feel good and safe. Is that so wrong? Wouldn’t they be more comfortable with their own people? What if we lose the ___family and their pledge? What if we mess it up? But shouldn’t we study it a little more? We’ve never done this before!

Holding the Fear “Adaptive work consist of the learning required to address conflicts in the values people hold, or to diminish the gap between the values people stand for and the reality they face. Adaptive work requires a change in values, beliefs or behavior.” Ronald Heifetz

“Heifetz then draws a conclusion many pastoral professionals could have guessed: if you are going to lead a community through adaptive work, you have to create a “holding environment” to contain the stress of change.”

Holding Environment A holding environment isn’t just a structure; it is a relationship

Holding Environment A holding environment isn’t just a structure; it is a relationship The holding environment doesn't protect people from adaptation.

Holding Environment A holding environment isn’t just a structure; it is a relationship The holding environment doesn't protect people from adaptation. The holding environment facilitates prophetic movement.

Practices for Reckoning with Fear Practice compassion with your own fears Open the space for honesty and truth- telling Bring compassion and wisdom to the resistance Use and share breath and meditation practices. Be prepared for the backlash. Mine for your tradition's resources for dealing with fear. Return to the dream

What is your Kingdom Dream for West Park UCC ?

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, Ye heavenly host: Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Take the Light of Christ with you Go In Peace and Serve the Lord!

Join us for Punch on the Porch after Worship!