Did Unitarianism really start in Transylvania?

Who is Reverend Wheelock, and who is Emily Wheelock Howson?

When was this building constructed?

If you are new here and want to learn the answers to these questions and more, this class is for you! We will be hosting our quarterly Path to Membership Class on Saturday, March 28th, 9:00 AM in Room 13.

Here we will learn about the history of this church, as well as the broader history of UUism and its origins. There will also be a time to share our spiritual journeys and make connections with each other. Then, at the end, if you decide you would like to become a member, you will have an opportunity to sign the Membership Book! 

Breakfast and coffee are provided, as well as childcare if needed.

*If you require childcare, you must Register on Church Center to let us know.

Questions? Please email membership@austinuu.org

The Speaker’s Race: How Democrats Gave Away Their Power on Day One

On the first day of the 89th Legislative Session, Democrats elected a notoriously bad MAGA Republican as Speaker of the House, with little to show for it. This discussion will cover what happened behind the scenes leading up to the race, how the vote played out on the House floor, what Democrats gained, and whether it was worth it, and the lessons learned for how Democrats can better deliver for Texans.

This is your Official Notice for our December Congregational Meeting on Sunday, December 21st  at 1:00  p.m., to be held in the Sanctuary and on Zoom (Passcode 512452). Click on the link below for materials for the meeting.

Congregational Meeting Materials

The church bylaws specify the following regarding voting eligibility: “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.”

The list of eligible voters may be found by clicking here

Any questions about voter eligibility, including if you feel that you were mistakenly not listed on the list of eligible voters, please contact Shannon Posern, info@austinuu.org.

We look forward to seeing you at the meeting!

Congregational Meeting Packet.

Many of us carry wounds from the religion we were raised in or just growing up in a Christocentric society. Owning Your Religious Past is a series of five classes designed to help us heal from our religious wounds and grow in our Unitarian Universalist faith. 

From the authors of the program, “We can be most fully and completely present in our religious identity when we see our path as a continuum rather than a series of unrelated episodes. People who feel whole in this identity are more likely to make solid, healthy commitments to religious communities. Because we are usually more certain of what we left in another religion than what we bring forward from it, some tools are needed by which people may establish connections, bridges, and resonances between past and present.” 

Please join Rev. Carrie Holley-Hurt and Rev. Dr. Leona Stucky-Abbott for this five-week series of learning, healing, and growth starting on Sunday, January 18th. Maximum participation is 15 people, so Make Sure to Sign Up! 

Nominations for 2026 Monthly Special Offering

Due by Thursday, December 4th

One important way First UU lives its mission to do justice is through our Monthly Special Offerings.  These offerings are collected during service(s) on the second Sunday of the month. Each member of First UU may nominate one nonprofit social justice organization that promotes our UU values in the larger community. 

To nominate an organization, please complete the 2026 Monthly Service Offering Nominations form.

The congregation will be asked to rank their top 10 recipients on Sunday, December 21, 2025, after the worship service and at the congregational meeting that afternoon. Two additional special offerings are reserved for  Spring into Action (First UU’s church-wide social justice outreach project) and the Texas UU Justice Ministry.

After the vote, the Social Action Chairs and Co-Ministers will determine the schedule of selected recipients. All money collected will be held until the end of the year and distributed equally among the 12 recipients in January 2027. For 2024, the amount donated to each recipient was $1,662.09.

Please fill out the Nomination form here. 

‘Health Care at Risk’ panel, on Sunday, October 12th at Live Oak UU in Cedar Park, features panel steeped in medicine and advocacy.

• Lynn Cowles, Director of Health and Food Justice from Every Texas
• Dr Christine Eady Mann, family practice doctor, political activist, former Congressional candidate 
• Dr Karen Van Matre Smith, award-winning family medicine specialist with published research 
• Jan Lance, President, Austin Chapter of Texas Alliance of Retired Americans (moderator) 

• National or state healthcare policy and administration  
• RFK Jr’s qualifications to be HHS Secretary and the policies that he has enacted since taking office 
• The attack on vaccines 
• The potential impact of cuts to Medicaid and ACA via the congressional bill recently passed and signed by the White House 
• Drastic cuts to medical research, including mRNA vaccine development 
• How medical and mental health practices have and will change because of the above 

Register Here!

SUN-DAY Austin, a Celebration, Education, and Rally Event at Texas State Capitol

Drive a Senior ATX
Building Relationships One Ride at a Time

Drive a Senior ATX enables older adults to live independently, avoid social isolation and age in place by providing free, volunteer-based transportation and other support services to senior adults in Austin since 1985, including

• Daily rides to medical appointments and errands,
• Weekly rides to HEB for groceries,
• Monthly rides for social outings and events,
• As needed handyman services, tech assistance, and social visits.

Our mission is transportation, but our impact is relationships. Our volunteer-based rides come with care, empathy, and inclusion. Our clients are treated like family and build meaningful relationships with our staff and volunteers.

First UU is a founding congregation of Drive a Senior, originally called North Central Caregivers. Our congregation formerly contributed annually to its work and has provided many volunteers since its inception in 1985.

Getting the Most Out of Therapy: A Free Workshop with Brooke Becker, MA, LMFT-A

Join marriage and family therapist Brooke Becker, MA, LMFT-A, on Sunday’s September 14, 21, and October 5, from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. for a free, informal workshop designed to empower you in your therapeutic journey. Whether you’re new to therapy or have past experience, this two-part event will offer valuable insights and an open space for honest conversation.

In the first part, Brooke will provide practical education on how to get the most out of therapy—including how to know if you’re receiving quality care, what’s often misunderstood about the therapeutic process, and how to navigate getting the support you need—even when things feel unclear or challenging.

The second portion will be a Q&A and group discussion where attendees can ask questions, share concerns, and process therapy experiences they’ve had so far. 

This workshop is also intended to help break down barriers to receiving care—whether emotional, logistical, or rooted in past experiences—so that participants can move forward with more confidence, clarity, and support. You’ll leave with tools for self-advocacy, a deep understanding of the therapeutic process, and a greater sense of confidence around seeking and engaging in therapy. Attendees are welcome to ask questions, share thoughts, or simply listen in. Whether you’re exploring therapy for the first time or looking to deepen your understanding, this workshop will teach you how to get the most out of the experience.

This is a welcoming, judgment-free space—come as you are and bring your questions.

If you’d like to learn more about Brooke and her services, please visit her website, www.bbtherapypllc.com.

Lifetime Learning Institute course registration has opened on Wednesday, August 13, 2025 at NOON.

Register soon to give yourself the best chance of getting the LLI courses you want for the Fall semester.

The process is simple. Just make a list of the course numbers you’d like to take. Have your credit card or Pay Pal information at hand. Then, go to lliaustin.org and click the “Register” button on any page to link to Eventbrite. The link won’t be active until noon precisely, so if you get online before that, remember to reload your page at noon to access Eventbrite.

Unless LLI has sent you a promo code, you can ignore the Promo code box.

Please take care when entering your email address; many instructors/TAs use email to contact students about important class information.

Please note: Some classes sell out very quickly.

Please see Tips for Successful Registration at the bottom of the Courses page for more information: https://www.lliaustin.org/courses

We look forward to seeing you in class starting the week of September 15.

– Mary King