Newspaper Page Text
Those Beautiful
Re lationships
By Rev. John Gill
Pastor, Atlanta MCC
* * Relat ionships ’ ’ seems
to be the key woYd of the
day. There is an old saying
that “no man (or woman) is
an island’’-no person
stands alone. Even if there
is not another individual
standing beside you, there
is the “inner you’ v keeping
yourself company, and, of
course, there is the pres-
sence of Almighty God.
It makes no difference
who “the other’’ is, we find
we are constantly involved
in different and changing
types of relationships.
However, true sorrow and
pain can develop when these
relationships a^e not the
finest and most fulfilling.
Let me offer you two sug
gestions to help create, im
prove, or continue your re
lationships.
When lovers come to me
for counseling and say
something is wrong in their
relationship with one an
other the cause of the trou
ble is often (although not al
ways) either 1.) lack of
communication or 2.) the
trap of taking someone for
granted. You do not have to
have a lover to encounter
the same two dangers in
your relationship with God,
self, or others.
Let me illustrate some of
these problems with spe
cific examples. Just be
cause you enjoy good health
at this time, do not take
your blessing for granted.
Remember that prayer is
the most powerful commu
nication between us and
God. And your friend,
lover, or family member is
someone special-never let
them forget the fact that
you realize and appreciate
this truth!
Set up some priorities!
Work on the peace and love
you seek first with God,
then yourself, and finally
others. And once again
those traps are called
“lack of communication’’
and “Taking for granted’’
Editor’s Note:
The Religion column is
open to all ministers of all
faiths.
Please send your ser
mon, 300 words or less to:
The Barb P.O. Box 82543-
Atlanta, Ga. 30354., and en
close a black and white
snapshot of yourself if a-
vailable.
MARE
MV HOUSE
YOUR HOUSE
UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT
MALE BOX (upstairs)
THE ONLY BAR IN TOWN WITH GO-GO BOYS.
774 W. PEACHTREE ST. ATLANTA, GEORGIA
Between 4 th. & 5 th. 872 2721
Lounge Hosts Social Fete
Columnist Charges
Descrimination
Macon, Ga.-The Macon
chapter of the Gamma Al
pha Yiota Sorority will pre
sent its Second Annual A-
ward and Follies Week-end
on November 9, 1974, at
The We Three Lounge.
The admission which will
include a free cocktail
party from five til 7 P.M.,
one free drink after 9 P.M.,
and the awards, is just
$4.00. Charles Elkins,
owner We Three urges you
to purchase your tickets
now because if everything.
goes as planned the event
will prove to be bigger and
better than last years. You
may purchase advance
tickets from any Sorority
member, or at the We
Three Lounge.
Information as to Motel
accomodations may also be
obtained from Charles Elk
ins, We Three Lounge-
phone 434 Cotton Ave. 746-
9193.
Don’t miss this festive
occasion-make your res
ervations today.
Detroit, Mich-Dignity, a
national organization of
Catholic homosexuals and
their supporters, and the
Gay Ministry Task Force of
the Salvatorian Justice and
Peace Commission have
committed themselves to
working cooperatively for a
resolution of the contro
versy surrounding the
Brian McNaught case in
Detroit.
COMMENTS
To The Editor
Dear Editor,
Although most of us have
some religious convict
ions, I thought you some
what overdid it in last
month’s issue of The Barb.
Too much of anything will
tend to turn people off.
I agree that you should
continue to publish the Re
ligion column though, but I
would like to see more news
articles.
Thank you for allowing
me the opportunity to speak
my peace.
Bruce
Columbus, Ga.
Dear Bruce,
Thank you for your letter
and your suggestion.
We will agree with you
that our religious column
was rather lengthy and the
front page carried a story
about the MCC national
conference.
SAFE DRIVING
A national program that
tests the knowledge and driv
ing expertise of driver educa
tion students is sponsored
jointly by the American Vet
erans of World War II, Korea
and Viet Nam (AMVETS) and
the Dodge Division of Chrysler
Motors Corporation.
The national program, Opera
tion Driver Excellence, started
in 1967.
Student drivers have to win
local runoffs to earn the right
to compete in the nationals.
Some $6,000 in prizes and
scholarships are at stake. First-
place winner receives a $1,000
college scholarship and a
Dodge automobile.
The drivers are judged in
three phases of motoring: driv
ing ability, knowledge of driv
ing theory and traffic laws and
the ability to handle an auto
mobile in emergency situations.
The program’s goal is to
show that safe driving isn't
always enough, that superior
driving abilities are needed to
anticipate and adapt to
emergencies.
Perhaps we should ex
plain why we are support
ive of Metropolitan Com
munity Churches. First,
MCC, Rev. John Gill, Rev.
Jim Snow and CRC Com
missioner, Bill Smith had
the courage to stand up for
the gay community and
played an important role in
getting the Gay Rights Res
olution passed recently in
Atlanta-and because of
people like them laws are
changing everyday. And
thirdly, MCC is a great
place for social activities-
a gay family.
Let us also not forget
the founder of MCC, the
Rev. Troy Perry, who has
long been an outstanding
spokesman for the gay
community.
Editor
Please send all correspon
dence to:
The Barb
P.O. Box 82543
Atlanta, Ga. 30354
Brian McNaught, a col
umnist and staff writer for
The Michigan Catholic^ had
his weekly column for youth
dropped on July 8, after an
article appeared in the De
troit News detailing his
work with the local chapter
of Dignity. Brian has
charged that the action of
dropping his column was
taken only after and be
cause it became public
knowledge that he was
“gay’’, and therefore this
action constitutes a clear
case of discrimination bas
ed on sexual orientation,
specifically his homosex
ual orientation.
Because he feels that his
church has sinned grievi-
ously and that his gay
brothers and sisters have
been publicly condemned,
Brian has pledged to fast
until such time as the
church makes a positive
commitment to educate
themselves, and the com
munity of the faithful to the
horrible wound inflicted
upon their gay brothers and
sisters in the name of
Christian decency and to
work constructively for the
elimination of the pain the
church has caused.
MCC Movies 7:30 P.M. Sundays
800 N. Highland Ave.
Atlanta, Ga .
vi
METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH
800 NORTH HIGHLAND AVENUE, N.E.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30306
(404) 872-2246
REVEREND JOHN W. GILL
PASTOR
REVEREND JIM N. SNOW
ASSISTANT PASTOR
SUNDAY
Worship Services ........... 2:00 P.M. and 6:30 P.M.
Movies :30 P.M.
ALTERNATE WEDNESDAYS
Worship Services . *8:00 P.M.
Rap Sessions 8:00 P.M.