Greetings Friends,

Today I would like to forward new information concerning what all Soulforce has been doing on behalf of people of faith who are lgbt from religious background. As some of you may know the Vatican has made statements in the past concerning the civil rights of lgbt persons world-wide and did not sign the United Nations proclaimation concerning these civil rights world wide. Below is what soulforce has been doing and other important issues as well. Thanks! www.soulforce.org Please read below...

Shalom and Blessings to you all,

Pastor Rick

A Message of Challenge and Hope to the Roman Catholic Church

"The Last Prejudice" Claims Another Victim

By Gilbert H. Caldwell,
Retired United Methodist Minister and member of the Soulforce Executive Director's Round Table

The setting is Springfield, Massachusetts: Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover is a student at the New Leadership Charter School. He is active and popular and well-liked by many of the teachers at the School. But, the 11 year old boy was found by his mother hanging from an electrical cord in her home. Ms. Walker was interviewed by Anderson Cooper of CNN and she shared that her son Carl had been verbally abused by some of his classmates, calling him "gay" and using negative words to assault his person.

Rev. Dr. Mel White, founder of Soulforce was on the program with Ms. Walker and put into context some of the reasons for the hatred and abuse that many young people express toward their fellow students who are LGBTQ, or whom they have labeled as being so. Mel, in response to questions from host Anderson Cooper, identified the negative role much of the Church has played in creating the environment for the abuse and bashing of LGBTQ persons, young and old, and in the case of Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover, a young person whose actions and mannerisms were thought to be gay.

Peter J. Gomes, Professor of Christian Morals and Preacher to Harvard University, wrote "The Good Book: Reading the Bible with Mind and Heart." He describes the bias, bigotry and prejudice toward persons who are same gender loving as "The Last Prejudice." Gomes in his magnificently written book, details how flawed interpretation of the Bible and the embrace of that interpretation by much of the Church, has contributed to the climate that supports and sustains much of the bigotry directed at the LGBTQ community.

I participated in a vigil on the steps of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver, following the beating and death of Matthew Shepard. Although the death of Carl Walker-Hoover was self-inflicted, I feel today as I felt those many years ago. It is difficult to describe the emotional impact the sad and tragic news from Springfield, Massachusetts had upon me when I first heard it.

Mel White, Jeff Lutes the Executive Director, and the staff of Soulforce and Soulforce Q have developed resources and have experiences and insights that could help the Church from continuing to be an accomplice to the harm and hurt caused by those who do violence to LGBTQ persons, or those who are thought to be.

May the death of Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover, with all of the pain, hurt and anger it evokes in many of us, become a teaching moment - especially for the Church. It is the task of the Church to proclaim to young people, and those not-so-young, that God loves them regardless of their sexual orientation, race, or gender. Some adults failed not only Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover. They also failed to teach those young people who abused Carl - causing his death - that all persons are of sacred worth.

Dear friends on yahoo 360,

Greetings! Did you know that the teen and youth suicide rate among gay and lesbian community is at an all time high. The message is that the church is at war with homosexuality and our beloved teens and youth. The Gay Christian Network has just released a brand new dvd where teens and youth discuss their hurts,fears,and attempts of suicide because of the hateful messages coming from the TV evangelist and pastors and church leaders who write books, dvd's sermons, and materials on homosexuals lifestyles. While they make huge profits of the lives of our beloved teens and youth and even their straight friends. This must stop! Our teens and youth are precious to us and we want them to know that God loves them just the way they are...no exceptions! This powerful documentary will change your understanding and hopefully your life. Enough blood and sorrow and shame has been spread by Christians and their so called "Church" and their leaders. God will have no mercy on these who spread hate and cause our youth and teens to committ suicide because they told they are the scum of the earth or will burn in "HELL". YOU must see the trailer of this new dvd by teens and youth and purchase it and also give one to your church youth group, pastor, home bible study group, schools and they also have study materials for discussion as well. So, check out the trailer by going to: www.throughmyeyesdvd.com watch the short trailer and see the info there off the website.

Blessings and Shalom,

Pastor Rick

To all my friends on Yahoo 360,

Thanks so much for your friendship and prayers and love. I'm truly blessed by your kindness.

May you all have a Blessed Easter full of love, peace and joy of the Lord. On this Resurrection Day may you share the joy of your life with loved-ones, friends and family because it's about those relationships that God wants us to charish.

Beacuse of the promise from our Lord that we too will have eternal life then go out and share your love with someone who needs it and even someone you don't even know will be blessed by your testamony of caring. So, May each of you be BLESSED BECAUSE GOD IN JESUS CHRIST HAS BLESSED YOU.....

LOVE AND HUGS TO EACH OF YOU,

HAPPY EASTER!

Pastor Rick

" HE IS RISEN, HE HAS RISEN INDEED."

Hello Friends,

Well, Palm Sunday is here and if you would like new insights into the last week of life of Christ during Holy Week then I would like to introduce to a book that has been very popular the past few years during the lenten season.

"The Last Week" by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan. The Last Week: Using the gospel of Mark as their guide. Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan present a day-by-day account of Jesus' final week of life. The Jesus introduced by Borg and Crossan is a new moral hero, a more dangerous Jesus thatn the one enshrined in the Church's traditional teachings. Informed, challenged, and inspired, we not only meet the historical Jesus, but meet a new Jesus who engages us and invites us to follow him. You can purchase a copy at your local book store or on Amazon.com. You can also see the educational degrees of Borg and other information when you put Marcus Borg name in search engine. You don't want to miss this powerful insight and will be a great read during Holy Week. The picture above is the book cover.

If your also interested in watching a powerful Palm Sunday Worship Service on-line this coming Sunday April 5th.....then just go to: www.cathedralofhope.com and once on the home page, click on the tab above "Worship" and it will take you to the worship video's for both Sunday and Wednesday. This Sunday, Rev. Dr. Jo Hudson, Senior Pastor will be preaching on: Pursuing a Passionate Life..."My Way or the High Way". Palm Sundays services are always powerful at the Cathedral of Hope. During Holy Week all service will be on-line to view worldwide over the internet. Sunday, Palm Sunday, Wednesday Night Contempory Worship, Maunday Thursday Service with Communion and Good Friday Night- Tenebrae Service and then Easter Sunday services will all be on the net for viewing. Cathedral of Hope is a Church for all people NO EXCEPTIONS and is apart of the United Church of Christ. Cathedral of Hope has people from every walk of life and every faith or religious background who attend but it is Christ Centered.

Lastly, My Prayer for you and yours is that the Lord by the Holy Spirit will move upon your heart on this most Holy Season and even if you were not really into the Lenten Season or if you think you failed on your Lenten Journey. Remember this Our God never see's us as a failure but rather Blessing when we return to Him with arms and heart open wide so He can continue to Bless Us in our walk with Jesus and our times to carry our Cross for the glory of God and so we can learn to love others and serve other as He commanded us to do. May you all have a very Blessed Holy Week that will turn your life around in new ways and take you to new heights.

Shalom,

Pastor Rick...... A Prayer for you to say......

Loving God, your endless love has made us new again, calling us to live passionately and love relentlessly, seeking to become faithful disciples who follow Jesus. We confess that we often lose our way. Turning from you, we blindly follow the ways of the world. Forgive us for choosing those things that separate us from you, Grant us wisdom to know your will and the courage to obey. Lead us to a place of deeper discipleship that we might know the joy of pursuing a passionate life, loving and serving your people and your world. Hear now, O God our silent struggle to be faithful.........

your prayers......

Amen.