Weekly Newsletter - Blue Ocean Columbus
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
You are Welcomed and Affirmed Here
Whoever you are. Whatever identities you hold. However, you found us. We welcome and affirm you as a fellow child of God here at Blue Ocean Faith Columbus!
Holiday Schedule and Advent/Christmas Message Series
Here is our holiday schedule and Dr. Ben’s planned message series for this season.
(TONIGHT) Wednesday, December 4 - Bible and Book Study at 6pm at Java Central in Westerville.
Bring your favorite Christmas carol or hymn to share and discuss.
Sunday, December 8 - Worship at 6pm
Matthew 1:1-17 - “A Blueprint for a Better World”
Sunday, December 15 - Worship at 6pm
Isaiah 58:1-12 and Luke 1:46-55 - “Making the World Great…Now”
Sunday, December 22 - Family Dinner* at 6pm at Olive & Lime Café (map)
There will be a special edition of this email with a pre-recorded scripture and message.
Isaiah 40:1-5 - “Pausing, Not Stepping Back”
Wednesday, December 25 - Pre-Recorded Scripture and Message
Luke 2:1-20 - “Joy and Pain: The Miracle of Christmas”
Sunday, December 29 - Worship at 6pm
Matthew 2 - “Here to Take Your Jobs”
*Family Dinner will occur in lieu of Worship.
An Update on Ohio’s L-Duck* Session
(*Unfortunately, political and policy circles continue to use the term “lame duck” to refer to post-election sessions of legislative sessions. Blue Ocean Columbus seeks to do better and therefore uses “L-Duck” to refer to this session.)
Here are a very brief summary of key bills and actions. For fuller information, we encourage you to subscribe to LOVEboldly’s “Action Alert Email” which they publish every Friday.
House Bill (HB) 8 - Forced Outing/”Don’t Say Gay/Trans” Bill - No new movement on this bill, but there’s a rumor that it will be used as a “Christmas tree”1 bill.
The SAFE Act (formerly HB68) - Ban on Gender Affirming Care for Minors - We are still waiting on a ruling from Ohio’s 10th Circuit Court, but there is a similar case out of Tennessee that is heading to the US Supreme Court so we may never have a ruling on HB68.
Senate Bill (SB) 83 - “The Higher Education Destruction Act” - Thankfully, it looks like SB83 is dead at this point. It will likely be reintroduced in 2025.
SB104 - (includes the language from HB183) - Bathroom restrictions for Trans people in K-12 and higher education - This bill was signed by Governor DeWine. It will take effect 90 days after it was signed (approximately Thursday, February 20, 2025).
HB245 - Ban on drag performances and on the existence of Trans people - This terribly written bill has not moved lately, but there is some fear that it will be added to a Christmas tree bill).
HB445/SB293 - Religious Time for Religious Instruction (RTRI) bills - These bills are identical and both appear to be stuck with some conservative legislators preferring not to pass it. It may get added to HB8 as a Christmas tree bill.
HB686 - Would remove “preferred pronouns” from public college applications, including applications for employment - Not moving this week, and even if it passed, there are significant questions about enforcing it due to the Common App.
Last Week’s Message
You can find some of our past services and past messages on our YouTube channel (click here).
Scripture for Sunday, December 8, 2024
Matthew 1:1-17 NRSVUE
An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, and Aram the father of Aminadab, and Aminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David.
And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.
And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Salathiel, and Salathiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, who bore Jesus, who is called the Messiah.
So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations.
Upcoming Bible and Book Studies
Based on some great feedback from you all, we’re going to change our schedule a bit. If you already ordered the Timothy Beal book, don’t worry; we’ll use it later in the year. I encourage you to get Cosmas or the Love of God early and be ready to discuss it beginning on March 5. Despite the page breakdown, the book is small and the pages are quick…it’s less daunting than it looks!
If anyone has specific Bible verses or short texts they’d like us to consider, please let Dr. Ben know.
January 8 - “Revelation” by Flannery O'Connor (if you plan to attend, email Dr. Ben for a PDF of this short story)
January 22 - TBA
February 5 - TBA
Cosmas or the Love of God by Pierre de Calan
March 5 - Introduction and p. 1-67
March 19 - p. 69-170
April 2 - p. 171-227
Joys and Concerns
We thank God for…
For our growing, beautiful, and diverse Blue Ocean Columbus family.
For the people God has brought to Blue Ocean Columbus and the people they continue to bring to us.
For the ongoing healing and recovery of Pastor Ben’s mom, Kelley.
Those celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, and other important moments this week.
We ask for God’s help, healing, and blessing for…
Georgi’s sister, Valerie, and her family.
Georgi and John’s son, Danny, and their daughter-in-law, CeCe.
That violence of any kind is never just a fact of life.
All those dealing with mental health concerns, caring for others with mental health concerns, and for their families and friends.
For all people involved in adoption and the creation of families, including those who give and have given children up for adoption, for people who learn that they were adopted and those who have always known, for anyone searching for birth parents, and those opening their hearts and lives to each other. We pray also for case workers, adoption agencies, surrogates, and all people who make family available to others.
For all those involved in the Ohio HB68 lawsuit and everyone continuing to fight for gender-affirming care for all people.
For our political leaders, including President Biden, Vice President Harris, President-Elect Trump, Vice President-Elect Vance, Governor DeWine, and Lieutenant Governor Husted. For Senator Brown and Senator-Elect Moreno, all members of the Ohio delegation to Congress, our state senators and representatives, the mayors, city councils, and school boards of our communities, and for all community leaders.
The LGBTQIA+ community, particularly the Transgender community, and those that love us/them.
For areas of war, genocide, and other crimes against humanity, including Israel-Palestine, Ukraine, the Sudan, and the US/Mexico border.
For all those who have died and for those mourning the death of a loved one.
It is our practice to continue praying for folks and other intentions until the need has passed. If you would like your intention(s) removed from this list, please let Pastor Ben or Georgi know.
The Blue Ocean Mixtapes
Announcements
Blue Ocean Specific Announcements
Connecting with Our Pastor - Dr. Ben would love to connect with you whether you are a longtime member, new member, or still checking things out and whether you attend online, in-person, or both. Here are a few ways to set up time with him:
Email - pastor@blueoceancolumbus.org
Zoom or Phone Call - Schedule by Clicking Here
Coffee, Tea, Drinks, and/or a Meal - Schedule by Clicking Here
Joys and Concerns - Do you have places or people in your life who you’d like us to hold in prayer? Send them to either Georgi (gpersons@gmail.com) or Dr. Ben (pastor@blueoceancolumbus.org)
Calendar - Remember to check out the BOFC calendar available on our website for the most up-to-date listing of congregational events, programs, and worship: https://blueoceancolumbus.org/calendar.
Community and Other Announcements
Bible in a Minute - Do you want to learn something new about the Bible? Be inspired to open the book and read it for yourself? Learn what it means to read the Bible through the lens of progressive and liberation theology? Then this is the project for you! Bible in a Minute is a project of Riverside Church in New York and you can find it by clicking here (Rev. Dr. Ben, Dr. Kate, NV, and other people familiar to our community are contributors to this project.)
“Our Words Matter: A Faithful Approach to Preventing Violence” - Friday, January 24, 2025, 9am to 2pm - Developed for clergy and ministry leaders from any faith or spiritual tradition, this half-day train-the-trainer will equip faith leaders with tools to mitigate and prevent violence through strategic communications and messaging. The goals and learning outcomes include:
Increase the awareness of clergy and ministry leaders of the importance of their language and communications.
Provide practical strategies for busy faith leaders to mitigate and prevent violence in the work they already do.
Build fellowship and connections among faith leaders working in Ohio.
Equip clergy and ministry leaders to take what they learn back to their staffs and communities.
Through generous funding from Project Over Zero and LOVEboldly, there is no fee to participate in this training and all selected participants will receive a $200 stipend to cover travel expenses, lost wages, or anything else which might hinder their attendance. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.
Questions? Please reach out at admin@loveboldly.net.
Do you have announcements? We’d love to include Blue Ocean-relevant announcements, including programs, events, and other items that YOU are working on. Please send details to Dr. Ben (pastor@blueoceancolumbus.org).
Supporting the Mission and Ministry of Blue Ocean Columbus
At Blue Ocean Columbus we don’t pass a collection plate and we have a variety of experiences with and thoughts on the need to tithe, but we still rely on the generosity of our community and others who support our mission for financial support. We hope you will give of your treasure as you give of your time and talent. You can give now by clicking here. Dr. Ben as well as any member of the Blue Ocean board is happy to discuss giving options with you. Thank you so much for generously supporting Blue Ocean Faith Columbus!
A “Christmas tree bill” is one that is packed with amendments (other bills which can’t be passed on their own). Often the majority party attach a few bills which the minority wants and then uses that as leverage to pass the whole bill.