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From The Pastor
Blowing through the heaven and earth, and in our hearts and the heart of every living thing, is a gigantic breath--a great Cry--which we call God. Plant life wished to continue its motionless sleep next to stagnant waters, but the Cry leaped up within it and violently shook its roots: "Away, let go of the earth, walk!" Had the tree been able to think and judge, it would have cried, "I don't want to. What are you urging me to do? You are demanding the impossible!" But the Cry, without pity, kept shaking its roots and shouting, "Away, let go of the earth, Walk!"
It shouted in this way for thousands of eons; and lo! as a result of desire and struggle, life escaped the motionless tree and was liberated.
Animals appeared--worms--making themselves at home in water and mud. "We're just fine here," they said. "We have peace and security; we're not budging!"
But the terrible Cry hammered itself pitilessly into their loins. "Leave the mud, stand up, give birth to your betters!"
"We don't want to! We can't!"
"You can't, but I can. Stand up!"
And lo! after thousands of eons, man emerged, trembling on his still unsolid legs.
The human being is a centaur; his equine hoofs are planted in the ground, but his body from breast to head is worked on and tormented by the merciless Cry. He has been fighting, again for thousands of eons, to draw himself, like a sword, out of his animalistic scabbard. He is also fighting--this is his new struggle--to draw himself out of his human scabbard. Man calls in despair, "Where can I go? I have reached the pinnacle, beyond is the abyss." And the Cry answers, "I am beyond. Stand up!"
Nikos Kazantzakis. Report to Greco
The Bishop escorted Francis a short distance out into the courtyard. Bending over him, he said to him in a hushed voice, "Careful Francis. You're overdoing it."
"That's how one finds God, Bishop." Francis answered.
The Bishop shook his head. "Even virtue needs moderation; otherwise it can become arrogance."
"Man stands within bounds; God stands outside them. I am heading for God."
Nikos Kazantzakis, Saint Francis
Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany are the Christian liturgical seasons in which we focus most diligently on God's incarnation--the embodiment of God's Spirit within human flesh. In classical or traditional Christian theology, Jesus Christ is viewed as the unique incarnation or embodiment of God's Spirit within humanity. A simplistic rendition of this classic doctrine goes like this: our all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-benevolent God entered human life in the person of Jesus Christ, through whom all other human beings may be saved if they express faith in him. Not all Christians have accepted this traditional view of God, Jesus Christ, humanity, and salvation. The Greek author, Nikos Kazantzakis, was one who did not.
Kazantzakis was a highly controversial figure in his day. He rejected the classical theism embraced by Greek Orthodox and Western Christendom. Obsessed with the issues of human suffering and human freedom, he denied that God was all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-benevolent. In his writings, he championed the seemingly heretical belief that God depends in some way upon humanity for God's salvation.
Kazantzakis was greatly influenced by the philosopher, Henri Bergson, who claimed an élan vital, a vital life force, animated and propelled creation towards higher levels of complexity. Kazantzakis called this life force God, or the great Cry. He believed God transcends creation, yet simultaneously plunges Godself into creation. Immersed in matter and flesh, the great Cry struggles ceaselessly for liberation from the confines of matter and flesh. Human beings save God to the extent they respond to the great Cry calling "Help Me!" from within, and to the extent they take responsibility for liberating themselves from all that diminishes their lives and counters their movement towards greater freedom. God's great enemy is stagnation, the temptation to remain in comfortable and conforming modes of existence, and the refusal to surpass what already exists. We're just fine here...We don't want to! We can't. You can't, but I can. Stand up!
For Kazantzakis, Jesus Christ saved God through his resistance to, and liberation from, the temptations that sought to confine him to a typical Galilean life. But Jesus Christ was not the sole solitary individual within whom God's Spirit became incarnate. God's Cry calls out from within each and every person. Jesus was unique only in the absolute completeness of his lived response to God's Cry. Jesus wasn't born the Christ, he became the Christ through his response to God.
While Kazantzakis' ideas and writings still remain controversial for many Christians today, they do resonate with some movements in contemporary theology. Process theology and some strains of postmodern theology reject the same classical theism that Kazantzakis rejected, affirming instead a God who is simultaneously transcendent and immanent, and who moves or lures all creation towards greater complexity, freedom, and beauty.
This Advent and Epiphany, I'm going to offer a Christian Adult Education course that explores how Kazantzakis' writings can help us reflect a bit deeper on the issue of God's incarnation in creation, particularly in human life. We'll meet one Sunday in Advent after worship to discuss how Kazantzakis viewed God's relationship to creation. You'll be encourage to read one of his works, either The Saviors of God: Spiritual Disciplines, The Last Temptation of Christ, Zorba the Greek, or Saint Francis. We'll meet again in January, during Epiphany, to discuss the theological themes running through these works in a bit more detail. Finally, we'll gather once more to discuss how his works resonate with some contemporary movements in theology, and how this theology is relevant to our church's ministry, especially as we challenge ourselves to move into our future with highly creative new ministries.
CONCERTS IN OUR SANCTUARY
November 6: Classical guitarists Robbie Gibson, DMA student at UT's School of Music, and Michael Hardy, M.M. in music, accompanied by violinist Tori Woodrow
November 20: Classical guitarists John Galvan, Outreach Coordinator for the Austin Classical Guitar Society and Masters student at UT's School of Music, and Tom Echols, DMA student at UT's School of Music
December 4: Horns of Texas, the UT brass quintet, consisting of two trumpets, tuba, French horn, and trombone
January 29: Jazz quartet
Spring: Hoping for singer/songwriters and similar good music.
These eclectic performances will entertain you and will benefit social action projects by Micah 6, a group of nine university-area churches. The current project is a food pantry for homeless and working poor citizens.
Your $15 (students $10) donation will be shared with the University Area Micah 6 Ministry Food Pantry.
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The Congregational Church of Austin,
United Church of Christ
Invites You To Celebrate and Participate In
The Ordination Of
Cecile Ervin Adam
Sunday, November 16, 3:00 pm
Reception To Follow
Parking Available in University Baptist Lot
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Freeze Night
A chill is in the air and, hard as it is to believe, Freeze Nights (shelter for homeless youth on nights when the temperature dips below freezing) are just around the corner. The Outreach Committee is seeking volunteers to staff Freeze Nights this year. Various tasks are needed, typically covered by 3-4 volunteers: setting up, cooking dinner and cleanup after dinner, overnight stays, wakeup and breakfast, and final cleanup. Freeze Nights are also staffed by Lifeworks employees, who stay the night. In addition, we seek contributions of canned goods (soups, stews, chile, veggies, etc.), drinks (juice, coffee, hot chocolate - lots of hot chocolate!) and dry goods (crackers, cookies, paper plates and bowls, styrofoam coffee cups, plastic utensiles, etc.). Fresh socks and underpants are also tremendously appreciated by our guests. Please bring donations to the church in a bag marked for Freeze Night. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact John Goff (goff@ig.utexas.edu; 219-6663). We'll have an "on call" schedule made up by the end of November. If last year is any guide, each volunteer will typically be called to the shelter one or two times during the season.
Micah 6
The Micah 6 food pantry is expected to get underway the first of the new year. Work on renovating the space to be used for the pantry, in the University Baptist Church, is expected to begin in November. Volunteers might be requested to help in the build-out. If you are interested, contact John Goff and we'll forward your name if the call goes out.
Christmas Dinner
The Outreach Committee will be coordinating the Christmas Dinner for the homeless this year. These have been tremendously successful the last couple of years - large numbers of volunteers, large number of diners, and a fun time for all. We are looking for a volunteer to be Kitchen Coordinator for the Christmas meal. This position carries an enviable perk: the wearing of Santa's Hat
Christian Education Matters
The Christian Education Committee hosted a successful Sunday School kick-off waffle breakfast and Christian Education Sunday. The Sunday School teachers have been enthusiastic about the new curriculum with weekly themes that, wherever possible, are being reinforced during children's time to provide continuity between the church service and Sunday School class. Please sign up in fellowship hall for a date when you can assist the Sunday School teacher for the elementary-age kids. The kids have a lot to offer you!
On November 2, 2003, the Sunday School will be hosting fellowship hour and is requesting that each family of Sunday School participants bring in a kid-friendly contribution to that effort.
The annual pumpkin-carving event is planned for October 24, 2003, and the kids are already gearing up for this year's Christmas Pageant. If you are interested in assisting with the pageant in some way, including with rehearsals, costumes, or music, please contact Lisa Kirch, this year's Christmas Pageant coordinator.
On the adult front, we have a number of exciting things to report;
* Tom VandeStadt has begun leading adult Sunday School before church at 10am.
* Although the last two sessions of Enid Ross's "Healing Relationships" series have been canceled, we greatly appreciate her contribution to the church's adult education program and all the work that she put into preparing for her series!
* During the Advent/Christmas/Epiphany season, Tom VandeStadt will be leading a series centered around the works of Nikos Kazantzakis (details to be announced). We hope to continue to offer engaging adult education opportunities that attract broad participation.
* The Austin Forum is proving to be a stimulating series that has been well-received by all who participate. Please see the article about the Austin Forum for more information and for details about upcoming fora.
Please let us know if you are interested in hosting a program.
To: Maggie Smith and Liz Nash for lovingly folding, stuffing, folding, labeling and tabbing the October VISITOR.
If you would like to be help prepare the VISITOR for mailing, please let Trish know!!
Congratulations to Sharon Brown for launching the new music series at the church! The debut program on Thursday, Oct. 9, was entitled "Beneath the Southern Cross"and featured talented Australian flautist Janet McKay playing music composed in Australia and New Zealand. Sharon drafted a number of willing church members to help with the set-up and selling of tickets, etc. Many thanks to Ricky Masters, Sara and Dave Ross, Mel and Pat Oakes, Tommie Pinkard, and Andrea and Karl Putz. While the audience was on the small side, more than half of those in attendance were non-church members. This is a series that is going to grow. You will have 2 opportunities in November to hear classical guitarists play--on Thursday, Nov.6, and Thursday, Nov. 20. On December 4, the Horns of Texas, a UT brass quintet will be playing. Mark your calendars now.
Nannette Strickland has a new phone number--a cell phone--657-0119. Her land line never worked right, so she switched. She is still working at Kealing Magnet School. The new school year brought some big changes with it - smaller budgets, bigger classes, fewer teachers, new administrators, . . . In her own classroom, things are great. She is still teaching her 8th graders, and there aren't any serious problems. Overall, this group of kids is smarter than previous classes; however, she and other teachers have noticed that they do have lots more energy and don't settle down as easily. Her Mathcounts team continues to grow strong. This past spring, the team won first place in state again, so they went back to Nationals in Chicago. Texas scored 13th place, which was the same as last year. Because of their prior successes, they have increased interest in the program this year. Hopefully, they will find a few stars in the group to do another great job representing Kealing next March. Nannette's boyfriend took a job in Salt Lake City last October, so since then they've been trying to make the long-distance relationship work, which takes up the rest of her time and energies. It's easier for him to fly here (he's a programmer, and he can do some of it from here), but right now neither one of them is able to take off, so they try to make lots of phone calls and write many e-mails.
Last month Rizer Everett traveled to Dunedin, FL, where he had an enjoyable visit with his daughter-in-law, Connie Capen, her children, and her grandsons. He found the two boys to be very lively fellows who played well together. He was able to fly direct to and from Tampa, and he enjoyed all fifty games of cribbage he played with Connie. Back in Austin he also attended the orientation meeting of the LAMP (Learning Activities for Mature People) organization which went very well. He was cheering for the Chicago Cubs to win the Series.
In August Clark and Cathy Hubbs almost didn't get to Russia when the Northeast Coast blackout occurred just half an hour after they had arrived at New York's Kennedy Airport, and for twenty-six hours they waited in the darkness. But, Cathy reports, the trip was unforgettable even though they missed part of their tour. Dr. Kuzevanov, a Russian botanist, led them from Moscow (late dinner overlooking the gold and crimson-lighted Kremlin) to Irkutsk five time zones farther east and then to seven days exploring Lake Baikal by boat, landing each day on beaches, walking through forests, visiting villages not yet overpopulated, and drinking water so fresh it came straight from the lake. They found friendly people everywhere. In beautiful English, Dr. Kuzevanov told them that he valued making friends with people from a country he'd been brought up to hate, and the tour group assured him that they felt the same. The trip fulfilled to lifelong dream of Clark's--to visit and explore Lake Baikal, the world's deepest lake.
Doyal and Tommie Pinkard flew to New York over the Labor Day weekend to visit with son David. The highlight of that part of their trip was walking across the Brooklyn Bridge -- and seeing two wedding parties decked out in vastly different regalia along the Brooklyn Esplanade. In New York, they joined an Elderhostel group, flying to Edinburgh for a week, then on to Wales for another. Finally, by way of a giant hydrofoil ferry, they reached Dublin for a final Irish week. The weather was great, cool, but sunny most days History and culture of the area was the topic for discussions and field trips in all three places with knowledgeable, affable leaders. They recommend this tour to anyone interested in culture in the British Isles from prehistoric times to the present.
Bee Polome Weiss continues to fight her lung cancer. She has been undergoing radiation treatment while still on chemotherapy. It is hard for her to swallow right now as a result of the treatment. They will soon be concentrating on a smaller area of the chest, so the swallowing problem should ease up. She and Milt had a wonderful time in Cincinnati in late August (before she started radiation treatment) when they attended the centennial meeting of the Mu Phi Epsilon music organization. They also recently enjoyed the Conspirare presentation of the Bach B Minor Mass (Trish Karli's husband Robert was part of the incredible chorus). Bee's daughter Marilyn, former church cellist, is free-lancing in the LA area. Bee was surprised not too long ago when she saw a show about Neil Diamond on TV--and there was Marilyn in the background (Marilyn has toured with his show several times). Violist/lawyer daughter Lana is still playing for the Austin Symphony and recently played in Chorus Austin's presentation of Mozart's Requiem.
Mel and Pat Oakes had a wonderful surprise two-day visit from their youngest daughter Mardie and her new fiance Tony Deifell when they came to ask their permission to get married. It was given, of course! Mardie and Tony spent several hours interviewing Pat and Mel about their marriage--and when they continued their engagement journey, they went to Boston where they first met--and then on to Hartford, CT, and interviewed Tony's parents about their marriage (Tony's dad is a UCC pastor there). Mardie has started her new job as the director of real estate loans at a community development corporation in San Jose, CA, and Tony is consulting with a green technology company in the Bay area. The two met while at Harvard Business School. No date has been set for the wedding. Pat spent a week in North Carolina with her parents. Her mom is recuperating from surgery and will be seeking treatment for the endometrial cancer, which has spread.
There is a good reason why you haven't seen Frances Alford at church recently. She has been gallivanting around the globe. She was in Australia and New Zealand for 3 weeks in June, was home a couple of weeks, and then she and John went to Portland, Oregon, Seattle, Washington, and then took the Canadian Rail Tour from Vancouver to Calgary. They flew, then rented a car to get to Seattle where they took a ferry to Victoria, then a helicopter to Vancouver, then a train to Lake Louise, then buses to Calgary. She figures they covered the transportation options pretty well. Right after her October 1 birthday, she flew to Manchester, NH, and met up with her brother, Trevor Holliday. They rented a white Mustang convertible and spent a week in Vermont. They spent some time with her 80 year old aunt in Grafton, VT, where her mother took them as children for summer vacations. They also went to St. Johnsbury and Greensboro. The leaves were about to turn red and the weather was spectacular. She flew to Little Rock two weeks ago and met her cousin Mollie in Hot Springs. She is a neuro-scientist at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. She wanted to give Frances their grandfather's Chippendale arm chair. She decided to rent a car and bring it down and fly home. They spent a day in Hot Springs and then drove to Austin. Her cousin spent a day resting and then flew back to Baltimore. Frances is now the proud owner of a beautiful chair that will need refinishing and upholstery for the seat. John and Frances were in Rockport, Texas one weekend ago at their condo down there. They have put it into the rental pool so they are not using it as much as they used to. Frances also just got back from her 40th high school reunion in Houston (Spring Branch-Memorial). She observes that it takes folks about 40 years to tell the truth, stop bragging and be real people. She had a really wonderful time. Whew, Frances, no wonder we haven't seen you. You miss us and we miss you!
NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS
1 Tommie Pinkard
3 Stella Morrison
4 Nannette Strickland
5 Mary Blackstock
7 Ann Hubbs
Tom VandeStadt
8 Setsuko Kaneda
Maggie Taylor
9 Craig Barrett
Bree Hawes-Domingue
12 Michael Adams
Gabriel Pinkard
13 Sarah Miles
14 Martha Miles
15 Dale Montayne
16 Brain Prioleau
Norma Hawes
17 Dennis Murphy
18 Jennifer Bratton
Jacob Bardati
22 Mariah Newell
23 Kathleen Strong
Terri Ocean
24 Jim Howicz
27 Tess Howicz
30 Betty Bodman
"One World One Family"
Austin Area Interreligious Ministries' 19th Annual
Interreligious Thanksgiving Service
Sunday, November 23rd, 3:00-4:30
Dell Jewish Community Center
7300 Hart Lane, Austin, TX 78731
Free and Open to the Public
(but we do invite you to bring a can of non perishable food to be donated to the Capital Area food bank)
Enjoyed by over 1,500 guests in 2002.
Austin Area Interreligious Ministries' Interreligious 19 Annual Thanksgiving Service will start at 3pm. We will have a clergy processional, interreligious performances by children, interreligious faith expressions, music, choir and more.
The service will be followed by an out-door festival (weather permitting, otherwise indoors) which will be filled with food, children's activities, booths of information on various faiths and a "Spiritual Path" to walk at your leisure.
Bring your family and friends for a wonderful interreligious afternoon of thanksgiving and festivities in celebration of our unity and diversity.
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It's time to clean out those hall closets. The kickoff for the Coats for Kids campaign for this year begins November 22. You can drop off your donated coats at any Jack Brown Cleaner.
Volunteers Needed!
For Micah 6 Food Pantry Renovations
The Micah 6 Food Pantry is schedule to open in January at the University Baptist Church. Our church voted to be a covenant member of Micah 6, which includes providing financial support and volunteer labor. We have budgeted support for Micah 6 in our proposed 2004 budget, and proceeds from our community concerts are being shared with Micah 6. The following are some opportunities for you to provide some much needed volunteer labor. Please look at the schedule, and e-mail me at church (revtomv@swbell.net) if you would like to help out any of the following days. Or, sign up at church in fellowship hall. Thanks!!! By the way, I'll be painting on Friday, November 7, if you want to join me. TOM
Saturday, November 1
Frame the doorway between these two rooms. Carpenter skills needed. (Work by 2 volunteers).
Install window security grates in two rooms. Requires ability to use electrical tools. (Work by 3-4 volunteers).
Monday, November 3
Paint the floor of these two rooms. (Work by 4 volunteers).
Friday, November 7
Paint walls in these two rooms. (Work by 4 volunteers).
Saturday, November 8
Install metal shelves in these two rooms. Requires some lifting and an ability to assemble heavy shelving with screws. (Work by 4-6 volunteers).
Friday, November 14
Install three new door locks with special keys and install wall light switch in stock room. (Work by UBC maintenance person).
Saturday, November 15
Move refrigerators, freezers, other equipment and food supplies to new locations. Remove tables. Requires heavy lifting up a few steps and through two doorways. (Work by 4 volunteers).
Install wall in stock room using double sided metal shelving. Requires some lifting and an ability to assemble heavy shelving with screws. (Work by 3-4 volunteers).
Thursday, November 20
Begin operating out on the new location; UBC still managing the food pantry.
Thursday, January 8, 2004
Micah 6 Council begins operating the new food pantry.
Austin Forum
At The Congregational Church of Austin, UCC
The Austin Forum is designed to promote thinking about issues local, national, international and transcendent through encounters with people knowledgeable about a particular subject. The program will begin with a formal interview of the guest speaker and continue with questions from the audience.
This fall, we will be exploring these issues:
Monday, November 10th -- David Warner, Prof. of Public Policy, LBJ School, UT
Issue: Health Care -- Why is it so difficult to solve the health care crisis, or is there a health care crisis?
Some information available on the Web:
"Health Care Reform Returns to the National Agenda: The 2004 Presidential Candidates Proposals," http://www.cmwf.org
The Kaiser Foundation website has a number of useful primers and analyses at: http://www.kff.org
An organization which is dedicated to promoting universal health insurance is families usa at:
http://www.familiesusa.org
Monday, December 8th -- Naim Ateek, Director of the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center, Jerusalem
Issue: Israel and Palestine -- Is this a historical hatred without resolution? Is there hope? Is there a plan?
Women's Book Club
Selections coming up.
November 17: Wallace Stegner, Angle of Repose
December 15: Sue Monk Kidd, The Secret Life of Bees
January ?: Leif Enger, Peace Like a River
Deadline for December VISITOR -- November 17
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