I recently returned to my Yankee roots with my trip to Hartford for the UCC Disaster Response Network meeting and the UCC 26th General Synod and 50th Anniversary Celebration. I tend to gravitate toward speakers and workshops with a justice angle at these events and our 26th General Synod did not disappoint. How could it with the likes of Bill Moyers, Barak Obama, Kevin Philips, and Walther Brueggemann giving keynote addresses and presentations? In my view, Bill Moyers, with his laser-sharp ability to dissect the complex relationships between money, power, and justice, is one of our nation's most articulate prophets. Barak Obama offered a faith-inspired and justice-oriented platform for public service and highlighted the role the UCC plays in shaping his commitments. Kevin Phillips, a former Republican Party strategist, has since the Reagan-era written extensively on wealth, power, democracy, and religion. I missed Walther Brueggemann's presentation because the sanctuary in which he spoke was filled to overcapacity. While disappointed that I missed the UCC's most prestigious biblical scholar I thought it a good sign that a retired Old Testament professor could pack the house at a UCC event.
The focus on justice at General Synod 26 has inspired me to take on two new projects. One comes in response to the successful campaign to make Austin a Sweat-Free city (and thanks to all from church who supported this initiative and became personally involved). I was in Hartford when the Austin City Council voted to approve the Ethical Procurement Ordinance but when Robin called to tell me it passed I began to wonder whether the United Church of Christ is a Sweat-Free denomination. I have done a little research on UCC websites and have not found any indication that the UCC is a Sweat-Free denomination. I am awaiting responses to several e-mails I sent to folks in the UCC's national office in Cleveland asking for information about the UCC's garment purchasing policies. If it turns out the UCC does not have a Sweat-Free policy I will ask our Board of Christian Outreach to help me initiate a movement calling on the UCC to become a Sweat-Free denomination. As I find out more I will let you know.
The other project involves becoming a "Jubilee" congregation and this comes in response to a workshop I attended at General Synod. A Jubilee congregation pledges to educate itself on the plight of poor countries in financial debt to wealthy countries and/or international financial institutions and to advocate for the forgiveness of this debt. Since our church sells Equal Exchange products and invests in micro-lending enterprises in poor countries often crippled by debt I think the Jubilee debt forgiveness effort is a logical extension. I'll be sharing information with the Board of Christian Outreach and if the Board approves adopting this project I'll provide more information to everyone in the congregation.
General Synod 26 was a great start to my summer. I hope your summer is relaxing, fun, invigorating, and inspiring (and that it gets a bit sunnier and drier). See you in church!
FINE ARTS COMMITTEE NEWS
If you would like to be part of the ad hoc Fine Arts Committee of the church, please let Nodie Murphy know at nodie at austin dot rr dot com or 255-4602. We're looking for those persons interested in brain-storming about ways to enrich our church and worship environment with cloth art, painting, pottery, poetry, dance, different music--whatever you can think of. We can set up a meeting once we know who's interested.
As a kick-off activity, Sharon Brown, a docent at the Blanton Museum, has offered to guide any interested church folks informally through the museum on Thursday, July 19th (it's free on Thursdays!). She'd prefer 10 a.m., but 6 p.m. is also possible, if more can come at that time. We thought it would be fun to drive to grab a bite to eat afterwards at a restaurant or deli not too far away (we figured we'd be tired from walking around at the museum). Call or e-mail Nodie (see above) if you'd like to come; Sharon needs a head count for the museum. If you've been meaning to get to the Blanton to see the new exhibit, this is your chance!
Trustees: Reuel Nash
Deacons: Betty Bodman
Christian Education: Paula Fracasso
Christian Outreach: Tommie Pinkard
WORSHIP GIFTS
Do you have an artistic talent, a musical piece, an inspirational poem, an uplifting song you would like to share with us? Each summer we look forward to enjoying many talents represented in our congregation. We've had tapestries explained, original compositions, poetry readings, songs, stories, dances, special hymns. What would you like to contribute to our worship this summer? Please contact Nodie Murphy (255-4602 or nodie at austin dot rr dot com) with your ideas.
MEMBERS ON THE MOVE
Nancy Edison
3730 Gentle Winds
Round Rock, TX 78681-2626
512-246-1907
nancy_edison at yahoo dot com
PRAYER GROUP RISING
During Lent several members met weekly after church to discuss and practice the ideas in The Workbook of Living Prayer, by Maxie Dunnam. We agreed that we would like to continue the group and build a prayer ministry in the church. We are eager to have others join us. Please contact Liz Nash, Nodie Murphy, Fran Briggs or Marilyn Vache about our next meeting.
THE CHILDREN'S CORNER
The children have really enjoyed the cooking projects that we have been doing. Everyone enjoyed the tortillas we made for the Father's Day celebration. We have also introduced bubbles and the children like them as well. Please come and see our new artwork posted throughout the nursery.
Melissa McFerrin
FROM THE OFFICE
From time to time members call me here at the office to get an address, telephone number or an e-mail address because the one that is printed in the current directory is not working. Sometimes I have the new information for them and other times I'm as confused as they are. How can you help? Whenever your information changes you can call or drop me an e-mail with the new information and I will update the office records. You can also let me know if you don't get e-mail "blast outs". You could possibly have been left off the list. We want you to be fully informed, both by e-mail and snail-mail. Thanks, Trish
PERSONALS
by Pat Oakes
Marguerite White fell and broke her hip, pelvis, and left ulna at the elbow on May 30. After convalescing at St. David's Hospital and Rehab Hospital, she was transferred to Heart Hospital of Austin, and on June 11 she had a double bypass and replacement of both the mitral and aortic valves of the heart. On July 17, a pacemaker was implanted. As of late June she was still quite weak and not receiving visitors until her voice got stronger and she didn't tire so easily. She continues to have a reasonably good appetite and a positive outlook. She appreciates your prayers and concern. Marguerite went to Hearthstone Rehabilitation on Friday, June 22. She was still rather weak but still making gradual improvement. She is scheduled to continue her convalescence there. Please keep Marguerite and Ben in your thoughts and prayers.
Congratulations to Jeffrey Lemley who graduated from Westwood High School in May. He was honored at a coffee hour after church on June 3. He was showered with affection--and hot wheels (he is a avid collector of the model cars). He will be attending Austin Community College in the fall. We haven't see as much of Sarah Moore this past year, but she also graduated--from Gonzalo Garza Independence High School this May. She will be starting at Texas State University in the fall. Congratulations to both Jeffrey and Sarah!
Becky Nash, Olivia Vaché, Mariah Sage (Olivia's friend), and Liz Nash joined 32 other youth and adults on June 2-9 on a multi-church Austin area Disciples of Christ/UCC mission trip to Washington, DC. They all slept on inflatable mattresses at Westmoreland Congregational UCC in Bethesda, MD, a very generous host church that provided them with food, a place to stay, and showers. The kids and adults led Sunday worship there and worked on the weekday afternoons at a Citygate Ministries after-school program at the Johenning Baptist Center in an economically deprived, largely African-American area of Washington -- a stark contrast to the neighborhood in Bethesda where they stayed. In the mornings, they toured D.C. area sites including the Capitol, the White House, the Pentagon, Arlington National Cemetery, the Mall and memorials, Mount Vernon, and Georgetown University. They also attended noon worship at the National Cathedral. Evenings brought speakers out to Westmoreland to share with the group, including a person in charge of protocol, a Congressional aide, an Assistant Secretary of Homeland Ministry, two former Peace Corps volunteers, and a young woman who is part of a volunteer program funded by Westmoreland that brings college graduates (or those of the same age) in to work in D.C. area social service agencies for a year. The week ended with dinner on Friday night at Union Station and a very early flight home on Saturday morning. Their contacts in the D.C. area were made through Tim Tutt, pastor of United Christian Church. Tim served, before coming to Austin, at Briggs Memorial Baptist Church, which has since merged with Westmoreland. Tim also worked as Congressman Ralph Hall's aide. The outstanding group of kids and adults came from United Christian, University Christian, Hyde Park Christian, Round Rock Christian, Taylor United Christian in Taylor, and our church. Becky's list of "favorites" from the trip was getting to know the kids on the trip; visiting the Vietnam War, Korean War, and Roosevelt memorials; and listening to all of the speakers, but particularly the two who had served in the Peace Corps and the young woman volunteering through Westmoreland who spoke to them at length about examining their own racism, sexism, and classism. Becky also says the "gimpy van" that she, Olivia, and Mariah rode in was a favorite (ask Becky or Olivia). Liz just thought the whole trip was great, though sleeping in after getting home was great, too. In other Nash family news, Annie had a friend, Paul Lehmann, from the California UCC Camp Cazadero visiting with the family in mid-June. He's from a suburb of Sacramento and his father lives in West, TX.
Olivia Vaché also enjoyed the mission trip to Washington, D.C. She reports, "Visiting the Pentagon was intriguing and educational; seeing the 9/11 memorial was touching. The friends that I made there were outstanding, and I think I'll be in touch with them the rest of my life. A daily highlight was communion with white bread and blueberry juice, aka blueberry muffins."
Rizer Everett celebrated his 91st birthday on June 10. It was very enjoyable as his son son John and John's wife plus a number of other friends were here for the celebration. Rizer's calendar dates keep filling up with appointments with five doctors plus the occasional ExxonMobil luncheon and a lunch or two with one of his widow friends each week or so. Rizer reports, "Life must go on, and most days contain happy events."
In addition to the $200+ that the Deacons created from the huge book sale held after church on May 6, the church received another $167.50 from leftover books that worker-bee Sharon Brown sold at Half Price Books. They took the entire six boxes of books and a box of CD's; Sharon thinks they were in a generous mood that day. Good work, Sharon!
Sarah Oakes enjoyed several weeks in Europe, coming home in mid-July just in time to attend the family reunion in Minnesota. She wrote a proposal that was funded by her school (St. Stephen's-St. Agnes Episcopal School in Alexandria, VA) for her to follow in the footsteps of Marie Curie in Paris for a week. From there she went on to Italy for several weeks including Rome, Anacapri, Ischia and Italian language school in Todi.
Many of us at the church remember Judith and Martin Bukasa, a family of refugees from violence in the Congo that we sponsored about eight years ago. A number of our church members ( Mary Sinclair, Cathy Hubbs and others) worked very hard in getting them settled in Austin, finding them housing and jobs, etc. Mary was so helpful that when their 4th child, a daughter, arrived, she was named Mary. The family moved to New Hampshire several years ago shortly before they found out that Judith had breast cancer. Sadly Judith died a year ago. Mary Sinclair reports "Martin is still suffering greatly, but the children seem to be moving on. There have been a few behavioral crises but I think things have settled. The two oldest, Gedeon (Gr. 7) and Kyria (Gr. 6) will both be in middle school next year. Israel will be in grade 5 and Mary in grade 2. The boys are doing very well although Kyria needs extra tutoring with reading and Mary doesn't get her work done because she talks too much (just like her namesake).... They are all off to Disneyworld at the end of this month (June) thanks to a charitable programme alerted to their situation by the teachers at the junior school. We were hoping to have the holiday in place last year but Judith wasn't strong enough to take part so her place will be taken by the fifteen-year-old son of Martin's younger brother whose family was admitted to NH last August as refugees. "
Jamie Adams was best man for Ethan Thomas, (friends since the age of three) who was married recently in the sanctuary of the Congregational Church. The bride is Genny Colombo, who is Filipina, raised in Chicago. Her family was rather impressed as Jamie gave them the tour, noting the history of the church, "How could he know so much?" (He explained.) After the wedding, some of them were standing around and Michael looked at that spot on the pew that he re-stained and refinished for Debbie Appel's wedding. Daughter-in-law Lauren said, "So, y'all just sat there every Sunday looking at the bad varnish on the pew?" Michael and Jamie turned in a body toward the back pew, Epistle side, where Jamie spent every Sunday for the first eighteen years of his life, saying, "Oh, no. We sat over there." Julia has finished sixth grade at City School, with the principal and teacher raving about her work. Kerry was finishing a six month season at the IRS, about the end of June, at which time Michael could go back to working days, or stay on nights. He's finally getting used to the dark side, so he may just stay on nights for a while. On the seventh of June, second time in the water this year, Michael swam his entire half mile. The goal of a mile seems attainable this summer. Jamie ran an ad on Craig's List to find a mechanic, and a history grad student answered. He and Michael do and redo history as the student demonstrates expertise in repairing the formerly stationary fleet of Adams family cars. The mechanic has tenure (as Michael's car consultant) long before he finishes his Ph.D.
Nodie and Dennis Murphy and Mel and Pat Oakes enjoyed a 6 day trip to Chicago in mid-May. While they were there, they went to the Chicago Symphony, the planetarium, the Shedd Aquarium (where they were joined by the Oakes/Buck family of Beth and Eugene, Emily and Ethan from Iowa City), the Art Institute--and saw many other sights. They became quite proficient in riding the "El" and particularly enjoyed the Architectural Foundation river boat tour of the city. A highlight of the trip was being invited to dinner at Karl and Andrea Putz's home in downtown Chicago--right across from the Navy Pier. Karl and Andrea were in Austin for 5 years while they completed their Ph.D.s and returned home to Chicago several years ago. Their son Murphy, 2 enjoyed showing them around the apartment and the rooftop "garden" above the 7 story building.
Joe McMillan and his aunt, Cora Gordon, have been much missed recently. Cora is doing fairly well, but has had several falls. Joe is continuing his work as academic dean at the Texas College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and hopes to have the paperwork done for accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Joe is pleased that his dermatological condition has eased and he is no longer on prednisone. He and Cora were delighted to have a week-long visit from his sister Aliyah who came in late June.
Welcome to two new church members, Jaime Hadley and Greg Futch, who joined on Sunday, June 17. Jaime has been in Austin for 17 years and has been attending services with us for more than a year. Tom baptized Jaime in the Guadalupe River at our recent retreat at Slumber Falls. He works in project management software development for Verizon and enjoys playing the saxophone and gardening. Greg Futch worked for Delta Airlines for a number of years in the Atlanta area. He and his wife returned to Austin several years ago. He now works at the Howson Branch Library in Tarrytown. He has a theological degree from Emory University, was active at Trinity UMC here in Austin, and describes himself as a spiritual seeker.
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
Daniel Greg Futch
1819 Pasadena Drive
Austin, TX 78757
gfutch at hotmail dot com
Jaime Hadley
P.O. Box 143417
Austin, TX 78714-3417
512-335-9812
jhadley at austin dot rr dot com
JULY BIRTHDAYS
1 John R. Gage
2 Enid Ross
4 Kay Lewis
5 Ellen Ryan
7 David Pinkard
8 Julia Adams
Sarah Murphy Sennour
9 Betty Phillips
11 Katelyn Lemley
15 Jonathan Ashton
17 Andy Ross
19 Joseph P. McMillan, Jr.
23 Gary Barrett
Chester Rosson
24 Brenda Tingle
26 Eric Deisler
28 Doyal Pinkard
Andrea Putz
31 Lillie Kate Webb
AUGUST BIRTHDAYS
5 Sharon Brown
6 Steven Hawes Domingue
10 Debbie Catherine Sennour
11 David Ross
Marty Gooding
13 Sarah Ashton
21 Loretta A. Lewis
22 Cecile L. Ervin
24 Mike Ross
26 Travis Moore
NEWS FROM THE BRAZOS ASSOCIATION
As I write, we are in between the Annual Meeting of the South Central Conference of the United Church of Christ, and the General Synod of the UCC, which meets in Hartford, CN June 22nd-June 26th. At Annual Meeting, we considered cutting much of our mission giving and national UCC support to balance our budget. However, many believed that giving and our covenant relationships within our denomination are at the heart of our identity in the church. Therefore, the delegates voted in a budget that increases our giving slightly as well as funding our conference committee work at a higher level than last year, devoting resources to reinvigorating this work. At Synod, we anticipate having a number of people from our Association in attendance, including Ruth Schemmer (South Central Conference delegate), Anne Wehrly, and Dan and Stacy DeLeon from Friends Congregational UCC in College Station; Ron Trimmer from Friedens UCC in Washington; Jerry and Doris Carpenter from Weimar UCC; Tom Vandestadt from Congregational Church in Austin; and Carla Cheatham, who is doing preliminary work on our new church start in Austin. Let me know there are more going than I have listed, so I can share the whole list in the next article.
In our Conference, we have also started a new effort, called Friends of the Conference, to supplement the giving through our churches to Our Church's Wider Mission. We invite and encourage individuals to give to this effort by sending checks to our Conference office in Houston, made out to the South Central Conference, UCC, and marked "Friends of the Conference." We raised over $5000 at Annual Meeting in gifts and pledges for this effort. Most of the money will fund the budget within this conference. The funds will help us move toward balancing our budget and supporting a more vibrant, widespread and faithful work within the Conference. Your gifts will be most appreciated!
We have already had exciting events to start the summer within our Association. St. John's in Burton is hosting a missionary couple, the Prakashes, in June as the church also celebrates the completion of its new building. A group of over 35 youth and adults from 6 Austin area Disciples and UCC churches traveled to Washington, DC the first week in June, where they worked at an after school program in an economically poor area, heard from a number of excellent speakers, visited landmarks, and enjoyed the hospitality of Westmoreland UCC. Tim Nonn will speak at United Christian at 6 pm on July 8th about the Darfur Genocide. Let me know about your church's special events so I can share them in my newsletter article.
We wish our Church and Ministry chair, Ron Trimmer, well as he goes on sabbatical later this summer. He will be in Austin volunteering with the homeless and reading.
Blessings in Christ, Liz Nash, Associate Conference Minister, Brazos Association
DAN NIETO: LIVING OUT THE PASSION FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE
The first of an occasional series profiling our church's in-care candidates for UCC ministry. Our congregation sponsors the candidates as they go through the education and mentoring necessary to become ordained in the UCC.
Most in-care candidates are seminary students. But Dan Nieto is not most candidates. Most have not already been full-time pastors, nor grown up as one of 14 children, nor have four Masters degrees and a PhD.
Dan absorbed the core of the Christian faith in Sunday School and in his family's lifestyle and behavior at home -- his father was a Methodist clergyman. Youth and service activities shaped his commitment to a life of service. Most formative was the time he spent at age 18 working with migrant families in the Midwest, witnessing their tragedy and despair. At the same time he visited area churches and saw that their members, the community of agricultural growers, were oblivious to the nearby squalor and deprivation.
Educated in New Mexico and Texas, he has worked there and in New England in public administration, social work, university teaching, and clinical psychology. At the same time he acted as the custodial parent for his son Ricky, now 42, and became increasingly involved with church activities.
About fifteen years ago a close friend spontaneously remarked, "Danny, you need to go to seminary. I'm not sure yet why, I just know you should." After that his search and study intensified, and he entered seminary at Southern Methodist University in Dallas at age 57. He received both a Masters of Divinity and a Masters in Theological Studies in four years.
Following family tradition Dan led Methodist congregations in small-town Texas, but hungered for a stronger emphasis on peace and justice issues. He found himself attracted to the UCC's "openness, affirmation of everybody, inclusiveness, and multi-cultural considerations." He is eager to lead a congregation that will live out these ideals, "I want to be a pastor [again] so badly I dream of it."
Meanwhile he is writing a book that criticizes the conflation of US patriotism and Christianity -- "patriotism is racist and exclusivist" -- while supporting himself as a freelance writer and spending time with Ricky, Ricky's wife Veronica, and two granddaughters, Lauren 14, and Rachel, 12.
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.
THE SPRING RETREAT CONTINUES
Following up on the retreat theme, "Preparing to be Surprised by God," a study group is forming, and all are invited to join. The group will explore the idea that having a regular spiritual practice helps open one to God's presence in everyday life. The plan is to meet once a month on a Saturday afternoon to discuss exercises we have tried from the book "Essential Spirituality" by Roger Walsh. The group will be open-ended, so you can join at any time. Please contact Marilyn Vache or Marilyn Harris for more information. If you need a copy of the book contact George Hetrick, who has volunteered to do a bulk, postage-free order from Amazon (Some of you may still have the book from a study with Tom VandeStadt in 2001.)
Deadline for September VISITOR -- August 17
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