Tower Tidings - Keeping the Faithful Informed Over the Years

Throughout most of the history of University Temple - United Methodist Church, Tower Tidings has informed, entreated, and celebrated its faithful members. From newsy notes to weighty discussions, announcements of weddings and funerals to stewardship and major impending changes, everything of importance in U Temple's church life is chronicled.

The August 2010 Tower Tidings includes thoughts from our pastor about working at the archaeological dig at Tall al’Umayri in Jordan, a message from the new lay leader of UTUMC, Maury Skeith, an invitation to United Methodist Night @Seattle Storm, updates from Mary Poole on the work of Meitamei Dapash who works with his people, the Maasai, in Kenya, other charitable outreach, U-temple club activities, and more.

"A message from the Pastor" inspires and discusses important issues affecting the congregation. Here are excerpts from the August issue:

"I’ve just returned from a month in Jordan, working at the archaeological dig at Tall al’Umayri. It has been wonderful to spend time out in the field, in the glorious sunshine, uncovering remnants of the past with pick and trowel. It’s a chance to reconnect with old friends and make new friends...

"I love being in Jordan, where the people have a wonderful welcoming spirit. The trip to Petra is always a joy and I was able to explore some new things there. As I dug, I thought about those people who lived long ago, who laid the stones for the buildings, who made the pottery that we find. As we look at the walls and at the pottery, we know that these things were constructed by humans, and that their presence reveals a bit of those people. But it is such a tiny bit that we find! The walls aren’t complete, the pottery is broken, and the textiles and food have long since rotted away. Their lives were richer and more complex than the things they left behind. They lived in families and communities, worked to provide food and shelter.

"These people lived 2500-3000 years ago. It’s hard to jump across this tremendous gap of years to see the ancient reality. Looking at it from the perspective of the ages, people struggled, made decisions, had babies, worked hard, grew old and died. And the Spirit has been with them, coaxing them into richer relationships, challenging them to be courageous. We are but a brief moment in the rich panorama of history, one thread in the tapestry of time. We are not the first to make difficult decisions, and we won’t be the last. We are but one moment in God’s work throughout history. We learn from the past, and live our lives wisely, with hope for the future."