Upcoming Programs

The programs planned for the next few weeks are listed here. There may, from time to time, be changes to the schedule so if you are interested in a particular program, please check back with this web site or contact us to be sure the program schedule has not changed.

Religious Education News

Our Religious Education program is now in full swing. We invite any families with children to join us for a thought provoking year of religious exploration.

We will be having a Summer Day Camp program June 16 to 20. The theme will be "Honoring Our Mother Earth" and will be an exploration of Native American interactions with Nature. We will focus in particular on four Texas tribes and our Seventh UU Principle, "respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part."

Special Event: Awakening the Dreamer Symposium

The Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream Symposium, in partnership with The Pachamama Alliance and sponsored by CCUUS, will be held on Saturday May 17, 12:45 to 5:00 PM. The registration fee of $25 includes the symposium, healthy snacks, and printed materials. The venue will be our new home, 135 Alves Lane.

Using slides and video clips, interviews with experts, and interactive conversation, the symposium relates how environmental sustainability, social justice, and spiritual fulfillment are ONE interrelated issue - the most compelling challenge of our time. The symposium will not only give you a better sense of the state of the world, but also what's possible if we start making more aware choices. You'll meet others who share your concern for our planet. Preregister with Judy Godinez, jrg (at) satx.rr (dot) com or (830) 624-1511. Questions? Ask Judy or go to www.awakeningthedreamer.org or www.pachamama.org.

Wednesday Night Forums

(at 7:30 PM at Faith UCC unless otherwise noted)

MAY 8: (Thurs) 7:00 Interfaith Network Panel "Celebrating Religious Differences"

7:00pm in First United Methodist Church’s Wesley Hall, 572 W. San Antonio St. (Enter and park from W. Mill St.) Unitarian Universalism will take the stage along with the Baha’i faith, Unity, Methodism, United Church of Christ, and Christian Science. Rev. Phil Schulman of Community UU Church in SA will speak for our religion. Please invite your friends to this forum! For more info see article elsewhere in this newsletter or contact Jan Estes, 625-7004 or janestes333 [at] nbtx [dot] com.

MAY 14: 7:00pm "ONE: The Movie"

Kelly Gulart, who became a member of CCUUS this spring, tells us that ONE: The Movie was created to increase awareness of our similarities and to celebrate our differences in order to allow the positive energy of ONEness to emerge in a world that often seems disconnected and broken. The film’s concept is simple: ask the great masters AND everyday people the ultimate questions of life and let the dialogue flow. The result is a movie that has sparked dialogue on six continents and in hundreds of venues – from barns to prisons to universities to theaters. We want to begin promptly at 7 in order to allow time for dialogue of our own. If you cannot make the earlier start time please come when you can and quietly take your seat.

MAY 21: 6:00 Covered Dish, 7:00 Semiannual Congregational Meeting

Gather at 6:00 with a covered dish to share (drinks and tableware will be provided) and we’ll visit over good food before we begin the Semiannual Meeting at 7pm. See Meeting Notice elsewhere in this newsletter. PLEASE NOTE: The meeting start time in the April 24 UUpdate was erroneous. 7pm is the correct time for the Semiannual Meeting.

MAY 28: 7:00pm"UNDERSTANDING THE QUR’AN"

Jim Chesnut winds up our "semester" of Qur’an studies tonight. The subject to be discussed is "The Stages of Human Life According to the Qur’an".

Sunday Morning Services

(at 10:30 AM at Comal County Senior Citizens Center)

Jackie Underberg returns to the podium this morning to treat us to another of her excellent presentations. Bob Karabinus is our pianist.

Joan McGaffic salutes mothers everywhere, including the mothers of our Presidential candidates. Yesenia McNett is vocalist and Bob Karabinus is pianist today.

Cor Ferrari returns to our podium this morning to speak on a topic which he had not quite settled on by newsletter publication time. Bob Karabinus is our pianist today.

Dawn Wales encourages everyone to bring a teddy bear to this intergenerational service, although bringing the bear is optional. We will be exploring membership in the Society for Childlike Persons. Today’s service will be a great way to get ready for summer by reminding each of us to include time in our day to play. Yesenia McNett is at the piano.

What to Expect

Our services are flexible but follow this general format: Opening Words and Welcome; Chalice Lighting (the Flaming Chalice is the symbol of Unitarian Universalism); Joys and Concerns (where anyone is invited to share a particular joy or concern in their life while lighting a candle - this helps us build our sense of community); Offering (where members and friends contribute to support the church - first time visitors are not expected to contribute); Reading and/or Meditation; Sermon or Program; Discussion; Extinguishing of the Chalice. We often have music, especially on Sundays where hymns are usually a part of the service. Dress is generally casual but a bit dressier on Sundays.