Teresa’s Note: July 19, 2024

You can listen to Teresa read this note here. Dear friends and members of University UMC: I’ve been told the older I get the more time I’ll spend looking for things. Cell phone, glasses, and keys always make the top of my list. But this morning I searched for a little note my mother wrote me years ago. About 20 years ago, in fact! She’s known for dropping me little notes of encouragement from time to time to let me know she’s thinking of me. Every once in a while notes from her and others end up in the recycling bin, but most of the time they can be found in boxes stored here and there, in desk drawers, or serving as bookmarks in any number of devotional and prayer books. The specific note card I was searching for this morning contained just a few words: “Remember to take care of yourself as you take care of your flock.” It was written in her neat and always-recongized-by-my-siblings-and-me handwriting. She mailed this to me in a simple care package that included a small stuffed sheep.  This memory came to me as I considered this Sunday’s scripture text. It comes from the Gospel of Mark Chapter 6. Jesus has sent the disciples on their mission - not alone, thank goodness, but in twos. The disciples are now making their way back and are invited by Jesus to come away for a time of rest in a quiet place. But suddenly people begin following them. Not only do they recognize Jesus, but they recognize all the disciples following him. This is the Jesus movement in action! The story continues by telling us that Jesus had compassion for all these people because they were like sheep without a shepherd.  One of the most beloved images of Jesus is Jesus as the Good Shepherd. This image captures His comfort and care for us, his love and protection. And among the many messages Jesus gives is the message to “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while”(Mark 6:31). I find it ironic and even humorous that this is the text from which I’ll preach on the Sunday just before I leave on vacation. Right now we are using lectionary texts and this is the scheduled Gospel Lesson for July 21, so it’s not intentional! Of course vacation and times of rest and renewal are important for everyone. No doubt this is what my mother was trying to tell me all those years ago. Another more blunt message I’ve received through the years is like it and says, “There is a Christ, and it’s not you.” In other words, of course we are called to work and serve in ways that reflect the Living body of Christ here on earth. And, we hold this in balance with the understanding that we are not the savior of the world. It’s a tricky balance at times, but I think it points to one of the reasons it is hard for some of us to truly get away and rest. There will always be more to do, but oftentimes good rest enables us to be more productive and more helpful.  I have enjoyed hearing about some of your vacation trips and pray each of you have time carved out for rest and renewal. And I pray you know the love of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. I still haven’t located the little note card from my mother, but I’m trusting it is out there in the universe (more specifically, somewhere in my house or office) and it will either turn up or it won’t. The more important thing is recalling her loving message. And I give thanks that while The Good Shepherd may not locate my car keys and bifocals for me, the care and love of God does search out all those who feel lost and lonely. It is no surprise that Psalm 23 is heard at many funerals and memorial services, but I remember one time many years ago visiting with a woman about her husband’s funeral. We were making plans for the celebration of life service and she said very pointedly, “And he wanted Psalm 23, but I do not want it at my service. I want you to remember that pastor. Please do not have it read.” I laughed and she went on to explain that she understood its beauty but she had grown tired of it. The words were familiar and so much so they’d lost their meaning. I think of her as I leave you with two Prayer Psalms based on Psalm 23. These Prayer Psalms were written by participants during a retreat held at a church in Dallas. Everyone was invited to spend time with Psalm 23 and then to rewrite it in their own voice, leaning on their own experiences and their own understanding of the image of God. You might be inspired to try this exercise yourself! I’m also leaving below a link to a video I discovered years ago by someone on staff at Austin New Church. It’s a creative meditation on Psalm 23. You’ll be able to note that it was filmed during the pandemic, but I still find it meaningful and relevant. I shared it with the staff earlier this week and hope you enjoy it as much as we did. What a joy to be your pastor! Teresa A Modern Sharing of Psalm 23 A Prayer Psalm by Lisa Hancock God is my Mother. She takes care of me in ways I can’t even comprehend. She reminds me to eat foods that nourish body and soul and gathers me up in Her arms to find comfort and rest. She is my home. She continues to show me the way to live with myself and neighbors well, even when I do not listen very well. In times of distress when I cannot see one step ahead or behind me and I fear the unknown, you are with me. Your steady, faithful arms surround me, grounding me and protecting me, even when I need protection from myself. You set a table with tea and cookies (my favorite!) and invite me to sit down with my enemies (not really my favorite). You remind me in their presence that I am yours and you are always caring for me. In that moment, I recognize that my enemies are your children, too. Surely your abundant goodness and mercy will flow before me, setting my path and showing me the way to go, as long as I live, and I will find my home in my Mother’s arms for ever and ever. Amen. A Prayer Psalm by Rebecca Garrett Pace Jesus is my shepherd, and I honestly feel sorry for him, because I can be quite a stubborn sheep. I shall not want. Or that’s the way it should work, but yet I always want for more. I’m working on it. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. Jesus is teaching me how to care. To care for myself, so that I can then care for others. To care for the earth, so I can live in green pastures with still waters and not make a mess of them just because I can. To care for my soul, which is fed by gratitude and joy and kindness. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. Unfortunately he keeps talking too softly for me to hear him, so I keep having to guess what the right paths are, and go on a hunch, and ask for forgiveness when I get it wrong. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil — well that’s just wishful thinking. I fear all the time. All the things. So much fear. But I am learning how to sit in the darkness, and be open to what I might learn from it, and really the most important bit is that you are with me. Your music, your friendship, your wisdom, your words, your kindness, your presence through others - they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies, and you tell me that there’s extra room at the table, and it’s actually your table and not mine, so I should scoot over and make room and invite my enemies to eat with me and give them the last piece of homemade bread and extra butter because that’s what you would do. Which is annoying but I know you’re right. You anoint my head with oil - you protect and love me, you nurture, you guide, you heal me. My cup overflows. God, I am grateful. I am so incredibly overwhelmed by goodness in my life. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long. And when the goodness and mercy are obscured, O God, help me know you’re still there. Always. Forever. Amen. Wesley’s Rules for Voting A few of you asked me for John Wesley’s Three Rules for Voting after last week’s sermon. Here they are! 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