Announcements- First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin

Vision: As an inclusive religious and spiritual community, we support each individual’s search for meaning and purpose, and join together to help create a world filled with compassion and love.

Friday, July 4:

Happy Fourth of July! Church Office Staff Holiday.
Tarot Mysteries Group: In Room 13 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, July 5:
Women’s Spirituality Group: In Room 13 at 10:00 a.m.

Sunday, July 6:
Sermon: A Prophet’s Authority. Rev. Aaron White. A question often asked by religious leaders and people of faith (especially UU’s and religious liberals) is “What gives me the right to speak?” In a society where one particular religious ideology is so dominant, it is more important than ever that we in this living tradition raise our voices high in the American religious landscape. How might we in our congregational and individual lives find that place from which we can speak our own prophet’s authority?
Service Time: 9:45 and 11:30 am.
Split the Plate: This first Sunday of July we split our offertory plate with Trinity Center, which operates programs to improve the well-being of the homeless living on the streets or in shelters in downtown Austin. Trinity Center focuses especially on services for women and children. The center helps these homeless neighbors of ours with myriad immediate and long-term needs, including aid in securing employment and housing, financial assistance for obtaining identification documents, covering transportation costs, and securing prescription medications. Staff and volunteers provide individualized support, information, and referral to social-service resources.
Special Musical Guests for Sunday Service: RokkaTone Acoustic roots & rocksteady ensemble RokkaTone will share their music for morning services. They fuse an R&B pulse reminiscent of the 1960’s Wailers, the straight-ahead acoustic blues like “Exile on Main Street,” and the folk songwriting tradition of Greenwich Village. More information at http://www.rokkatone.com
Forum: No Forums in July.
The Mind and Meaning Book Group meets in room 13A at 9:30 a.m. Currently reading “The Mating Mind: How Sexual Choice Shaped the Evolution of Human Nature” by Geoffrey Miller. For further information contact June Beach 512-382-7551 or email junembeach@aol.com
Exploration & Philosophical Inquiry Discussion Group: In Library at 9:30 a.m. Topics are decided upon each Sunday morning. Marcus Barnes, Facilitator 338-1816.
The Sunday Book Group: In Room 13B at 9:30 a.m. We will read the first half of “Nature” by Emerson. Next week we will read the secoond half of “Nature.”Contact for this group: Jim Burson 794 1086.
Media Tech Committee Meeting: Meets in Howson Hall at 1:00 p.m.
Yew Grove Spiral Scouts: In Rooms 15 and 17 at 1:00 pm.
Public Affairs Forum Broadcast Information: “Technology’s Impact on Society,” Speaker: David Kobierowski, Forrester Research Inc. David Kobierowski discusses the concept of Social Computing and how technology will continue to have a dramatic impact on the lives of individuals, businesses, and society. This program will appear on Public Access Community Television, Channel 10, Sunday, July 6th, at 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Monday, July 7
Sack Lunch Program in the Kitchen at 6:30 p.m. Preparing lunches for the working homeless.
Campfire Little Stars: In Room 23 at 6:30 p.m.
Village International Country Dancing: In Room Howson Hall at 7:00 p.m.
Green Sanctuary Meeting: In Room 13 at 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday: July 8:
Executive Committee Meeting: In Minister’s Office at 7:30 p.m.
Campfire Horizon: In Room 11 at 5:00 p.m.

Wednesday, July 9:
Philosophical Discussion Group: In Room 13 at 1:00 p.m.
Paradox Players Post Production Meeting: In Room 13A at 6:00 p.m.
Orientation to Unitarian Universalism: In Room 13B at 7:00 p.m. Led by Summer Minister Aaron White. Join Summer Minister Aaron White for an orientation to Unitarian Universalism. Bring your questions about our denomination as well as questions about First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin. Rev. White will do a second orientation on Wednesday, August 13.
Tai Chi Chuan: In Room 15 at 7:00 pm. Contact Jim Williams at:fourseasonstaichi@gmail.com.

Thursday, July 10:
Hatha Yoga: In Howson Hall at 5:30 p.m.
Adult RE Meeting: In Room 9 at 7:00 p.m.
Scandinavian Dancing: In Howson Hall at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, July 11:
English Country Dancing: In Howson Hall at 7:00 p.m.
Metaphysical Salon: In Room 11 at 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, July 12:
Men’s Breakfast: In the Gallery at 8:00 a.m.
Yew Grove: In the Gallery at 10:00 a.m.

Sunday, July 13:
Sermon: Honest Religion: One More Honest Adult. Rev. Aaron White. An advertisement for FUUCA includes the simple phrase, “Honest Religion.” Our religious ancestors attempted to live in this same spirit by rejecting rituals that made no sense to them and creeds that might limit their minds. This sentiment was once again voiced in an interview 20 years ago when the television icon and Presbyterian minister, Fred Rogers, stated, “The best thing that you can do for anybody…is just to offer one more honest adult in their lives.” How are we succeeding as a community in offering this to the world? How do we live our honest religion?
Service Time: 9:45 and 11:30 a.m.
Forum: No Forums in July.

ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS TO KEEP IN MIND
Children’s Summer Social Action Project. Every week for the rest of the summer, the children will have a table in the gallery with information about their 2008 social action project. This project will be raising money to furnish attractive re-cycling bins in every class room, the office, Howson Hall and the Kitchen. If enough funds are raised, the children also want to fund 6 months of the cost of re-cycling pick-up of all paper, plastics, and aluminum from a professional recycling company. Once a month, the children will be having a baked goods table between services and after the second service. Please stop by and pick up some yummy treats for a small donation and a BIG re-cycling project. f you would like to donate baked goods, please have them in the kitchen well before 10:30 for between services or before noon for after the second service. Baked good will be available on Sunday, July 20, and August 17. Special orders for cakes by Lara will be accepted every Sunday for delivery the next Sunday.

NEW, this summer: Fourth Tuesday Suppers. Thanks to Cindy Raab, Christie Hepburn, Julie Sievers and Matt Bramble for serving at ARCH for our first summer 4th Tuesday date in June. We still need volunteers for the July and August 4th Tuesday nights: July 22nd and August 26th. First UU members, in groups of 4, serve dinner at ARCH (Austin Resource Center for the Homeless, 500 E. 7th Street ) on the first Sunday of every month and for the summer only, on the 4th Tuesdays. Volunteers arrive at ARCH at 5:30 pm and are typically finished by 8:00 pm. Please contact Christy Seals at seals@grandecom.net or 512-217-9056 to volunteer for the Tuesday night dates.

More Parking–at the Texas School For the Blind
There is now a gate in the SE corner of the property that leads to parking at the School for the Blind. The gate is open every Sunday from 8:00 am- 3:00 pm. Enter the School for the Blind on 45th St., between Burnet and Lamar, and thread your way north past the school buildings.

Help for Helping Hands. We have church members that need lots of assistance: getting to church on Sunday, getting to Senior Lunch, telephone calls, letters and cards. Some folks need meals sometimes. When folks come out of surgery they need help with grocery shopping, being driven to appointments and meals until they get back on their feet. As you might suspect often it is for a short time due to illness or sometimes it is just great to have someone stop by just for a visit or a piece of pie. Contact Mary Ann Stafford 587-8373 and she will give you details and answer questions.

Hogwarts is on its way. We still need volunteers, and we still have openings for campers. Please see the additional CampUU information on-line, or email shannonvyff@yahoo.com with any questions. Every Sunday in July there will be a Harry Potter Camp meeting at 1:00pm, in RM 15. The mandatory orientation for all camp staff and volunteers will be Saturday July 26th. The discussion group for camp staff, volunteers and parents of campers-is the CampUU yahoo group. (You can access it from the FUUCA website, or email Shannon, who can send you a link) Thank you all–the activities planned are very exciting, we are looking forward to another great year! — Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor–Avnia Xander (muggle name Shannon Vyff)

Mommy Meals Ministry: The FUUCA Mommy Meals Ministry (M3) is a meal delivery service committed solely to supporting new mothers (and fathers). Our rigorously trained crew of volunteer chefs caters to your family’s meal needs; fresh handmade meals delivered weekly, for up to eight weeks to pamper and energize you so that you can care for your newborn. Visit us at: http://sites.google.com/site/fuucamommymealsprogram/ or contact the M3 coordinator, Ame Shillington at mrs.shillington@gmail.com.

Remember food donations for Caritas. Because of increasing food prices, more and more people are using the services of Caritas and local food pantries. Please remember to bring your donations of canned and dry goods to church on Sundays so we can deliver them to Caritas during the week. Thanks, the food delivery committee: Joan Forbes, Elaine Carpenter, Ann Travis, Barbara Owens.

Chalice Lighters. Established several years ago, it is designed as a way for congregations of the Southwest UU Conference to help one another. Three Chalice Lighter calls are made each year–at the Spring conference, at SWUUSI in the Summer, and at the Fall conference. Participants give a minimum of $10 three times a year. This spring’s recipient is the Bay Area UU Church of Houston to fund a new sound system in their Fellowship Hall. Checks made out to SWUUC Chalice Lighters should be sent to Chalice Lighters, SWUUC District Office, 6720 Brentwood Stair Road, Fort Worth, Texas 76112-3310. Or you may donate online through www.swuuc.org

Safety Issues in the Church. If you ever feel you are in an unsafe situation at the church, or are threatened or harassed by anyone, please immediately seek out a Board of Trustees member, a staff person, or a member of the Sunday Services Team. They will provide help and assist with appropriate action. Board members’ nametags are yellow or green, and purple nametags are worn by the Sunday Services team. In an emergency situation, or if no one is available, don’t hesitate to call 911. The safety and peace of mind of our members are our first consideration.

Vision: As an inclusive religious and spiritual community, we support each individual’s search for meaning and purpose, and join together to help create a world filled with compassion and love.

First Time Ever Sotol Bloom! There is a giant, wonderful bloom on the sotol in the All Ages Playground. You can’t miss it if you walk down the brick path to the All Ages playground in back, and look at the top of the berm.  Sotol is a cactus-looking plant with long, narrow leaves that have a sawtooth edge.

Friday, June 27:

Paradox Players Necessary Target: In Howson Hall at 8:00 pm.

Saturday, June 28:

World Peace Meditation: In Room 7 at 10:30 am.

Intro to Hinduism: In Room 15 at 2:30 pm.

Breathworks: In Room 15 at 4:00 pm.

Paradox Players Necessary Target: In Howson Hall at 8:00 pm.

Sunday, June 29:

Sermon: Should I?   Emily Tietz   From the time we’re born we take in messages about how we should behave, what we should like, who we should be, and how to apply these standards to other people or situations. What effects do these messages have on our lives and souls? What might our lives be like if we examined the choices presented to us by our “shoulds”?

Service Time: 9:45 and 11:30 am.

Forum: Writing systems: History and Issues:  Toward a science of Scriptology. Steve Bett, Ph.D. and Adam Blatner, M.D. Writing is arguably mankind’s most important invention, so astounding that the ancients attributed the invention to the gods. Preliterates found it so magical that they attributed special powers to those who could read and write.  We no longer do that but we still view our orthography as something more than a technology. People are more likely to switch religions than to switch orthographies. Both presenters are retired college professors.  Dr. Blatner was also a practicing psychotherapist and the author of several books in that field. He has a website on Scriptology.  Dr. Bett is the moderator of a discussion group on linguistics: Saundspel-the Phonolgy Forum. He has been invited to present at the International Association of Applied Linguistics in Germany and will also give a lecture on English orthography at the University of Coventry in June.  The following questions will be addressed:  Can any spoken language be represented with any orthography?  Can spoken English be represented in a Spanish orthography?

Building Committee and the Architects Presentation.  Join us for a presentation by our architects.  They will show us their first version of the schematic design of the new RE building.  They want our suggestions and comments so they can fine tune the design to fulfill our requests.  Join us in the Sanctuary at 1:00 pm on Sunday, June 29th.  Give us your input PLEASE.

The Mind and Meaning Book Group meets in room 13A at 9:30 a.m. Currently reading  “The Mating Mind: How Sexual Choice Shaped the Evolution of Human Nature” by Geoffrey Miller. For further information contact June Beach 512-382-7551 or email junembeach@aol.com

Exploration & Philosophical Inquiry Discussion Group: In Library at 9:30 am. Topics are decided upon each Sunday morning. Marcus Barnes, Facilitator 338-1816.

The Sunday Book Group: In Room 13B at 9:30 am. This week the we will read “The Over Soul”  by Emerson. Next week we will read the first half of “Nature” by Emerson. Contact for this group: Jim Burson 794 1086.

Yew Grove Spiral Scouts: In Rooms 15 and 17 at 1:00 pm.

Monday, June 31

Sack Lunch Program in the Kitchen at 6:30. Preparing lunches for the working homeless.


Campfire Little Stars: In Room 23 at 6:30 pm.

Village Country Dancing: In Room 15 at 7:00 pm.

Finance Committee: In Room 13 at 7:00 pm.

Tuesday: July 1:

Art Studio: In Room 13 at 10:00 am.

Campfire Horizon: In Room 11 at 5:00 pm

Wednesday, July 2:

Philosophical Inquiry Discussion Group: In Room 13 at 1:00 pm.


Tai Chi Chuan: In Room 15 at 7:00 pm. fourseasonstaichi@gmail.com. 

Thursday, July 3:

Hatha Yoga: In Room 15 at 5:30 pm
Committee on Ministries:  In Room 13 at 6:30 pm

Scandinavian Dancing: In Room 15 at 7:30 pm.

Friday, July 4: Happy 4th of July

Saturday, July 5:

World Peace Meditation: In the Library at 10:30 am.

Introduction to Hinduism: In Room 15 at 2:30 pm.

Breathworks: In Room 15 at 4:00 pm. This was one of the Meditation Choices and now is being offered as a series in order to more fully develop its practice and experience. Facilitated by Evangelina Mangino at emangino@hotmail.com.

Sunday, July 6: (sermon and forum only)

Sermon: A Prophet’s Authority. Rev. Aaron White. A question often asked by religious leaders and people of faith (especially UU’s and religious liberals) is “What gives me the right to speak?”  In a society where one particular religious ideology is so dominant, it is more important than ever that we in this living tradition raise our voices high in the American religious landscape.  How might we in our congregational and individual lives find that place from which we can speak, our own prophet’s authority?

Forum: No Forums in July.

                     ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS TO KEEP IN MIND

Children’s Summer Social Action Project. Every week for the rest of the summer, the children will have a table in the gallery with information about their 2008 social action project.  This project will be raising money to furnish attractive re-cycling bins in every class room, the office, Howson Hall and the Kitchen.  If enough funds are raised, the children also want to fund 6 months of the cost of re-cycling pick-up of all paper, plastics, and aluminum from a professional recycling company. Once a month, the children will be having a baked goods table between  services and after the second service.  Please stop by and pick up some yummy treats for a small donation and a BIG re-cycling project. f you would like to donate baked goods, please have them in the kitchen well before 10:30  for between services or before noon for after the second service. Baked good will be available on Sunday, June 22, July 20, and August 17.  Special orders for cakes by Lara will be accepted every Sunday for delivery the next Sunday.

 NEW, this summer:  Fourth Tuesday Suppers.  Volunteers Needed! As many of you know, First UU members, in groups of 4-6, serve dinner at ARCH ( Austin Resource Center for the Homeless, 500 E. 7th Street ) on the first Sunday of every month.  Because of great volunteer response, we have added another night for the summer months.  Fourth Tuesday suppers: June 24th, July 22nd and August 26th.  Volunteers arrive at ARCH at 5:30 pm and are typically finished by 8:00 pm.  If you are interested in serving on one or more of these nights, please contact Christy Seals at seals@grandecom.net or 512-217-9056.

 More Parking–at the Texas School For the Blind   There is now a gate in the SE corner of the property, that leads to parking at the School for the Blind.  The gate is open every Sunday from 8:00 am- 3:00 pm.  Enter the School for the Blind on 45th St. , between Burnet and Lamar, and thread your way north past the school buildings. 

 Help for Helping Hands.  We have church members that need lots of assistance: getting to church on Sunday, getting to Senior Lunch, telephone calls, letters and cards.  Some folks need meals sometimes.  When folks come out of surgery they need help with grocery shopping, being driven to appointments and meals until they get back on their feet.  As you might suspect often it is for a short time due to illness or sometimes it is just great to have someone stop by just for a visit or a piece of pie. Contact Mary Ann Stafford 587 8373 and she will give you details and answer questions.

 Hogwarts is on its way. The registration and payment can now be done on-line at our church website. We still need volunteers, and we still have openings for campers.  Please see the additional CampUU information on-line, or email shannonvyff@yahoo.com with any questions.  Every Sunday in July there will be a Harry Potter Camp meeting at 1:00pm, in RM 15.  The mandatory orientation for all camp staff and volunteers will be Saturday July 26th. The discussion group for camp staff, volunteers and parents of campers-is the CampUU yahoo group.  (You can access it from the FUUCA website, or email Shannon, who can send you a link) Thank you all–the activities planned are very exciting, we are looking forward to another great year!  — Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor–Avnia Xander  (muggle name Shannon Vyff)

 Remember food donations for Caritas because of increasing food prices, more and more people are using the services of Caritas and local food pantries. Please remember to bring your donations of canned and dry goods to church on Sundays so we can deliver them to Caritas during the week. Thanks, the food delivery committee: Joan Forbes, Elaine Carpenter, Ann Travis, Barbara Owens.

 Chalice Lighters.  Established several years ago, it is designed as a way for congregations of the Southwest UU Conference to help one another.  Three Chalice Lighter calls are made each year–at the Spring conference, at SWUUSI in the Summer, and at the Fall conference.  Participants give a minimum of $10 three times a year.  This spring’s recipient is the Bay Area UU Church of Houston to fund a new sound system in their Fellowship Hall.  Checks made out to SWUUC Chalice Lighters should be sent to Chalice Lighters, SWUUC District Office, 6720 Brentwood Stair Road , Fort Worth , Texas   76112-3310 .   Or you may donate online through www.swuuc.org

 Safety Issues in the Church.  If you ever feel you are in an unsafe situation at the church, or are threatened or harassed by anyone, please immediately seek out a Board of Trustees member, a staff person, or a member of the Sunday Services Team. They will provide help and assist with appropriate action. Board members’ nametags are yellow or green, and purple nametags are worn by the Sunday Services team. In an emergency situation, or if no one is available, don’t hesitate to call 911. The safety and peace of mind of our members are our first consideration.