This year’s theme for the Annual Youth Service theme is “Individualism vs the social contract”. The service includes a bridging ceremony for youth who have just completed the 5th, 8th and 12th grades.

Text of this service is not . . . → Read More: Individualism vs the social contract]]> The Youth of FUUCA
Audrey Lewis, Max Wethington, Kate Windsor, Jara Stiller, Andrew Young
May 20, 2012

This year’s theme for the Annual Youth Service theme is “Individualism vs the social contract”. The service includes a bridging ceremony for youth who have just completed the 5th, 8th and 12th grades.

Text of this service is not available. Click the play button to listen.

Podcasts of Sermons are also available for free on iTunes. Keyword: Austin uu

Click Here to View the May 2012 Meeting Packet

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!

Text of this . . . → Read More: What I learned from my Mother]]> Rev. Meg Barnhouse
May 13, 2012

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!

Text of this sermon is not yet available. Click the play button to listen.

Podcasts of sermon are also available for free on iTunes. Keyword: Austin uu

Many of us identify as Unitarian Universalists, but do we mean the same or even similar things when we identify as such? Or is our biggest commonality our doubt about having any centralizing religious concept that pulls us to together as a religious movement? Something – or the . . . → Read More: Does our name mean anything to us?]]> Rev. Brian Ferguson
May 6, 2012

Many of us identify as Unitarian Universalists, but do we mean the same or even similar things when we identify as such? Or is our biggest commonality our doubt about having any centralizing religious concept that pulls us to together as a religious movement? Something – or the lack of something – keeps inviting us back to be part of our religious community. This worship service explores what that central theme might be or perhaps what it could be.

Text of this sermon is not available.

You can listen to this sermon for free on iTunes. Keyword: Austin uu

This is to inform you of the First UU Austin regularly scheduled congregational meeting on Sunday, May 20th, at 1:30pm in the Sanctuary

According to our Bylaws: Individuals who have been members of the church for 30 days or more and who have (as an individual or part of a family unit) made a . . . → Read More: May 20 2012 Congregational Meeting]]> Greetings,

This is to inform you of the First UU Austin regularly scheduled congregational meeting on Sunday, May 20th, at 1:30pm in the Sanctuary

According to our Bylaws:
Individuals who have been members of the church for 30 days or more and who have (as an individual or part of a family unit) made a recorded financial contribution during the last 12 months and at least 30 days prior to the meeting, have the right to vote at all official church meetings.

Agenda:

1. Welcome and Call to Order, Chris Jimmerson – 5 min
a. Unison Reading of Covenant and Lighting of Chalice
b. Adopt Consent Agenda (Minutes from Last Meeting and Rules of order)
c. Adopt Agenda

2. Update: State of the Church, Rev. Meg Barnhouse – 10 min

3. Board of Trustee Elections – 30 min

4. Joys and Concerns – 10 min

5. Closing Reading and Extinguish Chalice – 5 min

6. Adjourn

The following materials are available here for your information prior to the meeting:

Rules of Procedure

18 Dec 2011 Meeting Minutes

2012 Nominees

UPDATE: With the meeting now completed, here are the minutes:
Cong-Meeting-Minutes-2012-05-20.doc

Cutting-edge researchers in psychology and cognitive science increasingly refer to the “two selves” of our in-the-moment self and our reflecting or remembering self. We will explore this abstract dichotomy through the lens of my very personal struggle to find a meaningful relationship with humility.

Text of this sermon is not . . . → Read More: Humility: Struggle with the Two Selves]]> Eric Hepburn
April 29, 2012

Cutting-edge researchers in psychology and cognitive science increasingly refer to the “two selves” of our in-the-moment self and our reflecting or remembering self. We will explore this abstract dichotomy through the lens of my very personal struggle to find a meaningful relationship with humility.

Text of this sermon is not available. Click the play button to listen.

Sermons are also available for free on iTunes. Keyword: Austin uu

The Gaia Psalms are nine pieces written as part of a special Unitarian Universalist Earth Day Service. The concept of this work is to create an interactive multimedia worship experience that is both moving and simple. This work is . . . → Read More: Gaia Psalms]]> Composer: Kiya Heartwood
Words: Meg Barnhouse and Kiya Heartwood
Narration: Meg Barnhouse
April 22, 2012

The Gaia Psalms are nine pieces written as part of a special Unitarian Universalist Earth Day Service. The concept of this work is to create an interactive multimedia worship experience that is both moving and simple. This work is in the Gebrauchsmusik (Utility Music) tradition. All the music is written with the beginning or amateur musician in mind. Visual artists have created four altars to the four directions and elements. The children and some youth and adults have made masks of different birds, fish and animals, and there are responsive readings in which the congregation participates. A tree planting on the grounds of the church completes the experience. The pieces were also meant to be spoken over. The minimalist, meditative quality is intended to create a spiritual connection in the listener and move the listener to both celebrate and reconnect as a member of the Earth’s community.

“Gaia” (Guy-ah) or “Gaea” most commonly refers to Gaia (of Greek mythology), the primal Greek goddess of the earth. We chose the title, “The Gaia Psalms,” because psalms are songs of praise and engaged lamentation. This work comes out of NASA scientist James Lovelock’s “Gaia Hypothesis,” which states that the Earth can be thought of as a self-preserving, living organism. The work also strives to remove the duality between science and spirituality. Christian monk Thomas Berry said, “You scientists have this stupendous story of the universe. It breaks outside all previous cosmologies. But so long as you persist in understanding it solely from a quantitative mode you fail to appreciate its significance. You fail to hear its music. That’s what the spiritual traditions can provide. Tell the story, but tell it with a feel for its music.”

More info: www.kiyaheartwood.com or www.outlawhillarts.com.

Older version: First UU Austin Policies – 2012-01-17

Click Here to View the Apr 2012 Meeting Packet

Our seventh principle is that we affirm and promote “Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.”… What does it mean to respect that web, to be a part of it?

Text of this sermon is not yet available. Click the play button . . . → Read More: Grasshoppers in the Glittering Net]]> Rev. Meg Barnhouse
April 15, 2012

Our seventh principle is that we affirm and promote “Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.”… What does it mean to respect that web, to be a part of it?

Text of this sermon is not yet available. Click the play button to listen. Podcasts of sermons are also available for free on iTunes. Keyword: austin uu