Dear friends and members of University UMC:
I have spent a lot of time this week thinking about our school teachers. For starters, I was able to spend one morning this week at my daughter’s high school attending a couple of her classes. It was “Bring Your Parent to School” day. The good-humored principal was clear that the decision to attend rightly belonged to the parents and not the students. The time spent was both fun and enlightening. I saw a few of my daughter’s friends and even ran into another UUMC student. One class I attended was World Geography and parents were encouraged to actively participate. This included taking an exam where we had to identify all the states of Mexico on a map. Fortunately, I had a heads-up and one night to study. This may have been the first time I was proud of getting a 75 on a test!
This week I’ve also been thinking of one teacher in particular. My Aunt Laura. She was a school principal and before that an elementary school teacher. In recent years she’d been declining in health and earlier this week, she passed away. As many of you know from experience, even when death is expected it can still come as a terrible shock. I appreciate your love and prayers, church family. The staff and other leaders have been supportive and I am so grateful for them and for you. My cousin called soon after the news of her mother’s death asking if I could preside at the funeral which will be held this Sunday in Aransas Pass, Texas. I will miss being with you in worship this weekend, but our thoughts and prayers will connect us with one another.
One of my aunt’s longtime friends and co-teachers has said my Aunt Laura had an ability to “make successes out of trickles of hope”. That’s likely a good description of the teaching life! It’s a reminder of why good teachers are true community heroes. It may also be a good approach to life in general, especially when hope seems in short supply. Yes, I’m grateful for teachers. And I’m also aware of the invitation God gives us each day - to look upon the living of our days as an education. Days come and go. Months and years pass. Through it all, we learn and re-learn what we value most, where we desire to give our best energy, and how to be kinder and a little more compassionate. As Maya Angelou has said: “I’ve learned that making a living is not the same thing as making a life.”
Today I’m sharing two pieces below. The prayer below comes from resources developed by The General Board of Church and Society ahead of the upcoming presidential election. I’m grateful that this Sunday in worship, leaders from UUMC Votes will share about the work in which they’ve been involved, and following worship they will be available to assist any and all who need to register to vote or have questions regarding situations such as address changes and voting. Another piece below is a blessing for those who serve written by Kate Bowler. This blessing was used in worship recently when we celebrated a commitment to service. We had over 55 commitment cards received. THANK YOU CHURCH!
What a joy to be your pastor!
Teresa
