Kairos
"A Dose of Hope" by Chrystal Brigman............................................2
"Dancing" by Abbie Ryon 3
"Campus and Austin Outdoors" by Frank Vasquez 3-4
"Why do you forsake me?" by Aiden Nathaniel Diaz..................................4
"I Can't Watch" by Aiden Nathaniel Diaz and Marta Pumroy...................5
"Community Easter Egg Hunt" by Frank Vasquez 6
"LatinX Loteria" by Frank Vasquez............................................7
Podcasts at APTS............................8
About Kairos....................................8
ADoseofHope
ByChrystalBrigman
WrittenforiACT'sDoseofHope
2/13/2023Issue
“I must also pause to reaffirm my thanks to God, for it is faith that sustains me at this moment ” -Supreme Court Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson
My most sacred reflection times are when I am walking through the labyrinth at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. During this time, it is just God and I talking about the lessons I’ve learned and what will come soon. I take a moment to pause at center of the labyrinth and remind God that I’m not where I want to be but I’m also not the same person I once was Without fail, Philippians 3:12-14 always come to my mind The Apostle Paul tells the church at Philippians that he has not obtained his goal, but he continues to “press on.” He continues his letter by stating that he forgets what has happened in the past and moves forward toward the goal of what God has called him to do. As we get situated with this new year of 2023, it is important to not dwell on past mistakes and shortcomings of 2022 but to look forward towards the life that God has for each of us
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BackgroundPhotobyFrank
Vasquez
Dancing ByAbbieRyon
ByFrankVasquez
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Campusand AustinOutdoors
Whydoyouforsakeme?
ByAidenNathanielDiaz
Today, I switched out the sign on the church’s Sunday morning slideshow. Taking out Uvalde for Nashville - sitting next to Ukraine in prayers against violence. That’s it, right? That’s all we need to do as people of faith? Solid. I did my duty.
Then why does this keep happening? Is it a sign of God’s faithfulness to me or my own faithfulness to God? To not trust that God has me here for a time as this To share more love, more care, more light with the world
What are thoughts and prayers, when God has already equipped us with the answer to attempt to solve a problem? Do we continue to cast a blind eye - and say well I guess God won’t answer this prayer. When it feels like God is yelling from the heavens - why do you forsake me?
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"CampusandAustinOutdoors"photosbyFrankVasquez 4
ICan'tWatch
PerformedbyAidenNathanielDiazand MartaPumroyatHESED2023
I. Can’t. Watch.
News reports of children in cages because they fled their homes for safety. Welcomed and used part to the games of chess by American leaders. Dropped off in the cold night in unknown neighborhoods.
I Can’t Watch
Intersectional church splits pointing fingers at one another - using the church in Africa as pawns for why they are in the right Stripping them of their voice until they said, “don’t speak for me "
I. Can’t. Watch.
I kept looking forward when the man kicked and threatened the disabled merchant in the holy lands. Meeting the gaze of my classmates that absorbed the trauma of the oppressed.
I Can’t Watch
The aggressive pushing in Jerusalem that says, “You don’t belong here” at Jesus’ tomb Jesus only died for me, not you!
I. Can’t. Watch.
Gazing forward because I have seen it all before. What was his crime? Being annoying? Being “aggressive?” Making a living? Standing outside of a corner store?
When “I Can’t Watch ” turns into “I Can’t Breathe ”
When does the pain of these communities stop becoming names turned into trending hashtags? When do we say enough is enough? When it is someone from our own congregations? Someone one from our own families? Our friends? Our children?
But here’s what I. Can. Watch.
I can watch movements of harmony spurred by the Holy Spirit between people. Crossing the aisle - not just of our politics but in our church pews. Daring to sit in a seat that hasn’t been the same seat for 40 years.
I can watch the people in this room - who started this event ten years ago - starting a story that is still being written Seeing their hope realized into a movement of people saying my faith makes me put my love in action
I can watch children and adults - young and old being fed - physically, emotionally, spiritually. No longer bare bones but able to thrive and function and full of life.
I can watch people refusing to gossip and spread lies and help build life in another person. To stop chasing THE glory of God in the eyes of the other but to search for God in the person right in front of their face.
I can watch the recognition of people's skills and talents that they bring to the table So our lives are fuller like God imagined it so Encouraging another instead of saying you’re too young, you’re too old, you’re too weak, you’re a student, you’re a staff member, you’re a faculty member, you’re too black, brown, short, tall, loud, quiet Nobody is too anything Maybe their skill is exactly enough
Now, that I Can Watch.
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CommunityEasterEgg Hunt
ByFrankVasquez
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LatinXLoteria
ByFrankVasquez
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Love Kairos but craving some audio? Check out these podcasts!
Winsome Podcast
Join Sarah Allen, director of ministerial formation and advanced studies, and William West, director of financial aid, as they converse with members of the Austin Seminary community.
Insights, The Podcast n-depth interviews with faculty authors and convocation speakers.
in Seminary Worship Podcast student conversations about the process of worship preparation
nd these podcasts at: inary.edu/resources/podcasts
ty to share their visual art, photographs, ing with each other.
Submissions for Kairos are due on the last day of each month! Please email submissions to kairos@student.austinseminary.edu. Feel free to reach out through that email if you have any questions or need inspiration or encouragement.
Langley Hoyt, a Middler MDiv student, is the editor of Kairos. You can reach her by emailing kairos@student.austinseminary.edu.
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