News

Fun fact: the enews note is often more difficult to write than a sermon. To be honest, I don’t really have words for this edition of the This Week @ Central. 

There are some days when I wake up and think “I’m not built for this, maybe tomorrow I’ll wake up with a different call.” And there are other days when I wake up and think “the heavens are singing the glories of God and somehow I’ve ended up in the chorus of creation that’s shouting for joy… might as well enjoy it.”

In the past week, I’ve thought about baptism and the wilderness, the collapse and emergence of a new political order, continued threats from AI(I am very very bearish on this), concepts of citizenship, and the Jesus problem that is now very apparent to me in the American church.

Some of those thoughts will preach and some of them will not! For this Sunday, I think you’ll hear something tied to wilderness, citizenship, and the Jesus problem in the American church… all through the lens of our lectionary texts. The real goal is for us to consider memories and new understandings of hope. A lot of this is inspired by these words from Rev. Dr. Cody Sanders:

Feral hope is a hope that is driven into the wilderness by the Spirit, alongside Jesus emerging from the baptismal waters in the Synoptic Gospels. It is hope dashed and born again, like the disciples moving all along the way of Jesus—misunderstanding, halting, sometimes regressing, yet buoyed by surprise and wonder and the intrigue of companions moving along a winding pathway. Feral hope is a hope that travels to the grave—the place of death, the aftermath of violence—unsuspecting. Like the women coming to the tomb of their crucified beloved not to witness resurrection, but to anoint a corpse with spices and tears. It is a hope-against-hope, a hope acquainted with hopelessness, a hope born of the alchemy of grief and wonder. Feral hope is radical hope.

In my last sermon, I briefly noted that the promise of the world to come is not guaranteed to be made known in our time, regardless of how much work we put towards that world coming into being. I want to be in conversation with those words offered by Rev. Sanders, because he talked about this before me, and I happen to think that we are pointing at the concept for our faith and its practice in the 21st century. His full article, called Feral Hope for Futurist Leaders, (just 10 pages) can be read here.

Aside from the above, we have a few updates on Sunday plans, which you can read about below:

– How the Bible Actually Works will not meet.

– Asset Mapping is postponed and will take place on February 1.

– our plan for worship will be announced by midday tomorrow(Saturday), which is what most churches around us are planning to do too. 

If worship is cancelled, we will share my sermon via email, but unfortunately are not able to share the wonderful music that our choir would have offered. We will also not gather online. Please stay tuned to your email or our Facebook page for that announcement tomorrow!

I started this note saying I had no words, and yet here we are. 

Be good to yourselves and one another, and I will see you Sunday (or a Sunday soon),

Thomas

Dear Members, Friends, Siblings, All,

This is the weekend we celebrate Martin Luther King’s birthday and for many of us, the holiday tomorrow will be a “Day of Service” to our communities in one way or another–service to others and a greater good to honor and memorialize the model Dr. King’s life gives us.

It is also the Second Sunday after Epiphany in the Calendar of the Christian Year, the Sunday just after we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus, and where we begin to understand what difference that baptism made. We may also wonder what difference those waters make for the baptized—for us.

When I was teaching ninth and tenth graders an introduction to the Bible as literature, a course called Judeo-Christian Tradition, we prepared for the term’s final exam by putting butcher paper around the classroom and drawing the narrative. Other teachers thought this was elementary (as in not rigorous enough) for this top-tier New England boarding school. However, I invariably learned something I hadn’t learned in seminary. Case in point:

As we stood back to look over our work and notice things together, one girl spoke up to say, “It looks like, every time they go through water, things change.” Oh? Can you say more?

“Well, it gets hard before it gets better.”

It was right there. The Exodus. The Wilderness. The Babylonian Exile. The Flight into Egypt. Jesus at the River Jordan. But before we followed the story and the journey in images around the walls, I had not noticed that or drawn the significance of the movement of the People of God through the water.

So, what happened at the River? So what?

On the Second Sunday after the Epiphany, we turn to wondering what difference that event made, has made, could make. Our Lectionary readings for Sunday are from Isaiah 49:1-7 in the Hebrew Bible and 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 in the New Testament.

Does what happened at the River explain who the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was, what he did, and why? Does what happened at the River help us to know what we are called to be and do and why? What do you think think?

Come worship with us on Sunday—Streamers and Gatherers, Everybody. Come join us for a moment away from everything else we do to pray and sing and ponder and praise God who called and brought us through the waters of baptism. And who walks with us still. It will be good to be there with you in that conversation among friends, going along together, making God-sense of life as it happens, between meals. (Communion Sunday is February 1. Come then, too.) Hope to see you soon.

Love and hugs,

Rev. Liz

P.S. About this time of year, I often read King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail. It is a stunning piece; to say “brilliant” is too little. Something new comes from it every time. Have a look: https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/letter-birmingham-jail

Merry Christmas!

I trust that your holiday is going well. We are finally within the 12 days of Christmas and I want all of it. Today is St. Stephens Day, a day which honors the life of one of the first deacons in the early church. St. Stephen was put to death for his beliefs. I share that not to dampen the Christmas spirit, but to instead invite you to consider what this season really means for you. 

God came to us in the most vulnerable of human forms. I think it’s a reminder for us to pay attention to the most vulnerable in our midst, not just in this season but all of the time. 

If you plan to join us on Sunday, we’ll sing a few more Christmas hymns and I’ll offer a short reflection on some of what I think this season is all about. 

Rev. Liz and Josh are away on Sunday! But they still want you to join us in person or online. 

Merry Christmas to you, and your families. 

See you soon!

Thomas

We are partnering with The Candler Foundry to host this five-week course facilitated by Jaeun “Kooja” Koo, Hebrew Bible Scholar Doctoral Student at Emory University. This course explores how the Bible works – its history, genres, and truth claims – to help you read Scripture with greater confidence, nuance, and curiosity. No prior training needed – just a willingness to explore.

To support our instructor preparation, registration for this class is required. Register online by January 7th: Sign up for How the Bible Actually Works

My Story: “Well, to me, DEI just means ‘Didn’t Earn It.'”

The words washed over me . . . a familiar yet hostile wave, and I felt exactly like a deer in headlights. I was at a work event 6 years ago, having a casual conversation with a higher up, and there it was—a dismissive, racially charged statement about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

Of course I knew, deep down, that the statement was completely wrong. It was a hurtful and intellectually dishonest simplification of complex issues. But in that moment, I froze. I felt the familiar weight of hesitation: Do I confront this person and potentially create an awkward scene? Do I risk damaging the relationship? Or do I just let it slide? Like many of us, I was either intimidated, prioritizing comfort, or just plain stuck. And, because you can’t cuss (not curse, cuss) out your supervisor’s boss, I walked away feeling disappointed in myself for not moving past that hesitation to take meaningful action.

Moving from Hesitation to Action: A Long Talk

If you’ve ever found yourself in a similar situation—knowing what’s right but lacking the knowledge or confidence to speak up—I have an opportunity for you.

I’ve been engaged with A Long Talk About The Uncomfortable Truth (ALT) for several years now, and I can tell you it is absolutely time well spent. ALT begins with a 21-day anti-racism activation experience, designed specifically to empower participants with the knowledge and skills to combat racism in their daily lives.

Here’s what the experience is all about:

Pre-Work: You’ll start with self-guided learning on the history and impact of racism.

Discussion Sessions: This is the core experience—two, two-hour group discussion sessions that use interactive large and small group conversations. These sessions, available virtually and in-person, are where you gain the language and tools to move past that “deer in headlights” feeling.

Ongoing Support: After the experience, ALT provides community support to foster continued growth and engagement in anti-racism efforts.

Call to Action: Join Me in Taking The Next Step

The work of anti-racism is a spiritual discipline beloved, and it’s one we can practice together.

I would like to facilitate a group from Central Congregational UCC to go through A Long Talk together.

Some people have expressed interest, and that’s awesome, and we still have room for others. Exact details about the dates and times of the meetings will be out by the third week of January. If, at that time, you decide you would like to join our group, you will be welcome. Just e-mail me at [email protected].

My hope is that through this experience, we can all become better equipped to live out the radical love of Christ and confidently interrupt racism whenever and wherever we encounter it.

Let’s move from hesitation into action together! 

We are excited to present to you “The Monthly” for January 2026.

Check out this month’s newsletter for:

• A Note from Rev. Liz.
• A Story from Central’s History: Laura Marcy Askren.
• How the Bible Actually works.
• Taking Action Against Racism.
• Coffee Hour Guidelines.

Click here to download “The Monthly”! There are also paper copies in The Commons, in The Sanctuary and in the Church office. Be sure to add events and gatherings that you‘re interested in to your calendar.

Enjoy “The Monthly” and all the events and gatherings you are going to attend!

Dear Siblings,

I’m curious: Can the birth of a baby challenge the empire? The deep stories of our faith say “yes!” This Sunday, we celebrate Joy in the life of the church and sit with the songs of Elizabeth and Mary. I am always moved by their response to the unexpected news of carrying children. Much like we considered in last week’s Story for All Ages about John the Baptist, what does it mean for us that God uses the last and least to show us a better way?

I hope you’re curious about that this weekend.

On a very different note, I hope you’ve noticed how worship has felt so far this season. Each Sunday, we’ve welcomed more folks than usual in the Sanctuary! We’re running out of bulletins(an easy fix). One other easy thing to do in this season is to wear your nametag. This allows all of us to greet one another by name. A growing church is a welcoming church first. Speaking of welcome… on Sunday, we’ll welcome a half dozen folks as members of Central. 

And finally, it’s sometimes hard to consider our church building and land as a ministry, but they really are! We’re host to a lot of wonderful groups and organizations in our community: Lena’s Place, Plymouth Harbor, Interfaith Children’s Movement, the Atlanta Freedom Bands, Toastmasters, and Turning Sun School’s Clairmont Campus. 

This weekend, we’ll also be hosting a holiday celebration for the Georgia Mushroom Club, and a funeral for a member of Kirkwood UCC. I hope each of you will take a moment to offer gratitude for those who came before us, armed with wisdom & confidence that a place like Central could be a ministry for our whole community too.

See you Sunday,

Thomas

Choose a gift that gives back this season! “Shop” for your loved ones by donating in their honor to an organization or project that you believe would appeal to them.

Instead of guessing what color sweater a grandchild might like, perhaps they would be thrilled to know that through their gift a family in Kenya will be able to access water in their village.

Perhaps another on your list is a fan of social media; they may appreciate that their gift supported work to ensure modern media is a force for good!

We trust you will find just the right match for your loved ones…and maybe start a new tradition in your family that reflects and cultivates compassion and understanding here and across the globe!

Check out the market in this catalog.

And make your donation here!

This year you can visit the Alternative Gift Market in the Commons also, on December 7, 14, and 21 following the 11:00 am Service. We’ll have donation forms available in print as well. 

Dear Members, Friends, Siblings, All,

Confession: I’m excited. Excited about our Sunday worship service which will feature both of the sacraments of the United Church of Christ. I’m not sure that has ever happened in my ministry. And an infant baptism has not happened at Central in seven years. I’m excited. This is B.I.G.

My excitement also grows from loving our Advent resources from Illustrated Ministry, LLC, The Will to Dream. Thanks to Rev. Thomas, we have this comprehensive guide through the seasons of anticipation and incarnation that invites our full selves and every aspect of our congregational lives. 

In Advent, we remember the prophetic promises of the Old Testament that we usually only sing in Handel’s Messiah. (Well, that’s how I remember they are there at all; they come with music.) It’s a time when we actually listen to the voices of daring dreamers, messengers who speak the word of God to the people of God via the audacity of dreams; odd ones who cry out inviting us to commit to hope–for peace, not less–and joy and love. And to imagine that, with the help of God, we can participate in the shalomification of our world. Yes, that peace–wellbeing, thriving, justice, wholeness, dignity, and equality, to name but a few.

I want to be one of them, one of those odd personalities. But churches do not often look for us. Except, sometimes, in transitions when the comfort has already been disturbed. I can see that now, after ten years in that space. Mine is a voice for crying out in the wilderness, calling for a shift of mind, metanoia, or what Matthew 3:2 “repent.” It’s not so much from sin, as we most often think, unless it’s the sin of not paying attention and thinking that what we can see now is all there is to see, and what we know and sense is enough. Imagination is a daring thing. 

Which is why I always say, watch out! Pentecost is always lurking in the wings, from which the Holy Spirit might intrude, grab our hearts and minds, and make us sing and dance and speak languages we don’t know and see love where it is (merely) hope, peace and joy. Only if you can imagine it. As Toni Morrisson wrote, “if you can’t imagine it, you can’t have it.”

I said I am excited but ça suffit comme ça. Besides, Pentecost is all the way next year, when the Christian year shifts from “the story of Jesus” to “the story of us,” the people of God and how we have done in the “refiner’s fire” and “preparing the straight ways of God.” The Bible is truly a treasure; the gift that keeps on giving.

Sunday will be a busy day for Central. After last Sunday when there were children running in the aisles (be still by heart), I trust we will find the energy to stay a while for the Jazz Christmas Coffeehouse with the MetroGnomes immediately after 11 am service. There will be good music, good food, good fellowship–it’s a dessert potluck–and holiday cheer. What’s not to like? Join us, if you can.

Later in the afternoon, Central is invited to join the Service of Ordination to Christian Ministry of Amanda Edwards who was a member here during her preparations for ministry. That service is at 4:30 EST/3:30 CST in Wisconsin. Use this link to register! After registration you are going to receive the Zoom link for the service! ​

Come be with us on Sunday, Streamers and Gatherers, all y’all. It will be another great day at Central. You don’t want to miss it.

Love and hugs,

Rev. Liz