May 20, 2018 – Golden Rule, New Members, Bridging

The 11 a.m. worship service on Sunday, May 20, 2018, focused on transitions and a critique of the Golden Rule. Two new members, Laura Ruman and Joan Lang, signed the membership book during a New Member Ingathering, and four high school graduates were recognized during the traditional Bridging Ceremony.

Sam and Chelsa Otten presented “Does the Golden Rule Deserve Its Luster?” Sam’s critique of the rule as traditionally phrased, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” was that it focuses on the wishes of the doer rather than the needs and wants of the other. Chelsea presented an alternative rule that she and Sam have arrived at – “Treat others as they wish to be treated.”

After the worship service there was a potluck to welcome the new members.

The photos in the slideshow below were taken by Steve Scott. Click the arrows to see the next or previous photo.

  • DRE Jamila Batchelder thanked all those who volunteered in our religious education program this year. The volunteers were listed in an insert to the order of service.
  • Kevin Fritsche, co-chair of the Welcoming Team, invited prospective new members forward for the New Member Ingathering.
  • New member Laura Ruman signed the membership book while Barbara Carter, co-chair of the Welcoming Team, looked on.
  • New member Joan Lang signed the membership book.
  • New members Laura Ruman, left, and Joan Lang joined in reading the New Member Covenant.
  • Traci Wilson-Kleekamp of Race Matters, Friends talked about the group's activities to introduce a Faith-to-Action Offering that will go to the group.
  • Alan Arnold on saxophone and Neil Minturn on piano performed the offertory, "Masquerade" by Leon Russell.
  • Worship Associate Tim Dickerson presented a reading from "The Golden Rule: No So Golden Anymore" by Stephen Anderson.
  • Sam Otten presented the first part of "Does the Golden Rule Deserve Its Luster?" His critique was that the traditional phrasing of the rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you," focuses on perspective of the doer and not the needs of the other.
  • Chelsea Otten presented the alternative rule that she and Sam have arrived at -- treat others as they wish to be treated.
  • Neil Minturn on piano and Alan Arnold on sax performed a musical interlude, "Lament" by J.J. Johnson.
  • DRE Jamila Batchelder, left, introduced the Bridging Ceremony for four of our high school graduates. Parents' letters to the graduates were read aloud.