Dearly Beloved,

Over the last several weeks, we’ve been exploring what “Grace in Action” looks like, for God and for us. We’ve considered God’s generosity in building the home of creation, and our call to be world-builders and homemakers, too. We’ve thought about God’s prodigal, neverending welcome, and about our own hospitality and celebration.

This week, as we approach Giving Sunday, October 23rd, we’d like to ask you to reflect on the grace that appears when we least expect it.

That’s what Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan is all about, since Jews and Samaritans didn’t get along in those days: imagining someone from the “other side” – of the aisle, of the debate, of the conflict – whose actions beautifully reflect the grace of God. And then going and doing likewise.

When the image of God shines brightest through our lives, we find ourselves building bridges, showing and receiving mercy, and learning from supposed “enemies.” Through our youth planting sea grass to restore Texas marshes, our Social Justice team providing feminine hygiene products and school supplies for students in need, using our building to host open and affirming ministries like Gender Hope, demonstrating at the State Capitol to support sensible gun control, and supporting many local nonprofits like Austin Coalition for the Homeless, we’ve been a part of God’s merciful work of justice and reconciliation.

United Christian Church of Austin has a long history of “Grace in Action,” and with your help, we can do even more. So be sure to join us this Sunday for Giving Sunday, when we’ll celebrate and reflect on all the ways God’s “Grace in Action” has shaped our community, as well as all the ways we seek to be more gracious in our lives and work together. If you haven’t pledged online already at uccaustin.org/pledge, be ready in worship to fill a pledge card out with grace upon grace!

See you Sunday,

Rev. Anna Kreisle (Senior Minister), Letty Tomlinson (Stewardship Team Lead), Jan Keeling (Financial Secretary), and Sarah Donohoe (Treasurer)

​

Dearly Beloved,


Every year, I both love and dread World Communion Sunday. As a progressive Christian, I feel self-conscious about celebrating the diversity of the global Church given that I’m a privileged white woman serving a predominantly privileged white church. Most likely, my ancestors colonized and dominated people from places like Africa, Vietnam, and Latin America. So what right do I have to speak on behalf of those very cultures who are still on the margins today as a result of my ancestors' and culture’s actions -- to sing African songs, read Vietnamese poems, and butcher the pronunciation of the Lord’s Prayer in Spanish? These cultural treasures do not belong to me. At the same time, I want to lift up and honor our global siblings in a way that doesn’t involve social plagiarism, stereotypes, or irreverence.


It can be a fine line, however, between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation. Though it may seem like I'm splitting hairs or politicking here, I believe it’s an important question for us to consider as followers of Jesus. After all, Jesus showed honor and respect for people of other cultures when he praised the Samaritan, dined with Gentiles, and commissioned us to make disciples of all nations baptizing them into the Church, thereby including every culture and race into God’s family. 


So how do we, like Jesus, respect people of different cultures on World Communion Sunday? This is one of the questions we'll be asking this Sunday because asking these questions out of concern for our global neighbor is part of what it means to live in worldwide communion. Although we may never land on clear or definitive answers, it is in asking that we honor Christ in the other and grow into the Family of God.


Much heart,
Rev. Anna

"Privilege does not have to be negative, but we have to share our resources and take direction about how to use our privilege in ways that empower those who lack it."  - bell hooks


We at UCC are constantly trying to find ways to share our privilege and we will have opportunities to do that in the next three months.  Whether we share with our own community as our children and families will be doing by baking bread this Sunday or whether we share with the wider community as our youth will be doing this Saturday at the CrysalisQ Playdate, we are a community with a heart for making lives better through love.  


Here are some ways you can share:
1) In September and October, we will collect items to go into Church World Service Hygiene kits.  These kits go to those who are dealing with disasters or are in a refugee situation.  Right now, many are going to the areas of the United States like Kentucky who have experienced unprecedented flooding.  Some go to ministries on the border of Texas and Mexico.  Here is what we will be collecting:

• Hand Towels measuring 15”x28” to 16”x32” (no fingertip, bath, dish, or micro-fiber towels)
• Washcloths
• Sturdy Wide-Toothed Combs that measure at least 6 inches of teeth (no pocket combs or picks) with or without handles
• Fingernail or Toenail clippers
• Bath-sized bar soaps in their original wrappers
• A single Toothbrush in original wrapper
• Regular Sized Band Aides
• Gallon Sized Zipper Bags
• $2/bag fee for CWS

An _Amazon Wish List_ has been created for those who would like to shop that way. For the 5th Sunday Social Justice time after worship on October 30th, we will assemble these kits and ship them to Church World 
Service for distribution.


2) During our Community Building sermon series, we will have a blessing of the prayer shawls. If you have a prayer shawl you are working on (even if it is partially finished), bring it to church that Sunday to be blessed.


3) In October and early November, we are collecting canned goods for the Bethany Faith Food Pantry Thanksgiving boxes.  We don’t know what we will be assigned yet, but will find out before October.  The Social Justice Committee will buy the boxes used for the distribution and our youth will assemble and fill them in November.


4) Please continue to fill our Little Free Food Pantry by bringing non-perishable food items for our Children’s Collection on Sundays.  


5) Finally, put Sunday, March 5th at 2:00 pm on your calendar for the Austin CROP Hunger Walk at Camp Mabry.


Please keep your Social Justice ideas coming. We are currently trying to find a meeting time for the team that works with our new small group schedule, so keep an eye out for announcements. Send any thoughts, questions, or comments to justice@uccaustin.org.


Diane Baker
Social Justice Team Lead

Ministry Minute


Dearly Beloved,


This Sunday is “Kickoff Sunday,” but truth be told, the activity around church picked up weeks ago. Last week, youth and volunteers finished up the Gaga Ball Pit in what was formerly our garden area for the youth to use at their Youth Group Kickoff Party this Sunday evening, preceded by an information session for families with youth interested in our Confirmation Class. 


After months of anticipation and even getting temporarily lost in the mail, the first piece of our Children’s Playground has arrived: a cave! In addition to tracking all these shipments down, Emily has been preparing the schedule of Godly Play lessons for our children during worship, with an all-new story about the fierce prophetess Deborah! We'll also be resuming our Children's Offering before the children's sermon, collecting from the congregation spare change and nonperishables for the Little Pantry. For Second Sunday Social, she's also planning a Bread Baking Party for World Communion Sunday, so please RSVP for that!


Our Small Groups are taking RSVPs for this fall. Groups will meet every other week for authentic conversation, community building, and fun. See below for the schedules and more information.


Kelley has been printing up helpful UCC Fall 2022 brochures with our events and groups and gorgeous Devotional Journals for you based on this month's sermon series. Pick up your copies at church on Sunday. Kelley’s also made Conversation Cards based on our series for use in your small groups and framed gorgeous new Artwork associated with each Sunday to display in worship.


Personally, I’m enjoying getting to know all the new friends who have been coming through our doors lately. I’m excited to hold another UCC 101 after worship this Sunday and New Friends & Members Potluck at my house next Saturday to get to know many of you better. If you’ve been worshipping with us for some time now, and UCC feels like your church home, you’re warmly invited to come up front during the Sending Hymn any Sunday in September to become a member.


There's so much to celebrate that I hope you join us for Kickoff Sunday, either at our monthly 8:30 AM Outdoor Worship Service OR our weekly Hybrid Worship at 10 AM (sanctuary & online) to kick off a fall semester of community building, faith formation, and service in the name of Christ.


Much heart,
Rev. Anna

Dearly Beloved,
How many times have I heard myself say, "I've been thinking about you and meaning to check in…" or "You've been on my mind and I've been meaning to ask..."

The ellipses symbolize the main objective for our September sermon series, titled "I've Been Meaning to Ask": to cultivate deeper relationships to God and to one another through meaningful and authentic conversations.

During the pandemic, many of us have experienced a general sense of disconnection as we literally placed partitions between us and the rest of the world. Not only have we been physically divided, but our culture has also become increasingly divided -- divided along lines of politics, social class, generation, and race. It's now possible to live your life in a silo, interacting only with people of your age, race, political persuasion, and income level. You can even curate your news feed to show only articles that align with your beliefs! The Church, however, is one of the few intergenerational communities left where people of different ideas, abilities, and backgrounds come together to live life together.

​So each Sunday, we'll be asking a question that will stir meaningful conversations at Church and in your small groups to connect us with God through authentic relationships with one another: 

• Week 1: Where are you from?
• Week 2: Where does it hurt?
• Week 3: What do you need?
• Week 4: Where do we go from here?
• 
  

And there couldn’t be a better time for this because -- not only have we come back together after years of lockdown -- but we're also bringing together a number of new families and friends into our community this fall. So I pray that through this series, the accompanying small groups, and the devotionals, you form bonds within this church family and see Christ in one other -- living here among us at United Christian Church of Austin.

Much heart,
Rev. Anna

This Sunday, August 7th, we will celebrate Pride Sunday at UCC.  While celebrating Pride Sunday is not a new thing for our congregation, celebrating it as an out, queer woman is new for me.  When I began attending this church in 2008, I knew it was a special place.  The sense of community, the amazing children’s programs, the true feeling of welcome and inclusion, were like nothing I had ever experienced anywhere before.  I loved being a part of a church that had a clearly written open and affirming statement...what a welcome to all!  

After attending for several years, I was so proud of the intentional work put into expanding that open and affirming statement.  The work put into making the statement more inclusive and welcoming, showed that our congregation believes very much in the phrase “God is still speaking.”  We are a congregation that continues to show welcome and love, because we are willing to continue to learn and grow in our faith.
​ 
This extravagant welcome and continued focus on what it means to be a child of God, is what helped me to learn to know myself better.  I am grateful for a God that loves me "no matter who I am, or where I am on life’s journey.” What a privilege that the church where I am encouraged to serve, worship, and practice my faith, is one of such love, welcome, and radical hospitality.  Thank you all for loving me into being, I look forward to sharing more of my story this Sunday!
 
Peace,
Pastor Meghan Dever 
Director of Youth Ministries