Dear Friends ,
   
   My name is Leslie Guerrero Collins and I’m pleased to be serving as the Social Justice team lead for 2023.  My family and I have been members of UCC since 2016 and I was previously in this role from 2019-2020. Returning to this special work is very exciting as I know that an opportunity to serve this community though teams or volunteering will surely lead to a rich season of deepened friendships and strident faith-building. 


   This year, we’ll see the continuation or return of some of our most meaningful missions work such as: an apartment set-up for a refugee family planned for this spring, discovering new ways to celebrate Pride this summer, and the return of the highly anticipated Period Party in September. And of course we’ll be supporting our ongoing missions with our on-site micro pantry and contributions to the Bethany Faith Food Pantry in East Austin.  Our first 5th Sunday Project is this Sunday 1/29, and you are invited to join us after the service as we prepare sack lunches in the Fellowship Hall for you to distribute all over Austin to folks in need. 


    In addition to our missions projects, we have an opportunity and responsibility to dive further into the more clarified definition of “social justice” by being a force for systemic and restorative changes within the larger governing systems of our city and state.  The Texas Legislature is currently in session and over 2 dozen bills have been proposed targeting the LGBTQ community.  Our calling to radical love and acceptance, and our proximity to the statehouse put us in a unique position to be front row activists in the months ahead.  Look for opportunities to march, meet, and speak out as the legislative process moves forward.


   I’m excited to collaborate with this family of faith, standing shoulder-to-shoulder as we see what God has in store for 2023. 
 
With love,
Leslie

Greetings, Church Family! 


I am excited and honored to write you today in celebration of all we accomplished this past year and to share in the hope and promise of 2023. First and foremost, we invite you to come to this Sunday’s service where we will highlight and thank our leaders from last year and commission our leaders for 2023.  


On that note, this Sunday gives us an opportunity to reflect on our growth, both as a church and in numbers. Our accomplishments are many and impressive. We consistently held in-person worship. Our congregational numbers and involvement continue to thrive. We designed and installed a remarkable playscape. Not only that, but also PAID for the playscape in a matter of weeks. And we started up small groups again. And we introduced a new governance structure for the church. And, and, and. There are too many accomplishments to list, but I know we are just warming up. (Watch out, 2023!) 


To celebrate our accomplishments, we will be honoring the incredible service of our 2022 leadership, especially those stepping down. Please join us in body, spirit, or virtual presence for this Sunday’s service. Together we will honor those who honor the church. Let us unite in gratitude for their effort and sacrifice to make our church body what it is. 


As our 2022 leadership steps down, we extend welcome and hope to our leadership in 2023 through commissioning. We are a congregational church, meaning we thoughtfully and prayerfully direct our church’s future together. Our leadership was voted upon at the end of last year, and Sunday’s commissioning will mark the start of this year’s service.  ​


My friends, it is a pleasure to serve with you and be the body of Christ together.  


Jon Kinder
2023 Council Chair

For me, there is so much to love about Advent and Christmas Time. I love the cooler weather, peppermint mochas, decorations and lights, family traditions, and of course, youth group traditions.


In a few weeks we'll have our annual ugly sweater Christmas party, accompanied by some sort of silly games and likely lots of candy. But leading up to this fun event, we've been working to build relationships among our youth. We do this through weekly meetings, meals around tables, and service to others.


Three weeks ago we held our fall Lock-In where we focused on service to our direct church community, our local neighborhood community, and the broader Austin community. Our youth assembled 100 boxes and packed them with 500 canned goods, as well as other food items. The youth also purchased items to help stock the Little Free Pantry, made blankets for those experiencing homelessness, and finished moving the mulch into the playground area. Also this fall, the youth have served at a playdate for LGBTQ kids and their families, and packed poinsettias at Down Home Ranch.  


All of this relationship building and service work throughout the year leads to our biggest event: our Mission Trip. In 2023 our youth will serve for a week with Appalachia Service Project doing home repair and learning about poverty. In order to fund these mission trips, we rely on parent contributions for each youth and fundraising. We currently have two fundraisers going on, if you would like to support our youth. 


Through this Sunday, 12/4, you can purchase poinsettias. Our poinsettias come from Down Home Ranch and are absolutely gorgeous. You may order in person or online, and can also choose to order one to be delivered to one of our homebound members. Poinsettias will be available for pick-up after worship on 12/11. 


Through that Sunday, 12/11, you can also order gift cards. Gift cards are available through many popular retailers, and make a great gift or stocking stuffer! The gift cards will be available for pick-up on Sunday, December 18. All information about gift card ordering is available online, or in person. 


Thank you for loving and supporting our youth!


Meghan

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