Teresa’s Note: February 9, 2024

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Dear friends and members of University UMC: Happy Friday, friends! I hope your weekend is off to a good start. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about hope. What is true hope? How do we get it? How do we contribute to its flourishing in the world? In part, hope is on my mind because this will be the theme of our upcoming sermon series and Lenten study. Hope is also on my mind because I frequently wonder to myself, “Has it always been this hard to have hope?” I’m trying to keep my heart open to noticing moments of hope. Whether big or small, significant or seemingly trivial, paying attention to moments of beauty and kindness is one way my sense of hope is renewed. This week, I was in San Antonio for a meeting and when I visited a coffee shop for a morning cup of coffee, I watched as one customer accidentally spilled his coffee and another customer quickly moved to help him clean it up. Maybe a small thing to notice, but I thought to myself - we humans aren’t so forgone after all! Yes, the daily news may cause us to despair. And there are still so many lovely people in the world who are compassionate and kind. Below, I share with you two episodes from a series on PBS called “Brief but Spectacular.” Many of you are likely familiar with this warmhearted series, where various scholars, authors, artists, and community leaders are asked to share for a few moments about their passions and viewpoints. Here, I share one video of Ta-Nehisi Coates speaking about the legacy of white supremacy in America today and, in another video, a young black pastor named Todd Johnson speaks about preaching hope. I also leave with you the quote from writer and social activist Clarissa Pinkola Estés used at the end of my sermon last Sunday. “Do not lose hope,” she writes, “...we were made for these times……Any small, calm thing that one soul can do to help another soul, to assist some portion of this poor suffering world, will help immensely.” Such good words to remember. Such good words by which to live. What a joy to be your pastor! Teresa Ta-Nehisi Coates on “Brief but Spectacular” Todd Johnson on “Brief but Spectacular” “I have heard from so many recently who are deeply and properly bewildered. They are concerned about the state of affairs in our world right now. Yet … I urge you, ask you, gentle you, to please not spend your spirit dry by bewailing these difficult times. Especially do not lose hope. Most particularly because, the fact is – we were made for these times. Yes. For years, we have been learning, practicing, been in training for and just waiting to meet on this exact plain of engagement. I cannot tell you often enough that we are definitely the leaders we have been waiting for. Do not make yourself ill with overwhelm. Despite your stints of doubt, your frustrations in arighting all that needs change right now, you are not without resource, you are not alone. Look out over the prow; there are millions of boats of righteous souls on the waters with you. In your deepest bones, you have always known this is so. Didn't you say you were a believer? Didn't you say you pledged to listen to a voice greater? Didn't you ask for grace? Any small, calm thing that one soul can do to help another soul, to assist some portion of this poor suffering world, will help immensely. I would like to take your hands for a moment and assure you that you are built well for these times. This comes with much love and prayer that you remember who you came from, and why you came to this beautiful, needful Earth”. – From “Letter to a Young Activist” by Clarissa Pinkola Estés 2409 Guadalupe Street Austin, Texas 78705 512-478-9387 Want to change how you receive emails from us? Click here to update your preferences or unsubscribe or unsubscribe from this list