Jan 4, 2017

Dear Saints,

Happy New Year!  I hope you all had some time to rest and reflect and celebrate the holidays whether you were near or far.  Christmas Eve at PCLT was a great celebration; an exciting time with friends and family of new and old.  And we worshipped in the New Year with a beautiful service crafted by Priscilla and Chrystie and the worship team.

Their good work afforded me the opportunity to have some time away this past week.  It included visits with family and friends who were passing through town, a few good rides on my horse Kemah, catching up on the many books by my bedside, and some lovely time with Mark and the kids who saw a little less of me during Advent than usual.  I also found myself peering around the bend, preparing myself for the good work that is to come; the good work that lies ahead for us as a church community in 2017.

This Sunday, we will install and ordain three new officers – Chrystie Thrasher, Dom Cavalucci, and Jane Walters (youth Elder, 2017-2018).  On January 15 and 16 respectfully, we will celebrate the Legacy of Martin Luther King in Sunday school and participate as a community in Austin’s MLK March. And in a few weeks, on Sunday, January 29, we will join together for a special lunch to hear PCLT’s Annual Report with a focus on the opportunities for Mission and Outreach in the coming year. And that’s just this month….

Are you ready, soulfully ready, to take up the work that lies ahead for us? What do you need as we launch into this new year. Let us prepare ourselves for the mission and ministry we are called and created to do.

Blessing upon blessings,

Laura

 

Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration and March – January 15th & 16th

This month, we will remember and celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. with a special adult Sunday school class and by joining the Austin MLK March.

1/15  The Legacy of Martin Luther King Sunday School Class

Come hear excerpts of Dr. King’s speeches.  We will discuss his message of faith and justice and its relevance to the church today.

1/16 The Martin Luther King Day March

The annual Martin Luther King March is on Monday, January 16th starting at 9am. This March celebrates Dr. King’s legacy as one of the most influential civil rights activists of our time best known for using nonviolent civil disobedience based on his Christian beliefs. Participating in this March is an opportunity to “show up” in support of promoting racial justice while also uplifting diversity and multi-culturalism in our city.

Let us join together as a community to participate in this March.  All family, friends, and neighbors are welcome. We will meet at PCLT at 8 a.m. to carpool to the beginning of the March on the UT campus.  A short program will kick off things at 9 a.m.  The March (read slow walk) proceeds one mile to the State Capitol building. As a brief program on the south steps of the Capitol, the March continues to Huston-Tillotson University (another mile) for exciting activities, food, and local musical artists.  You may also meet us at the State Capitol to shorten the walk.

While enjoying the food and music at the Huston-Tillotson site, one or two of us will dash back up the march route to get the car(s) to shuttle people back PCLT.  No need to walk the two miles back to the car! We should be back to the church by 1pm.

If you want to participate in this event, please let Scott know (Scott@wssweb.com or 512-585-5693) so we can better organize the logistics for the day. Also, if you have a PCLT t-shirt this is an excellent chance to let the wider community see PCLT “show up” in support of promoting racial justice in our community and our country. Don’t have a t-shirt? Don’t worry, some will be available to purchase for $10 after each of the next two Sunday services or we can bring one to you on the day of the March.