| THE VISITOR |
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The Congregational Church of Austin, UCC
United Church of Christ
408 W. 23rd Street, Austin, TX 78705-5214 (512)472-2370
Fax: (512)472-1175 e-mail: ucausti@SWBell.net
http://congregational.faithweb.com
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Rev. Thomas J. VandeStadt, Pastor
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Rev. John Towery, Pastor Emeritus
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Go Back to Galiee
The original ending of Mark's Gospel includes the words spoken by a mysterious young man dressed in white at the empty tomb. "Go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee, there you will see him, as he told you."
These words are among the most significant in the story. Go back to Galilee, to the very beginning of your story with Jesus, to the place where you spent most of your time with Jesus. He'll meet you there.
On one level, you would think this is exceedingly good news for Jesus' followers. Jesus lives! He's raised from the dead! He's going to meet us back in Galilee! Hooray!
But on another level, I can't help but think: Wait a second. Jesus is going to meet us back in Galilee. What for? What does Jesus have in mind for us back in Galilee? What's Jesus going to tell us to do once we see him again in Galilee?
On one level, we feel astonishment at the empty tomb. Oh my God, Jesus is back! We're still his disciples! The story has not ended after all!
On another level: Wait a second. This story's not over. Jesus is back, and he has more in store for us. We're still his disciples, and it's definitely not safe being one of Jesus' disciples right now.
In a clever move, the author of Mark's Gospel points us from the end of the gospel back to the very beginning of the gospel. Go back to Galilee. You will see Jesus there. You'll begin all over again with him. But looking back at everything that has just transpired in the gospel, I'm not convinced I really want to go back to Galilee right now to see what Jesus has in store for me. Despite my astonishment and joy at learning that Jesus lives, I'm not convinced I want to continue this discipleship thing back in Galilee.
Think about it.
All that traipsing around Galilee, to the other side of the River Jordan, up to Sidon and Tyre, down to Judea, back over the Jordan, on to Jerusalem. With no bag, no bread, no money, no extra clothes.
The constant, persistent, needy crowds. Throngs of sick people clamoring all around you wherever you go--touching, grabbing, clutching, shouting, begging, demanding.
All those lousy boat trips across the Sea of Galilee. The wind, the waves, the deadly storm.
The arguments with the Pharisees and scribes. Their anger, insults, threats.
And what happened in Jerusalem. The big to-do in the Temple. The chief priest going ballistic. The Roman centurions licking their chops wanting to get their hands on us. The arrest in the middle of the night. The angry mob. The crucifixion. It was all so gut-wrenching, excruciating, horrible. We barely got out alive. I don't want to go through all that again. And now that Jesus has been publically condemned and executed by the most powerful authorities in the land, being associated with him is more dangerous than ever.
"Go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee, there you will see him, as he told you."
The end points us back to the beginning, opening up the possibility that the end of the story is not the end at all. But the gospel also leaves us with a big open question: will the disciples hear the news that Jesus lives after the frightened women run off and remain silent, and if they do hear, will they go back to Galilee to follow Jesus as his disciples in a setting far more dangerous than the one in which they first answered his call?
The author's strategy is brilliant here, because what he's really doing is addressing the reader. And what he's really saying is you, the reader of this gospel, have heard the news, right here in this gospel, that Jesus is risen, so the big open question aimed directly at you is this--will you go back to Galilee and will you follow Jesus as his disciple?
Go back to Galilee. It's a metaphor. You don't literally have to go back to Galilee to go back to Galilee. It means Jesus died, but his story is not over. Jesus calls you. Follow him. Its hard work, and scary sometimes, but follow him.
On Easter Sunday, we like to celebrate Christ's resurrection with unbridled joy and enthusiasm. As we should. But the original ending of Mark's Gospel reminds us that along with the astonishment of Easter, there is also the call to go back to Galilee. Along with the unbridled joy and enthusiasm, the difficult, dangerous, sometimes scary work of discipleship continues.
In this church, after our big Easter celebration, after expressing our astonishment and joy, we'll all hear the call: go back to Galilee. And responding to the call, we'll take off our Easter suits, clear out the Easter flowers, roll up our sleeves, and get back to the difficult, challenging, and sometimes scary work that we do as disciples of Jesus Christ.
But Easter transforms this work. We'll do it now with the knowledge that our lives have been broken open and renewed in some way. Our hearts and minds have been liberated from some of that fear of death that grips us so deeply within, that fear that diminishes our living and confines our discipleship to that which seems safe, secure, and acceptable to the world around us. We've been liberated to love more openly, hope more boldly, and act more prophetically.
So brothers and sisters, Christ is risen. Christ is risen, indeed!
And he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him.
And there I will see you.
Tom
The Board of Christian Outreach met 3/25 at Central Market. Among the many things we discussed was that we would like to find a way to inform the congregation about Outreach ministries; to create awareness, support, and opportunities for service. From this discussion has come the Outreach Moment. On the third Sunday of each month, members of the BCO will take a minute or two to talk about a specific ministry. We promise to be extremely brief! Let us know what you think. Our next meeting will be 5/14/09. Feel free to talk to anyone on the Board with any thoughts before that date.
Trustees: Jaime Hadley & Rhys Ulerich
Deacons: Barbara Burnham
Christian Outreach: Dan Jeffery
Moderator John Goff
WORSHIP GIFTS
June will be here soon. If you have a poem, song, dramatic reading or some other offering you would like to share with the congregation during the summer, please contact Nodie Murphy at 255-4602, or by e-mailing: nodienice@gmail.com --or see her after Sunday service
PERSONALS
by Pat Oakes
The annual Lenten worship service and luncheon took place on Friday, March 27. In attendance were Dave and Sara Ross, Barbara Burnham, Tom VandeStadt (who led the thought-provoking service), Florence Castle (who did a wonderful job on the piano), Louise Whitworth, Marie Scheel, Mathis Blackstock, Cathy Hubbs, Marilyn Vaché, Jim Masur, Vic Appel, Jaime Hadley, Mel and Pat Oakes, and Bill Beardall. Everyone missed John and Eleanor Towery who had hoped to come, but Eleanor wasn't feeling well that day--and there was quite a rainstorm to contend with (however, the rain was much needed). The Deacons served lunch after the service which everyone enjoyed.
The annual brunch after the church service on Easter Sunday was a great success, because of the help of many contributors. Many thanks to Hannah Norton, Joan Mueller, Marilyn Vaché, Betty Bodman, Fran and Rambie Briggs, Suzanne Vanderpoel, Doris Williams, Jaime Hadley, Tommie Pinkard, Lynne Lemley, Pat Oakes, and Claudia Rueda. The enthusiastic crowd of more than 80 folks enjoyed a repast of ham and asparagus roll-ups, deviled eggs, mozzarella balls and crackers, marinated shrimp, scones, berries and cream. mango mousse, cupcakes, chocolate cake. hot chocolate, coffee, and punch. The experiment with using the very large table in the center of the fellowship room seems to be working out well--and was especially helpful on Easter Sunday as it was much easier to serve everyone!
A moving moment during the brunch was the dedication of a framed portrait of our wonderful Melanie Wilkinson. The portrait now hangs in the fellowship hall, a reminder of all the joy Melanie brought to us. Dave Ross took the photo atop Mt Bonnell at the sunrise service two years ago. Melanie, who died tragically in an auto accident just before Ash Wednesday, sang for us every Easter for a number of years. Melanie's sister and brother-in-law, Cheryl and Junius Woods were with us for worship and the dedication on Easter Sunday.
The Easter egg hunt was almost the Easter egg hunt that wasn't. With the demise of the Board of Christian Education and the reassigning of duties, the egg hunt got overlooked--until Jen Howicz remembered just a few days before Easter. Bless her and Robin Chapman, Alex VandeStadt, Becky Nash and others, who leapt into action, decorated eggs and got other treats which were duly hidden on Easter Sunday and hunted by a delighted group of children. Our beautiful garden, kept looking so lovely by Nancy Edison and Sharon Brown, made a great place to hide more eggs.
Marguerite White is recuperating from surgery on Maundy Thursday to remove a small malignancy from her tongue. They caught it early and she will require no further treatment. Both Marguerite and Ben were delighted to have doctor son Carl in from Denver at the time of the surgery. As Ben says, "Carl speaks "hospitalese!" Carl stayed for several days and then son Cappy came in from Davis, CA. Marguerite was using a feeding tube for a while after the surgery, but her swallowing and chewing were also going fine. She is continuing her recuperation at home.
Everyone was delighted to see Jeri Winter two Sundays in a row--Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. Jeri was in town doing a favor for friends. Jeri works in a house painting business in the Chicago area and was invited by dear friends here to use her expertise to help them paint their brand-new new house. Jeri was having a great time picking out great colors and also teaching her friends how to do it themselves.
Brita Jenquin and her husband, now living in Stony Brook, NY, welcomed a new daughter on March 30 -- Beatrix Emmanuelle Jenquin. Konrad is very excited to be a big brother and has already given her the nickname "Babytrix". They miss Austin terribly and hope they will be able to come visit when Beatrix is a bit older.
Another new baby is being welcomed into our extended church family. Michael Adams and Kerry Manning are grandparents again! Jamie and Lauren Adams and their son Philip are delighted to announce the arrival of Stephen Robert Adams on Thursday, April 9, 2009 at 10:27 a.m. He weighed in at 6 pounds and 9 ounces and was 19 and 1/4 inches long.
Bill and Betty Phillips were missed on Easter Sunday, but they decided to stay home because it was raining. They didn't know that the rain would stop and the skies would clear just before the service started! Betty has been recuperating from the concussion she incurred when she slipped while cleaning the bathroom in early March. In addition to the concussion, Betty has just started a full-time temporary job grading exit level (11th grade) TAKS essays. She is enjoying many creative papers (handwritten, 2 pages, scanned and on a computer screen) but admits that she is appalled by many of them. Bill is doing much better since his heart ablation several months ago. In fact, he is working out at the 24 Hour Fitness Center near him and is enjoying feeling good!
Michelle Thompson is enjoying doing some choreography in addition to dancing, working with Stephen Mills and his new ballet for the apprentices for the Austin Ballet Theater "Spring Thing." She choreographed two pieces in the program. The performances were at the Austin Ventures Studio Theater in the Ballet Austin Building (501 West 3rd Street). One of the pieces she created was for the upper division of the school and she used music by Vivaldi. The other piece was for the Trainees and she used music by M. Ward and Jordan Moser. Jordan Moser is a dancer in the company and, according to Michelle, he has incredible music writing and singing skills. Michelle is delighted to use a local musician.
Liz, Reuel, and Becky Nash, and Becky's boyfriend, Jake, arrived in Paris to visit Ellie on Friday March 6th and were there until March 19th. A family friend, Cathie Smith, who's studying at St. Louis University in Madrid, joined them on March 7th and stayed until the 14th. Ellie's boyfriend, Taylor, arrived on the 13th and stayed until the 23rd. They had such a good two weeks (aside from not getting to see Annie in Paris). They did the usual touristy things- Arc de Triomph, Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Notre Dame, Versailles, a Seine boat cruise (at sunset), etc., but they also did some wonderful extra things like the Paris Catacombs (all except for Reuel, who decided to skip that due to the fact that travel guru Rick Steves warned that it's not too comfortable for those over 6'2"), Cité des Sciences (a terrific science museum), Sacré Coeur, Les Invalides (the army museum and site of Napoleon's tomb), and Le Parc des Buttes-Chaumont. They tried out restaurants, their favorite being La Varangue, which is near the Eiffel Tower and is run by Phillipe, an eccentric Parisian man who likes to be involved in everything going on in his tiny restaurant. Ellie's host family also invited the family over for dinner one night, which was really fun but incredibly exhausting for Ellie, who was the translator. The Nashes and Taylor could say "merci" and the Schumachers could say "Are you fine?", but both families love to talk, so Ellie got to do a lot of work. Liz and Reuel brought some necessities from home for Ellie-- Girl Scout Thin Mints and Peanut Butter Patties among other things! The second week that the Nashes were there (which was also the week that Taylor was there) was absolutely gorgeous weather-wise. They walked through the Luxembourg Gardens, which were full of Parisians taking advantage of a warm day and at Versailles they walked over to Louis XIV's Pièce d'Eau des Suisses (Piece of Water of the Swiss People- basically a big man-made lake) and just sat for awhile taking in the scenery. Ah, Paris in the spring!
Rich and Jane Thompson recently returned from attending their third Literary Sojourn Saturday in Steamboat Spring (four hours over the mountains from Fort Collins where they now live). Among the luminaries this year was National Book Award-Winner Nathaniel Philbrick whose newly published MAYFLOWER is a must-read for Congregationalists. The MC for the occasion was the world-famous dictionary authority Erin McKean, from whose Totally Weird and Wonderful Words include "ratomorphic," meaning " someone who refused to believe that people have any mental processes that can't be shown to exist in lower animals." More advance practice for "The Church Ladies!"
Speaking of The Church Ladies, they did not participate in the Great Grown-Up Spelling Bee for the Literacy Coalition of Central Texas this year. The big day was on Maundy Thursday and team member Susan Richter from Central Presbyterian Church was singing with the choir at their noon service. The Church Ladies felt that it was OK to pass this year. The team is planning a comeback for next year. Stay tuned. They will be soliciting funds for the team, getting an early start in January.
MAY BIRTHDAYS
2 Louise Froelich
4 Stephen Luna
6 Fran Briggs
Brita Jenquin
8 Kathi Foster
11 Mel Oakes
Brian Duff
13 Florence Castle
Graylin Grissett
Pamela Hedgecock
22 Julia Kato Kaneda
23 Heather Cole Fernandez
Ben White
26 Matthew Wilding
28 Gregg Appel
29 Matthew Tomasek
Sam Morgan
30 Kathleen Hawes-Domingue
31 Louise Whitworth
WEBSITE FOR MELANIE WILKINSON MEMORIALS
Melanie Wilkinson's family has set up a website for her friends to contact:
They asked that memorial gifts in Melanie's name be sent to the American Cancer Society. Melanie's mother and grandmother both died of cancer, and she often participated in the "Walk for Life" campaigns. There is a link to that charity on the website.
BRAZOS ASSOCIATION NEWS
The Brazos Association welcomes, at our spring meeting on Sunday, April 26, those who have agreed to serve as Association officers and committee members. Rev. Mary Wilson, pastor of Church of the Savior, has committed to serve as Vice-Moderator. Wes Davenport, member of St. John's UCC, Burton, moves from being Vice-Moderator to Moderator. Those who have committed to serve as Church and Ministry Committee members include Licensed Minister John Boydston, pastor of Evangelical UCC, Lyons and Friedens UCC, Gay Hill, as well as Anne Wehrly, member of Friends Congregational UCC, College Station and former Brazos Association Moderator. Anne is currently serving as chair of the planning committee for the Annual Meeting of the South Central Conference of the UCC with, as we say, a "full plate" until the meeting is over in early June. John and Anne are taking the places of Church and Ministry chair Rev. Ron Trimmer, pastor of Friedens UCC, Washington and Dorothy Wolff of Faith UCC, Bryan. Tim, Ron, and Dorothy have contributed a great deal of time, wisdom, and heartfelt caring to our Association. I am personally grateful to them, and I know the Brazos Association is grateful to them as well. Our Executive Board membership rotates as churches appoint them except for Treasurer Larry Winkelmann of St. John's, Burton and Secretary Kay Finch of United Christian, Austin. We are grateful to all of these members for their service and warm fellowship, along with the continuing members of the Church and Ministry Committee that oversees and nurtures our ministers and in-care students.
At our recent Church and Ministry meeting, we welcomed Ana Deter of Friends Congregational into the Licensed Ministry preparation program and we approved Rev. Karl Tewold, pastor of Faith UCC, Bryan, for dual ministerial standing in the United Church of Christ and the United Methodist Church. Ana has already completed the first part of the Licensed Ministry program of study. She currently shares her faith and leadership in many ways at Friends. Karl was called to Faith UCC last May, and is providing pastoral leadership at this time of transition and building in a new location. We appreciate his lively, engaging spirit and look forward to supporting him in his ministry at Faith.
With joy, too, we celebrate the opening worship, on Palm Sunday, of Evangelical Lyons in their new sanctuary. They are looking to fill their new, larger space with life, faith, and members. Our prayers are with them! They anticipate having a formal dedication of the sanctuary to the ministry of Christ in mid-June.
Blessings in Christ,
Liz Nash, Brazos Association Minister
DEACON'S REPORT
The Easter sunrise service was a damp but deeply spiritual celebration of the resurrection and of the new life that is nurtured in our hearts by our faith just as it is nurtured in God's creation by spring rains. The rain stopped and the light of a new day dawned just in time to allow us to share an intimate worship service beneath the freshly verdant pecan trees on the shores of Lady Bird Lake.
The Deacons are continuing preparations for hiring a new Sunday school teacher, refining the role and qualifications required, considering support structures, and seeking interested candidates. More details will be discussed with the congregation shortly as this process progresses.
We also have proceeded apace with the plans for filling our pulpit and pastoral responsibilities during Tom's sabbatical beginning in late summer and extending into the fall. In addition to finding a temporary pastor to shepherd the congregation and business of the church, we believe there will be many opportunities for members to step up and assist during Tom's sabbatical. We look forward to discussing all of this with the congregation soon.
Final preparations have taken place for the church's spring retreat at Slumber Falls Camp in New Braunfels on April 25-26. The theme of the retreat was "Mindful Citizenship." The retreat was organized by Deacon Marilyn Vache and was led by Rebecca McIlwain, an experienced community organizer who is now offering workshops on spirituality and civic life. The Deacons remind the congregation that Tom will be gone for two Sundays in May on a trip to Israel. We are looking forward to having Cecile Adam and Sarah Bentley lead our worship services during Tom's absence. Tom's trip sounds like it may be quite interesting at many levels and so we are also looking forward to having Tom share his experience and insights upon his return.
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.
Deadline for June VISITOR -- May 15
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