Teresa’s Note: June 14, 2024

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Dear friends and members of University UMC: I hope your weekend is getting off to a great start. Throughout June, I’ve been sharing a Methodist Moment in worship, and this Sunday’s “moment” will be centered on the topic of the church as connectional. This is foundational to the understanding of how The United Methodist Church is structured and how it functions. As most any system goes, explaining connectionalism can quickly get complicated. But at the core, it means we belong to one another. For example, I remember growing up in the small UMC in my hometown and attending choir camp with youth from other UMCs who would soon become friends. I consider the churches in our area and recall the pastor at St. Mark UMC in Austin preaching here at UUMC a couple of years ago. I knew Pastor Ashley because she is one of my colleagues and just the other day someone at UUMC asked me how St. Mark was doing.  Our connectional nature also means bringing our resources together - enabling us to make a significant impact in mission and service. Financially speaking, apportionments are funds that we give to the wider United Methodist connection to support everything from missionaries; to the operations of the United Methodist Committee on Relief efforts; and Africa University, the first private, fully accredited, degree-granting United Methodist-related institution of higher learning on the continent of Africa. Early in my ministry, I recall a mentor sharing with me that he saw apportionments as “a portion meant for others.” Above all, it means that we can do more together than we could ever do alone. In the weeks ahead, I’ll be recording the “Methodist Moments” to be used on our website and will include links pointing to more information on the topics for those curious to learn more.  It was eye-opening for many of us to hear missionary Cristian Schlick during the Sunday School hour last week. This weekend, we will continue to learn more about other United Methodists in our connection as my father comes to share about the ministry he is engaged in in Seguin. My father (Ron) is a retired band director. After retiring from public school teaching, he attended licensing school and served as a pastor in The UMC serving churches in Cuero, La Feria, and Seguin. He retired from his 2nd career years ago but has recently been leading a gathering of #StayUMC persons following the disaffiliation of the former First UMC of Seguin. I look forward to his sharing as we learn about what is taking place in other parts of our United Methodist connection. And I’m grateful he has agreed to come preach here on Father’s Day! Similar to Mother’s Day, I know Father’s Day can bring up a wide range of thoughts and feelings. I’m especially holding in my prayers those who will be observing their first Father’s Day since their father’s death and those fathers who have lost a child. You can find below a special prayer written for Father’s Day. And with June 19 just around the corner, I’m also leaving you with a few of my favorite Opal Lee (Grandmother of Juneteenth) quotes along with a couple of videos.  Take care and stay cool. And see you soon! What a joy to be your pastor! Teresa An Article about the #StayUMC Gathering in Seguin “Juneteenth means freedom for so many people, for so many reasons. I try to get people to understand it’s not a Texas thing, is not a Black thing — it’s freedom for everybody. I’m hoping, eventually, we will celebrate from the 19th of June to the Fourth of July; that would be celebrating freedom.” - Opal Lee “Juneteenth is celebrated in a grand and glorious way, it marked a change that had to happen: slaves freed from bondage. Black Texans had a chance to chart their own course and their own futures.” - Arlene Youngblood, a member of Wesley UMC in Austin, Texas. Youngblood participates in as many celebrations and activities as she can during the month of June, noting that slaves who migrated after receiving freedom started many of the events held across the U.S. TED Education Video on Juneteenth Video about Opal Lee Prayer for Fathers Loving and Merciful God, our thoughts and prayers today are turned toward our fathers. For those whose fathers have increased the joy in their families’ lives, we give You thanks. For those good men who sustain and support us in our living, who love us no matter what, we give You thanks. For those whose fathers have been a source of hurt and pain, may their wounds be healed and may they find in You, in us, in others, the nurturing love that is needed for their well-being. We also pray that these fathers find forgiveness. For those fathers who are separated from their children, give them the insight and perseverance to parent in whatever ways are open to them. Give them the courage to make the decisions that allow their children to thrive. For those fathers whose relationships with their children have been difficult or disappointing, we pray. We pray, too, for those fathers who have lost a child. We turn to You, most holy God, for consolation where consolation seems impossible. For single fathers who struggle to be both parents to their children, may they find the strength and wisdom for their task. For those who have recently lost or who are facing the imminent loss of their fathers, may they find comfort in the love that their fathers have given them. Amen. ~ attributed to the Methodist Church in Africa 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