November 2005 Worship Services

Ministerial Cognitions

“Let us join now to celebrate the sovereignty of love...let us appreciate the privilege and miracle of living, the joyous exercise of talents, satisfaction from work well done. Let us share respect for excellence sustaining each other’s endeavors as illuminators, artists in living, exemplars of love. Let our lives be fitting memorials for the gifts from those before us, living promise to those yet unborn, conserving, celebrating life.”

Helen Ronan

I have been thinking a lot about life lately. Maybe this is because I am remembering Art Vawter who recently passed away. Maybe because I am having arthroscopic surgery on my knee later this month. Maybe because we were spread to the four winds by hurricane Rita. Maybe because this year is drawing to a close—a year that went by so fast I couldn’t seem to get a handle on it.

For those of you who didn’t know Art Vawter, he hand-carved the letters that were on our sign in front of the church. Some of the letters decomposed, some of the letters blew away during the hurricane, but the remainder of the letters are in my office. I plan to put together a sign with the remaining letters to put on display somewhere in the church. I feel his importance to the history of the church needs to be preserved in some physical way. Art put a lot of work into sustaining Spindletop Unitarian Church.

This year many of us have put a lot of time and energy into our church as well. We have successful small group ministries, covenant groups, to give members the opportunity to explore their beliefs and ideas with people they care about and trust because there are committed people in our church who keep these groups going. We have a board of directors working hard to assess the most effective way to repair or rebuild our sanctuary so it can be used again. We have a grounds committee who is committed to clearing out the tallow trees, so we can make better use our property. Through all our efforts, we will continue to grow our church, so those who need our liberal faith will have a place to gather and to worship in Southeast Texas.

And as we return from our sojourns away from our church, we have to begin the process of rebuilding our church and our community. We still have much work to do. Some of our members are in need of help as they rebuild their lives after being away; they will need our support. And we need a new roof; we need to repair or rebuild our sanctuary; we still have trees and brush that needs to be hauled away. We will need to support each other in this process of repairing and rebuilding, but at least we have air conditioning again.

Even as we work together, I hope we take time to celebrate this wonderful community we share with one another. We need to take time to just enjoy being together, celebrating our lives together; part of why we gather is because we care about each other and that deserves celebration.

Just as those like Art Vawter passed on the legacy of liberal religion to us, we will rebuild our church for those who will need our liberal faith in the future. So may it be. Rev. Tom

Worship Services:

Nov. 6

On Being Informed and Involved on World Issues by Bob Handy

Bob Handy has been "doing" Great Decisions for about 35 years, having been introduced to the program at Portland State University in Portland, Oregon (where Great Decisions was born). He founded the Gulf Coast Council on Foreign Affairs in 1979, serving as its Executive Director for eight years. It was succeeded in the late 1980s by what is today, the 4000-member Houston World Affairs Council. Post Service Activity: Group discussion on how to start and maintain the Great Decisions foreign policy study-discussion program at our church.

Nov.13

Darwin and/or Intelligent Design by Rev. Tom Capo

I have been reading and cogitating on this issue of evolution vs. intelligent design for months now. I am grounded in science and believe whole-heartedly in evolution. I feel that intelligent design is creationism dressed up to be more palatable to the general public. I want church and state to remain separated, especially in schools, keeping creationism out of public education. And yet, I want to express my belief that the divine is reflected in all creation.

Nov. 20

Breadsharing—Our Annual Breaking of Bread Together by Rev. Tom Capo

This is our annual intergenerational service. Sharing bread is an ancient custom that grounds us as a faith community. We will explore this custom and share with one another our experiences of sharing bread.

Nov.27

Diesm by David Pyle

David is attending Meadville Lombard Seminary to become a UU Chaplain in the Armed Forces. He is presently the administrator at the UU Fellowship of Galveston County. He also facilitates a Deism covenant group at the Galveston Fellowship.