BACK BAY MISSION FUND RAISING COMMITTEE IN PLACE
Fran Briggs, Chair, Carol Barrett, Scribe
Rambie L. Briggs, Craig Headley
Mark McCoy, Nodie Murphy
Yoshi Kaneda, Pastor, Jim Tomasek, Consultant
SHRIMP BOIL MISSION INTERPRETATION DINNER,TUESDAY,AUGUST 29
We will be privileged to have The Rev. Bruno Schroeder, Associate Director, Back Bay Mission, with us on Tuesday, August 29. He will cook and serve delicious, fresh Gulf shrimp in the Church Fellowship Room, as we gather for the Back Bay Mission Interpretation Dinner at 6:30 pm. Church members will prepare salad, bread, beverage and dessert.
Following the meal, Rev. Schroeder will acquaint us with the history of the Mission's work, and our mem- bers will talk about the Mission's Capital Campaign.
Back Bay Mission is a 77 year-old mission of the United Church of Christ. Located in Biloxi, Mississippi, the Mission provides services in its advocacy for the poor on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. We invite you to join us to learn about the history of the Mission and how you can be a part of its future, which includes seminary interns (two beginning this fall) and a Center for Community Ministry where lay persons from across the country can learn how to replicate the successful work-camping, rehab housing, and direct services programs the Mission has started. We invite you to join us.
Cost: $8.00 per person to cover expenses.
Reservation: 472-2370 by Sunday, August 20th
NOTE: SIGN-UP SHEET FOR THE EVENT IS ON TABLE IN THE FELLOWHIP ROOM
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From the Board of Trustees Suzanne L. Bradford, Chair
On July 12, 2000, Beverly Lawson submitted her resignation as the church's Parish Educator/Outreach Coordinator. We all wish Beverly the best in her career endeavors.
As a congregation, we will need to decide what to do with the job vacancy that Beverly's departure has created. The Board of Trustees will be meeting on August 6, 2000 to discuss whether to fill the position. Yoshi also is scheduled to meet with Candy Gross, Grants Administrator, Texas Methodist Foundation.
If you have suggestions as to a new search process, etc., please let a trustee know of it as soon as possible.
Building & Grounds Committee Update
AN OPEN LETTER TO KIDS AND PARENTS
Dear Church Kids and Parents,
We are looking forward to upcoming activity for kids and their parents in our church family.
Among some of the ideas are scheduled work days at the church. Kids and parents, working collaboratively on cleaning and fixing up around the church, including paying particular attention to the space used by our Church School, so that it can be an increasingly attractive setting, should not only improve the esthetics of our church setting, but will offer a tangible demonstration of both the parents and kids commitment to our church. This can only further strengthen the bond between child and parent.
As a beginning step: Two Work Days are scheduled: Saturday, August 19 and September 16, 9am - Noon. (Only parents and kids are invited!)
Tasks: Painting/staining - Fellowship Room and Church Office.
While some may see this activity merely as a Work Day, the Bldg. & Grounds Committee believe it is more than that - a step for involving the home, strengthening and developing our mutual faith.Please contact the church office as to whether or not you and your children will be part of this project.
Church School Superintendent, Doyal Pinkard
Those who are returning to Austin from vacation trips - or other absences - will be greeted by a real surprise: the repainting of the church sanctuary. It is a lovely sight - not only to see the fresh paint but to note that there is nary a crack to be seen (unless you look very close)! We also have restained the wood framing around our precious stainedglass windows.
The Bldg. & Grounds Committee wishes to express its profound appreciation to the 27 members of the church who contributed time, talent, and elbow grease to the tasks at hand. Frankly, we had some serious doubts as to whether or not we could do it. Well, we did it! And, not one of the "weekend warriors" fell off the ladder or were otherwise injured! It's remarkable how the financial necessity motivated our efforts. We simply didn't have the some $6000 it would have cost to have the work done professionally.
Emboldened by Neils Saustrup's generous offer of serving both as consultant and as the person who would scale the 40 ft. ladder needed to reach the ceiling, we tackled the job. It took a two all-day effort to complete the tasks. We even managed to squeeze in a little time to install a much-needed support for the prolific flowering vines in front of our church.
Most of you will also notice that the repainting of the sanctuary served as a stimulus to have the chancel tapestry professionally cleaned (the first and only time in 25 years).
We believe our efforts will have additional favorable effects: to inspire the undertaking of other needed projects.
UPDATE
From the Pastoral Search Committee
Dennis Murphy, Chair
The Profile of our Church, in draft form, has passed its review by the South Central Conference (SCC) with flying colors, and the final version is now complete and on its way to the printers. The Profile is a key document that the Committee has labored hard to produce. Its intent is to inform applicants for the position of Pastor about all significant aspects of our Church and its hometown of Austin. Many members, individually and at the Spring Retreat, contributed thoughts on what is desired in our new Pastor and these have been incorporated into that important section of the Pro-file. Others have supplied information or pictures for the Profile. The Committee thanks all who have helped to move the work forward.
As soon as the printed Profiles are available, they will be placed on file with the SCC's office for distribution to applicants, and the process of advertising the position of Pastor will begin in earnest. (The Committee will also put a copy of the Profile in the Fellow-ship Room where any member of the church will be able to see it.) The selection process will get under-way a bit later this year as the Committee receives resumes and other materials from interested applicants. The Committee will keep you informed every step of the way, and it asks for your prayers as the selection process proceeds.
To Keep Informed. . .
If you would like to keep informed about the ministries of our South Central Conference (SCC) and the Associations and Churches with which we are in covenant ministry, you are invited to subscribe to the SCC newsletter, The Explorer. The newsletter is published as a wraparound to the denomination's United Church News. The Explorer is published 5 times a year and covers news of the conference, associations, camp programs, Eden Home Retirement Community, Back Bay Mission, the SCC outreach in Mississippi, and special events of many of our local churches. For the $10 subscription fee, you will not only receive 5 issues of The Explorer, but also 5 additional issues of The United Church news. Send $10 and your name and address to Explorer Subscription, South Central Conference, 6633 Hwy. 290 E., Suite 200, Austin, TX 78723-1157
Correspondence from Okinawa, July 20, 2000
Dear Rev. Kaneda,
Just about 30 minutes ago, I returned home from joining in the "Human Chain" surrounding the 11 miles-long fence of Kadena Air Base. For three times, from 2 pm to 3 pm, we were able to completely surround the Base with our Human Chains. Our anticipation was 25,000, but the number exceeded it with more than 27,000 people joining their hands for this purpose. We are very, very, grateful to you all in the Brazos Association who supported us in your "Prayer Chain." Please convey our utmost gratitude to them.
After the Annual Meeting of the Okinawa District, just the other day, we had the first meeting of our Exchange Committee (Partnership Committee), where I was again elected chair for two more years. I have been and will be busy in my professional life at Okinawa Christian Junior College, but I accepted the responsibility simply because I want to see through the outcome of our partnership activities with your Brazos Association Churches.
I feel badly for the delay of planning of the upcoming third visit from Okinawa because of our serious concerns on facing G-8 Summit, but we will recruit members of our third visitation team and decide on the schedule of our arrival and departure in October, at our next meeting, July 31. The members of our Exchange Committee stay almost the same as before.
Minoru Oshiro
Dear Yoshi,
I cannot thank you enough for the gracious way you and your congregation welcomed me to Austin and your church family. Please pass along my heartfelt appreciation to the wonderful folks at The Congregational Church of Austin. It was great to be with you.
Yours in Christ, Visiting Preacher
Important Update
CHURCH ALLIANCE CHANGES PARKING GARAGE PLANS
The consortium of religious entities planning to establish a parking garage in the West University area has made a fundamental change in their approach to establishing the garage. Previously, the consortium had planned to build the garage itself, and then lease it to the University and to local businesses during the workweek. This approach became very complicated because, among other reasons, the University prefers to own property rather than lease it. Since the University has more money than God (as represented by the religious entities planning the garage), it looks like the University will get its way.
The religious entities, primarily the University Baptists and St. Austin's Catholic Church, have now made a deal in principal to sell the property to the University and then lease back parking spaces. We have been invited to participate in the lease back arrangement. Details are still sketchy, but we have been offered a deal to get parking to suit our needs for ten years for a lump up from payment of $25,000.00. Thereafter, we would be able to continue getting parking for one-half of the going rate for monthly parking contracts in the area.
This new development will be a subject for discussion at the next Coordinating Council meeting, tentatively scheduled for August 8, 2000 at 7:30 pm.
John Moore, Church Moderator
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