Parakalein

ALL Parts  When Welcomed Learn to live in Peace and Harmony with Each Other

Just about every religious group that I know, have visited or been part of over the years has a sign out front that says a number of versions of this statement:

All Are Welcome!

Everyone is Welcome!

There is A Welcome Here for You.

I was recently on Cape Cod and a church there had cancelled their early service in favor of cheering on Bicyclists’ who were in the Pan Mass Challenge which  is the largest single charity fund raising event in the USA.  They raised nearly $50,000,000.00 dollars/funds for cancer research and treatment.

It reminded me that when I pastured a church in Albany NY several years ago we gave water to runners as the marathon course came by our churches front door.  One runner was so impressed that we were out there creating a sense of welcome that he actually cam into a service the next week in sneakers and shorts and running shirt.  He though dressed differently than any other person in the church that day felt welcome.

The IFS model provides a model for churches to become more serious about doing what they are saying.  In other words creating a sense of welcome for all people regardless of race, ethnicity, sociological-economic position, political posture, personal habits, sexual preferences, level of neatness, need to control, entitled or excluded, even regardless of faith orientation or the lack of it.  Imagine if regardless of anything people really felt welcome.  The principle of Welcoming all parts has helped me to help the United Church of Christ and its leadership to identify more and more ways in which by welcome here to fore excluded people who engage in certain excluding practices are now thankfully welcome.  The church is to be a place of inclusivity, of “judgment free zone” the essence of which is to welcome all parts.  Really!  To welcome them so that hey can in the presence of light and love be released form their burdens and freed to live life in the most abundant way.  Which are the words of Jesus, Rumie, Buddha etc.

Jon Lennon wrote over 50 years ago,

Imagine
Song by The Plastic Ono Band, John Lennon


1.             Imagine there's no heaven

2.             It's easy if you try

3.             No hell below us

4.             Above us only sky

5.             Imagine all the people

6.             Living for today...
Imagine there's no countries

7.             It isn't hard to do

8.             Nothing to kill or die for

9.             And no religion too

10.         Imagine all the people

11.         Living life in peace...
You may say I'm a dreamer

12.         But I'm not the only one

13.         I hope someday you'll join us

14.         And the world will be as one, 
Imagine no possessions

15.         I wonder if you can

16.         No need for greed or hunger

17.         A brotherhood of man

18.         Imagine all the people

19.         Sharing all the world...
You may say I'm a dreamer

20.         But I'm not the only one

21.         I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will live as one



 Jesus prayer “That they might be one” becomes our practice as welcome all parts as if they are one with each other in the internal system of our soul.

IFS “All parts are welcome” helps the serious Christian church to welcome all regardless of anything as that welcome creates the balance in the system that creates a solar system of balanced energy, beautiful hopefulness, and boundless glassy sea of peace.

Below is a picture of the true Jesus.  Not the Jesus wrapped up in church clothes nor the Jesus who sits in judgment of those who do wrong, but the true Jesus full of “grace toward all and Truth about Life and light and the power of light and love to bring peace to all people of earth.  It is the message of the Gospel, Christmas=, Easter and for all time, it is the message of the Good News to which all are welcome to take part on, surround themselves by and immerse themselves in.  He welcomes =all who were on that sad day in September.  Regardless of anything about any of those people, what they did the night before, whether they went to church the week before or not, whether they were straight or gay, whether they were rich of=r poor, whether they were sick or well, whether they were young or old they were e=welcomes by the Jesus who has no favorites, plays no favorites, but alas showers the favor of love grace peace and forgiveness for all.  While there  is no justice we can minimize the injustices by increasing the capacity of welcoming all parts..

The United Church of Christ which has begun years ago to be a covenant based church has placed the emphasis not on doctrine or dogma but on the dynamics of community.  In UCC churches the standard greeting that is in keeping with the spirit of all parts are welcome is,” Wherever you are on life’s journey, whatever your transition in life is at this time, whoever you have been and whoever you are to become you are all welcome here.  Regardless of your personal preferences, your faith or religious traditions, your sexual preferences, poor political persuasion, your ecommerce status, your sociological position, your commitment to green space or blue space,  your health or hygiene habits, and regardless of your music or worship service preferences you are welcome here.

Paul writes in Ephesians 4: