First UU Austin will be a collection site for The Eco-conscious Music Alliance’s (EMA) supply drive to support flood relief in Central Texas.  

All donations may be brought to Howson Hall in the donation hours listed below or during your church ministry meeting.

Donation Hours:

• Monday – Friday 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
• Closed Saturday
• Sunday 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Needed Supplies:

• Boxes/bins
• Drinking water – gallons as well as individual sized bottles – cases appreciated
• Ready to eat non-perishable meals
• Non-perishable, non-expired food (canned, pantry staples, nuts, beans, grains, etc)
• Snacks, bars, quick protein sources
• First Aid supplies and bandages
• Hydration electrolyte supplements & drinks  
• Cleaning and Sanitizing supplies
• New socks & underwear 
• Work gloves
• Toiletries, including travel sized containers, toothbrushes, soap etc. 
• Larger soap & hand sanitization containers
• Pet food
• Clean clothing, all sizes
• Menstrual products
• Baby supplies (food, formula, diapers, wipes)

Interested in Volunteering?

We need church members to volunteer to help sort donations. 

If you are interested in delivering supplies, please complete EMA’s volunteer form. 

The Eco-conscious Music Alliance (EMA) https://www.ema.earth/ is mobilizing supply drives, events and projects to support  flood relief in Central Texas. EMA brings people together through the change-making power of music and helps grow community sustainability projects, which includes weather event response. EMA is based in Austin and is assisting multiple sites in Central Texas, such as Kerrville, Georgetown,  Leander and Sandy Creek.  Their specialization in relief work is cross-section collaboration, support for underserved people and organizations, and working with the music community in direct response efforts and fundraising concerts. EMA’s Partners and collaborators for flood relief include: Wheatsville Food Co-op, Kerrville Folk Festival, Austin Resilience Network, Austin Mutual Aid, Good Work Austin, Cajun Navy, Salvation Army, Sustainable Living Guide, Green Mesquite BBQ, and many others.

Ask A Therapist

Date: Sunday, July 27, August 10, August 17
Time: Immediately following service
Location: Howson Hall

Join us after a few upcoming Sunday service for Ask a Therapist—a relaxed, informative Q&A session with licensed marriage and family therapist Brooke Becker. This is your opportunity to ask any therapy-related questions, whether you’re curious about how to start therapy, seeking relationship advice, looking for mental health resources, or wondering how to find the right therapist.

A table will be set up in Howson Hall for one-on-one or small group conversations. There will also be information available about Prepare/Enrich, a research-based approach to premarital counseling and deepening connection in relationships at any stage. You’ll also find book recommendations and Brooke’s business cards if you’d like to follow up privately or inquire about therapy services. All are welcome—no question is too small.

To learn more about Brooke and her services, please visit her website at www.bbtherapypllc.com. 

What is the Permanent Endowment Fund (PEF)?
It is an investment account established as part of the 2014 capital campaign. It is
governed by the church bylaws.

What is an endowment fund?
It is a pool of assets, invested to provide a long-term, stable source of funding. The
principal is preserved while the income is used to support our mission.

When can it be used by the church?
Under the revised bylaws, distributions of income and appreciation may be used after
the PEF has accumulated a fair market value of $250,000.

How is the amount available for distribution determined?
Under the bylaws, the Executive or designee shall determine the maximum amount
available for distribution annually, based on the income and appreciation available on
December 31 of the year preceding the year in which distributions are to be made.

Can principal be distributed?
No. It must be preserved.

Can the principal be increased?
Yes. Gifts such as cash and property donated directly, through a will or trust, or received
as beneficiary of a retirement plan or insurance can be used to add to the principal.

What can the distributions from income be used for?
The bylaws are very specific and permit use for the maintenance of buildings, capital
improvements or renovations, debt reduction; outreach into the community such as
through grants to camps and conferences, theological schools, local social service
agencies, and certain special programs; and for the wider mission of Unitarian
Universalism such as leadership training, scholarships or grants to attend schools, etc.

Are there any limitations on distributions in addition to the purposes?
Yes. The Board of Trustees must approve distributions, and it may adopt policies and
procedures to ensure proper administration.

Can distributions be made from the PEF now (after the bylaws amendment)?
Yes. The PEF now has a balance in excess of $250,000. Bylaws changes become
effective when 2/3rds of the members approve them.

The Climate Committee of First UU will join with the Austin Sierra Club Climate Committee on Tuesday, July 1st in Howson Hall. We will discuss ideas for a new Earth Day-like event, Sun Day 2025. Sun Day will be an event that includes hundreds of events and millions of people throughout the country to celebrate and educate people on the fact that solar energy is cheaper than dirty energy and will inevitably replace fossil fuels for almost all energy needs. We will make signs to take to the Sun Day event as well as to other rallies to protect democracy and to advocate for social justice. Bring some cardboard if you’d like to reuse it as a sign, bring extra markers if you have any, and bring creative ideas. You can take home with you signs you make or we can make some extra to hand out at the rallies.

We will have a short presentation on Sun Day 2025, present a few ideas for Sun Day events being planned in other cities, and brainstorm additional activities for Sun Day.

Since most of the meeting will be hands on, we won’t do Zoom this meeting.

6:30 pm    – Start potluck

7:00 pm    – Short presentation on Sun Day

7:20 pm    – Brainstorm ideas and activities for Sun Day

7:30 pm    – Make signs

Our Social Action Committee will sponsor another July for Justice month, this year with a focus on Immigration, starting after we get through the 4th of July weekend.

Look for the posters already hung around First UU with specific info about our Kickoff Immigration 101, lively, interactive training at the monthly Senior Luncheon that’s open to people of all ages, Wednesday, July 9. 

The month will culminate with a Ten Year Celebration of Sulma’s Freedom and Austin Sanctuary Network’s existence working in solidarity with immigrants. In addition to a potluck dinner both Sulma Franco, who won her freedom taking sanctuary here at First UU in 2015, and the Rev. Chris Jimmerson will share their memories and updates about the struggle for immigrant rights.

For more info or to volunteer email Peggy at  insideamigos@austinuu.org

Join youth and elders for an event hosted by Nonviolent Austin called Justice Across Generations. Wildflower UU youth leader Max Rodriguez will be the keynote speaker, alongside a youth leader from East Austin in the First UU Sanctuary, Sunday, June 22, from 1:30 – 3 p.m.

It will be a time for the broader community to hear from Austin youth about what they are feeling as young people coming of age at a very difficult time for democracy, what gives them hope, and how to build intergenerational and multiracial community. All ages will learn and practice nonviolent community-
building together.

These youth have attended a social justice program called the Encampment for Citizenship (EFC –referring to global citizenship) with Program Director Jesus Salcido. He facilitates this space for youth from all over the country to build authentic relationships as they share their own stories and learn from local organizers about land, immigration, housing, environmental and racial justice. Historically EFC was founded in the 1940’s as a response to the Hilter youth, to organize anti-facist youth in the United States. They were the first non- segregated youth program. Over the decades they introduced youth to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, the UFW, etc. Please RSVP at bit.ly/austinyouth ~ to practice nonviolent community-building together.

While they ask for donations, please know it’s ok not to donate too.

Light snacks will be provided starting at 1 p.m. Youth speakers begin at 1:30PM.

WHEN: Sunday, June 22nd from 1:30 – 3 p.m.

WHERE: First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin, 4700 Grover Ave.

RSVP at bit.ly/austinyouth! Share this invitation with your community, all are welcome ~ young & old.

• A VEGAN* dish that can serve 8. Couples can choose to bring two dishes or one extra-large dish.
• Be prepared to mark whether your food contains any allergens like nuts or gluten.
• Bring your recipe if you want to share it.
• Serving utensil for your dish.** 
• A plate for yourself and utensils for eating.
• Your own beverage.

The Social Justice Resilience Support Group, a new First UU Austin offering, will help build the Beloved Community by providing an opportunity for participants to connect, grow and heal alongside others committed to the hard work of social justice. We will base our work on the Revolutionary Love Compass developed by Valarie Kaur’s Revolutionary Love Project: https://revolutionarylove.org/learn/

This will be a skill-building and support group for those who advocate for the vulnerable, including our vulnerable Mother Earth. It will also be a group for those who feel othered and exhausted from continuously having to advocate for themselves or their loved ones.

We will meet monthly for 10 months on Zoom at 7:30 pm on the first Thursday of each month, starting in September. We will use videos and readings from the Revolutionary Love Compass Education Guide to stimulate discussion. Materials will include a variety of Social Justice voices that amplify fierce love and resilience in these dark political times. Group participants will be invited to share their stories of struggle and resilience. We will apply these learnings to current challenges.

At each meeting, we will also activate the Compass umbrella theme of Joy, using techniques such as iRest Yoga Nidra, breath-work, music, and movement. For more information, contact resiliencesupport@austinuu.org.

PFLAG Austin, Monthly Service Offering recipient June 2025

Article by Leo Collas

All of the organizations that First UU supports deserve accolades for the work that they do despite the opposition they face, but none more than PFLAG.  PFLAG Austin has been supporting central Texas families for over 30 years.  Besides offering friendly and supportive meetings all across the greater Austin area,  the national PFLAG organization has its fingers on the pulse of state and national legislation that might harm LGBTQIA folks or their families. They have a legal team set to oppose hateful laws and call supporters to action.

I came to know PFLAG when I was living in another state at the height of the AIDS epidemic.  Lovely and helpful people welcomed individuals and distraught family members to meetings that brought comfort to so many who were struggling alone.  Parents whose children were not getting the care or attention they deserved from elected officials, whose job it was to keep them informed, found comfort there.  Although the issues have shifted and we’re now in another century, the need for a compassionate voice speaking to and for LGBTQIA people remains important.

While the PFLAG meetings are outside the public eye, its outreach mission could never be accomplished without a resilient commitment to visibility.  PFLAG Austin answers requests to speak at various organizations, and is present at Pride festivals and related events doing outreach and education.

The monthly PFLAG meeting at First UU is held on the first Thursday of each month at 7:00 PM.  There are usually 15 – 20 people present, representing allies and all flavors of LGBTQIA.  It’s especially touching to see parents in the group, parents of Trans kids in particular.  They seek a place to get their questions answered and to feel like they are part of a community.  Feeling less alone and more understood is sometimes all that’s needed to nourish a soul and light the path to transformation. 

Come to a PFLAG meeting!  90% of life is about showing up.  Let your smile brighten someone’s day and warm your heart.

The Reproductive Justice Team invites you to the final film in our film series on reproductive issues, “Before a Breath” produced by ProPublica. This week’s film will address stillbirth from a personal and legislative perspective. We are offering it on Mother’s Day in honor of women who have not been able or choose not to become mothers. 

Every day in the U.S., about 60 pregnancies end in stillbirth, the death of an expected child at 20 weeks or more of pregnancy. Research shows that at least 1 in 4 stillbirths in the U.S. is likely preventable. In pregnancies that reach 37 weeks or more, nearly half of stillbirths may be preventable. The failure to address preventable stillbirth is disproportionately felt by Black people, Native Hawaiian
people and other Pacific Islanders, who are more than twice as likely as their white counterparts to experience such a loss. 

Please  join us and invite others outside the church who may have experienced this tragedy or know someone who has to join us in solidarity with these women and their families on this very important issue. 

The Online Abortion Resource Squad (OARS) runs the abortion subreddit. Their peer-based online counseling model helps ensure that in the enormous ocean of the internet, everyone has the information, support, and resources they need to access safe abortion care no matter where they live.  People turn to Reddit when they have trouble locating resources, find themselves lost in a maze of (mis)information, or don’t know whom to trust. The trained OARS volunteers provide expert navigation and support services to the 200,000 (!) individuals who visit r/abortion every month.

This public forum is a critical resource for the people most impacted by restrictive laws and barriers to access.   While lack to abortion access has seemingly become normalized, OARS answers the questions of women, girls, and pregnant people who are desperate to make the decisions that are best for their own lives and families.

After the service on Sunday, April 13, several organizations including Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL), the Sierra Club, and TXUUJM, will set up information and opportunities to take action about climate change in Howson Hall. You will be able to sign a petition, write a letter or email, and/or make a phone call to elected officials. Often, our messages fall on deaf ears, but not always. CCL sent over 200,000 messages to Congress to urge passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the most important climate legislation passed. Before finally passing, it was declared completely dead several times.

With an administration opposing action on climate, we especially need us, the people, to take action. CCL for one works on several bills and actions Congress is taking up, including rescinding the IRA. We are optimistic that we can succeed on at least some of them.

Please join us after the service. We need to act on climate change now.

Rules of the Road: 10 Principles for Sound Investing

The world feels uncertain in so many ways right now and financial markets have seen heightened volatility in the last 90 days. It is especially difficult to navigate long-term financial decisions when the news cycle gives us reason to panic (almost daily). Jonathan Bryan (financial advisor and First UU member) has offered to host a presentation on Tuesday, April 8th at 7 p.m. in room 13 with Q&A afterwards to provide timely perspective on Social Security, investment principles, and not letting our emotions hijack our critical thinking.

A bit about Jonathan, from Jonathan:

“First UU family, my wife Sharon and I first came into your building during a Black Lives Matter event 5 years ago, and like most UUs, didn’t become members until several years later. Over the last 11 years I have provided financial advice and guidance to hundreds of families from every walk of life. My parents filed bankruptcy when I was 5 years old. That life experience led me to a career where I can help other families avoid the same fate. I am truly passionate about helping people make good decisions and achieve a life that is financially stable and personally rewarding. My goal for our discussion is educate you on important financial principles, discuss emergency fund/prep basics, and empower you to acknowledge your emotions instead of allowing them to take control of your financial future.” – Jonathan Bryan

Website: www.EdwardJones.com

LinkedIn: Jonathan Bryan, CEPA® | LinkedIn

April is Earth Month

First UU will have opportunities for learning and taking action on climate change issues in Howson Hall after the services on Sunday, April 6 and April 13. On April 6 the theme will be how to continue to lower your personal carbon footprints and on April 13, the how and why of taking action to change climate policies.

In addition, on Sunday, April 6, we plan to launch composting food waste at First UU. When we compost, we add much more carbon into the soil instead of having it go into the atmosphere to do further damage. There will be a clearly marked place to put food waste for volunteers to haul off and have composted.