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Rev. Carrie Holley-Hurt
October 11, 2026
First UU Church of Austin
4700 Grover Ave., Austin, TX 78756
www.austinuu.org
This Sunday we are worshiping a little bit differently inspired by the UU Fellowship of Redwood City’s Action Sundays. Members choose one of five different activities offered throughout the building. On-line participants join Brent Baldwin’s exploration of musical selections from our new on-line hymnal Sing Out Love.
Welcome
Prelude: “Sonata in C Minor: Presto” (Giovanni Battista) – Valeria Diaz, piano
Chalice Lighting
This is the flame we hold in our hearts as we strive for justice for everyone. This is the light we shine upon systems of oppression until they are no more. This is the warmth we share with one another as our struggle becomes our salvation.
Affirming Our Mission
Together we nourish souls, transform lives, and do justice to build the Beloved Community.
Monthly Service Offering
Online Abortion Resource Squad (OARS)
Each year, the members of First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin select a group of nonprofits that are building the beloved community in our area. On the second Sunday of the month, we take up an offering that we give away to support these organizations and feature a representative who highlights the great work of one of them.
If you are with us online, you can go to austinuu.org and click on Second Sunday Special Offering in the drop-down box. Here in the sanctuary, the ushers will gratefully accept the monthly special offering after a few words from Lisa Carroll, whom we are thrilled to invite to let us know a little more about ORS, Online Abortion Rescue Squad.
I’m Lisa Carroll, and I’m a member of the First UU reproductive justice team. And our mission is to provide education, financial assistance, and support for select partners to help meet the specific and immediate needs of people in the fight for reproductive justice.
And when people go need information, the Internet is probably one of their top go-to’s. And I don’t know about you, but I often find it. I find myself going down a rabbit hole. and end up more confused or finding conflicting information. and end up feeling frustrated. And I see heads nodding, so I think a few of y’all might have that same experience. And how much more frustrating is it when your need for accurate, up-to-date information is really great?
Well, for women who find themselves in need of information about an unwanted pregnancy, our Second Sunday Special Offering recipient, ORS, exists to ensure that everyone has the information, support, and resources they need to access safe abortion care no matter where they live.
ORS, which stands for Online Abortion Resource Squad, runs the abortion subreddit/r/abortion. And it’s up here online for you to see it.
reddit.com/r/abortion
It’s on the online social media platform Reddit. On ORS subreddit, the squad that’s mentioned in their name, who are trained volunteers, provide expert navigation and shame-free support services to the 200,000 plus individuals who visit them every month.
Since its founding, ORS has proved to be an invaluable resource for abortion seekers. Users seek advice on the logistical, legal, medical, and emotional aspects of abortion, and no matter who they are, where they are, where they live, or what they need, they receive a quick, thorough, accurate, and compassionate personal response anytime, day or night.
To date, they’ve helped people from all 50 states, D.C., and at least 154 countries, and helped them to access safe abortion care. So we have the agency here in this church and those of you online to help support ORS continue providing this valuable and much-needed service to people who may not be able to access this kind of help anywhere else. We know that in giving, we receive, so please give generously. Thank you.
Rev. Carrie
So we know that people come to church to get nourished in all different ways. And today we’re going to do that just a little bit differently. But we also know that people come to church because we need some grounding. We know the world’s a lot. We’ve got a lot going on in our personal lives. And don’t even get me started on the world. It’s intense. But I have a wonderful coach and colleague, Reverend Julica, who says, I do my justice work, but I chase my joy. And today we’re going to chase our joy, however you feel best nourished. And I’m going to tell you all the offerings that we’re going to have, and you’re going to select one. And then at noon, if you like, you can come back here, and we’re going to extinguish the chalice, and I’m going to bless you all.
Sing Out Love: Music with Brent
Brent Baldwin and our music staff explore selections from our new virtual hymnal Sing Out Love. The hymnal can be found at singoutlove.org
- Lone Wild Bird
- Loosen Loosen
- Be Still and Breathe
- Fountain of Peace
- Golden Light
- Gracias por el amor
- Keepers of the Earth
- We Rise
Extinguishing the Chalice
We extinguish this flame, but not the light of truth, the warmth of community, or the fire of commitment. These we hold in our hearts until we are together again.
Benediction
And as we leave this sacred time of being together, I hope that you feel held and I hope that you feel nourished and I hope that you feel loved because you are impossibly, wonderfully, completely loved.
May you go in peace.
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