Teresa’s Note: March 1, 2024

Teresa's Note

Mar 1

*|MC:SUBJECT|*

Dear friends and members of University UMC:

The recent cold weather was welcomed by many of us. Perhaps a chance to wear our winter sweaters one last time! But we’re of course aware of the many friends and neighbors who live on the street and find the cold inhospitable. I’m grateful for all who volunteer with our Open Door and Fig Leaf ministries throughout the week. This includes church members, volunteers from the wider community and students as well as unhoused persons who come to help out on Saturday mornings. We are feeding more people at Open Door than we did a year ago and the need continues to grow. Certainly the reasons why are varied and complex, including the ongoing housing crisis and lack of adequate shelters and services in the city.

Sometimes we might wonder how we can possibly help in the face of so much need. I have appreciated the work of scholar Margaret Wheatley who reminds me that true hope is not found in wishful thinking that we can solve huge, complex problems, but instead hope is found in being people of peace and possibility right where we are. These small moments can make a big difference in the life of an individual when we are intentional about responding to their humanity. It can be smiling at someone we see holding their “hungry” sign at a stoplight. It can be taking the step to volunteer with Fig Leaf or Open Door and giving it a try if you have never volunteered before (Pastor Earl or I would be happy to point you in the right direction!). And you can give if you are able to during Amplify Austin.

While giving to the regular offering (the general fund) supports part of the Open Door budget, the numbers of people in need of a warm meal grows and the additional support through Amplify Austin will help us address those needs. Several of you have already given or have indicated an interest in giving. Again, thank you thank you for your generosity!

In the book “Hope is Here” by Luther Smith, he writes about crossing boundaries. As I read the chapter, I remembered an experience I had in college. I attended a campus ministry program and one semester they advertised a “Cross Cultural Experiences” retreat. I immediately signed up and assumed we’d be in workshops and breakout sessions centered around the important work of addressing racism. However, the experience opened us to the realities persons living in poverty face every day. We didn’t know about the focus until we arrived at the retreat center. It was a humble house. Upon entering, we were asked to select five items from everything we packed. Of everything we packed, these were the only items we could keep with us for the weekend. We were in Texas but it was cold that weekend. If we wanted to keep our coat that was one of the five items. Those five items went quick! We got creative and decided we could all forgo our toothbrushes and share a tube of toothpaste, “brushing” with our finger. There were learning sessions around world hunger, making a budget for a family of 4 on minimum wage, and more exercises aimed at giving us some real life experience. I do not pretend to believe that this experience gave me an understanding of what it was like to be unhoused or to live in poverty. But I know my heart for those who go hungry and unsheltered grew that weekend. Luther Smith writes, “Encouraging us to journey across identity boundaries is the work of hope.”

I am grateful to be a part of a faith community centered in unconditional love and justice in action because such a place provides opportunities for us to cross boundaries - to stretch our hearts and minds and to experience our own transformation.

What a joy to be your pastor!

Teresa

Find here a resource from the Río Texas Conference UMC on “30 Days of Anti-Racism” This resource invites participation in an exercise each day of March.