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Congregational Support & Development |
Congregational Support & Development 2008 2008 Congregational Care Committee (CCC) | Chair: Heidi (heidi_flannery@sbcglobal.net), Members: Josie (josierich@gmail.com), Pete (dskelley@satx.rr.com) & Cylia (semmering@aol.com). | If you have or know of any member or friend who has a joy or concern or a special need, please contact Rita (sopucc@sbcglobal.net) or one of the CCC members to let Spirit of Peace know. Spirit of Peace welcomes Morgan's baby sister, Marley Rose.
SOP Visitor Orientation Class | Wednesdays, April 9 & 16 | 7:30 - 9:00 PM | Rev. Rita's Home | This class is open to anyone who wants to learn more about Spirit of Peace and the United Church of Christ. For more information, feel free to contact Rita (210.748.4449 or sopucc@sbcglobal.net).
2007 The Annual SOP Planning Retreat THIS PAST Saturday went really well. Twelve of us gathered at Eleanor's & Pete's every friendly home. Of course, we were greeted by Rachel's newest wienie dog, Oscar. What a sweetie! Don't you think?
After a brief council meeting, we all filled out a survey from the Pew Foundation on church direction, our beliefs, our likes and dislikes. Afterwards, we reviewed our answers. In some cases many of us though alike; in others, the diversity of opinion (something we at SOP embrace wholeheartedly) could not have been wider. After "inhaling" a delicious lunch of Elenor's homemade soup and sandwiches followed by Liz's mouthwatering, dark chocalate vegan cake, we brainstormed new ideas for our church. We ended the day by filling out our annual calendar. As we head into next year, be sure to check out our calendar on this website (http://www.localendar.com/public/spiritofpeacechurch) to discover some of the new plans and renewed traditions we chose to pursue. For more pictures from the planning retreat, check out the following link: http://www.mychurchphotos.com/PhotoAlbums.aspx?id=188
For more pictures go to Our Photos Link. New Congregational Care Team | Tom (t.finlay@sbcglobal.net), Pete (dskelley@satx.rr.com), Laura (woodenpearl@hotmail.com), Heidi (heidi_flannery@sbcglobal.net) & Clay (claugier@avistaproducts.com) | If you have any concerns or joys or know of a member or friend who needs comfort or help, please let Rita (sopucc@sbcglobal.net) or one of the members of our new care team know. Check the following video of our SOP Stars! Submitted by Cylia Please click on the following link to view a video of the Rev. Jerry Leggit, of Peacebubble fame, interviewing members and friends of Spirit of Peace on Sunday, February 25: THE VIDEO To learn more about Jerry and his Peacebubble tour, please check out the following link: www.peacebubble.org. Spirit of Peace is happy to welcome our newest member, Bill R., standing between Rita and Pete. The younger man in the photo is our wonderful guest pianist and Gail's son, Chris:
Click Here: Rita's 2006 Vacation to Eastern Europe SOP is truly one of a kind! A note from our members in Missouri Just
needed to say Hi and that we miss you all terribly!!! Thank you
for keeping us in the SOP loop -- And thank you for the wonderful
birthday card for Lillith. I have attached a recent photo of all
of us from our trip to Hawaii. Sometimes I wish we could find a
replacement for SOP here, but most of the time I delight in knowing
that you all cannot be replicated; SOP is truly one of a kind.
Talk about being moved by the Spirit... Submitted by Cylia This past Sunday, June 4th, Spirit of Peace really got into the Spirit of Pentecost. Not only did we welcome Heidi, a wonderfully enthusiastic new member, but we celebrated all of our gifts with silly certificates of recognition of everyone's contributions to all the various missions and programs of the church. Even the kids joined in the fun. We were also so happy to welcome 8 returning guests and to meet our 3 first-time visitors. After the service we scarfed down super delicious potluck dishes--everything from vegetarian pastas to King Ranch Chicken--topped off by those fabulous apple and pecan-apple pies from Janie's Pies (Thanks again to Steve & Rise).
Some great news all the way around! Submitted by Rev. Rita On Palm Sunday we took in the largest number of new members since our founding! And, since Easter, we have had ten visitors, most of them coming in response to the UCC "Ejector" TV ad, and one coming in response to our series of ads in the SA Current. Of the visitors, one family of four has returned, and another expressed great interest in our church. The COPS/Metro Alliance (of which Spirit of Peace is a member congregation) is seeking to forge ties between local churches and schools. They are having initial meetings with principals of schools just north of our church meeting place. The plan is to organize parents and people who live in the area of those schools, and our church can be part of voter registration and organizing to advocate for schools. COPS/Metro and sister organizations scored some major victories on school finance at the state level, but it has become clear that we need to organize parents themselves. This can be a great opportunity for Spirit of Peace to become an advocate for public schools. I will keep you abreast of further developments. Finally, I have been asked to serve as the South Texas Association representative on the Church Development Committee and to lead a workshop at the conference annual meeting on the new UCC Church Vitality program (http://www.uccvitality.org/).
Report on the Mysticism, Empowerment and Resistance Seminar held May 18-20 at First Baptist Church in Austin Submitted by Rob The three outstanding speakers, Marcus Borg, Joan Chittister and John Dominic Crossan were presented by the D.L. Dykes Jr. Foundation (faithandreason.org) in cooperation with several local churches and seminaries. Five members and friends of Spirit of Peace attended the seminar. We have ordered several video and audio recordings of the sessions, so there should be opportunities for SOP members to access them. The primary theme of the seminar was that mysticism fuels empowerment for resistance. Mysticism was defined as direct experiences of the Divine. Borg gave several examples from Christian scripture and faith tradition, and described important characteristics of mystical experience. Empowerment was discussed as vision, courage and commitment flowing from mysticism to enable resistance. Resistance was explained not only as standing against the powers of injustice, what Crossan calls “the normalcy of civilization,” but also standing for the kingdom of God – the lived commitment to egalitarian compassion and caring for humankind and all creation. Chittister presented biographical sketches of two mystics who were empowered to live remarkable lives, St. Catherine of Sienna and Franz Jaegerstaetter of Austria, who was killed by the Nazis for refusing service in Hitler’s war machine. The speakers brought unique, but complementary perspectives to this basic model of Christian life. The richness of their knowledge and experience provided a moving and challenging learning opportunity. An Easter Meal Under the Bridge: What a wonderful way to share the Easter Spirit! Dear Spirit of Peace brothers and sisters, I wanted to report back to you on this morning's Easter Meal Under The Bridge, which went very smoothly thanks to the wonderful help we received. First of all, thanks to the congregation for the generous $92.00 from that "second collection" envelope I passed around after the Palm Sunday service. Next, thanks to Carl for bringing me to Sam's Club on his membership card. Carl provided lots of excellent advice while we shopped and is great company! Next, thanks to our own Reverend Rita for her help, coordination, and advice. Special thanks to Sarah G., Floyd, Pete and Eleanor, Mary Anne, Kendra and Lena for their tireless work this morning. We served 140 people, and then a number of them came back for seconds. I cooked up the 15 pounds of ground venison on Saturday night, and then we made the pasta sauce, penne pasta, green beans, salad, pudding, and tea this morning. The folks at Community Evangelical UCC, Rita's other church (where we cooked and assembled everything), were wonderful and welcoming, and often came in to offer their help. And most of all we should be thankful to Ellen, who runs the Meals Under The Bridge program, who spent an hour in her garage "training" me for this, and who is one of the most giving persons I have ever met. The folks who came to eat were warm and thoughtful and it was a pleasure to meet them. Overall, the morning was a big success and a wonderful way to share the Easter spirit. Thanks to everyone for your support... Happy Easter to all. Bill
Those of us who attended the annual Spirit of Peace Easter Vigil began on the lovely patio outside the Fellowship Hall at First UU. After lighting the Easter Candle and our individual candles we processed into the Fellowship Hall to the strains of "Hallelujah." Once inside we renewed our baptismal vows--something Rita obviously thoroughly enjoyed considering the vigor with which she sprinkled us! During the offering, we were treated to Stainer's anthem "And God So Loved the World" sung by the a cappella Singers from Laurel Heights Seventh Day Adventist and our churches. Our wonderful musician, Gail, led us in this, our first-ever presentation. At the end of Easter Vigil we partook of communion and left with the traditional Spirit of Peace send-off: "The service is ended. We leave to serve the world." Palms, stations, solos and new members! What do they all have in common? Answer: Our special Palm/Passion Sunday worship service. It was quite a day for Spirit of Peace. Not only was David (who worked for most of the year on an understanding of the Gospel of Luke with John K.) confirmed, but also he along with six other people joined our congregation. Following the new member welcome, we remembered Jesus's Holy Week story with readings, meditations and hymns (including solos from our musical members) pertaining to Eight Stations of the Cross. Before reading the biblical citation, the member would place a symbol of the station on the altar. Josef even read Aramaic! What a special Sunday it was!
Sunday's
Shrove "Tuesday" pancake breakfast was It was the perfect repeat--enthusiastic cooks, happy conversation, plates and plates of hot buttermilk, blueberry, apple and banana pancakes and long lines of hungry folk. Once again Irene of Bethany Congregational and our own Pete led our churches through a very successful and very delicious fundraiser. A devastated reminder of Hurricane Katrina, Back Bay Mission will soon be the recipient of the more than $440 raised by the meal. We all hope these funds help, at least in some small way, with the huge rebuilding job that lies before the tireless Gulf Coast missionaries. To track the progress of Natalie's & Ed's adoption proceedings, please go to the following blog: Natalie's Blog. PS: Natalie & Ed were members of Spirit of Peace. Good News! The cats have found new homes... Thanks
to two animal lovers, the cats, belonging to former members Natalie,
Ed and Charlie (who developed a cat allergy), have found brand new
homes. Two of the lucky felines landed at Jeff's condo. He says
the first night he got just a bit of sleep because both cats insisted
on sleeping right on his neck. But, he really likes their company
and hopes they will calm down soon and enjoy their new home to the
utmost. Cats still need new homes! Hi All, I hope this note finds you well. Our little Charlie’s allergy test came back positive for cats, so Oliver, Maxine and Harry need homes. Oliver is an orange tabby cat who is very friendly. Maxine is a very independent tortoise shell and Harry is lovable, cuddly, patient, sweet big black fluff ball of love. If you or anyone you know can take any of our guys please let us know. They are all well rained, eat dry cat food and have had their front paws de clawed. They need to be indoors. Please feel free to forward this along to anyone else you think could provide a good feline home! Natalie,
a former member of Spirit of Peace We need to do this again sometime..." What a great service we had this past Sunday! We sang some of our favorite "ol' timey" hymns and exchanged stories about why they were our favorites. As one member commented, "I knew them all and could join in singing each one." "We need to do this again sometime," most of the rest of us agreed. "Singing hymns allows me to bypass my super analytical brain and feel the emotional uplift of Christianity and scripture," commented one of our most non-traditional members. After the service, we hurried across the hall to the library to gobble up some All-American apple pie and ice cream provided by Rise, Steve and Sarah G. Yummy yum! Talk about "FUN!" We sure got to know each other a lot better at the Winter Fellowship Meals! submitted by Cylia The First Round of Winter Fellowship Meals on January 13th and 14th was a great success. On Friday night, nine of us crowded into John's & Cylia's apartment and shared a potluck supper of spaghetti, salad, fresh bread from Whole Foods and Rita's famous "Tres Leches" cake. Before the meal, we savored Tom's vegetable dips and sipped sparkling Kir Royales and citrus flavored mineral water. I haven't laughed as hard in a long time! Did you know that Spirit of Peace harbors some of the best joke tellers there are? After dinner, we watched (and, of course, commented profusely upon) the TV show, "Dancing with the Stars." The next morning six of us gathered at Pete's & Eleanor's for Pete's famous pancakes. I don't know how many pounds were gained, but the conversation and fellowship were worth every minute of it. Watch church bulletins and this web site for the dates of the Second Round of Winter Fellowship Meals. If you missed the First Round, be sure to sign up for the next. If you participated in the first, consider volunteering your home for the next. But, even if you are unable to offer your home, be sure to join the fellowship again. You can never know each too well! What a wonderful weekend it was... Submitted by Cylia Continuing a really enjoyable tradition several members of Spirit of Peace met on Saturday, December 17th at Community UCC (where Rita is supply pastor), climbed into two vehicles and headed out to sing carols to home-bound members of Community. We were all so well received; it really was a blast. Rita provided sheets of favorite carols and we sang to our hearts' content. Following the caroling, we headed to Pete's & Eleanor's where we munched on delicious tamales, baked brie, fruit and cheese cake. Thinking about it still makes my mouth water. The Advent spirit continued on Sunday, January 18th, during the worship service and Sunday School. First, Gail and Kris, her son, presented a beautiful prelude on the recorder and piano. And, during the offering, Kendra, accompanied by Kris, performed a lovely rendition of "Oh Holy Night." It's wonderful to count such talented people among our friends and members. Sunday School was great, too. After attending the beginning of the worship service, where Kendra led the congregation in the "Magnificat," we retired to the library for cookies and milk followed by a super-comedic memory game about the "Birth of the Messiah." Ask the kids, they will tell you, why it was soooo fun and funny! To top Sunday off, Bill and his family provided a supper of red beans and rice, cornbread and cream puffs. What a smashing way to celebrate the impending arrival of Christmas!
We, at Spirit of Peace, count Gail and the Laurel Heights Seventh Day Adventist Church Choir among our greatest blessings... Under the direction of Spirit of Peace musician and premier soprano soloist, Gail Wettstein, six of our members joined her choir from Laurel Heights Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church on Sunday, December 11th, for a program of carols by John Rutter. The choir began rehearsals way back in October and performed the program for both churches. This was the third year that Gail has so magnificently rehearsed and prepared us for a Christmas Concert, and this was, by far, the most difficult music for our choir to master. But, like all things difficult, the rewards for those in choir are too numerous to count. Thanks Gail and Laurel Heights, and have a great Christmas season.  Ricardo & César Coloma mesmerize the congregation with the sounds of Puerto Rica guitars... On the First Sunday of Advent, November 27th, Celsa's son, Ricardo, and husband, César, presented very special music during the Offertory. Ricardo is the first young adult with Down's Syndrome to learn how to play the Puerto Rican guitar "el cuatro." He is normally accompanied by his father, César, who is originally from Perú. Ricardo began his musical training at 11 years old and has recently released his first CD with songs from Puerto Rico, Peru and the United States. Ricardo also represented Puerto Rico in the Special Olympics competition held in Ireland in 2003 and won a gold medal for long jump and one silver for running. César served as Chairperson of the UCC Board for Homeland Ministries and as member on the Editorial Board for the New Century Hymnal. Ricardo's mother is Rev. Celsa Ayala-Coloma, CPE Supervisor at the VA Hospital in San Antonio. The two men performed "El Condor Pasa," an original song from Peru about the largest and most powerful black bird in the world that flies over the Andes and which is a symbol within the indigenous spirituality. We're so happy to welcome 5 new members! What a Sunday November 13th was! Not only did Spirit of Peace hold its Annual Meeting and Elections (see article below), but we also welcomed 5 new members: Angi, Dianne, Dee, Holly and Rich. What an honor it is to receive these wonderful people into our congregation. If you, too, have been planning to join or are just interested in learning more about Spirit of Peace, please give Rev. Rita Wilbur a call at 403-9084 or contact her at sopucc@sbcglobal.net. She would love to talk to you about our church and what membership means. Report from the Annual Meeting The annual meeting of Spirit of Peace Church was held Sunday, November 13th, after the worship service. A big congratulations is extended to following members who were elected to two-year terms of office beginning in January: John K., Moderator; Rachel, Council Member-at-Large; Floyd, Nominating Committee member; Pete, Tom F. and Sarah G. members of the newly formed Pastoral Relations Committee. Also at the meeting, we passed a budget for 2006 and heard reports from the Reverend Rita Wilbur, outgoing Moderator Pete, and several committee members. Spirit of Peace Church is SO Happy to welcome SIX new members! On October 2nd, during our worship time, Spirit of Peace welcomed six more lively individuals into its congregation: Diane, Laura, Tom F., Sarah G., Bill & Kendra. If you haven't had a chance to talk to them at length, please do. After the worship service on Sunday, while munching on refreshment, is a wonderful time to get to know them better. 
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