made me think!
May23
After the Rapture . . .
made me think!
Author Archives: Kathleen
May23
Loose connections | The Christian Century
Loose connections | The Christian Century.
Very interesting article on church membership vs. not joining.
May22
Board Advance
It was called a Retreat, but it was a giant step forward. Today, incoming church President Rob facilitated a wide-ranging discussion about business as usual and business as we want it to work.
- How can we help ensure that new members stay connected with our community?
- What are the specific, concrete responsibilities of the Board, the Policy Committee, the Executive Team?
- How shall we manage the transition that begins officially on June 1?
- What resources will best help us understand these changes and how to manage them?
- Are we at last ready to move forward instead of spinning our wheels?
Live Oak UU Church is shifting toward a policy governance that will affect nearly every aspect of church life. There will be unintended consequences, to be sure. Today, though, we’re full of (naive?) optimism along with the anticipation of challenging times ahead.
Change is coming! Three years of groundwork have laid its foundation. As in most construction it’s not perfectly level, but I hope a few shims will level the floorboards by and by.
Many thanks and praises to everyone for your participation, dedication, and good ideas! We missed those of you who simply could not be with us, but we very much look forward to your contributions, too.
Peace,
Kathleen
May15
Youth Worship
Based on themes by the beloved writer Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel), our High School Youth led a wonderful worship service today! Do you remember The Lorax, The Butter Battle Book, The Sneetches, Oh the Places You’ll Go? These “children’s stories” have timeless themes that are meaningful to adults. The best stories are ones adults like to read to their children. Eventually the kids grow old enough to read them back to us! Several Seuss were beautifully expressed and/or acted out by wonderful youth. Talented musicians played and sang the Prelude, Offertory, and Postlude, and led the hymns. Three shared reflections on their favorite Seuss stories and others participated in other ways. Great job! A treat every year!
During the Bridging Ceremony, graduating Seniors received a small Worship Box with a cloth, a small chalice, sacred objects, words to read for chalice lighting, and love from Live Oak as they move from High School into new ventures. We hope this will help them feel connected to their home church for years to come. We enjoyed hearing from their parents as they shared the joy of raising such amazing young people.
Here are some of them, and their advisors:
May12
4-Year-Old Trumpet Prodigy – CBS News Video
May8
Sting and Sing!
Last night’s Tapestry Singers concert was awesome, if I say so myself! The music had a wide variety of styles and moods, including lyrical gentle breezes, cold harsh winds, whirligig beetles that swim in random circles, the ethereal Northern lights, a Brazilian tribal song, and a Japanese children’s song about fireflies. A favorite was Carly Simon’s “Let the River Run,” followed by an encore performance of “Wise Mother.” This was written by Nell Manycats as a prayer for her AA meetings–an alternative to the Lord’s Prayer. She had written the words when she met Tapestry Singers. She was so inspired that she went home to compose the music–her first musical composition. She was a Tapestry Artistic Director for several years.
Toward the end of the second half, something bit me on my right forearm. Great discomfort! I kept singing, a bit distracted by the pain. Every time I adjusted my sleeve it hurt more so I even wondered if something sharp had become caught in the fabric. Between songs, a quick look–yep, it was a bite. Next song, something in my hair. Was it the music folder from the person behind me? I finally brushed it away and off flew a huge wasp! Oh! so that was the culprit!
The wasp had been in Mary’s hair, too, and crawled up Carol’s dress until someone swatted it away. By then it was pretty irritated and landed on my arm. Hmm…..the concert theme was Nature’s Glee. Was it also Nature’s Revenge? The friendly wasp finally landed on Sharon’s pant leg. She walked outside at the end of the concert and sent it away into a more natural habitat. Not many in the audience had any idea about our mini-drama.
Topical ointments and sprays had minimal effect, so I took Benedryl–one pill at bedtime and one at 4:30 after a late night phone call awakened us. It still hurts a good bit and looks bruised about the size of a half dollar, but it’s much better. Good thing I’m not allergic!
I was so pleased to see friends and family members in the audience. My sister Madeleine often comes to visit for concert weekends and we have had a busy time together.
On the day she arrived, my son Fred left for 3 months of research in Stockholm! I helped him with his luggage and the three of us had lunch together at the airport before he left. Fred told us several stories from when he was a kid. When he was 6 and brother Rob was 10, they flew to West Virginia to visit relatives but mistakenly got off the plane at the wrong airport! No one had told us the plane had an intermediate stop!
The plane took off without them and airline officials scrambled to get them on a charter plane with a bunch of businessmen. They were landing when Fred got up to tell the pilot his ear was hurting. When he took in the view of the cockpit and the panorama of beautiful West Virginia he said “Wow!” and the pilot nearly jumped out of his skin. Said they’d talk about it later and sent him back to his seat. Upon landing, everyone filed off, the pilot shook his hand and asked about his earache (it was fine by then), and off they went. Ah! the days when minors could fly without a huge amount of supervision.
After swapping more stories, Fred boarded the plane. He did make it across the friendly skies on British Airways without incident. His challenge for a while will be to go to bed at a decent hour, since it barely gets dark this time of year.
Love these travel adventures!
May2
Trippin’
It was a real trip to be back in the pulpit yesterday, to see so many folks whom I have missed for three months.
The sermon, “Wisdom Tales,” focused on the Hindu deity Saraswathi, who symbolizes learning of all kinds–arts and sciences, prose and poetry, speech and music, crafts and book learning. She links intellectual learning with a connection to the natural world. She is one of the deities to whom I was especially drawn in India. And she’s a musician!
A delightful addition to the service was that my small vocal ensemble Loose Threads, provided much of the music, under the direction of Jenn Goodner and the able accompaniment of Live Oak’s Director of Music, Rebecca Maze. The first song, “Jerusalem,” is a traditional Irish melody in which parts of it were heterophonic.
Right–I had no idea what that means. We started with the chorus in unison, then sang ooh while a soloist sang the verses. The second and third chorus were heterophonic: One person started and the rest of us entered whenever we wanted to, at whatever tempo. It was a little bit like a canon but there were a dozen voices coming in at various times. One person was designated to be the last one to start the chorus, so she had to be extra attentive to what the rest of us were doing. As we sang we walked slowly in the aisles, so there was a real sense of movement, both literally and musically. All done a cappella. I’ve never heard (or sung) anything quite like it.
We sang Carly Simon’s “Let the River Run,” Elgar’s “As Torrents in Summer,” and closed with another a cappella piece called “Chasing the Northern Lights.” It ‘s all done on syllables like mamamamamamama or lalalalalalala or mohmohmohmohmoh. At times we hold a hand just in front of our mouths to “mute” the sound and other times we sing full voice. It has been tricky to learn and very ethereal in effect–like the Northern lights!
All of this was great practice for the Tapestry Singers concert this Saturday, May 7 (shameless plug). Loose Threads is a small part of Tapestry Singers. The concert is at 7:30 pm at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, near the intersection of Steck and Mesa.
Later that day I hosted the Bakery Jam–an informal bunch of musicians who love to get together and play music. Good stuff! AND the weather turned cool! No need to crank up the A/C. Hope YOU are enjoying the weather in your part of the world.
Apr21
First Days Record
Shifting gears, big time! Phone calls, emails, and meetings with key leaders have started to fill me in on the weeks I was away. At the same time I have been picking up many balls all at once, as though I had never been away. Some things have waited for my return; some balls were dropped altogether; many positive things have moved us forward in our mission. Already I have had to say goodbye to a member who is moving away.
Even as I ramp up it is important for me to maintain a wide perspective, a metaphorical view from the balcony. Life IS short. Healthy balance requires considerable effort because there is always something personal or professional that can throw that balance right out the window.
So I go back again and again to the spiritual heart of my being. Meditation, poetry, music, writing, and prayer–early and often during each day. Such a joy it is to fall back on the spiritual wisdom of the ages!
Today has been a reading and writing day. I’m outside under the shade of a patio umbrella and there is almost enough breeze to offset the heat and humidity. The weather will only get worse as summer takes hold, so I might as well avail myself of this beautiful spring day. Too bad we haven’t had enough rain lately. I’m trying to be super conscious of water consumption already and to appreciate every drop.
Here’s a closing reading from Anthony de Mello’s Song of the Bird
A Parable on Modern Life
The animals met in assembly and began to complain that humans were always taking things away from them.
“They take my milk,” said the cow.
“They take my eggs,” said the hen.
“They take my flesh for bacon,” said the hog.
“They hunt me for my oil,” said the whale.Finally the snail spoke. “I have something they would certainly take away from me if they could. Something they want more than anything else. I have TIME.”
You have all the time in the world, if you would give it to yourself. What’s stopping you?
I don’t need ALL the time. Just enough. And you?
Apr18
Re-turning
Today, Monday, the 18th of April, is the day I return to serve Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Church in northwest Austin. I was blessed with 12 weeks of sabbatical! It will take many weeks to process all I have learned and experienced.
This will be time for listening to members, volunteers, and staff who carried the load while I was away. I invite you to contact me through this blog, facebook, phone, or email to let me know what is happening in your life personally and how the church may have changed. I want to get reconnected with you and to learn of the experiences at Live Oak–successes, challenges, new paths, maybe a few old ruts, new hopes and dreams.
Meanwhile, I will read newsletters, turn on yahoo groups, and look at recent email.
My first sermon at Live Oak will be on May 1. I am pleased to say that Loose Threads, the small ensemble within Tapestry Singers, will provide some of the music!
This has been a rich experience for me. Thank you!
Tell me: How has it been for you?
See you in church!
Heart Blessings,
Kathleen
Apr16
Sharing
At a party last night I spoke with two brand new acquaintances about my trip to India. One of them is widely read in religion and physics (is there ultimately a difference?) and seems truly to have grasped the meaning of my experience there.
The other is the daughter of a Pakistani Muslim. She is doing her graduate studies on the Muslims who stayed in India after Pakistan was established in 1947. They had longed for a strong Muslim community and had no desire for a separate nation. Today they remain extremely observant to daily prayers, cleansing rituals, and traditional clothing. It is a way for them to maintain solidarity as a significant minority. The people she has interviewed are now in their 80s. They were in their teen and twenties at the time of Independence.
By contrast, Muslims in Pakistan are just as likely to be non-observant, like her father (who loves bacon and enjoys an occasional gin and tonic). My new friend pointed out the obvious: In this county it is perfectly normal to be a non-practicing Christian. No one in the U.S. questions you if you say you are Christian. Who cares if you attend a church? Who is surprised if you attend only on Christmas Eve and Easter?
We have a single notion of Islam, right or wrong, black or white or mixed. What we too seldom recognize are the multiple versions of Islam. They are not all the same! Christians are not all alike!
When you think about it, Unitarian Universalists are not all alike. We know that. Then we visit Unitarian or Universalists in another county–The Philippines, Transylvania, The Republic of Congo, the Khasi Hills in northeast India–and we know we’re not in Kansas any more.
Open your hearts, your minds. There is a whole world more than ever any of us could have imagined.
KaleidoscopE 