Teresa’s Note: August 18, 2023

Teresa's Note

Aug 18

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Dear friends and members of University UMC:

It was wonderful to see many of our families back in worship last Sunday after summer vacation. We had a great number of children come forward for Blessing of the Backpacks and I am excited about what the upcoming Fall season will bring here at UUMC. We will welcome terrific guest speakers and there will be new small group classes offered - be sure to check out upcoming Econnections for more information. This Sunday, Rev. John Elford will be sharing after worship on his book about racism in The UMC and you can find more information on his website. I’m also grateful for all who made our participation in the Pride Parade possible. That’s ALL Y’ALL!, as your gifts and offerings enabled us to enter a float. We had over 50 members and friends march (see photo below). We handed out UUMC “Y’all Means All” bottle stickers and even had 700 popsicles to give to those in the crowd. With an estimated 400,000 people in attendance, those popsicles and stickers went quick!

I leave you today with a poem I came across by United Church of Christ pastor Rev. Laura Martin. The poem picks up on God’s words in Deuteronomy to choose life even as we acknowledge the harsh realities of a world where terrible things happen. As we look at Old Testament families of the Bible throughout August, I’m continually amazed at how very real and human the characters in these stories are and how complex and troubling their circumstances are. In and through it all, God enters with the clear message to choose the things that make for peace and joy. To choose life not only for their own sake but for the sake of neighbors near and far. I see you doing that over and over again. You choose life when you share our message of unconditional love and justice in action on the streets of Austin during Pride. You choose life when you are lifelong learners educating ourselves about the reality of racism and showing up to protest, vote and stand on the side of justice. You choose life when you thank teachers and show up for children. You choose life when you give to the work of the church and non-profits doing good in the community. You choose life when you call a friend who is feeling sad; when you find simple ways to share an encouraging word or an act of kindness. Thank you, thank you for the ways you continue to choose life. I hold you in my heart and pray an unexpected moment of life-giving joy will visit you this day.

What a joy to be your pastor!

Teresa

I have set before you call and response

Backwards and forwards,

The waning moon and the first flicker of the sun.

I have set before you responsibility

For not just your life but for the ways that your life

Intersects with others’ lives.

I have set before you chance and mystery,

And the unanswerable questions you will keep reaching toward.

Do not stop pursuing what you cannot know, and do not stop living the best answers you can find.

I have set before you rituals to be kept so that you can stand upright in the world, and traditions to be ended so that you can know freedom.

I have set before you a world where terrible things happen without explanation

And birds sing because they are born knowing how to.

I have set before you a day that calls for you to step into it,

Knowing the risk of devastation and the kept promise of beauty and live.

– Laura Martin, UCC Pastor

See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him, for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

– Deuteronomy 30:15; 19-20

The future of our fragile, beautiful planet home is in our hands. As God's family, we are stewards of God's creation. We can be wantonly irresponsible, or we can be caring and compassionate. God says, "I have set before you life and death... Choose life.

– Desmond Tutu