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From the Pastor
Dear Members and Friends of the Congregational Church of Austin UCC, (especially you out-of-towners),
I thought I would share my 2006 Pastor's Report in this month's Visitor, especially for the benefit of members and friends who do not live in the Austin area and cannot pick up a copy of the church's Annual Report or attend our Annual Meeting on January 28. I'm sharing it not so much to report on what I have been up to, but to share what the church has been up to in the past year. Each Board and Committee worked very hard and accomplished much in 2006. Please read on and take a look...
As pastor, I have the privilege of working with all the Boards and Committees of the church. Each has its own set of responsibilities, each has its own "personality," and I enjoyed working with each one this past year.
With the Deacons, I helped plan and carry out the worship ministry of our church. Of special significance were the "special" services: Easter sunrise, the weekday Lenten and Advent services/luncheons, the service recognizing lifetime achievement, and the Christmas Day Service preceding our Open Door Meal. This year, the weather cooperated for our Easter Sunrise Service, and we enjoyed the participation of Rev. Emilee Whitehurst, Executive Director of Austin Area Interreligious Ministries.
With the Deacons, I also helped plan and carry out our church's caring and welcoming ministries, which included visitation to folks in hospitals and rehab facilities, meeting with prospective new members, and hosting the new member orientations. In addition to these ministries, the Deacons and I supported the formation of an Interfaith Care Alliance "Care Team" consisting of Dan Jeffries, George Hetrick, Cecile Adam, and Marylin Harris. Thanks to Betty Bodman and all the Deacons...I enjoyed working with you very much!
With the Christian Outreach Board, I helped plan and carry out the outreach ministries of our church. In particular, I devoted time and energy to organizing freeze night shelter, the Christmas Day Open Door Dinner, and the sale of Equal Exchange Coffee and Chocolate, the proceeds of which were sent to Back Bay Mission. I made two trips to New Orleans, one to bring over $1,000 worth of Home Depot cards and tools donated by church members, and a second in my capacity as the South Central Conference's Disaster Network Coordinator. I continued my involvement in the Religion and Labor Network of Austin and Texas Impact, helping to plan and participate in a number of their events, some of which our church hosted. Thanks to John Goff for his leadership and for organizing the Front Porch Lunch, to Tommie Pinkard for representing our church on the Micah 6 Board, and to all the members of the Outreach Board for a productive year and for supporting my outreach passions. Thanks also to all of our freeze night, front port lunch, and Christmas Dinner participants.
With the Trustees, I participated in decision-making regarding the building and the finances. In particular, I spent a bit of time on the parking issue, initiating and participating in several meetings with the UT CO-OP, University Presbyterian Church, and University Baptist Church. Our chair, Reuel Nash, sent a proposal to the CO-OP in early January, and I'm hoping the CO-OP will accept it thereby alleviating some of our parking problems. Thanks to Reuel Nash and all the Trustees, to our new B & G guy Linclon Binford, and to David Ross, Lynne Lemley, and Dennis Murphy (our money folks)....I enjoyed working with you as much as I enjoyed working with the Deacons.
I worked the Centennial Committee developing plans for the renovations, a major new development in the life of our church in 2006. I cannot adequately thank all the members of the Centennial Committee who spent hours working with the architects, David and Evan, negotiating with the contractors, and keeping up with the day-to-day developments of the project. Special thanks to Don Brown, who was tireless and gracious in all his efforts, to Rambie Briggs, who began working to develop a closer relationship with LifeWorks, to Sharon Brown, who helped organize everyone who wanted input on the colors and appliances, and to everyone who participated in some way, shape, or form to make our renovations a reality.
My involvement with the Christian Education Board was less than it was with the other Boards, in part because of meeting schedule conflicts, and in part because much of its work deals with the youth Sunday School program which I cannot participate in because it occurs during worship. However, to the extent that I did participate in the work of the Christian Education Board, I can say that the members of this Board have my utmost respect and support because in some ways their work is the most difficult in the church. This past year, they planned and carried out an on-going week-to-week program for our youth, recruited and trained people to participate in it, and developed new policies to ensure the safety of our young people. No easy task! My involvement in Christian Education focused mainly on leading the adult discussion group before worship, and co-leading a series with Whit Bodman on Jesus' identity. Thanks Whit...I always learn much from you. Thanks also to Liz Nash, Sunday School Superintendent, Doyal Pinkard, Christian Education Chair, Jen Howicz, who worked for countless hours on the Sunday School Safety Policy, all the Board Members, all the teachers, and all the folks who participated in the programs.
Toward the end of the year, I worked with the Nominating Committee, which is charged with recruiting members to serve on our various Boards. I made some suggestions and helped recruit a few people. Thanks to Matt Blackstock, Suzanne Bradford, and Paul Deisler, who is one of the hardest working and most responsible people I have ever met.
I want to express heartfelt thanks to Nodie Murphy, the Trio, and the Choir for their role in leading worship, attracting people to our church, and offering folks a place to share their spiritual gifts. Heartfelt thanks as well to Carol Barrett for her leadership, support, and advice as Moderator. Carol did a fantastic job for three years, and she was a real colleague in ministry to me at the Congregational Church of Austin UCC.
Finally, thanks to each and every one of you. As you may have heard me say: we don't go to church, God calls us to create the church, and we do so by investing our time, talent, and resources into the church. Thanks to each and every one of you for investing your lives into the church. May Christ's grace, God's love, and the Holy Spirit's power continue to guide us in this on-going creation we call the Congregational Church of Austin, United Church of Christ.
TOM
TRANSFIGURATION SUNDAY JAZZ SERVICE
February 18
On February 18, Transfiguration Sunday, our church will host a special jazz service. Our pianist, Aaron Carter-Cohen, will offer us some special jazz compositions. Jaime Hadley will join the trio on soprano saxophone, Sarah Gourlie will join in on clarinet, and Melanie Wilkinson will sing. Our themes for the day will revolve around transfiguration and awe. Be sure to join us!
MOVIE NIGHT, HOSTED BY DON MILES
Saturday, February 3, 6:30 pm
For several years, a number of us have kicked around the idea of having some kind of church "Movie Night." Well, Don Miles has stepped up to the plate and agreed to host our first Movie Night at his home in South Austin on Saturday, February 3, at 6:30 pm. Don has chosen to host us for Treasure of the Sierra Madre. Please sign up in Fellowship Hall, and bring your favorite movie munchies.
Chairs of our Boards
Trustees: Reuel Nash
Deacons: Betty Bodman
Christian Education: Nancy Edison & Doyal Pinkard
Christian Outreach: John Goff
THE PROPHETIC IMAGINATION
SERIES BEGINS MARCH 4
The task of prophetic ministry is to nurture, nourish, and evoke a consciousness and perception alternative to the consciousness and perception of the dominant culture around us. Thus I suggest that prophetic ministry has to do not primarily with addressing specific public crises but with addressing, in season and out of season, the dominant crisis that is enduring and resilient, of having our alternative vocation co-opted and domesticated...The alternative consciousness to be nurtured, on the one hand, serves to criticize in dismantling the dominant consciousness...On the other hand, that alternative consciousness to be nurtured serves to energize persons and communities by its promise of another time and situation towards which the community of faith may move.
--Walther Brueggemann, The Prophetic Imagination
Our Spring Adult Discussion Series will begin on Sunday, March 4th, following worship. Our primary text for the series will be Walter Brueggemann's The Prophetic Imagination, but other shorter readings will be distributed as well. The book can be purchased used or new through major on-line book sellers. Please order a copy of the book and begin reading it. You do not have to finish it before March 4.
PERSONALS
by Pat Oakes
Nancy Edison reminds all of us that the last half of February is a great time for planning and planting. This is the average "last freeze" time, and time to plant trees and other Austin friendly, low water, low care landscapes. If you need any help with these plans , Nancy can help you. That's what "Landscape and Love It," her landscape design business, is all about. Nancy has done a great job with growing a variety of plants with the children at church. Nancy's oldest son, Charles, flew in to surprise her on her birthday. What a great gift! Her son's best friend here shares that birth date (different year, however) and had a big birthday party for Nancy and himself on Saturday the 13th of January at his home. It was fantastic! Nancy's twins, Daniel and Dana, were there to share in the celebration also, along with neighborhood kids and friends of Charles (now adults). The host's friends from here, his childhood friends, and friends from several countries were there, and a great time was had by all. Happy Birthday was sung in English, then Spanish, and Nancy believes, Polish was next on the list, but the cake got cut instead. This was the best birthday ever!!
Mary Sinclair's mother is doing better and is in a long-term care facility in Hamilton where Mary visits her three times a week. It's about a 100 mile round trip from where they live which is fine as long as there isn't much snow (true as of mid-January) but Mary will have to see what the real winter weather will do to that schedule! Joyce is still confined to a wheelchair with paralysis on her left side, but she's getting therapy and they still hold out hope for some recovery. She has her computer in her room (email asinclair@mountaincable.net) and has Mary's sisters who see her every day so she isn't bored. They are all having a harder time adjusting to it than she is, Mary suspects. Richard and Mary are settling into their new house, slowly. Most of the unpacking is done except for the basement and the garage. They need to renovate two of the bathrooms and then build an office for Richard and a sewing room for Mary in the basement. All of that furniture, etc., is in the garage so the cars are in the driveway which is not much fun when the snow flies! Richard has been traveling quite a lot which is why the unpacking and moving of furniture has taken so long. At least, that's the story Mary's using - she needed to find a good excuse. He is starting with the Ottawa company Jan. 1, although he's done preliminary work at the nuclear plant up on Lake Huron which is a two hour drive from their house. Again, it is not a drive he wants to make too often in winter. They're both happy to be back home in Canada saying it just feels right, and it's lovely to be with family again. They see Mary's daughter Tania and the kids all the time and she loves being so close to her mother.
Mathis Blackstock reports that the January Open and Affirming workshop at Slumber Falls stood out as a good experience, and especially a chance to meet important Association members : Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and New Braunfels were represented, along with 5 folks from our church in Austin. Many facets of gay life came to light which Matt hadn't been aware of, and they were generally significant. Some of Tom's comments pertained to exposure of the program to the Association and Conference, since too little seems to be known about it within the organizations. A lot of the discussion has stayed with Matt and it's a pleasure for him to think about the ideas that came out.
Steven and Jeanine Neuse had a great time during the Christmas holidays. Jonathan, D'Lana, and Nathanael arrived in Fayetteville, AK, from San Antonio on Dec. 23rd (stayed until the 28th.) Micah, Bryce, and Jayce arrived on Dec.24th from Germany. The little guys had such a good time playing with each other...it was a great sight for Abo and Geech(their grandparent names.) They all missed Kara who is serving in the military in Iraq for this year. Her mother, Ann, came from Stratford, Texas, to visit for three days. Imagine the delight of grandsons having two grandmothers and a grandfather "spoiling" them all at once. Micah, Bryce, and Jayce left on Jan.10th and are safely back in Germany. They are happy to be home with their dog, and ready to get back to school and their routine. The Neuses are thankful for this visit...it happens infrequently!
George Carruthers and Marilyn Gaddis celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary by flying to San Francisco and attending an Elderhostel, December 10 - 15. The program was "A Celebration of San Francisco." They toured the city, explored the Civic Center, strolled along Fisherman's Wharf and viewed the sea lions at Pier 39, went out to Alcatraz( but not to stay!), and took a stroll through Chinatown. The fabulous lectures were given by James Dallesandro, film writer, author, and historian particularly of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake. Before and after the Elderhostel, they visited with some of Marilyn's relatives and a former student teacher - now 88! January 3rd - 10th, they joined a group from Texas State University-San Marcos Friends of Fine Arts on a trip to New York City. The group stayed in a hotel close to Times Square making it easy to get to Broadway shows and the subway system. "Mary Poppins" was the favorite of the four shows they saw. Marilyn was thrilled to finally attend an opera at the Met. They saw "The First Emperor," starring Placido Domingo. It was a new opera - music interesting and costumes beautiful! The group toured backstage before the performance. On Sunday, the group enjoyed the music and services at a Harlem Baptist Church, followed by lunch at Sylvia's Restaurant - lots of good southern cooking! Visits on other days included the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Metropolitan Museum of Art, the United Nations, Radio City Music Hall, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Empire State Building. For several days, the temperature was higher than in Austin - and they had packed winter clothing! Now they are back home recuperating.
In early January, ninety-year-old retired petroleum geologist Rizer Everett had his third steroid injection in the past year into his lower spine to help him walk with a more erect posture and a better gait. The results so far have not been favorable he says, but he is maintaining his interest in the oil and gas discoveries of wildcat wells drilled in China, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Peru, Trinidad, the Middle East and other remote areas of the world. Furthermore, he is finding some of the football games shown on TV to be some of the most exciting he has observed in many years. The win of 24 to 21 of New England versus San Diego on Jan. 14 should have sparked the interest of even the most casual of football game watchers.
Many of our older members remember Laura Camden who is a contemporary of Sarah Oakes, Heather Cole, and Paula Briggs Fracasso. Laura received her master's degree in photojournalism from the University of Texas at Austin several years ago. She freelanced in Austin and then taught photojournalism classes as a visiting professor at the University of Montana for a year. She also has been an adjunct faculty member at the University of Texas at Austin teaching black-and-white photojournalism courses. Her photographs have been published in various newspapers and magazines including The New York Times, People Magazine, Austin American-Statesman and The Washington Post. She has also had work shown in exhibitions in Boston, New York and Texas. This past October, Texas A&M University Press published Laura's first documentary photography book, "Mennonites in Texas: The Quiet in the Land," an intimate look at the lifestyle and culture of two Texas Mennonite communities. The book started out as her master's thesis. She donated her photographic archive to the University of Texas at Austin's Center for American History which is just across the plaza from the LBJ Library. That archive is on exhibit there until February 17.
Mel and Pat Oakes put a lot of miles (2500) over a two week period on Nodie and Dennis Murphy's van over the Christmas holidays. Pat and her siblings were clearing out their parents' apartment and needed space to bring furniture and treasures home. The Murphys made the process so much easier with the loan of their van. Pat gave Mel satellite radio for Christmas, which proved to make the long trip much more enjoyable. Pat and Mel stopped in Vicksburg, Mel's hometown, both coming and going, to visit family there--and to give Pat a chance to rest her aching back. The time in North Carolina was a time of tears and laughter--and closure. Pat was especially glad to be home after figuring that she had been gone 114 days during 2006. Within the week after arriving home, Mel had arthroscopic knee surgery which has gone very well. He hopes to be back on the tennis court by mid-February.
Meredith and Graham Parker, Mary Charles Williams' daughter and son-in-law, came from England for a two week visit in Austin in January. They managed to time their visit to coincide with the ice storm which shortened the time they had to spend with Mary Charles. Nonetheless, Mary Charles was delighted to see them during the time they did have. Meredith and Graham are learning the vagaries of Austin weather. Two years ago their January visit coincided with a rare January hail storm.
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
Bill Beardall
1815 Alta Vista Ave
Austin, TX 78704-3152
512-443-2784
bill@equaljusticecenter.org
Dan Nieto
6307 Bluff Springs Rd #524
Austin, TX 78744-4224
512-470-4332
dsnieto@sbcglobal.net
Rhys D Ulerich & Michelle T. Thompson
1111 W 12th St #101
Austin, TX 78703-4157
rhys.ulerich@gmail.com
michelle_t_thompson@yahoo.com
Marilyn Harris
8518 Bradford Dr
Austin, TX 78758
512-821-0385
joyhappens@puremagic.com
BRAZOS ASSOCIATION NEWS
Greetings to Brazos Association UCC churches!
This article is the launch of a "column" I am sending out to Brazos Association church newsletters to share news of our Association and its churches. Anne Wehrly, our current Association Moderator, and I have been thinking of ways we might share news among our churches in the hope of building closer connections among us. Anne shared the idea of a newsletter column, and our ministers have liked the idea as we have spoken with them about it. So, here goes!
We have many reasons for celebration right now in the Association. First, we are welcoming aboard our new South Central Conference Minister, Douglas Anders, who started work in the new Conference Office at St. Peter's UCC in Houston this past Monday, January 8th. Douglas comes to us with a great deal of experience as a local church pastor, with his most recent ministry (lasting 14 years and ending just before he came to us) being at a UCC church in the suburban St. Louis area. He will join us at our Spring Association meeting on April 29th at Church of the Savior, 3402 Little Elm Trail in Cedar Park (near the intersection of FM 620 and US 183 in the Austin area). At that meeting, we will vote on the admission of Church of the Savior to our Association, which would be another reason to celebrate! We invite all to this gathering, beginning at 3 pm. It will include worship with a commissioning of Douglas Anders, a business meeting, an Ecclesiastical Council (to examine candidates for ministry), and dinner. One other reason to celebrate is the building activity in many of our churches. United Christian is about to begin with new building and renovation, St. John's in Burton has a new building going up to serve both its fellowship/education needs and the wider community, Evangelical in Lyons is enjoying its wonderful new fellowship hall, and Congregational Church of Austin has just made its building more accessible for the handicapped as well as rebuilding its kitchen and nursery. We rejoice with these churches as they expand their welcome in ministry with new their building projects -- and I apologize if I have left out any other good news about buildings in the Association.
I invite you to send me news of your churches that you want to share: activities, ministries, and requests for prayer. You can reach me at liznash@austin.rr.com or at 512-231-0045.
Blessings in Christ,
Rev. Liz Nash, Associate Conference Minister, Brazos Association
PREPARING TO BE SURPRISED BY GOD
Spring Retreat, Slumber Falls Camp, New Braunfels
April 27-29, 2007
We try to follow Jesus Christ in our daily lives and through our actions in the wider world, but we feel something is lacking. We long for a stronger sense of connection...with ourselves, with our community, with the Divine. We know we cannot command it, but perhaps we can be more open to it. We will explore the questions of Spirit, transcendence, and enlightenment at our retreat two weeks after Easter.
An approach to the possibility of transcendent experience is the practice of a discipline. Members of the congregation are invited to undertake a discipline during Lent. This may be a traditional Christian path such as observing fast days, daily scripture study, prayer or contemplation (for example, the Prayer of the Heart from the Orthodox church, the Jesuits' Daily Examen). It could be a discipline from another faith or culture, such as yoga or T'ai Chi. Perhaps the development of a new skill such as wood carving, weaving, or drumming would be a path toward attention and inner quiet. You may wish to try something as an individual, or find one or two others who would join you. At the retreat we will share our experiences and the questions they raise.
FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS
4 Jonathan M. Carruthers
6 Mardie Oakes
Holly Ann Horner
7 Geneva Ross
8 Barbara Burnham
Lois Drachenberg
11 Valentino Herrera
13 Richard Jackson
16 Mathis Blackstock
Nancy C. Brown
Betty James
17 John Horner
John Moore
18 Ned Murphy
19 Jamie Adams
20 Flo Chiles
Whit Bodman
26 Ida M. Little
29 Martha Wilding
Las Posadas: Our Christmas Pageant
On Christmas Eve, our children and youth presented "Las Posadas" as this year's Christmas Pageant. The traditional Posada has its characters act out of the struggle of Mary and Joseph to find lodging in Bethlehem. The cast in the version we presented is enlarged through history to include many who have struggled to find a safe place to live: a Pilgrim, a Hungarian Jewish girl fleeing the concentration camps, a Vietnamese boatperson fleeing that country after the fall of Saigon, a slave about to try to escape from a plantation in South Carolina, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan who fled for hundreds of miles to escape the war in his country, a Katrina refugee from New Orleans about to attempt to go home when she has none left, a Zambian boy living with many others who are orphaned by the AIDS epidemic, and a desperately poor Mexican boy who is about to make a second attempt at the dangerous desert crossing into the US. During their journey, the growing group seeking safety is turned away repeatedly. At the end, all find a welcome at the front of the church in "La Posada of God's place of safety and peace." This play was adapted from "Las Posadas: on the Road with Mary and Joseph" by Rev Barbara Dorr-Peacock, co-pastor at South Mountain Community Church in Phoenix. (The full version is available on the UCC website.) We thank all our children and youth who starred in the presentation, Nodie Murphy who helped us work out the music, Aaron Carter-Cohn who provided piano accompaniment, John Goff for helping us set up, and the whole congregation for joining in the singing so central to this presentation. (And thanks to anyone who I left out of this list!) Jennifer Howicz and Liz Nash coordinated the pageant.
Liz Nash
Deadline for March VISITOR -- February 15
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