Sunday services often feature a Unitarian Universalist minister or ministers from other faiths, but also lay speakers from the University, the community, or the Fellowship itself. We invite members to participate in furnishing ideas for speakers or discussions. The opportunity for direct participation in the planning of services is one of the great advantages of our congregation!

To the right  is the schedule of speakers for upcoming services -- the schedule is updated on this site regularly, but may be subject to change. For more information, please call 512-396-2986. The Fellowship holds services every Sunday morning at 11 a.m. at Christ Chapel.

Christ Chapel is located at 510 N. Guadalupe St. in San Marcos, on the south side of the Texas State University campus. 

Miss a service or SMUUF event? Many past sermons are available in either print or on our Sermon Podcasts page. We also have a photo gallery on Picasa Web. Click here to enjoy, and if you have pictures to post, contact Jeff Rasco for instructions or assistance.

SMUUF Facebook Pages – Take a Minute to “Friend” SMUUF!  SMUUF has not one, but two Facebook group pages. Search for “SMUUF” for our more “internal” group page that Ben Harville recently set up and administers. Search the full “San Marcos Unitarian Universalist Fellowship” for a more outward facing presence, originally set up by Aaron and now administered by Jeff Rasco and Joel Minor. If you’re on Facebook, join both groups and tell your friends! If you’re not on Facebook, what are you waiting for? 

Donate to SMUUF with GoodSearch and GoodShop! While you’re online, don’t forget that SMUUF can earn money every time you search or shop with GoodSearch and GoodShop. Here are instructions for setting it up.


Selected Announcements

Contact Jeannie Lewis to subscribe to complete SMUUF Weekly Announcements


WUUFS Monthly Meeting, Sunday, August 1, 9:30 a.m. at the New UCM – Book Club Discussion on Half the Sky led by Priscilla Leder – The SMUUF women’s group will finally discuss the book they adopted to read this late spring/early summer.  Our resident English professor, Priscilla, will no doubt lead us in an interesting and provocative discussion of this poignant non-fiction account of the plight of women and female children worldwide.  We hope you will finish up reading this fascinating book but even if you haven’t read it at all, come and listen to what others have to say about what they have read.  It may open your eyes and even be life-changing!
 
Procession into New UCM Location 11:00 a.m., August 1 –
The Worship Committee has planned a special procession into our new sanctuary to commemorate our first Sunday there.  We’ll gather in the vestibule prior to the service and enter the sanctuary singing together with our SMUUF Banner, Chalice, and Membership Book leading the way.  Be there a little early in order to participate in this symbolic ceremony.

New Building News from Our President Jane Moss - As many of you know, and perhaps can still feel some sore muscles, we finished moving our belongings into the new UCM Wesley Building, formerly known as Christ Church, and known before that as St. Mark's Episcopal Church.  Ah, how lovely it is.  The chapel is beautiful and will lift our hearts and our spirits and songs to new heights during our services.
 
Lisa Cradit and I met one evening this week and got the Religious Education materials sorted so the kids will have a super place to meet this Sunday.  There is a small room I'd hardly noticed in all the hubbub of moving, adjacent to the kitchenette area and bathroom that are at one end of our two rooms downstairs, which will make a perfect library/office.  I'm sure we can lock it; it will be a great place to store our sound equipment and files and documents.
 
I'm really looking forward to our 'processional' this Sunday and our first service!  Thanks to everyone for all your help, and your patience, during this transition. Whew – it has been a busy, exciting, and exhausting time, and now it is time to settle back and enjoy!   Jane

Children’s Religious Education – The School Agers, taught by Christina Adams, will celebrate being in our new church home with a story and activity.  The younger children’s RE class will read a story and do an artistic activity, now that we have room and a TABLE!  The group will be led by Lisa Cradit.
 
Here’s a Wish List for Our New Children’s RE Rooms:
1.     Broom and dust pan

2.     Mop and bucket

3.     Chalk board

4.     Child size furniture

5.     Posters for decorating walls

6.     Book shelves

7.     Projector for use with laptop (for Adult RE programs)
 
Worship Committee Meeting Last Sunday – Worship Chair Priscilla led us determining how to set up the new sanctuary for our worship services and how to commemorate our first service there.  We also had to select guest speakers for our ten vacant slots from September 19 through early January.  That was really difficult since we had 17 listed speakers, all of whom we wanted to have speak to us.  But we made the difficult choice by having ten votes each.  We also discussed upgrading our flaming chalice to one designed and crafted by Wimberley Glass Works.  Our next Worship Committee Meeting will be with our minister, Brian Ferguson, on Sunday, September 5, before the service.

Brian’s Position Expanded to Half-Time Minister –
The SMUUF Board voted at their July 11 meeting, and Brian accepted, an upgrade in his position at SMUUF from one-third time to half-time.  We originally started out proposing a one-fourth time position but the Ministerial Search Committee had quickly recommended expansion to one-third time.  The half-time position will give Brian more time to engage in pastoral care, religious education planning, and guiding us through the time ahead as we begin to plan in earnest for our future building on Craddock Street.
 
Thank You from Laura –
Laura sent a Thank You note to SMUUF for our care and concern during the time after Ben died.  Her note says: “Dearest Friends, Just to let you know that your love and support during this difficult time has been greatly appreciated.  The food you brought to our home as well as at the reception in Ben’s honor meant a lot to my family and I.  On behalf of my family, I thank you.  Yours Sincerely, Laura.”
 
Certificate of Gratitude to SMUUF Received from the UUA –
At the General Assembly in Minneapolis a month ago, the UUA honored the most generous congregations to Association Sunday 2009 at a reception where those designated congregations were presented with a token of gratitude.  Since no one from our congregation attended the reception, the UUA sent a certificate of gratitude by mail and a letter thanking us for our energy and dedication to the UUA.  They say, “Your everyday efforts on behalf of the UUA will ensure that our faith community continues to flourish and thrive.”  Association Sunday 2010 will be coming up on October 2, when Brian will lead us in a service celebrating the work of the UUA.  BTW, Marti Palmer was SMUUF’s delegate to the General Assembly last month and we look forward to a report on her experience there from her soon.
 
Chalice Lighter Donation Checks –
In case you have been wondering why your donation checks to the Chalice Lighter Program have not cleared your bank yet, I called Connie Nolan at SWUUC about the delay.  She says: “Do tell them that I am sorry to have gotten so behind with the checks which came in during May and June, and I will certainly get that done by the end of this week.”


Request from Barbara Jacobson -
Barbara is inquiring about others in the congregation, besides Shirley and Judy, who would be interested in playing the piano for some of the Sunday services.  She is also seeking a volunteer to be in charge of the Guest at Your Table program of the UUSC, which will start on November 21 this year.  Program materials are sent from the UUSC office to use to promote and plan the events.  To help with either of these requests, please see Barbara Jacobson this Sunday or call B.J. at 847-2665.
 
Reminder About Our Water Communion Service on Sunday, August 29 –
Our church for many years has celebrated a fall Water Communion Service in early September.  Members bring to the service a small amount of water from a place that is special to them --- perhaps their vacation, home, or hometown area.  During the appointed time in the service, people one by one pour their water together into a large bowl. As the water is added, the person who brought it tells why this water is special to them. The combined water is symbolic of our shared faith coming from many different sources.  Remember to collect water from this “special place” this summer.  Hint: Collect in a plastic bottle and freeze to keep fresh and defrost just before the service.

SWUUSI 2010, August 1 – 6, at Western Hills Guest Ranch at Sequoyah State Park in Hulbert, OK – The Southwest UU Summer Institute (SWUUSI) is the Southwestern District’s multigenerational summer camp experience.   This year’s theme is “Swimming in the Deep End.”  Theme speakers will lead attendees through a deeper exploration of Unitarian Universalism.  The SWUUSI Sunset talks will be conducted by Rev. Aaron White, Associate Minister from the First Unitarian Church in Dallas --- and former minister at SMUUF!  UUs who have attended SWUUSI in past years report an unforgettable experience.  For more info go to www.swuuc.org/swuusi.  Brochures will be available at church Sunday.

Forum on Ethical Eating and Ethical Eating Committee – Jaime’s sermon reminded me that the UUA had adopted Ethical Eating as a Congregational Study/Action Issue at the 2008 General Assembly and had been encouraging member congregations to take up this issue in their local communities.  I had spoken to several people in the past year to try to find a SMUUF leader to head up this issue in our congregation but had been unsuccessful so far.  But after the service Sunday, SMUUF member Zach Thomas talked with me about his interest in this issue.  Zach is willing to guide a committee on Ethical Eating this coming year.  And the Communications/PR Committee is willing to change our proposed public forum on Religion and Health Care to a public forum on Religion and Ethical Eating.  We’re waiting on final approval when the SMUUF Board meets on August 8.



 

Please join us
Upcoming Services and Events
(Services Begin at 11:00 am)

Lay Leader - varies
Music Director - Barbara Jacobsen
Song Leader - Ken Burks

Religious Education
School-aged Teacher - Christina Adams
Pre-School Teacher - Currently Vacant - know anyone? Contact Lisa Cradit


August 1, 2010

11 a.m. @ Christ Chapel

Rev. Karl Brown

Rev. Karl Brown

On the Way to the Promise Land
 
On this day of transition from one location to another, it is appropriate to reflect on where we have been and to consider alternatives for the future.  In some ways we find ourselves in a similar position to the ancient Israelites as they paused retrospectively before moving from the wilderness into the promised land.  What's important to keep?  How shall we relate to our new neighbors?  Where are we going?   Moses said it this way: "I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses...choose life."   Lectionary texts for the day will be used as one of the resources for this presentation and discussion.  

Schedule of Upcoming Speakers

August 8 Mary K. Isaacs

August 15 April Coldsmith

August 22 Rev. Karl Brown

August 29 Water Communion Service

September 5 Brian Ferguson

September 12 Brian Ferguson


SMUUF Services

We meet every Sunday, at 11:00 a.m. at Christ Chapel:
510 N. Guadalupe St.
San Marcos, Texas 78666
email with any questions

Child care and children's religious education are provided.

 

       



Click here to e-mail for more information
Join us Sunday at:
The UCM Wesley Center
510 N. Guadalupe St.
(formerly St. Mark's Episcopal Church)

San Marcos, Texas 78666
512-396-2986

Mailing address: PO Box 1053, San Marcos, TX 78667

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