This Month's
Minister's Message
We hope you enjoy this month's message from Chuck Freeman
or Kathleen Ellis.
October 2007
Virtually without fail, when I invite someone to speak at Live
Oak, their response afterwards is, “I love the spirit at Live Oak. You have a
great church, Chuck.” I beam with pride because I feel the same way.
Live Oak has had exceptional “gift karma” in our fifteen
years. Our building and land are a debt free gift. For the last two years we
have received over $10,000 from our district toward compensating our DRE. This
year we are the beneficiaries of $10,000 plus from the UUA to employ our
ministerial intern.
When I was in Alaska I learned that if humans feed the wild
animals, the animals will become dependent and will lose their will to hunt. I
witnessed this at a Wildlife Conservation Center where the animals were
listless, just waiting for their next meal. Ben Franklin chided, “He that
waits upon fortune, is never sure of dinner.”
As Live Oak matures we are learning that true stewardship is
responding in kind to the gifts we have been endowed with and expanding our
generous spirit to big-hearted giving. Then we will all beam with a pride that
feels good, deep down to the bone! Soulfully, Chuck Freeman
September 2007
In July I mentioned that Live Oak had been asked to become a
teaching congregation to ministerial interns. This proposal was approved by
the Steering Committee in August, and we are pleased to welcome Aaron White
and his wife Kate Wiseheart to our congregation.
Aaron wants to learn as much as possible from us and from
other congregations and community organizations in the surrounding area. In
his own words, his “particular interests include worship, church governance,
congregational and denominational growth, systems theory and group dynamics,
prophetic outreach, pastoral care, and stewardship/ finance. That should keep
him busy over the next nine months!
Aaron will also prepare to meet with the Ministerial
Fellowship Committee in the spring for Preliminary Fellowship as a Unitarian
Universalist minister. Once he passes that hurdle, he’ll be eligible to seek a
congregation of his own to serve. Enjoy his tenure while you can!
In other news, our mid-week series of dinner, vespers, and
programming for adults, youth, and children, will resume on Tuesday, September
11 and continue for eight weeks through October 30. Using the acronym for
Fellowship, Religious Education, and Dinner, we have adopted the nickname FRED
for this popular fall and spring series. Momentum has been building all summer
long for the burst of energy that happens in the fall. Bring a sample of water
from your faucet or your travels for the annual Water Ceremony, this year on
September 2. Our ingathering, teacher dedication, and fall classes for
children and youth begin on September 9.
Welcome, Aaron! Welcome back, all of you who have been away!
Blessings, Kathleen
August 2007
I didn’t want to go. I flat did not want to be there. Now I
look forward to its arrival and I have been entrusted with a leadership
position. I am speaking of SWUUSI. Yes, it was Greek to me also in 1996.
Southwestern Unitarian Universalist Summer Institute. This is our yearly
district camp just across the Red River in Oklahoma. My resistance could
easily be traced to feeling burned by the faith of my heritage. I had placed
all my sacred yearnings and aspirations into the church of my youth. I was too
hurt to risk investing like that again.
But, it was part of the path to becoming a UU minister, which
I had promised Live Oak I would pursue. I kept showing up, being true to my
inner turmoil, yet not satisfied to remain there. Through years of reflection
and thoughtful contemplation, my wounded heart opened to the possibility of a
different outcome. These were acts of faith and fidelity which steadily and
slowly transformed my being. This year I am the Adult Program Coordinator,
which means I charted the theme and character of the camp via my choices for
primary speakers and workshop leaders. The folks here, hailing from Memphis to
Tulsa to San Miguel, Mexico, show affection and respect for me, and the regard
is mutual.
I write these words to you from my SWUUSI cabin bordering the
Lake Murray woods, hearing a chorus of cicadas. I have listened to you and I
know that my story, plus or minus a few degrees or particulars, is your story
also. May we move forward together, guarding each other’s hurts and calling
forth our buried dignity. When our longing for new life stretches beyond our
wounded souls, Live Oak can embody solace, compassion, and home for many
seasons to come.
Soulfully, Chuck Freeman
July 2007
There are some new pictures on the wall outside the church
office. Do you know who they are? Try a scavenger hunt to say “thank you” or
even “how can I help?” Truly they are leaders to treasure and to support.
Change brings opportunity: As director of Religious Education,
Amanda Robinson takes over the reins from Nathan Ryan. Amanda’s husband Mark
will be the new principal at Lake Travis Middle School. Amanda brings two
young sons and DRE experience from Ft. Worth.
We have been asked to become a teaching congregation to Aaron
White, a graduate of Harvard Divinity School. He will be married in July and
hopes to become our intern this fall. Chuck and I both expect to work with him
in his ministerial development.
The rest of the staff remains on board as we take advantage of
these opportunities for growth and transition. Have you thanked them lately?
Rebecca Maze has developed a stellar music program. Consistency and
perseverance have resulted in a great choir and a remarkable series of guest
musicians. Thank you, Rebecca!
Diane Schultz has faithfully prepared the weekly Order of
Service for several years. She also edits the monthly newsletter on which we
depend for details about various activities and to find out who is doing what.
Thank you, Diane!
Audrey Jensen works more than her allotted 80 hours per month
— but not on Sundays! In addition to office hours, she shops for supplies,
meets renters and repair people at odd hours, and attends specific meetings
critical to her work. Thank you, Audrey!
The biggest challenge I see is that all of us, volunteers and
staff alike, work for Live Oak part time. As Live Oak grows, it becomes more
important to work as a team so that our separate efforts complement our
overall mission and vision. Chuck and I, frankly, are lucky to have each
other. Thank you, Chuck!
Thanks to all the volunteers and staff who have worked so hard
over time to nurture this congregation. If YOU would like to help in some
capacity, please let me know. A big opportunity coming up: Hands on Live Oak,
August 26. Plan to stay after worship and roll up your sleeves.
Thanks!
Blessings, Kathleen
June 2007
Let’s talk Presidential politics. Are you in favor of the man
or the woman? I say both! I’m dialed in on the Live Oak Oval Office, not the
Pennsylvania Avenue address.
Our church owes Jon Porter a substantial sum of appreciation.
During a tumultuous year in which he was Vice President, Jon assumed much of
the Presidential responsibilities, handling himself and the milieu with
dignity, fairness, and poise. As a relatively new member of Live Oak, he got
WAY more than he signed on for. As official church Prez, Jon served with a
high level of dedication, guiding us toward the next movement in our
leadership evolution. He even set aside his true religion of the Tennessee
Titans with Pope Vince Young! What more can you ask of a mammalian male?
Janet Van Sickler is an old school UU and Live Oaker. Janet is
a birthright New England Unitarian and very close to the roots of Live Oak’s
birthing. She wasn’t a charter member, but she got here lickety split as fast
as she could! I am privileged to have known Janet for eleven of my eleven
years at Live Oak.
Janet is all about community. She is not flashy or boisterous.
She would rather lead by doing than spouting off. Her gifts of hospitality,
organization, and caring will go very far as our next congregational
President.
Janet has ridden the exhilarating wave of high times and the
seasons of despair in our community life. Many people leave during the
disappointing times. Janet has earned our respect with her unflagging
commitment to Live Oak. Her actions have spoken:”This is my spiritual home
through the sunny and dark seasons”. In sweet or bitter times her mantra is
constant: “Have Fun!”
Let us thank and welcome our Presidential leaders in the
spirit of John Buehren’s sentiments. “Blessed are those who take seriously the
bonds of community, who come as much to minister as to be ministered unto, who
do not shrink from controversy, sacrifice, or change; and possess a vision of
the Beloved Community transcending the present.
Soulfully, Chuck Freeman
May 2007
My heart goes out to the families, faculty, and staff of
Virginia Tech after such a devastating attack on April 16. All sense of
security has been shattered once more, along with the dreams each of them was
pursuing. No less tragic have been the deaths from warfare, car accidents, and
other sudden, traumatic killings.
Mother’s Day — and Father’s Day — will be particularly
stressful for the parents of these young people. I remember the first time I
was a mother on Mother’s Day. Rob had been born in late March and we were
still adjusting to this boy wonder. How sorrowful beyond words on the first
Mother’s Day after a child has died. No future day for these families will
ever be the same again.
At Virginia Tech, not only young adults died, but also
professors who gave so much of their wisdom to younger generations. We have
already heard stories of heroism under fire. People did whatever they could in
the chaos around them to barricade doors, tend to the wounded, and encourage
others to leap from windows. May all of those affected find support and
comfort near at hand. May they even find laughter in their hearts once more.
Meanwhile, we say a hearty farewell to Nathan Ryan, who with
his lovely bride Lauren, will be heading to Dallas this month. His last Sunday
is May 20. Hats off for a job well done! Best wishes to you both as you pursue
your dreams.
Blessings, Kathleen
April 2007
The first time I met him was at a District Youth Rally in San
Antonio around 1996, my inaugural year at Live Oak posing as a UU minister. I
was impressed with his mature engagement and appreciated him reaching out to
the newbie adult. When he walked through the Live Oak doors some six years
later, I immediately greeted by name. “Hey, Nathan! What brings you here?”
Nathan was so impressed that I remembered his name, and he
still talks about it. The fact that I did recall his name is more a testament
to his unforgettable genuine interest in people than a muscular memory bank
between my ears.
A lot has happened since that first encounter. I became a full
pedigreed UU minister. Nathan became a member at Live Oak, then our Religious
Education Administrator, then our Director of Religious Education, and then
jumped the broom at Live Oak. Now Nathan Ryan will be moving on to another
phase of his life.
Nathan’s wife Lauren was accepted into graduate school in
Dallas. They will be moving up Interstate 35 a couple of hundred fence posts
to pursue this opportunity. Nathan has not only done superior ministry as our
RE Director, but he has laid the foundation in creating a professional
position for the future. It has been a pleasure to work with you, Nathan. I
have no doubt we will be able to proudly say as Nathan’s ministry blossoms to
heights unknown, “He began at Live Oak, you know.”
Nathan has been a great fit for us — one part Old School UU
and one part Homer Simpson. So, Nathan, a blessing from Homer: “I want to
shake off the dust of this one-horse town. I want to explore the world. I want
to watch TV in a different time zone. I want to visit strange, exotic malls.
... I want to live, Marge!”
And an Old School blessing from American sage Walt Whitman:
“Afoot and light-hearted, I take to the open road, healthy, free, the world
before me. ... All that was or is falls into niches and corners before the
procession of souls along the grand roads of the universe.”
Soulful good thoughts, Chuck Freeman
March 2007
In the months following the deaths of three men in the Live
Oak community, Dan Dreyer, Jim Terrell, and Mark Bishop, members have stepped
up in a loving way to provide support for Grace Dreyer, Kate Martin, and
Kathy, Justin, and Forrest Bishop. From meals to transportation to childcare
to financial support, there have been and will continue to be multiple ways to
assist. Several children have played an important role in providing
companionship for Justin and Forrest while Kathy attends to adult business.
Barb Rausin, who suffered a rare stroke in her back, is now
paralyzed from the waist down. She is grateful for the use of her arms, lungs,
and mind as she adjusts to a new reality. After several weeks in rehab, she is
now living at Sagebrook Nursing Center until she is strong enough to go home.
Barb appreciates the love and support Live Oak continues to bring to her.
We also send our condolences to those whose beloved family
members have died or suffered serious health problems. The world seems to stop
for a time for a family in grief or crisis mode.
We need one another when we mourn and as we struggle back to a
new normality. As we say ever week, we share the burden of our sorrows and
multiply the joys as a loving community. Blessings to those of you who have
been ill or suffered a terrible loss, and blessings to those of you who have
rallied around in support.
With love and gratitude, Kathleen
February 2007
Reflect on the events/people in your life as the ingredients
of a hearty stew. Appreciate the flavor each one brings. Take notice of where
you are in the cooking process. You may be thinking, “What the hell does this
mean?! Babble such as this doesn’t even warrant bathroom reading!”
This is my attempt to translate Carl Jung’s concept of
“alchemy” into an everyday image. You may rightfully inquire, “But what does
that have to do with me?” I am applying it to our Vision Café coming up on
February 4 at 12:30 pm in Common Ground. We will be looking at where Live Oak
is in the cooking process.
Jung understood alchemy as a spiritual practice where we
intentionally “turn up the heat” of reflection with the goal of transforming
raw materials into gold. At our Vision Café we will gather to look at who we
are, the signs of the times, and where we want to go.
As a community, we will offer up the raw material and then
trust our core leaders to hone and heat it into the proverbial hearty stew. If
you want to contribute to making this a meaningful event, contact our church
Vice President, Carrie Stewart
(cls2001@swbell.net).
Come offer your ingredients and behold how they simmer into a
tasty dish of sacred worth. This ancient alchemical verse places our
transformation in a cosmological context. “Heaven above, Heaven below. Stars
above, Stars below. All that is above, also is below. Grasp this and rejoice!”
Soulfully, Chuck Freeman
January 2007
I have named my column “Kaleidoscope” for more than a decade,
in various churches. It reflects the different ways I have seen my
congregations as well as how I see all of you now as individuals – a rich
array of colors that are constantly changing in hue, intensity, and design.
Peering through my kaleidoscope, I see that Chalice Circles
will begin this month. The first ones will be led by Sheila Hoogendam, Lisa
Kuntz, and Loretta Sedlock. (See details inside.)
Another shifting pattern is reflected in how we are maturing
as a congregation and having to face some tough institutional and financial
challenges. Live Oak is nearly 15 years young, a solid teenager by now. We
have grown out of our old ways of doing things. Exciting new frontiers await
our creative consideration, starting with a congregational meeting on Sunday,
January 28.
Turning the kaleidoscope again, the new calendar year already
has dozens of Live Oak activities scheduled. This came about during a Steering
Committee meeting in which we plugged in dates for everything we could
anticipate. More lead time for planning has become essential as the
congregation grows. Getting events on the calendar as soon as possible is a
good step in this direction.
An important next step is the Vision Café scheduled for
February 4, after the service. In small groups we will discuss specific
questions about current strengths and challenges, dreams for our future, and
core values. The trustees are working to develop thoughtful questions to
encourage reflection about our spiritual home. Join us, won’t you?
Blessings, Kathleen
Previous Months' Messages
We have collected most of our ministers' messages since 1997.
Click on a year to read that year's messages:
