Local non-profit Manos de Cristo serves poor community members with dental care and education, and will be featured throughout February. When the Rev. Frank Diaz worked with the poor and homeless at El Buen in Austin more than 35 years ago, he kept hearing men ask for baby food and he assumed they had children to feed. But he was mistaken and eventually noticed, “These men would smile but they had no teeth.”

At the time, local hospitals had a 6-month wait for help, and many suffering from severe toothaches could not endure the pain. Their only option was to pull their own teeth. Thus, with help from both Rev. Dias and Roland Casteneda, an elder at El Buen, Manos de Cristo opened its doors in 1988 to give the impoverished community a humane, dignified option for dental care.

First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin elected Manos de Cristo as one of its recipients for a monthly special offering in 2023. Manos will be featured during and after the Worship Service, Sunday Feb 12, and Executive Director Julie Ballesteros will join us to share more about them including ways people can volunteer with them.

Through grants and support from Austin-area churches and organizations, Manos founding principle is to serve by reaching out with compassionate concern. Manos now has headquarters and programs in North Central Austin, serving our community through an 11-chair dental clinic, adult education services and basic needs. Manos’ reach has continued to grow through a Back-To-School program to teach adults computer skills, citizenship and English classes.

Our own Alirio Gamez, who took sanctuary at First UU, has received low cost dental care from Manos and Hilda Ramirez, who takes sanctuary at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, has taken English with them. First UU will recognize Monthly Special Offering recipients each second Sunday of the month and then divide all of the donations equally among the recipients. To learn more about Manos de Cristo go to http://manosdecristo.org and during the service, Sunday, Feb. 12 plan to donate what you can to this good cause.

Join Austin Sanctuary Network as we celebrate Ivan, Hilda’s son, having received his Legal Permanent Residency. We’ll celebrate Ivan’s momentous occasion Saturday, March 11 from 3-5 p.m. with games and fun at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 14311 Wells Port Dr., 78728. Feel free to bring any snacks or drinks to share. He loves Takis, Tres Leches Cake and Flan! RSVP on our Facebook page: The Foundation for the Austin Sanctuary Network. We are so excited to celebrate Ivan and reconnect with our Austin Sanctuary Network friends including Alirio Gamez! We still have work to do to free Hilda and Alirio, but it’s time to celebrate Ivan and his freedom now. We hope to see you there! For questions email Peggy Morton at insideamigos@austinuu.org.

Do you know someone who…

The Reproductive Justice team is currently seeking to identify local community organizations that are working on reproductive justice. We want to determine if they are potential partners for First UU and the assets we have to offer.  Wherever possible, we prefer to work through known contacts, so that we can build on the trust and credibility that may already exist between members of the congregation and these community organization.

Do you know anyone—or know someone that knows someone—who works in one of the organizations listed below? Or, do you know someone in an organization not listed that might be a good partner in the work for Reproductive Justice? Note: a few of these we do have contacts, but we still include them in case there are church members or friends who might also be acquainted with the group, that we on the Repro Justice team don’t know about.

Lilith Fund (Central Texas area)

Texas Equal Access Fund (North Texas and statewide)

Buckle Bunnies Fund (San Antonio area)

Frontera Fund (Rio Grande Valley)

National Network of Abortion Funds (supports local funds such as Lilith, Buckle Bunnies, etc.)

The Bridge Collective—providing Plan B kits now to the church for distribution

Texas Freedom Network

Whole Women’s Health

Other independent abortion clinics still in operation providing non-abortion repro healthcare

Las Libres—Guanajuato, Mexico

Prowess (boat in the Gulf of Mexico to provide repro healthcare)

Digital Defense Fund

Black Mamas ATX

The Afiya Center

Mayday Health  

And area churches working on Reproductive Justice, including:

San Marcos UU Fellowship

Live Oak UU Church

Wildflower Church

San Gabriel UU Fellowship (Georgetown)

Any Austin-based non-UU churches working on RJ

If you know a contact in one of these organizations, please contact reprojustice@austinuu.org or Elizabeth Gray by clicking here. Let us know if you are just passing along a name anonymously, or if we can use your name when we approach the organization. Thank you!

Click here for results of the 2022 First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin annual survey.

Texas UU Justice Ministry’s Legislative Action Day is BACK! Monday, March 13, 2023, at the State Capitol in Austin! PLAN TO JOIN US! 

On March 13, UUs from all around the state will gather in solidarity, bring our values to the public square, visit with our legislators, and have fellowship time together. We have also been invited to be part of an important interfaith rally that day around Black maternal mortality, postpartum healthcare, and more. Details of buses, carpooling, and more to come, but please put Monday, March 13, 2023, on your calendar and plan to come to the capitol! Tell your friends!

Meanwhile, you’re invited to join UUs across Texas every Thursday night for We Cry Justice and Action Hour. Details here. Bookmark the Zoom link (it’s the same every time!). Zoom meeting ID: 333 042 6480. Not a night person? There’s a bonus “Final Friday Lunch Bunch” Action Hour on the last Friday of the month at 12 noon. Same Zoom!
Not on TXUUJM’s email list yet? Please sign up here for latest actions and news.

A study commission of the central organizing and support structure for our faith, the Unitarian Universalist Association (or UUA) has recommend that we, the constituent congregations and faith groups of the UUA, consider a change to the bylaws for our association. 

Paula Cole Jones, co-author of the 8th principle serves on that commission. 

The commission is proposing a new covenant for our religious movement composed of a set of religious values that embody the essence and intent of our current principles, as well as incorporates key language from each of them. 

Rev. Chris will be offering a session to learn about and discuss this recommendation on February 19 after the worship service.

In the meantime, you can find more information by clicking here.

irst UU congregants elected Manos de Cristo as one of its recipients for a monthly special offering in 2023 and we are focusing on them in February. Meet Executive Director Julie Ballesteros during and after the worship Service, Sunday, Feb. 12 and learn about volunteer opportunities with them.

Through grants and support from Austin-area churches and organizations, Manos founding principle is to serve by reaching out with compassionate concern. Manos serves our community through an 11-chair dental clinic and adult education services to teach computer skills, citizenship and English classes. Learn more at ManosdeCristo.org.

COVID threw us for a loop in so many ways, including how to care for one another. While we were in the worst of it, we could not visit our members in the hospital (or at home!), gather for a memorial service, or make the most basic, essential personal connections. Now, we are remembering how to care for one another and how to ask for help. This conversation with Rev. Jonalu Johnstone and Co-Chairs of First UU Cares will help reorient us and give us a boost so that we can make sure that all our members feel cared for and valued, whatever their circumstances. If you have input or want to know how to help, please be there. All who are interested in caring – giving and/or receiving – are encouraged to attend one of our sessions. We’d love for you to register, but the important thing is showing up.
 
In person – Sunday, March 12, 12:30 – 2 PM
(pizza will be provided) 
https://registrations.planningcenteronline.com/signups/1605530
 
Virtually on Zoom – Thursday, March 16, 7-8:30 PM
(sorry, no pizza)
https://registrations.planningcenteronline.com/signups/1605581

The First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin is seeking nominations for members to serve on our ministerial search committee!

HOW
There will be multiple ways for you to make your nominations:
     ● You can click on this link to go to the survey and respond with your nomination(s).
     ● A survey was sent out to the entire congregation on 01/20. Check your email inbox and
respond to the survey.
     ● After service there will be a physical box in Howson Hall, with instructions, pens, and cards, to be filled out and placed in the box. You may use two (or more) cards if you want to nominate more than three people, but you may not nominate the same person more than once.
    ● On 02/05 and 02/12, members of the board will be available after service, in Howson Hall, with phones, tablets, laptops, and cards, to assist you in making your nomination(s).
   ● On 02/12 there will be a meeting to discuss the interim ministry report, a resource for the search committee’s work of putting together the search packet. The transitions team will be present to facilitate your nominations.

Members can nominate themselves. All nominations must include the named nominator, with contact information.

The deadline for submitting your nominations is Friday, 2/17/2023! All nominations must
be received before that date to be considered.

WHO
All nominees must be current members of the First UU congregation.

As you and your household are thinking about who you would like to nominate, please think
about these questions:
   ● Who can represent and serve the whole congregation well, and not just a piece or “faction” of the congregation?”
   ● Who has been and/or is active in the congregation, including new members, and has demonstrated or expressed both responsible participation and responsible leadership?
   ● Who in the congregation works well with others?
   ● Who in the congregation has demonstrated a commitment to the 8th Principle, adopted by the congregation last year.
   ● Who do you trust to speak for multiple voices in the congregation, including those people that haven’t yet found us?
   ● Who do you trust to speak for LBGTQ church members? Members of color? Young adults? Children?
   ● Who knows (or can learn) the history and culture of the congregation, whether a member of long standing or relatively new? Who can use this history proactively instead of reactively on behalf of the congregation?
   ● After a high salary, the most attractive quality a congregation can have is self awareness– awareness of strengths and weaknesses, what the congregation is like at its best and
at its worst, as well as on an average day. Who would be able to know and relate all this to potential ministerial candidates?
  ● After thinking about all of these questions, who would you trust to serve on the search committee on behalf of the congregation?


WHEN
The deadline for submitting your nominations is Friday, 2/17/2023! All nominations must be received on or before that date to be considered.

The search committee will be made up of seven congregants, willing and able to serve throughout the process. The board will identify candidates based on the nominations, after interviews and considering the diversity of the search committee. The congregation will elect five members of the search committee via competitive ballot and the board reserves two seats for appointment to ensure a diversity of perspectives. The election will occur in April (date TBD) after a meeting to discuss the search process and search committee membership .

The elected search committee will begin its work in May and will be committed to the process
throughout the summer, fall, and possibly the following winter and spring.


WHAT
The work of the search committee will be to prepare the ministerial search packet, describing First UU of Austin and what we want in our next settled minister. The preparation of that packet will be informed by…

● The interim ministry report from the current ministerial team, reflecting on information gathered during the listening circles, the church history workshop, and other interim activities.
● A full congregational survey, to go out during the summer.
● Multiple meetings with members.

More details about the expectations of search committee members are available here.

This process will lead to the search committee and Rev. Chris Jimmerson mutually deciding if he is the right fit for the position. If all agree he is a good match for the position, the congregation will vote in October. If the committee and/or Rev. Chris decide, for any reasons, not to hold an inside candidate election or if we hold an election and Rev. Chris does not meet the threshold percentage of votes, then the search committee will finalize the search packet for distribution throughout the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) by 12/1/2023. The committee will then review the applicants, select pre-candidates, attend pre-candidate
weekends, and ultimately identify a candidate for the congregation to vote on in the spring of
2024.

WHY
Remember…
● The search committee should represent the entire congregation.
● The search committee should be trusted by the congregation.
● The search committee should be in touch with the changing nature of the congregation.
● The search committee should be responsible for developing a good process for itself, the congregation, and Unitarian Universalism.

Serving on the search committee is a serious time commitment, and it may be some of the most important work for the church that any of its members will ever do. Please seriously consider your nominations. This is a huge opportunity to serve the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin!

If you have any problems at all in making your nomination(s), or if you have any questions about the process, please speak to any board member.

On Sunday, February 12 at 12:30 p.m. in the sanctuary, Revs Jonalu and Erin will present what they heard in the interim ministry listening sessions and will welcome  your feedback. We hope you will plan to attend!

First UU is always in need of ushers and greeters for Sunday mornings. These volunteers greet people as they enter the church, assist folks at the information table, help with the passing of the plate during the offering, and assist with preparing the sanctuary and foyer before Sunday services. For more information, send an email to Membership.

Our Fun and Fellowship team would love more assistance with planning fun events for all ages in the church and with the logistics and setup/cleanup for the events themselves. For more information, send an email to Fun and Fellowship.

Help make our fellowship time on Sundays and other gatherings at the church happen. Kitchen volunteers help set up the fellowship hall, make coffee, put food and dishes out, run dishes through our ultra high speed dishwasher, help clean up, and get to do lots of socializing and having fun. For more information, send an email to info@austinuu.org.

Want to help tend to the sacred land upon which our church rests? Join the team of folks who care for our church grounds. For more information, contact info@austinuu.org.

Paradox Players is the community theatre ministry of the church! The group is in the process of evaluating how best to proceed after the stay at home days of the pandemic kept the church building closed. Want to help make the magic of theatre that explores our deepest values come to life? Consider volunteering with Paradox Players. Click here for a list of volunteer positions.

Want to get involved in joining together with other church members and other UUs in working to build the Beloved Community in our local communities, our state and our country? Contact our Social Justice team. Click here to send an email.

Join with our Green Sanctuary Team to address the climate crisis and environmental justice. Click here to send an email.

Would you like to help the church be a comforting presence with church folks who may be facing illness, loss or mother challenges in their lives? Find out more by sending an email to First UU Cares.

Volunteer with Religious Education – to learn more and sign up, click here.

We are delighted to invite BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) folks involved with First UU
Church of Austin to a conversation with Rev. Chris Long on Saturday, January 28, at 5:00 p.m. in room 15 at the church 
 
Rev. Chris Long will be our guest Worship Leader on Sunday the 29^th.
 
Click here for Rev Long’s Bio.
 
Rev. Long will lead a grounding session that will explore: what more might be provided that says, “you belong here”? What are our hopes for how the church will build upon continuing strengths with and for BIPOC folks?
 
The gathering will begin with Rev. Chris Jimmerson briefly outlining the current vision for the church
living into the 8^th Principle: “We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.”
 
Living into the 8^th Principle will also move us toward fulfilling our own church ends statement, “We partner with other organizations and faith communities to dismantle a culture of white supremacy and other systems of oppression, within ourselves, within our church community, and beyond our walls.
 
Rev Long will then stay with the group for the grounding session
 
We will provide pizza with vegetarian options. We can also offer childcare.
 
Please register by clicking here to share your dietary and childcare needs.
 
We are excited about this event and to welcome Rev. Long to be with us and share his insights and wisdom.

– Please not that this will be a BIPOC only Gathering –

Thank you for voting to select 10 of the nominated organizations.
95 people returned their ballots.
Here are the top 10 selected-dates yet to be determined:

Casa Marinella
Inside Books Project
Planned Parenthood
Austin Justice Coalition
Austin Sanctuary Network
Manos de Christo
U-Bar-U
Texas Equal Access Fund
Drive A Senior
UU Service Committee

TXUUJM will be the January recipient.

Now Seeking Nominations!

The First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin is now seeking nominations for members to serve on our ministerial search committee!

HOW
There will be multiple ways for you to make your nominations:

• You can click on this link to go to the survey and respond with your nomination(s).
• A survey will be sent out to the entire congregation on 01/20. Check your email inbox and respond to the survey. 
• There will be a physical box in the foyer outside of the sanctuary, with instructions, pens, and cards, to be filled out and placed in the box.
• On 01/29 and 02/12, members of the board will be available after service, in Howson Hall, with phones, tablets, laptops, and cards, to assist you in making your nomination(s).
• On 02/12 there will be a meeting to discuss the interim ministry report, a resource for the search committee’s work of putting together the search packet. The transitions team will be present to facilitate your nominations. 

Everyone can nominate up to three search committee members, including themselves. All nominations must include the named nominator, with contact information.

The deadline for submitting your nominations is Friday, 2/17/2023! All nominations must be received before that date to be considered.

WHO
All nominees must be current members of the First UU congregation. 

As you and your household are thinking about who you would like to nominate, please think about these questions:

• Who can represent and serve the whole congregation well, and not just a piece or “faction” of the congregation?”
• Who has been and/or is active in the congregation, including new members, and has demonstrated or expressed both responsible participation and responsible leadership? 
• Who in the congregation works well with others?
• Who in the congregation has demonstrated a commitment to the 8th Principle, adopted by the congregation last year. 
• Who do you trust to speak for multiple voices in the congregation, including those people that haven’t yet found us?
• Who do you trust to speak for LBGTQ church members? Members of color? Young adults? Children?  
• Who knows (or can learn) the history and culture of the congregation, whether a member of long standing or relatively new? Who can use this history proactively instead of reactively on behalf of the congregation? 
• After a high salary, the most attractive quality a congregation can have is self awareness – awareness of strengths and weaknesses, what the congregation is like at its best and at its worst, as well as on an average day. Who would be able to know and relate all this to potential ministerial candidates?
• After thinking about all of these questions, who would you trust to serve on the search committee on behalf of the congregation? 

WHEN
The deadline for submitting your nominations is Friday, 2/17/2023! All nominations must be received on or before that date to be considered.

The search committee will be made up of seven congregants, willing and able to serve throughout the process. The board will identify candidates based on the nominations, after interviews and considering the diversity of the search committee. The congregation will elect five members of the search committee via competitive ballot and the board reserves two seats for appointment to ensure a diversity of perspectives. The election will occur in April (date TBD) after a meeting to discuss the search process and search committee membership . 

The elected search committee will begin its work in May and will be committed to the process throughout the summer, fall, and possibly the following winter and spring. 

WHAT
The work of the search committee will be to prepare the ministerial search packet, describing First UU of Austin and what we want in our next settled minister. The preparation of that packet will be informed by…

• The interim ministry report from the current ministerial team, reflecting on information gathered during the listening circles, the church history workshop, and other interim activities.
• A full congregational survey, to go out during the summer.
• Multiple meetings with members. 

More details about the expectations of search committee members are available here.

This process will lead to the search committee and Rev. Chris Jimmerson mutually deciding if he is the right fit for the position. If all agree he is a good match for the position, the congregation will vote in October. If the committee and/or Rev. Chris decide, for any reasons, not to hold an inside candidate election or if we hold an election and Rev. Chris does not meet the threshold percentage of votes, then the search committee will finalize the search packet for distribution throughout the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) by 12/1/2023. The committee will then review the applicants, select pre-candidates, attend pre-candidate weekends, and ultimately identify a candidate for the congregation to vote on in the spring of 2024. 

WHY
Remember…

• The search committee should represent the entire congregation. 
• The search committee should be trusted by the congregation. 
• The search committee should be in touch with the changing nature of the congregation. 
• The search committee should be responsible for developing a good process for itself, the congregation, and Unitarian Universalism.

Serving on the search committee is a serious time commitment, and it may be some of the most important work for the church that any of its members will ever do. Please seriously consider your nominations. This is a huge opportunity to serve the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin!

If you have any problems at all in making your nomination(s), or if you have any questions about the process, please speak to any board member. 

Be A Surprise Pal!

Connect across the generations with our beloved Surprise Pals tradition. Adults and children in the congregation will be paired to exchange cards, letters, or small treats in the pouch for three Sundays leading up to Valentine’s Day. On Sunday, February 12th we will have a special event for Pals to meet each other in person.   
Please REGISTER by this Sunday, January 22nd.

One long-time adult member who participated last year said, “This was so much fun! I don’t know why I never signed up before!”