September 2005 Worship Services

Ministerial Cognitions

Let us ask what is this thing we call Ministry. We must answer that ministry is a mixture of things. It is a scholarly profession, yet one that must by rooted in people’s lives. It is a social profession, yet often a lonely one. It is seeking truth, and also sharing it. It involves finding meaning and making meaning. It is caring for people as they are, and also for what they may become. A minister is a human being, though sometimes called to rise above human limitations. A minister is a fellow-traveler, in an ongoing quest. A minister is a gadfly, a conscience to society. A minister is a person who cares, with a shoulder to cry on. And ministers themselves need to cry. Ministry and ministers are many things, sometimes as different as different individuals, but always bound together in a tradition that spans centuries. In our asking and answering about ministry, we may see a picture of our church, a reflection of ourselves, and a direction for our spiritual journey

-What is Ministry by Rev. Peter Lee Scott

I think it is a useful thing to ask what is a minister, what does he/she do, when should I call on him/her? As you can see from the short prose above, the answer to these questions is not always an easy or a concrete one. I can answer these questions for myself, and wish to be in dialogue with you about what you want the ministry of your church to be.

I see myself as a covenanted with our church to be your minister, your spiritual leader. But ministers are servant leaders; we do not tell anyone what to do, we ask questions like: are we going the right direction, or is this best for the ministry of this church. As ministers, we are called to serve a congregation, to bring our whole selves, mental, emotional, and spiritual to the work of the church.

I tell people who ask that I am your minister, not your half-time minister. I was called by the members of Spindletop Unitarian Church to be your minister. So I spend my time in the pursuit of ministry. I read, study, and attend continuing education workshops; I pray, meditate, and reflect on scriptures from all traditions; I attend minister’s gatherings; I keep abreast of local, district, and national events within our denomination and in the large of community of our world. I lead worship; attend various meetings within our church—including Board Meetings, Worship Committee Meetings, Committee on the Ministry Meetings, meetings of the Covenant Group leaders, and others. I talk with members of the local media regularly; I work to find the resources available for congregants in need and for the church—religious education materials, materials for the board or committees, etc.; I lead adult religious education classes, and occasionally try to attend a children’s religious education class, though really not as often as I would like; I get involved at the local, district and national levels of our denomination—this year I have been asked to be on the Southwest Unitarian Universalist Conference Conflict Resolution Team and to be a list-serv moderator for the national list-serv for part-time ministers. I also lead worship occasionally for churches without ministers when I am not in the pulpit at Spindletop. I talk with new members and share with them about the privileges and responsibilities of membership in our congregation.

I also provide Pastoral care for members of our congregation. This brings up the question when should you talk to your minister? Well, when you are going through a major life transition and need to talk; when you are going through a crisis, death, major change; when you need some emotional support; when you need someone to pray with; when you need a referral for help in the community; when you need someone just to sit with you as you struggle with something that seems bigger than you; when you have a health problem; when you are grieving; these are all times when you might talk to me. But you could also come and talk about Unitarian Universalism, about the church—its history, its importance to when you are grieving; these are all times when you might talk to me. But you could also come and talk about Unitarian Universalism, about the church—its history, its importance to you, how you might bring your gifts to this church--, about the worship service, the music, about religious education, about how the church is functioning---the board, the committees, the covenant groups.

I need your help in all that I do. I need you to let me know if you see something that I am missing or see some aspect of ministry that needs my attention. I also ask you to please contact me when you or someone in the congregation is in need of a pastoral call or visit. I do not always know if someone might need a call or visit without someone else telling me. I will always work hard to be your minister; but this church is not mine, it is yours, and we must work together to provide the best ministry we can for all in this congregation, for the greater community of Beaumont, and even for the world.

Let us always keep in mind that “In our asking and answering about ministry, we may see a picture of our church, a reflection of ourselves, and a direction for our spiritual journey.” So may it be.

Rev. Tom

Worship Services:

September 4

Searching for the Light, The Gnostic Tradition by Rev. T. Capo

The Gnostic Tradition was shrouded in mystery for thousands of years. The Catholic Church destroyed much of its scripture and labeled as heretics its followers. In the mid-twentieth century, the Dead Sea Scrolls were found and renewed interest in this religious tradition. There was a fifth Gospel according to this tradition, found in those scrolls, the Gospel of Thomas. This gospel encourages its followers to search for the light inside each of us and all creation.

September 11

Covenant Group & Committee Fair

September 18

Joseph Priestly, Inventor and Unitarian Forebearer by Rev. Tom Capo

Joseph Priestly discovered the element Oxygen, and was an avid inventor—he invented the eraser. But he was also central to our Unitarian history. He became a Unitarian in England, and eventually brought this Unitarian religion over to us in the Americas. Come and learn about this interesting and important forebear of our faith.

September 25

Hinduism by Rina Patel