A nice foot massage this morning. Family time with my boys.
Dec30
Dec27
me ‘n’ my boys
About 10 hours from now I hope to be flying from Austin to Chicago and on to Tokyo! I do hope the Chicago weather does not force delays but it’s a lot better than yesterday.
Younger son Fred Nugen and I pooled all our frequent flyer miles to make this trip possible. We’re going to visit son Rob Nugen and his lovely and lively wife Rinko Hayashi, aka Lin. Though she and Rob came to the States last Christmas for a Texas-style wedding, this is the first time to meet her extended family. I have a list of names and relationships to review on the plane. After all, 2.5 hours to Chicago, a 3.5 hour transition, and about 13 hours from there to Tokyo. They are 15 hours ahead of us in time.
Fred has very sophisticated tastes! He insisted that at least one leg of our journey would be on Singapore Airlines, business class. He’ll probably take too much luggage, too, and just says that’s the way he rolls. I am taking an extra rolling bag mostly full of gifts instead of my usual one bag and a backpack.
Jon and his daughter Alicia and I had a “farewell” lunch at Magnolia. We had bought a coupon at the Holiday Swing auction and it was about to expire.
The first time I visited Rob in Japan was in the fall of 2003, the first year he moved over there to teach English. I arranged a series of excursions through a travel agent to enjoy a number of tourist sites. Kyoto, Hakone, Hiroshima, and Ft. Fuji are among the highlights. Rob went with us on some weekend excursions; otherwise he was working.
Now I’m not exactly a tourist since I have some sense of the country and the people–tour guides, schoolchildren, monks, other tourists, crowds in the fashionable Shinagawa, Geisha girls, businessmen, shopkeepers. It will be different this time to meet Lin’s mother, two sisters and their families, some uncles and aunts. Her youngest niece Yuu is 6 months old.
So, not a tourist, but a guest. Rob and Lin share a small apartment with her mother, so they have rented an apartment for us about a 5-minute walk away. Perhaps the next time I visit I will feel less like a guest and more like family.
Those of you whose children have married have probably gone through a bit of anxiety about the new in-laws. The cultural differences will also be a factor–family members hail from Taiwan, Brazil, Japan, and the U.S.
Rob sent detailed instructions on which trains to take from Narita Airport to Shinagawa. We’ll probably take the Keisei Line to Nippori station, and then the Yamanote Line to Shinagawa station. He gave information about currency exchange, a number to reach him and say which train we’re on, and a meeting place at the station. I think he’s done this before!
So, I needn’t worry about a thing. My bags are packed; clothes are laid out and ready to put on; and a sense of adventure is growing. Curious about what lies ahead and the stories and pictures I’ll bring back. What an extraordinary opportunity!
Fred, Kathleen, Alicia
buying cat food; see boot for broken foot
Alicia and Jon
pre-travel lunch with Alicia and Fred
Dec22
Christmas Weekend
Christmas weekend is upon us at First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston, like millions of other churches around the world. The longing for peace and a spark of hope is always strong at this time of year.
Tomorrow there will be an engaging sermon by the Rev. Dr. Leonora Montgomery, Minister Emerita of Bay Area Unitarian Universalist Church. (No, not the Bay Area in California, but in Clear Lake City, Texas, home of NASA’s Mission Control.) Well into her 9th decade of life, Leonora will speak of her pilgrimage toward God and invite us to entertain at least the possibility of God’s existence. Her journey took many turns over the years. Now she no longer worries about whether or not she is right. Instead she is satisfied that, having explored many options from childhood on, her beliefs stand firm.
That sounds good to me. Believe what you believe without worry. Explore at your own pace if you wish, but don’t worry if you don’t have all the answers. Who does? No one really knows all there is to know about God.
Christmas Eve at First Church offers a double header. At 5:30, a family pageant coordinated by our Religious Educator Natalie Browne will be a treat for all ages. Adults will ponder lovely messages and food for thought and the children and youth move us all into and through one of the most beloved stories of all: the birth of a child. Shepherds and magi and angels add layers of importance to this child’s birth. Did the people who paid their respects know what he would teach during his lifetime? Could they have imagined ideas so progressive to his time that he would someday be executed?
But at Christmas there is only the birth of this holy child, reminding us that “Each night a child is born is a holy night” (Sophia Lyon Fahs).
At 7 we’ll have a service of lessons and carols. Choirs will sing at both services, but at the second one we’ll have a brass quartet. What a fanfare! The Rev. Dr. Daniel O’Connell will deliver the homily.
Both services will end in the traditional way: with candlelight throughout the sanctuary and Silent Night sung into the darkened space. “All is calm, all is bright,” we sing with hope in our hearts even knowing that this world is chock full of sorrow and tragedy. On this symbolic night let the spirit of love flow through every heart.
The “Nativity of our Lord” carved in rock salt in the cathedral of Saint Kinga, in the salt mine of Wieliczka in Poland, 101 meters under the surface…
Sculptor of the figures: Mieczysław Kluzek
St. Kinga’s Chapel
Phote by Klearchos Kapoutsis
This photo was taken on August 1, 2009 in Lednica Niemiecka, Wieliczka, Lesser Poland, PL, using aCanon EOS 450D.
Dec1
Newsletter column of introduction
KaleidoscopE (December 2012)
From the desk of Rev. Kathleen Ellis, Assistant Minister
In this column of introduction let me first say that I am so pleased to be here at First Unitarian, right in the Museum District, and in collaboration with ministers and staff from Copperfield and Stafford-Thoreau. What an exciting venture!
My portfolio here has four major areas: membership, pastoral care, social justice, and worship. These Teams are already in place, so I have stepped onto a moving sidewalk and have needed to step lively to get up to speed! I will also assist the Rev. Daniel O’Connell, Senior Minister, as needs arise.
Now for some personal history: My first husband and I lived in the Houston area for 15 years (1978-92) and raised two sons as members of Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Church in The Woodlands. Before going to seminary I worked as a Resident Advocate at the Montgomery County Women’s Center Shelter and also served as a volunteer at Northwoods. The combination of congregational service and shelter work ultimately merged into a call to ministry.
I attended Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and enjoyed a student ministry in Arlington as well as regular guest preaching opportunities in many locations. I earned a Master of Divinity degree, completed other requirements for UU ministry, and was ordained by Northwoods in 1993. Part of my training included a summer chaplaincy at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in 1990 and an internship at Emerson Unitarian Church in 1992 under the supervision of the Rev. Jan Knost.
I have served congregations in Waco, College Station, and Austin; started Young Adult groups in College Station and Austin; and have been active in the Southwestern Conference and the larger UU Association. I have visited Unitarian churches in England, in Transylvania (Romania), and in the Khasi Hills of India.
Meanwhile, sons Rob (and his wife Lin) and Fred Nugen have grown up and live in Tokyo and Austin, respectively. Rob is a computer programmer who also develops applications for iPhones. Fred is a Ph.D. candidate in engineering, doing biomedical research. My husband Jon Montgomery continues to live and work in Austin. We enjoy our “visits” back and forth between Houston and Austin—they keep our relationship stimulating!
Thank you for your warm welcome as I become acquainted with you. To reach me, call 713-526-5200 (extension 210) or email kathleen@firstuu.org.
Blessings,
Kathleen
Nov28
A Message From The Creator
Nov27
Juggling by Threes
This has been a great day to juggle several things: generating an order of service for a memorial service, meeting with a team of ministers, educators, and musicians about our collaborative worship plans, developing a proposed plan for a Rapid Response Network in the Houston area, and adjusting my 2013 calendar for incoming events. Interesting that I chose the word “incoming.” Rather indicative of my feeling that multiple things are coming at me at once. The dates in your calendar are closer than they appear.
Well okay then.
This morning I read some advice from Management Tools (a great resources with a free newsletter, podcasts, and the option to sign up for more). Not revolutionary but practical and easy as 1, 2, 3. When things are coming at you, fast and furious, or you find yourself stuck in the mire of inertia, there’s something satisfying about the number 3.
One: Pick the next three things you need to do. Write them down on a post it or a piece of scrap paper. Do them. Every time you get distracted and think – what was I supposed to be doing? – go back to your short list. When you’ve done the first three, do another three. You’ll be amazed at how many completed post-it notes you’ll end up with. I find this helps on days full of interruptions or when I’m feeling a little [overwhelmed].Two: At the end of the day, pick the most important three things for you to do the next day. Write them down. Do those things FIRST, before email, before phone calls, before any meetings. If you use this technique, you’ll always be working on your priorities.Three: If your list is very long, pick three like things, and do just those. Three phone calls, three emails, three pages you need to print, three pieces of filing. If you like stability, do three more of those things until all that group is done. If you like variety, do three of something different.
Part of their advice reminds me of another resource, a book with a great title: Never Check Email in the Morning by my hero Julie Morgenstern (Fireside/Simon& Schuster, 2005). In other words, take control of your day before it is swallowed by other (very important) information, requests, or events.
Busy days can be the most productive of all. When I had just 10 minutes before a meeting I sent out the first draft of that order of service, printed a document for the meeting, and showed up ready to participate. After the meeting I had received a reply that generated a second draft. Feels good to accomplish a lot. There’s also a down side, so read on.
Give yourself a break! Just as skipping a meal to lose weight just means you’re so hungry later you want to eat everything in sight, going non-stop from one task to another means you starve yourself of time for reflection. If you have to schedule time for yourself in your calendar, do it! Then you can honestly tell someone you have other plans.
So here’s what I’m working on, just for me: yoga in the morning, a walk every day after lunch, and learning and practicing a Bach aria assigned by my voice teacher. Easy as 1, 2, 3. Then I might pick another three or maybe even the same ones!
What works for you? How do you balance work, family, chores, and self-care? It won’t always balance on a given day, but is there a rhythm you can sustain over time?
Nov19
Bless you!
Here’s the text of my sermon Nov. 11 at First Unitarian Universalist Church in Houston, TX. Bless You
A clip: “Blessings restore our souls. When you count them up the problems of the day diminish their hold. Be a blessing. Do you know that you are already a blessing? . . . Do you know that you bless one another? . . .”
As we approach our American Thanksgiving, our only holiday that requires no gifts or cards, just the hospitable tradition of sharing a meal. May you be blessed in many ways this week, no matter where you live!
If you have patience, time, and interest, there’s a video link to the sermon http://vimeo.com/53523519
Nov18
Fan Fest
A few pix from Austin’s free downtown Fan Fest. Music everywhere, including on six large stages. This was all to entertain 300,000 visitors from all over the world who attended the first Formula 1 (F1) race on the new track southeast of Austin (close to the town of Elroy). The first Grand Prix in the States, built by the Circuit of the Americas. The winner was fastest by 1 second. Next weekend they’re on to Saõ Paulo, Brazil
.Loved the Hot Wheels Speedway and the yellow Cadillac convertible. Only $11,500–does it run?
Nov7
Tapestry Singers rock!
Tapestry Singers had a wonderful concert on the 3rd and made a special point of inviting former singers to join us for the encore to celebrate our 25th anniversary. The encore “Wise Mother” was written by former director Nell Manycats as an alternative to the Lord’s Prayer. Nell was there to sing with us! We have grown in numbers over the years from 14 to over 70. What a difference in the sound!
Wise Mother, whose love surrounds us, all you make is sacred.
This world is you, your voice speaks through it … to those who choose to listen.
This day is a gift in which to grow.
Please be patient with me, for I have been known to forget that.
And send me those blessings … to make me strong and honest in loving,
so that my inner light … reflects your spirit on all around me
like … a … blessing … / like … a … blessing … / like … a … blessing.
Singing with this chorus has been a spiritual practice for me. Regular attendance at our weekly rehearsals, practice in between, memorization, and supporting the chorus through volunteer opportunities. It’s like the title of one of our songs, “This Is the Sound of One Voice” by Ruth Moody. Even though we sang in harmony we were all in synch, making the differences among us fall away.
Nov1
In brief
It’s November! My six-month break from employment is over!
On Monday I’ll be moving to an apartment in Houston, thanks to the help of my husband Jon and his faithful little pickup truck Francis. I’ve tried to select the lightest and most compact furniture possible. Books are harder to compress, but I was quite selective and filled just five boxes. Most likely more will migrate to Houston as I travel back and forth.
The Administrator tells me that my name is on the church sign, business cards were ordered, and my office is ready. Sweet!
Meanwhile in Austin, I’ve written a meditation, selected a reading, and written the first draft of about half a sermon. Not ready for primetime, but it’s a start. Our sermon series is on Blessing, featuring four ministers and four topics: (Un)Expected Blessings; Blessed Are They; Bless You; and Choose to Bless the World. Our Big Idea is “Be a Blessing.” The work is done collaboratively with ideas contributed by the four ministers, three religious educators, and the lead music director. A blessing indeed!
Before running off to Houston, in just two days I’ll be singing with Tapestry Singers for our 25th Anniversary concert! Loose Threads, our small ensemble, will be singing five songs this time and I need to review some of them!
KaleidoscopE 