The Congregational Church of Austin, UCC
United Church of Christ

       A Congregational Meeting has been called by the Coordinating Council for Sunday, March 25, at 11:45, following a shortened worship service. The first purpose is to vote on whether to resume or discontinue relocation efforts. The decision on this matter is important as it bears on the selection of a permanent pastor and on how best to use the facility and the Capital Funds (formerly the Relocation Fund).
      A second purpose is to determine whether to change the time of worship. The Deacons will be considering a change in time at its forthcoming meeting on March 8, with a recommendation to be forwarded to the congregation. The Board solicits input from church members.
      The Board of Christian Education is considering a part-time staff position to support the church school. It will be presenting it recommendation for approval on the 25th, and solicits your input.
      A final purpose is to receive input on the proposed gates to be constructed across the church porch.
      The Coordinating Council thanks the many people who are working so diligently during this interim period.

      There was Hildegard Everett's father, Dr. Kuehne, with his full beard, in his Sunday three-piece dress suit, the vest criss-crossed with a long expanse of gold chain. What was at the end of that chain was revealed to every child who came running up to see him - a large gold watch, which he pulled out of his pocket. And there was candy too as Florence Castle's little daughter Rita well knew. There was Dr. Schoch, Dr. Eugene Schoch's father, who always sat toward the front of the church to hear better, with a long cornucopia-shaped hearing horn. There was Josie Trenckmann, standing up at a Potluck Supper in our basement, saying, "Now if everyone will just pledge fifty dollars, our budget for the year will be met!" There was Laura Hubbs, age two, throwing off a little blue orlon coat her mother had made, rushing into the basement Sunday School room to greet Rev. A. Bertram Miller, and Bert saying gently, "We don't hang up our coats on the floor."
      These are just a few of Catherine Hubbs' memories as she looks at the growing mound of banquet reservations for March 31 and/or plans to attend the Centennial Worship Service on April 1--friends from near and far united in their ties to the Congregational Church of Austin, with memories from the first hundred years and hopes and prayers for the second hundred! Have you let us know your plans to join us in this happy year? We do need to have a count by the first of March.

Airing March 18, on KNVA-TV54 (cable 12) at 8:00 am and on ACT Channel 11 at 7:00 pm, will feature host, Rev. Richard Thompson, interviewing Victor Appel about the forthcoming Centennial Celebration at the Congregational Church of Austin.

One year Term:                                                   Three Year Term:

Financial Secretary . . . . . . .. Mary Sinclair          Moderator. . . . . . . John Moore (99-01)
Treasurer. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . John Burlinson      Clerk. . . . . .. . . . . Dave Ross (00-02)
Coordinating Council . . . . . . .Enid Ross              Enlistment & Stewardship Committee:
Church School Supt. . . . . . . . DoyalPinkard        Jean Appel (00-02)
Historian . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . Jamie Adams       Vacant
Publicity . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . Victor Appel

Austin Interfaith . . . . . . . .. . Flo Chiles               Music Committee:
Kathleen Strong                                                   Norma Hawes (99-01)
Catherine Hubbs                                                  Sally Tomasek (00-02)
Brazos Assoc. Rep . . . . . . . .Tommie Pinkard        Matt Blackstock(00-03)
Delegate to SCC . . . . . . . . .. Kristin Galle

Board of Trustees: Tommie Pinkard, Chair (00-02), Dennis Murphy (00-02), Jim Tomasek (01-03)
Mark McCoy (01-03). Nominees to fill unexpired terms of Loretta Lewis and Kristin Galle:
Vic Appel, (99-01), George Lemley,(99-01)

Board of Deacons: Joe McMillan, Jr., Chair (01-03), Karl Putz (99-01), Jamie Adams (99-01), Norma
Hawes (00-02), Paul Deisler (00-02),Cecile L. Ervin Adam (01-03)

Board of Christian Education: Lisa Kirch, Chair (01-03), Ben White (99-01), Andrea Putz (00-02),
Michael Adams (00-02), Craig Headley (01-03), Julia Deisler (01-03)

Nominating: Steven Domingue (99-01), Carol Barrett (00-02), Richard Jackson (01-03)

      Three issues presented themselves at January's Leaders' Retreat - matters for which officers are seeking your input.
      The most immediate is a change in the time of worship. The Centennial Committee has planned worship for the April 1st Celebration at 10:30 am. The movement in that direction reinforces a point I made to the officers, that 11:00 am has ceased to be a "user-friendly" time. The original reason for this hour was that it came between milking times in rural America. Growing churches across the nation are going to early times on Sunday mornings, so that families have their afternoons free. The First Congregational Church in Houston, where I served as interim in 1999 has gone to a 10:00 am time, with children's church school (through 5th grade) running currently with worship (after a children's sermon) and a children's choir, and with youth, adult activities held after worship following refreshments. That change in time and format has led to substantial growth in attendance and participation.
      At it's March 8th meeting the Board of Deacons will make a recommendation to bring to the congregation about whether to continue the 10:30 am time of worship for a trial period after April 1, whether to go to an earlier time, or whether to leave it the same. The Board seeks your feedback on this issue before the 8th. The officers include: Carl Putz, Jamie Adams, Norma Hawes, Paul Deisler and Joe McMillan.
      A second issue being considered by the Board of Trustees pertains to the erecting of gates across the porch in order to keep persons from sleeping on the property. My experience with another church in an urban location proved that there are other ways to help homeless persons than by incurring health and safety risks. It would take about $2,000 to construct such gates that could be opened on Sunday or other special occasions.
      Again, the Board of Trustees solicits your response to this decision. Trustees currently serving include Dennis Murphy, Tommie Pinkard, Jim Tomasek, Mark McCoy, Vic Appel and George Lemley.
      Finally, there is the issue of relocation. As you will find announced elsewhere in the newsletter, a special Sunday meeting has been called on March 25th for the airing of views before a final recommendation is brought to the congregation. It could be of considerable help for the incoming permanent minister to have this decision made before his or her coming. We have learned from Vic Appel that in his conversation with the owner of the lot north of the church that it is not the intention to sell it or the Cadeau, which he also ownsÉ So the lot continues to be available on Sunday morning and after 6:30 pm daily. I learned from University Presbyterian Church that it has no plans to build a parking garage. But I also learned that the University Coop parking diagonally across from CCA and the one fronting Nueces is available for parking daily after 5:30 pm and on Sunday mornings. I've learned from University Baptist Church that there may be up to twenty spaces that CCA could lease on Sundays. Obviously the parking issue is a major one to consider, in regard to relocation.
      May this congregation's future be blessed as these issues are resolved.

Shalom Rich Thompson
 
 

Acknowledgments

Eden residents join me in thanking you for your gift of $500.00 for the Annual Fund. Your gift is truly appreciated and will greatly enhance our commitment to provide Christian ministry to Eden Home Family.

- Betty Doeppenschmidt, AssociateDirector of Fund Development, Eden Home

Faith Food Pantry: thank you for your support. I show $300 received in 2000, and we have received $600 of your Dec. 2000 gift in January 2001. -Martha Loer

4 Sermon: "Giving Up?" Scripture: Luke 4:1-13 Richard Thompson, Interim Pastor, preaching
11 Guest Preacher, Rev. Robert Breihan, Director of New Life Institute Counseling Center
(The Interim Pastor will be away from March 10 - 16)
18 Sermon: "Making Sense of Senseless Suffering" Scripture: Luke 13:1-9, Rev. Thompson, preaching
25 Sermon: "Redeeming Waste" Scripture: Luke 15:1-32 Rev. Thompson, preaching

MEETINGS
1 7:30 pm Centennial Committee 18 12:20 pm Board of Christian Education

8 7:30 pm Board of Deacons 20 7:00 pm Coordinating Council

13 7:30 pm Board of Trustees
 
 

MARCH BIRTHDAYS TO CELEBRATE

9 Debbie Herst 22 Kristin Galle
14 Lisa Leaf, Margit Frances Briggs 23 John Herst
15 Clark Hubbs, Mary Sinclair 26 John Towery
17 Lori Gooding 27 Mary Herst
 
 

Our Corporate Worship
4 - Communion Steward - Paul Deisler

Scripture Readers    Time With Children     Ushers_________________  Acolytes_ _
4 John Burlinson       Rich Thompson        George Lemley, Ben White   Sarah Moore
11 Jeri Winter          Pat Oakes              Tommie & Doyal Pinkard       Ava Jean Deisler
18 Lisa Kirch            Rich Thompson        Karl & Andrea Putz             Junior Bowles
25 Cecile Ervin         Carol Burlinson          Don & Sharon Brown           Olivia Deisler

Hosts, Fellowship Hour
4 Vic & Jean Appel 11 - Valentine Potluck 18 - Mary Sinclair, Lynne Lemley 25 - Paul & Ellen Deisler

OTHER HATS OFF. . .
      Craig Headley and Doyal Pinkard chaperoned six young people attending Brazos Asso. Youth Rally in Weimer, Texas, Feb. 17: Jake Burlinson, Jeff Lemley, Junior Bowles, Bree and Kathleen Hawes-Domingue and friend.
      Our appreciation to ALL who come to the church on designated work days, as well as on other occasions. Basement refurbishing continues; gardening activity (pansies planted); church school rooms/nursery attention, all in readying the facilities and grounds for our upcoming Centennial Celebration., March 31 - April 1, 2001.
      Special and unique gifts of members and friends were on display at our Talent Show, coordinated by Nodie Murphy and the F & Fellowship Committee, Suzanne VanderPoel, Chair, on Friday night, February 23rd. The fun affair, with food, was a Benefit for the Homeless and the Music Department of Huston-Tillotson College. Thanks to all the talented people on came on board.

      Our church is waiting on the edge of a lot of things that are about to be. But one thing that has already happened is a February 17 meeting of Brazos Association youth at Weimer, where they shared sports, food, stories, and plans. They came back wanting to invite Association youth to a meeting here in Austin. Meanwhile they participated in a Talent Show, put on as a fundraiser for the HomelessCommission and Huston-Tillotson's music program on Friday, February 23 - still in the future as this goes to press. If you are reading this from far away, you'll just have to wait till next month to hear what happened, but it is being put on by some of the same people who brought Swanee to the stage in Round Rock to rave reviews: Melanie Wilkinson, Nodie Murphy, and Sally Tomasek. Since Sally is great with child (the due date is now - maybe) the whole Talent Show may end up in her hospital room.
      On Ash Wednesday, February 28, we are all invited to participate with University Presbyterian Church and University Baptist Church in an Ash Wednesday Service at 6:30 at University Presbyterian Church. And on Sunday, March 4, youth and adults will take part in CROP Walk, in which we can all be either participants or sponsors.
      On Sunday, February 18, our interim pastor, Rev. Rich Thompson, gave us a rare treat: the recreation of John Frederick Oberlin. Complete in clerical collar and tricorn hat, he became John Frederick Oberlin, the Alsatian pastor and philanthropist for whom Oberlin College is named.
      Bee Polomé attended and announced that at least two Oberlin graduates were performing on February 21 at the Wednesday Morning Music Club (where Marie Scheel and Louise Whitworth are members): Malcolm Arnold, organ concerto and Marilyn Babcock, soloist. In the viola section would be her daughter, Lana Harris, and her son, Evan Harris, on bass.
      This month we are happy to report that Hildegard and Rizer have not only stayed away from hospitals but have been regularly walking across to the central dining hall for their midday meals, Hildegard using the four-wheeled walker. At the direction of her therapist, she also does weight-lifting exercises, using a couple of cans of vegetables wrapped in a plastic bag. Rizer says his main prowess as a cook is shown on Sunday mornings when he heats ready-cooked sausages and waffles for Sunday morning breakfast. Bless them both! He has been transcribing her memories for our history project, and she even told one story to Catherine for this newsletter:
      When she was a girl, the church invited a young minister to interview. The whole church was entertaining him, and when it was turn for the girls' youth group, they decided to take him out of town to the hills. They took him out to Turkey Foot, a three-prong intersectionon Bull Creek. At the low-water crossing, water got in the car's spark plugs, and it stopped. The girls were able to hitch up their skirts and get across, but the young man had long trousers on. So the girls made a seat by locking their arms and carried him across the creek. When she let her mother know what had happened, Mrs. Kuehne told her not to repeat the story. Maybe the young minister was afraid of the strong frontier women at the Congregational Church or afraid of drowning in our creeks. At any rate, he accepted a call from San Antonio.
      We are sorry that both Jim Tomasek and Jean Appel are having to undergo changes in their medicines, and the process is painful. You are both in our prayers. But we are glad that Vic and Jean were able to participate in a family reunion on February 17-18 in San Antonio, where Cheryl was attending a physical therapy conference and Debbie came out to join them. Cheryl was also celebrating the completion of her Master's of Science degree, which she had obtained at the end of a two-year program completed while working in Madison, Wisconsin as a pediatric physical therapist with the Madison Independent School District. Her degree is with the Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in Provo, Utah for her participation in a distance learning program involving a week at a time on campus and extensive, mentor-monitored home assignments, culminating in a research project. Not the least of her joys is an increase in salary as she works with children in Madison. Congratulations, Cheryl!
      Matt Blackstock tells us that they will have more information about his son-in-law's (Jim Sprinkle's) outlook when they are able to perform some definitive tests in May. Please keep us posted, Matt. He says that his stepmother, Graham Blackstock, is apparently getting on fairly well since she moved East to be closer to her sister and niece. He is most concerned about his friend John Hayes, who has to depend on a breathing machine. We are sorry, Matt. Our high-tech civilization doesn't have all the answers. God bless you and him. Our thoughts and prayers are also with Dennis Murphy and his aunt, who has had to stop chemotherapy for her cancer.
      Thanks to Mary Sinclair and Richard Jackson, who, with help from Ben White and a borrowed van, were able to bring our refugee family and friends Micheline and John to celebrate with us at church the first anniversary of their arrival in Austin from the Congo. Martin has a computer-assembly job with Solectron. Judith has a temporary computer-assembly job with Tyrex. Eric came up for the day from the Job Corps in San Marcos, where he has completed his three-week orientation, and is embarking on a one-to-two-year training program, which will provide him with a Graduation Equivalency Diploma, English as a Second Language skills, driver's education, and a trade. He is interested in automechanics but right now is to receive some training as a welder and/or electrician. Richard and Mary saw him off on the bus the day he left for San Marcos, and Richard went down to have lunch with him on the 11th. The children all seem happy and healthy. To increase their English language skills Gedeon and Kyria will repeat kindergarten and first grade, respectively, next year, probably at Little Walnut Creek School since AISD is having to split the Barrington School district.
      George Lemley's maternal grandmother, Mrs. Fred (Exie) Blair died on the 16th, and George and Jeffrey drove up to Lubbock to attend her funeral. She was a tiny woman, about four feet ten inches tall. Fred, her husband, was six feet four. Lynne says that it's fun to look at their pictures together. They had seven daughters and one son, and Exie lived to be 104. As Lynn says, that's quite an accomplishment!
      We heard from Maggie Taylor, who is recovering from a bad case of flu. Until the last two days or so, when was running a temperature of 102 and is still on antibiotics. But she is in the last stage of her study for a doctorate as a nurse-practitioner and has a fellowship this year to complete her dissertation. She also works eight hours a week with the People's Community Clinic and another four hours with Lifeworks Outreach for the Homeless. Her research has centered on adolescent, homeless girls. Right now she is looking forward to a visit from her younger brother from Pueblo, Colorado, who has recently lost his wife. They haven't seen each other for a number of years, and he is now coming to see her on the way to vacation on South Padre Island.
      Jamie, who also was laid low by the flu bug, has received the results from his PSAT. He has taken it as a sophomore for practice before taking it as a junior. But he scored in the 96th percentile overall, with a 93 in math and a 99 in verbal. Congratulations!
      Robin Rosson is also due congratulations. Chester tells us: On Thursday, March 15, as first chair cellist with the Austin Youth Orchestra, he "played the soulful solo introduction in a stirring performance of the William Tell Overture. The large crowd of parents, high school students, and guests went wild, whistling and applauding.
      The orchestra then accompanied another young soloist, former AYO first chair cellist and current student at the Curtis Institute, Daniel McDonough, in an even more exciting performance of the Saint-Saens Cello Concerto. With the city-wide orchestra at top form, it was a memorable evening for all." Robin also has time for playing
      lead guitar with a hard rock, heavy metal band and taking part in a student-directed movie that is just finishing its filming. Congratulations, Robin!
      Did you have a chance to say hello to Johnny Freeman, friend of Joe McMillan, who joined us at our Potluck on February 11? He has applied to enter the Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary next fall. Nannette Strickland was with us on February 18, looking forward to a visit from her parents from Corpus Christi. And did you say hello to John Hood? He works for EPSIIA on the Capital of Texas Highway.
      Did you see Loretta Lewis, Jim Tomasek, and David Ross recently on Austin at Issue? Tom Spencer was hosting representatives from a number of religious institutions, both Christian and Jewish, on race and religion in Austin and how church and temple are dealing with it?
      Sarah Kirch and Julia Adams enjoy each other. They have been making valentines, and they also shopped at the City-Wide Garage Sale. Sarah's mother, Lisa, prefers planting roses, larkspur, dianthus, and bluebonnets in the garden--that is, when she isn't writing an entry for a new encyclopedia of sculpture.
      Stella Morrison still performs with Tinka's Dancing Grandmas the first Saturday of every month at Esther's at the corner of 6th and Red River. Catherine invited her to perform for us at our Talent Show, but she and the others probably can't come on such short notice.
      Flo Chiles is just back from College Station, where she watched two grandchildren, Stephen, twelve, and Sarah, eight, perform in a piano recital in the Memorial Union at Texas A. and M. Remember those days when you had to wait your turn to play before you could relax and enjoy yourself? (Catherine's aunt was a piano teacher, so she remembers.) Little ones first, and the older you got, the longer you had to wait for your turn. Grandmothers, on the other hand, always enjoy the proceedings, and Flo did.
      We caught up with Fran Briggs at daughter Paula Fracasso's house. Paula is back at work at the Entrepreneurs Foundation, where she consults with high-tech startups, giving assistance on ways to channel their charitable giving. Little Giovanni is thriving, and Michael has been on tour. Fran and Rambie are just back from Hawaii, where Rambie attended the Mayo Clinic Gastroenterology meeting. Understanding the motivation of attendees, the conference organizers scheduled all meetings from 7:30 am to 12 Noon, leaving afternoons and evenings free for sightseeing. They were able to explore the big island of Hawaii itself and Maui. The trip lasted from February 3 to 11, and they enjoyed every minute. Did you takephotos, we hope?

Adult Class Notes
      TOWARD A 21ST CENTURY SPIRITUALITY continues to be the subject for the adult Class during Lent. The topics in March include Spirituality and Grief, Spirituality and Nature, Spirituality and Work, led by Interim Pastor, Richard Thompson and Deacon Cecile Ervin.

On March 11, Sister Hannah O'Donghue of Seton Care will lead the discussion on Spirituality and Health. All in the church are invited to participate in the class that begins at 10:00 am and meets in the classroom directly ahead of the stairs on the second floor.

To share. . . The Importance of Attitude-Author Unknown
      The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude in life. To me, it is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failure, than success, than what people think or say or do. It is more important than appearances, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company, a church or a home. The remarkable thing is you have a chance to make every day the attitude you will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past, how other people will act. We cannot change the inevitable.
      The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have. That is our attitude, our life perspective, or--some may say--our faith position. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me, and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with youÉ You are the only one in charge of your attitude. (Contributed by Vic Appel)