Min. Krista's Office Hours this week: by appointment (you can also email her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to set up another time to talk)
Adult Religious Exploration
Sun. Aug 18: "A Discussion of the Issues Affecting our Families and Community" - Rev. Sabrina Jennings
Reverend Sabrina Jennings, United Church of Christ minister, is the organizer for the Corridor Interfaith Alliance for Families. She will be hosting a "House Meeting" this Sunday during Adult RE. See the attached flyer for more information about the meeting.
The Corridor Interfaith Alliance for Families (CIAF), is a branch of Central Texas Interfaith that covers Hays and Comal Counties--- the I-35 corridor between San Antonio and Austin. The organization works through local institutions to train and develop leaders who work together on issues such as affordable housing, education, immigration, neighborhood safety, and health care. Together, we can develop effective solutions and work with public officials to create change for the better.
SMUUF members and friends interested in the social justice work we do are encouraged to attend.
Please contact Marissa Fehler at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you are interested in upcoming RE.
Coffee and childcare is available during adult RE, all are welcome to attend.
Donate-the-Plate this Sunday to Corridor Interfaith Alliance for Families
Reverend Sabrina Jennings, United Church of Christ minister, is the organizer for the Corridor Interfaith Alliance for Families (CIAF). She will be our guest minister for our Worship Service this Sunday. We will take up a collection to donate to CIAF during the service.
The Corridor Interfaith Alliance for Families (CIAF), is a branch of Central Texas Interfaith that covers Hays and Comal Counties --- the I-35 corridor between San Antonio and Austin. The organization works through local institutions to train and develop leaders who work together on issues such as affordable housing, education, immigration, neighborhood safety, and health care. Together, we can develop effective solutions and work with public officials to create change for the better.
Donations will be used toward SMUUF's dues to become an official and supporting member institution of CIAF. As a member institution, SMUUF has a claim on the time of the organizer, training and seminar opportunities with CIAF, as well as the state and the national Industrial Areas Foundation network, and input into shaping the agenda of issues we work on. The CIAF is a 501 c (3) nonprofit organization. Dues from member institutions are used largely for organizer salary and benefits, supervision and training.
We hope you will give generously to this very worthy organization! Make your check out to SMUUF with D-T-P or CIAF on the Memo Line.
FUUDies (Fantastic UU Diners)
This week: Shai Yo Grill, 415 N. LBJ Drive, San Marcos
The Fantastic UU Diners eat together after church at a different local restaurant almost every Sunday. They love to have new folks join them! See Jeannie Lewis or Lee Bricker after worship. They’ll save you a seat!
Hospitality Teams get it done every Sunday! Searching for new Hospitality Team leader!
After two years serving as hospitality lead, Chris is looking for someone who she could gently transition into this position. It is a great way to get to know people in the congregation and serve in a really meaningful way to provide welcome to those attending. Please feel free to chat with her about what this entails or any questions you might have. Chris Rambo This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Members of Hospitality Team 6 are serving in August. Thanks to these folks for making coffee, providing refreshments, greeting, and generally making the church ready for worship and fellowship!
A great way to get involved at SMUUF is by joining a Hospitality Team. For one month approximately every 7 months, each team provides the refreshments for the SMUUF service, sets up the building, and cleans everything up afterward. It's a wonderful way to meet other SMUUF members and get right into service with us.
You may click here to download a copy of the Hospitality Team duties.
For information about how to join, contact Chris Rambo at (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
Dear SMUUF Families with Children,
We will offer childcare (No RE) the remainder of August & Labor Day. RE classes begin on September 8
O.W.L. Parent/Caregiver Information meeting
O.W.L. Parent/Caregiver Information meeting is to be held Aug. 24 4:30 p.m. at the San Marcos Public library. We will discuss the program and start enrollment 2019-20 classes. Parents from SMUUF and our San Marcos community are invited to attend.
O.W.L. Facilitators meet this Sunday at 9:30am to discuss our parent info meeting to be held Aug. 24th.
SMUUF Family Invite
We are excited to announce an end of summer gathering to share, socialize and plan for the year of RE for our children. Here are the details:
SMUUF Families with Children Back to School Potluck 🌈
When: Saturday, August 17th at 6:00 p.m. < TIME CHANGE TO AVOID SOME OF THE HEAT
Where: The Johnson’s House (Joel, Laura, Alice and Robyn)
1116 W. Martin Luther King Dr. San Marcos TX, 78666
What to Bring: Potluck dish. We will have water, tea and juice. Feel free to bring your favorite drink. Towel and change of clothes for the littles for kiddie pool and sprinkler fun!
Pass the information on to families that may be interested in SMUUF. We look forward to seeing you there!
See you Sunday!!
Laura Haygood
RE Class Time
Children meet downstairs right after "Time for All Ages". Parents are asked to help children pick up their name tag at the top of the stairs and go into service. Children are welcomed into service in order to help them link with our larger community. They will be sung out after the story and met by teachers to go downstairs.
Room and Teacher Assignments:
| Infant-3 years | Beatrix Potter Room with Deana Piñales |
| 4 years-Grade 2 | Seuss Room with Robyn Kendrick & Jillian Whitehead |
| Grades 3-5 | Susan B. Anthony Room with Monica Rasco & Marissa Fehler |
| Grades 6-12 | YUUTH with Laura Haygood |
Here are some upcoming events to mark in your calendar:
| August 17 | SMUUF Families with Children Back to School Potluck |
| August 24 | Our Whole Lives Informational Meeting |
| August 25 |
Intergenerational Service/Water Communion |
| September 8 | First Day of Children's RE for Fall 2019 |
(A calendar is posted downstairs with dates and themes)
SEE YOU SUNDAY!!
Week of Friday, August 16 - Thursday, August 22
Check the SMUUF Calendar for current listings of activities
New Events
Craddock Ave. Median Cleanup
Saturday, August 24 at 7:30 a.m.
SMUUF Property, Craddock Ave. between Furman and Allen
Volunteers needed of all ages to help weed the Craddock medians adjacent to our church property on Saturday August 24, 2019. This is a good outdoor activity that gets volunteer hours in and can build community with your fellow SMUUF members. Small hand tools, gloves, safety vests and instructions will be available. Bring your muscles, reusable water bottles, good attitudes, and “can do” spirit to the medians and plan a short 2 hour work session from 8-10 a.m. If you would like to come earlier and get done sooner, Lisa Arceneaux will be there at 7:30 a.m. Contact Lisa or Dan for more information: 512-664-1927 or 512-396-4772 (home) / 512-398-3461, ext. 236 (daytime business hours) for Dan.
Our Whole Lives (OWL) Lifespan Sexuality Program
SMUUF Families with Children Back to School Potluck 🌈
Saturday, August 17th at 6:00 p.m. < TIME CHANGE TO AVOID SOME OF THE HEAT
The Johnson’s House (Joel, Laura, Alice and Robyn)
1116 W. Martin Luther King Dr. San Marcos TX, 78666
What to Bring: Potluck dish. We will have water, tea and juice. Feel free to bring your favorite drink. Towel and change of clothes for the littles for kiddie pool and sprinkler fun!
Pass the information on to families that may be interested in SMUUF. We look forward to seeing you there!
Weekly Events
SMUUF Choir - Join us on Sundays through the summer!
During the summer months, the choir will rehearse on selected Sundays at 10:00 a.m. Anyone who enjoys singing is invited to become a part of the choir, which sings for worship about twice a month.
Contact: Gayle Gaston (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
Sewing Guild
Meets Wednesday afternoons at 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
The Allen Family home in Martindale
The Sewing Guild has made and delivered over 700 quilts to children in need.
Friday "Talk, Then Walk"
In July and August, we will meet at 10am at the Lion Club Tube Rental Parking lot to go tubing instead of walking.
Enjoy good company, conversation, refreshments and a healthy walk. We usually walk about 45 minutes around the San Marcos River, Lower Purgatory, Ring Tail, Spring Preserve and other nature trails. Hope to see you there!
For more information, contact Garrie Borden at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
TXUUJM JOINS TX IMPACT FOR MIGRATION JUSTICE ACTION WEEK AUGUST 12-16
You will meet with members of congress in your district
Texas UUs,
TXUUJM will join Texas Impact during the August congressional recess as we focus congressional attention on the escalating humanitarian crisis on our southern border.
Meet with members of congress between August 12th – 16th in your district; write letters; make calls; and raise the issue in worship.
Rev. Chuck has served on the Impact Board for over five years and they are a trusted ally.
Sign up HERE
TX Impact will get you information and resources, as well as signing you up for a district visit.
Soulfully,
Rev. Chuck Freeman
We WILL Bend Texas and America Toward Justice Together!
TXUUJM
www.facebook.com/txuujm
www.txuujm.org
San Marcos Pride Festival
Saturday, September 7 @ 12:00 P.M.
Wimberley Pride March
Saturday, September 21 @ 7:30 P.M.
More info at http://wimberleypride.org/
UBarU Camp & Retreat Center Upcoming Events
There are some fun events coming up at UBarU Camp & Retreat Center! For more details and to register please go to www.ubaru.org. If you want to rent a cottage for a quiet weekend not during a retreat, email Robyn at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Click each date to view the flyer (if available).
Aug 4-10 - Human Sexuality camp based on OWL values - for rising 8-9th graders
UBarU Camp & Retreat Center is offering a Human Sexuality camp this summer. It is based on the values of Our Whole Lives targeted content for rising 8-9th graders (13-14 year olds) from Aug 4-10, 2019. Thank you for sharing this information with your families. Click here to view the informational flyer.
A week of camp at UBarU is a time to make new friends and reconnect with old friends. We will swim in the beautiful limestone swimming tank, ponder the Milky Way on clear evenings, do some community service, walk the labyrinth, and take field trips to enjoy the gorgeous Texas Hill Country. And of course, we spend some time having fun while we deepen our UU faith.
Joys and Concerns
Envoy Jeannie Lewis Participates in UU Office at the United Nations in New York City Conference Call
SMUUF Social Justice Chair, Jeannie Lewis, has been an Envoy representing SMUUF at the UU Office at the United Nations in New Your City for several years. And she recruited SMUUF member Becky Allen a few years ago to be an Envoy, too. Allison Hess, International Engagement Associate at the UU-UNO hosts these conference calls each month.
In a recent Envoy Conference Call, Allison reminded us that October 27 will be UN Sunday at UU churches around the world. The issue that will be focused on is Gender Equity. Allison has graciously agreed to come to SMUUF on Sunday, October 27, to lead our 11:00 a.m. Worship Service on Gender Equity. We are in the process of trying to work out the details. It will be a great honor to have Allison here to speak to us!
We also discussed that March 8, 2020, will be International Women's Day.
The UN Sustainable Development Goals to be achieved by 2030 are:
Education
Economic Growth and Jobs
Human Rights
Climate Change
Peace and Justice
Global Partnerships
The High Level Political Forum will focus on:
Gender Equity
Migration
Climate Change
LGBT
The UU-UNO recommends that individual UU congregations host three sessions on Climate Change:
National and International
State
Local
See www.createclimatejustice.net.
It was a very inspiring Conference Call with our UU Office at the United Nations and Envoys all over the United States. For more information contact Jeannie Lewis at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (512)353-2872.
Texas UU Justice Ministry (TXUUJM) Conference Call
Jeannie Lewis, as SMUUF Social Justice Chair, is on the Advisory Council of TXUUJM and participates in a monthly conference call with our UU Advisory Council members across Texas. Ou most recent call, led by Chuck Freeman, TXUUJM Executive Director, was Wednesday, August 7.
We discussed the recent mass shootings and that several UU churches will be having vigils to protest gun violence and to support stronger gun control regulations. I described the two recent vigils that SMUUF members participated in. One on July 12 to protest activities at the border, and one on August 6 to support Voting Rights.
Besides these issues, we discussed churches providing sanctuary for immigrants, the OWL Program (which SMUUF is providing), the Corridor Interfaith Alliance for Families efforts on local issues of concern to communities (SMUUF Adult RE on August 18), and affordable housing (SMUUF Adult RE on September 15).
Our next conference call is September 24. And Rev. Chuck Freeman will be delivering a sermon for our 11:00 a.m. Worship Service on November 10.
Submitted by Jeannie Lewis
Call for Volunteers at Respite Center at the Texas border
The Sacred Heart Respite Center in McAllen is in desperate need of volunteers. This the Center to which our Sewing Guild has sent over 800 blankets. Volunteers and staff work with families seeking asylum. It is located at 209 W. Hackberry Ave, McAllen, TX 78501.
If you are interested in making a financial donation go to the Catholic Charities Rio Grande Valley Website for information on how to do so.
If you are interested in volunteering contact:
Hermi Forsaghe, Volunteer Coordinator
956 458 3331
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The Interfaith Welcome Coalition in San Antonio is another volunteer opportunity. Volunteers meet families who are seeking asylum at the airport or bus station and help them make connections to their next destination. These families have been assisted at the border at one of the Respite Centers there. You can reach the Coalition by email:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Volunteer coordinators are:
Paula Henderson
Jo Pendleton
Karen and Karl Brown, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 512-395-5467
SMUUF Social Justice Team Selects Donate-the-Plate Recipients for 2019
The SMUUF Social Justice Executive Team met Sunday morning, December 16, to review the applications for Donate-the-Plate recipients for next year. There were 18 applications for only 10 slots. We usually leave two months open for unexpected situations like Hurricane Harvey, which we donated to and the backpacks for the homeless that we are donating to for December.
We were actually able to select 11 recipients because we combined PFLAG (San Marcos) and WFLAG (Wimberley) to share one Sunday and split the donation 50/50. The recipients selected were:
The recipients are all very grateful. We are busy now trying to schedule them into months that are best for their schedule.
This Donate-the-Plate monthly giving program in SMUUF has created strong alliances with local nonprofits and gained great respect in the community. I frequently hear from community members that they appreciate what we do in the community! -Submitted by Jeannie Lewis, Social Justice Chair
For more information or questions regarding Membership please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
For pastoral care concerns please contact our Caring Team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
If you have joys or sorrows, church or community news you would like printed in the Flash, or Sunday announcements, email the SMUUF Admin email account at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Need a SMUUF Name Badge?
Sermon Podcasts
Our most recent sermons are available on the website under the Past Sermons tab, and as podcasts from iTunes and Stitcher. Click the links to go to the SMUUF channels and subscribe. If you would like to listen to a past service not in the list of podcasts, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Automate Your Pledge
Tired of writing checks for your pledges? There are three ways you can avoid check writing, and never miss a monthly gift.
- If your bank has bill pay, you can set up an automatic monthly check to SMUUF directly from your bank. It's simple, and it costs you and SMUUF nothing, it should be a free service if offered by your bank.
- You can authorize a regular withdrawal (known as ACH) directly from your bank to ours.
- You can authorize a regular charge on a credit card that SMUUF can process.
For the latter two options, use our donation app to set up recurring payments either by credit card or direct deposit. It's painless!
To make a pledge or general donation at any time:
Legacy Society
Board Meeting Minutes available