In ancient Rome, the Latin word sacramentum referred to a pledge or an oath of allegiance. Specifically, it was the pledge a recruit made upon entering the army of Rome. Latin speakers also used the word sacramentum to translate the Greek word mysterion. Mysterion referred to hidden realities or esoteric knowledge known only to a select few who could reveal these mysteries to others through secret rituals. For the early Greek-speaking Christians, a mysterion was any vehicle through which the invisible power of the resurrected Christ, Holy Spirit, or grace of God became visible.     In a recent Sunday morning reflection, I reflected on my Sunday morning reflections. I noted that my reflections are really invitations to dialogue. I almost always wish I could sit down and talk to some of you after I share my reflection on a topic--really talk about it in some depth so I could hear how you heard me, hear what you're thinking and feeling about the topic, and get feedback from you to help me as I continue struggling with and working through the issue. Unfortunately, that almost never happens. So I offered a plan for further discussion, to begin after our window series ends in the Spring. A number of you thought this was a great idea and said you would participate.

    In the broadest sense, early Christians viewed Jesus himself as mysterion, or if you spoke Latin, sacramentum. They saw Jesus as a visible manifestation of God’s invisible power and presence, the visible human through whom God’s invisible power was brought to bear on human life in tangible ways.
    When Jesus was no longer present to his followers in visible bodily form, the church community—the Body of Christ—took on that role of making the invisible God’s loving, healing, reconciling power visible to the world. The church community not only practiced a number of sacramental rites and rituals, it was itself sacramental. Its very existence made visible the power of the invisible God.
    The early church’s two most significant sacramental acts were baptism and Holy Communion. Baptismal water signified creation, judgment, freedom, and new life. In baptism, the Christian initiate died to an old identity judged sinful, was liberated from slavery to sin, and arose to a new life within a new community. Holy Communion re-enacted Jesus’ last supper, sacrificial death, and offering of a new covenant, and as a form of egalitarian table fellowship, it served as a visible sign of radical inclusion in the covenant Christ offered.
    In time, many Christians came to believe that the elements involved in the sacraments were themselves the sacrament—objects filled with supernatural spiritual powers—and that by simply receiving a spirit-filled wafer, over which special words were spoken by an ecclesial authority figure, one was receiving the sacrament. Or that baptismal water, over which a special blessing was pronounced, had the power to wash away original sin and gain the person baptized entrance into heaven after physical death. In other words, the understanding of sacramentum shifted away from the communal ritual that used bread, wine, and water to communicate God’s presence within a human community to the objects of bread, wine, and water themselves.
    From my perspective, I see the church—the visible community of Christians—as sacramental. The community—our shared faith, our shared values, our shared actions—is itself a visible sign of God’s presence in this world. Our expressions of shared love make visible the love of our invisible God. Our shared passion for justice makes visible the passion of our invisible God. Feeding the hungry and providing shelter for the homeless make visible the compassion of our invisible God. Welcoming new people into the life of our Christian community makes visible the hospitality of our invisible God. All of this is sacramental. Baptism and Holy Communion are our two most significant sacramental rituals that make visible our life-renewing relationship with God and one another through Christ, a life-renewing relationship that makes the entirety of our life together sacramental.
    So my prayer: may others see something of the invisible God through our love, passion for justice, compassion for the suffering, and hospitality. May we truly be sacramentum.

Tom        

ALERT: Communications Moving to Internet

    In an effort to save on printing and postage, the Trustees encourage the use of e-mail and the Internet. Our monthly newsletter, The Visitor, is regularly posted on the church web site, http://congregational.faithweb.com/, and we would like to phase out printing and mailing paper copies as appropriate. The February issue is now available. Please, have a look!
    Therefore, we ask each of you to respond by e-mail to ucausti@SWBell.net, or by phone to 512-472-2370 (9:00 AM to 1:00 PM M-F), or by U.S. mail to the church at 408 W. 23rd Street, Austin, TX 78705. Please choose from among the following responses:

1. I wish to go paperless and view the Visitor on the web site. I understand I will be notified monthly at <fill in e-mail address> as each new issue is posted.
2. I wish to continue receiving the paper copies of the Visitor by U.S. Mail at <fill in U.S. mail address>.
3. I no longer wish to receive or be notified of the Visitor.
   

We will adjust our mailing lists as we receive the replies. We look forward to hearing from you and any suggestions you might have.
        Sincerely, The Board of Trustees

FROM THE DEACONS

    Planning for our pastor’s sabbatical later this year (mid-August through the middle of November) has begun. Betty Bodman and Greg Futch are co-chairing an ad hoc planning committee, which also includes Dan Jeffrey, Nodie Murphy, Pat Oakes, and Doyal Pinkard.
    The committee expects to keep everyone informed of its progress via announcements on Sunday mornings and in this newsletter
    The focus of our church’s spring retreat – April 24-26 – will be “Mindful Citizenship.” The retreat, organized by Marilyn Vache, will be led by Rebecca McIlwain, an experienced community organizer who is now offering workshops on spirituality and civic life. The retreat promises to be an enriching and empowering experience. Don’t miss it! – get your name on the sign-up sheet in the Fellowship Hall as soon as possible.
    Will Heimbach has decided not to seek ordination after he graduates from seminary this spring. The deacons will have less official contact with him as his in-care status has now ended, but we hope to see him at worship and other gatherings, and wish him well in whatever he feels led to do.

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 date for the last dinner this year is 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.

PERSONALS
by Pat Oakes

    Rizer Everett, long-time member of this church and good friend to so many of us, died on December 15, 2008, at the age of 92. While some of you did not have the opportunity to know Rizer, he was one of the Visitor's most faithful correspondents until about 6 months ago. After the death of his beloved wife Hildegard (whose father, Dr. Kuehne, was a founder of this church) several years ago, he stayed busy and productive, involved with the computer, taking extension courses through LAMP, visiting with widowed friends of his and Hildegard's, and continuing to learn. He loved language and travel and people. They had lived in Indonesia for a number of years where Rizer was a field geologist with several oil companies. He and Hildegard returned to Austin in 1966 and came back to the church where they had married on June 26, 1938. The day before he died, Nodie Murphy, in relation to our series on our stained glass windows, talked about the Everetts at our Sunday service and talked about much they had served the church. Nodie had had a good visit with him a week or so before and had enjoyed asking questions about his and Hildegard's lives. That Sunday there was also a children's sermon about the Jessie tree--and the "tree" that was used and decorated with pictures of the saints of our church was one that Rizer had made for a money tree-- used for so many wedding showers and baby showers at the church. Even though he is gone, Rizer's influence lives on in our community.
    We missed Michelle Thompson at church during the holidays, but she was very busy dancing in "The Nutcracker" at the beautiful new Long Center. It was a wonderful production enjoyed by thousands of Austinites. She danced several roles including the governess and a snowflake, the Dresden doll and a flower in the "Waltz of the Flowers." Emily and Ethan Buck, Pat and Mel Oakes' grandchildren, pronounced the performance the best part of their trip to Austin. Emily was particularly delighted with the gift of the red toe shoes worn by Michelle when she danced the role of the Dresden doll.
    Paul and Ellen Deisler report that they had a very fine and busy family Christmas and New Year. Daughter Julie arrived from Santa Fe, NM a few days before Christmas and her sister, Jane, and her family arrived from Corpus Christi a day later. Julie had to leave on Christmas Day afternoon to attend a Modern Languages Association meeting in San Francisco but the sisters' visits overlapped and they had a good time catching up. Four of the five grandchild cousins were able to spend time together, sometimes at their Uncle Conrad's house and sometimes at their Aunt Julia's house. Ava, the eldest of the grandchildren spent the holidays visiting friends in upstate New York where she encountered five feet of snow. That was a bit hard on an Austin girl! Jane and her family had to go home on New Year's Day because of planned activities in Corpus but were here long enough for New Year's Eve celebrations at Conrad and Julie's house (Austin Julie, not Santa Fe Julie) and a fine brunch with Paul and Ellen at the Heritage before leaving for home. The one who enjoyed Christmas presents the most was Jeana, 5, Austin Julie's granddaughter and Paul and Ellen's step-great granddaughter. All of the complicated clan had numerous lunches and dinners together and it is now time to avoid scales like poison. Ellen and Paul had wonderful time. Ellen found that a wheelchair facilitates getting around and Paul's vision remained, on the whole, the same, totting up gains and losses. Double vision has its challenges, though, so, for the meantime, hoping things will improve, Paul has given up driving. Paul and Ellen remain content and, also, hopeful for the new year. With the good experiences of going out in her wheelchair during the holidays, Ellen was amenable to going out with "The Lunch Bunch" in the Heritage bus for lunch. They went to Firehouse Subs, a place highly recommended by their Corpus granddaughter, Ellie, and found the subs to be excellent. They plan to take more advantage of what the Heritage has available in the way of short outings in the future.
    John and Lois Drachenberg had a great trip to Florida over the Christmas holidays. They drove 2800 miles (John drives and Lois keeps John awake--three days each way!) and were gone for two weeks, spending their time in the Orlando and Apopka area of central Florida where John's daughter Laurie lives. John's other daughter came down from Connecticut. John says that it was the best two weeks that they have had in a long time. They visited Cape Kennedy, took an airboat ride, and "the girls" went to the Coldwater Creek store at the mall four times. John took a book along for those outings while the girls shopped.
    Steven and Jeanine Neuse's Christmas was special this year. Micah, Kara, Bryce, Jayce, and Quin (grand-dog) came for a six day visit. Micah and Kara had a chance to visit with some of his high school friends who were in Fayetteville for the holidays. They attended Christmas Eve services and then joined friends for a Christmas Eve party at the home of their "Fayetteville twin grandchildren." Kate and Paul(soon to be three) wore Bryce and Jayce out! Micah got his requested turkey, dressing, etc. Jonathan, D'Lana, and Nathanael had a quiet Christmas in S. A.
    Carol Barrett reports that the family remains a multi-nation and multi-state family as Gary continues his regular international travels on business to China, Indonesia, Japan, Vietnam, and sometimes trips to Europe. Craig has bought a house in the Zilker neighborhood here in Austin and is working on renovating it. Andrew is working on marketing for Genentech and keeps talking about moving into downtown San Francisco when rental prices drop just a bit more. Carol has just finished a year in San Gabriel, CA, working as a city planner and enjoys spending time with her mother-in-law Pat.
    Lynne Lemley is pleased to report that the University of Nebraska is using the Spanish textbook that she and her colleague wrote (the reason we have not seen Lynne much of late). The text is also under consideration by Anderson University, Kansas State, and the University of Kansas. En Communidad: Comunicacion y Conexion is a textbook (with a soon-to-be available workbook) which features the learning component of community service so that students can put their language skills to work in their communities as they are developing fluency in Spanish.
    Annie Nash was having a great first semester at the College of Santa Fe in New Mexico until it got close to the end of the term and she got a severe throat infection. She missed three weeks of school just before finals. She decided to withdraw from school there and is regrouping this semester at ACC. Ellie Nash left in mid-January from TCU for her junior semester abroad. Poor thing, she will be in Paris this spring term and is looking forward to her internship in politics and government. She will be taking one class at the Sorbonne, in addition to other classes through IES Abroad.
    Betty Bodman had a good visit with her daughter Liz in New York City in mid-January. Liz is a student in social work at Columbia University.
    Church violinist Andy Streitelmeier enjoyed a three week break in Indiana over the holidays visiting with family and friends. Amy Harris filled in for him while he was gone plus singing in the choir. Thanks, Amy!
    Mel and Pat Oakes had a wonderful Christmas with the whole family here in Austin. Beth, Eugene, Emily and Ethan came from frigid Iowa, Sarah came from moderate Bethesda, MD, and Mardie and Tony came from California. Mardie and Tony enjoyed sharing tales of how they are adapting to living on a houseboat in Sausalito after moving from the Mission District in San Francisco where they have been for the past 4 years. Mardie is enjoying her bus commute into San Francisco since she can read and check e-mail while en route.


FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS
 4 Jonathan Carruthers
   Megan Goff
 6 Mardie Oakes
    Holly Ann Horner
   Gail Christeson
 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 Whit Bodman
26 Ida M. Little
29 Martha Wilding

NEWS FROM THE BRAZOS ASSOCIATION

    One of the most important and vital ministries of the South Central Conference is that of starting and renewing churches. The SCC New and Renewing Churches Committee oversees this work and grants funding where appropriate. There is now a vacancy on the committee, and the Conference is recruiting to fill this with someone who is enthusiastic and discerning about this ministry. Tommie Pinkard of Congregational Church, Austin, served in this position for several years. It would be great if another Brazos Association layperson could take her place, but the position can also be filled by a clergyperson. The New and Renewing Churches Committee meets from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm, 5 times a year, currently on a weekday (because several pastors serve as members) with meetings rotating between San Antonio and Houston. Contact Conference Minister Douglas Anders, 713-647-9204, or me, 512-231-0045, if you are interested in serving or know someone who has the gifts and time to serve.
    St. John’s UCC in Burton is offering Association church members another opportunity to serve by joining St. John’s next mission trip to Chiapas, Mexico to a community where the Burton group previously helped build a church that also is the community center for a village. Church members had a magnificent experience there on their trip last year, and they invite you to join them. The next mission trip will either be over Spring Break or next summer. (The decision is being made this week, as I write, or next week.) If you are interested in accepting St. John’s welcome and joining the trip, contact, Katrina Barnett, kbar1109@yahoo.com, or call St. John’s, 979-289-2485, to find out how to reach Katrina by phone. Call as soon as possible, since plane tickets for a Spring Break trip will have to be purchased very soon.
    My final news this month is that the Brazos Association Spring Meeting will be held on Sunday, April 26, 3 pm at United Christian in Austin. Our program will celebrate and educate about the mission work being done by our Association churches in Chiapas (St. John’s, Burton), Ecuador (United Christian), the U.S.-Mexico border (Austin area UCC and Disciples youth), and elsewhere. We will also share about opportunities for mission, along with installing our new Association officers. All are welcome!

        Blessings in Christ, Liz Nash, Brazos Association Minister

COFFEE HOUR

    Please sign up in the Fellowship Room to be coffee hour hosts on an upcoming Sunday. The coffee hour time is such a good opportunity to visit old friends and meet visitors. We keep coffee and ginger ale and some punch fixings in the pantry in the kitchen. There are usually paper napkins, and we use coffee mugs and punch cups to avoid wasting natural resources. Your menu can be as simple or complicated as you want. Cookies and/or chips and salsa are just fine! If you have questions, talk to Pat Oakes, Tommie Pinkard, or Lynne Lemley.


Deadline for March VISITOR — February 15