November 6, 2020

​Dear Saints,

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” - Matthew 19:14

What a nail-biting week it has been for us adults. For those of us fortunate enough to live in households with children, however, we are reminded that life goes on whether or not we worry about it. They continue to play and fight and lose their shoes. So for our children, we must get out of bed, pour the coffee, and keep on. 

Even if your own children have flown the nest, or even if children have never lived in home, you are part of a church family that cherishes and raises our children together in an intergenerational community -- that is something truly unique and special in this world where more and more, we live in silos segregated by age. In our church, we cherish our children not because they’re cute, or sweet, or even because they’re “our future.” We value children because they are full human beings right here, right now. That’s why we go to great lengths to make them feel welcome in our building, in our worship, and in our community. And that’s why we voted recently on their behalf -- to build for them a more just and peaceful world.

This week, we have published a new resource at www.uccaustin.org/holyconversations so that our children and youth can more easily participate in the strategic planning and visioning process that will build the future of our church. There you will find 2 downloadable forms: one for pre-writers and one for children and youth. These forms prompt children and youth to respond to the themes of our Holy Conversations. You can use these forms or your own paper; download them yourself or pick copies up at the blessing bag pickup this Saturday; drop them back off at the next blessing bag pickup or scan them in and email them to the church office. These forms are perhaps the most important contribution to our Holy Conversations, because they build the church we will leave for our children.

I also hope you engage in our next Holy Conversation on identity beginning November 22nd, as well as in the other points of entry that are popping up on our Facebook page, such as the wonderful history photos our church historian Carol Barrett has been posting. Our Search Committee is currently working hard to pull all these rich conversations together into a report on our history, and we’re so excited to share it with you soon.

Peace be with you,
Rev. Anna