Montanus, a Christian who lived in the latter half of the second century, came from the town of Pepuza in the Roman province of Phrygia in what is now west-central Turkey. Though his town was unremarkable in every way, Montanus believed little Pepuza would soon be swathed in divine glory and majesty. God had revealed to Montanus that the New Jerusalem would descend from heaven upon Pepuza and from there Jesus Christ would reign over the Kingdom of God. God also shared this divine plan with two women named Prisca and Maximilla. Burning with the fire of divine truth, Montanus exhorted Christians to prepare to meet their maker on Judgment Day, urging them to adhere to a strict moral code and to martyr themselves if necessary. Maximilla revealed that after her there would be no more prophets, just the end. Montanus and his followers were quite convincing. Their movement spread to North Africa and the well-known theologian Tertullian jumped on their bandwagon in Carthage.
The day after Maximlla died the sun came up another day and brought with it new prophets. Montanus and Prisca left this world while the New Jerusalem remained in its heavenly abode. Christians were not summoned to their final judgment and Jesus Christ did not establish his royal throne in Pepuza. The world did not end. The Kingdom did not come.
"Hmmm," some Christians thought, "we have a serious problem here. How do we know when these Christian prophets who claim divine inspiration are right? What happens when the revelations they share don't happen? What does it mean when one Christian prophet reveals a divine plan that another inspired prophet contradicts? Who do we believe? How do we know if God is really speaking to these folks? What if all they're hearing is their own hopes, desires, and fantasies bouncing off the walls inside their skulls? What if Satan is leading them--and us--astray?"
Some early Christians thought the solution was to stack divine revelation up against the written texts of scripture. If the revelation agreed with scripture it could be trusted. But others argued that if scripture was the norm for Christian knowledge and faith then they no longer needed divine revelation. God already spoke with authority and the Divine Word was recorded in scripture. The latter argument pulled more weight. Over time "orthodox" Christians elevated the authority of scripture and viewed divine inspiration with distrust. Of course, this created new problems. Which texts should be considered authoritative and included within the canon of scripture? How should they be interpreted--literally or figuratively? Who had the authority to interpret scripture?
These ancient issues remain quite contemporary. We see them played out across Christianity and within our own denomination. The United Church of Christ's new motto is "God is still speaking..." While most UCC folks acknowledge the authority of scripture, many also claim that God continued speaking to Christians after Second Peter was written. Many claim that God continues to reveal God's self and will in new ways, and to inspire people with new wisdom in our contemporary settings. The Congregational Church of Austin reflects this view in our Mission Statement which reads: "God calls us to discover God's word in the Bible, in our rich heritage, in faithful witness to the living Word, and in the fresh winds of the Spirit."
There are others in our denomination who feel quite uncomfortable with the implications of the "God is still speaking..." theology, and who question our ability to discern God's word through "fresh winds of the Spirit." They press us with questions like: "How do you (and we) know that what you are hearing is really God's voice speaking to you? How do you know you're not just hearing your own liberal hopes, desires, and fantasies echoing in your heads? How do you know you're discerning God's will in those fresh winds and not being unconsciously swayed by our culture's latest intellectual, spiritual, and lifestyle fads? How do you know you're not like Montanus--just plain wrong? Isn't it better to confirm scripture as the ultimate rule and authority of Christian faith, knowledge, and action?"
While I support our denomination's "God is still speaking..." motto and theology, we must take to heart the critique of our brothers and sisters who elevate scripture's authority and interpret it in ways we do not. While many in the United Church of Christ like to trumpet that "God is still speaking..." I hear precious little about how to go about listening. If we are staking our identity on a God who continues to speak to us then we must also stake our identity on knowing how to listen. Yet the UCC is not known for its widespread practice of spiritual disciplines like discernment, centering prayer, contemplation, praxis, spiritual mentoring, and other means of holy listening. We're strong when it comes to liberal and progressive ethics that promote justice and equality, but weak when it comes to practicing Christian discipleship that opens us in deep and transforming ways to God's voice. This makes us highly vulnerable to the critique that we are deluding ourselves and wandering off the path of "true" Christianity.
Beginning the first Sunday in July, a bunch of us will be getting together in the Appel Room at 9:30 am to discuss issues like this one that the early church struggled to resolve. Our primary texts for discussion will be Elaine Pagels' Beyond Belief and The Gnostic Gospels. We'll also be drawing inspiration and knowledge from George Riley's Resurrection Reconsidered, Thomas and John in Controversy; Bart Eherman's Lost Christianities and Lost Scriptures; and Karen King's The Gospel According to Mary and What is Gnosticism?
You don't have to read all of these books. You don't have to read any of them. They'll simply help us move the discussion along as we seek to understand how the early Christians struggled to define their relationships with God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, scripture, tradition, one another, and the world. We'll see that many of the issues they struggled with regarding faith, meaning, knowledge, doctrine, and authority are issues that are still quite contemporary and relevant across Christianity and within our own church today. Please join us!
The Next-To-New resale and consignment shop sponsored by St. David's Episcopal Church (www.next2new.org) has raised and distributed funds to local charities and to the restoration of St. David's 150-year-old sanctuary for 45 years. Last year, donations were made to local organizations which minister to disabled persons, medically fragile children, the homeless, the elderly, the working poor, victims of neglect and abuse, babies and children with HIV/AIDS, the terminally ill, cancer victims, and the hungry. In the past 15 years, more than $1.3 million was donated to local charities from the proceeds of Next-To-New.
This ministry has been in operation since 1959 and is staffed by volunteers from many faiths and faith communities throughout Austin and the surrounding area.
While many in Austin are aware of the Shop's retail ministry at 5335 Burnet Road, many are unaware of Next-To-New's Estates ministry. The Estates Ministry is a caring, devoted team of estate specialists who have helped countless individuals and families during a time of loss, a move or downsizing of their homes.
Next-To-New invites you to be part of the outreach ministry by shopping, volunteering, consigning or donating items to the Shop. For information, please stop by the Shop at 5335 Burnet Road, Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., or call Shop manager Richard Wood at 512-459-1288. (e-mail: sales@next2new.org
Trustees: John Moore & Pam Tucker
Deacons: Liz Nash
Christian Education: Marilyn Vaché
Christian Outreach: John Goff
July 19, Ian McEwen's The Atonement host to be announced
August 16, Andre Dubus' House of Sand and Fog host to be announced
Austin Area Interreligious Ministries
AAIM's Spirit of Austin speaker series, sponsored by Omega at the Crossings, brings internationally and nationally renowned religious teachers to Austin to enrich individual journeys of faith. The next Spirit of Austin will feature poet Oriah Mountain Dreamer on August 26. She will also lead a workshop August 27-29 at Omega at the Crossings titled Cultivating Your Contemplative Inner Life in a Busy World.
InterFaith Arts Festival - Artists Needed
What: InterFaith Arts Festival
When: October 9, 2004
Where: Downtown Austin
Artists' works are needed for the first annual InterFaith Arts Festival scheduled for fall. The mission of the InterFaith Arts Festival is to offer people of all faiths and beliefs an opportunity to be immersed in the transforming beauty of religious art, to continue the interface and dialogue between peoples of different faith traditions, and to raise funds to support the poor and the homeless.
The InterFaith Arts Festival is scheduled for October 9, 2004, in downtown Austin. It will be an exhibit of spiritual art displayed at Central Presbyterian churches. There will also be live music and entertainment throughout the day, special foods and nourishments, and a children's bazaar. The event will culminate in a Sacred Music Concert at 5:30 pm.
Sarah Kirch has recently begun reading "chapter books" all by herself. Lisa is trying to get used to dead silence from the back seat of the car and to sitting next to her on the sofa or bed, both of them with their noses buried in a book. Every once in a while, Lisa functions as dictionary, e.g., "Mama, what's U-R-I-N-A-L?" Lisa doesn't think Nancy Drew knew that word, either. Lisa has received a grant to return briefly to Germany. The money is from the Francis Haskell Memorial Fund, and it's in honor of one of the most important art historians of the 20th century. The fund trustees, major British scholars, chose Lisa's project from an international field of entries. She is thrilled and deeply honored--and we are so proud of her, too. Lisa added an invaluable depth to the June women's book club meeting with her discussion of pertinent art in Rome as the women read ANGELS AND DEMONS by Dan Brown, set in Rome with many art references.
In May, Frances Alford went to the Netherlands with three of her sisters. Frances had two quilts which were on display at the Patchwork & Quilt Expo in The Hague. They decided they needed to go see them. Sallie, Anne and Lily went with Frances and they spent 10 days traveling around Holland. They went to museums, took canal tours and went to the Anne Frank House. One high point was the visit to Keukenhoff, the tulip gardens just outside Amsterdam. They plant 7 million bulbs a year. They were there at the peak of their blooming season--fabulous! In the time since her husband John's surgery, Frances has had regular help in the house from personal assistants. They have also been blessed with a number of house guests who are making John's recovery more enjoyable with their presence. They are getting the reputation for being the best bed and breakfast in town.
Rambie and Fran Briggs hosted the men's book club (spouses were included in the invitation) on June 12th at their lakeside home. A lively discussion of THE EMIGRANTS by S.E. Sebold was followed by lunch. The Briggs' granddaughter Margit Briggs and her friend Rachel came on June 19th to go to Slumber Falls Camp for a week. Then Jonathan and Bethany Briggs came on the 26th for a week. Fran and Rambie were delighted to have the whole family together--Jonathan's sister Paula and her family--husband Michael Fracasso, son Giovanni and daughter Stella were able to be with everyone, too. It called for creativity in sleeping arrangements--lots of children on the floor. Church members were delighted to meet Stella (8 months) and see how Giovanni (3 1/2) has grown when the Fracasso family met Fran and Rambie for church in early June. Rambie reports that his arm is healing although he still needs to make progress with his accordion playing--can't quite reach the low notes, yet.
Marguerite and Ben White recently attended the Denver East High School graduation ceremony of their eldest grandson along with his parents Carl and Sally and brother Evan. David's drums played a prominent role in his jazz group's part in the ceremony along with a fine symphonic group and an outstanding choir. David has been accepted into next year's freshman class at Colorado College in Colorado Springs.
Rizer Everett's daughter, Dot, arrived on May 26th and obtained good information about her ancestors at the at the Catholic Church archives office in Austin and from several residents in Hallettsville, TX, whose forebears were members of Dot's great-grandparents group who were European immigrants to Texas in the 1850s. Dot is now compiling the interesting genealogical information she has obtained from the internet, archival records, and visits with people living in the Cuero and Hallettsville areas. Johanna Householder and Rizer had an enjoyable trip to Galveston, TX, to attend the "Sand Castle Festival" that is held the first Saturday on June on the East Beach of the Island. Participants are allowed to have their helpers and materials ready to build their structures when the contest begins at 10 AM, and they must stop their work at 3 PM when the judges select the best structure in each of several categories which include, buildings, statues, animals, cartoons, etc. The fine sand at the beach is ideal for the artists to construct beautiful carved structures that hold up well as long as there is no rain. On their return to Austin on Sunday, they had a visit in Katy with old friend (in every sense of the word!) John Woods and his daughter. Rizer reports it was good to see John (101 years old in February) looking so well, hearing his interesting comments, and feeling his firm handshake.
Paul and Ellen Deisler drove to the West Coast in April/May to visit friends and relatives they had not seen for years and may never see again unless they are able to make such a trip again. Most of those they visited, including an uncle and aunt and two cousins of Paul's, are unlikely to be able to come this way. Several are not in good condition. Some 6,000 miles and nearly four weeks later they had seen all but one set of people. A medical emergency unfortunately prevented that visit. The trip took them first to Los Angeles, then north to the San Francisco Bay Area. The point of return was Sebastopol, California, where some old friends from their days with Shell Development Company live. There was enough time in the schedule for a few stops along the way: a picnic by the Salton Sea, two nights in Palm Springs, a stay in Solvang, a look at each of the three houses Paul and Ellen lived in (and Paul landscaped by hand) in the East Bay Area and visits to the graves of Paul's maternal grandparents and one uncle in El Paso and of his maternal great grandmother in Odessa, Texas. Paul observes that traveling by car one sees so much grand, diverse, and even exotic scenery that air travel misses. Delighted to be home, Paul and Ellen are nonetheless glad they made the trip.
Marilyn Gaddis and George Carruthers recently returned from a month-long road trip that took them as far as Madison, WI. Marilyn has been re-appointed to the Board of Visitors, School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison. On the way, they visited George's relatives in Rosser, Sulfur Springs, Tyler, and New Boston, TX, and Little Rock, AK. Madison was the scene of much "wining and dining" between meetings. On the way home, they met Wisconsin friends who showed them the sights of Decorah, IA; especially the wonderful Norwegian Folk Museum. Steelville was another stopping point to visit the hotel where Dvorak spent a summer and wrote the New World Symphony. Another stop was the hotel In Bur Oak, IA, that Laura Ingalls Wilder's family had managed in 1876. They joined a class of very well-mannered children from a country school to tour the building and to eat some famous gingerbread! The next stop was a visit with Marilyn's cousin in Kirksville, MO, recently retired from the music faculty of Truman State University and the Disciples of Christ Ministry. On to an Elderhostel at Trout Lodge, Potosi, MO, to study the Civil War in Missouri, the History of Railroading, and the Big Bands of the 30's and 40's. Field trips included a day at the St. Louis Transportation Museum to view their well-restored collection of railroad cars and engines, including one of the largest engines ever built - "Big Boy", 132 ft. long, 1.2 million lbs., that pulled a train 5 1/2 miles long! Also visited was Ft. Davidson and the Pilot Knob battlefield. Air Force friends in Springfield, MO, and Tulsa, OK were not forgotten! On returning to San Marcos, a "yucky" mess greeted them! The electricity had been off several weeks and you know what that does to the contents of a freezer and refrigerator! Still, it's nice to be home.
Jamie and Lauren Adams have settled into an apartment in Cedar Park and are both working near there. Jamie has got bicycles up and running for both of them, to beat the high (but falling, thankfully) gasoline prices. They are planning to resume school, probably in the fall for Jamie-- later for Lauren, when she has established Texas residency.
Liz Nash took time out while on the road to check her e-mail and to respond to the query for Personals info. "Here's the very short version of the news from us, since we are on the road and it is late! I am emailing from State College, PA, (dated June 13) where we just dropped off Alex Vandestadt with her aunt, uncle, cousins, and grandparents, after a road trip from Austin that included a day in Chicago and stops at a couple of colleges (starting to look with Ellie). We are headed toward a week+ with family in Mt.Washington, MA, (at the summer home of Liz's extended family). Three of the girls' friends will join us up there at various times, with one joining us for the rest of our trip. Then, we will drive to Florida for a week on the beach near Daytona Beach, then back to Austin. Soon after, we leave for the SF Bay Area for a visit with many friends and for the girls to go to the UCC Camp (Cazadero) north of San Francisco. Reuel will work while he is out there, since his company's headquarters is in Santa Clara. Our other news (past history now) is that we celebrated our 25th anniversary in May with a family party, given by Liz's brother and sister-in-law, in Waco. The location was a former funeral parlor (!) now used for entertaining by a local company. A much happier occasion than its former use!"
Sara Ross left husband Dave at home to fend for himself while she went gallivanting off to California with her sister Liney from Houston and Liney's twin Susie from Maine. They flew to Sacramento where they were picked up by their Uncle Buck and his new wife of one year, Pat. All went the next day to check on the condition of a building owned by Pat that was built to be the governor's mansion of California but was refused by Jerry Brown as being too elaborate. It was bought at auction several years ago by Pat and her first husband (who is now deceased). Pat has been trying to get Arnold and Maria Schwarzenegger to buy it with money donated for that purpose by the people of the state of California, but Maria thinks that Pat should give it to them. Pat disagrees, so she has yet to unload the mansion. The next day, Buck and Pat drove Sara, Susie and Liney (henceforth to be referred to as SSL) to Cottage Grove, Oregon, to visit Buck's sister Ginger (SSL's aunt) and Buck's daughter Pam and her husband Frank. Pam and Frank live on a beautiful 200 acre farm about 15 minutes away from Magnolia Gardens Retirement Center where Ginger moved with Pam, Sara and Buck's help last November. SSL found Ginger in very good spirits and robust health for her 83 years and found that she has also claimed one of the few men there for her own. SSL spent three nights with Ginger in the retirement center, two of SSL on a blow-up mattress on the floor and one sharing Ginger's bed. (How's that for family togetherness?) Lucky Pat and Buck had to make do with the guest house back at the farm. All were all treated royally by Pam and Frank and fattened up with peach smoothies from Buck's home grown peaches and pies made from blackberries picked from Pam's fence rows. From Oregon the next destination was a campground on the California coast owned by Buck's son Jed. Pat and Buck drove SSL down the California coast on narrow winding roads through groves of enormous red wood trees. The drive was beautiful but hair-raising, especially when the tread blew off the right rear tire and Buck had to find a place to pull off and change it (with the help of SSL and a kind stranger.) The tired travelers reached the campground on the sea after a long day's drive. Since Jed's family was not there, the owner's cottage was available and for two days the beautiful weather and magnificent scenery were enjoyed by all. Buck, Pat and SSL returned to Sacramento still friends after 10 days of travel, which should be a record of some sort. When Sara returned home, she found a note from Aunt Ginger in the mail asking when we could do it again! Dave seemed to have survived 10 days on his own with no ill effects.
Pat and Mel Oakes took a 1600 mile road trip over 11 days which included attending Mel's 50th high school reunion and visiting family and friends in Vicksburg, MS, visiting an old friend in Longview, staying at the venerable Excelsior Hotel in Jefferson, TX., and staying with former neighbors and old friends in Ft. Worth while Pat participated in a presentation by Partners in Education (P.I.E.) at the annual meeting of the South Central Conference in Irving. Beth Oakes and Eugene Buck and their children Emily and Ethan have moved to a new home in Iowa City. Pat and Mel are very enthused about the new house as it includes a guest room and bathroom for the relatives. Aunt Sarah Oakes went out in mid-June to help with the move. Their new address is 62 Jensen Court, Iowa City, IA 52246 (phone--319-341-0808). Four days after the move, Beth and Eugene and family headed off for Interlochen, MI, where they met Pat and Mel who were the grandparents-in-residence for two weeks while Beth worked at the music festival. Eugene headed home after 2 days to go back to work--and to continue sorting things out in the new house.
Congratulations to Dr. Clark Hubbs, UT professor emeritus and fish person extraordinaire. who is the first recipient of the Robert K. Johnson Award given by the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists in Norman, OK. The award honors those who have done the most for the society. Cathy had known about the award for 3 months and never breathed a word. Clark was really surprised--and especially delighted that daughter Laura and David and grandson Aaron were there for the occasion. Their presence did not arouse suspicion as they live in nearby Stillwater.
Many thanks to Sharon Brown and her committee (Frances Alford, Carol Barrett, Liz Nash, Pat Oakes, Tommie Pinkard, Dave Ross, Pam Tucker, and Betsy Tylka) who put on a wonderful farewell party for Richard Jackson and Mary Sinclair after church on Sunday, June 6. Amid the tears were lots of laughs and an exchange of Richard and Mary stories. Dennis Murphy was the emcee, Nodie Murphy contributed many great ideas, Melanie Wilkinson sang beautifully, and Florence Castle had everyone's toes tapping as she played the piano. Richard and Mary will be in Boulder for the foreseeable future. They are going to be missed so much.
Sharon Brown lives in the Hyde Park neighborhood and was a docent for their recent homes tour. She was surprised to find out some information on Mathis Blackstock during her stint as a docent. In 1933, the Blackstock family began renting the Covert house for $35 a month, an amount which remained the same for 15 years. Eight-year-old Matt and his brother David had a second floor bedroom in the southeast corner and loved the huge windows that allowed gentle south breezes to flow through, along with the sound of UT's tower chimes every fifteen minutes. The boys' father made home-brew in a huge pantry between the kitchen and dining room. One day while working on his favorite beverage, their dad dropped one of the large, heavy jars of wine. He yelled so loudly and with such agony that the visiting grandmother thought he was terribly injured. He wasn't-only his mustang grape wine. Emma Sassman owned the house at that time, one of only two houses on the entire block between Avenues F and G. The rest of the block was a field of grass, so it was possible for them to drive their car from 40th Street through the huge barn behind the house and exit on Avenue F. Both the barn and the house's large attic were favorite places for the boys' imaginative play. In addition, the downstairs hall was spacious enough for basketball, although the games were short if their mother caught them. Matt entered UT at age 17, completed two years of pre-med work and started medical school in Galveston at 19. After completing his medical studies, he practiced in Kerrville and then returned to Austin in 1954. Matt started a clinic to serve poor patients in south Austin and met a medical student serving as a Vista worker in Austin. Years later that student became the director of residents at Brackenridge Hospital. Matt had worked with the family health center at the hospital since the 1970's and, in 1991, the director caused the center to be named the Blackstock Family Health Center, evidence of his admiration of Dr. Blackstock's dedication to families and children's health.
Please keep Liz and Bill Spencer in your prayers. Bill's recent cardiac tests showed some abnormalities. He will have a heart catheterization, which will tell us more about what's going on with his heart and if there are any blockages. Bill feels fine and does not have any symptoms except that he feels "a little tired" sometimes - usually at the end of the day.
Eunice Paul has some news for us. Dean and Lydia Tapley are moving from Crawley to LEATHERHEAD. The news finally broke in early June but, of course, they had been on tenterhooks for months. Bob Paul, Eunice's late husband, was minister there from 1945 until 1954 and they bought a home there when he retired from Austin in 1987. Eunice still finds it difficult to believe that Lydia is returning to the house where she lived until they moved to Switzerland when she was four. It is also the church where Lydia and Dean were married in 1971, on Dean's first visit to England. Dean will be the new pastor at the UCC church there and they all invite us to come see them. Years ago John Towery and Dean Tapley did a pulpit exchange for the summer, a very interesting time for both families--and for both churches. Eunice's friends David and Betty Evans from Austin visited in June. It was their first visit for many years and they were with her for a few days before visiting friends and family around the country.
Julia (called LA VOYE) Adams (Michael's mom) fell on Michael's front porch on June 9th, breaking her left hip. She had it replaced Thursday evening, June 10th, and after not responding too well at first, is doing well now and is in rehab. Michael (a nurse) has been making sure that her nurses stay on top of things. Please keep them all in you prayers.
Bee Polomé Weiss had to stop the experimental cancer therapy treatment that she was taking because of too many side effects. She is now on Iressa, a promising new drug. It runs about $1800 per month (for 30 pills). She is still coping with back and shoulder pain which do not seem to be related to the cancer, but is relatively upbeat and attending concerts and enjoying her grandchildren. Daughter Marilyn (former cellist at the church) will be visiting in late July from California.
JULY BIRTHDAYS
1 John R. Gage
2 Enid Ross
4 Kay Lewis
5 Ellen Ryan
7 Sarah Murphy Sennour
David Pinkard
8 Julia Adams
9 Betty Phillips
11 Katlin Lemley
15 Jonathan Ashton
17 Andy Ross
19 Joseph P. McMillan, Jr.
21 Chester Rosson
23 Gary Barrett
Chester Rosson
24 Brenda Tingle
26 Eric Deisler
28 Doyal Pinkard
Andrea Putz
31 Lillie Kate Webb
UPDATE FROM THE OPEN AND AFFIRMING STUDY COMMITTEE
At our last annual meeting, the Congregation voted to pursue the process for considering becoming an official "open and affirming" (ONA) church. To move forward, an ONA study committee has been appointed, consisting of: Tommie Pinkard, Ellie Nash, Lynne Lemley, Paul Deisler and John Burlinson, along with the Pastor.
On April 25, the ONA study committee called a congregational meeting in order to get input from the congregation. We want to thank everyone who shared their concerns, questions and suggestions with us.
To respond to all of the issues that have been raised by members of our church, the study committee will be organizing three public forums this fall. Each of these forums will focus on a significant topic relating to the decision to become "open & affirming":
- A discussion of the medical and scientific aspects of homosexuality, bisexuality and gender transition.
- A meeting where a variety of individuals with unique perspectives on sexual orientation will be asked to share their experiences and insights with us.
- A workshop on scriptural approaches to homosexuality.
No firm dates have been set at this point, but we anticipate completing this sequence of meetings before the holiday season.
A UCC church becomes "officially ONA" by adopting an explicit "Open and Affirming Statement" that expresses a welcome in the full life and ministry of the church to all "gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons." The study committee believes that, after the three meetings planned for this fall, the Congregational Church of Austin will be in a good position to come to a decision.
Please be on the lookout for dates and times of the upcoming meetings. If you have any questions, concerns or recommendations, don't hesitate to contact any member of the ONA study committee.
John Burlinson for the ONA Study Committee
Outreach Alert
Front Porch Ministry
Our first Front Porch lunch for Lifeworks youth was on Thursday, June 3. We served 18 youth, and from all accounts the meal went very well: the kids enjoyed and appreciated the meal, and helped clean up afterwards. Special thanks to Kathy Hubbs, Dennis Murphy and Ben White for serving, Pam Tucker and John Burlinson for making sandwiches, and many others for donating food items. We will continue to try to serve a lunch every first Thursday. We have plenty of volunteers, but can always find room for more. Perhaps our greatest need is for another sandwich maker or two, who brings sandwich fixings home on "Cooler Sunday", makes them and delivers them either Wednesday evening (Tom's house works well as a delivery point) or to the Church on Thursday morning. We also continue to seek food contributions every "Cooler Sunday" (the Sunday before the first Thursday of the month), for which there will be a sign-up sheet posted the Sunday prior.
A number of letters, photos and drawings have gone to and from our sponsored child in Jerusalem. These are posted on the bulletin board in Fellowship hall. Anyone in the congregation is encouraged to write to Hala (keeping in mind that she is a 4-year old). If you do, please give a copy of your letter to Robin Chapman or John Goff so that we can keep track of how many are sent; we want to make sure that there is a steady correspondence. The address is:
Ms. Hala Mahmoud Sameer
C/O Mrs. Salwa Zananiri
Rawdat El-Zuhur School
Bab El Zahreh
P.O. Box 19796
Jerusalem, ISRAEL
AUGUST BIRTHDAYS
5 Sharon Brown
6 Steven Hawes Domingue
10 Debbie Catherine Sennour
11 David Ross
Marty Gooding
13 Sarah Ashton
19 Stan Miles
21 Loretta A. Lewis
22 Cecile L. Ervin
24 Mike Ross
26 Travis Moore
Hosts for the Sunday fellowship hour.
SIGN UP NEXT SUNDAY! The signup sheet is on the counter by the stairs in the Fellowship Room.
Leaders for Sunday School Lite
Sign up for a Sunday NOW!!
The following Sundays are still available: July 4, July 13, July 25, August 15 and August 22
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There are some things that are needed at the Micah 6 Food Pantry which cannot be obtained at the Food Bank. If you wish to donate the following items they would be greatly appreciated. Please mark the items "for Micah 6 Food Pantry".
Mosquito Spray
Toothbrushes
Travel size toothpaste
Travel size soap
Disposable razors
Diapers (baby and adult sizes)
Feminine hygiene
Book of stamps
Small sewing kits
Plastic utensils
Mess kits
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Small zip lock bags
Thick plastic bags (large)
Bibles
Jelly
Honey
Potato flakes
Baby food & formula
Liquid supplement
Peanut butter
Spaghetti sauce
Small canned meats
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SouthernCare, a hospice located in North Austin, hosts bereavement groups and seminary facilitated by The Rev. Liz Spencer. The group meets the 2nd Thursday of each month from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon at the SouthernCare office, located in the Lake Creek Festival Shopping Center on Highway 183 North (just south of the intersection of 183 and 620) right next door to Payless Shoe.
Throughout the year, guest speakers will enlighten the group on a variety of topics related to bereavement.
If you have questions or if you would like more information, please contact The Rev. Liz Spencer at 336-0170, or e-mail at revliz_2000@yahoo.com. Registration is not necessary. Please remember that anyone in the community is welcome to attend, regardless of whether or not your loved one was served by SouthernCare.
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