In his book, Facing the Lion, Being the Lion, Mark Nepo reminds us that the word courage comes from the Latin word cor which means heart. The original use of the word courage means to stand by one's core, or to live from one's heart, come what may.
Nepo also describes the Hindu experience of the three elemental forces that Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva represent. Brahma is the creator of the divine patterns through which all of life is carried out. Vishnu is the sustainer of life and the patterns that carry it. Shiva is the destroyer of patterns that have run their course and no longer serve life. Shiva is the necessary transformer, the one who breaks the old forms down so Brahma can create new forms for Vishnu to sustain.
You don't have to be a Hindu to appreciate these basic patterns that we all experience in our lives. Nepo writes, "I invite you to discern the patterns that are shaping the story of your life, which of these need to be sustained or destroyed, and what new patterns need to be created....But to be clear, a constant tension lives here, as we are relentlessly creating patterns to make sense of our lives and then needing to break free of those that no longer fit who we are becoming. The goal, then, is not to eliminate the tension. That is impossible, for we are always forming, sustaining, and breaking down--always being born, living, and dying in some way."
Nepo's words move me to reflect in several directions.
First, our Christian Education Ministry. It seems to me that our church's Christian Education is all about getting deeply in touch with our church's core convictions--the convictions of our heart--and learning how to articulate them, stand by them, live from them, teach them to our children, and perhaps most importantly, help them discover their own cor so they can live from their hearts. A question that arises for me is this: as a church, have we adequately identified our core convictions, and do we articulate them clearly? Other than being a liberal and somewhat justice-oriented church, have we truly gotten to the heart of the matter when it comes to our Christian identity and ministry? Or to put it another way, are we a truly courageous church, and are we preparing (encouraging!) our children to face the daunting challenges of the future with a Christ-like courage?
Second, we are demonstrating courage in our church by facing the fact that the Christian Education pattern of our past no longer works or serves our needs. We will, in the next year, break out of that pattern and create a new one with the hope that it will better serve who we are becoming as a church. This change was born out of a good bit of tension, and the change itself will bring more tension to our lives. But as Nepo reminds us, the goal is not to eliminate the tension, but to experience it as part of life's own energy and process of transformation.
Third, our Advent and Christmas season is a good time to reflect deeply on our own lives--especially the patterns that shape our daily living--and to ask ourselves where in our lives we would benefit from the birth of something new. Christmas is all about new birth, new creation, new life. Are there patterns that have run their course in your life, patterns that no longer serve who you are becoming? Is something fresh and brand new longing to be born within you, something that may even be a bit scary because of its novelty? Listen to your heart. And live from it.
Christmas blessings upon all of you! And let us all pull together next year as we courageously embark as a church on our new way of doing Christian education.
Tom
NOTE FROM THE DEACONS
Our church will have a Sunrise Service next Easter!
With the help of everyone who participated in the opinion survey we conducted in September, after consideration of the various alternatives proposed since then, and on the basis of much discussion with the pastor, we have decided to extend the tradition of the Sunrise Service for at least another year. In 2009, the service will be held on the shore of Lady Bird Lake, probably east of IH-35. Planning is on-going (details to be announced later).
Our pastor will be on sabbatical leave for three months next year.
Tom will be taking a well-deserved break from his regular duties here beginning late next summer. As currently planned, his sabbatical will begin in mid-August and continue through the middle of November. Tom has mentioned a workshop that he would like to attend, and there are always new areas of ministry and spiritual practice to explore, but however he chooses to spend these weeks, we hope they will be a time of genuine rest and renewal for him. Planning for interim pulpit supply and pastoral care is already under way; next year's Board of Deacons will be responsible for completing those plans and keeping the rest of us informed.
THE FRIENDSHIP SUPPERS
Everyone wants to get to know you better! The Friendship Suppers give us all a chance to talk with each other in smaller groups over great food. We meet for dinner at someone's house (the host) who provides a main course and the others who are assigned to go to that home bring another part of the meal. There may be three or four dinners at different houses on any given date, depending on how many want to participate. The dates we've set for this year are January 17th and March 28th. The sign-up sheets are in the Fellowship Hall in the BLUE FOLDER. As usual, the dinners begin around 6pm; if you need a ride we can arrange that. Even if you don't know your schedule too far in advance, go ahead and sign up for all the dates if you'd like. Last minute cancellations are easier to handle than last minute additions. If you've got any questions, speak to Betty Bodman or Barbara Burnham.
Chairs of our Boards
Trustees: Reuel Nash
Deacons: Betty Bodman
Christian Education:
Christian Outreach: Dan Jeffery
Moderator: John Goff
Advent is coming!
A time to prepare and a time to wait.
I'm reminded of my trip to the UCC church house in Cleveland for the Midwest Seminarian gathering in October. With the help of several people and your money pledged to our association (You contributed $100.00--thank you so much!), I had airfare, a room, food, resources, and scheduled workshops all set up and, boy, I was excited to go. It was hard to wait.
It sure was worth the wait. I knew it would be good, but I have to say it was awesome.
I checked in and quickly met John Thomas in the hallway as he welcomed us. I knew then I was with my people.
I love my Presbyterian buddies and have much in common with them....and as one of our UCC poster says: "I love my church because it's kind of like the Wizard of Oz...It has a heart and a brain. And Courage!"
Instead of waiting until there is minimal risk for taking stands on social justice issues, the UCC looks to Jesus, the Gospels, and with a heart and a brain and missionary courage we say, "All of God's people are welcome, everyone."
We had lunch--they fed us well and often...they must still remember being in grad-school. Worship and music was Spirit filled. The chapel was breathtaking for me. Well-planned workshops, both practical and inspiring, were presented by the national staff.
And lots of time with peers, very diverse peers, yet all equally excited, concerned and waiting to serve God and the church.
The conference was done and I had hours before my flight back...what to do? Wait?
NO. Two of us went to the Rock and Roll Museum on the river. Forget waiting! I saw Elvis' clothes and his red Cadillac, some of Madonna's (Sorry, not the holy mother, the other famous mother) outfits from a concert tour I attended in the Astrodome, Van Morrison and Jimmy Hendrix writings and personal belongings...you get the idea. That was the cherry on the cake.
Sometimes it is good to wait and sometimes it's not.
Peace and love, Will Heimbach
CHANGE OF DATE FOR MICAH 6 OPEN HOUSE
Some renovation items at University Presbyterian Church have necessitated postponing the Micah 6 of Austin Open House, likely until the new year. The Open House at UPC will not occur on December 7, but we will let everyone know when the event is rescheduled. Please share this information with your congregations. Thanks for your help in getting the word out and your patience as we near the end of the renovations!
PERSONALS
by Pat Oakes
After the service on Sunday, November 2, the congregation was treated to a musical interlude featuring The Waller Creek Wind Quintet and The Saxidentals. Our own Andy Ross (oboe) and his wife Leslie Poer (horn) were part of the wind quintet and Jaime Hadley performed on his soprano sax with the Saxidentals. Their music included selections by Milhuad, Holst, Mancini, Carter-Cohn, and Scott Joplin.
On Sunday, November 9, ten members of the congregation made the trip to Oakwood Cemetery near IH 35 and Martin Luther King Blvd. to see the Rev. Dr. R.J. Briggs' grave. This was after the church service when Rambie Briggs (relationship as yet undetermined) gave a talk about the first pastor of this church. It was a beautiful day, and the scene there is quiet and peaceful under mostly giant pecan trees. Dr. Briggs' character is illuminated by the inscription on his tombstone: "When I am dead, I do not care if men shall say I was fool or failure, or poor, unpractical or visionary; that will not matter; but God forbid that men should stand above my grave and say: 'There lies one who was hard, ungenerous, unforgiving.' When I am dead, this is the legend I want cut into my gravestone: 'He thought tenderly of others and sternly of himself, that passersby may say at least in one sense the beauty of the lord God was upon him; he was quick to forgive and forget.'"
Tommie and Doyal Pinkard are pleased to announce that their son David Pinkard and Suzanne Connole will be married on Saturday, February 7, 2009, at the Lyman Homestead in Middlefield, CT. Tommie has referred to Suzanne has her "daughter-in-law-elect" for the past seven years, so she (and Doyal) are both delighted about the upcoming nuptials. Now she can drop "elect." David and Suzanne reside in Brooklyn, NY, where David is a composer/conductor and Suzanne is a doctor of Chinese medicine.
Michael Adams tells us that Jamie and Lauren Adams are expecting another son in April. Firstborn Philip is two and a quarter. Michael and Kerry are looking for a good deal on a house in Round Rock, to be near them. It is hard to believe, but Julia is in the eighth grade at City School.
Beth Placek encourages one and all to take a trip to Johnson City during this holiday season to enjoy the wonderful Christmas lights and festivities that continue through Jan. 1. She likes to start out at about 4:30 p.m. so that she can enjoy the drive and watch the sun set over the Hill Country as she makes her way there.
Matt and Mary Blackstock had a great visit with former members Steve and Jeanine Neuse in Fayetteville, AK, in October. Matt and Mary were in Fayetteville for a week-long Elderhostel on the Middle East. The Department of Middle Eastern Studies provided the speakers for the seminar and Matt says they were first rate. One evening they met Steve and Jeanine for dinner and had a great time catching up on family and church news.
Nancy Edison is having a great time with four-year-old Aedan and three-year-old Logan, as usual. She visits four-month-old Matilda as often as possible. The big news: early in the morning of November 10th, her new grandaughter entered this world. Nancy's daughter Dana and Dana's husband Michael welcomed almost 8 pound Rowan Corinne Brady into the family. Nancy says in a completely unprejudiced tone, "She is darling!!!"
Marilyn Gaddis and George Carruthers enjoyed a 12 day Elderhostel trip with thirty-seven others for "The Three Jewels - Sequoia/Kings Canyon, Yosemite, and Death Valley." Their first day out they passed the Topanga Canyon fire which had started earlier that morning. While in Sequoia National Park they stopped at the Giant Forest area to walk around the General Sherman Tree - 36 feet across its base. On day three, they walked around the General Grant Tree before their bus ride into Kings Canyon. At Yosemite they enjoyed a wonderful dinner at the famous Ahwahnee Hotel to celebrate George's 85th birthday. The next day they traveled the scenic Tioga Road past Tenaya Lake (Marilyn swam across it on her 21st birthday) and stopped to walk across Tuolumne Meadows. (During her college year, Marilyn had worked at Tuolumne Meadows Lodge for three summers). At Mono Lake they walked out to see the fascinating tufa (calcium carbonate) formations. They enjoyed western movie memorabilia at the Motion Picture Museum, housed in an old movie theatre. In the morning, they had a guided tour of the Alabama Hills where sixty-nine movies have been filmed. They went on to Manzaner National Historic Site where Southern California Japanese had been interrned during WW II. The touching exhibits in the Interpretive Center caused them to wonder about our government's decision. The last "Jewel" was Death Valley. Before dinner, they had to climb some sand dunes to marvel at the changing colors of the surrounding mountains. The next day they visited Badwater, the lowest point in the U.S. and Zabriskie Point, for a wonderful view of the valley. Then it was back to the traffic of the city! It was a great trip! Before Amtraking home on October 24th, they visited with some of Marilyn's friends and family in the L.A. area. Also, they stopped briefly to see George's nephew and wife in Wickenburg, AZ.
Whit Bodman reports that there was a great Muslim-Christian retreat at University Presbyterian Church, in which Nodie Murphy and Marilyn Vaché participated. Whit visited his father in mid-October in Chapel Hill, NC. He is doing okay, and glad to get out of the Health Center whenever he can. In mid-November Whit was still looking for people to accompany him and a group of APTS students to Trinidad in January. His more startling news is that he has a mistress now. She is 23 feet long and floats in Lake Travis. Her name is Patience and was to make her maiden voyage, hopefully, during the Thanksgiving break. Happy sails!
Former pastor of this church who now lives in the San Diego area, Yoshi Kaneda, traveled to his homeland of Japan for 19 days where he preached and taught. He prepared three different manuscripts to share, "Two Gods In My Childhood," "Frightening Racism And Its Effects," and "How Does the U.S. Look At The Emperor System In Japan?" He preached at Heian Church in Kyoto and at Yamate Church in Tokyo. He gave lectures to college students at Doshisha University in Kyoto and Tohoku Gakuin University in Sendai. He conducted a Bible Study at the youth center in Sendai. He gave a short speech at a gathering of his high school classmates in Tokyo. His final lecture was sponsored by the Yasukuni Shrine Study Group of National Council of Churches in Japan. He found that he was mostly well-received but that some of his more conservative listeners were offended by his views. He was also able to see relatives and friends which brought him closer to his roots. He also did some sightseeing to Asuka, Morioka, Hiraizumi, Sendai, Matsushima, Shirakawa, Nikko, and in Tokyo, Yasukuni Shrine and Royal Palace. He was only sorry that he was a bit early in the season to enjoy full fall colors.
Paul Deisler reports, "My glaucoma doctor released me to normal active duty last Thursday (mid-November) so I can now do the laundry, push Ellen's wheelchair, and so forth. In a month or so I should be able to go back to the doctor who did the corneal transplant to begin completing the suspended work needed after that operation. Overall vision is not so hot and I have double vision to make seeing more complicated. This should all get better over the next many months. It has been a long battle, so far, and I hope the end is in sight. As the French say, "on verra". At least I am able to take care of Ellen again."
Pat Oakes had a busy month of October with trips to Washington, D.C., to see daughter Sarah, a trip to Vicksburg with Mel to visit his family and to attend a county-wide school reunion, and then a wonderful 6 day trip to NYC to visit. Pat, her two sisters and 5 other friends of her youngest sister spent a fabulous, frenetic, fun-filled four days in the city--including "La Traviata" at the Met at Lincoln Center, "Jersey Boys" on Broadway, a hike across the Brooklyn Bridge (complete with a celebrity sighting of the young woman who plays the older sister of "Ugly Betty"), viewing the NYC Marathon, and tea at the Palm Court at the Plaza Hotel. She stayed overnight the first night and the last night with daughter Beth's dear friend Pria in Montclair, New Jersey, and enjoyed visiting with her family. Other than dropping and breaking her camera the first day in NYC and spending two hours underground trying to find our way to the Brooklyn side of the Brooklyn Bridge, the trip was a great success!
Liz Nash reports that a number of the members of the church went to the recent Austin Lyric Opera production and saw Cara Johnston (Cara Firestone) in one of the lead roles. The opera was Cinderella by Rossini, and she played one of the stepsisters, Clorinda. Of course, she has a wonderful voice, but it was also neat to see how well she plays a funny character part. Just a delight. Some also saw her sing as the Queen of the Night in the well-known known aria from "The Magic Flute" in ALO's "Simply the Best"-- she was also in Carmen here last year. Check out the ALO website to see Cara's cast bio from Cinderella.
DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS
1 Sarah Moore
3 Sally E. Tomasek
Liz Spencer
6 Lisa Miriam Kirch
7 Jeffrey Lemley
8 Robin Rosson
10 Hester Novotny
12 Jennie Peet Ashton
Sarah Kirch
13 Carol Ann Burlinson
Audrey Loomis
14 Jake Burlinson
15 Sara Ross
Gedeon Karasi Bukasa
18 Ellen Ryan
20 Carol Barrett
27 Jeri Winter
28 Larissa Pickens
29 Lynn Loomis
30 Mouloud Randal Sennour
Dear friends,
I have decided to return to the Catholic Church. Sounds crazy, I know. Well, as much as I LOVE the Congregational Church of Austin, I found that I've really missed participating in the Mass. I didn't realize just how much until I started attending again recently.
Even though I disagree mightily with some Catholic teaching, I've come to realize that is unimportant. The only thing that matters, as Paul said, is faith expressing itself through love. For too long, I have allowed the opinions and worldviews of other Christians to determine my level of faith, to determine even whether I was Christian or not. Now that I am finally aware of my error, I feel rather liberated. This freedom allows me to receive the spiritual benefits of participating in the sacred rituals of the Mass.
Now, admittedly, there are other self interests involved in joining St. William Catholic Church in Round Rock besides spiritual nourishment. The church is only a 15 minute drive from home. This is of no small consideration. And, I recently learned, the Catholic church will endorse lay people for chaplaincy. This also is no small matter either, even though I've not settled on chaplaincy as a vocation---or even finished my first unit of CPE! It's nice to know the opportunity is there if I decide to pursue it.
Does this mean that you'll never see me on Sunday mornings again? Not at all. I care deeply about you. I will surely miss everyone! I will want to come visit from time to time-----and stay in touch with you in the meantime.
Thank you all for welcoming Diane and me so warmly and encouraging me along my winding spiritual and vocational path. Grace and peace be with you all.
Linda Berard
The Board of Christian Education will propose a new administrative model for the Christian Education Program at the Annual Meeting in January. The new model includes suspending the Board of Christian Education for one year, distributing BCE duties to the various church Boards. A breakdown of the duties involved and the proposed redistribution is included below. Questions or comments regarding the proposal may be directed to Jennifer Howicz (jlhowicz@gmail.com); Liz Nash (lizknash@gmail.com) or Doyal Pinkard (pinkarddw@earthlink.net).
Teacher/Youth Group Task Force Meetings
1) August orientation -- fall scheduling, and safety briefing, organized jointly by trustees and task force
2) January -- spring scheduling
3) May wrap-up -- discuss curriculum, supplies and budget for next year
4) May - orientation for Sunday School Lite teachers
5) Other meetings as needed.
General Responsibilities:
Coordinating Council: Maintain general oversight of Sunday School and Youth programs and communication with teachers; oversee teacher recruitment (with Nominating Committee), conduct background checks
Nominating Committee: teacher recruitment
Trustees: Ensure compliance of Sunday School teachers and facilities with safety policies, maintain budget and purchase supplies
Deacons: Oversee nursery school attendant; organize Sunday School kickoff breakfast (F&F) and give bibles to 3rd graders.
Outreach: Organize any outreach fundraising activities that include youth participation (e.g. "Haladay")
Teachers: Teach Sunday school classes, follow safety policies; make decisions regarding curriculum; keep track of supplies
OHIO OR BUST!
by Doris Williams
My trip to Ohio was a coordinated campaign by volunteers in the Texas Democratic Party to help turn Ohio from a "Red" state to a "Blue" state and elect the first African American President! This was the first time I had done anything on this scale. I traveled with other volunteers on 8 buses, of which not all went to Ohio, on October 31, 2008, my birthday. Some buses went to others critical "Red" states. I went because I just had a feeling that this would be a historical occasion the election of the first African American President. I had not met any of the volunteers before I "got on the bus". I later found out that this trip, our trip, our bus, would be the subject of a documentary to be released later after the election. The camera crew rode the bus with us. They recorded hours and numerous interviews with each of us. We started out "on the bus" by visiting Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.' statute at the University of Texas where the camera crew took pictures and recorded interviews, then proceeded on to Cincinnati, Ohio. I later discovered that a benevolent benefactor in Cincinnati underwrote the whole trip. When we arrived in Cincinnati we were housed at a Marva Collins Academy of Excellence that had closed it's doors due to financial difficulties. Nevertheless, because the Academy had dormitories, it was a perfect place for a bus load of volunteers. There were men, women and youth from all races and religions. There were black, brown, and white, Asian, Christian, Jew and Muslim on "the bus." The filmmakers asked all of us to write in a journal the reasons why we were "on the bus" and this journal is to be included in the documentary. It is still difficult for me to put into words my feelings, the feeling of jubilation, sorrow and sadness for those African American ancestors that could not witness this "coming together." We were greeted warmly by the people in the neighborhoods where we canvassed. Our focus neighborhoods were low income African American neighborhoods because we were told that in Cincinnati and particularly Hamilton County, this group had been difficult to turn out and vote. We went into housing "projects" and were greeted warmly and welcomed. The residents were surprised and happy that we had come "all the way from Texas" to get them to the polls. I cannot describe the "love" they showed us! In conclusion, many went to the polls, stood in long lines to vote, some for the first time. These residents did not "let it happen this time,"they along with white brothers and sisters made it happen, the election of the first African American President of the United States of America
NEWS FROM THE BRAZOS ASSOCIATION
On Saturday, October 18, the Brazos Association held its Fall Meeting at St. John's UCC in Burton. Representatives were there from 12 of our Association churches. We enjoyed the warmth of good fellowship and the always welcoming spirit of St. John's -- along with good food. After opening with a creative worship dialogue between Glenn Schoeneberg and Greg Felder, we passed a budget and conducted other business. A great joy that day was welcoming the Rev. Dr. Jerry Carpenter, pastor of Weimar UCC, into full standing (Privilege of Call) as a United Church of Christ minister after his ecclesiastical council. In this process, Jerry changes from having dual standing as a Methodist minister serving a UCC church. The "talking" portion of our meeting ended with a presentation by Ron Trimmer, Glen Schoeneberg, and Greg Felder on how churches and pastors can grow in spirit and be renewed by clergy sabbaticals. Since we have clergy due for sabbaticals in other churches in the Brazos Association, the presentation was timely as well as encouraging. We ended our time by sharing lunch and Holy Communion. Afterward, the South Central Conference Annual Meeting Planning Committee met to begin its work on the June 5-7 Annual Meeting, to be hosted by the Brazos Association at Huston-Tillotson University in Austin. Thank you, St. John's, for hosting us at our Fall Meeting!
I have three other pieces of good news in our Association to share. The first is that Tamara Franks has joined the staff of Friends Congregational Church in College Station as Associate Pastor. This is a temporary position with a several month contract that will help Friends with its ministry as they consider whether to call a permanent Associate. The second piece of good news is that Carla Cheatham will be ordained to the Christian ministry in the United Church of Christ on Saturday, January 17th, at 3 pm at Friends Congregational Church. She has been called to be the pastor at Trinity United Church of Christ in Niederwald, where she has been part-time supply pastor for over a year. Carla continues, too, to serve as pastor of Creative Spirit, the new church start in South Austin. The third piece of good news is that, at the November South Central Conference Board of Directors meeting, I learned how generous our Brazos Association churches have been in supporting the work of the Conference and the national UCC through OCWM (Our Church's Wider Mission) Giving. Our Association is the one in the SCC that has increased its giving this year through the increased giving of most of our churches -- not just one or two. Both the Conference and the national UCC struggle with meeting costs, but my experience is that our gifts to them are used faithfully and well in the service of Christ and the church. Their work touches all of our churches in more ways than I can share in this limited space -- particularly through the pastoral search and call process but also in many other ways. Thanks Brazos Association churches!
Blessings in Christ, Liz Nash, Brazos Association Minister
ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS WORSHIP SCHEDULE
Sunday, November 30, First Sunday of Advent, 11:00 am.
Sunday, December 7, Second Sunday of Advent, Holy Communion, 11:00 am.
Friday, December 12, Advent worship followed by lunch, 11:00 am.
Sunday, December 14, Third Sunday of Advent, 11:00 am.
Sunday, December 21, Fourth Sunday of Advent, 11:00 am.
Sunday, December 21, Christmas Candlelight Service, 7:00 pm, followed by gathering at the home of Pat and Mel
Oakes.
Sunday, December 25, Christmas Day Service at 12:00 noon, followed by Open Door Dinner.
Sunday, December 28, First Sunday of Christmas, 11:00 am
Deadline for January VISITOR -- December 15
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