November 29, 2024

Dear friends and members of University UMC: Whether you had a small and simple or large and extravagant Thanksgiving, I hope you were able to celebrate. This weekend, the season of Advent begins and our worship theme is “Words for the Beginning.” While the calendar year is coming to a close, Advent marks the start of a new church year. What words will we need as we begin again? Mary received words of blessing from the angel as she began her new journey, and I can imagine the sweet words she spoke to her baby as he was born. John the Baptist also appears on the scene, speaking words that urge us to do the good we can do in our corner of the world and Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth, singing the powerful justice-centered song we know as The Magnificat. These stories, along with the music of the season, will fill our Sunday mornings. No matter what you are facing, no matter what this new day brings, may love be your beginning.  Below I’m including the introduction to our Advent Devotional, available this Sunday morning. You’ll also find a blessing for World AIDS Day observed on December 1. What a joy to be your pastor! Teresa What Brings You Comfort? by Rev. Teresa Welborn One of my prized possessions is a quilt made by my maternal grandmother. Wrapping the quilt around me as I read or watch television brings me comfort. The weight of the quilt is perfect - not too light and not too heavy. The pattern is pleasing to my eyes. And most of all, the quilt evokes happy memories of time spent with my grandmother. In this Advent devotional, members of our community along with other artists and writers reflect on this question. As you read each day’s entry, may it be an invitation for you to consider the people, places, and things that bring you comfort. Sometimes in life we are challenged to “get outside of our comfort zones.” That’s not all bad and can actually be quite good as we take risks and stretch and grow. But let’s face it, most of us are presented with a number of reasons to feel uncomfortable these days! If you are going through a rough patch in life or worried about the future, I pray you find yourself surrounded by the comfort God longs to provide. The beloved Psalm 23 reads “Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.” As an infant Jesus was cradled in the loving care of parents, neighbors and farm animals. He grew and continued his ministry by comparing God’s care to a mother hen gathering her chicks under her wing. God does not desire for us comfort for comfort’s sake. Instead, the moments of comfort provide a means by which we are renewed and strengthened so that we can go on acting in kind and loving ways. So may this season fill you with an abundance of joy and comfort that we might continue to be a place of unconditional love and justice in action. Blessing for Hope on World AIDS Day from the Unitarian Universalist Association It has been a long struggle, and our work is far from over. As we go forth, may we be empowered by the Spirit of Hope and Healing, whose one name is God, and whose other name is Love. May the blessings of Love be upon us and within us: May Love’s truth be upon our vision. May Love’s wisdom dwell within our hearts. May Love’s persistence inspire our lips. May Love’s gentleness give comfort to our bodies. May Love’s gratitude accompany our sleep. May Love’s healing be a balm for our brokenness. May Love’s serenity give peace to our weary souls. May Love’s confidence energize our minds. May Love’s challenge keep us faithful, faithful in our struggle... faithful in our conviction that love...and justice...and hope... will ultimately prevail. 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