BACK BAY MISSION

And

SOUTH CENTRAL CONFERENCE ANNUAL MEETING, 2000
 by Rambie Briggs

     As the annual meeting of the South Central Conference gathered this year, a key theme and source of energy and enthusiasm was the presentation on Friday evening by those who are involved with the Capital Campaign for the Back Bay Mission of Biloxi, Mississippi. We met at the beautiful St. Peter's Church in Coupland where a traditional shrimp boil as well as barbequed chicken and sausage made for good preparation for the evening's events.
    As staff and current and past members of the Back Bay Board of Directors gathered to present a picture of what is happening in Biloxi, it was evident that our little Congregational Church of Austin has played a big role in supporting the good things that have happened in the past few decades. Members of the Board of Directors have included Pastor Emeritus John Towery, as well as Dennis Murphy, Rambie Briggs and current board member and Secretary, Fran Briggs.
     When we gather to boil shrimp, clean up the subsequent mess, struggle to balance the budget and pay bills, we also seek to find a way to make life more meaningful and less painful for God's children. We all enthusiastically feel that the time, worry, and resources that we share with this outreach of our congregation and the UCC is resulting in truly caring for "the least of us."
     When David and Karlyn Stephens came to the Back Bay Mission in the 70's, racial integration presented horrible challenges and it was of concern that the Mission might need to close. Instead of closing under the Stephen's leadership;the focus of the Back Bay Mission was restored to community caring for people in need. Rather than create an agency empire, the Mission began to provide leadership in the development of human service agencies. This significant leadership resulted in development of nine agencies such as the Gulf Coast Women's Center and the Mississippi Mothers and Babies Coalition. Currently Back Bay Mission Staff is involved with the development and leadership of eight additional organizations such as the Coastal Family Health Center and the South Mississippi AIDS Task Force. Energies are now focused in continued direct services, work-camping, and social policy advocacy. The "bottom line" is that a small, dedicated group of staff and volunteers with a very small budget facilitate over $12 million of human services annually.
     The current Capital Fund Campaign is focused on the creation of a new arm of service for the Back Bay Mission namely the Center for Community Ministry. Starting in September 2000 with two seminary interns, this training program will also offer lay leaders a chance to learn from the experience of Back Bay Mission, and take energy-laden leadership back to their local communities. Those of us in this congregation who have participated in planning this "new days work" know that this effort to help people is in the best tradition of our faith.
     We are looking forward to an evening gathering in August to help us all understand the details of the Capital Campaign of Back Bay Mission and the Center for Community Ministry. We hope most of our congregation will gather for that evening and support each other in this grand effort.

________________

 

"Pentecost 2000: One Spirit, Many Gifts"
by Tommie Pinkard

DID YOU KNOW?
     Our Church was ranked second in per capita giving, in 1999, for OCWM, in the South Central Conference, UCC

N E W S, NEWS, News, news. . .

Hospitality Workshop
     Sharon Brown, Chair, Board of Deacons, announces a Hospitality Workshop tentatively set for August 12, at our church.

STORM DAMAGES ROOF OF OUR CHURCH
     As many of you know, a recent freak wind storm, around midnight on May 27, damaged the roof of our church. Many tiles were blown off, leaving three large holes on the roof of the sanctuary and fellowship room. The third story roof of the Education Wing was also involved, with damage to the inside ceiling tiles as well. When worshipers arrived on Sunday morning, May 28, the ground was covered with broken tile, including the Cadeau parking area, north. We are thankful the storm came at that particular hour, as no persons or vehicles were in the immediate area of destruction. The giant sycamore tree in front of the church was also in the storm's path. All this damage was a shocking surprise to persons arriving early for church. Everyone helped to clean up, removing the broken limbs and other debris.
     Our UCC Insurance Board was contacted immediately, and a claim filed. Quickly establishing communication with Traveler's Insurance Company, an appraiser, David Clay, met with Suzanne Bradford and George Lemley, representatives of our Board of Trustees, and Yoshi, on Tuesday, May 31. Mike Shaw, Shaw's Construction Company was contacted and engaged as our roofing contractor. Mr. Shaw, after diligent searching, found that the particular tile needed was no longer available. We are fortunate that some 1400 pieces of the precious tile has been stored for many years with Weldon and Marie Scheel on their acreage.
     We're pleased to report at this time, that all work, inside and outside, has been successfully completed. If/when the next wind storm comes along, we hope that the latest installation will be able to withstand the pressure created.

PASTOR AND WIFE TRAVEL ABROAD
     Yoshi and Setsuko Kaneda traveled to Japan, June 13-26, to attend a reunion of their former student choir. Current and former members attending the reunion represent 55 years of the choirs existence. (Actually, Yoshi met Setsuko, while members of that choir!) The choir reunion was held in Doshisha University in Kyoto. They also were able to spend a couple of days at a resort with Professor Yasushi and Fumiko Adachi, whom we all remember from their year in Austin several years ago. Professor Adachi, faculty member, Aoyama Women's College in Tokyo, invited Yoshi to give a lecture commemorating the 50^th Anniversary of the university. The lecture was entitled, "American Idols and the Gospel." Yoshi and Setsuko visited relatives and old friends, and paid their respects at the gravesites of their parents, while visiting Japan.

WORK DAY "HATS OFF"
     On Saturday, June 3, under the direction of the Building & Grounds Committee, Vic Appel, Chair, workers came out some 20 persons strong: Recognizing those who gave of their time and talents in this effort, we name: Anonymous Christian, Anonymous Christian, Vic Appel, Matt Blackstock, Cecile Ervin, Richard Jackson, Marilyn Jordan, Setsuko Kaneda, Yoshi Kaneda, George Lemley, Jeff Lemley, Mel Oakes, Andrea Putz, Karl Putz, David Ross, Enid Ross, Sara Ross, Suzanne VanderPoel. A special thanks goes to Neils Saustrup, friend of the church, who directed/assisted in the painting of the sanctuary walls.

A BELATED THANKS
     Vic Appel installed a new surge protector for our computer last month! Thanks, Vic! Now, no more blackouts!

 

To Share
     "God often visits us, but most of the time we are not at home." -Unknown

CALENDAR FOR JULY

2 Sunday SUMMER HOLY COMMUNION SUNDAY

10:00 am?Church School Lite

11:00 am?Worship Psalm 130; Mark 5:21-43

Sermon: "Talitha cum" -Rev. Kaneda

12:20 pm Trustees, C.E. Boards meet

Tuesday INDEPENDENCE DAY Holiday: Food and Caravan for Fireworks, sponsored by C. E. Board

Wednesday 7:30 pm Board of Deacons meeting, Sharon Brown's home

Louise Whitworth on vacation

Friday-Sunday Brazos Assn. Prayer Chain in support of our Okinawa Partners as Sunday HOLY COMMUNION SUNDAY

NOTES FROM REV. BEV:

     Here at the end of June, we can look back and say it has been an exciting and wonderful month. These are some of the highlights and happenings that have kept us busy.
     Early in the month, some of us from the Huston-Tillotson planning committee met for brunch to begin our planning for the fall. From H-T were the Dean of Academic Affairs, Lavon Marshall, and Chaplain Don Brewington. Our CCA members in-cluded Suzanne VanderPoel and Loretta Lewis (others had conflicts). Our goals include having some things in place to start by the fall, such as activities as a part of student orientation, ways to affirm the UCC/H-TC connection, service activities such as housing, and getting acquainted such as sporting events, like the soccer event that was rained out. There is also hope we can find ways to assist H-T students with the introduction to the world of work. Some examples were a Job Fair, taking a student to work, mentoring, discussions about a particular profession. There was a lot of excitement in the group. If you have an interest in being on the planning committee or joining in the activities, let us know.
     The next big event was our conference. There had been a lot of planning, and our Pinkard couple had been a big part of the work. The speakers and workshops were very interesting. Tommie and Doyal and I sorted ourselves out to go to different workshops, so we could get the most out of them. Materials were good. And during the conference, we were so well represented by our young men, Jamie Adams and Andrew Barrett, who did some mission projects to benefit the Hungry and the Homeless. Good work, Guys.Then we had the grand Pentecost Celebration that makes me think there may be still a flame coming out of the back of my heard. Wasn't that fun? And crazy? We were so well represented by our choir, our own Joe McMillan, and our good friends Melanie Wilkinson and Chaplain Don.
     It's nice, also, that we have been able to continue to celebrate the richness of the Spirit with the gifts of Enid Ross and Cecile Ervin over the past two weeks. What a joy...as they challenged us to live with the Spirit into a transformed life and a eucharistic life. We know that Pentecost is the beginning of the life of the church so we are really challenged to think about being a community of love in the world and for one another and called to service in the community. Even as we as church are facing times of change, we know that Christ is there with us in times of change.
     Finally, for one more major celebration, in case you have missed the news, we had a fantastic session of Vacation Bible School. For four nights we met with our Presbyterian neighbors. We had meals and crafts, music, stories, and worship. We had fun!!! Some of those present you may know were the Adams, the Ashtons, the Appels, the Bradford-Moores, Lisa and Sarah Kirch, the Pinkards, our refugee mom Judith with her 3, and Dr. White. And, of course, some Presbyterians, too. Now, everyone was in on the act!! Travis Moore helped us early on by reading the 23^rd Psalm for worship. And he did great! Michael Adams was one of the story tellers. San Williams, Senior Minister, was the King who mistreated Daniel. The two Sarahs, Ashton and Moore, along with Susan A., were part of a singing group. Julia Adams made a great bird house, and that part of the crafts will be contributed to benefit Habitat for Humanity clients. The Pinkards and Dr. Ben had major duties to make all the crafts come together. They painted and supervised and brought forth a lot of smiling faces. Judith seemed to especially like the crafts. She is good with her hands; the little ones, however, seemed to really like the music...with rhythm instruments, hand motions, and singing...He's Got The Whole World in His Hands, Arky, Arky, and on and on. Gee, I wish you'd been there.To finish the story, we had closing prayer circle every night with an offering. Everyone could pray aloud: for someone, for gratitude, for a service or community effort and the offering was designated to go to the Heifer Project. The last night we came to CCA for the closing worship. It was a wonderful evening, and at the end of the 4^th night there was enough collection to purchase both a Llama and a Sheep.
     Later, our good worker Doyal was in a restaurant where he ran into a "stranger" who said, "Thank you so much for all your help at VBS." I think that's what I want to say to you all as well, and to the Presbyterians. What fun!! What neighbors!! Some folk have already asked what we may do next. Hey, you tell me. And come for fireworks on the 4^th of July!!
     SPEAKING OF THE 4^TH OF JULY! - OUR "WINGDING" CELEBRATION C.E. Board, Sponsors
Time: Arrive at the church before 8 pm
For: Carpooling/caravan style
To: Sumiken Bldg. where parking will be available!!
Bring: Snacks, drinks, games of all kinds to enjoy.

ADDITIONAL JUNE "HATS OFF"

______________________________________________________________________________

WORTH REPEATING, WORTH REPEATING, worth repeating . . .
My country, 'tis of thee,
Land where my fathers died,
sweet land of liberty,
land of the pilgrims' pride,
of thee I sing;
from every mountain-side
let freedom ring!

Our fathers' God, to thee,
Long may our land be bright
author of liberty,
with freedom's holy light;
to thee we sing;
protect us by thy might,
Great God, our King.

Words: Samuel F. Smith, 1832

____________

QUOTABLE QUOTE: "Sunday is nature's law as well as God's. No individual or nation habitually disregarding it has failed to fall upon disaster and grief."
- - Daniel Webster

"We think we can, we think we can,

MORE "HATS OFF"
we think we can, we think we can. . .

     Enid Ross, recent new member, was guest preacher, Sunday, June 18, Father's Day Sunday. Thanks, Enid, and also thanks to Beverly Lawson, Liturgist.
     Cecile Ervin, guest minister, Sunday, June 25, also receives our thanks, as well as Beverly Lawson, Liturgist.

     The Building & Grounds Maintenance Committee is pleased to inform the congregation that the unprecedented turnout of 20 persons for our June 3^rd Workday enabled us to repaint 3 of the 4 side walls of the sanctuary. What a difference it made! To finish the job, we've selected Saturday, July 15, as our 2^nd Workday. This time we will repaint the chancel area. This will be an opportunity for any person who couldn't make it previously, to join us. We will We again have the expert guidance and instruction of our technical consultant, Niels Saustrup. Because of the hot weather, we want to get underway at 8:00 am. If you can not make it in the morning hours, please join us in the afternoon. A sumptuous lunch will be again be served.

We are blessed with able persons in this congregation. Don't let your lack of painting ability cause you to hesitate.

The Fun & Fellowship Committee coordinated Father's Day Reception, Sunday, June 18, following worship.This was a special time of fellowship and delicious re-freshments. Thanks to the F & F Committee members.

Appreciation to all for assisting with host city/church obligations for the Annual Meeting, South Central Conference

see other items in this issue of The Visitor.)
levels of painting competence, as we complete the refurbishing/beautification of our church sanctuary.

Our Refugee Family Committee members continue to assist in areas of need for the Busaka's who have relocated from Congo. Much appreciation to all!

C O M E , J O I N U S !

With the wonderful recent rains in Austin, the church grounds have needed extra attention. Thanks to Daniel, our custodian, and Vic Appel, for the lawn detail.

VOLUNTEER TRAINING OFFERED

SUNDAY, JULY 16, 1:00 pm-7:30 pm -

Interfaith Care Alliance (459-5883) announces an event to
give opportunity for making a difference in someone's life by sharing your gifts. Running errands, housekeeping, preparing meals, childcare, transportation, pet care, daily liv ing support and companionship are among the needs.

The Oakes gave several boxes of useable dishware and other items, recently, to AMM, Austin Metropolitan Ministries, for refugee families relocating in the area.

Those living with cancer, Lou Gehrig's disease, AIDS, or another serious illness can use our help.

The Board of Christian Education, Doyal Pinkard, Chair, has organized/supported several Intergenerational activities this past month. Noteworthy, especially, was the joint Bible School with University Presbyterian Church.

(see notes elsewhere in this issue.)
Place: St. Albert the Great Catholic Church

12041 Bittern Hollow 78758

Louise, especially, thanks Jamie Adams for his help in several computer-related skills.

The Church Staff thanks gardner par excellence, John Towery, for his recent gifts of fresh vegetables from his personal garden.

DIRECTORY UPDATE:
Our Best Wishes go with:

p. 7 GADDIS, *Marilyn e-mail: mgaddis@sanmarcos.net

p 8 GALLE, ( Summer Internship Address:)
First Presbyterian Church, 405-372-5580
24 S. Duncan St., Stillwater, OK 74074

p 17 ROSS, James & *Enid

p 18 SCHEEL, *Weldon B. & *Marie 1908 Oak Hill Lane

The two delicious cakes enjoyed at the Father's Day Fellowship Time. Were brought by Julia Deisler, one for Ellen and

P E R S O N A L S
By Catherine Hubbs

     Bonds between our church and Huston-Tillotson College go back to the origins of the two institutions. Tillotson College began as a private Congregational College in Austin in 1877, later to merge with Samuel Huston College, a Methodist school. Our church meanwhile began under Rev. Dr. J. Ritchie Briggs as The Methodist Church of Austin in 1901, associated itself with the Congregational Conference of Texas, and changed its name in 1904 to First Congregational Church.
     In the fifties, our pastor, Rev. Bert Miller, taught Religion at Huston-Tillotson. The Huston-Tillotson choir came to sing several times at our church--at least portions of it. It was far too large to fit into our sanctuary, but those who came filled the whole church with music to the rafters. One Sunday morning in the sixties two Huston-Tilotson students appeared and volunteered to teach in our Sunday School. They were Robert Jones and Pat Russell, both to go on into the ministry, and they contributed a great deal to the Christian education of our young people.
     By that time several Huston-Tillotson faculty members were church members. Dr. John Q. Taylor, then President to Huston-Tillotson, was an associate member. Nancy Brown, Austin teacher, with her husband Dr. James Wiley Brown, Congregational minister and professor at Huston-Tillotson, joined our church, and Dr. James Perkins, professor of Religion, remained an active member in our church until his death. Our Rev. John Towery was given an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree by Huston-Tillotson in the eighties.
     John found himself in charge of an active college-age youth group composed of both U.T. and Huston-Tillotson students. Stan Woodmansee had a cabin on Lake Austin, and the group went kayaking and canoeing there on Sundays. In thhose days Huston-Tillotson's rules required that coeds leaving campus must wear hose and heels. That meant they had to take along extra gear more appropriate for kayak and canoe wear. But the group was popular, and John sometimes counted more than twenty.
     Dr. Joseph McMillan's coming as President to Huston-Tillotson and his joining our church as a member have helped forge deeper bonds between us. Under him several of our members have served on the Huston-Tillotson Board of Trustees: Dr. Rambie Briggs and Nodie Murphy are active trustees. An action of our Board of Deacons has created a partnering endeavor which is inquiring into ways in which college and church can both participate and serve the community. Many members from our church attended the reception recently given Joe as he announced his retirement. We went to give him our love and best wishes for new adventures ahead.
     Melanie Wilkinson is an inspiration to us all! As a student at Huston-Tillotson she first started contributing to our choir as a soloist. Her voice, soaring to heaven, has inspired us all since her undergraduate days and attracted the attention of Barbara Jordan, who first heard her when she sang at the wedding of Paula Briggs and Michael Fracasso. Barbara heard her again when she visited our church and, knowing her health was breaking down, asked Melanie to sing at her funeral. Melanie went on to earn her Master's in Music at Southwest Texas State University.
     Her latest contribution is a gift to the whole of South Central Conference of the United Church of Christ. Those of us in choirs throughout the SCC had the opportunity to sing at the SCC Annual Conference, held this year at Huston-Tillotson College Chapel. And there, to all UCC churches in the Texas-Louisiana-Mississippi Conference, Melanie sang the solo part in "Wind of the Spirit." It filled with the spirit the entire Conference, which burst into spontaneous applause. And the bonds between college and church continue to grow deeper.
     Melanie herself just passed an amazing professional milestone. The Houston Symphony recently played a benefit for the United Negro College Fund conducted by the Associate Conductor from the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra. The music composer was an African American, had heard of Melanie in connection with Barbara Jordan's funeral, and he asked specifically for Melanie to sing his music. So she went down two days early and practiced with him. The composer had even written an imaginary inauguration speech based on his vision that Barbara could have been President. Melanie read aloud the inauguration speech.
     For the occasion our Mary Sinclair made Melanie a sequined top to wear with her black skirt. Her mother, brother, and a family friend went down with her, and Fran Briggs roomed with her. So Melanie had support from our church in her triumph. It couldn't have happened to a nicer, or more talented person. We love you and are so proud of you, Melanie!
     We understand that in our own Brazos Association John Towery has retired as Association Minister after years of coordinating between Association and Conference. No one could possible take his place, but they have found a very capable person to succeed him and one that used to be a good friend and member of our own church: Rev. Ernie Dean. He and Shirley now live in Austin, and he is part-time Interim Minister at Geronimo. We look forward to seeing more of them. But John is still not home completely free. He has been elected to the Board of the South Central Conference, replacing Tommie What's Tommie up to? You can bet she's not sitting doing nothing. For one thing, she's one of our hard-working Pastoral Search Committee, who all deserve a medal. And Sara Ross has finally earned a well-deserved retirement after four years of service as Association Treasurer. She was well equipped after years of being our church's Financial Secretary, but four years is exemplary service. Congratulations and thanks, all of you!
     Jake Burlinson is carrying on the idea of service in the younger generation. He and other young people from the University Baptist Youth are heading out for San Diego to volunteer in Habitat For Humanity. He was recognized in a Youth Commissioning Service during church on June 25. Congratulations and t hanks, Jake! God go with you!
     Talk about anniversaries! Congratulations, Hildegard and Rizer! June 26, 2000 marks the sixty-second wedding anniversary! And congratulations to Loretta Lewis' parents! June 29, 2000 marks her parents' sixty-first wedding anniversary! We hope her mother will be feeling better soon. She has been in and out of the hospital for the last month. On June 18 Julia Deisler celebrated Ellen's and Paul's fiftieth anniversary by bringing two cakes to church: one was Ellen's favorite cake and the other was Paul's. Unfortunately Paul was home with a cold, but Ellen enjoyed hers and took the other home to Paul. Congratulations! More on their anniversary trip farther on.
     We understand that Eleanor Towery is about to undergo surgery on Tuesday, June 27 at Seton for a second hip replacement. This time it's the left hip. After that the knee needs an operation, but they'll wait a while (Whew!) She asks for your prayers but would like people to hold back a bit on visits since all the family will be there. Ellie, our love and prayers are with you.!
     Ben White never mentions hiss back but must be a model patient because, if you ask him, you find out he does his exercises and even plays a bit of tennis again! Congratulations, Ben! Keep up the good work! When Catherine phoned, he and Marguerite were being active grandparents. Son Carl was in Austin for the thirtieth reunion of his Austin High School class and had brought his children. David, fourteen, and Evan, nine.
     Clark and Catherine Hubbs, too, entertained the family of their oldest daughter, Laura, for an extended weekend shortly after school stopped. Aaron Tait, Laura's and David's oldest, has graduated and will attend the University of Oklahoma on a scholarship in the fall. His sister, Aidan is entering tenth grade and high school. (In Stillwater schools are divided into elementary---grades kindergarten through five; ;middle school--grades six and seven, junior high--grades eight and nine, and high school--grades ten through twelve. In a small town it seems to work very well: only one middle school, junior high, and high school.) Both are active in sports, and Aaron has a summer job. Really fun to see them.
     Ben White and Vic Appel helped transport the Karasis to attend sessions of the Joint Intergenerational Vacation Bible School with the University Presbyterian Church during the evenings of June 12-15. The two older Karasi children, Gedeon and Kyria, are attending summer school at Cook Elementary, which is giving ESL instruction to non-English-speaking kindergarten and pre-kindergarten students in AISD each weekday from 7:45 a.m. to 1:15, free breakfast and lunch included. The family is going through a difficult period of adjustment and needs your prayers.
     Our sympathy goes out to Nodie and Dennis Murphy. They are in the throes of moving from a large office to another, much smaller one. Dennis says it's something like moving from the large house you've lived in for thirty years to a retirement apartment.
     We used to see member Tamya Isenberg and her family often when their children were young. Tamya and Nancy Brown were teachers together. Their children are Christopher, Erik, and Alexia. Erik is now twenty-four, and on June 17 at 4:00 pm John Towery officiated at Erik's marriage to Angela Wade in our church. She's from Odessa, and they met here in Austin at Bartholomew Park, where he was a lifeguard for the summer, and she had a summer job as an extend-a-care worker. God's blessings and happiness to you both! Come see us, Tamya! We'd love to see you! Didn't the sanctuary look nice? Vic Appel and many other church members under the direction of Neils Saustrup have done great things to walls and pews.
     Right now Vic is trying to move a whole greenhouse. He bought it from the neighbors before they moved away, but it's a little like moving an elephant. Which end do you move first? Friday is the deadline, so if you have any ideas, Vic would be glad to have them.
     Now that summer is here attendance varies greatly as people leave for a few days and come back home. Right now we are welcoming Yoshi and Setsuko from their trip to Japan, this time at last on a personal journey, a reunion of their choir. We hope it was a great success. We'll have more to say next time.
     Jim Tomasek cana be excused for jumping the gun a little on summer since he is not tied down by school schedules. On May 20 he left to join daughter Dorcas at her camp for seriously ill children and until June 7 he was available to share in the orientation of permanent staff. There are six of these staff members who work year round as opposed to summer staff who run the summer program. He was able to help them learn ways of dealing with conflict and aggression. He is back with us and tells us that son Mark and Sally went to Las Vegas to celebrate their tenth anniversary, and Jim and Mary kept Matthew from June 17 to June 21, his first trip away from Mother and Daddy. It was an active but enjoyable visit (no conflict or aggression there, Jim?)
     Nancy Brown left early too. She was gone from May 23 to June 7. She said that she is now the most senior living member of her family, so she went to her nephew's family in Virginia, the William Astor Kirks in Maryland, and nephews and nieces in North Carolina. She enjoyed the trip thoroughly, came home, and spent the rest of the month entertaining. She's had a lot of company. Congratulations, Nancy! Maybe now you can have a little rest.
     Marilyn Jordan enjoyed her trip on June 3 to Muleshoe, where they were holding class reunions for ex-students graduating between 1927 to 1976.
     Matt and Mary Blackstock enjoyed an active Elderhostel, hiking near Highlands, North Carolina. The retreat facility was very pleasant, a site affiliated with the Unitarian Church. They spent several hours every day hiking, once even along the Appalachian Trail.
     Clark and Catherine attended a meeting of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists at La Paz, Baja California. They had been warned the temperature there could be 100 degrees fahrenheit in June, even though it is right on the shores of the Sea of Cortez. But they found that as long as you were under any shade, a cool breeze make things comfortable. Flight arrangements had long ago been made with Alaska Airlines, who obviously were trying harder because service was superb, and the pilot gave them a running travelogue as he pinpointed spots over which they were flying. They landed at Cabo San Lucas and had to be bused up to La Paz, but it was beautiful four-hour drive, with stark mountains, desert brush, and lush tropical vegetation whenever water was available. The seawater was many shades of blue, depending on its depth. Hospitality was outstanding, the food wonderful, and Clark found the scientific papers generally very stimulating.
     Sharon Brown spent four days with husband Don at a meeting of the Southern Regional Education Board, dealing with higher education across the Southern states, and found it was held in a fascinating resort at White Sulpher Springs, West Virginia. Sulpher Springs has been founded in the eighteenth century. A huge hotel had been built there: The Green Briar. The hotel was a hospital during World War II. The railroad had owned it. The government bought it back, and in 1948 it was all redone. But underground, beginning in 1961, was built a secret hideaway for Congress and the U.S. Government in case of a sudden atomic emergency. It remained a complete secret until someone leaked it in 1991, and the Government said, "That's it! It's no use any more." Sharon and Don were given a tour of the bunker and also visited the Presidential museum on the hill. Fascinating stuff!
     The Deislers' trip to Quebec was evidently a combination of an Elderhostel with their fiftieth wedding anniversary. Paul writes: It was in June of 1950 when Paul and Ellen Deisler first visited Qubec for a two-day stopover on their honeymoon trip from Denver, where they were married, to Princeton, where Paul was in graduate school. So it was a particular pleasure to make their second visit this June, fifty years later.
     Their visit began on a serious note with a three-week Elderhostel at Laval University: an intensive course in French (with a Qubecios accent). The fun (and luxurious) part came later with three full days on their own, unsupervised, in Old Qubec, staying at the Hotel Chateau Frontenac. The only drawback to that hotel is that you have to leave soon or your money runs out.
     But the course was fun, too: excellent companions, fine professors, and homework that was not too hard. The Elderhostelers ate in "le Pub," a student hangout at the student center, where everything, even pizza, was served with a huge pile of "patates frites" as they call them in Qubec. Ellen and Paul say they can wait awhile to see their next French-fry! They also slept in a student dorm with the imposing name of Pavillon Lacerte: clean, quiet and with the hardest beds in the world. And the Elderhostelers enjoyed special lectures and excellent weekend tours all over the nearby region. Neither Ellen nor Paul will admit to having become a full Francophone as a result of their respective courses, but both think they learned a lot.
     Old Qubec, in general, is the cleanest city Paul and Ellen remember seeing anywhere. There were too many high spots to list them all, but the Son et Lumire at the Basilica-Cathedral of Notre Dame de QuJ bec must be mentioned. All Paul and Ellen can say about the rest, in summary, is: if you want to know more, go to QuJ bec yourself. You will not be disappointed!

AUGUST IS SOUTH CENTRAL CONFERENCE MONTH

-Special Offering taken for newly created Pastor's Insurance relief fund.

-Designated Sunday for honoring and affirming members who participate in the ministries of the UCC

-Tell the Story of what SCC has done and is doing

Minor League: A Youth Perspective
This month: The South Central Conference Annual Meeting
By Jamie Adams, Youth Member

     I don't know if you've heard, but the South Central Conference came to town recently, so did the circus. They both came crashing through like a herd of elephants. I, along with a little over thirty other teenagers, participated in various activites almost non-stop from Friday afternoon through Sunday morning. These included a shrimp boil, several worship services, a few short meetings, some community service projects, and a small dance on Saturday evening. It really was a lot of fun. I got to meet other teenagers from the UCC, yes, there really are other UCCers in the under 40 crowd!
     However, I do not think it was terribly useful. I had really hoped for a little more 'meeting' in my 'annual'. We were, it seemed to me, safely tucked away long before they dared mention anything along the lines of decisions, discussions, or the issues at hand (whatever they may be), and everything else that a conference meeting is about. It kind of makes me wonder what they're up to. In truth, I can easily see why they did this. They didn't want us to be bored, and I have no doubt that I would have been bored after a few hours of annual meeting. I think, though, that to completely rule out the possibility that one of us, the "youth," as they insist upon calling us, might have something worth sharing.
     Listening to the "children," the "youth," whomever, has become quite popular in recent years (in the last 30 at least), and almost cliche . In, fact, I think it is sometimes used to downplay the wisdom that comes with age. This leaves you worse off than before, at least adults have some recollection of the childhood that they have already experienced, it's a bit more of a stretch for a 15 year old, like myself, to imagine my marriage, career, children, and retirement, yet to come.
     There is, though, as always, that other option, the fence straddler, the chocolate-vanilla swirl, that point of balance known as democracy.
     Since this was my first conference, I didn't really speak up, I took some time to feel things out, learn how things work. Next time will be different, I'm taking a stand, working to bring about some most necessary change! Look out New Orleans. Look out South Central Conference. Look out UCC! If you thought Nader's Raiders were trouble, get ready for Jamie's Laimies...or not. With or without my trusty Laimies, democracy, here I come.

REPORT OF THE SITE SELECTION AND BUILDING PROGRAM COMMITTEE

     The report of the Site Selection and Building Program Committee is now complete.
     The report contains a history of the project up to the time of deferral in October, 1999, procedures followed, summaries of information obtained from experts, data on building plans, information on sites examined, relocation costs, sources of financing, tax, legal and other material gathered during the project's active life, and a report of the status of the effort (and the originally planned next steps) as of the time of deferral. The last two sections of the report contain observations and conclusions which should be useful for those starting the project anew when or if it is decided to begin again.
     A copy has been placed on the counter in the Fellowship Room for viewing by all. Louise Whitworth has an original copy if anyone wishes to make a copy for his or her use.

-Paul Deisler

HomeAbout UsPastorContact UsVirtual VisitWorshipSermonsChristian EducationNewsEventsMicah6MissionsPhoto Gallery