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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.
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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
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.
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