So I went to a UCC church last night with my mom, sister, bil and nephews. I was raised in the UCC and have always attributed my experience growing up with them to my more progressive incliniations today. More about the service below the fold.
I am no longer a member of the UCC. Over time and a lot of reflection I transfered faith in a higher being to faith in myself. But that is another diary for another time at another site.
My mother attends a small church in rural TX. This is the heart of German country and pretty much Redneck ground zero. The UCC churches there are not like the ones in the north. They are primarily focused on "works" like supporting the Back Bay Mission and sponsoring charity and youth events. They are certainly not active in social issues. My mother's church still sings Christmas songs in German.
So I settled in for my yearly church service - the candle light Christmas Eve service with mom is a tradion - prepared to sit tight for an hour and half for the good of mom. Then the message started.
The preacher stood up and said "As most of you know, the UCC prepared an ad that was supposed to run on the four major networks". Needless to say, I sat up. He made the association between Joseph and Mary and inclusivness in a way that I have never considered. He asked the question of why they had to stay at the inn when they were in Joseph's ancestral town and very likely had relatives close by. He theorized that it was because Mary was pregnant and Joseph's family would not accept them. I will paraphrase -- "the people who appreciate inclusiveness the most are the ones who know what it means to be excluded". He challenged the congregation to rationalize excluding people with true Christian values and always remember that Christ was born in a situation of exclusion. Interesting.
I was floored. I would be interested to hear from other UCC folks on the sermons they heard for the holiday. As I said, I am no longer a member of the UCC but I will be sending them a check as soon as I log off today.