Rev. Krista's Office Hours: Now Online via Zoom

Rev. Krista will be holding virtual office hours Wednesdays and Fridays from 12-2pm at https://uuma.zoom.us/my/smuuf or via phone. If you would like to meet at another time please email her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

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/

Adult Religious Exploration

No meeting this week, but join the Zoom early to spend time with others in a breakout

First Sunday: SMUUF Book Group

Second Sunday: WUUFS Meeting

• What did you learn or think about the death of Jesus on the cross when you were growing up?
• Was this in a Unitarian-Universalist church or another church? 
• What do you think now?
• Do you think it is important to include this story in Unitarian Easter services? Why or why not?
• What relevance do you think this story has to our lives today?

SMUUF Board of Trustees Meeting

Tomorrow, Sunday, June 28 at 12:30 p.m. via Zoom

All are welcome to attend.

FUUDies (Fantastic UU Diners)

Sundays after service

Postponed until further notice.

The Fantastic UU Diners eat together after church at a different local restaurant almost every Sunday. The FUUDies always welcome new people. Please tell Jeannie before or after the Sunday service if you plan to attend so we can save a seat for you!

Join the Hospitality team!

Thanks to the Hospitality Teams, these folks do a great job making coffee, providing refreshments, greeting, and generally making the church ready for worship and fellowship! Our teams are still working to help out with our virtual services.

Dear SMUUF Families with Children,

Children & Youth Check-in

Sunday Mornings 10:30 a.m. before service

Families with kids are invited to login to Zoom early Sunday mornings and join us for a children's check-in before worship. Families will be added to a breakout room from 10:30-10:55 a.m. that will automatically transfer you back to worship when it's finished.

We have completed our first Our Whole Lives (O.W.L.) Lifespan Sexual Education classes! 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.

Thank you for being a part of the San Marcos Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and for bringing your children to church! Our congregation is greatly blessed by their presence among us.

SOUL MATTERS THEMES FOR 2019-20 CHILDREN’S RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

October: Belonging

November: Attention

December: Awe

January: Integrity

February: Resilience

March: Wisdom

April: Liberation

May: Thresholds

June: Play 

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:

Here are some upcoming events to mark in your calendar:

(A calendar is posted downstairs with dates and themes)

SEE YOU SUNDAY!!

Week of Friday, June 26 - Thursday, July 2

Check the SMUUF Calendar for current listings of activities

Ways to Access Gatherings and Groups using Zoom:

Link: https://uuma.zoom.us/my/smuuf

Or by calling in to any of the phone numbers below and enter the meeting ID

Meeting ID: 849 653 9395
+1 346 248 7799
+1 669 900 6833
+1 646 876 9923
+1 253 215 8782
+1 301 715 8592
+1 312 626 6799

Support Group Meetings

This upcoming week we’re going to test out support groups! All of our Support Groups are open to members, friends, and visitors and will be held in the same SMUUF Zoom we use for Sunday morning worship. Support Groups will start with a reading of our Covenant and Chalice Lighting, followed by Check-in and Reflection Questions. These conversations will not be live streamed or recorded to maintain privacy. Groups with at least 5 participants will continue meeting weekly. If you would like to attend but have a time conflict please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. as we may make adjustments based on interest and availability. See instructions above on how to access Zoom.

Frontline Fellowship (For people working outside their home to keep our systems going)

Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m.

Sewing Guild

Wednesdays at 2:00 p.m.
Anyone is welcome. We're always happy to have new Sewing Guild recruits.

BIPOC Group

Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.

Marissa Fehler would like to invite those who identify as Black or Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) to meet.

Vulnerable Populations

Thursdays at 12:00 p.m.

Parents/Caregivers (For people caring for Children)

Thursdays at 3:00 p.m.

TGIF Happy Hour

Social Events

Other Events

The International Convocation of UU Women Meetings

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. Meetings are expected to continue through the fall. Jeannie Lewis, SMUUF Social Justice Chair, has been meeting every week with this group on Zoom for the past three months of the coronavirus pandemic.

It has been so comforting and inspiring to meet with these 25 or so women from all over the U.S. and other countries to discuss what we and our congregations are doing to deal with this crisis. I hope some more SMUUF women will join in.

See the link below to join this meeting in July and August:

Zoom Meeting link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/283947380?pwd=Y2lndllPNFVPQktuUnl0b045TjVtQT09

Or via phone --- find your local number here: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdsBxNyMX8

Meeting ID: 283 947 380
Password: 385478

I hope to see you there! For more information contact Jeannie Lewis at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Weekly Events - Meet via Zoom

SMUUF Choir

Sewing Guild

Meets Wednesday afternoons at 2:00 p.m. via Zoom

REQUEST: The SMUUF Sewing Group is looking for someone who might be able to take more quilt materials to our friend, Betty Watkins, in Central Austin. You would need to pick up the materials at Ann Allen's home and take to the lobby of Betty's apartment building. If you can help, please call either Ann Allen (512.357-2515) or Kate Clayton (479.381.7823) Thanks~

The Sewing Guild has made and delivered over 700 quilts to children in need.

Friday "Talk, Then Walk"

POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

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..

Stand on Every Corner San Marcos - Fridays on the Square

We gather every Friday to protest the present administration, especially it’s mistreatment of emigrants crossing our southern Border.

Our hours are any time from 4:30 till 6:30 at the corner of LBJ and Hopkins, at the statue of Jack Hays. We have water and some extra signs.

Contact Ann Whitus: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Contact Marissa Fehler if you are interested in attending! - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

General Assembly is the annual gathering of Unitarian Universalists, where we conduct business of the Association, explore the theological underpinnings of our faith, and lean fully into our mission and principles. Please join us Wednesday, June 24 through Sunday, June 28, 2020 in Providence, Rhode Island for this 5-day immersive experience where we participate in inspirational worship services and informative workshops, reconvene with friends and colleagues, and explore our bustling exhibit hall. GA is an unforgettable experience for the thousands of UUs who attend. Meet us in Providence and you’ll leave with renewed energy and innovative ideas to share with your congregation and community-at-large!

Registration is now open at uua.org/ga. Full-time registration is $400 for adults, $240 for high school youth, and $150 for off-site registrants. Register by March 15 for the lowest rate. Rates will increase on March 16 and again on May 1.

The UUA is committed to the goal of making GA accessible to as many attendees as possible. Go to uua.org/ga to learn about scholarships to support participation - particularly of those from marginalized groups - and volunteer opportunities (work in exchange for registration). 

In addition to a variety of nearby hotels, attendees will also be able to book dormitory-style accommodations at two local universities. Also, UUs from local congregations will serve as host families for Home Hospitality, which is B&B style accommodations. For more information, visit uua.org/ga. Make your hotel reservation beginning March 2 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern at uua.org/ga.

Attending the annual General Assembly as a high school aged youth is an incredible experience. Not only do youth get to worship, witness, learn and connect in a multigenerational continental community, youth can get to know hundreds of other youth and participate in making an impact on the Association through the democratic process.

The theme for General Assembly in June 2020 is Rooted, Inspired, & Ready! We are in touch with our theological roots, we are engaged in transforming our faith, and we are fired up to take action in the wider world.

UBarU Camp & Retreat Center Upcoming Events - Check www.ubaru.org for postponements/cancellations

At UBarU, we have canceled events from March through July which includes our 4 weeks of planned summer camps including youth UU camps and Human Sexuality camp. We are sad, the youth who were looking forward to coming are sad. It is disappointing to not be able to be together at camp.

As of right now, camp is closed. Once the Stay Home orders are lifted, it might be an option for families to come to camp and stay in the cottages while taking the necessary precautions to stay safe. We will monitor the advise of local and state public health experts as we make decisions about events planned in August and later. UBarU will update with details as they become available.

If you have any questions, UBarU Director Robin Stout is happy to be in touch. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 830-460-6002.

San Marcos Contra Dance - 4th Sundays after SMUUF Service

San Marcos "4th Sunday" Contra Dance
All Dances are Prompted by a Caller... and Danced to Live Music!
Beginners Welcome! No Partner Necessary! This is a Family Friendly Event

We dance in the acoustically beautiful UCM Wesley Building. Free parking is available in the facility lot or the first level of the parking garage across the street.

$10 regular admission, with discounts for TAADA members and students.

For more information about Contra Dance: What is "Contra Dance"?

All dances held at:

United Campus Ministry, 510 N Guadalupe, San Marcos, TX
1:30-4:30pm

Our Next Dance: Postponed until further notice.

If you haven’t joined or renewed membership in TAADA, please bring the $20 and become a member. In addition to discounts on dances and access to dance reminders, your membership pays for our dance insurance and helps to keep dance prices lower.

Please come fragrance free for our dancers with allergies.

After the dance, some of us go to dinner at Italian Garden 2 blocks away to continue visiting. This is an open invitation and anyone can join us.

For more information and upcoming events, see our website https://sites.google.com/site/smcdtx

Joys and Concerns

Jim Wallgren's Book Release

Jim: It's only taken me 40 years to write this, but I finally finished my book. Most friends here on Facebook know my story about the accident. The book reveals the part of my life you may not know. I had planned to do a book launch. That is not feasible with COVID-19 at this time. All book sales profits during launch I will be donated to #UnitedSpinalAssociation.

The organization supports individuals and families dealing with traumatic spinal injuries. COVID-19 has presented unique challenges to my community, their caregivers, and families that they are trying to address. In addition, their advocacy efforts are trying to give guidance to policy changes that affect the disability community.

Reviews of the book would be greatly appreciated. Even though Amazon placed my book in children category. I would not recommend for kids under 12-13 years old due to intense hospital scenes.

Please share with friends and family!

https://www.amazon.com/Last-Tackle-Finding-Courage-Adversity-ebook/dp/B089DSMZLY/

"Thank You" from the Indigenous Cultures Institute

"Thank You" from the Executive Director of the Indigenous Cultures Institute after the article about SMUUF's donation was published in the San Marcos Daily Record on Friday, May 29:

"Hello Jeannie, we did see the article, it was wonderful. It documented the abiding relationship that we've created between the SMUUF and ICI. We are so very grateful for your support and your ability to communicate the inspiring work that your faith community is doing. On behalf of our children and indigenous community in San Marcos, thank you."

Gratefully,

Maria F. Rocha
Executive Director
Indigenous Cultures Institute

SMUUF Represented at Texas IAF Zoom Meeting Thursday, June 25

IAF stands for Industrial Areas Foundation, an unusual name for our social justice network in Texas. Jeannie Lewis, SMUUF Social Justice Chair, attended this Zoom meeting for interfaith organizations all over Texas on Thursday, June 25. More that 900 people participated! SMUUF participates through Central Texas Interfaith (CTI). SMUUF is a member of this organization through our dues paying membership in the Corridor Interfaith Alliance for Families (CIAF) directed by Rev. Sabrina Jennings.

During the meeting they emphasized their main issues — immigration, community policing and living wages.

There were several presentations from leaders about what was happening in their own communities. San Antonio reported that they are focusing on workforce development — help for workers. Central Texas Interfaith (our organization) is working on rental and income assistance. Dallas Interfaith is is trying to increase testing for COVID-19 for Latinos. And there were more….

There followed questions to state leaders focusing on how to protect the most vulnerable.

Then leaders across Texas spoke about what they have been doing and what needs to be done.

Then there were reports from leaders arounds Texas about Get Out the Vote House Meetings they plan to host and how many voters they plan to turnout in their communities for the November Election.

For more information contact Jeannie Lewis at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

SMUUF Represented ay CUUSAN Workshop at General Assembly

Jeannie Lewis, SMUUF Social Justice Chair, attended the national virtual Zoom meeting of the Coalition of UU State Action Networks (CUUSAN) at General Assembly on Wednesday, June 24. About 100 people were present from 22 states and D.C. Texas, with 17 present, had far and away the most. This is probably due to the active work of the Texas UU Justice Ministry under the competent guidance of Executive Director Rev. Chuck Freeman. Chuck serves as V.P. on the national Board of CUUSAN. BTW, Chuck will be our guest minister this Sunday, June 28.

At one point in the program we were sent to breakout rooms to discuss with a small group of people what positive was happening in our congregations and in our community. I talked about the wonderful turnout for Black Lives Matter rallies and marches and the increased hope for meaningful change. I also mentioned how people had turned out to help those more vulnerable in our COVID climate — such as volunteers that fund and help with Food Bank deliveries to homes so people don't have to travel to the traditional distribution sites.

There followed a workshop presented by the singing duo, Emma's Revolution, on the advantages of including music in protest and social justice activities. It was very informative! Protest songs and others inspire us as organizers for the work we're doing. It stirs us and leads us to an activist mentality.

We went to a final breakout room to share social justice activities in our communities. I shared the discovery of a noose hanging in a Black church under repair in a small community near Lockhart, and how our minister, Rev. Krista, went with other area ministers to visit the site and show our support. I believe a Letter to the Editor in an area newspaper there will also be sent.

For more information contact Jeannie Lewis at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

SMUUF Awarded 2019-2020 Blue Ribbon Congregation by the UU Office at the United Nations (UU@UN)

The Blue Ribbon Award is an annual recognition that the Unitarian Universalist Office at the United Nations grants to congregations who demonstrate their commitment to building a world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all. These congregations are awarded based on their financial support of and active engagement with the work of the UU@UN. Having a prominent place within the civil society community at the United Nations gives Unitarian Universalists the chance to let our values be heard and respected on a global stage. Unitarian Universalists have had an outsized impact by working with the United Nations and its Member States and agencies to promote Unitarian Universalist understandings of justice and inclusion in their work for human rights, peace, and climate action. UU@UN Envoy Teams allow UU congregations to have an impact locally through uplifting United Nations initiatives and the values of interdependence and multilateralism in their communities. The UU@UN’s work is only possible because of the generosity of congregations and individuals who support it. Congratulations and appreciation for all 2019-20 Blue Ribbon Congregations! - Allison Hess, the International Engagement Associate at the UU@UN (Allison came to speak to SMUUF on UN Sunday back in October of 2019.)

SMUUF deserves to be proud of this honor. We will be receiving a plaque that we can display when we begin in-person services again.

Jeannie Lewis, SMUUF Social Justin Chair, and Becky Allen, SMUUF Environmental Justice Chair, received the announcement from Allison Hess. Both Jeannie and Becky are UU@Un Envoys representing SMUUF congregation. There are monthly UU@UN Envoy Zoom meetings that we can participate in.

Texas UU Justice Ministry Monthly Call – May 26, 2020

Jeannie Lewis, SMUUF Social Justice Chair, is on the Advisory Council of the Texas UU Justice Ministry (TXUUJM). Each month we participate in a conference call moderated by Executive Director, Rev. Church Freeman. We discuss social justice work UUs are participating in across Texas and how our congregations can help. I'd welcome more SMUUF members to participate in this monthly call — especially our Boar President, Jordan Buckley, and our minister, Rev. Krista Weber Huang, and anyone else.

On our Conference Call this week we discussed several issues:

- TXUUJM's continuing support for the Carrizo Comecrudo tribe at the border: The U.S. government wants to build part of Trumps wall through their land and there is also the fracking gas pipeline that plans to come through their land. Recently there was a Tribal Meeting of 300+ people composed of many experts. TXUUJM is partnering with them and building a relationship. We want a core group to get engaged and help support legal action.

- Nuevo Laredo housing: Immigrants not allowed to cross the U.S. border and wait for official passage and are forced to wait in Mexico. There are two houses there where 180 immigrants are crammed into! TXUUJM has applied for and received a grant from the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) to use to obtain a third house.

- Scheduling a statewide strategy call with Susan Leslie of UUA on UU The Vote. More info about that to come. Congregations can apply for a $500 grant while the $$ lasts for local UU the Vote activities at https://www.uua.org/justice/vote2020

- Rev. Chuck Freeman announced that he can participate in online worship services or host Zoom worship services

- The TXUUJM Advisory Council is going to be updated. TXUUJM has hired an Executive Assistant, Cathy Marston, who will be contacting the congregation soon. If you are interested in serving on the TXUUJM Advisory Council, please contact Jeannie Lewis at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

We always end with "Congregational Bragging," and Jeannie always brag on our SMUUF congregation. She bragged on our Zoom online Donate-the-Plate collection when we were used to "passing the plate" in-person Worship Services and weren't sure how online donations during our Zoom services would work. She said that we collected $850 for Mano Amiga last month and $550 this month for the Indigenous Cultures Institute so it's working. Rev. Chuck Freeman backed her up with how our newspaper articles about the D-T-P spread goodwill in the larger community!

Rev. Chuck says next month we will be going to Zoom. (We've been on phone up until now). We would welcome new SMUUF people to participate in these meetings on the 4th Tuesday of each month from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. If you are interested in trying it out, let Jeannie Lewis know at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. know and she will get you on the email announcement list.

UU-UNO Monthly Call Summary and Minutes – June 16, 2020

Jeannie Lewis and Becky Allen are SMUUF Envoys to our UU Office at the United Nations (UU@UN) in New York City, and are invited to attend a monthly ZOOM meeting with other UU Envoys from across the United States. Both Jeannie and Becky attended the June meeting. Also present were UU Envoys from Long Beach, CA; Watertown, NY; Lacombe, LA; Alton, IL and New York City. Some places had two or three Envoys. Allison Hess, our UU International Engagement Associate at the UN, served as our moderator.

UN News

• The global protests and actions in response to the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis have been extensive across the world. This is also showing up prominently at the United Nations where diplomats and civil society organizations are drawing attention to discrimination faced by People of African Descent all over, not just in the U.S.
• The UN Human Rights Council convened in person on Monday for the first time since COVID-19 began. A proposal put forth from the African Group calls for an urgent meeting to discuss systemic racism, police brutality, and violence against peaceful protesters. The recording can also be watched afterwards: http://webtv.un.org/ (make sure the language tab under the video is set to English if you don’t understand French).
• Secretary-General Guterres called several weeks ago for a global ceasefire during the pandemic. The UN security Council has tried to endorse the S-G’s statement and hasn’t been able to do so because of conflict between China and the U.S.
• UN is committed to operating virtually through September.
• Upcoming in early July is the High-Level Political Forum to assess progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

News from the UU@UN:

• Two stellar interns started this week for their virtual UU@UN summer internships.
• UN Sunday resources will be all online this year, focusing on the theme of climate justice but also including content honoring the UN’s 75th anniversary. Look for resources later this month at www.uua.org/unsunday!
• From the International Office, will be hosting a webinar series in the fall about Unitarian/Universalist colonial legacy and asking the question: Are we an imperial faith? Co-led alongside ICUU and UUPCC.

There followed an in-depth session of questions and discussion from the Envoys regarding UN and global topics. We ended the meeting sharing what was currently going on in our local communities and congregations.

SMUUF Social Justice Executive Team Selects D-T-P Recipients for 2020

The Social Justice Executive Team met Sunday, November 24, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. in the UCM Fellowship Hall to examine and discuss the many applications received from prospective Donate-the-Plate recipients for the year 2020. We usually only select 10 recipients and save two open months for unexpected contingencies that seem to always occur. But for 2020, we decided to accept 11 and only leave one month open. We usually conduct D-T-P on the 3rd Sunday of the month unless the recipient organization requests another date that is best for them.

This is the tentative D-T-P schedule for 2020, subject to change:

UBarU Events Update

We hope you are safe and well! UBarU Camp & Retreat Center is offering e-events to help you connect with camp and with each other. All the details are at http://ubaru.org/home/e-events

The upcoming events are offered free of charge and donations are gratefully accepted at https://ubaru.org/home/Support.

Additionally, we are planning to host an in-person Star Party at camp Aug 13-16. We have a few more private rooms available and camping is encouraged. Details about precautions we will take, registration and more are at https://ubaru.org/home/starParty

Thank you for your support- past, present and future!

If you have any questions, I am happy to be in touch. Please email Robyn Stout, Executive Director, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call me at 830-460-6002.

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.

1. 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.
2. You can authorize a regular withdrawal (known as ACH) directly from your bank to ours.
3. 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!

Give

To make a pledge or general donation at any time:

Donate to SMUUF

Legacy Society

Board Meeting Minutes available