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.
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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