The Monthly Service Offering for July is the Online Abortion Resource Squad (OARS). This trained volunteer group moderates the r/abortion community forum within the Reddit social media website. They oversee what is essentially a peer-based counseling service, where users offer non-stigmatized, accurate information on making decisions regarding accidental pregnancies and safe abortion care. 90,000 individuals visit r/abortion every month. This public forum is a critical resource for the people most impacted by restrictive laws and barriers to access. These volunteers run the site 24×7, every day of the year, providing high quality information, navigation, and emotional support to folks at all stages of the abortion journey.
Reclaiming the Bible Workshop
While Unitarian Universalism comes out of Christianity, many of us have–at best–mixed experiences with the Christian bible. Whether you are bible-curious or concerned about what’s in there, this workshop is for you.
Join UU seminary student AJ Juraska on Sunday, July 14th from 1-3pm in Room 17 to learn tools for understanding the bible from an academic/historical perspective, rather than a “literal” one. You’ll walk away not only knowing more ways to investigate this commonly referenced text, but also feeling more confident in how to approach the Christian bible on your own terms.
Stop Killing Our Climate
- Stay Curious – if a headline seems too good or too bad to be true, look further.
- Counter the Narrative – be willing to wade into the difficult conversations because, as Katharine says so frequently, talking about these crises is one of the most important things you can do.
- Ask Hard Questions of your community leaders and the businesses that you support – how are they showing up for climate and for nature and for people?
Denominational Connections
Denominational Connections
The UUA General Assembly was held from June 20 – 23. GA is the annual gathering where UUs gather to worship, celebrate, and make decisions. This year GA was completely virtual.
At this year’s General Assembly delegates debated revising Article II of the UUA bylaws, which outlines our UU values and sources. The revision passed with a strong 80.2% positive vote. Delegates also adopted a business resolution “Embracing Transgender, Nonbinary, Intersex and Gender Diverse People is a Fundamental Expression of UU Religious Values.” Three Actions of Immediate Witnesses were approved, addressing climate change, support for Palestinians, and responses to epidemics.
More information is available on the Article II revision and the three Actions of Immediate Witness.
For 2025, General Assembly will be held in Baltimore, MD, and virtually. Contact David Overton at denom@austinuu.org if you would like more information about General Assembly.
Green Sanctuary update Friday, June 14, 2024
Hi Earth Ship Partners,
If you know Seniors who are vulnerable to these Historic Heat levels there are lots of resources presented in last week’s newsletter. Go there and check them out. Lots of ways to help Seniors.
and
“Women leading on climate, senior citizens at risk, and more climate voices to follow
Last week, my newsletter focused on the risks of extreme heat around the world, and how to stay safe: but I could write about this every week. The US National Weather Service just introduced a new Heat Risk forecast map showing where people will face dangerous levels of heat. The entire southern US, from California to Florida, is baking in yet another early-season heatwave, with Phoenix, AZ setting a new daily high of 112F (44C) last Thursday.
I also mentioned last week how heat disproportionately affects elderly people—and this new article goes into depth on exactly why that is.” more @ talkingclimatenewsletter@outlook.com
and
Hello! Wouldn’t it be cool if the world’s wealthiest companies — you know, the ones worth trillions of dollars — paid the bill for the shiny new technologies needed to achieve 24/7 clean power? Sigh. What a nice, idealistic dream. hello@canarymedia.com
Important Announcements:
Talks are underway with Austin Energy (AE) to replace AE’s proposed fossil fuel new gas plant with a renewables-based community plan. We will keep you posted. Come to or zoom into the next Climate Crises/solutions meeting @church.
July 2, 6:30-8PM, Next Climate Crises/Solutions mtg at Howson Hall. 6:30 potluck, 7 PM MTG. begins. Ping Bob for zoom link, roberthhendricks@aol.com, or join us in person.
The Unitarian Universalist Church (UUA) is about to take up the Climate Crisis with real actions at a grassroots level, here at our church, churches across the USA, and at the National office. The plan is already put together. Trainings are beginning now. Go to : https://www.uuclimatejustice.org/sponsorship and FAQ’s here. Let Chris know you want to help out chris.jimmerson@austinuu.org
As previously mentioned, after 15 years as Green Sanctuary Ministry (GSM) Co-Chairs, Beki and I are retiring. If you are interested in Chairing Green Sanctuary Ministry and or managing the upcoming Climate Revival (much of the work is scripted to make it easy) Please let Chris know you’re interested.
It is a blessing to work with all of you on this Environmental Justice initiative to save our Home Planet.
Big THANKS to all Inside Books donors. The Spanish/English dictionaries were lifesavers!
Beki & Richard Halpin, First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin, Green Sanctuary Ministry
green@austinuu.org.
Staying Cool in the Summer Heat
Hello all Earth Ship travelers,
“Together, we nourish souls, transform lives, and do justice to build the Beloved Community”
Climate Protection
- Decide that our new Climate Protection and Generation Plan will be the fossil free community plan vs. AE’s plan that includes a new gas plant. Come August we will need to begin actions for September votes.
- Closing, cleaning up and replacing the deadly generation at the Fayette Power Plant (FPP). Actions on this will pick up again in late Summer/ early Fall. View this Harvard study on how coal power.
Meeting Dates:
- IRA FastTrack Monthly Meeting Tuesday, June 25, 2024 from 7pm – 8pm (CDT)
This meeting will be on Zoom. - Climate Crises/Solutions meeting is next is Tuesday, July 2nd. The potluck will begin at 6:30 pm and meeting will start at 7 pm in Howson Hall.
UNWOUND SOUND presents: ELECTRONIC THROWDOWN
Unwound Sound presents a multimedia evening by cutting-edge composers Anuj Bhutani (Los Angeles) and Albert Yeh (San Francisco). The program features Bhutani’s performance of his electronic song cycle manu whilst Yeh evokes cinematic sonics from his innovative Motors/Pulses album. The composers will also join forces on a collaborative work with Unwound Sound artistic director, Brent Baldwin.
A freewill offering will be gratefully accepted, the proceeds of which will support the Texas Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry. TUUJM works to bend Texas toward justice and equity for all.
About Our Guests:
ANUJ BHUTANI is an emerging composer/performer who crafts genre-fluid music with narrative depth. Since 2020, he has won an ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Award, Chamber Music America’s Classical Commissioning Grant, 1st Prize in Cerddorion Vocal Ensemble’s Emerging Composer Competition, and Verdigris Ensemble’s ION Composer Competition. Bhutani has been selected for the American Composer’s Orchestra’s Earshot, Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, and residencies at Avaloch Farm Music Institute and Atlantic Center for the Arts (twice). His music has been commissioned and performed by Ashley Bathgate, Metropolis Ensemble, and more.
Anuj earned his master’s degree from University of Southern California and his bachelor’s from University of North Texas. His primary teachers have included Andrew Norman, Ted Hearne, Camae Ayewa (aka Moor Mother), Joseph Klein, Andrew May, Sungji Hong, Drew Schnurr, and Bruce Broughton.
ALBERT YEH is a performer and composer from San Francisco who makes experimental electronic music. His sonic palette combines diverse influences ranging from the Western musical canon, electronic/electroacoustic genres, and progressive rock. Albert’s solo work is currently focused on examining the intersection between musical procedures and processes, as well as the meeting points between emotional states and qualities. Albert is involved in various musical projects, including the experimental metal bands Lotus Thief, Forlesen, and Wreche, and the chamber music group Insight Chamber Players.
About the Presenter:
UNWOUND SOUND is a forward-reaching arts presenting organization and performing ensemble created by award-winning composer/director/multi-
The Future of Our Planet
Green Sanctuary Report
Hi Earth, Air, Water, living Things Champions,
Below are few specific easy ways you can pitch in to save our breathable planet home. A positive excerpt from our just published FUUCA Congregant Study and more.
1. Thank you for your generous books and money support to our books recycling and people’s minds rehabilitating Inside Books Project (IBP). You can bring your gently used book treasures to the gray IBP book bin under the table in the Welcoming Center. Or drop them off at Inside Books Project (IBP), 3106 E. 14 1/2 Street (white church on the NW corner of 14 1/2 and Airport Streets, (Book Donation Bin on East side of building). Austin, Texas 78702 https://
2. Our church membership Report on the 2023-24 Congregational Survey mentions specific areas where we could focus our energy to make more progress. I’ve excerpted text on two areas Congregants say we could do more. The whole survey is worth your time.
‘Church leadership could do more to focus more energy and investment in dismantling a culture of white supremacy and caring for our earth. Both areas because of their high importance and middling progress. I believe that includes stopping and cleaning up the toxic waste dumped into our earth, air and water by oppressively needlessly burning fossil fuels. An example of this is replacing and rehabilitating our coal burning Fayette Power Plant/site. Austin owns a third of this poisoning plant that a recent Harvard and UT, Austin study says the poison waste is sickening and killing Texans. Check out these links:
Our Church, Green Sanctuary Ministry, is part of a community wide team fighting to close, clean up and replace this dirty killer site with renewables and storage. These two Texas Tribune articles will tell you more:
- Austin struggles to shut down its coal power plant
- Texas coal power plants leaching toxic pollutants into …
When asked why Congregants give to our church, 92% said they are motivated by their values. Of these, almost half, (47%) mentioned the importance of making a difference in their world. An additional 49% mentioned the value of the church community to their lives and wanting to do their part to support this community and collaborate with the greater UUA community.
3. Right now here are ways to ‘make a difference, change our world, improve our church Community Energy’ and save money:
“Financial Incentives for Energy Investments at Houses of Worship” also free; www.energy.gov/congregations
3.a. We are part of a Community Clean Energy Campaign to support the Community Energy Generation and Climate Protection Plan:
read all about this smart no fossil fuel community plan with these two attachments (Proposed Resource Plan & Cover Letter) share with your family and friends. Hold your Council actions ’till September for our city wide organized support effort. We will grow the campaign over this Summer.
3.b. Learn about the UUA proposal for a National Climate Revival to save our climate from increased overheating, increased floods, droughts and more from greedy oppressive fossil fuel co’s.
4. For Good Climate news and the real story, this free 5 star newsletter: talkingclimatenews
Next Climate Crises/Solutions Meeting: Tuesday, July 2nd in Howson Hall. The meeting potluck will start at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will begin at 7 p.m. There will be no June meeting.
Please contact Robert at roberthhendricks@aol.com if you have any questions.
Beki & Richard Halpin, Green Sanctuary Ministry, green@austinuu.org, 512-658-2599 or 512-917-6018
Green Sanctuary: UUA’s Call for Climate Action
Hi Our Home Planet Champions,
GOOD NEWS:
Belgian Police Arrest 132 Climate Defenders Demanding End to Fossil Fuel Subsidies
“The fact that national governments are subsidizing fossil fuels is akin to a crime against humanity,” said one Extinction Rebellion organizer. Read the whole inspiring story.
We can and must do more to see our tax dollars go to helping all Americans not hurting them.
Our Climate needs our loving attention. A remarkable wave of good news and good action is coming our way. The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) has decide to call for climate action from UU churches across the Planet. This is a heads up. Between now and September more news and action calls about this global campaign will be released. A link will be available soon. There will be so many fun ways to participate. September will be the kick off. Watch this newsletter for the roll out of coming opportunities to act, united with other UU’s, to save our planet home.
Now the UUA has produced this priner with financial resources for churches interested in “Financial Incentives for Energy Investments at Houses of Worship” (our church). After our latest capital campaign is successfully completed. Talk to Chris and Shannon about ideas to increase energy efficiency, save money and our planet home. This primer is a resource to fund such important climate actions.
For more free good climate news click here: talkingclimatenewsletter@outlook.com
Please note: Our Climate Crises/solutions first Tuesday meeting will skip Tuesday, June and start again July 2, Howson Hall, 6:30 p.m. pot luck, 7 p.m meeting.
TXUUJM May/June Events
Time to register for June justice events! The Texas UU Justice Ministry (TXUUJM) is excited to welcome the leaders of UU Ministry for Earth and Side with Love. Then on Thursday, June 6 (*NEW DATE*), we welcome author Steve Phillips (How We Win the Civil War: Securing a Multiracial Democracy and Ending White Supremacy for Good). All events are FREE, online, and open to everyone. Register and get more info on TXUUJM events here! . TXUUJM is also your source for Texas UU the Vote efforts this election year! Sign up for TXUUJM emails to get the latest news and actions, and follow @txuujm on Facebook and Instagram.
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Austin Energy Update
The Austin Energy Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan — a 10-year roadmap for proposing to phase out the use of fossil fuels at Austin Energy and replacing them with clean energy — is getting an update.
Alarmingly, Austin Energy’s (AE) current proposal recommends a dangerous fossil fuel direction. Instead of replacing existing fossil fuel power, Austin Energy is asking the City Council to support adding a more polluting methane gas-burning power plant in (probably) East Austin!
There is an alternative Working Group Plan. This plan has no fossil fuels . AE is not cooperating with the community for a fossil fuel free future!
“Fossil fuel generation causes multiple environmental problems. Burning fossil fuels is very dangerous to vulnerable groups like the very young, the very old and those with respiratory illnesses.” “Energy and the Environment” United Women In Faith
We need your help. You can make a difference. Use this link to contact Austin City Council. This link uses Texas Public Citizen run by our own church member Adrain Shelly. It is safe and secure:
Highlight this link, click once, click “open Link” : https://act.citizen.org/
There is a message in the link. Please act promptly. You can make a life saving difference.
Beki & Richard Halpin, Green Sanctuary Ministry, green@austinuu.org, 512-658-2599 or 512-917-6018
Monthly Service Offering for May – Inside Books Project
Inside Books Project is an organization that sends free books to Texas prisoners. Prisoners write a letter (sometimes in Spanish) requesting books. Volunteers read the letters and send each prisoner a package of books, hopefully matching the prisoner’s request. Prisoners can request books four or five times a year.
All manner of fiction and nonfiction titles are requested and last year Inside Books sent 32,000 books to Texas prisoners. Most of the books sent are donated to Inside Books by individuals, including First UU congregants who have donated thousands of books to Inside Books over the years. Thank you! A few books are purchased, such as tradecraft books that can help prisoners gain employment upon release. Inside Books also produces and prints royalty-free pamphlets on topics like starting a business, drawing, equipment-free exercise, basic legal terminology and process, Dungeons and Dragons basic rules, COVID information from the CDC, and LGBTQ resources.
This year Inside Books also delivered numerous carloads of books to Texas Department of Corrections Central Library in Huntsville. The Central Library then sends books out to libraries at various Texas state prisons, although not every prison has a library. In addition to state prisons, Inside Books Project delivered carloads of books to 12 central Texas County Jails. Jails generally loan books more informally and let prisoners choose from book carts that circulate.
75% of Inside Book’s expenses go to pay for mailing books and for rent at the church that hosts the organization.
Inside Books gets love letters from prisoners who have received the perfect book at just the right moment in their lives. Books light up the darkness of incarceration and connect prisoners to the world of possibility. Thanks for your generous support of this organization.
If you have books to donate to Inside Books Project, you can put them in the Inside Books Project tub in our church Welcome Center or you can take them directly to Inside Books Project. Inside Books Project operates out of a church on the corner of Airport and 14 1/2 Street. The book collection bin is outside on the Airport side of the church.
2024 Spring Silent Auction
2024 Spring Silent Austin
First UU Austin’s Spring Silent Auction is back and will run from Thursday, May 9th to Sunday, June 2nd. Our silent auction is a different kind of auction as it features experiences and services. Of course, our primary goal is to raise money, but our silent auction also allows an opportunity to connect with others in your community through shared experiences. Examples of an experience or service might include a games night, a French picnic or having someone detail your car. View the Auction Catalog to see what is currently up for auction.
We need you to donate your experience or service. There will be a sign up sheet located in the kitchen before and after services on Sunday beginning Sunday, April 28th and will remain in the kitchen every Sunday until May 28th.
Please refer to Aubrey for questions and to offer up your experience and/or service. She can also be reached at kitchen@austinuu.org or you can call the church office at 512-452-6168.