As we move toward the planning retreat scheduled for next month, I would like to share an interesting and perhaps relevant letter that is part of our historical archive. The letter was written by Rev. Allyn Robinson to the congregation of the United Church of Raleigh on September 30, 1943.
The United Church of Raleigh is the mother church from which our present CUCC was born in 1969, and the United Church was the home and the nurturer of the Institute of Religion which ran through the 1940s and 1950s after being started under Allyn Robinson's leadership in 1939. His letter in 1943, however, berates the congregation (in fairly strong language) for their lack of enthusiasm for Sunday morning attendance and worship. And he urges the congregation to "put first things first." And he concludes that the result of people "failing to put first things first" is "that the liberal church is weak."
The letter makes a very interesting read, and I pass it along for those who have an interest in this sort of thing. (Didn't somebody say something to the effect that those who ignore the past are forced to relive it?)
Allyn Robinson letter to congregation -- Sept. 30, 1943
The United Church of Raleigh is the mother church from which our present CUCC was born in 1969, and the United Church was the home and the nurturer of the Institute of Religion which ran through the 1940s and 1950s after being started under Allyn Robinson's leadership in 1939. His letter in 1943, however, berates the congregation (in fairly strong language) for their lack of enthusiasm for Sunday morning attendance and worship. And he urges the congregation to "put first things first." And he concludes that the result of people "failing to put first things first" is "that the liberal church is weak."
The letter makes a very interesting read, and I pass it along for those who have an interest in this sort of thing. (Didn't somebody say something to the effect that those who ignore the past are forced to relive it?)
Allyn Robinson letter to congregation -- Sept. 30, 1943