Prayer Vigil for Jobs Equity

I attended a religious prayer service up at First Christian Church last evening, sponsored by Quad Cities Interfaith, to promote jobs equity on the rail project coming to the Quad Cities.  Read Linda Cook's article about this event in the Quad City Times.

http://qctimes.com/news/local/religious-groups-back-job-equality-for-rail-project/article_7f6f7e40-05fa-11e2-9d57-0019bb2963f4.html

Second Sunday First Church

Yesterday was my second Sunday at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Moline, Illinois. It was a good day, the highlight being the baptism of a little fellow named Ryan in the morning service. I am still unpacking books in my office. There was a funeral last week at the church and another today at a local funeral chapel. Busy. At lots of names and meeting folks. It surprises me a little how many people we have some sort of connection with already - know a family member, kids went to school together, neighbor of members at Church of Peace. It is a new adventure.

Short Retirement

Nancy wrote this in a note to her family:

It will be a short retirement, specifically July. Michael is taking the position of full-time Interim Pastor at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Moline, IL. This church is larger than Church of Peace and has more worship services and a full-time associate. They have been looking for some time for someone to fill in when their current pastor leaves this month after a 7-year stint. A cousin of a friend of mine who is on the committee saw the article about Michael's retirement in the newspaper and was talking about it at a baseball game with his cousin (my friend). She said, "Oh I know his wife!" And the connection was made - you can't make this stuff up!

Michael will begin his duties at First Congregational the first weekend of August. I guess my dream of weekend getaways will have to be put on hold for awhile. We aren't sure how long this will be - the church is looking to call a full-time pastor. But as they say, "the Lord does work in mysterious ways" and Michael has the experience they are looking for to help their church move forward. Plus it's some extra money and that's always nice. So keep us in your thoughts as we transition to the next chapter. He is continuing his part-time work with the non-profit group, Quad City Alliance for Immigration and Refugees (QCAIR). He will try to juggle both for awhile-we'll see how it all goes.

So the week before the wonderful retirement weekend at Church of Peace I got a call from the fellow heading up the committee to find an interim for First Congregational UCC, Moline. They wanted someone for six months to two years, depending on how their search goes. One positive meeting led to another, and soon we had reached a meeting of the minds.

This is not what I had in mind a year ago when I announced my retirement from the Church of Peace. My mental picture was to goof off for six months to a year and then take interim training, and then look for interim ministry in the area while Nancy still works for the AEA as a speech therapist. And then the people from First Congregational Church called me. Nevertheless, I am pleased to serve First Church, and look forward to helping through the transitional period. At least my skills are fresh!

The Chairman of the Search Committee at First Congregational Church announced in church last Sunday, July 8, that I would be their interim senior minister. I had contacted the Chairperson of the Church Council at Church of Peace and she also let the people know there.

Cute Photo

Here I am with Meghan and her two sons, Charles and Oliver, in our regular spot for children's time in worship.  I post it because we all look our best!  My last Sunday worship at Church of Peace was filled with warm memories and fond wishes.

Bishop Leontine Kelly

Bishop Leontine Kelly died at age 92 on June 28, 2012.  She was the first female African-American bishop in the US and in the United Methodist Church.  She had an unusual career and there were many unlikely turns that brought her to the prominent position in the church.  That story is readily available in other places.

Part of the back story is that there was great interest in the role of women in the church in 1984 when she was elected.  And it was the much more liberal Western Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church that elected her to office.  (The UMC in the US is divided into five regional bodies.)  Bishop Kelly was  a member of the Virginia Annual Conference.  And it was the San Francisco Area, California-Nevada Annual Conference received her to be their bishop.

She was our bishop and my bishop.  I was mesmerized with her preaching that was at once energetic, poetic and resonated with my theology.  And it was deeply personal.  Listening to her I learned about the underground railroad from the perspective of those whose family members had travelled on it.  This is a much different perspective than textbooks.  She was a great blessing to me and I thank God for her leadership and her presence among us.

And although it is not very good grammar, it used to delight me when I was sitting in multi-denominational minister gatherings and began a sentence, "My bishop, she..."

New Job

From:  Ed Hanna

Sent: Friday, June 08, 2012 2:56 PM

Subject: QCAIR Development Director and Program Director

It is my pleasure to announce that contracts have been signed for an interim Development Director and an interim Program Director for QCAIR.Rev. Dr. Michael A. Swartz, retiring pastor of Church of Peace United Church of Christ, Rock Island will be the interim Development Director and Nana Ouro-Agoro of Moline will be the interim Program Director. Rev. Swartz brings a wealth of experience in grant writing and has experience in immigrant and refugee issues and services. Ms. Ouro-Agoro has a Masters Degree in Business Administration and experience in administration and project management.

The interim contracts are for a period of six months and will give us 
time to do a thorough search for permanent employees.


Last Friday Ed Hanna, President of the Quad City Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees sent out this email announcing newly signed contracts.  This will be my part time work in retirement, and I am excited to have something to do that I have a passion for.  I am also grateful that is far less than full time!


Wish me well in my new position.

Summer Food Program - day 2

 It is not a good sign to arrive in the church parking lot and see that the service and repair truck of the commercial kitchen equipment company has already arrived.  Fortunately, they were able to respond quickly.  Our walk-in cooler had problems in the night and the temperature was above the acceptable point.  We lost milk.

 Here is the technician recharging the coolant, which should be the correct fix.  The  temperature is already going down.

 Meanwhile the church program was serving breakfast.  We served 120 total.  I asked Ed, our cook, "120 even?"  "Yes," he said.  "We had 120 ham, egg and cheese biscuits, and we served them all!"  There were about the same number of lunches served yesterday.  So we are off with a big group.

This is mainly because the Family Literacy Program that we work with Blackhawk College, the Regional Office of Education, the Library and the Rock Island School District #41 found a little extra money and is able to continue for the month of June.  What a blessing for these families!  And Katie Colbrece of the Summer Enrichment Program was able to find some teachers to begin our Summer program for Elementary age children early - we were scheduled for July only.

Well, here are some children enjoying a nutritious breakfast, which is the goal of all this.