Teresa’s Note: November 10, 2023

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Dear friends and members of University UMC: Last Sunday, we celebrated All Saints Sunday, and the Sanctuary Choir blessed us with a moving requiem entitled “Lux Aeterna” by Morten Lauridsen. Lauridsen was moved to compose the piece when his mother, for whom he had great love, died. We are grateful to our Director of Music Ministries, Alicia Villarreal; Organist, Eun Joo Fierro; and all the choir members who worked hard in rehearsals to bless us with this special service. In visiting with several of you who were in worship, it was a service that was both heavy with grief and beautiful. Thanks to our Communications Team at UUMC, the in-person service is available early in the week following each Sunday’s service. You can find a link to the All Saints service with the requiem below. The holiday season stretches before us, and while it is often filled with joy for many, for others, it can be a difficult time for a number of reasons. Grieving the loss of loved ones, sadness about estranged family relationships, and lamenting the pain and violence in the world can fill the holidays with a host of feelings that are anything but joy. Below are a couple of writings that give voice to such experiences. One is written by Kate Bowler and called “A Blessing for the First Holidays Without Your Person.” Another writing is by Padraig O’Tuama, and comes from his series, “The Pedagogy of Conflict.” His words speak to the agony of death but also emphasize the sacredness of every single life that is lost, reminding me that as we lament the death of so many children in Gaza and surrounding areas, we know that every single child is known, loved, and held by the God of Love. The name of Sunday’s requiem, “Lux Aeterna,” is translated as eternal light. In these days, I pray you find comfort in the promises of God - that the people and broken dreams you mourn are known and held by God. Thanks to Megan Otto, part of our All Saints in person service included writing on paper leaves the names of loved ones who have died. All these are now included on a Tree of Life in the narthex. Seeing this tree, I was reminded of the common prayer at many funerals asking God that perpetual light shine upon the departed. In the weeks ahead, as you see this tree (pictured below) may you be reminded that those you grieve are in the presence of God. Further, may the memories you hold dear shine within you and renew your relationship with those who have gone before you. As I often say, please be gentle with yourselves as we all seem to carry so much these days. Know Pastor Earl, Megan, and I are here if ever you need a listening ear. Know you are held in prayer and held in love. What a joy to be your pastor! Teresa A Blessing for the First Holidays Without Your Person Kate Bowler Dear God, the holidays are coming, and this is the first one in this new reality. I don’t know how to get through this. God, show me what to do with the memories, the traditions, the pain and the excruciating beauty of all that was. God have mercy. Christ have mercy. Spirit have mercy.  He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3 God have mercy. Christ have mercy. Spirit have mercy. Blessed are we who come to You o God, in the midst of grief and loss, fear and longing, irritability and anger, gratitude and sweet remembrance, and so much exhaustion. Blessed are we who say God, i don’t know where home is or who I am now, exactly. Couldn’t i just rest for awhile? I am too tired to feel everything there is to feel. Grant me solitude enough for solace, and company enough for comfort, people to be with who know how to slip quietly under the burden of this grief and shoulder it with me without much to say. Blessed are we who ask You for permission during this holiday time to do things the same as always, or completely differently, to wade through raw emotion, or ride on the surface of it all. give us wisdom and guidance that transcends the strangeness, making little plans possible. Blessed are we who ask for a way during this holiday time to celebrate some small ritual of remembrance, that becomes a safe place to put the love and the grief, the anger and the ache and the ecstasy of the knowledge that there is no one that can take their place. No one. Blessed are we who ask You God, to take hold of the fear, and us with it, and lead us through. God have mercy. Christ have mercy. Spirit have mercy Breathe. And breathe again. You are loved. God himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 The Pedagogy of Conflict Pádraig Ó Tuama When I was a child, I learnt to count to five one, two, three, four, five. but these days, I’ve been counting lives, so I count one life one life one life one life one life because each time is the first time that that life has been taken. Legitimate Target has sixteen letters and one long abominable space between two dehumanising words. - from “The Pedagogy of Conflict” Originally published in Sorry for your Troubles 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