AUGUST WORSHIP NOTES, August 5 - Holy Communion
Scripture Readings: Old Testament: Hosea 11:1-22;
New Testament: - Colossians 3:1-11, Luke 12:13-21
Sermon: "A God Who Loves"
A Message - from Rev. John Towery, Pastor Emeritus
"Anticipation"
Do you feel like a child on Christmas Eve, tossing and turning while trying to sleep? In meetings with boards of the church, we all keep thinking that we have to await Tom's arrival before making some decisions. Discussions have occurred, but his input is so very important to us. With the arrival of Robin and Alex before you read this note, we now, with them, look forward to his arrival in mid-month. Each of us can welcome him and look forward to our ministry together knowing that while his leadership is important, he can do little without our input and cooperation.
We hope we are ready, Tom!
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION UPDATE
1. Annual "Back to School" Breakfast is scheduled for Sunday, August 12th. Please mark your calendars.
2. The Adult Sunday School Class begins meeting again on August 12, 2001, at 9:30 am, reports class coordinator, Steve Domingue. The class will review a video on spirituality from the Thomas Moore series. Adults, please plan to attend and help jump start the fall Sunday School series.
Announcing: A New Young Adults Fellowship Group by Craig Headley
A new fellowship group is planned for late summer that will target young adults in the UT and Austin Community. Current plans include Sunday School Classes, Friday Night Dinners and in-town activities. The group, open to all persons, will reach out to non-traditional and non-family individuals looking for Christian Fellowship. Activities will include bowling, concerts, movies, dancing, etc. Although attending our church on Sundays is not a requirement for participating, we hope it will give people an opportunity to see the church, and decide to join our church family.
Individuals have volunteered to cook a meal or make a dessert for the fellowship meetings. We will cook some of the meals and desserts, but would welcome any help others wish to offer. Let me know of your interest. We will have sign-up sheets.
Hopefully, we will work out a classroom for the Young Adult group. If we do, I will have furniture for it (Sofas and Chairs) but need slip-covers made for the furniture. I am willing to pay someone to sew these. Does anyone want to sew these covers, or know someone who might benefit from being paid to do so? Please let me know.
More details will follow in next month's issue of The Visitor. Please keep us in your prayers.
CHRISTMAS IN JULY
Craig Headley has had several bolts of material donated which can be used for permanent costumes for our Annual Christmas Pageant. If 10 people would agree to take material and make just one costume between now and Thanksgiving, we could have a reliable set of costumes from now on! Would you volunteer to sew just one costume? Contact Craig and let him know.
If you have items that can be used for pageant props also, like jewelry for the kings, Baby Jesus dolls, or anything you think could be used for the Nativity story, please bring them to the church. We'll sort through it, and prepare it - to be used at Christmas. A great way to "re-cycle"!
DURING THE INTERIM -by Cecile Ervin
Seems like summer barely begins and then it is over. It is a joy to be summer intern at the church working under John's supervision along side Louise, Vic, Suzanne, Jonathan, and the others who keep the church running. The internship will be ending August 26th - hard to believe. I particularly value the individual church, phone, home and hospital visits with several of you. The depth and breadth of this congregation is amazing as is your ability to help others grow.
Speaking of growth, we are all anticipating Tom's imminent arrival and his guiding, shaping hand. Robin and Alex are already home in the pews and Robin seems quite comfortable in our kitchen also. Thanks, Robin! And Alex, the church kids are very happy to have you with them.
At the church, we are doing as much homework as we can - learning what keys unlock what doors, how to write and produce bulletins and newsletters, preparing a sermon or two, snagging acolytes and readers for worship and examining corners of our larger community for areas where we, as a congregation, might be of service.
Wishing you a peaceful end of the summer.
Our Sympathy to:
The family of Hester Novotny on her death. Rev.John Towery officiated at the services held on
July 9th.
A Note from Heidelberg
This is such a pretty town and I really do understand why folks love it. We wandered all over the castle, Sarah announcing to all and sundry, "I'm not from Germany," or "I don't speak German yet." I also spent part of one afternoon alone with one of the few surviving Renaissance print albums. There's another in Rome to look at, too. Sarah stops and drags me into churches to light candles. She likes that.
Love, Lisa Kirch
ATTENTION:
MASTER KEY HOLDERS
It has been a long time since anyone has attempted to ascertain to whom church pass keys have been given. We would like, now, to take inventory. Could you simply advise the church office if you have a key. Also, if you no longer have a need for a key, please return it to the church.
For those who retain their pass keys, we wish to update you on changes that have been made to multiple locks in the church.
Bldg. & Grounds Committee
Vic Appel, Co-Chair
DIRECTORY NOTICES:
(Please inform the church office of any changes.)
p. 2 Blackstock, *Mathis Fax: 324-8018
p.10 Pinkard, *Doyal & *Tommie
e-mail: Pinkarddw@aol.com
e-mail: Tompinkard@aol.com
AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 6/21/01
The Students, Faculty, Staff, and Trustees thank you
for your gift of $250.00 to the Music Department Fund.
Huston-Tillotson College
Larry L. Earvin, President
"HATS OFF" RECOGNITIONS
Rev. Richard Austin Thompson, Interim Pastor for six months, completed his time with us at the end of June. We are grateful, Rich, for your love, care and oversight of this congregation in transition.
We are appreciative of both our present interims, Rev. John Towery, Pastor Emeritus and Cecile Ervin Adam, Intern, who are on staff as we await the arrival of our Pastor Elect, Rev. Thomas J. VandeStadt, in mid-August.
Vic Appel, Co-Chair, Bldg. & Grounds Committee, is seen regularly around the church. He filled in for Jonathan Kanetzky, custodian, who was out of town
July 2-6. Along with Co-Chair, Mark McCoy, and the assistance of other members/friends, there are many improvements in and around the church. Have you noticed?
There are many persons to thank for assisting with the relocation of the church office. Louise wants to thank Mary Sinclair, especially, for putting the new office in working order, so that when she returned from her vacation, everything was in its place.
Dennis Murphy continues to supply mailing labels for our church's mailings, and we are appreciative, Dennis, for this generous service.
Our Fun & Fellowship Committee, Suzanne VanderPoel, Chair, planned for our successful and enjoyable Summer Indoor Fried Chicken Picnic with all the trimmings, on Sunday, July 22. Thanks to those who brought special dishes, in addition.
Amy Johnston and Robin Rosson have served as Interim violinist and cellist, respectively, during the summer. Thank you for your gift of music to our worship, Amy and Robin.
How do we express our thanks and appreciation, adequately, for the many hours given on behalf of the church's office operation? The installation of a new program on the church office computer, to accommodate the printing of the church directory; for setting up the new telephone system; and for putting two other computers in operation, one in the pastor's office and the other in the church Library/Archives room. George Lemley is that person, and Louise, especially, is grateful for his on-going assistance, acquainting her with all the new systems and computer programs!
Thanks to Paul Deisler, editor of PERSONALS for the August edition of The Visitor. He volunteered, as Catherine Hubbs was traveling this month.
Cecile Adam was guest preacher on Sunday, July 22. Her service, as Interim Intern, is greatly appreciated.
JULY CORPORATE WORSHIP
1 - Communion Steward: Paul Deisler
Scripture Reader: Pat Oakes
Time With Children: John Burlinson
Ushers: Tommie & Doyal Pinkard
Fellowship: Cathy Hubbs, Host
8 - Scripture Reader: Matt Blackstock
Time With Children: Doyal Pinkard
Ushers: Matt Blackstock, Ben White
Fellowship: Ellen Ryan Simpkin, Host
15 - Scripture Reader: Cecile Adam
Time With Children: John Towery
Ushers: Paul & Ellen Deisler
Fellowship: Geneva Ross
22 - Scripture Reader: Jamie Adams
Time With Children: Cecile Adam
Ushers: Dick Jackson, Mary Sinclair
Fellowship: Members and F & F Committee
29 - Scripture Reader:
Time With Children:
Ushers: John Moore, Suzanne Bradford
Fellowship: Craig Headley, Mark McCoy
AN OPPORTUNITY (Call 477-5961)
THE OLD BAKERY AND EMPORIUM
Volunteers needed
Hours: 9 am - 4 pm, Monday-Friday (preferred shifts 9 am-1 pm, 10 am-2 pm or 12 -4 pm)Ages: 15 years and up. Free Training; Free Parking; Free Lunch; and a 12% Merchandise Discount on the days you work.
If over age 50, and you would like to sell your crafts and/or artwork, please let us know. There is no fee, we ask that you volunteer at least 8 hrs./a month.
AUGUST BIRTHDAYS TO CELEBRATE
5 Sharon Brown
6 Steve Domingue
10 Dehbie Catherine Sennour
11 David Ross
19 Stan Miles
21 Loretta Lewis
22 Cecile L. Ervin
24 Mike Ross
26 Travis Moore
ABOUT ONE OF OUR FORMER MEMBERS
Submitted by Mary Charles Williams
Just a bit of history: Jean Cassel
Career: Librarian, U.T.
Present Address: Garden Square, 1405 Hickory Ave.
Room 40, Crete, NE 68333
Jean has glaucoma, so she can no longer correspond with her Austin friends, but she does appreciate hearing from them.
While she lived in Austin and attended our church, she sang in our choir. She and Marie Scheel were good friends. When Marie learned that Jean's Austin friends were not hearing from Jean, she called her in Nebraska. Hence her current address.
They brought each other up-to-date, and Marie got Jean's current address and telephone number. Now, you are up-to-date with "our" Jean!
P.S. I can't carry a tune, but one church work day, Jean and I washed the front windows in the nursery - the beginning of our friendship!
Readers of this column, if there are any, will find things missing this month: Catherine Hubbs' byline and Cathy Hubbs' reportorial and writing skills. As Personals reporter, pro tem, I will be glad when it all gets back to normal. I bet readers will be, too.
Here is some good news from the Alfords. John Alford's daughter Elizabeth and her husband Michael Young have had a second child. Their daughter, Clara Elliott Young was born on June 28 and weighed 11 pounds. Frances and John have been in New York for the birth. Congratulations and welcome to the newcomer.
Thanks to Mrs. Eugenia Potter, mother of Julia Deisler, and to Julia's talents as a curtain hanger, our nursery now has a beautiful, new set of hand-made curtains! Go and see them.
Two of our members, Corliss Gasparri and Norma Hawes, have undergone surgery, Corliss for a mastectomy and Norma for a complete hysterectomy. Thankfully, both have recovered well from their surgeries.
Corliss' recovery was normal, she was out of the hospital in five days, and the post-surgical biopsies were negative - good news! She expects to be back at work in early August. She must nevertheless undergo the ordeal of chemotherapy, which she has already begun, but she does not need radiotherapy. All appears to be going well at this point and she thanks all for their prayers. Our prayers are with you still, Corliss.
Norma recovered normally and is back into much of her usual routine, including church on July 15, though she has had to postpone taking her two-mille walks for a few weeks. Her family coped during her temporary absence and they are glad to see her back. So are we all.
Kerry Manning, wife of Michael Adams and mother of Jamie and Julia, has a new job. She taught part time, last year, English as a Second Language (ESL) at O. Henry Middle School. This fall she will be full time at Travis High School, teaching reading to kids who've failed that portion of the TAAS. She's looking forward to the new position. Congratulations: it sounds like real progress.
Steve Domingue and Norma Hawes came to the "tree chopping-up party" at the Adams'. A huge tree had blown down in the back yard and Steve and Norma helped turn it into firewood and kindling in one rather grueling day. The Adams-Manning family is eternally grateful.
Rich and Jane Thompson were the special guests at a good bye reception on Sunday, June 24, after Rich's last sermon as our Interim Pastor. The reception was sponsored by the Board of Deacons with much help from others to thank Rich for his excellent service to our congregation over the last six months and Jane for her successful efforts to back Rich up. The Fellowship Hall was crowded and Rich's mother was present. There was a beautiful, very large and delicious carrot cake for the occasion, which bore the legend, "?Muchas gracias y hasta la vista!" This legend summarized the collective sentiment. The Board of Deacons presented gifts to Rich and Jane; to Rich, the Electronic Version of the Interpreter's Bible and a plaque with an inscription enumerating, and thanking him for, his several major contributions to our congregation during his short tenure; and to Jane, the "How Jane Won" book and a gift certificate for more books (the latter with an admonition addressed to Jane but intended also for Rich, that she was to spend it on herself). Fortunately, this is not the last the congregation will see of the Thompson's. They look forward to visiting the church in the fall. So it was not an "adios" party but an "hasta luego" party and we look forward to seeing them again soon.
Rizer and Hildegard Everett's granddaughter, Lael Giebel, her husband, Allen, and her son, Shane arrived in Austin for a visit on their way from their previous home in Richmond, California to their new home in the Tampa Bay area in Florida. The group arrived at the Englewood Estates, in Austin, on June 26. Hildegard and Rizer have known Lael since her birth in Austin in 1969, but this was their first chance to meet Allen and ten-month old Shane. Hildegard and Rizer were impressed with Shane's manual dexterity. He is a very active crawler, able to remove books from a bookcase in a matter of seconds. Rizer and Hildegard enjoyed the visit with the family and hope that some of the pictures taken will turn out well. So do we all.
Our most far-reaching traveler this year is Ned Murphy, probably in miles traveled but certainly in miles traveled per years of traveler-age. He has returned from a journey to China and Tibet as a member of a group of eighty-seven Kung-Fu practitioners from all over the United States. Ned is very active both as a student and as a teacher of Kung-Fu. Ned says his parents' fears for his safety were unjustified. "How could I be unsafe traveling with such a group?" The group went to Beijing, visited other cities and many of the famous sights, such as the Great Wall, and finally made, as Ned put it, a "side trip" to Lhasa." What a "side trip"! Ned said that the Kung-Fu teachers in China were amazed at the way the Americans adhered to the old disciplines and forms in their practice of Kung-Fu, unlike their Chinese students. He had a roommate about thirty years old and they got along fine. For one thing, Ned turned out to be his roommate's superior in the world of King-Fu so Ned laid down the rules (e.g., "No talking after lights out!") Ned also said that the Chinese food they got was not good and that the Tibetan food was really bad; everything in Tibet tasted of yak butter or sour yak milk. A McDonalds in China was a welcome relief; as Ned said: "At least you knew you were the first person to have used your straw." This trip was clearly a terrific experience and if you want to know more, and there is more, go to the source. We're glad to have you back, Ned.
The Domingues-Hawes family went to Boston for a couple of days to see Norma's good friend Rebecca. While there they walked the Freedom Trail, saw the Old North Church, and took a whale-watching cruise out of Boston Harbor. They saw a couple of "minke" whales from a distance of about fifty yards. They took luggage as carry-on on the way, but on way back decided to check their "backpacks with wheels". Kathleen's apparently fell off the luggage trolley in Boston. Back in Austin, the remains, delivered in a plastic bag inside a big box, looked as if the bag had gone through one of the jet engines. The bag had, in fact, fallen off of and been run over and dragged by the luggage trolley. Luckily, Kathleen had packed her keepsakes in another small bag and Delta paid for the crunched bag and its contents. Fun things always happen when you travel!
Pat & Mel Oakes spent a wonderful eight days in June with their daughter Beth and granddaughter Emily at Interlochen in northern Michigan. Beth and the Maia Quartet were coaching and performing chamber music at the Interlochen summer program. Six-month-old Emily's favorite game was repeatedly pulling off Mel's cap and chortling with glee. Amy Appold, the first violinist of the Maia Quartet, suffered an attach of appendicitis shortly before the quartet landed in Chicago. They were returning from Rome where they had performed at the American Academy. This was just six days before they were to be at Interlochen. Fortunately the cellist's wife, a wonderful violinist, filled in, a pianist was drafted, the program was changed to music they all knew and all was well. An added pleasure: Beth and Eugene celebrated their second anniversary on June 26 at Interlochen as Eugene came in to take over the babysitting for the second week of the quartet's stay. Whew! Welcome back.
Don and Sharon Brown got back from a couple of carefree days in Denver and the rest of the week in Aspen. Don had to meet with other higher education folks each day from eight to five, while Sharon went hiking with other energetic spouses. The topics concerned the education continuum K through 16.
Great to enjoy beautiful blue skies without mosquitoes! (Reporter's note: some people just can't take the heat - in Austin).
Nodie and Dennis Murphy enjoyed a drive to Burlington, Iowa, June 29 - July 8, where their daughter Sarah, son-in-law Larbi Sennour, and grandchildren Randy and Dehbia live. They were welcomed with an Algerian dinner prepared by Larbi's mother (also named Dehbia), who's been in the U.S. for medical care since late last year. The Murphys took Mrs. Sennour, Sarah and the kids to Des Moines for a day to visit the Science Center and to drive through the neighborhoods where they once lived. Going to Des Moines they stopped by a store run by an Old Order Amish family, where a couple of bare-foot boys stared wonderingly at Dennis' shoes. After celebrating the 4th in Burlington, and relaxing at a wonderful B&B overlooking the Mississippi River, the Murphys visited some old friends from their Drake University days in Des Moines and then spent most of the day seeing The Covered Bridges of Madison County (they also discovered that Winterset, the County seat, is the birthplace of John Wayne). They then drove to the Wichita, Kansas area for a day with Nodie's aunts, uncles and cousins at the old homestead in Conway Springs. Everyone had a grand time catching up on one another's news - de- spite the fact that the temperature soared to 107 degrees that day.
Mark McCoy spent a four-day weekend in June at his mother's home in Elkhart, Indiana. She had had hip replacement surgery ten days prior to his visit. Besides being there for support, it was a good excuse to see the family. Two of Mark's three brothers, his grandfather, and his aunt from Tulsa with his two little cousins were there. Mark says it was great to see everyone but there wasn't enough time to do everything. Still, all managed to have a lot of fun and eat a lot of good food in the short time they were together. The weather was so nice that Mark and his brother Matt camped out in the back yard with Matt's dog, just like when they were kids. Mark is happy to report that his mother is recovering more quickly than she did after the last surgery. He says: "I'd like to think that the support and love of her family has helped to speed her rehabilitation along."
Paul & Ellen Deisler drove to Ft. Davis where they stayed at the Prude Ranch with Howell and Ethel Forman of Lubbock. The two men were roommates at Texas A & M and all four have known each other for well over 50 years. This was their longest visit in years and they all had a grand time swapping yarns in one of Texas' beauty spots. Can we call this a geezer gathering?
This last family travel story just came in under the wire. Pat and Mel Oakes have just returned from a wonderful family reunion near Pigeon Forge, TN. In attendance were fifty-eight folks from more than a dozen states. Attendees ranged in age from five months to ninety-five years. All of the Oakes clan was in attendance. Highlight of the reunion was the babies, including Emily Buck, Pat and Mel's seven-month old granddaughter. All six of Pat's folks' great-grandchildren were there, prompting a flurry of photo opportunities. Welcome back, again.
The Pastoral Search Committee and members of their families held a celebration on the evening of July 13 at the home of Dennis and Nodie Murphy. Present were, in addition to the hosts, of course (Committee members first names underlined): Ned Murphy, Paul and Ellen Deisler, Suzanne VanderPoel, Lynne, George, Jeffrey and Katie Lemley, Tommie and Doyal Pinkard, Karl and Andrea Putz. John Burlinson and
Sharon and Don Brown could not make it. Dennis grilled fresh tuna kabobs and the rest brought favorite dishes, including two great desserts. No arms were broken: it was not a purpose of the party for the Committee members to pat their own backs. As Dennis, the Committee's Chair, put it: "No agenda! This is just for fun." And fun it was. No action items resulted from this "meeting" to be carried out afterwards and no minutes had to be written (a boon to this reporter, the Secretary of the Committee)> Let's do it again (the party, that is, not the search).
GENERAL SYNOD, UCC, HELD JOINTLY WITH DISCIPLES OF CHRIST, JULY 12 -18, 2001, IN KANSAS CITY, MO.
Theme: "Gather at the Welcome Table"
(Report in September newsletter)
FROM UCC: DID YOU KNOW?
Every member will begin receiving the official publication of the United Church of Christ free. Names and addresses of our members will be sent in by July 27, for this service.
A REMINDER
Please return the Church Canvass Questionnaire on Preferred Meeting Times, sent out by Doyal Pinkard, Church School Superintendent on July 18. This information is very important, to be used by the BCE, the Deacons, and the Coordinating Council, in planning church programs. Thanks!
_________________
From the Fun & Fellowship Committee:
PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW FOR AUGUST 19!
We plan to celebrate our new pastor's arrival with a good old-fashioned Texas barbecue potluck. Not a cookout, we're talkin' brisket & sausage with some chicken on the side for the non-beefeaters, and we're looking for a few good barbecue cooks who enjoy cooking those meats. If you do, please let Suzanne VanderPoel, Lisa Kirch, or Tommie Pinkard know as soon as possible. If we're not fortunate enough to find an in-house barbecue chef, we'll order the meats. Either way, we need folks to sign up so we know how much meat to get and what side dishes you'll be bringing. We'll need the traditional fixin's - pinto beans, cornbread, potato salad - and we'll enjoy some untraditional side dishes, too.
Whenever we have potlucks in the downstairs social hall, please take your dishes to the corner gated entrance to the basement and continue to use that entrance.
For reasons of safety and logistics, the steep, dark interior stairway will be OFF LIMITS on those days.
Parents: please make sure that your children are aware of this.
Younger children and the child care providers will use the stairway from the Towery Wing that opens near the choir room. In case of inclement weather, adults will also use that stairwell.
Thanks to a generous donor, we have 2 new wonderful refrigerators downstairs. We will keep desserts/drinks in the refrigerator in the back room. Main dishes/salads will be kept in the kitchen refrigerator. Many thanks to the Patron Saint of the Fun & Fellowship Committee.
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