THE EPISTLE
May 26, 2009 to June 2, 2009
St. Luke United Methodist Church 1306 West Lynn Street
Austin, TX 78703
Sarah Currie, Pastor
E-mail:
Church Office: (512) 476-8164
E-Mail:
Web site: www.stlukeumcaustin.org
+ Jason Bishop, nephew of Sharmyn Lilly and his children Benjamin & Chloe
+ Jeff, relative of Frances
Hall who has been
diagnosed with a brain tumor
+ Max and Marilil Rychlik
+ Lucille and Walter Timberlake
+ Cecil Hale
+ Adam Hinman
+ Lucille Barrick
+ Frances Hall
Saturday, May 30
Gonzalez wedding, 3 pm
Reception in fellowship hall
Sunday, May 31
Fifth Sunday worship and Potluck, Suzuki Academy Recital and Reception
We’ll have a festive worship service that will include music from Shana and students, followed by a potluck lunch. Shana wishes to invite the
St. Luke community to her students’ spring recital at
3 pm, followed by a reception at 4:30 pm
Wed. June 3 thru Sat. June 6
Sarah & Dianna will be at
Annual Conference
Sunday, June 7
Pentecost Celebration/Acolyte Initiation Wear your Best Flame Colors
Sunday, June 14
Graduate Sunday
Ad. Board Mtg. 6p.m.
Childcare will be provided.
Hello, Friends!
I’m writing this from a café in Jackson, Mississippi. It’s Wednesday morning, I’ve just had a late breakfast of (don’t hate me) cheese grits, scrambled eggs, homemade bread, and fresh fruit flavored with mint.
Why am I “here” and not “there”? Yesterday morning, I had a very strong intuitive visit from Spirit, that said, “Go home. Your folks need you.” Strange, since Texas has been my home for more years than Mississippi, and since my official folks are part of the communion of saints—yet that was the message.
One of the last few remaining matriarchs of my home church family died on Monday, peacefully, after ninety-five good years. I had emailed Elizabeth’s son Jimmy, a lifelong friend and big brother in my faith family, and said, among other things, “With I could be with you.”
Then yesterday, following that intuitive awakening, I realized I had practical capabilities of doing just that—frequent flyer miles, frequent-stayer points, a discount on car rentals, and with some rescheduling and covering of bases by John, the time to make the trip.
Now I’m looking out and up at the great, enveloping greenness of pine and sweet gum trees, catching familiar cadences of sweet southern speech, and making plans to be present with some of my dear ones here.
I came over early this morning, too, to make a pilgrimage to my parents’ grave-site—my first since Dad’s burial—and so I’ll be checking in with my mom’s last remaining girlhood friend Sue and her family, still living in Mom’s little hometown of Quitman, MS.
In a “coincidence” of meeting, too, I happened to be on the same flight to Houston with the daughter of our dear friend Nancy, whose absence still looms large in all our lives.
So this is a blessed, bittersweet, significant journey—a holy moment (as all moments are), when I can miss my loved ones and marvel at time’s lightning-like passage, give thanks for all that has been, and for all that is—most especially and tenderly, today, for all the gifts of love in my life.
I count each of you as gifts, and I look forward to being with Sean and Jennifer and their loved ones on Saturday, and with all of you who gather on Sunday.
Life, and its passing, are part of the mystery, the wonder, the beauty, the wisdom of creation, from Love’’s own heart.
I look forward to living with you this weekend, and all our days to come.
Shalom,
Sarah+
June Birthday’s:
June 6, Naomi Quick
June 9, Sarah Currie
June 11, Carl McGee
June 13, Sarah Cooke
Kayla Word
June 14, Dianna Ball
June 20, Marilil Rychlik
Louise Schmitz & Joanne Macon
June 22, Mary Parker