Are you able to provide assistance during these uncertain times?
Our Caring team is extending their service to our community by coordinating help to those who need assistance, in particular those of advanced age or who are immunocompromised. Care Coordinators will help match up those in need. To make arrangements email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or post on our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/groups/smuuf/
SMUUF Meal Train
SMUUF now has an official Meal Train! If you're interested in volunteering or if a few extra meals would help ease your life please contact our Caring Committee through Jeanne Garthwaite at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
SMUUF Relief Fund Established
The SMUUF Relief Fund has been established to give temporary support for those who are living out the mission and vision of our Unitarian Universalist faith. This fund was established using 10% of a generous anonymous donation given to our congregation in May of 2020 “to help ensure the continuance of liberal religion in our community” through the challenges of COVID-19. People who find themselves in need of temporary financial assistance are encouraged to reach out to the SMUUF Relief Fund Committee at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The needs of those who have traditionally marginalized identities will be prioritized. Confidentiality will be respected.
Adult Religious Exploration
Sunday Services and Other Gatherings
https://uuma.zoom.us/my/smuuf
Upcoming RE Meetings - If you'd like to schedule an RE, contact Administrator Joel Johnson (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
A Pew Research Report from March 22, 2016 found that “women are generally more religious than men, particularly among Christians.” In the United States, for example, http://pewrsr.ch/1R5nPAK%26text%3D%2520women%2520are%2520more%2520likely%2520than%2520men%2520to%2520say%2520religion%2520is%2520%25E2%2580%259Cvery%2520important%25E2%2580%259D%2520in%2520their%2520lives%2520%252860%2525%2520vs.%252047%2525%2529&source=gmail&ust=1662857335475000&usg=AOvVaw0W4ZCkrlzDCkgweVSlToPa" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">women are more likely than men to say religion is “very important” in their lives (60% vs. 47%) , American women also are more likely than American men to say they pray daily (64% vs. 47%) and attend religious services at least once a week (40% vs. 32%).
Questions to think about:
- Why is this, given that “history’s most influential religious leaders . . .tend to be predominantly, if not exclusively, male, and some religious groups allow only men to be clergy”?
- Is women’s religious experience somehow different?
- Does your sense of your gender shape your experience of organized religion? How?
- Is Unitarian Universalism more welcoming to women’s religious experience than other denominations? How? Why?
- Is it partly because we give great importance to “direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life”?
- Do you think things have changed in the 6 years since that Pew survey?
Bring your contributions and insights to the SMUUF Zoom room. Also, if you have a topic or you'd like to present
On Sunday, Sept. 25 the topic will be Can Animal Agriculture Really Be the Number One Cause of Climate Change?
How can this be explained? Same time and place.
On Sunday, Oct. 2nd at 9:30AM, SMUUF Book Group has started meeting on the first Sunday of every month again. At that meeting we will discuss Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, take suggestions for new books to read, and discuss where we go from here. For more information, contact Book Club Coordinator, Jeanne Garthwaite at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The group meets on the same SMUUF Zoom channel at the top of the page.
If you'd like to schedule an RE, contact Joel Johnson (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
First Sunday Afternoon: Spiritual Exploration Adult RE Group @ 2:30 p.m. Postponed
The next meeting of the Spiritual Exploration Adult RE Group has not been scheduled yet.
Contact group leader Mike Russett (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) for more information.
SMUUF Donate-the-Plate for June:
Volunteers at Centro Esperanza sort food into bags from the San Antonio Food Bank to give to Redwood and Rancho Vista residents. They distribute about 50 pounds of food each to about 350 families. The families line up in their cars and drive thru to pick up their food.
Ellie describes some of the work they have accomplished. "A donated 2-acre lot has finally been developed into a community gathering place. A small building has our office and a classroom where ESL, GED and computer classes and several other events take place. A large open pavilion is available for community events. We provide food delivery for qualifying families; health clinics, activities for children and host several special events. We have put in a playscape, a soccer field, and a basketball court. This has provided a park for the youth to enjoy. We have held several COVID vaccination clinics which have been well attended."
Ellie tells how our SMMUF donation will be used to help. "While some of our activities, such as the classes, have had to be put on hold due to COVID, we have been able to continue the food delivery, which is so important in this community. We will deliver turkeys at Thanksgiving. We will also hold a Halloween party and a Christmas party. Your donation will make it possible to hold these events! We once again thank you so much for your generosity!"
Please give generously to this worthy organization! For more information, contact Jeannie Lewis, SMUUF Social Justice Chair, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Instructions for donating:
Go to smuuf.org
Click green button on right "Donate to SMUUF"
Fill out complete form. Click on down arrow on "Give to:"
Select "Donate the Plate"
Be sure to click on bottom "Give $…" bar
Or mail a check made out to SMUUF with Donate-the-Plate in the Memo Line.
Mail to:
SMUUF
P.O. Box 1053
San Marcos, TX 78666
SMUUF Donate-the-Plate Recipients for 2022
The SMUUF Social Justice Executive Team is composed of Rev. Krista Weber Huang (Ex Officio), Jeannie Lewis (Chair), Becky Allen, Jordan Buckley, Rev. Karl Brown, Kate Clayton, and Mike Russett. D-T-P applications were sent out to non-profit nominees in the fall of 2021. Completed applications were received and reviewed by the Executive Team. Unanimous decisions were reached to accept all the following recipients.
The Calaboose African American History Museum – January
H.O.M.E. (Homeless Outreach, Mitigation, and Emergency) Center of Central Texas – February
International Women’s Convocation – March
Bobcat Pride Scholarship Fund – April
Indigenous Cultures Institute – May
Hays County Child Protective Board – June
San Marcos River Foundation – July
PFLAG San Marcos – August
Redwood Community Center, Inc., dba Centro Esperanza – September
UU Office at the United Nations – October
Open - November
Texas UU Justice Ministry – December
The SMUUF Social Justice Executive Team has notified all the Donate-the-Plate recipients who were selected for the 2022 year — and we have heard back from them. Their expressions of gratitude are so heart-warming and uplifting, I want to share them with you. See some of their wonderful quotes below.
From: Zsofia Sztranyiczki, Executive Director of International Women's Convocation
"Wonderful news! Thank you, Jeannie, for all your efforts to make this happen!"
From: Dr. Skyller Walkes, President of the Board of Directors of Calaboose African American History Museum
"Thank you so very much for sharing this news! This is such a wonderful and welcome surprise! Please accept our sincerest thanks to you and our beautiful SMUUF community. Your support of the Calaboose African American History Museum has been and continues to be a genuine blessing to us. We cannot thank you enough for this gift … Thank you and the generous SMUUF members for your kindness and thoughtful support. The Donate the Plate gift will make a tremendous difference in the work we espouse, and it is greatly appreciated. Thank you for supporting our efforts to further inclusive, social justice work. We remain genuinely humbled by the blessing. Best wishes for a wonderful rest of your day and the happiest of holidays!"
From: Ellie Stewart, Treasurer of the Board of Directors of Redwood Community Center
"Thank you so much for giving us the good news that SMUUF has picked Redwood Community Center to be a recipient of Donate the Plate for 2022. Your sponsorship means so much to us! ... I think your Donate the Plate program is wonderful and am so happy that we will be one of the recipients."
From: Dr. Aaron Pyle, Financial Officer for The Indigenous Cultures Institute
"Many thanks to you and the other members of the SMUUF team for this invitation! We are honored to participate … Thank you again for the generosity of your congregation and for your commitment to investing in the San Marcos community."
From: Virginia Condie, Executive Director of San Marcos River Foundation
"Thank you Jeannie! We are ecstatic!"
From: Rev. Erin Walter, Acting Executive Director of Texas UU Justice Ministry
"Thank you so much. TXUUJM and I greatly appreciate SMUUF's support and we will be working hard for justice in Texas alongside your congregation. With deepest gratitude."
From: June Hankins, Hays County Child Protection Board
"We are honored to be chosen again by SMUUF to be a recipient of Donate-the-Plate. This donation will make a difference to children who have experienced abuse or neglect. Thank you so very much! … Many, many thanks to the Social Justice Executive Committee and to the SMUUF congregation for supporting our work."
From: Allison Hess, International Engagement Associate at the UU Office at the United Nations
"This is great news! So glad to hear! Thanks so much to you for ushering this process along and to the SMUUF team for supporting our inclusion as a Donate the Plate recipient!"
From: Jim Pendergast, Treasurer of PFLC San Marcos
"Again, we are so very grateful for SMUUF’s continued support. Many thanks to the entire Fellowship."
Dear SMUUF Families with Children,
We will soon be making adjustments within our new space at First Christian Church! We welcome all children, no matter how playful, to attend our services but are currently asking children to stay with their parents during service. We have a playground outside and an observation room where parents can hear the service without concern of their child's spirited communication. This room exists as a choice for those parents if THEY feel more comfortable. It is not to make the service quieter for others. We love the sounds of children in our worship services!
We completed our first Our Whole Lives (O.W.L.) Lifespan Sexual Education classes in Spring 2020! Thanks to teachers, families and young people in grades 7-9 and grades 4-6 that participated. We are excited to offer this program to our community again in the future. We hope to offer this program again in the coming year.
RE Class Time – On hold for now...
Week of Friday, August 5 - Thursday, August 11
Ways to Access Gatherings and Groups using Zoom: https://uuma.zoom.us/my/smuuf
Or by calling in to 346-248-7799 below and enter the meeting ID 849 653 9395
Small Group Meetings
TGIF Happy Hour
Other Events
UPDATE!!!!
There will be a Summer Break until September 13
The International Convocation of UU Women, also called the International Women's Convocation (IWC) will conduct a Zoom meeting at 9:00 a.m. on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month starting Sept 13.
Join Zoom Meeting via internet:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
Or via phone - find your local number here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/u/
Meeting ID: 283 947 380
Password: 385478
The International Convocation of UU Women, also called the International Women's Convocation (IWC) will conduct a Zoom meeting at 9:00 a.m. on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month, starting again on Sept 13th.
See the link below to join this meeting:
Zoom Meeting ID: 283 947 380
Password: 385478
For more information contact Jeannie Lewis at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Weekly Events
SMUUF Choir
Choir will take the Summer off and return to rehearsals in August. More details to come. For information about choir meetings and social gatherings, please contact choir director, Gayle Gaston. All who enjoy singing are welcome!
Contact: Gayle Gaston (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) to be added to the SMUUF Choir email list.
SMUUF Sewing Guild Meets Every Tuesday at 2:00 p.m.
Friday "Talk, Then Walk" - Meet in person with social distancing, masks
Meets Friday mornings, text Garrie Borden at 401-793-6435 for meeting info
Join us for a weekly outdoor, socially-distanced meeting and walk in San Marcos' natural areas. Bring a chair, beverage and mask. We meet every friday at 10 am to chat for about a half hour, then go on an approx. 45-minute walk around the river or on our numerous nearby trails.
Garrie sends out a text every Thursday to let you know where to meet. To join the group, text her, and she'll add you to the list.
Contact: Garrie Borden at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Homeless Coalition of Hays County (formerly Local Homeless Coalition [LHC])
Next meeting: Friday, TBA @ 10:00 a.m.Coalition bylaws can be found here.
Want to speak or present at a coalition meeting? Please fill out this quick form to be considered for placement on the agenda.
Contact the organizers at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you are willing to volunteer or want more information.
Send your community and local announcements to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.!
SMUUF Sewing Guild Comfort Quilts for Uvalde families tied in bundles of 10 each with a note to Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Uvalde.
SMUUF Past Meeting Reports
SMUUF Members stay active, representing our congregation at many UU, national, and local meetings and events. Check out the most recent updates below. If you attend any events that you would like to share with our members and friends, send an email to SMUUF Admin Marissa Fehler at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Texas UU Justice Ministry (TXUUJM) Announces Texas Legislative Issues for 2021-2022
After a 10 week process of nominations and voting 25 Texas UU congregations (including SMUUF) we have chosen these top issues for us to work on collectively from 2020-2022!
1. Racial Justice
2. Environmental Justice
3. Healthcare Access
4. Economic Justice
5. Voting Rights
After the results of the November elections and we see more clearly the makeup of the legislature we will begin to plot strategies on our top issues.
We WILL Bend Texas and America Toward Justice Together!
UBarU Events Update
TBA
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?
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:
Join the SMUUF Social Justice Action Alert Team
Jeannie Lewis, SMUUF Social Justice Chair, maintains a Social Justice Action Alert Email Distribution List to communicate with SMUUF members and friends who have volunteered to receive notices of social justice opportunities in our community. This is an invitation for you to sign up to receive those notices. An email may be sent out once a week or even less often, so there is not a flood of emails sent out.
Most opportunities are in our community or can be done from home. Examples are monitoring (at home) phone calls about homelessness; phone calls, emails, or post cards to the Legislature and other entities to advocate for social justice issues; attending social justice Zoom meetings on local homelessness, Interfaith coalitions performing area social justice work, and other Zoom meetings; and several other area opportunities.
By signing up to be on the email distribution list, you are not obligated to volunteer for any activity, but it will help to keep you informed of some of the needs in our community. To be added to the SMUUF Social Action Alert Team Email Distribution List, send your name, your email address, and your phone number to Jeannie Lewis at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..