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If you looked carefully at our 2005 budget, you probably noticed a new item listed under our Cooperative Responsibilities: The Religion and Labor Network of Austin...$500. I thought I'd provide you with a bit of information about the RLNA since I've been very involved with it.
The RLNA began in December 2003 through a collaboration between the National Interfaith Committee on Worker Justice (now Interfaith Worker Justice, a UCC-supported workplace justice organization), and the Equal Justice Center of Austin, a social justice non-profit that uses combined strategies of community organizing, leadership development, and legal advocacy to empower low-income families and communities through systemic reforms. With a seed grant from Interfaith Worker Justice, the Equal Justice Center hired a former Interfaith Worker Justice intern, Karla Johnston-Krase, to help organize the Religion and Labor Network of Austin. Karla met with Dennis Murphy and me in my office one day, and she invited our church to participate in developing the RLNA. By May 2004, Karla had assembled a committed group of clergy, union representatives, and labor justice advocates. The RLNA was born.
Since then, the RLNA has focused most of its energy in two primary areas: identifying labor justice issues as campaigns for education and action, and creating an organizational structure to ensure its institutional strength.
In terms of labor justice campaigns, the Religion and Labor Network of Austin has been active in several arenas.
The RLNA participated in the formation of a multi-stakeholder working group to address the issue of immigrant day laborers congregating at the St. John's Home Depot, and it secured a professional conflict mediator to mediate the negotiations between Home Depot, the City of Austin, the Austin Police Department, a neighborhood organization, and the day laborers. The RLNA is also providing support as the immigrant day laborers begin to organize themselves to press for their dignity as workers.
The RLNA is working with the Equal Justice Center and the Central Texas Immigrant Worker Rights Center in an effort to support immigrant day laborers who have not been paid for their labor. On one occasion, clergy and laity joined laborers in a candlelight vigil outside an employer's home after repeated negations to recover the laborer's wages proved unsuccessful.
The RLNA responds to requests from particular labor unions to provide support to workers attempting to organize in their workplace. The RLNA sent a letter of support to America West employees who were attempting to organize, and sent a delegation to the Pepsi bottling plant to support workers organizing in the plant.
The RLNA is supporting union efforts to compel the City of Austin to enforce the prevailing wage law and to take action against contractors who violate the law.
The RLNA organized a city-wide "Labor in the Pulpits" campaign on Labor Day weekend 2004. You may recall that Louis Malfaro, President of the Central Labor Council, spoke at our church.
The RLNA is organizing a program called "Working Voices" in which faith communities invite immigrant day laborers to house meetings to share their experiences in Austin.
The RLNA is working with the UT Departments of Humanities and Religious Studies, the Texas Freedom Network, and Austin Area Inter-Religious Ministries to plan a multi-day event in April entitled "Whose Faith, Which Values...Faith, Moral Values, and Politics." The RLNA will host one of the events at the Austin AFL-CIO Hall and lift up economic justice as a faith-inspired moral value.
In terms of organizational structure, the Religion and Labor Network of Austin currently has an Executive Committee, Campaigns Committee, Education and Outreach Committee, and Fundraising Committee. All of the committees consist of clergy and labor representatives. The Network has a general monthly membership meeting, and each Committee meets monthly. I am a co-chair of the Education and Outreach Committee, and I serve on the Executive Committee.
I firmly believe the workplace is one of the frontlines in the faith-based effort to achieve justice in people's lives. It is where people spend most of their waking hours, earn their livelihood, and most directly face issues of personal safety, human dignity, and basic fairness. By bringing our conviction to do justice directly to bear on issues of safety, dignity, and fairness in the workplace, the RLNA is beginning to have a positive impact on working people's lives.
Tom
From the Board of Deacons
On Friday morning, March 4th, 11 a.m., we will hold our LENTEN WEEKDAY WORSHIP SERVICE AND LUNCHEON. Just as we did in Advent, we are inviting all our members and extending a special invitation to those who cannot make it to worship on a regular basis on Sundays. We have people ready to drive those who need a ride, and we are ready to provide special assistance to any who have limited mobility. Our Advent service provided a joyful day for both longtime and recent members to be together. We are trying to reach all of our members who cannot often join us, but we don't want to overlook anyone. Please give the church a call if you want to come and need a ride. We hope you will join us!
Also, the Deacons are now establishing a Remembrance Fund for the purpose of paying for flowers and memorials when someone in the church loses an immediate family member. This fund will be on a donation basis. In the past, we have used money from the Deacons' budget for this purpose. Since this need is difficult to predict, the Deacons have decided to change our way of addressing it. Gifts will be simply to the Remembrance Fund (rather than as a memorial to a specific person) and the Deacons will continue to send flowers from the church, or a memorial gift if the family so designates. We invite you to donate by writing a check to the church with the notation "Remembrance Fund" on it.
Highlights from Trustees
Trustees are working on an investment strategy/formula for our assets. Currently, if someone gives a non-monetary gift like stock, we keep it indefinitely. We have decided that we need to sell such gifts and invest according to our strategy. We are still hammering out what that strategy will be, but we believe it will be a more active and effective means of tending our assets.
We have located a maintenance person, Hugo Gonzalez, who comes with a recommendation that he is a "Ball of Energy". He will be doing the ongoing maintenance as needed for our building. If you have a maintenance issue, please contact Reuel Nash, our new Building and Grounds chair and he will coordinate with Hugo. Reuel will still need assistance with Building and Grounds for all who are interested.
Chairs of our Boards
Trustees:
Pam Tucker
Deacons:
Liz Nash
Christian Education:
Jennifer Howicz
Christian Outreach:
John Goff
Outreach Alert
Fair Trade Products
Sales of "fair trade" coffee and chocolate to church members has so far been very successful, with no evident let-up in demand. The board of Christian Outreach will continue to sell these items once a month during Fellowship Hour, but Tom will be happy to meet your purchase requests any time that is convenient. Profits from these sales (1$/item) are being dedicated to our emerging border ministries.
Mt Bonnell Cleanup
Our next cleanup day for Mt. Bonnell is scheduled for Saturday, March 26 - the day before Easter. Please come help get the park presentable for the Easter sunrise service.
Micah 6 Food Pantry
Last month the Micah 6 food pantry served 814 families (1923 persons)!! The need is obviously very great. The pantry continues to be in need of volunteers for a variety of tasks. Please talk to Robin Chapman if you are interested in helping out.
FROM CHRISTIAN ED
On February 11, the Board of Christian Education hosted another fun family night. The kids made chocolate Valentine pops and decorated valentine cookies, which were sold during fellowship time the following Sunday. The kids raised almost $200! At the kids' own request, the money will be donated to the Tsunami Relief efforts. Thanks to all who participated and to all who helped support the cause! The next family fun night will be held in March. We will be making Easter baskets for patients at Shoal Creek Hospital. Look for details soon.
BCE would also like to remind everyone of the upcoming retreat, April 15-17 at Slumber Falls, co-facilitated by Whit Bodman and Cecile Adam. There will also be activities scheduled for the children, so bring the entire family! More information to come. We would like to start getting a head count for planning purposes, so please call (246-3753) or email Jennifer Howicz at jhowicz@austin.rr.com if you will be joining us.
PERSONALS
By Pat Oakes
It was a joy to see the Knowlton family at church on February 13th. Vic Appel's daughter Debbie, her husband Robert, and Emily Grace, 3, and Samuel John, 4 months, were in town for a week. Actually, Robert was just here for the weekends as he was attending a meeting in Ft. Worth, but Debbie and the kids had a great week visiting with Vic. Debbie stood up in the time for joys and concerns and introduced us to Samuel. Emily Grace participated well in the children's sermon and enjoyed being in Sunday School.
Dr. Joe McMillan , President Emeritus of Huston-Tillotson College, doesn't know the meaning of the word retirement. He is staying extra busy with his new job. He is the new academic dean for the Texas College of Traditional Chinese Medicine which is located at 4005 Manchaca Road The college is the oldest college of Chinese medicine in Texas and has 100 students. He is there four days a week and is still working at the Men's Clotherie at 6929 Airport Blvd. in the Highland Village Mall, Suite 100 on Fridays.
Rizer Everett recommends reading Charles Osgood's book, Funny Letters from Famous People, which includes George Bernard Shaw's letter inviting Winston Churchill to an opening night performance of one of Shaw's plays: "Have reserved two tickets for my first night. Come and bring a friend, if you have one. Churchill replied: Impossible to come first night. Will come second night, if you have one." He is still enjoying the range of subjects in the talks presented at the meetings of the LAMP (Learning Activities for Mature People) organization. One recently was the progress being made by some companies to sustain the availability of timber in rain forests of the world. He is working with Doris Tyler some of his power point slides and the outline of a talk on "Geological Hazards" that he is preparing for presentation at a LAMP meeting next year. He enjoyed several of the golf tournaments shown recently by the television stations. Seeing the joy on the faces of Phil Mickelson's wife and daughters when he won at -17 with a birdie putt on the final hole of the tournament convinces Rizer that there are some things still right with this old troubled world.
Jeri Winter is a new aunt. She is proud to announce the birth of Elaina Lorryn Jordan, born on Thursday the 10th of February. Elaina is the daughter of Jeri's sister Megan (whom many of us met a Jeri's farewell party) and her husband Brian. Jeri is looking forward to seeing the baby often as she works only an hour away from where Megan and Brian live.
Tommy and Doyal Pinkard enjoyed a week's visit from their eight-year-old grandson Gabriel who was visiting from California during his school's spring break. It made for a full house as son Chris (Gabriel's father) and Chris's wife Rizza and their 4 month old daughter Kiana, are continuing their extended visit. Doyal and Tommie are reveling in their role as grandparents, especially in seeing the changes that occur almost daily with Kiana. Doyal reports with great gusto that being a grandparent is better than being a parent!
Mary Sinclair noted that February 17th marked the 5th anniversary of the Bukasa family's arrival in the US from the Congo. Our church sponsored them for the first 2 years they were in the States. They live in New Hampshire now where mother Judith has been battling breast cancer. She has been at home since early December as there was nothing more that could be done in the hospital. She will get hormone shots every 3 months ($2500 each!), but that is all they could offer her. Mary also reported that she and Richard celebrated Valentine's Day a day early as the 13th was Richard's 60th birthday. Belated happy birthday, Richard!
Bill and Betty Phillips are back in Panama after several weeks in Austin over the holidays. They feel themselves to be very fortunate as they have a warm and welcoming church home here and another in Panama. We can look forward to seeing them again in August. Bill, under the pen name of Diego Santiago, is enjoying writing poetry and has been published several times in The Panama News. You can Google the newspaper and look under the category of fun and then his pen name. He has nothing but praise for our choir and especially for Nodie's inspired leadership.
Frances Allford had a wonderful trip to New York with her sister Anne and her friend Yoshiko. Yoshiko had been in Texas for 16 years and had never been to the Big Apple. Frances decided that that she must see New York before going back to Japan, so they went. As is usual with Frances, the trip was an adventure--including staying at the Plaza Hotel and seeing the sights. They went to 2 Broadway plays, ate at Sardi's and the Carnegie Deli, and enjoyed people-watching. Yoshiko is safely back in Japan after thoroughly enjoying herself.
Quoting an e-mail from former members Steve and Jeanine Neuse, we hear "Hello from Thailand! Steven and I are having a great time...wats, elephants, orchids, food, new friends, etc. Going to Cambodia next, home on March 1." Amazing!
Jim Tomasek spent more than a week in St. David's Hospital being treated for dehydration and mild pneumonia. He went home on Thursday the 17th and was delighted to be surprised by a visit from his daughter Dorcas for the long President's Day weekend. We are sending good wishes your way, Jim and Mary!
David White, grandson of Marguerite and Ben White came for a surprise visit during his long Christmas vacation from Colorado College. He got to enjoy a little warmer weather than he'd had recently in Denver and Colorado Springs. He got to hone his tennis skills with some of the tougher members of Ben's tennis group and visit a few friends on the UT campus while he was here.
Michael Adams took his mom to visit family, including his dad and sister, in northeast Texas over a long weekend, missing several days of work, but rejoicing at the lift it gave his mother. His dad is not doing well, but is not going to a nursing home, at least for now. Kerry continues to improve from her serious illness at Christmas, even though her recuperation is slower than she would like. Michael recently took the whole family to the wedding of his long-time patient's mother. It was a wonderful Mexican wedding with many cultural additions not present in most weddings here--like the presentation of new rosary beads and Bible, the lazos, the flower offering to the Virgen de Guadalupe, and all the various padrinos.
Nancy Brown celebrated her 85th birthday on Feb. 16 by going out to dinner with several friends. She is doing well and has been back in church almost every Sunday--except when the weather is bad. That's another reason to wish for good weather on the weekends!
MARCH BIRTHDAYS
4 Jillian Tomasek
9 Debbie Herst
11 Alex VandeStadt
12 Jennifer Howicz
14 Lisa Leaf
Margit Frances Briggs
15 Clark Hubbs
Mary Sinclair
17 Lori Gooding
22 Kristin Galle Hampton
John Drachenberg
23 John Herst
26 John Towery
27 Mary Herst
28 David Rossiter
New E-Mail Address
Vic Appel has tired of not being able to receive e-mail with his old system, so he has a New Computer and a New e-mail address. Please contact him at his new e-mail address: vappel@sbcglobal.net
Events Coming Up
March 5 Gospel Sing Out, Proceeds to Micah 6
March 26 Mt Bonnell Clean-up
April 3 Patio BBQ for Child Sponsorship
May 21 Garage sale at Tom's house.
PARKING
Since there are only 4 spaces in our "parking lot" here at the church, parking is and will continue to be a problem.
The designated spots for "Pastor" and "Administrative Associate" make it possible for Tom and me to be here and do our jobs. That said, we don't want to be selfish about those spots when we are not actually using them.
Tom takes Monday's off, so his spot is available then. My hours are from 9 until 1 Mondays thru Fridays, so after 1 p.m. have at it! I try to ride the bus as much as possible during the week, but I always drive in (and need my parking spot) on Tuesdays.
If you are coming to the church and will need a parking space please call ahead and see if Tom's or my spot will be available (on a first come first served basis). DO NOT park first and then check if you can park, even if it is in the middle of the work day, we might be out on an errand and we might be right behind you!
Thanks, Trish
Editors Note: The two undesignated spaces are first come first served.
HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE
Sin is a fundamental stance of wanting to be what we are not. Sin is thus an orientation to falsity, a basic lie concerning our own deepest reality. Likewise, inversely, to turn away from sin is, above all, to turn away from a tragic case of mistaken identity concerning our own selves. --James Finley
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Holy Week is the culmination and climax of our Lenten journey. During Lent, we focus our attention on the pervasive reality of human sin, and the relationship between sin and Jesus' death and resurrection. During this time, some of us may ask ourselves questions like:
What exactly is human sin?
What does sin cause me to do, or prevent me from doing?
What is the relationship between sin and Jesus' death on the cross?
Is Jesus' death on the cross significant or meaningful to me?
What is the relationship between sin and Jesus' resurrection?
Is Jesus' resurrection significant or meaningful to me?
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Many answers have been offered in response to these questions. Some are superficial clichés while others are sophisticated theologies. Some I find inspirational while others I reject. One answer to the question of sin that I find helpful is James Finley's. Sin is an orientation toward falsity--falsity regarding our own identity, falsity in our relationships. Understanding sin this way would mean Jesus' death and resurrection responds to or addresses the problem of falsity in my life and within human life in general. But How? What kind of truth does Jesus' death and resurrection reveal? And how does his death and resurrections enable me to be more truthful in my identity and in my relationships?
These are some of the questions I'm asking myself during my Lenten journey this year. Hopefully, you're confronting your own.
Whatever your questions are, and wherever your Lenten journey has taken you this year, please join us for the worship experiences planned for this year's Holy Week.
Maundy Thursday, Thursday, March 24th, 7pm. On Maundy Thursday, we remember Jesus' Last Supper, Jesus' final command--to love one another as I have loved you, Judas' betrayal, Jesus' agony in the garden, and Peter's denial in the courtyard.
Good Friday, Friday, March 25th, 7 pm. On Good Friday, we remember Jesus' death on the cross as we extinguish the Advent Candles and the Christ Candle that we lit during Advent and Christmas to celebrate his birth.
Easter Sunrise Service, Sunday, March 27, Sunrise, Mt. Bonnell. We welcome the sunrise on Mt. Bonnell and celebrate Christ's resurrection. Melanie Wilkinson will sing and Rev. Liz Spencer will preach..
Easter Service, Sunday, March 27, 11:00 am. We will celebrate Christ's resurrection by making his cross come to life with living flowers.
BACK BAY MISSION TRIP
JUNE 26 to JULY 2
It's now winter, which means summer's just around the corner. You can see how my mind works! We need to begin thinking more seriously about our Back Bay Mission trip at the end of June. Here's some information that may be helpful. We can bring anywhere from 12 to 24 people. The mission work is housing rehab with a lot of scraping and painting. There is also some recreational time scheduled. We stay in dorms, and the cost is $50.00 per person for the week. Our group must purchase and prepare its own food. Our church must pay a $150 registration fee. The camp experience is geared toward High School youth and their adult chaperones. However, Junior High youth may participate as long as they are mature, willing to work, and do not consist of more than 25% of the total group. Please keep your eyes and ears open for our next information and planning meeting.
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