We are a group of odd people, desiring to form community through prayer, worship, shared meals, play, and service at University Presbyterian Church.
We rather like each other, and we don't smell too bad.
And we like long walks on the beach.
This semester our Campus Bible Study is asking the question: How can we put our faith into action?
For the last few weeks, we've been thinking intentionally about Food Justice. How do people have access to food in our nation and in our city? What is it like to live on Food Stamps? What is it like to be a farmer, and how can we support food that is grown locally? How does the production of food affect our environment? Workers? Animals?
Join us every Monday night at 7:00pm in the Youth Room to study scripture and think through relevant questions!
What have you enjoyed about our Bible Study this semester? And have you learned anything interesting about food?
"I've really enjoyed exploring real, concrete ways to live out my faith in the world. And having time to discuss these issues with smart, spiritually hungry people!
I've also learned about 'veggie libel laws,' which can evidently be used in a lot of ways that protect food companies but tend to restrict some people's freedom of speech."
-Merrit Martin
"I've learned that corn is everywhere and in almost everything. It's kinda scary!"
-Catherine Faig
"Our Bible Study has certainly become more proactive than any other time I can remember. I think it's great that not only are we learning, but are called to action.
It's complicated to truly know where food is coming from, but our 'vote' to buy foods that we believe in helps change the habits of food producers and distributors. Also healthy food changes the way we feel and perform."
-Marco Gutierrez
"I enjoy Bible Study because everybody can talk about deep, spiritual, and sometimes controversial issues without having to feel judged or ignored or disrespected, and I like how the things we talk about are always applicable to our lives.
I learned that nearly everything in some way or another involves corn in its production!"
-Lauren Thomas
Please join us on Monday, March 1st for our final week devoted to Food Justice!
It’s been a hard week in many ways for many reasons.For those of you who are students, many of you have mentioned that this has been the most stressful week you’ve had this semester. You’ve mentioned paper after paper, and some of you have had as many as three or four tests just this week!It’s been a hard week, and I’ve found myself feeling for you as you talk about how much sleep you’ve lost.
But beyond the routines of school and work-life, this has been a hard week for other reasons too. Two people in our community have close friends who each experienced tragedies in their families this week. Both of these friends – young women at UT - suddenly lost their fathers, two men who died entirely too young. One father was 52, and the other was 46.It’s been a hard week. . . We’ve been praying for these families and grieving alongside them.
And on top of these personal tragedies, there is, of course, a national tragedy that happened right here in Austin this week.Joseph Stack, a software engineer, husband, and father and step-father of two children, released his anger at the I-R-S this week in a horrendous act.On Thursday, he set fire to his house with his wife and step-daughter inside (Thankfully, they made it to safety) and he deliberately rammed his personal plane into the Eschalon building, a building that contains offices for the I-R-S, blowing out windows and filling the place with fire and smoke.The Eschalon building is only three streets away from where Ian and I live, and we pass it twice a day when we take the bus to campus.I’ve personally seen that building this week, and it truly looks like hell.It’s amazing that apart from Joseph Stack, only one person died in that building.Even that number is senseless and too large, but after personally seeing the damage to the building, it’s hard to believe that the others survived.The ongoing damage for those survivors will largely be psychological as they relive that trauma in their memories and come to grips with how someone could make a choice to act in that way.
All of these difficulties have been before us concretely this week.For all of these, and others that go unmentioned, we pray for God’s grace.And we tell the honest truth to ourselves: It’s been a hard week in many ways for many reasons.
And we have this text before us tonight.The Gospel writers tell us in their narratives that Jesus had just experienced a profoundly meaningful affirmation of call – not simply a call of what he would do, but a call about who he is.He was baptized by John in the River Jordan.And in that moment of that baptism, God’s presence was tangible with an experience of holiness and awe.The Holy Spirit came upon Jesus, filling him, and the affirmation was made, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you, I am well-pleased.”Certainly that moment was full of love, awe, and mystery.Certainly that moment was filled with a confirmation of his identity.Certainly that moment was filled with affirmation that who he is will be intimately tied together with what he will do.He will live out this identity.He will act as the one he is.
And then the wilderness.Jesus’ moment of call is followed by the wilderness.For forty days and nights, Jesus lives in the wilderness, experiencing what is common to humanity – what is common to us all - temptation, testing, and yes, difficulty.The translation we read tonight speaks of one who was present with Jesus in that experience - the devil, challenging Jesus, and giving him options of what it means to be the one he is.“If you are the Son of God. . .” the devil says.
Now when we hear this text, we might picture all sorts of caricatures of the devil - caricatures from art, jokes, and Halloween costumes – pictures of a red figure with horns or a pitchfork.But perhaps there are theological caricatures too. . . ways that people talk about a figure called Satan or the devil that we might not be comfortable swallowing.These caricatures get in our way, and we ask, “Is this real?”But apart from the caricatures, the word for devil in this passage literally means an ‘accuser’ or ‘slanderer.’And certainly, we know from our own experience that accusation and slander can be very real in a time of difficulty.And in this text, accusation and slander take personal form, and we can certainly relate to that apart from any of the caricatures that get in our way. Events and people often make accusations and slander when things get difficult.They often cause what’s difficult.And in our inner life – in our thoughts, emotions, and motivations – we often accuse and slander others.We often accuse and slander ourselves.Certainly in this way the devil – a destructive force of accusation and slander - is very real in our lives.
And this accuser and slanderer was real in Jesus’ experience.Jesus was in the wilderness.He had just come from a moment of affirmation.His identity was confirmed.And now, in the wilderness, the question is not, “Who is he?” but “How will he be the one he is?”Not, “Is he the Son of God?” but “What kind of Son will he be?How will he act upon this identity?How will he be the one he is?”
The devil – the accuser, the slanderer – puts these questions before him in the wilderness.He says, “If you are the Son of God. . .”On the surface, this does seem to be a question of, “Who is he?”“Are you really the Son of God?”But the same phrase in the original Greek text can also mean, “Since you’re the Son of God. . .”
“Since you’re the Son of God, Jesus, why don’t you turn this stone into bread? Why don’t you use your identity for your own purposes?And if you could do that. . . you could certainly feed the multitudes, couldn’t you. . .?
Jesus answers, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’”
“Since you’re the Son of God, Jesus, why don’t you worship me – the embodiment of accusation, slander, evil.After all, can’t I gain you access to the kingdoms of this world? Why don’t you follow the way I’m setting before you?Simply act in worship and allegiance to my way, and it will all be yours.After all, you’re the Son, the Savior.Simply worship me, and you can save all people of the world, for all their eyes will be upon you. . .”
Jesus answers, “It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’”
“Since you’re the Son of God, Jesus, throw yourself from this temple.After all, is it not written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you’, 11and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone’?What a miracle that would be, Jesus!What a way to reveal your identity to those you have come to save!”
Jesus answers, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
And the text tells us that the accuser, the slanderer, left him until an opportune time.
Jesus was in the wilderness.He knows the wilderness. He knows difficulty.And though we have told ourselves the truth that it has been a hard week in many ways for many reasons, we also tell ourselves this truth tonight: We are accompanied by one who knows the wilderness – one who’s been there, one who knows hardship – one who walked through it not in spite of who he is but because of who he is, because he chose to enter the wilderness with us, to be one of us, to accompany us in every wilderness we face.
The Devil – the accuser, the slanderer – actually acknowledges Jesus’ identity: “Since you’re the Son of God. . .” but this accuser and slanderer tempts Jesus to act upon that identity by taking the easy road.But Jesus doesn’t do it. For our sake, for the love that was within him, Jesus chose to take a road that would hard instead of easy – he would suffer and struggle.He wouldn’t do this because suffering and hardship is good or even redemptive in and of itself.No.He would do it because he would love fully, heal boundlessly, forgive endlessly, live in joy abundantly, and associate himself indiscriminately.And when a person lives like that – when Jesus lived like that – it makes waves, and the powers of this world resist it.For our sakes, Jesus chose the way of freedom and life, and the world met it with a cross.And yet, even a cross couldn’t extinguish that life of love!We point to Jesus as the resurrected one.
Jesus did not take the easy way out.
Jesus took the hard way through.
And he took it to and for the purpose of life.
And that’s where God calls us too.Tonight is the first Sunday of Lent, and we’re in 40 days of Lent traveling through the wilderness toward Easter, toward life, toward resurrection.And so I ask us each to consider tonight, “In what wilderness to you find yourself these days?How does Jesus want to heal that wilderness? What words, questions, situations, memories accuse you or slander you?
Have I found the right way to do what I’m doing? Is this right?
Am I really good?Am I really worth loving? Actually, loveable?
Will I succeed, or will I fail?
What is it that feels missing?
How will I find out the answers?
Will I always be afraid?
Will life be as rich as I hope it will be?
Can I stay in control, or should I let go?
How can I make peace in the conflicts that surround me?
In what wilderness do you find yourselves?
How might Jesus seek to resurrect you by walking through it with you?How can you look to him?How can you follow him as your guide? Let him lead and form you in the wilderness so that you might go forth as one resurrected, choosing to love so deeply that you willingly enter the world’s wilderness, loving fully, healing boundlessly, forgiving endlessly, living in joy abundantly, and associating yourself indiscriminately.
How will that happen?Let’s travel these forty days together. Amen.
-Renee Roederer, Campus Minister, and the Austin Agape Community
On Sunday night, the Food For Thought Team cooked a delicious meal for Austin Agape. We are so appreciative! This semester, Food For Thought has a creative theme: God's Colorful Palette! They are creating meals based on colors.
For Valentine's Day, we had an incredible meal of red foods!
So who is the Food For Thought Team, and why do they do this for us? The Food For Thought Team is a group of UPC members who want to show us hospitality and teach us about the ministry of food. Twice a semester, they make us a feast! We enjoy the food, and most of all, we are grateful for their presence.
It means a lot to our students when our members take interest in personally knowing them. And they're college students! So they enjoy free food, especially when it's so delicious.
Food For Thought, Austin Agape thanks you for your gifts and for your dedication to this ministry. You are welcome with us any time!
Bright and early on Sunday morning, Austin hosted its annual marathon. Some runners conquered the 26.2 mile course, and others challenged themselves for the 13.1 half marathon. Quite amazing, really!
Many runners participated in the 26 Miles for 26 Charities Challenge. Each year, charitable organizations are chosen to receive support from the Austin Marathon. Runners collect donations for the charity of their choice.
This year the 26 sponsored charitable organizations were as follows:
Some of our students from Austin Agape woke up bright and early and arrived at 5:30am to support Manos de Cristo. They handed out water to the runners!
Way to run!
And there was a lot of laughter too, of course.
And special congratulations are in order to Byron French who ran the half marathon, raising $930.00 and Shane Webb who ran the full marathon, raising $345.00. They are both donating their funds to the ministries of Manos de Cristo. Way to go, both of you!
I’d like to start out our sermon tonight with a short discussion.This Sunday is Transfiguration Sunday, and every year at this time, we read the story of the Transfiguration.In our three year lectionary cycle of scriptures, we read the Transfiguration account from Matthew, and then Mark, and then Luke.And this year, the text comes from Luke.Audrey and I are going to read the scripture lesson, and when we’re finished, I’m curious to know your thoughts on the passage.What are your first impressions?What do you notice?Do you associate anything with this passage?And what questions come to mind for you?
I invite us to open our awareness to this passage as we hear it.
A reading from Luke.Listen to God’s Word for us here and now tonight.
(Scripture and Discussion)
As I studied for our sermon this week, I ran across a commentary by a well-known theologian and preacher named Fred Craddock, and he made a really great point about this passage.He says that we may unintentionally cheapen this story if we automatically begin by making it a reference point to our own experience.In other words, what he seems to mean is that if we jump in right away and say, “Oh! This Transfiguration event is just like our experience of x, y, and z!” we might miss the awe and holiness that are a part of this passage.After all, a holy event is one in which something very different occurs, something that’s very set apart from our typical experience.And in your observations, you seemed to say something similar.It’s not every day that we see a vision of Jesus with Moses and Elijah on a mountaintop.It’s not every day that we see a majestic cloud coming down with a voice proclaiming Jesus as the one we’re called to follow.And it’s not every day that we come off of a mountain to find a father with his child, a child that the father presents as possessed by an unclean spirit.These references are most likely outside of our common experience, and if we were telling the story through modern words and a modern worldview, we’d probably tell it a bit differently.
But does that mean this scripture has little to say to us – nothing to say to us, we 21st century people, people who haven’t experienced these visions or events in exactly the same way they’re described here?No, and I’m thankful the passage has much to say to us.So I’m grateful for your observations, and I’m curious about how the Holy Spirit is at work among us in our sacred moment right now, to teach us in and through this story so that we might be sent out to live it.So let’s get inside this story together.Let’s use our imaginations.
Peter, James, and John walk up a mountain together with Jesus to pray.Perhaps they were tired from all the traveling they had been doing around Galilee, on foot from town to town.Perhaps they were on an emotional high.They had seen some incredible events over the last few days - a hungry crowd with no obvious food source in sight, was fed by Jesus with such abundance that twelve baskets were full with leftover food after everyone was satisfied.Or perhaps they were confused.Peter had recently made this great declaration before Jesus and the disciples: “You, Jesus, are the Messiah of God.”But Jesus began to state the implications of what that would mean for him, and they definitely didn’t fit the disciples’ expectations: Jesus says, “The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Maybe they were very confused and conflicted as they walked up that mountain with Jesus.There was certainly a lot to ponder these days.
And maybe all of that pondering – all of that experiencing – had worn them to the bone.They were exhausted and in their fatigue, who knows? They may have been a bit zoned out, in their own world, as we say.They certainly weren’t expecting what they were about to experience on that mountaintop.
Jesus was praying.Perhaps he sought their prayers alongside him as well.But it seems they were just about to drift to sleep when they were suddenly moved with an experience that was radically beyond their comprehension. Perhaps the transcendence and holiness of the moment was so thick and intense, that it was hard to put it in to words.These are the words and images that the Gospel writers give us: As Jesus prayed, his appearance changed, and his clothes seemed as though they were dazzling white.And two men appeared as well, Moses and Elijah, speaking to Jesus about his departure; the word in the Greek text is exodus.In a moment of prayer, God’s presence was incredibly holy beyond description and yet immanent, right there with them – right there with these sleepy disciples who were probably expecting nothing more than a simple prayer and if we’re being honest, a nap.
And then Peter can’t stand it anymore.He has to say something.You gotta love Peter. . . It’s easy to smile or chuckle a bit when we hear how Luke frames what he has to say.In effect, the text says, “Peter had no idea what he was saying. . .”Can you imagine him?“Uh, hey Jesus!Hey, uh. . .I have a great idea! Uh. . .Let’s build three dwellings: You know, one for you. . . one for Moses. . one for Elijah!It’ll be GREAT!”
And then comes a moment so holy, that it produces awe, fear, and a profound sense of majesty.There is a cloud, like the presence of God from the exodus story itself, and a voice from cloud proclaims: “This is my Son, the Chosen; listen to him!”
They listen.And they don’t stay on that mountain forever.They don’t stay, enshrined with holy tabernacles for dwelling.No, they come down and they reenter a world that is often wrought with suffering.They find a father in full desperation and anxiety there with his child.Jesus heals that child and gives him back to his father.
What a story. . . And yes, Fred Craddock is right.We would be missing something if we immediately tried to make the story of the Transfiguration fit into the confines of our modern experience, if we tried to reduce this story and put it on our terms.Is Luke telling us about a literal event?Is Luke giving us a grand metaphor?I don’t presume to know the answer to those questions but I do believe this story has much to say to us.And even though this story can’t be reduced to our questions and modern experiences, this passage does speak to our experiences.It does call us to think about our experiences differently.
When we come to worship, what do we expect?When we enter this holy place and this sacred moment, do we expect to encounter God?Are we tired?Are we on an emotional high?Are we confused?Are we mentally or emotionally asleep?Do we expect to experience something out of the ordinary here – something deep, holy, life-changing – right in the midst of our every-day-ness, right in the middle of what is ordinary?
The honest answer is sometimes, yes and sometimes, no.We bring all sorts of thoughts and experiences in this room with us.But what if we brought them with intention, with the intention of listening deeply, singing with meaning, speaking with conviction, and receiving communion as the gift that it truly is?
Some of you have read some of writings of Annie Dillard. She says something interesting about Christian worship that has stayed with me for many years, though I too, functionally forget it.Too often we come to worship with no expectation of how holy and sacred it truly is.Annie Dillard says that if we were to take worship seriously, we would all come wearing crash helmets!That’s right.Crash Helmets.We would expect God’s presence to be among us, calling us to amazing acts of ministry in this world – difficult acts, yes, but powerful acts of healing, justice, service, compassion, kindness, and love.
And so again, rather than imposing our experience on the Transfiguration story, we ought to let the Transfiguration story transform our experience.Like Jesus, Peter, James, and John, we leave this holy sacred hour of worship, to move into the world where more holy acts will meet us and require our care and attention.We are called to be transfigured people ourselves – to move into our week differently because we have been here together, because we have encountered the very presence of God, for Jesus has said, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am among them.”Christ calls us here for a holy moment of transfiguration so that we might go out into the world and meet him there too!Again, he has spoken to us: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family,* you did it to me.”
In worship, we are united with ancient witnesses of old – like our gospel writers – who tell us, “This is God’s Son, the Chosen; listen to him!”And we tell that one another.Here we are, invited to listen to him now.We have come to a Holy Moment of worship.And we are called to follow him into the world.Will this moment transfigure us along with him?And will we have the courage go down the mountain this week and meet his healing presence in a hurting world?Will we allow the Transfiguring presence of God to transform our modern experience?
-Renee Roederer, Campus Minister, and the Austin Agape Community
Hey everybody! Who would like some Friday pancakes? Who would like some coffee? Who would like some great Mexican food?
Where can you find all three? That's right! Kerby Lane!
Patrick Garvin has created an event on Facebook for Pancake Friday - Today! If you can make it, just show up at noon. We'll have time to laugh, catch up, and hear how the week is going - all while eating incredible food. Enjoy!
This semester at Austin Agape, we are thinking intentionally about how we can all be a part of the weekly sermon. We believe that the sermon is not merely the words that are spoken, but the sermon is a moment in our community. In addition to the spoken words, the sermon includes the thoughts, emotions, and actions that come as a result of gathering around scripture. So before worship together this Sunday, we are thinking about this text:
Luke 9:26-38 Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. 29And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. 30Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. 31They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake,they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings,one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah’—not knowing what he said. 34While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. 35Then from the cloud came a voice that said, ‘This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!’ 36When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.
1. What do you notice in this text? Does anything pique your interest? 2. What do you think it has to say to you these days? 3. What does it say to our community? 4. What might Luke be trying to convey about Jesus in this passage? 5. If you were to put yourself in the roles of the disciples, how might you imagine their experience?
We began our Campus Bible Study last night with some fun, creative games of Ping Pong! We're grateful to be a community who finds so many wonderful ways to play.
And we also had a meaningful time of reading and discussing scripture. This semester we are thinking about concrete ways to put our faith into action. We're discussing the many ways we are all called to ministry, both as individuals and as a community of faith.
Last night Merrit lead us through a meaningful discussion of Jeremiah 31. And we asked ourselves and one another, "What gifts do we see in our community, and how might God use us to restore others to healing and wholeness?"
We passed around sheets of paper with our names on them. And we each wrote words of affirmation for one another. What gifts do we see in each other? Our time together was very meaningful.
Renee and Merrit are co-leaders of our Bible Study for the first part of this semester. Merrit is a junior at the University of Texas. She is studying Spanish and Religious Studies. She recently completed a semester of studying abroad in Argentina, and she has also been elected to serve as our Campus Deacon for the 2010-2011 academic year. We are so grateful for her leadership with us!
On Sunday night, Austin Agape gathered upstairs in the Youth Room for a night of Super Bowl watching! Colts fans and Saints fans collided! Actually none of us ran into each other, and we simply enjoyed the game!
Thanks to Marco for his technological skills, and thanks to Barbara for the delicious food!
And thanks to Kathleen for this stunning cake!
We enjoyed some ping pong. .
Some other games. . .
Some music. . .
And some general silliness. . .
We also gathered together to worship. We heard a reflection and had a meaningful discussion about living in the present moment and seeking God's presence and call for our lives. Thanks to everyone for your meaningful words!
Reflection: But What About Now? Luke 5:1-11
Isaiah 6:1-8
The Future.Oh. . .the future.When you’re a college student – when you’re a young adult – it seems to be the air you breathe.The Future. Why?It’s constantly surrounding you – bombarding you -and even if you want a break from the future, it’s definitely hard to get one.People are constantly telling you, in subtle and not-so-subtle ways: “You’re the future!We’re counting on you!Future, Future, Future. . .”
But it’s not just that you embody the future in the eyes of other adults.It’s also that as far back as when you were “knee-high to a grasshopper” you’ve been prepped for the future.Kindergarten getting you ready for elementary school, elementary school getting you ready for middle school, middle school making sure you’re prepped for high school, high school getting you ready for college, and yes, college getting you ready for your future.Tests, tests, tests.Preparation for the future.The TAKS test (Ian and I had the ISTEP – Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Process) the SAT, perhaps the ACT.And now, some of you are thinking about other tests these days.There’s the LSAT and the MCAT.It all seems to be preparing you for the future – the day when your star will rise, the day when at last, you will be the future people who have come to present day, fully formed, fully ready, fully prepared to lead and make waves in this world.
But maybe we’ve missed something here.Aren’t you future people, well, alive now?
Oh yeah. . .maybe we’ve all forgotten that – not just the middle agers who make us out to be the “Future people” – but maybe we’ve forgotten too.We get wrapped up in the future, and maybe we forget that we are living, breathing people who are alive now, alive to discover the world right in front of us, just the way it is in this moment, alive to allow this moment to make us who we are so that we might go into the future shaped by the now.
The now is connected to the future, isn’t it?That is so ‘duh’, but I don’t we think about it as often as we should.Why?Because we’re rushing around trying to make our future a good one, and we’ll sacrifice anything in the present moment to get there.Maybe we’ll be workaholics, sacrificing the joy of our relationships.Maybe we’ll think so intensely about that upcoming test that we’ll forget to notice how gorgeous it is outside.Maybe we’ll sacrifice our sleep.Maybe we’ll forget to eat.And who knows what else?Maybe we’ll do this because we value our future, and we want it to be a good one.
And you know what?There’s nothing wrong with the future.I hope it doesn’t sound like picking on it too much.The future is a wonderful thing to plan for!A wonderful thing to dream about!It’s just that we have a problem in our planning. . . By the time, we get to that future, by the time the future we’ve been planning for becomes the present, we’re on to the next thing, planning for the future again.Do we lose the now, totally in service to the future?
What I mean, is that there was a period of time when many of you were planning and dreaming about college.Wouldn’t it be sad if you missed those glorious moments, the small things, the beautiful moments of right now?
Tonight we have two call stories before us – the story of Jesus calling his disciples by the Sea of Galilee and the story of the prophet Isaiah, encountering God’s holiness in the temple.Call stories.Hmm. . .our calling.Now that’s about the future too, isn’t it?Or wait. . .is it?
You would think so, and certainly the answer is at least partially, yes.As young people, you’re often asking, “What is it that I should do with my life?How can I make a difference?What can I add to the world?What’s my calling?”Yes.“What’s my calling, and how can I find out what it is?”
Good questions.We ask them all the time, and we shouldn’t tire of asking them.But here’s a thing to remember: Our calling – that thing we want to do in this world for this world – is not just about the future.It’s not simply this thing we’re waiting to get to.Our calling involves the present.The calling involves now.
The disciples were living a pretty run-of-the-mill day.Of course, they weren’t disciples yet.They were fishermen.They were doing what fishermen do: Fish.But this run-of-the-mill day wasn’t going so well, not yet.They hadn’t caught any fish.And this story of calling is obviously a miracle story, perhaps and odd one.Jesus tells Peter to go back into the deep water and throw the nets out again. And all of the sudden, their nets are full with more fish than they can count!More than they can imagine!And Jesus says to these fishermen who will be disciples, “From now on you will be catching people.”From now on you will be inviting others to move from a shallow life out into deep seas, seas that call human beings to love, peace, justice, healing, wholeness.That call is a miracle, isn’t it? It certainly involves their future, doesn’t it?
But you know what else is a miracle?It’s easy to miss it.Before Jesus tells Peter to cast his nets, he asks Peter to take him out in the boat so that he can speak to the people.The text says, “Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.”That language about sitting down is important.Sitting down?Pretty mundane, right?Not quite a miracle, right?Well, in this text, it’s significant.It’s a clue to us. Luke is telling us that Jesus was taking the stance of a rabbi.And all of the sudden, a pretty mundane, everyday scene becomes infinitely holy in the present moment.Jesus creates a synagogue, right there on the Lake of Gennesaret, speaking to people and teaching them what it means to live deeply.If those people were running around like crazy thinking about the future, they would have missed that present day miracle right in front of them.[1]
And then we have this very odd, intriguing story from Isaiah.Isaiah went into the temple on what may have been a mundane, run-of-the-mill day.Sure, the temple is a sacred, holy place.But was he expecting the deep sense of transcendence he would encounter there?I don’t know, but something so holy and transcendent happened that it must have been hard to put into words.And so he writes it in a holy vision.Isaiah finds himself in the presence of God, and God’s holiness is so profound that Isaiah is called to a confessional moment, “‘Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!’”(By the way, it’s interesting that Peter says something similar, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!”)But God’s presence shows up in the mundane to say in effect: “I am calling you – you, the fullest you of this present moment, quirks and all – to use your gifts right now to follow me and act in this world.”
So that brings us back to the question of the hour (the question of so many hours as we live our young adult lives) – What is my calling, and how do I know what it is?
Wouldn’t it be convenient to have an obvious answer for that, a little formula to figure it out?I don’t, and none of us do.But instead of associating that calling solely with the future, let’s start associating it with the now.Isn’t it true that we’re called – not only to some future vocation but to this very day?Who are you called to be today?Tonight?In the next hour?
If we live fully in this moment and in all the present moments we have, who knows where we’ll find God?And so here are two questions for our discussion tonight: Where have you seen God recently?And how is God calling you through that?I’m going to sit down here too.Where have you seen God at work?
- Renee Roederer, Campus Minister, and the Austin Agape Community
[1] Idea borrowed from a sermon given at UPC by Ben Johnston-Krase in 2007.
On Sunday, UPC gathered and shared meaningful worship together. And it was a special Sunday on our calendar. Super Bowl Sunday? Yes. But more importantly for Sunday morning, it was Souper Bowl Sunday!
Each year, the youth from UPC take a special offering. It's called the Souper Bowl of Caring. This offering has been taken annually across the country since 1990, and it all began with a simple prayer one day as the youth group from Spring Valley Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina met. The prayer was this: "Lord, even as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us be mindful of those who are without a bowl of soup to eat." And an idea came from that prayer! What if members of churches and individuals around the country gave a few dollars on Super Bowl Sunday to be used locally to fight hunger?
This year, our youth raised a record amount, and the money will be distributed to the Micah 6 Food Pantry and the Manos de Cristo Food Pantry. Byron is excited as he unveils the offering: $988.38!!!
Our church also enjoyed a lovely potluck lunch after worship as we met together for our Annual Congregational Meeting. The food was lovely. Thanks to everyone who brought dishes and desserts, and a special thank you to Peggy Budd who helped organize this event.
At our meeting, we elected church officers, elders and deacons who will serve us for the next few years. Guess who we elected to be our Campus Deacon? Our very own Merrit Martin! We are grateful for all the ways she will serve us and the wider church.
On Sunday night, our very own organist, Scott McNulty will be featured on KMFA radio. At 8pm, Chris Teel, the host of Pipeworks, will play most of Scott's Master's Recital, which includes some newer works that are rarely heard.
If you enjoy what you hear or just want to support an 24 hour all classical station, would you send a note of thanks to Chris Teel or General Manager Joan Kobayashi? Chris will be playing other parts of the recital on future programs, including the improvisation, and Scott would like to encourage KMFA to keep supporting organ music.
Way to go, Scott! We are thankful for all the ways God has gifted you for music!
Last Sunday, some of our students participated in an important opportunity for Mission. They worked with a family at through the Interfaith Hospitality Network. IHN provides shelter for families that are homeless or on the verge of experiencing homelessness. Members of local faith communities in Austin spend the night with them, providing hospitality and shelter.
The Mission of IHN can be found on the Foundation for the Homeless website. "Host churches, synagogues, and support congregations work in collaboration to provide year round shelter, meals, and support to families as they work toward achieving goals of permanent housing and self-sufficiency."
Our students spent the evening at University Methodist Church. IHN is one important ministry that UPC supports with time and resources. If you would like to learn more, visit this page.
The Islamic Student Dialogue Association is hosting an Interfaith Dialogue on Campus tonight. The speakers will be Dr. Steve Friesen and Dr. Yetkin Yilderim, each respectively presenting perspectives of Christianity and Islam on Interfaith Dialogue. The event sounds like it will be informational and thought provoking.
It begins at 6:30 in room 2.312 in Welch Hall. After Dr. Friesen and Dr. Yilderim address the gathering, there will be time for questions and further conversation. There will also be refreshments, wonderful Turkish treats donated by the Turkish American Women Association.
Come hear some interesting discussion and join together in fellowship and friendship!
that our very own Byron French is running a mini-marathon?
And that our very own Shane Webb is running a full marathon?
On February 14th, bright and early in the morning, Byron and Shane are running to raise money for Manos de Cristo. Manos is a ministry that does tremendous work in Austin. UPC has many connections there: Kate Norman, one of our elders, serves on the Board, and our church holds an annual Back to School drive every August, collecting school supplies for Manos to distribute to children who need them.
Manos de Cristo assists the Austin community with food and clothing services and ESL classes. The ministry also operates a dental clinic, assisting clients who cannot afford the expenses of dental care.
Did you know. . . that you can contribute to the marathon?
Who are you? What do you study? What do you care about? And what brought you here?
We invite you to be a part of our life together whether you live in Austin or elsewhere. You -- your gifts, your passions, your questions -- enrich us!
This semester our Campus Bible Study is asking the question: How can we put our faith into action?
ed exploring real, concrete ways to live out my faith in the world. And having time to discuss these issues with smart, spiritually hungry people!
"Our Bible Study has certainly become more proactive than any other time I can remember. I think it's great that not only are we learning, but are called to action.
"I enjoy Bible Study because everybody can talk about deep, spiritual, and sometimes controversial issues without having to feel judged or ignored or disrespected, and I like how the things we talk about are always applicable to our lives.
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