The Congregational Church of Austin, UCC
United Church of Christ

     The Christian mystic, Meister Ekhart, once wrote: "God never gives, nor did He ever give, a gift merely that man might have it and be content with it. No, all gifts which He ever gave in heaven or on earth, He gave with one sole purpose-- to make one single gift: Himself. With all His gifts He desires only to prepare us for the one gift, which is Himself." These words are especially relevant as we draw near to Thanksgiving, the day we give God thanks for the gift of creation and celebrate the earth's bounty with a feast..
     Now I don't know what y'all eat down here in Texas for your Thanksgiving meal. For all I know its beef brisket, pulled pork, smoked sausage, key lime pie for dessert and big pitchers of iced tea. Up in New England, within turkey gobblin' call of Plymouth Rock, we do it right. Like the pilgrims before us, we eat stuffed turkey, sweet potatoes, sugared squash, buttered corn, pumpkin pie for dessert and big mugs of hot apple cider. But no matter what we eat, whether we're Texan or Yankee, we all thank God for that which grows, blossoms, bears fruit and provides us with food. The earth and all within it is God's gift. And as Meister Ekhart reminds us, through every gift God gives us, God seeks to open us to receive the Giver.
     Now it's one thing to look at a roasted turkey leg or piece of key lime pie and be thankful that my taste buds are going to be stimulated and my tummy filled. It's another to be genuinely grateful to God for providing me with this turkey leg or sliver of pie. But it's quite another to experience the very presence of God-- the life-creating, self-giving benevolence of God- through my encounter with that turkey or pie. Yet if we accept what Meister Ekhart says, this is the very purpose of that food. They're gifts that prepare us to receive the Giver. They open us to receive the very Source.
     Now that I've opened the door to getting mystical on you and your Thanksgiving meal, I might as well swing it wide open. Read the following from the Pirke Avot, a collection of mystical rabbinic writings from the second century.
     Then there's the Christian mystic, Angela of Folgino, who cried out from her soul, "This whole world is full of God...I now comprehend how small a thing is the whole world, that is to say both here and beyond the seas, the abyss, the ocean, and all things, and the Power of God exceeds and fills all."
     I guess what I'm drivin' at it is this: Thanksgiving is a great time to give thanks for the substance of God's giftsóthe soil, air, rain, pumpkins, turkeys, limes, dogs, children and countless other people, places and things that contribute to the substance of our own lives. But look deeper at them, and into them, and you just may see the very Presence of God smiling back at you. If you open your hearts and expand your minds, and not just your mouths and stomachs, you will receive the Giver with the gift.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
     Tom

     On November 18, we will be taking a special offering to support the Austin Area Interreligious Ministries Emergency Help Fund. This Fund is used by AAIM to address specific needs of homeless people, such as bus tickets, boots and shoes for employment, commercial driver's licenses for employment, criminal histories for employment records, tools for employment, and security deposits for housing. The Emergency Help Fund is supported entirely by the generosity of local congregations.
     On November 18, AAIM will also be hosting its 17th annual Interreligious Thanksgiving Service at First United Methodist church in downtown Austin at 3 PM. Following the service, there will be a time of conversation and fellowship in the church's Family Life Center across the street at 13th and Lavaca.
 

     Beginning the first Sunday of November, and then continuing every first Sunday of the month, we will be taking a food offering to support Austin-area food banks. Sharing food was one of the primary ways Jesus communicated the presence of God's love to people in his day. As we gather around Christ's banquet table on Communion Sunday, let us share food with others as an expression of God's love and desire for justice. Please bring non perishable food items to share on Communion Sunday.

     Two Bible Study groups are now meeting at our church. A Tuesday evening discussion group meets at 7:30 pm. This group is currently reading and reflecting on the Gospel of Luke. The format is to read the Gospel chapter by chapter and to reflect on it in cultural historical context as well as its meaning for life today. A Thursday evening group is also meeting at 7:30 pm. This group reads short passages from scripture and reflects upon them. The format is to share five readings of the same passage and to hear them in a deeper or fresh way each time. This format includes several short periods of quiet reflection. Please join us for one of both of these Bible Studies.

     A simple brunch will follow immediately after worship for those who have been worshipping with us and would like to learn more about our church, people who are considering membership , and people who have decided to join our church. If you fall into any of those categories, please join us at the brunch. This will give you the opportunity to learn more about our church and the Deacons an opportunity to get to know you.WE HOPE TO SEE YOU ON THE 4TH!

WOMENS BOOK CLUB
     All women of the church, and friends, are invited to participate in the Women's Book Club. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 12, at 7:30 pm, Sara Ross, Host, 6705 Lexington Rd. The book under consideration: Between Cross and Resurrection: A Theology of Holy Saturday, by Alan Lewis. The group plans to take a chapter at a time. Corliss Gaspsarri has agreed to lead the discussion.

     The Christian Church's season of Advent begins on December 2 and runs through Christmas Day. We invite you to prepare for Advent by marking your calendar with the following worship events at our church.

     On Sunday, December 9, at 3:00 pm, Tom VandeStadt will be officially installed as the pastor of the Congregational Church of Austin. Members of the South Central Conference and Brazos Association will be present to participate in this service of worship and celebration. Please mark your calendars and plan on being present to share this joyous afternoon with your church.
     Parking will be available through 5 pm, at the lot on 2306 Nueces, the church's parking lot for Sunday events. Please pick up your parking permit!

OF NOTE: New Year Blood Drive
     Keep your calendar open for Saturday, January 19th, Our church would like to host a blood drive for the neighborhood (including other churches/religious institutions and university students) that day. Sign-up sheets will be put in the fellowship room for people to indicate their interest. Basic criteria for donation is that the donor must be 17 years old, weigh at least 110 lbs, and be in good health.
     More detailed criteria will be put next to the sign-up sheet. Please let Andrea Putz know if you are interested but cannot make it that day.

NOVEMBER MEETINGS SCHEDULED

 1 - Board of Deacons, 7:30 pm, at the church
11 - Board of Trustees, at the church after worship
12 - Women's Book Club, 7:30 pm, Sara Ross, Host, 6705 Lexington Rd., (451-1114)
28 - Men's Book Club, 7:30 pm Mel Oakes, Host, 2507 Briargrove (442-0521)
     Great Gatsby

CHURCH DIRECTORY NOTICES

Galle, Kristin 915-388-0929
P.O. Box 1884, Kingsland, TX 78629

Everett, Rizer & Hildegard
rizere@prodigy.net

Gage, Rev. John R.
112 Livingston St., #D1 203-675-9161

Towery, John & Eleanor
padre@grandecom.net

Winter, Jeri 294-4654
11500 Jollyville, #1823 78759

Karl & Andrea Putz 238-8618
14300 Tandem Lane, #227 78728

Brown, Heulen
sec783@c.s.com

Headley, J. Craig 851-0320
Cell: 573-5324

OCTOBER "HATS OFF"

Scripture Readers:
 7 - Matt Blackstock
14 - Dennis Murphy
21 - Corliss Gasparri
28 - Lynne Lemley

Time With Children:
  7 - Tom VandeStadt
14 - Tom VandeStadt
21 - Craig Headley
28 - John Burlinson

Ushers:
  7 - Vic Appel, Ned Murphy
14 - Ben White, Jake Burlinson
21 - Jamie Adams, Mark McCoy
28 - Karl & Andrea Putz

Hosts of Fellowship Hour:
  7 - Suzanne VanderPoel & Dick Jackson
14 - Suzanne VanderPoel, Tommie Pinkard, Cathy Hubbs
21 - UN Day/Octoberfest International Potluck
28 - Frances Alford

HANDS ON HOUSING UPDATE
     "An energetic group showed up early Saturday morning, Oct. 13, to floor the living room of a family in the St. Johns neighborhood," according to Mel Oakes. An eighty-eight-year- old man, in a wheelchair, his wife and daughter occupy their home. The team: Matt Blackstock, Heulen Brown, Norma Hawes, Robin Chapman and daughter Alex, Karl & Andrea Putz, Catherine Hubbs, and the daughter of the house. Our church was partnered with the Austin Police Department, with their main effort being on Sunday.

Among Etymological Trivia

It was the accepted practice in Babylon, 4,000 years ago, that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer, and because their calendar was lunar-based, this period was called the "honey month" or what we know today as the honeymoon. In Scotland, a new game was invented, entitled "Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden." Thus, the word "golf" entered into the English language.

     The whole Congregational Church was awaiting the news: Emily Grace Knowlton arrived at 8:16 pm on Oct. 1 at Seton Northwest. Delivery was normal, and the Appel clan had a chance to see the newborn, with the young cousins comparing Emily's nose, toes, hair color, etc. with the rest of the family. Tommie Pinkard felt honored to drive Jean over to the hospital, as Vic was having oral surgery, where they got their first look at Emily together. Soon after, Jean needed to spend time in the hospital herself, but she is now home. Cheryl, Debbie, Bob and Emily flew home. Tom read a beautifully written note of appreciation from Jean on Oct. 21, from the pulpit.
 

October 22, 2001

Dear Friends,

    The abundance of your caring for me and my family for the past few weeks has been more than I could possibly acknowledge to you individually. So, this is my way of saying thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your kindnesses, including delicious meals, wonderful calls, visits, notes, cards, bouquets and plants.

    Most of all, I feel that all of your expresss of caring reflect how the love of Jesus is alive and at work. Your love is Christ's love. I'm so grateful to be a part of that.

-Jean

Wil Brown thanks the entire congregation for their support, encouragement and the many gifts of flowers sent following the death of Eugene, his younger brother, on Sept. 20. He asks for continued prayers for his Mother and the whole family.
     Mary Halladay is undergoing rehabilitation therapy, following her recent shoulder operation. Mary says they put in a piece which gives movement to the arm, making it more functional. Best Wishes, Mary!
     John Burlinson reports that his mother is about to return home after her recent successful heart by-pass operation. Congratulations to the family!
     Rizer Everett reports that Hildegard is working with her physical therapist to increase her ability to use her walker. Their daughter Dot was expected to visit, and they all would like to come to church to visit us. Let's hope they get the chance.
     Cecile has been in Seattle visiting her parents. Her mother has become increasingly delusional, and Cecile is having to make difficult decisions. Our prayers are with you, Cecile!
     Catherine's bronchitis is being treated with antihistamines, steroids and inhalant, by her doctor who asked her if she'd ever had asthma before. She has an appointment with an allergist, and is hoping she will not cough in the middle of choir performance!
     On Sunday, Oct. 14, our church was represented in the Austin AIDS Walk by Tom, Robin, Alex, and Julia Deisler. Congratulations, all of you!
     Karl Putz doesn't spend all his time ripping out carpets. This week he prepares to present his dissertation proposal to the Chemical Engineering graduate faculty on Oct. 26. Best Wishes, Karl!
     Mary Sinclair has heard from our refugee family that Judith Karasi, the mother has succeeded in obtaining a job in Manchester, New Hampshire, working 5 am to 5 pm four days a week. If she keeps the job over an extended period, she will get insurance benefits. At last report, Martin Bukasa, her husband, who had been working for George Lemley, was preparing to join them. Mary, keep us posted!
     Craig Headley, who helped provide Martin with a job last summer, has begun a new job, serving as high school counselor at an Austin charter school, American Youth Works.
     Welcome back to Flo Chiles who has returned from her summer in Minnesota, where she has a cabin on the lake, next door to her sister-in-law. While there, she and her friends held an 80th birthday party because four of the eight turned eighty this year. We're glad you're back and feeling good, Flo!
     Suzanne VanderPoel has become an apartment activist. Ask her what she has been up to! Strictly because someone had to do it and nobody did, Suzanne became one of eighteen who addressed questions of health, safety, and quality of life in her housing complex. The group is asking for on-site management, elimination of undesirables, and discretion in renting. We wish them good luck! Meantime, we thank Suzanne and the Fun & Fellowship Committee for wonderful potlucks.
     Rambie and Fran Briggs recently attended Rambie's forty-fifth high school reunion (Thomas Jefferson High School in San Antonio), which was held at Tapatio Springs near Boerne. The following day they were able to explore some family history and homesteads in Bandera.
     Paul & Ellen Deisler have been busy this October. On the 4th they attended Academic Convocation 2001 at Texas A & M, at which the 125th anniversary of Texas A & M was celebrated. Dr. Harold Shapiro, immediate past President of Princeton University, featured speaker, gave an excellent talk on science and ethics. As Paul did his undergraduate work at A & M, and his graduate work at Princeton, the occasion was a double pleasure for him. They enjoyed the regalia and choral music, and afterward had the pleasure of a free Aggie Band concert. (Paul is unbiased. He says it's the best military band in the world.)
        On Oct 10 the Deislers attended the twenty-fifth anniversary of the CIIT--Centers for Health Research in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Paul was invited to attend as one of the founding directors. He was very much impressed with their research into the mechanisms underlying various chronic toxic effects. Paul has evidently ended up as de facto manager in the early days, working with the architects, and he remarked that no one had to show him where the restrooms were. They were right where he put them twenty-five years ago.
     Pat Oakes took Columbus Day weekend to see Emily (and incidentally Emily's parents) in Iowa City. (Pat's students were at a retreat at Mo Ranch, so she didn't have to write up long lesson plans.) With Beth and Eugene, they entertained the concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra one evening, went apple picking, and attended the Congregational Church where Beth and Eugene are members.
     It was Louise Whitworth who took the longest trip of all when she accompanied her granddaughter, Christine Bara, on a business trip to England. The were in Birmingham for three days and Cambridge, three days, but Christine built into the trip some extra days to go sightseeing with her grandmother. while Christine attended a class in London, Louise went exploring. Together they saw a presentation of The Phantom of the Opera, went to Buckingham Palace, enjoyed a Dali exhibit and, on a lovely day, took a cruise down the Thames. Glad you went ahead with your plans, Louise!

A Note of Thanks
Louise thanks Mary Sinclair who filled in for her at the office while she was out of the country.

     Pat said that on her trip over Columbus Day everyone on the planes and in the airports was so helpful and kind to everyone else. When Clark and Catherine took flights Oct. 18-19, they found the same situation, and it was notable that all their flights (on American) were full. Catherine did have a forgotten pair of nail scissors removed from her purse by baggage checkers. She was relieved rather than upset, and the supervisor made a note of the checker who discovered the scissors. Airports and airlines are meeting the challenge.

BRAZOS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING
     On Oct. 13, the Brazos Association of the South Central Conference met in Coupland. attending from our church: Tom VandeStadt, Corliss Gasparri, Tommie and Doyal Pinkard, Jim Tomasek, and John Towery. Tommie is our delegate to the Brazos Association, and John Towery is the Brazos Association Representative on the Board of the South Central Conference. An excellent address on Stewardship was given by our own Wil Brown, speaking as Associate Conference Minister of South Central Conference.

UCC WOMEN'S NEWS
     Eight of our Congregational Church members attended the Southern Regional Biennial Meeting of UCC Women at the end of September, held at Pass Christian, Mississippi: Fran Briggs, Heulen Brown, Florence Castle, Corliss Gasparri, Catherine Hubbs, Tommie Pinkard, and Mary Sinclair. We were so proud of Nodie Murphy and Florence Castle, who led the inspiring music program for the entire conference. Any number of conference attendees came up to shake their hands and tell them how much the music direction had meant to them. We had the opportunity of renewing our old friendship with Karlyn Stephens of South Central Conference's Back Bay Mission and had the opportunity to revisit Back Bay Mission to see all that they have accomplished and rebuilt since the day when they were evicted to make room for gambling casinos! And we had the opportunity of cementing friendships within our own group. In 2003 the regional meeting will be held in Talladega, Alabama, and several groups of us may travel together by bus.