1998 Services

A Month of Sundays - 1998 Workship Services

December 1998

Dec. 6: "The three R’s of Faith: Reclaiming, renewing, and reviving" In anticipation of the season a sermon by Dr. Tony Larsen about what it takes to be a UU. An answer for people who question your faith because of a lack of dogma.

Luci Kelly will present us with a sermon given originally by Dr Tony Larsen.

Dec 13: Rev. Chuck Freeman, "Searching for Christ at Christmas" Jesus cautioned his followers that after he was gone many would go looking for him. He plainly told them; "do not go running off after them." Jesus then offered clear instructions where to search. Where will you find Christ at Christmas?

Dec 20: Rabbi Monty Eliasov is the educational director of Heart of Texas Havarah. He will speak about Chanukah and the similarities of celebrations from a Hebrew point of view.

Christmas Eve- Eddie Collins will team up with a guest musician for a "country Christmas".

Dec 27: Kwannza – An exploration of the African American celebration of the Seven Principles. (Intergenerational)

November 1998

November 1: Spiritual journeys by Thomas Moore and tentatively Megan Fettig. Come be inspired. We need one more. Children's service will be fun activities making toys for the infants and toddlers. We need donations of clean plastic pop bottles, various sizes with caps, baby oil, clear corn syrup, tiny found objects (shells, pretty rocks, glitter, sequins) posterboard or cardboard, magazines with more than model pictures (National Geographic, Texas Highways)
coffee cans, milk bottle tops, baby food tops, & oatmeal containers.

November 8: Rev. Chuck Freeman, "I'll Give You Something To Pledge About !" When I was a kid, crying after being disciplined, my parents would threaten; "hush that up or I'll give you something to cry about." It is fairly common to see pledge time in this light. Come hear my whimsical and sobering "somethings to pledge about."

November 15: Roger Colombik sculpt instructor at SWT State University, will be presenting a program on how his experiences have influenced his art in a spiritual way.

November 22: Rev. Chuck Freeman, "Impeach Starr" The whole Starr Inquiry represents a sophisticated yet crude reflection of three socially transmitted diseases; power grubbing, self righteousness, and a loss of civility. Contrast this with the GUEST AT YOUR TABLE program, which will begin this morning; with its heart beating for marginalized people in real need.
(Followed by a guest at your table Potluck.)

November 29: Thanksgiving celebration. (Intergenerational)

October 1998

October. 4: "Listen to Your Heart"- Ruth Fothergill will talk about traditional values and visions of early Christianity as represented by Paul, and compare them with the values and visions of Ancient American Indians. (Intergenerational)

October 11: Rev. Chuck Freeman, "Ma & Pa Kettle Go To Town" Many of us are new to Unitarian Universalism and know little of what is going on in the broader UU scene. If we venture beyond our own congregation it could be compared to country folk "going to town." What are the rewards, if any, of opening ourselves to the opportunities and people on the district and even national levels?

October 18: Roger Sessions, "Celebrating World Vegetarian Day" Let’s spend some time on how vegetarianism relates to our own spirituality. Food and recipies may be shared by all.

October 25: Rev. Chuck Freeman, "You Animal!" Growing up, I knew my parents were at the end of their rope when I heard the exasperated accusation; "Stop acting like an animal!" Perchance if we owned up to the fact that we are animals, rather than falling in love with our sophisticated status as humans, we would become more fully humane. CHILD DEDICATIONS will be conducted during this service. Contact Chuck if you are interested.

September 1998

September 6: "Pilgrimage and Celebration" You may have heard of some of the UU gatherings, large and small, that cause your friends and neighbors to pack up and head out of town once or twice a year--SWUUSI, La Foret, Ghost Ranch. What and where in the world are these things and how do you participate in the fun? Come and listen to some of our members' experiences with these events and you'll be clueless no more!

September 13: Rev. Chuck Freeman, "Teaching People To Fish" One age old dilemma is; do we give folks fish, or teach them to fish? Although this is not an either or proposition, groups usually shade toward one or the other. The older I get, the more I lean in the direction of handing someone a fishing pole and assisting them in the art of casting, lures, etc. Muhammad Yunus began the micro- lending revolution in Bangladesh. What upheaval for good might this imply for us in Austin, Texas? We will covenant with our children and Religious Educators during the service, with a Committee Fair following our worship.

September 20: Denny Davidoff, Coming Alive! "Don't ask what the world needs, Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Howard Thurman

September 27: Rev. Chuck Freeman, "Wheels Of Life" Eastern religion and medicine recognizes seven energy centers of the body called chakras. Spiritual and bodily "enlightenment" is realized when each chakra is open and working in tandem with the others. Where are the open roads, toll booths, and roadblocks on your energy highway? We will set aside time for our seasonal UU Kaddish in this service.

August 1998

August 2nd: "The Philosophy of Liberation" Rev. Michael Candelaria will lead an exploration of ethical and metaphysical themes stemming from the relationship between the Self and Other. Michael Candelaria is a Unitarian Universalist minister residing in San Antonio. He earned his Ph.D. at Harvard and is author of "Popular Religion and Liberation."

August 9th: "Alternative Christianity" or "How can you be both a Christian and a UU?" Unitarian Universalist Christians have faced this question countless times. Although many UUs are refugees from oppressive, dogma-ridden Christian traditions, the question belies the rich liberal Christian heritage of Unitarian Universalists, which continues today. James Hamilton will discuss UU Christian perspectives and explore spiritual and theological alternatives to orthodox Christianity.

August 16th: Rev. Chuck Freeman, "Humpty Dumpty Comes Back Together" We are unlike Humpty Dumpty in two ways; our pieces can come back together, and we had a great summer instead of a great fall! Come be one of the King's horses and (wo)men as we gather anew to inaugurate the church year. New members will be dedicated, with the community picnic to follow.

August 23rd: Rev. Chuck Freeman, "The Regress Express" This is the name Ken Wilber assigns to seekers of a better world, who believe all the answers lie in a romantic return to the past. We will trace the development of Divinity through the earth's evolution asking: Is there a garden of Eden to which we can return?"

August 30th: "The rapid adoption of managed care in both the public and private sectors is certainly the most important trend shaping the U.S. health care system today. But the effects of various managed care arrangements on access to and the cost and quality of health care are the subjects of considerable controversy. Proponents argue that managed care can both reduce costs and improve quality by increasing efficiency and reducing unnecessary care. Detractors, however, fear that managed care jeopardizes the physician/patient relationship and limits patients' access to appropriate care. This talk will discuss the basic objectives of managed care, consider evidence about its effects, and discuss some of its ethical implications."

July 1998

July 6: "Soap Box Sunday" Members and friends will exercise their rights of free speech and free religion in conjunction with the Independence Day Holiday.

July 13: Rev. Chuck Freeman & Jenny Wong, "Dancing The Tao" This will be a contemplative service in which Chuck will offer a brief introduction to the Tao Te Ching and read a few passages. Jenny will respond to the readings with interpretive dance movement.

July 20: Rev. Chuck Freeman, "A Tree Stump Preacher Takes On 'Men's' Work," As a child in the 1860's Mary Augusta Safford amused her family by preaching from a tree stump on their farm. By age twenty-eight she was a Unitarian Minister and the pivotal figure in the "Iowa Sisterhood;" women ministers who promoted liberal religion on the frontier.

July 27: "Spiritual Journeys" Individuals from the congregation will recount how they came to be the particular UU individuals they are today. Laura Devine will be lay leader.

June 1998

June 7th: "Genetically-Engineered Food--Is It Safe?" Come and learn why many concerned people believe genetic engineering poses unprecedented ethical and social concerns, as well as serious challenges to the environment, human health, animal welfare, and the future of agriculture. Renu Namjoshi is a founding member of Texas Consumers for Safe Food, a grass-roots organization whose mission is to educate the public about the dangers of genetically-engineered foods.

June 14th: "The Journey of Hope-From Violence to Healing". Family members of murder victims and death row inmates are joined by others on this education and awareness tour covering the major cities of Texas. They will share their stories about the process of healing through reconciliation, their call for alternatives to the death penalty, and a more complete picture of the cycle of violence.

June 21: Rev. Chuck Freeman, "Home Beyond Home". On this Father's Day we will embark on our odyssey to find the Father. Even "good dads" have weaknesses and blind spots that will leave their progeny searching for fatherhood. In acknowledging this, perhaps we can be released from the straightjacket of perfection in fathering.

June 28th: (tentative) Art Kirby, of the Samaritan Counseling Center in San Antonio, is scheduled to speak about healthy spirituality or a related topic.

May 1998

May 3: Artist and photographer Griff Smith will discuss the message of Julia Cameron's book, "The Artist's Way." He will relate how the expression of artistic creativity encourages spiritual growth.

May 10: Mother's Day. We will celebrate the spirituality of the Mother and all things motherly in this intergenerational service.

May 17: Marc Adams, author of The Preacher's Son and Light will talk about growing up in a Fundamentalist environment, coming out of Fundamentalism, and coming out as a gay person.

May 24: Rev. Chuck Freeman, "The Gifts of Saturn". Sadness, melancholy, and depression are not pleasant movements in our lives. When someone was immersed in these emotions Renaissance psychologists diagnosed them as being "in Saturn." Is Saturn an enemy to fight against? Can we find new life in the basement of the soul?

May 31: Rev. Chuck Freeman, "Heinz 57 Minister". Thomas Starr King was a Universalist and Unitarian minister in the mid-1800s. He touted both denominations as arms of a larger liberal faith. King was a forerunner of the merging of the two churches in 1961, which we know as the Unitarian Universalist Association. Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley is named in his honor.

April 1998

April 5: Spring Campout at Inks Lake State Park as Daylight Savings Time Begins. Meanwhile, back at the church, "The Postmodern Church" will be the topic of an informal service led by James Hamilton.

April 12: Rev. Chuck Freeman, "Why Flowers In Spring?" In this intergenerational service we will inquire why we exchange flowers each spring, and probe the transformational potential of ritual. Each person is to bring a flower to exchange for Flower Communion.

April 19: "The Men's Movement, Exploring Self and Enriching Relationships". Men are really at an unprecedented place in history in terms of opportunities to explore themselves and enrich relationships. Many men have been doing this through the "men's movement." Chris Brown has been active in this movement and will provide a historical and spiritual perspective on these opportunities.

April 26: Rev. Chuck Freeman, "Lost Treasures" The religious experiences of our youth are as much with us as the heart that pulses our chests. Is there an old song, scripture, prayer, that you feel a homesickness for? We will reclaim and refurbish these lost spiritual relics. Inform Chuck if there are lost riches you want included in this service.

March 1998

March 1: "Our Musical Portrait". Improvisational pianist Kathy Landry will spontaneously compose a musical reflection of Live Oak's heart and soul. This piece will express the spirit of the church and its growing edges in an evolving world.

March 8: Rev. Marvin Griffen. Chuck and Rev. Griffen will participate in a pulpit exchange today. Rev. Griffen is the Minister of Ebeneezer Baptist Church in East Austin.

March 15: Ralph Waldo Emerson - UU Saint? Emerson is one of our most famous Unitarians and we like to use his name and fame to bolster our cause. It could be said that he is almost saint-like for UUs, even though we do not believe in sainthood. Let's explore the person and our roots.

March 22: Rev. Chuck Freeman: "The Most Dangerous Commodity In The World". A person without conviction, passion, or belief is truly a hollow being. On the other end of the spectrum are individuals who will trample or harm you if you don't share their ideology. What are the distinctions between an activist and an extremist?

March 29: "What It Means to Be an Atheist". Howard Thompson, a member of the Atheist Community of Austin and editor of The Texas Atheist, will speak about what it means to have and live an atheistic perspective in a predominantly theistic society.

February 1998

Feb 1: "The Providence of Caring". An exploration of the theological spirit that grounds a women's community as they serve the poor and the marginalized in education and social justice ministries. Are there lessons we can learn as we struggle to overcome the persistent gaps in economic well-being between ourselves and those who are one step away from homelessness and despair?

Rev. Marie E. deYoung is the director of the Center for Women in Church and Society at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas. She serves as a chaplain in the 363rd Corps Support Group in San Marcos, and she is writing a book about gender and race issues in the military. Lay leader: Thomas Moore.

Feb. 8: "Facing The Pain That Heals". David Doerfler, State Coordinator for Victim Offenders Mediation Dialog for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Victim Services Division, will present a wounded healers response to crime and its impact on victims, offenders, the community, and one's personal journey towards justice, peace and wholeness. Lay leader: Sarah Swords.

Feb. 15: "A Sacred Approach To Drugs", Rev. Chuck Freeman. Western religion and culture, for the most part, has built a chasm between pleasure and spirituality, including drug use. Our government wastes countless resources and lives, upholding the foolish "Just Say No" mentality. Tribal and shamanic traditions don't fall into this trap. What might happen if we restored the sacred use of drugs?

Feb. 22: "Your Left Foot Does Fit Your Right Shoe!", Rev. Chuck Freeman. Adults and youth will have an opportunity to see how the other side lives in this interactive service. The shoe may fit better than you think. Musician & Dancer Daniel Llanes will be with us to facilitate our time together.

January 1998

January 4: Rev. Chuck Freeman, "Our Ecstatic Sabbath". New Year's Eve is the one moment our culture simultaneously revels in the magic of time. In Judaism, the Sabbath was a day set aside to celebrate time rather than things and space. Sabbath calls us to holiness in time. Can this awareness of time offer us a freedom this year that we may not have fully lived into?

January 11: "Creating a Peaceful World". Donna Bryant Goertz offers her views on creating a peaceful world. She is the mother of five children and two step-children, a wife, founder of the Austin Montessori School, a Guide for elementary students in her school, and a woman who lives her values day by day.

January 18: "Freedom's Choice & Freedom's Spirit". The Free Church chooses not to associate itself with any sacred text. Without the safety and security of such a text, what is it, then, that binds us together? Perhaps it is the very freedom which allows each of us to find her/his sense of the sacred that is itself the tie that binds.

January 25: "The Seven U.U. Principles According to Dr. Seuss!". The Winter Program Religious Education folks will theatrically present "The Sneetches" by Dr. Seuss. To add flavor and context we will offer readings and snippets from other Seuss books that fancifully provoke us to reflect on our Unitarian Universalist principles. Come dressed as your favorite Dr. Seuss character (or just wear a silly hat) and join the fun!