"The Works Testify" for the Fourth Sunday of Easter in Year C, May 11, 2025

Based on John 10: 22-30.

Read the transcript here: https://bit.ly/4m2pcEs

"Seeds and Ways" is a podcast series based on the United Church of Christ's weekly resources: "Sermon Seeds" and "Weekly Seeds." "Sermon Seeds" is for worship planners and includes passages from the Revised Common Lectionary and a reflection for the week.

"Weekly Seeds" is for personal Bible study or small groups. This adaptation of "Sermon Seeds" includes a prayer, additional thoughts for reflection, and focus questions for discussion.

-Sermon Seeds and Weekly Seeds archive: ⁠https://bit.ly/3YYtccu⁠

-Sermon Seeds on Facebook: ⁠https://bit.ly/3k9AQSz

On this episode of Fill the JAR, we talk with Julie Taylor, Executive Director of National Farmworker Ministry.

National Farm Worker Ministry is a faith-based organization committed to social, economic, and racial justice for farm workers.

Grounded in faith, NFWM works side by side with farm workers and their organizing groups throughout the country, to organize vigils, picket, coordinate boycotts and educate constituents.

NFWM brings together national denominations, religious orders and congregations, regional groups and concerned individuals to act with the farm workers to achieve fundamental change in their living and working conditions.

Citations:

1. “Way Out of No Way”

Written by Tracy Howe and Osagyefo Sekou

Performed by Stop Cop City Choir

Recorded in Tucson, Arizona

Used with permission

Listen/Download/Donate/Purchase: https://stopcopcitychoir.bandcamp.com

"Cast the Net" for the Third Sunday of Easter in Year C, May 4, 2025

Based on John 21: 1-19.

Read the transcript here: https://bit.ly/4lPPbik

"Seeds and Ways" is a podcast series based on the United Church of Christ's weekly resources: "Sermon Seeds" and "Weekly Seeds." "Sermon Seeds" is for worship planners and includes passages from the Revised Common Lectionary and a reflection for the week.

"Weekly Seeds" is for personal Bible study or small groups. This adaptation of "Sermon Seeds" includes a prayer, additional thoughts for reflection, and focus questions for discussion.

-Sermon Seeds and Weekly Seeds archive: ⁠https://bit.ly/3YYtccu⁠

-Sermon Seeds on Facebook: ⁠https://bit.ly/3k9AQSz

"Locked Doors" for the Second Sunday of Easter in Year C, April 27, 2025

Based on John 20:19-31.

Read the transcript here: https://bit.ly/4iphxg5

"Seeds and Ways" is a podcast series based on the United Church of Christ's weekly resources: "Sermon Seeds" and "Weekly Seeds." "Sermon Seeds" is for worship planners and includes passages from the Revised Common Lectionary and a reflection for the week.

"Weekly Seeds" is for personal Bible study or small groups. This adaptation of "Sermon Seeds" includes a prayer, additional thoughts for reflection, and focus questions for discussion.

-Sermon Seeds and Weekly Seeds archive: ⁠https://bit.ly/3YYtccu⁠

-Sermon Seeds on Facebook: ⁠https://bit.ly/3k9AQSz

On this episode of Fill the JAR, we talk with Rev. Ryan Downing of Faith UCC in Iowa City, and Chuck Hauck, a member there and leader on the Faith UCC Faith Works committee. We discuss ways for churches to embody solidarity with workers that are both accessible AND powerful for community and congregation alike. Enjoy!

Citations:

1. “Way Out of No Way”

Written by Tracy Howe and Osagyefo Sekou

Performed by Stop Cop City Choir

Recorded in Tucson, Arizona

Used with permission

Listen/Download/Donate/Purchase: https://stopcopcitychoir.bandcamp.com

2. Faith UCC - When in Iowa City, be sure to visit! - https://www.faithuccic.org/

3. Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa - https://cwjiowa.org/

4. Fill the JAR (where you can find the resolution that among other things encouraged congregations to establish an Economic Justice Covenant) Also, sign up for the 2025 Fill the JAR campaign! - https://www.ucc.org/fillthejar

"At Early Dawn" for the Resurrection Sunday in Easter Year C, April 20, 2025

Based on Luke 24:1–12

Read the transcript here: https://bit.ly/42a6nY2

"Seeds and Ways" is a podcast series based on the United Church of Christ's weekly resources: "Sermon Seeds" and "Weekly Seeds." "Sermon Seeds" is for worship planners and includes passages from the Revised Common Lectionary and a reflection for the week.

"Weekly Seeds" is for personal Bible study or small groups. This adaptation of "Sermon Seeds" includes a prayer, additional thoughts for reflection, and focus questions for discussion.

-Sermon Seeds and Weekly Seeds archive: ⁠https://bit.ly/3YYtccu⁠

-Sermon Seeds on Facebook: ⁠https://bit.ly/3k9AQSz

"Sent" for the Palm/Passion Sunday in Year C, April 13, 2025

Based on Luke 19:28–40.

Read the transcript here: https://bit.ly/42v54mo

"Seeds and Ways" is a podcast series based on the United Church of Christ's weekly resources: "Sermon Seeds" and "Weekly Seeds." "Sermon Seeds" is for worship planners and includes passages from the Revised Common Lectionary and a reflection for the week.

"Weekly Seeds" is for personal Bible study or small groups. This adaptation of "Sermon Seeds" includes a prayer, additional thoughts for reflection, and focus questions for discussion.

-Sermon Seeds and Weekly Seeds archive: ⁠https://bit.ly/3YYtccu⁠

-Sermon Seeds on Facebook: ⁠https://bit.ly/3k9AQSz

On this episode of Fill the JAR, we join Rev. Laura Cannata in conversation about her life, economic injustices baked into society that disable people and impoverish people with disabilities, and her work on the United Church of Christ Disability Ministries board. Learn how your congregation can and must become Accessible 2 All! ⁠https://uccdm.org/a2a/⁠

Thank you for listening.

Citations:

1. “Way Out of No Way”

Written by Tracy Howe and Osagyefo Sekou

Performed by Stop Cop City Choir

Recorded in Tucson, Arizona

Used with permission

Listen/Download/Donate/Purchase: https://stopcopcitychoir.bandcamp.com

2. United Church of Christ Disabilities Ministries - https://uccdm.org/

3. Become an Accessible 2 All Congregation! https://uccdm.org/a2a/

4. Capitalism & Disability, by Marta Russell - https://bookshop.org/p/books/capitalism-and-disability-selected-writings-by-marta-russell-marta-russell/10916356?ean=9781608466863&next=t

5. Poem - "Eugenics, Megenics and Genocide” by Rev. Laura Cannata

Eugenics is alive and well

Society makes being disabled a living hell

I wish I could write a cute little rhyme or an easy pneumonic, but this subject is too important For frivolity

So, here’s the facts:

Sometimes we are an eyesore

How dare we leave the house?!

People don’t want to see our disfigurements and deformities

And they don’t mind saying so either

And what’s the point of leaving home when most buildings are closed to us

And if by some act of kindness, we do get in

The rest of the building is unnavigable

Disabled people lose their health insurance and monthly government pittance if we get married

This is a roundabout way to ensure that we don’t procreate

It’s forced sterilization without the inconvenience of paying a doctor

Sometimes we are seen as useless burdens and yet not only is there no incentive for productivity, it is in fact actively discouraged with financial penalties

We are not allowed to own a home or any assets, constantly enforcing dependency and financial ruin

If we can’t afford to rent, we must choose between a group home or homelessness

Forced incarceration or death from independence

Either way it is a slow genocide

It is a rare opportunity to find employment

Bottom line why should they pay us and pay for our accommodations

It’s not cost effective and in a capitalistic society money means more than people

We are routinely denied lifesaving treatment (all the more so if you are a Person Of Color)

Even more during a pandemic

Because cost of treatment and resources are not worth it for the quality of life you deem us to have

But if we don’t get to determine your quality, why should you get to determine ours

As a disabled person we have the choice of one of two roles

(Either anger and bitterness,

Being the troublemaker

The rabble rouser always asking for change)

Or we can be the innocent object of pity

The act of charity abled people do to feel better about themselves

And if we are not properly grateful for basic rights (IE accommodations to be able to pee, etc.) then we have obviously chosen option number one

There is no in-between

Just a flipside of the same coin

Being disabled doesn’t hinder me

Society has placed the stumbling blocks

So, thanks for asking but no I don’t hate my body

But why should I care for a nation that both actively and passively wants me dead

Being disabled, not a disaster

Being a member of society,

come back when you give a damn

6. Fill the JAR - https://www.ucc.org/fillthejar