Bring us your Books! Please donate your books, magazines and calendars to Inside Books Project in the 2nd gray tub in the Welcome Center. Inside Books is busy sending free books to individual Texas prisoners again. The prisoners read all kinds of books, so please donate whatever you want. Inside Books also takes boxes of books to county jails in Texas to be distributed to inmates or placed in their libraries. The need is great and we have started sending free  boxes of books to programs nationwide, such as ICE programs (Spanish language mostly), juvenile program libraries, counseling programs at prisons and out of state prison chaplains. So, bring the books on! And thank you!

SouthWest UU Women Con 2024

“Nurturing Creative Spirit”

Registration is open!

Join us for the SouthWest UU Women annual conference in Navasota, TX.

The conference begins with an opening on Friday and continues through Sunday.  Your registration and Camp Allen lodging choice include access to all the workshops and vendors, dinner on Friday, three meals on Saturday including the Gala dinner Saturday night and Sunday breakfast and lunch.  Single day registration without lodging is also available.

Space is limited.  Single rooms are sold out and only double rooms (with a roommate) are available.  

Early Bird Registration is $160 plus the room ($227) per person for a double room.  January 1 – January 22, registration is $185 plus the room ($227) per person for a double room.

January 22 is the last day to register.

Established in 1921 Camp Allen is a year-round facility located one hour northwest of Houston near Navasota, Texas.  Their 1,100 beautiful acres features a hotel and conference center, two lakes, miles of trails, and much more.  We invite you to explore and awaken your spirit in their piney woods!

SWUUW is a non-profit organization that supports social justice issues, leadership development and learning; explores feminist theology, promotes friendships and celebrates the diversities that make us unique women on our individual spiritual paths.

Register for SWUUWCon 2024 now!

SWUUW Workshops

The Keynote Speaker and Conference Musician will be
Reverend Kiya Heartwood from UU Church of the Brazos Valley, TX

We are beginning signup for Circle Dinners, drawing from past First UU programs (Sharing Suppers, 4×4 Dinners) that offered members, friends, and non-church partners an opportunity to enjoy fellowship over dinner. For Circle Dinners, groups of 6 – 9 people will meet for 3 – 4 potluck meals in each other’s homes over the coming year to get to know each other better. Details will be sent to each group after they are formed.

HOW TO JOIN:
By Monday, January 15, 2024 (Groups will be formed the following week.)

1) Click on this link to sign up for Circle Dinners or

2) Complete & return a form available during Sunday coffee hour in Howson Hall.

Blank forms will be located at a table with a CIRCLE DINNERS sign.

NOTE: PLEASE NOTE IN OTHER COMMENTS IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING AFTER DARK AND/OR PREFER DAYTIME TO EVENING MEALS.

Questions? Reach out to Margaret Borden at margaretborden@utexas.edu

“13 Investigates found more than 100 prison employees fired this year”

Clean Energy and Storage Surging, and Policy-Makers Paving the Way

The Connections Fair will take place on December 10th from 12 – 2 p.m., in the Gallery & in Howson. 

Scott Butki Requests Your Social Justice Related Books

What: I’d like your books for a project I’m calling Social Justice Book Distribution

When: Bring books on Sundays. We’ll have a special bin for it

Why: Instead of just circulating social justice books around the church and social justice circles I’ve
started a project to use a little free library at Spicewoods Park to distribute those books, along with others. The library currently includes books by former First UU ministers Erin Walters and Susan Yarborough.

Who: Me, who lives in North Austin, plus I’m in the process of recruiting ambassadors, folks, especially those from other areas of town, to help circulate and distribute books to other little free libraries.

How: The books you give me will not just go into the hands of the little free library but I’ve also given some to  the church, to LGBT advocacy groups, to Jim Rigbys church (I’m going to see if he wants he or his church to join the project) and just to LGBT folks who want to see something beautiful (that got the books banned): LGBT representation in books for kids and YA.

What else: The project exploded last Friday when I attended an event by a banned books project who, excited by my project scope, gave me all their books, and my collection grew from 20 books to more than 150. I gave away about 50 on Sunday at church.

I’m transitioning the project from a Scott Project – I was calling myself the Johnny Appleseed of Social Justice Books – to a Church Social Action Council event project.

Email me at sbutki@gmail.com for more information, for questions or to learn about what it would mean to be an ambassador.

On Tuesday, November 7, the Austin Sierra Club Climate Crisis Committee and the First UU Green Sanctuary Committee will meet. To beat the crisis, we must have good policies at the local, state, and national levels. We will have the top climate lobbyist at the state legislature give us tips on how to more effectively influence climate policy. We will start with food and fellowship. We will end by meeting in various climate action teams to see how we can be more involved in this crucial climate work with whatever time we have.

Agenda:

    6:30 p.m. – Potluck supper (please come even if you have nothing to bring)

    7:15 p.m.  – Get to know each other social activities

    7:30 p.m. – Remarks on effective advocacy by Cyrus Reed, Sierra Club’s Environmental Director

    7:45 p.m. – Breakout into action teams

You may join at 7:30 p.m. by Zoom if you wish.

We hope to see you there!

All are welcome at Planned Parenthood, regardless of insurance or documentation status, income level, where you live or who you love. Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas is proud to be a trusted Austin provider of reproductive healthcare and sex education and to advocate on behalf of the patients we serve. 

Last year, 9,230 patients received healthcare at Planned Parenthood’s 4 Austin health centers. To expand access to healthcare appointments for patients juggling work, school, and childcare, appointments are available at one of Planned Parenthood’s Austin health centers 7 days a week and some weeknight hours. Planned Parenthood’s vision is a world in which everyone can access quality healthcare and information to live their lives fully, without judgment.  

The 19th Annual Women and Fair Trade Festival by Austin Tan Cerca de la Frontera returns to First UU Saturday, November 18th and Sunday, November 19th from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Nine artisan cooperatives from Mexico, Palestine, Guatemala, Ecuador, India and the U.S. including: Jolom Mayaetik, Palestine Online Store, Fuerza Unida, Colores del Pueblo, Marigold Gateway to India, UPAVIM, Warmipa Huasy, Las Rancheritas/Rug Hook Project and Cooperativa Posada will setup in Howson Hall and the Gallery. Artisan cooperatives represent an alternative to dominant forms of production and distribution that often exploit, rather than support, craftswomen. This year they’ll welcome.

Volunteer spots are available by either signing up at Sign-Up Genius or emailing Jana at development@atcf.org. To learn more about Austin Tan Cerca de la Frontera, go to atcf.org.

Jim Hightower is an American syndicated columnist, Texan, progressive^[1][2] political activist, inspiring fun speaker, and author. He publishes a monthly newsletter that is notable for its in-depth investigative reporting, The Hightower Lowdown.

Dear DRUUMM Community, In these challenging times, our hearts are heavy as we witness the continued violence in Palestinian Gaza and Israel. We are in solidarity with all those affected by this conflict, and we especially hold our Muslim and Jewish members of color in our thoughts and prayers. We deeply appreciate the wisdom and guidance shared by our UUA President, Rev. Sofía Betancourt, who reminds us of the importance of engaging with the complexities of this issue while condemning violence against civilians. As Unitarian Universalists, we are committed to the principles of peace, liberty, justice and nurturing Beloved Community, and we recognize the long history that has shaped this devastating conflict. It is essential that we, as a community, acknowledge the pain and trauma experienced by our members who are directly impacted by this ongoing crisis. We recognize the emotional toll that these events can have on individuals and families. We want to assure you that we are here for you, and our chaplains are available to provide support and a listening ear to anyone who needs it. May we center our humanity in this terrible period, upholding actions that protect life and our commitments to human rights. We encourage critical, open and respectful dialogue within our community. Together, we can strive for understanding and seek peaceful solutions that uphold the dignity and human rights of all. As we struggle with the unbearable pain and uncertainty, may we come together in compassion, solidarity, justice, and love. Let us be the balm that we ourselves need, and that this world needs. Together, we will find our way towards repair, transformation, and ultimately, towards peace. May it be so. In love and solidarity, DRUUMM Steering Committee

Statement from the UUA President Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt Regarding the Conflict Between Israel and Hamas

DRUUMM Pastoral Care Request

Saturday, October 21, from Noon – 10:00 p.m.
Vesper Church, 3106 E 14 ½ Street, Austin, TX 78702

Inside Books Project celebrates 25 years with a big party!

After a brief respite while the Texas state prisons were in lockdown, Inside Books Project is again sending free books to Texas prisoners like we have for the past 25 years. To celebrate this milestone, Inside Books is holding a party and would love for all our friends and friends of friends from First UU to come.

The party will feature local music, food, beverages and raffle items from:

• Magnolia Café
• Bouldin Creek Café
• Capriotti’s Subs
• VIA 313
• Sunday brunch for 2 at Moonshine
• Black Swan Yoga
• Manis Massage
• Whole Foods
• Esters Follies
• Half Price Books 
• Kick Butt Coffee
• Tai Chi
• Lazarus Brewing and many others!

Unique and inspiring inmate art will be available to enjoy and purchase. There will also be books to browse and books to buy.