Glimpses of Faith Newsletter

Transcription

1 September 2018 Faith UCC 970 N. Loop 337 New Braunfels, TX Glimpses of Faith Newsletter Church Phone Rev. Scott B. Martin, Pastor Cell Phone Rev. Ray Bizer, Pastor Emeritus Pastoral Assistant, Janet Sherman L.M I signed a new will last week. I hope to be around and healthy for many years to come but one never knows. It is important to have a will not only for the disposition of assets but also for such things as medical power of attorney and expressing your wishes in regards to a terminal illness or becoming incapacitated. If you have children all of these things and many more become very important. It will ease their burden to have alll these things in place. There is an excellent booklet from the UCC on the literature table entitled "Before You Die: Reflections & Resources." I highly recommend it. I did not find considering my eventual death to be depressing. It's not like one's eventual death should come as a surprise. We are all mortal! It is not for nothing that every Ash Wednesday we hear the words, "Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return. n." Indeed, it enhances the desire to make the most of one's time on this earth, because we are not here forever. Contemplating one's death has a way of clarifying ones values, what is really important and what isn't. In making a will I found myself having a similar experience to Rev. Lillian Daniel, who writes on page 27 of "Before You Die" about her experience in writing a will. "... when I finally did it, I discovered something wonderful. In my will, I could be extravagantly generous to the institutions that have mattered most to me. It wouldn't cost me a thing, or cause me one worry or make a dent in my lifestyle." As the saying goes "You can't take it with you!" Given this fact one might as well get some satisfaction now from knowing you've done' something worthwhile with it. Unlike myself, Rev. Daniel is married and has children. She is not leaving alll of her assets to them. As you see in the quote above she is also leaving a legacy to churches and institutions she values. She writes about this saying, "My children are already use to the notion that we don't keep all the money we earn, so they won't be surprised that they don't get to keep all their parents' money later. In fact, I like to think that the gifts we give to others might even bring them a little joy at a sad time." She is providing a witness in good stewardship to her children in life and in death. If you don't have a will get one NOW. Talk these things over with your spouse or children. They may be uncomfortable but imagine how uncomfortable they will be if you don't! Plus, you may just find it surprisingly rewarding. Carpe Diem! Seize the Day!

2 Faith Church Hosts Women's Luncheon September 13 Our Faith Church women will host a salad luncheon for our friends from Friedens UCC on Thursday, September 11 from 11:30 until 2:00. In addition to bringing a favorite salad to share, we are asked to bring one item to assist in the Interfaith Welcome Coalition of San Antonio art ministry at the Greyhound Bus Station. (HEB gift cards--gas cards -- to buy the cookies and fruit for the children; Hobby Lobby gift cards -- for specialty supplies needed for seasonal projects like Christmass and Easter; Stickers -- the kind kids love -- to decorate things with; Crayons; and Coloring Books.) Our program speaker will be Pastor Helen Boursier who will share her experience from attending the UCC Justice Witness & Global Ministries event at the Arizona-Mexico border August 26-30, including how churches and individuals can participate in the UCC's ongoing Faithful Witness FOR the Border (September-November, 2018). Rev. Dr. Helen Boursier was the organizing and senior pastor at Community Fellowship Presbyterian Church in New Braunfels ( ) until she took a new call in writing and teaching. "Pastora Helena" has been a volunteer chaplain with refugee families seeking asylum since 2014, including two years inside the immigrant family detention center at Karnes City ( ) where she facilitated art as spiritual care with the families. She currently volunteers with the Interfaith Welcome Coalition of San Antonio as she brings her art ministry to the Greyhound Bus Station in downtown San Antonio. Dr. Boursier teaches religious and theological studies online for College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN. She is currently working on two books which emerged from her experience with refugee families. September Birthdays 9-6 Kimberly Kramm 9-9 Irene Bartels 9-9 Norma Remler 9-9 Jerry Jaroszewski 9-13 Joe Ward 9-14 Kate Bauer 9-15 Brady Storms 9-24 Mikki Ward 9-27 Quinn Perry 9-27 Cappy Felger Adams 9-28 Frank Dietz If your birthday is not on here please let Pastor Scott know so we can get in on the list for next year.

3 Solar Power Exploratory Task Force for Faith UCC According to the UCC Solar Star list 84 church across the UCC have solar panels and the list is growing. The church to the left is the United Church of Chester, Connecticut. Friends UCC in College Station installed a solar panel system at their church last year. This is not only good for the environment but it is also very good for their electric bills and provides a visible witness to the community. pastor or a council member. At Faith UCC's last Earth Day Sunday service several of you expressed interest in our exploring installing solar panels here at Faith UCC. The church council would like to establish a Solar Power Exploratory Task Force to look into this as a possibility for Faith UCC. We would like to get 4-5 people to take this task on. If you are interest pleasee speak with the Thank You Letter From Back Bay Mission Dear Faith UCC, Thank you for your generous gift of $ to Back Bay Mission! Your gift to Friends of the Mission makes it possible to meet the most urgent needs of the poor and marginalized of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Your gift is already at work strengthening neighborhoods, seeking justice, and transforming lives. You're helping a homeowner stay in their home, providing homeless families with apartments, making sure people have enough food, and giving people the support they need to make their lives better. Most importantly, your gift is making sure that Back Bay Mission is here to provide a safe and welcoming place for everyone who comes through our doors. Thank you for partnering with us through your generous gift. We - and those we serve - are ever grateful. Grace and Peace, Rev. Alice Graham, Executive Director

4 Thank You Letter From Slumber Falls Camp We extend a very special thank you for your contribution of $ that we received on July 12, We are certainly blessed by Churches like yours who keep us in mind. Camp is all about exploring faith and developing relationships to the Church. hurch. It becomes an interesting fact of life to see our young people taking an active role in the Church after being exposed to camp opportunities that fostered their spiritual journeys. Your contribution helps us attract positive role model leadership that in turn helps our campers learn to grow meaningful personal relationships with each other and God. Together with God's grace, we will continue the ministry of Slumber Falls Camp. Sincerely, Terri Armstrong, Assistant Administrator New Members Join Faith UCC On September 16th We will be receiving new members during the September 16th worship service. So far Rob & Torie Caito and Shannon & Ellen Simpson will be joining. If you would like to join then too please contact the pastor. If you can't that Sunday but still want to join, again, speak to the pastor and we will set a date later in the year. Rev. John Roberts also recently joined our church. He is the pastor of Grace Presbyterian in Corpus Christi. Greyson Levi Caito Born on August 9, 2018 Rob & Torie Caito are happy to announce the birth of Greyson Levi Caito on August 9th. He weighed 6.5 pounds at birth and was 19.5 inches. We at Faith UCC rejoice with Rob and Torie and pray God's blessings on Greyson and on them.

5 Heart of Texas Association News All of you are invited to the Heart of Texas Association Fall Meeting to be held on Saturday, October 20th at United Christian Church, 3500 West Parmer Lane, in Austin -- near the intersection of Parmer Lane and the MoPac freeway (TX-1). The meeting will start at 11 am, with registration beginning at 10:30. We will break for lunch then continue, ending between about 1:30 and 2 pm. An ecclesiastical council for Will Nelson, candidate for ordained ministry pending a call, will be held during our gathering. Will is a member of Church of the Savior and graduated from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. His ordination paper will be sent out to our churches and ministers in early October. We encourage all who come to read it, to be enriched in your thinking about faith by it, and to bring questions you may have for Will. At our meeting, we will also worship together, enjoy table fellowship at lunch, have a business meeting, and have an additional program that is still being worked out. Come to enjoy the friendship of those from our churches, to build our caring covenantal relationships among our churches, and to contribute to the important work of the ordained ministry process. United is hosting the meeting on behalf of the Austin area cluster of Association churches, and we anticipate gathering in the South Texas cluster of churches in the spring. The fall meeting offering will be for Slumber Falls Camp. As many of you know, the camping and retreat ministry at Slumber Falls is an invaluable and irreplaceable blessing to those of us who are in the South Central Conference of the UCC. In an era of constant busyness, time demands, and the push to achieve and compete for so many of our youth, Slumber Falls Camp is a life-giving and Spirit-filled place. It is a place where children and youth are loved for who they are and where caring staff come to help foster faithful Christian lives full of meaning and hope. I can testify personally to the treasure that our UCC church camps are from my own experience while living in Northern California and the enormous impact the UCC camping program there has had over the years on the lives of our three daughters. I know from the witness of so many here that Slumber Falls has had this same kind of impact on the lives of our children and youth. I also know how important this camp is in the lives of adults in our churches as we have been refreshed and renewed there at retreats and as camp counselors and directors. Right now, Slumber Falls has financial need in various ways. The camp has been given a donation of 128 Tempurpedic mattresses, with the only cost being $7000 for mattress delivery. Some of this money has been raised as I write, but more is needed. And the camp needs our donations for all of its work to ensure that it is sustainable into the future. Our Association offering will go toward the mattresses as needed, with any additional money going to the overall work and program. I encourage our churches and members to be generous, too, with your gifts from church budgets and as Friends of the Camp. Blessings in Christ, Liz Nash, Association Minister

6 September Worship Assistant List 9-2 Liturgist: Karen Dietz Acolyte & Council Rep: Kim Beauchamp Greeter: Elly Beauchamp Hospitality: Mikki Ward Communion: Sheila Angerer Ushers: Kim Beauchamp; Sofia Beauchamp; Frank & Karen Dietz Church School: (starts 9/9) Nursery: TBA AV: Mike Boursier : 9-9 Liturgist: Mikki Ward Acolyte & Council Rep: Carol Sisco-Martinez Greeter: Joe Ward Hospitality: Julia Allison AV: Cassidy Sisco-Martinez Ushers: Carol Sisco-Martinez; Robynne Sisco-Martinez; Joe & Mikki Ward Church School: Tim & Jennifer Marlow Nursery: TBA 9-16 Liturgist: Bob Manning Acolyte & Council Rep: Jason Chapel AV: TBA Greeter: Sheila Angerer Hospitality: Shirley Manning Ushers: Jason Chapel; Bob & Shirley Manning; Quinn Perry Church School: Michelle Perry & Nicolle Clark Nursery: TBA 9-23 Liturgist: Mike Boursier Acolyte & Council Rep: Kyle Kramm Greeter: Karen Kramm Hospitality: Tex Pantermuehl Church School: Jim & Chrissy Gossett Nursery: TBA Ushers: Kyle Kramm; Karen Kramm; Mike Boursier; Tex Pantermuehl Av: David Reed 9-30 Liturgist: Curt Leonhardt Acolyte & Council Rep: Valerie Oates AV: Tim Marlow Greeter: Julia Allison Hospitality: Jennifer Marlow Nursery: TBA Ushers: Valerie Oates; Curt Leonhardt Church School: Julia Allison & Karen Dietz If you cannot serve on the date(s) shown, please try to find a sub. If that is not possible, please leave a message at the church ( ) as soon as possible. If you would like to be added or removed from all or part of the Worship Assistant List, please contact the church office. Sunday School Kick Off Faith church families. We are excited to welcome your children back to Sunday School! We will resume classes on Sunday September 9th. The children will dismiss to the Hoffmann Building right after the Children's Time. Nursery care is available for children 5 years and under. We invite all the families to join us that Sunday (9/9) beginning at 10 a.m. for donuts and chocolate milk to celebrate the start of Sunday School. Bunco on Friday October 12th- More info to come but save the date.