SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Congregational Meeting and Voting Eligibility: May 20, 1:30 p.m., the Sanctuary
Save the date for our semi-annual congregational meeting. The agenda will include a vote on next year’s new trustees. The voting list has been posted by the office and in the mail room. You can access relevant documents through the church website here: http://austinuu.org/wp2011/may-20-2012-congregational-meeting/ or pick up a hard copy in the mail room.
More info: Sean Hale, Director of Finance and Operations, sean@austinuu.org, 512-452-6168 x 308
Friday, May 11
Heritage Book Club: 4308 Ave. D, 7 p.m. This is a potluck followed by a discussion of Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson.
Saturday, May 12
Esalen/Trager Massage Instruction and Exchange Group: 9:30 a.m.–noon, led by Carl W. Nelson (next meeting May 26) Info: Jane at 346-5263, barbara@austinuu.org or birthrightuuc@yahoo.com
Mighty Platypi Campfire: rooms 11 and 17, 10–11 a.m.
Sunday, May 13
Worship Service: What I Learned from My Mother, with Rev. Meg Barnhouse, 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., Sanctuary. Mama had a particular view of the world, shaped by her strong Christian faith, her love for children, her growing up as a missionary kid in India. Spiders in the house’s windows? No problem. Twelve cats? Fine. Missing a tithe payment to the church? Very Dangerous!
Special Offering: Austin Child Guidance Center, testified by Russell Smith, 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., Sanctuary. On the second Sunday of every month our church collects a special offering. Your generous donations (given during both services) go to a worthy organization, thereby extending our church’s mission into the greater community. Organizations are nominated and then approved by the congregation. Church member Russell Smith will testify for the Austin Child Guidance Center—a fitting group for Mother’s Day! Please help us help them in their life-changing work.
Forum: “Texas and the Gay March toward Full Citizenship,” with Tom Doyal, 11:45 a.m., Sanctuary. Tom has been involved in the struggle for fuller civil liberties for lesbians and gay men for over 25 years. He was one of five plaintiffs in the unsuccessful state court challenge to the constitutionality of the Texas sodomy law, Morales v. State of Texas, in 1989. The State of Texas has played an important role in this struggle, especially since the U.S. Supreme Court, in a Texas case (Lawrence v. State of Texas) finally declared the Texas sodomy law unconstitutional is June 2003.
Mind and Meaning Book Club: Huntington-Surrey School, 10:30 a.m. Millennial Momentum: How a New Generation is Remaking America by Morley Winograd and Michael Hais. Info: mindmeaning@austinuu.org
The Sunday Book Group: room 13B, 10:30 a.m. Chapters 2–3 of Memories, Dreams, Reflections, by C.G. Jung. Info: James Burson, 794-1086
Sign-Up Deadline: Sharing Supper (May 19). Info: the bulletin board outside the mail room or jubarker@yahoo.com
Immigration as a Moral Issue: room 15A, through–May 20, 1–2:30 p.m. View online at http://uua.org/immigration/re/moral/guide/index.shtml. Register in the Gallery on Sundays for the class and childcare. No need to attend all sessions. May 13 topic: Who Benefits from a Broken System?
Paradox Players Present Sisters Under the Skin: through May 20, Bethke stage in Howson Hall, 3 p.m. Artistic Director Paullette MacDougal has expanded her one-act, Crazy Bet, into a full-length play that closes out our 2012 Stub Season. Tickets: 744-1495; at paradoxplayers.org; and in the Gallery on Sundays.
Mothers Day Special with the Paradox Players: May 13, Howson Hall, 5 p.m. Treat Mom to interesting talkback following the matinee performance with playwright Paullette MacDougal, ACC adjunct history professors Luther Elmore and Keith King, and actress Rae Petersen. You do not have to be audience at this particular performance to attend this event. Free.
First UU Public Forum Broadcast: “Drug Abuse is a Problem. The War on Drugs is Not the Solution”: channel 10-10, 6 p.m. Guest speaker William Martin, senior fellow for drug policy at the Baker Institute, Rice University. This forum is #1214 and was filmed April 1, 2012.
Monday, May 14
Sack Lunch Preparation: location to be announced, 6 p.m. This group meets in the homes of participants on the second Monday of each month. More info: lyndawest@earthlink.net
Mindful Meditation Practice, with Michael Kersey (meditation@austinuu.org): room 11, 6:30–7:30 p.m.
Spirituality Book Club: BookPeople, 603 North Lamar, 7–8:30 p.m. Practicing Peace—A Devotional Walk through the Quaker Tradition by Catherine Whitmire. More info: Rev. Greg McDonnell, 572-2445
Reader’s Theater: 7:30 p.m., the Gallery. This will be our last meeting before summer break.
Tuesday, May 15
Covenant Yoga Practice Group: room 15, 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 16
Philosophical Discussion Group: room 13, 1–5 p.m.
Thursday, May 17
The Presence Group: room 13, 7–8:30 p.m. Silent meditation, video and discussion. Requested donation (for First UU): $5 More info: Joe Linsalata, 327-5000, or Amanda Winters, 423-6529
Friday, May 18
Game Night: 6:30 p.m., room 13. Everyone welcome. Bring your own drink and a snack to share.
Paradox Players Present Sisters Under the Skin: through May 20, Bethke stage in Howson Hall, 8 p.m. Tickets: 744-1495; at paradoxplayers.org; and in the Gallery on Sundays.
Saturday, May 19
North Central Caregivers Garage Sale: 9 a.m.–1 p.m. More info: Board Member Bob, 423-8482 or 453-2273
Mighty Platypi Campfire: rooms 11 and 17, 10–11 a.m.
Women’s Spirituality Group: room 13, 10:30 a.m. We’ll focus on African goddesses in May and June as part of the UU Women’s Federation curriculum written by Elizabeth Fisher. Stories of the Yoruban orishas-Yemaya, Oya, and Oshun. This group is for women high school age and older and always open to new members. More info: Linda Webster, women@austinuu.org
Henry Hug Memorial Service: 10:30 a.m., the Sanctuary; 11:30 a.m. reception, Howson Hall. Longtime faithful member of First UU Austin, Henry Hug, died on Saturday, April 14. A beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend, and lover of life, Henry served our church in many capacities through the years. We will miss him. Please join Doris and Henry’s family for a celebration of Henry’s life. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the church in Henry’s memory. Donations may be designated for the First UU Austin Permanent Endowment Fund or toward the purchase of a butterfly for the memorial sculpture. If you wish to help with the reception, please contact Rose Ann Reeser at 327-7951 or rareeser@earthlink.net.
Sharing Supper: May 19, time and location to be announced. Come join others for food, conversation and laughter. All adults in the church are welcome to attend. Sign-up deadline is May 13. More info: the bulletin board outside the mail room or jubarker@yahoo.com.
Paradox Players Present Sisters Under the Skin: through May 20, Bethke stage in Howson Hall, 8 p.m. Tickets: 744-1495; at paradoxplayers.org; and in the Gallery on Sundays.
Sunday, May 20
Annual Youth Service: “Individualism vs. the Social Contract,” May 20, 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., the Sanctuary. A bridging ceremony will take place during the 10:30 a.m. service for youth who have just completed the 5th, 8th and 12th grades. Please e-mail the name and grade of a participating youth to andrew@austinuu.org.
Forum: “The Austin NAACP: Current Concerns, Actions & Challenges,” with Nelson Linder, 11:45 a.m., Sanctuary. Nelson is president of the Austin branch of the NAACP. He will discuss the current activities of the Austin NAACP, including work with the City of Austin Charter Revision Committee and on initiatives geared to educational equity. He will also address perspectives on African American quality of life in Austin; work with the City of Austin Charter Revision Committee and on initiatives geared to educational equity; the need for community policing and police accountability; and involvement in upcoming local, state, and national elections. Nelson was born in central Georgia in 1958, served in the U.S. Army, and then moved to Austin in 1981. He graduated from Houston Tillotson College in 1984 and has been an insurance agent since 1985. He has been deeply involved in civic organizations for many years and has been president of the Austin NAACP since 2000.
Additional Announcements
Take the DLRE Search Committee Survey: The DLRE Search Committee has created a survey to help us tailor our search for a new permanent Director of Lifespan Religious Education. Please complete a survey online (http://austinuu.org/dresearch) or on paper in Howson Hall and the Welcome Center. Deadline: May 31
Volunteers Needed: Advisors for Jr. high Youth Group. We are looking for motivated adults for our youth advisor team. More info: Andrew Young at andrew@austinuu.org.
Volunteers Needed: Children and Youth Programming. Children and Youth Programming seeks classroom and office volunteers for the summer. Please check out our table in the Gallery and sign up.
Flowers for Sunday Church Services: Please consider a spot on the Flower Calendar. Sign up in the hallway across from the office. More info: Barbara Denny, Flowers@austinUU.org
Youth on Shower Strike Raise $250: The Sr. High Youth and First UU Young Adult groups raised $250 on their shower strike to raise funds for drinking wells in Africa. You can still donate at http://showerstrike.com/firstUUAustin. More info: andrew@austinuu.org
Paradox Players Director Paullette MacDougal Retirement Party: May 20, 5 p.m., the Gallery. Honor Paullette MacDougal and welcome new director Gary Payne.
Singalong: May 26, 7:30–10:30 p.m. 3701 E. MLK Blvd. More info: Larry Vaughn, 469-0029. Contact Mary Jane Ford at singalong@austinuu.com to add someone to the e-mail list.
Esalen/Trager Massage Instruction and Exchange Group: May 26, 9:30 a.m.–noon, led by Carl W. Nelson. Info: Jane at 346-5263, barbara@austinuu.org or birthrightuuc@yahoo.com
Flower Communion: May 27, 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., the Sanctuary. Plan to bring flowers for this special worship service.
General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association: June 20–24, Phoenix, Arizona; register at www.uua.org/ga. Highlights include: • Preparatory presentations and workshops, followed by a … • National Day of Witness and Service • Business meetings (Plenaries) • Service of the Living Tradition, Ware Lecture • Celebrations and Worship services • Regional In-Gatherings • Youth and Young Adult programs • Choir