Sunday, March 26th, marked a new milestone as we celebrated the groundbreaking for our new church.  Just days before, the building we had purchased in 2001 was demolished and preparation for construction of our new church had begun.

Since we could not enter the construction site for an actual groundbreaking, our groundbreaking had to be a symbolic one.  Ken Tipton brought a large pot of soil and a small spade for turning the earth, or “breaking ground.”  After blessing the earth, the Rev. Wilfried Glabach invited two of our longest standing members, Marilyn Carlson and Ed Steiner, to be the first to
“break ground” by turning the first scoop of earth.  They were followed by our two youngest members, Elizabeth Falendysz  and John Lowell, after which everyone was invited to be a part of the groundbreaking by turning a scoop of earth.

Joining us for this special service were our architect, Ron Case of Case Architects and his wife, Carolyn Abst, also an architect; our Owners Representative, Gilbert Chan (another architect) and the Rev. Don Fox, Director of the San Francisco Night Ministry.

Following the service, carrying  handfuls of soil, we walked across the street to the construction site.  After Rev. Wilfried blessed the site, we all threw our earth, or “ground,” over the fence onto what will be the foundation of our future church.  

 

Two of the longest standing members of our church, Marilyn Carlson and Ed Steiner, inaugurate the “Groundbreaking” by turning the first scoop of earth.
(photo by Ken Tipton)
 

 

The Rev. Wilfried Glabach “breaks ground.”
(photo by Ken Tipton)

On May 20th I will graduate and become a doctor.  I am excited to celebrate this event with fellow students, friends and members of our congregation.  After finishing my course work I labored for the last two years on my dissertation as partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Doctor of Ministry degree.  A lot of studies are now completed.

Some of you have asked me to explain what my work is about.  Let me try to explain it in a few sentences.  My main focus was to interpret the Book of Revelation in the 21st century, not from a conservative or fundamentalist view.  I always had  a great interest in this book that is at the end of the biblical collection.  Ever since its appearance late in the first century C.E., men and women have searched its sometimes bizarre imagery for hints of an answer to the mystery of life.  In our time, it has become largely the domain of those preachers and teachers who claim to find in its narrative a chronology of the end times.  Most progressive Christians have tended to write off the entire Book of Revelation as either nonsense or as hopeless and impossible to understand in a rational way.

In my dissertation I interpreted the book as a writing of hope and encouragement that still has relevance for its readers today.  Unfortunately, the book has been used for calculating the end times, introducing the idea of the raptures, or was used as the basis for pseudo-religious fiction.  Like many other biblical texts, it is a wonderful and crucial story of God's comfort.  I believe that reading the Bible is still important for all Christians.  It is an important source for our faith.  I believe that God is speaking to us through scripture.  My research was an invitation to read the Bible and especially the Book of Revelation because it sees God and the world differently.  Let us continue to read the Bible together and let us share our faith in truth, honesty and love.
 
Blessings,
     Rev. Wilfried
          Rev. Wilfried Glabach
          minister@sanfranciscoucc.org

 
The Steering Committee spent most of its April 9th meeting beginning work on an “Action Plan” through July, 2007.  We are working to prepare for al the building decisions till the end of construction as well as planning for the move into the new building and all the opportunities that will bring our church.  In the coming months, we will be working to involve as many members in this preparation.

Please pray for this process and prayerfully consider contributing your time and talents.  At this time we need volunteers interested in the following:

1,  Ritual Services Coordination:  planning the policies and coordination of weddings, funerals and baptisms.

2.  Event Planning Committee:  plan and prepare for important events like the “Topping Out” of our new building, Cornerstone dedication and Opening Day.

Please see Ken Tipton, Chair, the Rev. Wilfried Glabach or any member of the Steering Committee.
 
Ken Tipton, Chair
Steering Committee