I once saw a great prayer. "Dear God, please for today make me the person that my dog thinks I am."
If you are not a dog lover, this may slip past you. We have two dogs at our house. Bailey is small and really is Fara's dog. Deacon, on the other hand weighs about 90 pounds and is my dog, or maybe more to the point I am his human.
Every day when I come home I am greeted with overwhelming enthusiasm, and I do mean overwhelming. As I said he weighs 90 pounds, and he is tall enough to put put his paws on my shoulders. There is something about being greeted with such joy that changes your perspective on things. I may not have been brilliant at work that day. I may have cut some one off the MoPac on the way home. This week's sermon may be miles from finished, but in the eyes of Deacon I am loved. IF you need an example of unconditional love in your everyday life, you would be hard pressed to beat that.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
A Gift of Space
Last week Mimi, Cindy, David and I were guests at a luncheon hosted by the Board of The Healing Place. The event was held in their new facilities at University Baptist Church. Many of you will remember that the organization got its beginning because we shared our Family Life Center with them several times a week. Their ministry outgrew our available space necessitating their move. The lunch was a way of thanking our congregation in general and Mimi, Cindy, and David, in particular for the efforts made in order for them to get this wonderful agency off the ground. We wish them well and are proud of what they have become and our part in helping that take place.
One of the important parts of our ministry that might get overlooked is how we have aided such helping agencies to get started. Our congregation has been a willing host to a number of groups. Just now I saw the students of one of our English as Second Language classes leaving the building. That group has known grown to two large classes and is making a significant difference in the lives of people new to our nation and to our area. Of course our feeding ministries continue. The “Feed My People” program provides 600-800 breakfasts a week to homeless people. We also host the Downtown truck for Mobile Loaves and Fishes. These and so many others are extensions of our ministry. Sometimes we refer to it as a ministry of space and it is a ministry indeed to be willing to share our facilities with others in order to make live better for God’s people in the Austin area.
One of the important parts of our ministry that might get overlooked is how we have aided such helping agencies to get started. Our congregation has been a willing host to a number of groups. Just now I saw the students of one of our English as Second Language classes leaving the building. That group has known grown to two large classes and is making a significant difference in the lives of people new to our nation and to our area. Of course our feeding ministries continue. The “Feed My People” program provides 600-800 breakfasts a week to homeless people. We also host the Downtown truck for Mobile Loaves and Fishes. These and so many others are extensions of our ministry. Sometimes we refer to it as a ministry of space and it is a ministry indeed to be willing to share our facilities with others in order to make live better for God’s people in the Austin area.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
You Can Tell A Lot…
You can tell a lot about any group by how it responds to hard situations. You can especially tell a lot about a congregation by how it responds to adversity. I remind us of that truth because I have been gratified by how First United Methodist Church of Austin has responded to the deepening financial crisis that has certainly grabbed the attention of us all.
A small bit of history, and I apologize to those who have already heard this. We built our budget for 2009 over the summer of 2008. As it was being pulled together, our finances were in pretty sound shape, but August, September, and October were brutal for us financially as anxiety began to spread. We got an uptick with a financially strong November giving us some hope, but those hopes were not realized. We ended the year with a $90,000 deficit. Fortunately we could tap reserves in order to complete all of our commitments, but we entered 2009 with fewer reserve resources than we had counted on.
Our initial pledge reports for 2009 indicated a significant decrease in support, and we were faced with a possible shortfall of some $370,000. Bad news you would think, and of course it was not news that any of us wanted to hear. But here is the good news. The leadership of the congregation has looked at the problem and decided to attempt to remain faithful to our calling as a major congregation in downtown Austin. Obviously some cutbacks were necessary. Program costs were cut 10% across the board and salaries were maintained at 2008 levels rather than including the 2.5% raises that had been projected. In total some $90,000 in cuts were made which still left a significant gap. But other sources were being identified or were identifying themselves. Groups using our facilities made larger contributions. The Mission Team identified special mission emphases giving attention to some of the missional parts of our Ministry Plan with the hope that additional support will be forthcoming. Individuals and groups have been in prayer concerning our ministries and how we might be faithful in these times.
It would have been easy to panic or to give up hope, but this congregation understands itself to be a significant source of spiritual growth and mission in the heart of downtown Austin, and pledges have been made or remade, ideas have been shared, and new ideas have been explored.
There is no question that this is a hard time, but you can tell a lot about a congregation in the midst of adversity. I have been grateful and moved by your faithfulness. Are we there yet? No, indeed, there is a lot of work in front of us over the next few months, but the spirit is there, as is the desire to continue to be faithful to our calling especially in these hard times.
A small bit of history, and I apologize to those who have already heard this. We built our budget for 2009 over the summer of 2008. As it was being pulled together, our finances were in pretty sound shape, but August, September, and October were brutal for us financially as anxiety began to spread. We got an uptick with a financially strong November giving us some hope, but those hopes were not realized. We ended the year with a $90,000 deficit. Fortunately we could tap reserves in order to complete all of our commitments, but we entered 2009 with fewer reserve resources than we had counted on.
Our initial pledge reports for 2009 indicated a significant decrease in support, and we were faced with a possible shortfall of some $370,000. Bad news you would think, and of course it was not news that any of us wanted to hear. But here is the good news. The leadership of the congregation has looked at the problem and decided to attempt to remain faithful to our calling as a major congregation in downtown Austin. Obviously some cutbacks were necessary. Program costs were cut 10% across the board and salaries were maintained at 2008 levels rather than including the 2.5% raises that had been projected. In total some $90,000 in cuts were made which still left a significant gap. But other sources were being identified or were identifying themselves. Groups using our facilities made larger contributions. The Mission Team identified special mission emphases giving attention to some of the missional parts of our Ministry Plan with the hope that additional support will be forthcoming. Individuals and groups have been in prayer concerning our ministries and how we might be faithful in these times.
It would have been easy to panic or to give up hope, but this congregation understands itself to be a significant source of spiritual growth and mission in the heart of downtown Austin, and pledges have been made or remade, ideas have been shared, and new ideas have been explored.
There is no question that this is a hard time, but you can tell a lot about a congregation in the midst of adversity. I have been grateful and moved by your faithfulness. Are we there yet? No, indeed, there is a lot of work in front of us over the next few months, but the spirit is there, as is the desire to continue to be faithful to our calling especially in these hard times.
Monday, February 2, 2009
A Letter from Denise
I received this message that Denise shared with some of her friends here at church. I thought that she says things well.
Hi Everybody--
My apologies in advance for the following: this mass mailing to all my dear FUMC friends and family, the shameless request for money included in this mailing, and any toes I may step on as a result. I hope that I can say all of this respectfully, kindly, and thoughtfully, and please know that no disrespect is intended.
With that said, I am sure that most of you have either heard the news or seen it in yesterday's FUMCs weekly bulletin sent out by Pastor Young Son. The top story was the reconsideration of the 2009 Ministry Plan and the almost $90,000 in cuts that our pastoral team is looking at making. You can see the details of John's note here in case you did not get a chance to read the article:
http://www.fumcaustin.org/news/details/ministryplan09.html
As most of you already know, our church has never fully recovered from the cuts that had to be made during the economic slump of 2002, during which time we lost staff and many other cuts were made. Our pastoral team is working hard to find the $90,000 to cut out of the expenses without having to cut staff. This includes pay cuts for all members of the pastoral team and numerous other cuts as well.
I also know that when you all made your pledges for the 2009 ministry year, you gave prayerful consideration to the amount you pledged. I know that I did as well, but when I saw yesterday's note, I knew that further consideration of my pledge was required immediately. Let me tell you a little about what I thought and prayed about when I initially made my pledge.
Flash back to last Fall. It was time to look at the finances and make my annual pledge. I have not always been a very good steward of my money and I am continually working to change that. I have a very good job and I make a very good wage with good benefits that provide me with health insurance. Many of my friends are single parents like me, but they have not had the advantages and good luck that I have had in my 17 years as a technical writer, and often I have watched them struggle to make a living wage. I have been able to grow professionally, and as a result, I make a very good professional wage. I have many other blessings as well: own home, paid-for car, little to no debt, and college expenses that I can actually afford for my daughter.
So there I was, looking at the pledge form, sitting quietly in God's presence to try to discern what He would have me do, and when all was said and done, I made my pledge and the pledge was the same as the previous year. The year ended with sudden job uncertainty in an industry in which many of my peers have been affected by layoffs, forced time-off-without-pay, freeze in pay raises, and no bonuses. I told myself, "At least I am not having to cut back," which I have had to do in previous years. I listened prayerfully and thought I had discerned caution and that that was the right thing to do with my money. I wrote in the amount, signed my pledge card, and turned it in.
But this story does not end there. It only took a moment after reading John's note yesterday to know that prayerful reconsideration of my 2009 ministry pledge was needed. And as I sat for a quiet moment in God's presence, He lifted from me my own selfish worry for the uncertainty of the economy and my own financial and employment stability. He reminded me, in those still, quiet moments, to put my faith in Him, faith that I did not put in Him when I first made my pledge. I have a good job today and for the near future. That could change at any time, but I will cross that bridge with God if and when I get to it. The Lord has always provided for me, and my blessings are great, too numerous to count. That said, I wrote to our pastoral team and increased my weekly pledge. I also pledged to speak with my church friends and family to encourage them, as they are able, to increase their giving to the church we all love so much (which is why I am writing you all today).
Many of you have probably already acted on John's call for help and I know that that is greatly appreciated. Many of you have also probably already given more prayerful consideration to your pledge and are unable to give more, and that is perfectly understandable. But, if you were like me (and I am embarrassed to say this: forgetting to put my faith in God), and you "erred on the side of caution" in your pledge but know that there is more to give, then I hope you will consider that as well.
The Bible says it so clearly: "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. (Mark 11:22) That is a lesson I will do my best to not forget again.
You all are my church friends and family and have blessed and enriched my life in many ways. For all of you, I will always be grateful. And for the programs, pastors, and ministries supported by our church, I know that we have all received great benefit. 2009 will be a hard year, but thankfully, God is walking with each of us, all of us, every single one of us...every step of the way.
Grace and peace,
Denise :-)
***
Denise C. Fischer
...and have a nice day!
***
Worry does not empty today of its troubles.
It empties tomorrow of its strength.
Hi Everybody--
My apologies in advance for the following: this mass mailing to all my dear FUMC friends and family, the shameless request for money included in this mailing, and any toes I may step on as a result. I hope that I can say all of this respectfully, kindly, and thoughtfully, and please know that no disrespect is intended.
With that said, I am sure that most of you have either heard the news or seen it in yesterday's FUMCs weekly bulletin sent out by Pastor Young Son. The top story was the reconsideration of the 2009 Ministry Plan and the almost $90,000 in cuts that our pastoral team is looking at making. You can see the details of John's note here in case you did not get a chance to read the article:
http://www.fumcaustin.org/news/details/ministryplan09.html
As most of you already know, our church has never fully recovered from the cuts that had to be made during the economic slump of 2002, during which time we lost staff and many other cuts were made. Our pastoral team is working hard to find the $90,000 to cut out of the expenses without having to cut staff. This includes pay cuts for all members of the pastoral team and numerous other cuts as well.
I also know that when you all made your pledges for the 2009 ministry year, you gave prayerful consideration to the amount you pledged. I know that I did as well, but when I saw yesterday's note, I knew that further consideration of my pledge was required immediately. Let me tell you a little about what I thought and prayed about when I initially made my pledge.
Flash back to last Fall. It was time to look at the finances and make my annual pledge. I have not always been a very good steward of my money and I am continually working to change that. I have a very good job and I make a very good wage with good benefits that provide me with health insurance. Many of my friends are single parents like me, but they have not had the advantages and good luck that I have had in my 17 years as a technical writer, and often I have watched them struggle to make a living wage. I have been able to grow professionally, and as a result, I make a very good professional wage. I have many other blessings as well: own home, paid-for car, little to no debt, and college expenses that I can actually afford for my daughter.
So there I was, looking at the pledge form, sitting quietly in God's presence to try to discern what He would have me do, and when all was said and done, I made my pledge and the pledge was the same as the previous year. The year ended with sudden job uncertainty in an industry in which many of my peers have been affected by layoffs, forced time-off-without-pay, freeze in pay raises, and no bonuses. I told myself, "At least I am not having to cut back," which I have had to do in previous years. I listened prayerfully and thought I had discerned caution and that that was the right thing to do with my money. I wrote in the amount, signed my pledge card, and turned it in.
But this story does not end there. It only took a moment after reading John's note yesterday to know that prayerful reconsideration of my 2009 ministry pledge was needed. And as I sat for a quiet moment in God's presence, He lifted from me my own selfish worry for the uncertainty of the economy and my own financial and employment stability. He reminded me, in those still, quiet moments, to put my faith in Him, faith that I did not put in Him when I first made my pledge. I have a good job today and for the near future. That could change at any time, but I will cross that bridge with God if and when I get to it. The Lord has always provided for me, and my blessings are great, too numerous to count. That said, I wrote to our pastoral team and increased my weekly pledge. I also pledged to speak with my church friends and family to encourage them, as they are able, to increase their giving to the church we all love so much (which is why I am writing you all today).
Many of you have probably already acted on John's call for help and I know that that is greatly appreciated. Many of you have also probably already given more prayerful consideration to your pledge and are unable to give more, and that is perfectly understandable. But, if you were like me (and I am embarrassed to say this: forgetting to put my faith in God), and you "erred on the side of caution" in your pledge but know that there is more to give, then I hope you will consider that as well.
The Bible says it so clearly: "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. (Mark 11:22) That is a lesson I will do my best to not forget again.
You all are my church friends and family and have blessed and enriched my life in many ways. For all of you, I will always be grateful. And for the programs, pastors, and ministries supported by our church, I know that we have all received great benefit. 2009 will be a hard year, but thankfully, God is walking with each of us, all of us, every single one of us...every step of the way.
Grace and peace,
Denise :-)
***
Denise C. Fischer
...and have a nice day!
***
Worry does not empty today of its troubles.
It empties tomorrow of its strength.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Can I get a WITNESS?
What does a Christmas witness look like?
Specifically what does it look like this Christmas 2008?
It comes down to the choices that we make.
There is little doubt that there is much bad news abroad. There is a tendency to pull back, to make sure that me and mine are taken care of, but we are a people called to bring good news to the oppressed and to bind up the broken hearted.
Maybe you feel that puts you in a bind.
You have people that you want to remember during this season and there is only so much to go around.
How can we reach out to those oppressed and broken hearted and still remember those close to us?
I suggest to you, that we can remember those we love, with gifts to those who need so much.
Give and witness to the love of Christ and the difference it has made in your life at the same time.
In your honor we have given a family in Africa a goat.
In your honor we have purchased 20 meals for Mobil Loaves and Fishes.
In your honor we supported a chldren’s care facilty or battered women’s shelter.
In your honor we gave gifts to children who otherwise would have received none.
In your honor we have given manna bags to people on the street.
Give your children and grand children something special.
Bring them to help at the homeless breakfast on Christmas Eve morning. You can email brunch@fumcaustin.org to let us know you are coming.
When we choose to be generous to those beyond our circle of friends and relatives, when we reach out to the stranger and the needy, we are witnesses to the power of the Christ in our lives.
Further than that, we can be peacemakers in a world that is much more prone to argument and discord.
As times get harder it will become easier and easier to be angrier and angrier.
It will be easy in the midst of our frustration to blame others, to separate ourselves.
But we are witnesses to Christmas
We are witnesses to the promise of the angels, peace on earth and good will to all people
For we soon will celebrate again a special day, and we will hear again the announcement, “For unto you is born this day a Savior who is Christ the Lord".
WE will be reminded again of that new life which potentially brings new life not only to us but to the whole world.
And the world needs a witness to that.
Specifically what does it look like this Christmas 2008?
It comes down to the choices that we make.
There is little doubt that there is much bad news abroad. There is a tendency to pull back, to make sure that me and mine are taken care of, but we are a people called to bring good news to the oppressed and to bind up the broken hearted.
Maybe you feel that puts you in a bind.
You have people that you want to remember during this season and there is only so much to go around.
How can we reach out to those oppressed and broken hearted and still remember those close to us?
I suggest to you, that we can remember those we love, with gifts to those who need so much.
Give and witness to the love of Christ and the difference it has made in your life at the same time.
In your honor we have given a family in Africa a goat.
In your honor we have purchased 20 meals for Mobil Loaves and Fishes.
In your honor we supported a chldren’s care facilty or battered women’s shelter.
In your honor we gave gifts to children who otherwise would have received none.
In your honor we have given manna bags to people on the street.
Give your children and grand children something special.
Bring them to help at the homeless breakfast on Christmas Eve morning. You can email brunch@fumcaustin.org to let us know you are coming.
When we choose to be generous to those beyond our circle of friends and relatives, when we reach out to the stranger and the needy, we are witnesses to the power of the Christ in our lives.
Further than that, we can be peacemakers in a world that is much more prone to argument and discord.
As times get harder it will become easier and easier to be angrier and angrier.
It will be easy in the midst of our frustration to blame others, to separate ourselves.
But we are witnesses to Christmas
We are witnesses to the promise of the angels, peace on earth and good will to all people
For we soon will celebrate again a special day, and we will hear again the announcement, “For unto you is born this day a Savior who is Christ the Lord".
WE will be reminded again of that new life which potentially brings new life not only to us but to the whole world.
And the world needs a witness to that.
Monday, November 3, 2008
A Chance To Respond
Much of our lives are lived responding to things. On November 23rd we as a congregation will have an opportunity to make a very important response, response to the generosity of God in our lives. On that day we will make our commitments of financial support for the work of this congregation for the year 2009.
If you have not done so already, I hope you will take a moment to look at the video which has been created to give you some sense of the broad range of ministries of this very dynamic congregation. That video is available on the website at fumcaustin.org. Also available there is a copy of our Mission and Ministry Plan for 2009. Take some time at look at the extensive plans that have been made for next year. You can also see the budget that has been adopted to underwrite these plans.
This congregation through its wide range of ministries makes a difference in the lives of countless people. Your generosity will continue to make those ministries possible.
Soon you will receive a letter containing your commitment card for next year. I hope you will consider the information on our website and then prayerfully make your commitment for 2009. God has touched all of our lives. This is an opportunity to respond to God in the lives of others.
If you have not done so already, I hope you will take a moment to look at the video which has been created to give you some sense of the broad range of ministries of this very dynamic congregation. That video is available on the website at fumcaustin.org. Also available there is a copy of our Mission and Ministry Plan for 2009. Take some time at look at the extensive plans that have been made for next year. You can also see the budget that has been adopted to underwrite these plans.
This congregation through its wide range of ministries makes a difference in the lives of countless people. Your generosity will continue to make those ministries possible.
Soon you will receive a letter containing your commitment card for next year. I hope you will consider the information on our website and then prayerfully make your commitment for 2009. God has touched all of our lives. This is an opportunity to respond to God in the lives of others.
Monday, October 27, 2008
A Special “Ordinary” Day
Yesterday was an ordinary Sunday, except for the music at the 11:00 service. The choir offered several special anthems that brought a special joy to the service. It was an ordinary Sunday except for the baptisms, one in the sanctuary and one in the chapel, of two beautiful children. It was an ordinary Sunday except for the couple who joined our congregation bringing with them yet another small baby who will be baptized soon. It was an ordinary Sunday except for the picnic on the Capitol grounds after the 11:00 services. Well over 200 people gathered to enjoy the beautiful weather, to see the children in their Halloween costumes, to hear the live music, and to enjoy the great food, especially the desserts.
It was an ordinary day made extraordinary by the efforts of many people who came together to make the day extraordinary. My thanks go out to all who worked so hard to make everything possible.
As I sat on the lawn at the picnic and watched all that going on around me, I was once again grateful to a part of this very much alive congregation.
It was an ordinary day made extraordinary by the efforts of many people who came together to make the day extraordinary. My thanks go out to all who worked so hard to make everything possible.
As I sat on the lawn at the picnic and watched all that going on around me, I was once again grateful to a part of this very much alive congregation.
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