The Congregational Church of Austin, UCC
United Church of Christ

408 W. 23rd Street, Austin, TX 78705-5214 (512)472-2370
Fax: (512)472-1175 e-mail: ucausti@SWBell.net
http://congregational.faithweb.com

Rev. Thomas J. VandeStadt, Pastor

Rev. John Towery, Pastor Emeritus

CROSS WORDS Eleanor Towery had some bad luck while she was watching John (our pastor emeritus) play football with their 8 eight-year-old great-grandson on September 15. She was pulling up a chair to sit down and enjoy the game when she tripped and landed on her left elbow (fortunately she is right handed). She ended up having surgery and a cast to get it fixed. She got the cast off in October and has been working to strengthen her arm and is doing fine now. John's doctor has decided not to do back surgery on John, so he is dealing with a good bit of discomfort. In other Towery family news, son Ches and Ches' wife Maggie went to Colton, NY, to visit her dad who was quite ill. He rallied however, but remains in a nursing home for folks with Alzheimer's. While there they stayed with Maggie's aunt and enjoyed a visit with her. The senior Towerys were expecting 19 for Thanksgiving dinner including daughter Sally and son-in-law Tommy from Massachusetts, their daughter Tanya and her new husband John (who live just minutes away from Sally and Tommy), plus daughter Mary and Danny Masters and their son Ricky, and Ches' family here in the Austin area.
Mary Sinclair and Richard Jackson

     Over the next several months, we'll be reading and reflecting on Mark's Gospel quite a bit during our Adult Christian Education class and worship. When we read the Bible, there are a number of reading strategies, or interpretive tools, that we can bring to the text. Biblical scholar Stephen Moore, reflecting one contemporary movement in Biblical studies, reads Mark through the interpretive lens of Deconstructive Criticism, a technique that borrows heavily from the French philosopher and textual critic, Jacques Derrida. One of Derrida's trademarks is to "de-concentrate" what appears to be most important or central in a text, and to focus instead on what appears inconsequential, marginal, borderline, parasitic or beside-the-point.
    Mark's theology has for years been identified as a "theology of the cross." Recall Jesus' words: "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who want to lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.".
    Here's where Moore goes with Mark's theology of the cross. A cross is a chiasmus, a crosswise fusion in which the order established in the first instance (whoever would save their life will lose it) is inverted in the second instance (and whoever loses their life...will save it). Chiasmus comes from the Greek verb, chiazein, "to mark with the letter x," pronounced chi. Chi is an anagram for ich, which is German for the personal pronoun I, and the technical term in Freud's work that English translators render as ego. The letter "X" is also the common signature for people who can neither write nor read. The disciples, generally at cross-purposes with Jesus, cannot read his intentions regarding the cross. Jesus must continuously speak cross words to his puzzled disciples. After being double-crossed by one disciple, Jesus is crucified on a crossed chiasma, "a piece of wood." Chi, as ich, is also ichtus ("fish" in Greek). Ichtus was an early Christological acronym, iesous christos theou huios soter (Jesus Christ Son of God, Saviour). When the authorities tried to get their hooks into Jesus, he became the big one that got away. But he did promise his disciples they'd become "fishers of men.".
    I've greatly abbreviated Moore's comments here, but you can see that his reading is playful. He plays around with the text, and he brings other texts into play with it. Like a fish caught and dropped on the floor of a boat, he allows the text to wriggle and flap around a lot. While some would discount this type of reading as a bunch of postmodern hot air, I think it's an interesting strategy to use as we read and reflect on the Bible. It's certainly not the only way to read the Bible. It's just another tool in our interpreter's toolbox, along side the other critical tools that help us discern what the author's sources may have been, what form these sources took, how the author edited his sources, how the author structured the narrative, who the author's intended audience may have been, and what the social, political, economic, and cultural dynamics were when Jesus lived and the author wrote..
    As we work our way through Mark Sunday after Sunday, I encourage you to read Mark on your own at home. If at all possible, read it through in one sitting some time. Get a feel for the flow of the story. Keep an eye on how Mark structures his unfolding plot, how he uses various geographical settings, how he introduces and develops major and minor characters, and how he uses particular words. Read it carefully and prayerfully. Ask yourself, where do I find myself in this Gospel text, and how does this Gospel help me read the text of my own life?.
    For your worship preparation, deepening discipleship, and ongoing spiritual development, our weekly scripture lessons are always listed on our church web site under the heading "worship."

VISION DISCUSSION FOLLOW-UP AND UPDATE

    Since our initial vision discussion groups in the Fall, we've had several follow-up meetings around the topics of Mission Outreach, Christian Education, and the Building. In regards to Mission Outreach, the participants in that discussion came to the conclusion that our church needs a higher degree of intentional planning, coordination, and interpretation in our mission outreach ministry. Outreach is central to the church's identity and purpose, and an important avenue of spiritual development, Christian education, and evangelism. Yet in our church, it's poorly organized. The participants in this discussion have put together a proposal to create a Christian Outreach Committee, with the hopes that the Committee will eventually be given full Board status. This proposal will be submitted to the coordinating council in February. It will no doubt spark serious discussion on the need for another Board or Committee, as well as the overall organization of the Boards and Committees that are entrusted with planning, coordinating, and interpreting our church's various ministries. This is a discussion we need to have, and I thank the Mission Outreach vision participants for working to bring it to the table.
    In regards to Christian education and spiritual development, the focus of our initial follow-up discussion was adult Christian education. Participants in this discussion voiced a need for more in-depth and high quality Biblical studies, with a focus on the life, ministry, and on-going significance of Jesus Christ. They thought offering several series that lasted several weeks per series, and offering a variety of media (presentations, readings, discussion groups, videos...) would generate the most interest and response.
    Whit Bodman, currently completing his Ph.D. at Harvard University, teaching at Austin Seminary, and a member of our church, has offered to teach a Christian education course called, Encountering Jesus and His Interpreters. See the description for this course in this edition of The Visitor.
    In our second follow-up meeting, the group discussed strengthening our youth ministry by creating opportunities to bring the youth on educational and social outings, and to take advantage of the youth events offered by the Brazos Association and the South Central Conference of the UCC. The next youth event will be on Saturday, February 22. See details in this edition of The Visitor.
    In regards to the Building, a number of folks concerned about our building recently met to take a two-hour top-to-bottom tour of our facility. We looked at the building in terms of its structure, function and aesthetics. As we poked around, we asked ourselves: What needs to be fixed? What functions well for us in terms of our spatial needs? What doesn't function well? How does it look? What does it communicate? How does it make us feel? In depth-notes were taken throughout the tour. The participants will study the notes, and then regroup to develop some recommendations to the Trustees in regards to capital improvement, possible design changes, and renting unused areas of the building.
    All Vision Follow Up meetings are open to anyone who would like to participate, whether you participated in the initial vision discussion groups or not. Meetings are always announced in the bulletin and through our e-mail list.

ENCOUNTERING JESUS AND HIS INTERPRETERS A CHRISTIAN EDUCATION EXPERIENCE YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS
February 9 to April 6

    Did you ever wonder why the portrayal of Jesus' birth in Matthew's gospel is different than that in Luke's gospel? Have you wondered why Mark's Jesus comes across differently than John's Jesus? Or have you asked yourself, if I were to make my own movie portraying Jesus' life, who would I pick to play Jesus? Would it be Mel Gibson, Russell Crowe, Bruce Willis, Nicholas Cage, Steve Buscemi, Samuel L. Jackson, Adam Sandler, Al Pacino, Leonardo de Caprio, Johnny Depp, or some unknown actor? Clearly, the authors of the Gospels were interpreting Jesus, as do Hollywood moguls, as do you and I.
    From February to April, Whit Bodman, a member of our church and a professor at Austin Seminary, will be teaching a course called Encountering Jesus And His Interpreters.
    We will meet for the first Sunday, February 9, at 6 pm. At that first meeting, the participants attending will decide at what time on Sundays to hold the subsequent meetings, and whether or not to include a meal or light snacks.
    The schedule will be as follows:

February 9 The Source-So many Bibles!
February 16 The Drama of the Birth
February 23 Baptism-The Entree'
March 2 The teacher-Being Parabolic
March 9 The healer
March 16 The Kingdom of God
March 23 Dinner, Betrayal and a Trial-What a Night!
March 30 The Betrayal and the Crucifixion-What Got Jesus Crucified?
April 6 The Resurrection...and then?

This will be a course on Jesus, but mostly, on interpreting Jesus-something we all do. We'll look consciously at various strains of interpretation, mainly through movies, art, and lives. In each class, we'll see how some movie directors have read the text, and read Jesus, how some artists have done the same, and then ask ourselves how we react to the interpreters, and then how we act as interpreters.
Though you'll be able to get a great deal out of this by simply coming, listening, and conversing, you'll get even more by reading between classes. There'll be a text available online and as a handout in class, and we'll make conscious use of the following books: John Dominic Crossan, Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography, and PhilipYancey, The Jesus I Never Knew. Whit is able to purchase these books at Cokesbury at a discount price. He's ordered ten copies of each book, with Crossan costing about $15 and Yancey costing about $8. See Whit if you'd like him to get you a copy of either book.

LOVE WELCOMES ALL CONFERENCE

    On Saturday, February 22, an alliance of mental health professionals, churches, agencies, businesses, and individuals will gather together at University Baptist Church for a conference designed to educate, support, and provide resources to those who are struggling to understand the truth about gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. The conference, entitled Love Welcomes All, will include national and local experts in the fields of psychology and theology. The conference is open to anyone, but is especially geared to those who are just coming out, as well as the parents, friends, teachers, counselors, and clergy who love them. The cost for the conference is $40.00. Brochures are available in our Fellowship Hall at church.
    Another conference will be held in Austin the very same day. Dr. James Dobson's "Focus on the Family" will be presenting a national training conference in Austin on how to prevent homosexuality by curing gays and lesbians. Claiming to represent Christian teachings, and promoting "reparative therapy," Focus on the Family uses widely discredited theories that continue to damage families and abuse gays and lesbians all over the country.
    The American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, the American Counseling Association, the National Association of Social Workers, and the national Association of School Psychologists strenuously oppose Dobson's views on homosexuality. They have all determined that homosexuality is not a mental illness and therefore needs no cure.
    As a denomination, The United Church of Christ encourages its local churches to adopt an "open and affirming" stance towards gays and lesbians. The UCC affirms that homosexuality, like heterosexuality, is part and parcel of God's creative design, and therefore not a sin. While not all in the UCC agree with this stand, your pastor supports it, and encourages you to attend and participate in this conference.

MID WINTER YOUTH RALLY
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22

On Saturday, February 22, Faith United Church in Bryan will be hosting this year's Mid Winter Youth Rally. The event will include times of devotion and meditation, games, fellowship time, and a meal. If you or your youth are interested in going, please see John Burlinson, Liz Nash, or Marylin Vache.

FEBRUARY WORSHIP SCRIPTURE READINGS

February 2 Deuteronomy 18: 15-20 and Mark 1: 21-28
February 9 Isaiah 40: 21-31 and Mark 1: 29-31
February 16 Psalm 30 and Mark 1: 40-45
February 23 Isaiah 43: 18-25 and Mark 2 :1-12

LECTIO DIVINAS BIBLE REFLECTION
THURSDAYS, FEBRUARY 13 AND 27

In February, our Bible Reflection group will meet on Thursdays, February 13 and 27, at 7:30 pm in our church's sanctuary. During these gatherings, we read a passage of scripture several times and reflect on it by responding to several questions. The main goal of our listing and reflecting is to allow the text from scripture to open our own lives as texts from which we can discern God's presence. Most often, we read and reflect on the following Sunday's gospel lesson, which allows the participants prior refection on the gospel lesson before Sunday worship.

CROP WALK MARCH 1 AND 2

This year, the CROP WALK will be held on Saturday and Sunday, March 1 and 2. Last year, a group from our church walked on Sunday after worship, which will hopefully occur again this year. CROP WALK money that is raised benefits Church World Service and its international efforts to end hunger, as well as more local organizations like the Capital Area Food Bank. Information is available in our church's Fellowship Hall.

Do you love me? 'Feed my sheep, tend my lambs'
Letter from Edith Scott

    Edith & David Scott were members of the church for several years about 16 or 17 years ago. Edith is a stewardship consultant for the west of Scotland in the national church. The following article by Edith tells of her trip to Ethiopia where their church funds an outreach project.
    These words were directed to Simon Peter on the shores of Galilee. These words are now directed in challenge to us, as we watch a human disaster unfold in Ethiopia.
    As a Christian, I believe that everything I have comes from God. I also believe that God expects me to share my resources of time, talent and money in His service. It was in this context that I recently visited Ethiopia where I witnessed the famine developing there.
    At the moment, some parts of the country are more affected than others, but, as crops fail in many parts of the country, the situation can only become worse. In the area of Fantalle, I spent time with the Karayu tribe, who are among the poorest in Ethiopia. The area has had two days of rain in eighteen months. The people are not farmers, but are pastoralists, depending on their animals for their livelihood. They normally have a high protein diet of milk, butter and meat. Now, there is no pasture for the animals. They have already lost 80% of their cattle and 30-40% of their sheep and goats. The remaining cattle are very thin, weak and are giving no milk. The cattle can't be sold in their current state, as market value for them is only £3.80. There is no grain for the people, never mind the animals. The cost of maize has risen 200%. Looking out across the land, which should be covered in long succulent grass, there is only dust. There is not a blade of grass to be seen.
    During the day, the vultures circle over another cow, waiting for it to succumb to hunger. During the night, the starving hyenas take their prey.
    The people are thin. Mothers offer an empty breast, more to comfort than to feed. They show signs of wasting. Children's growth is stunted. Many are showing signs of severe malnutrition. As immune systems become depressed, disease also takes its toll. There are no social services here, no health facilities, no safety net! The help that does arrive, comes from international charities and local partner non-governmental organizations.
    The Karayu are not alone. It's estimated that in November, six million people need to be fed. Rations have already been reduced to try to cope with the crisis, but even with reduced rations, only 70% of those identified have received an allocation, because there is not enough for everyone. Meher crops are due to be harvested in December, but reports suggest massive failure, which will cause the situation to deteriorate. It is estimated that by New Year, numbers needing to be fed will reach fifteen million. In a country where 65 million live, this equates to one in four who will face death from starvation. The international communities need to send 2.2 million tons of food now, to avert a human disaster.
    Each one of us can bring influence to bear on this situation through prayer, letters to government and giving financially of what we have. All of the main British charities, including Christian Aid, are active in the country and will be pleased to receive what you can spare.
    Jesus knew what Peter's answer would be, but I think he was looking, not for declarations of love, but demonstrations of love. 'Feed my sheep and tend my lambs."
    Edith Scott

Avendale Old & Drumblog Parish, Strathaven, Scotland

ADDRESS CHANGE
Mr & Mrs Gary Barrett 5724 Fern St El Cerrito, CA 94530-1620

PERSONALS
by Pat Oakes

    Sara and Dave Ross are both retiring from UT this month. While they don't have their post-retirement activities planned out, they expect to keep busy. Dave intends to keep an office at UT, finish up some work in progress, and maybe even think about physics without having to answer to a contract monitor. They will be able to devote more time to the church mission, as well. But first they will take two or three weeks in February to travel across the south. They hope to visit Andy in New Orleans and Mike in Palm Bay, Florida (near Cape Canaveral) and spend some time camping and bird watching as they go.
    John Moore and Suzanne Bradford have some big news. Their house has been completely demolished (remember that they are living in a nearby rent house while they are in the home rebuilding process). Suzanne reports that it is rather sad-looking right now, though. The only structure left is the tree house that John built in the back yard for the kids. There is no word yet on when construction will begin.
    Hard economic times have affected members of our extended church family. Matt Blackstock reports that Greg, their son, a union carpenter has been out of work for 3 years, something that's hard for them to watch, and which causes a lot of concern. He is lucky to have Matt and Mary close by, even though they find it hard to know how to help. Kay and Danny, their older daughter and son-in-law have an interesting life-style. They move an RV trailer from park to park and are currently at Enchanted Rock Park where they're on the park staff. Danny, who is trained as an M.R.I. tech, figures he'll have to return to that line of work eventually and has some ambivalence about it. They've been doing this for about 2 years.
    Rizer Everett, has found that one of the great advantages in having several companions to share activities with is that he learns about many of the restaurants there are in Austin. Some have attractive paintings hanging on the walls while others have bamboo plants in the dining areas where the branches have been trained to display interesting patterns. Some of the restaurants have tables outdoors where quiet visits can be enjoyed away from the loud music and noise of animated customers inside the restaurants. Furthermore, there are now restaurants in Austin serving good food in the cuisine of many foreign lands. When he was attending high school in Austin, there were a few restaurants serving Mexican or Chinese food. Now there are many yellow pages in the phone directory advertising restaurants serving foods of foreign countries. There is even a section in those pages listing restaurants by cuisine, and one restaurant has a full page ad modestly declaring itself as "America's Most Popular Restaurant." Rizer neglected to tell me what restaurant that was. It sounds like he would be a good source if any of us are in need of suggestions for places to dine out! We should note that Rizer graduated from Austin High (the old one--on 12the St.) in 1933. The eleventh grade was the senior grade at Anderson and Austin high schools and they were the only two high schools in Austin at that time. Rizer graduated from UT in 1937.
    Cathy Hubbs was sporting a rather obvious bandage underneath her chin when she arrived at the women's book club meeting at Tommie Pinkard's on Jan. 13. She reported that she had had a basal cell cancer removed. The stitches came out on Jan. 17, so she was looking fine for the annual meeting. The book club enjoyed a lively discussion, some of it related to the book, THE KILLER ANGELS by Michael Shaara! It was most interesting to hear about family stories and objects related to the Civil War (War Between the States) that several attendees told about. There were 12 in attendance and a good time was had by all. Next month's book is BEL CANTO by Ann Patchett.
    Who says you can't go home again. Suzanne Vanderpoel is moving back to Burnet to the home she lived in as a child and left when she was 21. The house, called Rocky Rest, was built in 1860 by a man who came from Kentucky and has a Texas historical marker affixed to it. It was a working ranch when Suzanne was growing up and had cattle, goats, chickens, etc.--even peacocks. There is a park on part of the land, deeded by her father to the city of Burnet. Her dad was a well-known doctor there and built the first hospital in the area. Her new (old) address is 404 S. Water Street, Burnet, TX 78611 and her phone number is 512-756-2600. Suzanne assures one and all that she will be in Austin several times a week and will continue her invaluable service on the fun and fellowship committee.
    Nancy Brown is recuperating nicely from open heart surgery on Jan. 20. She had a valve replaced and an artery fixed. After almost a week in the Heart Hospital of Austin, she is at home with her niece and a good friend to keep her company. Get well, soon, Nancy. We are looking forward to seeing you back in church!
    Pat Oakes had a great 6 day visit in Iowa City with Beth and Emily while Eugene was in Oakland helping his mother with some home projects. Most of the time was spent getting ready for the arrival of a new baby brother who is due at the end of February.
    Marguerite and Ben White enjoyed the company of both sons and daughters-in-law and all three grandchildren during the Christmas holidays, Carl and family from Denver and Cappy and family from Davis, California.
    Jake Burlinson is involved in a Management Internship Program. He started several weeks ago working (for free) with the security department of the Four Seasons Hotel downtown. Basically, he'll be relieving his boss of menial tasks and in return will learn a lot about security. He has already started trying to learn how to size people up by guessing their height and weight. He doesn't like having to wear a jacket and tie, but looks forward to meeting FBI and Secret Service agents when VIPs are visiting! He got to meet Governor Perry on his first day.
    George Carruthers and Marilyn Gaddis flew to Orlando November 18th and spent 3 days with a Wisconsin friend, who winters in Long Boat Key. They went through the newly renovated Ringling Mansion and art gallery in Sarasota and drove back to Disney World to meet Marilyn's late husband's sister and husband for a 7 day celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary. Twenty-three family members spent 3 days at Disney World and then boarded the Disney "Wonder" for a 4 day cruise on the Caribbean. No flu to limit the celebration! The had a wonderful time renewing memories. Before Christmas, they drove to Branson to meet Wisconsin friends who had not been there before. The trip had been scheduled for 2001 but the friend tripped over a store display and broke her pelvis. A long recuperation pushed the trip to December 2002. They saw the last show of the season for several performers. There were still piles of snow in parking lots in Branson from the previous week's storm. Driving through Arkansas, one could still see lots of storm damage.