Last spring I wrote about my first venture into horticulture, actually investing a substantial amount of money into flower beds in front of my house. I was elated at the way they looked in September, and then worried a bit through the winter. And I worried a lot early in the spring when Molly, the neighbor and professional gardener who did the planting, cut everything back. And even as I worried about that, I wrote, "I trust Molly, and I trust God to give the growth."
My trust has been confirmed, of course. I've had a riot of roses ever since, and a beautiful esperanza blooming in gorgeous yellow. The lantana and the plumbago are coming out, and it's all making me so happy.
We've been through several seasons of cutting back in our church life, and that's been hard to do. It's difficult to do everything we want to do, to carry out the ninistries we cherish, with fewer resources of money and people. But I have faith. We are in a new season, and I'm trusting our leaders, with God's help, to guide us into new growth through passionate worship and wise leadership. I'm trusting all of you, with God'shelp, to be radical in your hospitality for newcomers, and extravagantly generous in your giving of time and money and love.
I'm trusting God that our church has not yet seen its brightest vision and most faithful response. If we plant and water, God will give the growth!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Monday, May 3, 2010
New Pastors Come Home!
When the Reverend Barbara Ruth and the Reverend John Wright move to Austin in June, they will be our new pastors—but not entirely new. For each of them it will be a homecoming of sorts. FUMC has been a spiritual home to each of them for many years.
Barbara Ruth’s first encounter with FUMC came when she was a U.T. student in 1969. A friend who had seen an announcement about a weeknight study group asked Barbara to come with her to what they thought was a Bible Study Class, and that set Barbara on a life-changing journey. In that theology class, led by Tom Watkins, she met a group of young Downtowners, who adopted her as one of their own. She began to learn to “speak Methodist,” and was soon serving as a youth sponsor with the MYF.
When I returned to First Church as Director of Christian Education in the summer of 1970, there was no youth director, and Barbara was a godsend! After some nine months of being stretched beyond my capacity to get everything done, I persuaded our senior pastor to hire Barbara as Youth Director. She stayed on after graduation, working for a meager salary and learning a lot. I don’t remember exactly when, but I do remember the place: on a bus taking youth to Six Flags, I suggested that Barbara think about going to seminary to become a minister. The rest, as they say, is history—at least, it is history for Barbara and John and for the United Methodist Church.
John Wright came to First Church as an intern from Perkins School of Theology in 1975, the same year that Barbara was doing an internship at Wesley United Methodist, in east Austin. John will tell you what an amazing experience that was for him. This brilliant student from a small town in Kentucky found a new world of thinkers and doers in our congregation. His teaching and preaching skills and imaginative worship planning added greatly to our church life, as well as providing him with experience in a broader arena than he had previously known.
Barbara and John were married while they were at Perkins, much to the joy of their First Church friends. Many of us traveled to Dallas to their wedding, and have cherished their friendship through the years. Their appointment is a homecoming for them, and a welcome home from those of us who knew them when they were just beginning their ministries. Each has served on the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry, and left lasting impacts on that group and many others in the Annual Conference. Under their joint leadership, Oak Hill UMC in Austin grew in numbers and in ministry. Next, Barbara was appointed Corpus Christi District Superintendent and John as senior pastor at Grace UMC in Corpus, where he led the church into a major building program involving a long-considered relocation.
First Church can justifiably take pride in our influence on these two pastors, and recall many others whom we have called into ministry and/or trained as they prepared to serve.
Bishop Michael Lowry, pastor of Bethany UMC in Austin during its period of explosive growth, was our first Perkins intern, in 1974. Austin District Superintendent Bobbi Kaye Jones was associate pastor here for ten years. The Reverend David Gilliam, pastor at St. John’s UMC in Austin, came to us as a Perkins intern, and on graduation, returned to the staff as associate pastor, starting our Mind and Spirit program. The Reverend Tom Deviney, pastor of Bethany UMC in Austin, came to First Church on his first appointment after graduation from Iliff School of Theology in Denver. The Reverend Sylvester Chase, pastor at Wesley Methodist Church in Austin, did an internship with us, as did the Reverend Mark Porterfield, pastor at Portland UMC. Another Perkins intern, Susan Daniel from Kansas, initiated the ministry that became Hands-on-Housing while serving here. The Reverends Mel Hazlewood, Jason Teague, and Peter Castles all entered candidacy for ministry from First Church, and got their first preaching experience at our Wednesday evening Chapel services. The Reverends Tina Carter, pastor at Parker Lane UMC in Austin, Valerie Sansing, pastor at Covenant UMC in Austin, the Reverend Patti Herndon, pastor at Mathis, and the Reverend Beverly Schmidt, pastor at St. Paul Methodist Church in El Campo, were with us as interns from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. The Reverend Kyle Toomire, who began his candidacy among us while serving as Youth Director, was tapped for special training in new church starts, and is serving as pastor of Journey UMC in Kyle. The Reverend Clifton Stringer, who came to us on his first full-time appointment, has been appointed to Lakehills UMC in the Kerrville District, effective in June.
And the beat goes on! Jen Stuart, Membership Director, and Cathy Stone, Director of Ministries with Youth and Families, both entered candidacy for ordained ministry while serving on our staff. They are attending Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary while continuing to work on church staff.
Clearly, First Church is a teaching and calling congregation. Who knows who else among us may be called to full-time service in the church? We thank God for these who are giving themselves in ordained ministry. As they have blessed us, now they are blessing many others.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
It's still Easter!
I'm writing on Easter Sunday evening--the glorious music, beauty of the Chapel and Sanctuary, the Easter proclamation still fresh in my mind and heart. As John McMullen began his sermon at the 11:00 service, he told the more-than-capacity crowd,already thrilled by the music, "This is the way it is every Sunday."
We all laughed, because we know that a lot of those folks will not be back again for a while--maybe not until next Easter. And that's all right--we wish they come more often, but we are glad to welcome them when they appear.
But Easter goes on--the liturgical season of Easter continues for six more Sundays, as we celebrate resurrection. But we know that Easter is always with us, if we're paying attention, if we're welcoming new life.
On that first Easter morning, Mary Magdalene and the disciples told the others, "We have seen the Lord!" Now, more than twenty centuries later, we, too, have seen the risen Christ. How do we know this? Consider these questions:
Have you experienced forgiveness? Have you been able to forgive someone who hurt you?
Have you failed at something you wanted to do or be, and been able to forgive yourself?
Have you found strength and hope at a time when you were sure you had lost both?
Have you found purpose and challenge and joy in an ordinary day, an ordinary task?
Have you found bread and wine to share with others when you thought you had nothing to offer?
Do you believe that good will ultimately triumph over evil?
If you can answer yes to at least one of those questions, then the Christ of the empty grave has been with you, transforming your life. If you can answer even, I want to forgive myself and others, I want to love life, I want to share and reach out in service to the world, then the risen Christ is with us. You have seen the Lord, whether you recognized him or not.
Christ is risne! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Amen.
We all laughed, because we know that a lot of those folks will not be back again for a while--maybe not until next Easter. And that's all right--we wish they come more often, but we are glad to welcome them when they appear.
But Easter goes on--the liturgical season of Easter continues for six more Sundays, as we celebrate resurrection. But we know that Easter is always with us, if we're paying attention, if we're welcoming new life.
On that first Easter morning, Mary Magdalene and the disciples told the others, "We have seen the Lord!" Now, more than twenty centuries later, we, too, have seen the risen Christ. How do we know this? Consider these questions:
Have you experienced forgiveness? Have you been able to forgive someone who hurt you?
Have you failed at something you wanted to do or be, and been able to forgive yourself?
Have you found strength and hope at a time when you were sure you had lost both?
Have you found purpose and challenge and joy in an ordinary day, an ordinary task?
Have you found bread and wine to share with others when you thought you had nothing to offer?
Do you believe that good will ultimately triumph over evil?
If you can answer yes to at least one of those questions, then the Christ of the empty grave has been with you, transforming your life. If you can answer even, I want to forgive myself and others, I want to love life, I want to share and reach out in service to the world, then the risen Christ is with us. You have seen the Lord, whether you recognized him or not.
Christ is risne! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Amen.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Cutting Back
Last September I did something completely uncharacteristic of my usual frugal self. I spent several hundred dollars on landscaping around the front of my house. (I don’t know if you get to call it “landscaping” when it’s only flower beds, but I will, anyway. I’m very proud of it.) I discovered that the friendly couple down the street who wave and smile when I walk by have their own small business related to gardening and irrigation systems, and I decided to take the plunge. I asked them to plant some flowers and do something to encourage the slowly-dying but stubborn irises that come back year after year. The result was quite amazing and wonderful. I have so enjoyed looking at the mix of roses, lantana, plumbago, yucca, and newly-revitalized irises.
When cold weather came, I worried about the plants, but Molly, the gardener, assured me that they would be all right. And sure enough, the irises began to bloom last week, and there were some rosebuds visible this morning. Before that, though, I was worried. The other plants were bare and straggly and brown, and I wondered if they had really made it. Molly saw me digging up weeds in my front yard Saturday afternoon, and came down with gloves and shears, offering to do some clearing out and cutting back. I had to go back into the house to take care of some things, and left her at her work. When I came back out an hour later, what a change! The spindly, bare branches were all gone, and the plumbago, lantana, and shrimp plants were cut way back. Molly and Jonathan had also weeded the flower beds, and cleaned up the yucca. At that point I remembered the conversations (sometimes arguments) I had heard over the years about cutting back plants. How much? When? I never knew enough to get involved in those exchanges.
Then it came to me that perhaps “cutting back” is an appropriate metaphor for me at this stage of life. Perhaps that’s something we might all think about during Lent. Established habits of thought and patterns of behavior can get dry and barren of meaning, so that occasional gentle pruning or even severe cutting back can help us refocus on what matters most. Giving up things that really aren’t important anymore and making room for new growth is important.
We’re doing some financial cutting back at church, not without pain. Yet I have hope that these cutbacks will help us focus on what is most important, and inspire us to give more for those things. We can trust God to give the growth.
And as to those flower beds, I can hardly wait to see what will come next. Will the plants really come back and bloom? I trust Molly, and I certainly trust God!
When cold weather came, I worried about the plants, but Molly, the gardener, assured me that they would be all right. And sure enough, the irises began to bloom last week, and there were some rosebuds visible this morning. Before that, though, I was worried. The other plants were bare and straggly and brown, and I wondered if they had really made it. Molly saw me digging up weeds in my front yard Saturday afternoon, and came down with gloves and shears, offering to do some clearing out and cutting back. I had to go back into the house to take care of some things, and left her at her work. When I came back out an hour later, what a change! The spindly, bare branches were all gone, and the plumbago, lantana, and shrimp plants were cut way back. Molly and Jonathan had also weeded the flower beds, and cleaned up the yucca. At that point I remembered the conversations (sometimes arguments) I had heard over the years about cutting back plants. How much? When? I never knew enough to get involved in those exchanges.
Then it came to me that perhaps “cutting back” is an appropriate metaphor for me at this stage of life. Perhaps that’s something we might all think about during Lent. Established habits of thought and patterns of behavior can get dry and barren of meaning, so that occasional gentle pruning or even severe cutting back can help us refocus on what matters most. Giving up things that really aren’t important anymore and making room for new growth is important.
We’re doing some financial cutting back at church, not without pain. Yet I have hope that these cutbacks will help us focus on what is most important, and inspire us to give more for those things. We can trust God to give the growth.
And as to those flower beds, I can hardly wait to see what will come next. Will the plants really come back and bloom? I trust Molly, and I certainly trust God!
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Earthquake, malaria, and everyday life
Brooks Schuelke, intrepid and endlessly resourceful chair of our Social Justice Team, had a busy Sunday morning today. He was designated to present the Ministry Moment—a very brief informational/inspirational talk highlighting one of our church’s many ministries—at three of our Sunday morning worship services, a task that can be accomplished with careful planning and attention to time. Brooks had also been at last Wednesday evening’s Chapel service with his message.
Any Ministry Moment is most effective when it is delivered with conviction, brevity, and just a bit of passion. Brooks brought all those qualities to his testimony about “Imagine No Malaria,” a mission of the United Methodist Church worldwide, in cooperation with an agency of the United Nations and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The ambitious goal is to eradicate malaria in sub-Saharan Africa by 2015.
This is a very big deal, and the Austin District was chosen as first to be involved. Several Austin churches have already reached and exceeded their goals.
Brooks began by acknowledging that all of us have felt the desperation of people in Haiti after the very recent earthquake and commending those who have given of their resources to help. Then he went on to tell us that many more die of malaria—a preventabledisease--in Africa every year than have died in the earthquake in Haiti. Our church will focus on Imagine No Malaria in the coming months, with a Sunday in April as our main day of emphasis.
The needs of those suffering these disasters can seem overwhelming! Earthquake, disease, flood, drought, famine, and war disrupt and dominate the lives of people all over the world—far from us in miles, but as close as the pictures on our television sets and computer screens. Meanwhile, our everyday lives go on, largely uninterrupted by major catastrophes. So what are we to do? How much can we give?
I’m pretty sure that most of us can give more than we usually do—more than we think we can. Imagine no malaria! Imagine a rebuilt Haiti, on a firmer footing than that tiny, troubled nation has ever known. Imagine having a part in making those things happen!
There are lots of ways to give to the immediate needs in Haiti, but probably no more efficient, cost-effective way than through UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief. They are on the scene, delivering direct aid. If you want to contribute, write a check to FUMC, and designate it for UMCOR. In the meantime, watch for more information to come about Imagine No Malaria. And also in the meantime, may our everyday lives go on, with a deepened sense of gratitude to God for all we have.
Any Ministry Moment is most effective when it is delivered with conviction, brevity, and just a bit of passion. Brooks brought all those qualities to his testimony about “Imagine No Malaria,” a mission of the United Methodist Church worldwide, in cooperation with an agency of the United Nations and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The ambitious goal is to eradicate malaria in sub-Saharan Africa by 2015.
This is a very big deal, and the Austin District was chosen as first to be involved. Several Austin churches have already reached and exceeded their goals.
Brooks began by acknowledging that all of us have felt the desperation of people in Haiti after the very recent earthquake and commending those who have given of their resources to help. Then he went on to tell us that many more die of malaria—a preventabledisease--in Africa every year than have died in the earthquake in Haiti. Our church will focus on Imagine No Malaria in the coming months, with a Sunday in April as our main day of emphasis.
The needs of those suffering these disasters can seem overwhelming! Earthquake, disease, flood, drought, famine, and war disrupt and dominate the lives of people all over the world—far from us in miles, but as close as the pictures on our television sets and computer screens. Meanwhile, our everyday lives go on, largely uninterrupted by major catastrophes. So what are we to do? How much can we give?
I’m pretty sure that most of us can give more than we usually do—more than we think we can. Imagine no malaria! Imagine a rebuilt Haiti, on a firmer footing than that tiny, troubled nation has ever known. Imagine having a part in making those things happen!
There are lots of ways to give to the immediate needs in Haiti, but probably no more efficient, cost-effective way than through UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief. They are on the scene, delivering direct aid. If you want to contribute, write a check to FUMC, and designate it for UMCOR. In the meantime, watch for more information to come about Imagine No Malaria. And also in the meantime, may our everyday lives go on, with a deepened sense of gratitude to God for all we have.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Keep on singing
As a person who watches and listens to way too many media newscasts, I've found the last months very difficult. A year ago I was full of hope, believing our nation was on the brink of a new season of comity and cooperation in government and public affairs. Now, in this winter of almost everyone's discontent, I find it hard to be hopeful. Then, as I was looking through my Christmas files, I came across a copy of a poem I received from a friend and brother in ministry, Dr. James Mayfield. Jim came to First Church as a U.T. student in my first year as Director of Youth Ministries, and his friendship and encouragement has been a constant in my life for more than fifty years. He sent this poem as a Christmas greeting in 1998, and I find it speaks to me today. I share it with his permission. It's titled "Joy to the World."
In this time when
words are hurled like spears
to add wound to wound
and pain to pain,
in this time when
the smoldering smog of resentments
and
self-righteous angers
increase the darkness of this winter
we are enduring with profound discontent,
a carol is somewhere sung
and once more
the Word of hope
is flung into the darkness.
The tragic omnipotence of love
begins its work again
as God refuses to give up on us
and
sends to us once more
the angels' song
proclaiming a world-tranforming birth.
I'll keep on singing the carols...will you?
In this time when
words are hurled like spears
to add wound to wound
and pain to pain,
in this time when
the smoldering smog of resentments
and
self-righteous angers
increase the darkness of this winter
we are enduring with profound discontent,
a carol is somewhere sung
and once more
the Word of hope
is flung into the darkness.
The tragic omnipotence of love
begins its work again
as God refuses to give up on us
and
sends to us once more
the angels' song
proclaiming a world-tranforming birth.
I'll keep on singing the carols...will you?
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Christmas shopping
A long time ago we used to say, with some frustration, “It’s not even Thanksgiving yet, but the stores have their Christmas decorations up. Now we make that kind of remark (complaint?) about Christmas items for sale even before Halloween. When I recently heard a church member say that he had finished all his Christmas shopping, I was filled with a mixture of awe and envy. I am only at the fretting stage.
And fret I do! I love the Advent-Christmas season! I love planning the music for the services I work with; I even love struggling with the sometimes very peculiar Scriptures selected for Advent; I’m filled with gratitude and wonder at the generosity and resourcefulness of our folks who give so much and do so much to make the Christmas season joyful for those who have little. But I fret about gifts. Even when I’m shopping for an unknown child or mom in a family my Reunion Group will sponsor through Any Baby Can, I fret—even agonize—about what to choose. I’m pretty sure I will choose the wrong thing, and can only hope that my selection will be useful, if not loved.
Shopping for family members got easier for me some years ago with the introduction of the Alternative Gift Market in our church. I select gifts that match their interests or situations—educational materials for the teachers and former teachers, farming help for the brother who grew up on the farm and still loves the land, business support for women for my feminist sisters (of both blood and friendship). Each year there’s an array of choices in these categories and others to suit our interests. One year James and Susannah put their resources together in one giant gift, and gave the family a water buffalo. We think about him (her?) often, and wonder about the family and village that large creature has blessed.
This Sunday (and probably again on December6--I always forget someone the first time--I'll go shopping at the Market and choose lots of gifts. But then I’ll still do some shopping for my immediate family, not without fretting. And I’ll tell myself, as I always do, that even though choosing gifts is not my best thing, all my offerings will be received with love and good humor. I trust those who receive them to know that my gifts are representative of the giver—far from perfect, but full of love.
And fret I do! I love the Advent-Christmas season! I love planning the music for the services I work with; I even love struggling with the sometimes very peculiar Scriptures selected for Advent; I’m filled with gratitude and wonder at the generosity and resourcefulness of our folks who give so much and do so much to make the Christmas season joyful for those who have little. But I fret about gifts. Even when I’m shopping for an unknown child or mom in a family my Reunion Group will sponsor through Any Baby Can, I fret—even agonize—about what to choose. I’m pretty sure I will choose the wrong thing, and can only hope that my selection will be useful, if not loved.
Shopping for family members got easier for me some years ago with the introduction of the Alternative Gift Market in our church. I select gifts that match their interests or situations—educational materials for the teachers and former teachers, farming help for the brother who grew up on the farm and still loves the land, business support for women for my feminist sisters (of both blood and friendship). Each year there’s an array of choices in these categories and others to suit our interests. One year James and Susannah put their resources together in one giant gift, and gave the family a water buffalo. We think about him (her?) often, and wonder about the family and village that large creature has blessed.
This Sunday (and probably again on December6--I always forget someone the first time--I'll go shopping at the Market and choose lots of gifts. But then I’ll still do some shopping for my immediate family, not without fretting. And I’ll tell myself, as I always do, that even though choosing gifts is not my best thing, all my offerings will be received with love and good humor. I trust those who receive them to know that my gifts are representative of the giver—far from perfect, but full of love.
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