Teresa’s Note: September 27, 2024

Dear friends and members of University UMC: This weekend in worship we begin our Stewardship Season with the theme “People of Possibility.” The theme is inspired by a piece entitled “Turning to One Another” by Margaret Wheatley. Her words speak to the importance of community. Her words also serve as a reminder that asking the question “What is possible?” has the power to bring people together in transformational ways enabling them to do extraordinary things.  Stewardship Season is a time when we consider our commitment to giving for the upcoming year. Stewardship can sound to some of us like a “stuffy” church word, but I like the way writers at The SALT Project describe this word. SALT is a storytelling resource and they write: “The good news of the Gospel is that we are created for this beautiful, important mission, to gracefully care for one another as ‘stewards’ - a word from two ancient roots: stig, or ‘path, hall, part of a house,’ and weard, or “guardian, person who watches over.’ A steward is someone who protects a path, who watches over a house, who takes care of a treasure - not just our individual home or church, but also the wider community we all share, love and serve.” The faith community we know and love called University UMC has always been a place of possibility. Through the years, saints have gathered for worship and have engaged in ministries and missions. They faithfully cared for the spirit of UUMC so that we can be here today. Now we have the wonderful and holy work of caring for this community in ways that ensure God’s ongoing message of love and peace for generations to come. As we look towards the future, we can trust that God will continue to work in and among us as we imagine all that is possible.  I’m also grateful UUMC is a place that doesn’t shy away from hard conversations. In this current political climate, I’m especially inspired by you who engage in study concerning the dangers of Christian nationalism. And I was inspired, earlier this week, listening to Pastor Earl’s sermon entitled “Bizarre Foods.” If you weren’t able to be here last Sunday, I encourage you to take a listen as he prophetically preached a message of inclusion and grace in the face of exclusion and fear. The link to last week’s worship service with his sermon is found below. In a similar message, Bishop Tracey Malone writes: “Christ breaks down the barriers of hatred that divide and invites us to build a worldwide community of love. He calls us to see strangers and even enemies as neighbors. Let’s join conversations in our pulpits, pews, and the public square that advance justice and build up our communities in love.” Bishop Malone is president of the Council of Bishops for The UMC, and I encourage you to read her entire message below. What a joy to be your pastor! Teresa Turning to One Another by Margaret J. Wheatley There is no greater power than a community discovering what it cares about. Ask “What is possible?” not “What’s wrong?” Keep asking. Notice what you care about. Assume that many others share your dreams. Be brave enough to start a conversation that matters. Talk to people you know. Talk to people you don’t know. Talk to people you never talk to. Be intrigued by the differences you hear. Expect to be surprised. Treasure curiosity more than certainty. Invite in everybody who cares to work on what’s possible. Acknowledge that everyone is an expert about something. Know that creative solutions come from new connections. Remember, you don’t fear people whose story you know. Real listening always brings people closer together. Trust that meaningful conversations can change your world. Rely on human goodness. Stay together. Worship Service for September 22, 2024 Statement from Bishop Malone 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