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Josh’s Journal
September’s Theme: Grace
When I was studying for the ministry, I spent a summer as a
student chaplain in a hospital in Detroit. There were about 20 of us
student chaplains that summer; I was the only non-Catholic.
Everyone else was studying to be a priest. Believe it or not, I bonded
with this group of guys in a way I did not anticipate. One day I
asked one of my new friends about the requirement of celibacy for
priests. We were all in our twenties at the time, so I was curious to
hear about this from someone my age who was willing to make such
a deep life commitment. My friend Dan said, “Celibacy is a gift from
God. If you don’t look at it that way, then it would be impossible to
maintain that lifestyle.”
A gift?! What an amazing way of thinking about it. While I
chose to go a different way in my spiritual path, obviously, I have
never forgotten that remark. What if we reframed our minds to see
the common ordinary facts of our lives as gifts? What would it be
like to take nothing for granted, and to appreciate everything, no
matter how mundane it may have become for us? In September we
will explore the theme of Grace. Grace is defined in various ways,
but I like to think of it as receiving a gift we did nothing to earn. It
just comes to us.
I think back on the gifts I had in my life in those halcyon days
of my summer chaplaincy. I was living in Ann Arbor with a house
full of my college friends. We would work during the day and then
enjoy the nightlife of our little college town. At the time it was an
ordinary thing; something that happened every day. Now I see that
time in my life as being full of gifts – friends, fun, and memories.
Which makes me wonder, what are the gifts that are right before me
now that I do not see? May this month of looking for grace, the
unexpected gifts, provide me the answer.
And you as well.
May You Be Blessed Always,
Rev Dr Joshua Snyder
Ministerial Matters
Rev. Josh plans to be in the
office Monday – Thursday
9 am – 4 pm. It’s always a
good idea to call first if you
want to see him in person.
NOTE: Church office hours
are Sunday - Thursday, 8:00
am – 2:30 pm.
NEW TO FIRST UU?
Please visit our website to
learn about the church, how
you can meet others and get
involved:
http://uusat.org/our-church-
2/new-to-first-uu/
Newcomers Meet and Greet
Coffee & conversation
Every Sunday 9:30 – 10:30am
Sophia Fahs Room
Changes to the Liturgy! Worship is one of the experiences of church that is deeply cherished by new and longtime members alike.
People at First UU Church of San Antonio care a lot about their worship experiences – and that is a very
good thing. With a new minister comes change. One of the most noticeable changes is to the liturgy; the
structure of the worship service on Sunday morning. Rev. Josh and the Worship Committee are trying to
enhance your experience of worship. We will be trying out some new things in the coming months, and
we want to hear from you.
If you are having a positive or negative experience at worship, please contact Rev. Josh or the Worship
Committee directly. We ask that such feedback not be anonymous – we can only use feedback that has a
name attached to it (this is a conversation after all.) As you offer your feedback we invite you to reflect in
the following ways: 1. In what way was the service transformative for you? How do you think, feel and
act differently after having experienced it? 2. What is the purpose of worship? What vision could/should
we bring about for how worship should be experienced at First UU?
While we cannot hope to accommodate every diverse opinion we receive, we do promise to listen
carefully and deeply with an open mind to everyone who directly engages the conversation. Thank you
for participating in this experiment!
President’s Column I used to think the best thing to be said about August was that it was getting a little closer to October, the
start of cooler weather and the Spurs season. However, this August is much more exciting. Our settled
minister, Rev. Josh Snyder, started his official duties on August 4th. I managed to wait until August 12th to
inflict a meeting on him.
For those who have not yet had the pleasure of being President (watch out- the LDC is looking for you)
every month, the president, vice-president and minister sit down together to plan the agenda for coming
board meeting. Since these meetings take place at 10:00 in the morning on a weekday, they feel much
more like business meetings than usual social/church meetings. It was a true pleasure to be working with
Josh. He started out the meeting listening (always a good thing), then had a lot of valuable input as we
went along. It is starting to look as though this will be a really good fit for our church. Thank you again to
the Ministerial Search Committee for all you did for such a successful result.
On a related note, it was really great to see the church full the last two Sundays. Summer is usually a slow
time, with everyone on vacation, but the last two weeks we had a really good turnout. That could be due,
in part, to the excellent work done by the Worship Committee in lining up truly exceptional services for
us.
Howard C. Berger, President
Altar Flowers Flowers, in memory, celebration. or just for their beauty are always welcome at our services. Even a single
rose has its own message to share. Covenant groups may wish to combine their efforts. To reserve a
special Sunday or if you need assistance, please contact the Worship Committee at [email protected].
Member Care Petie Rickabaugh is recovering at home from a small stroke. She is doing fine, and cards are welcome.
They may be sent to: 3811 Ridgeline Dr. San Antonio, TX 78228-2031.
Marian and Don Swellander have moved from Morningside Manor to The Laurels. Don is in a part of the
facility called The Haven. They would love to receive cards, which can be sent to: Marian Swellander, C/O
The Laurels Rm A107, 511 Knights Cross Dr., San Antonio, TX 78258.
Carolyn Henderson is recovering from a heart attack, which she had just five days after hip replacement.
She is recovering at Remmington, and cards can be sent to her home at: 1221 US Hwy 181 N., Floresville,
TX 78114-3108.
Beth Broadus would enjoy receiving cards following the death of her father. Elizabeth Klar-Broadus,
13807 Crested Rise, San Antonio, TX 78217-1452.
Lito Bujanda-Moore's father has died, and Lito has been in El Paso helping his mom. Cards can be sent to:
Lito & Ruth BUJANDA-MOORE, 639 Brightwood Place, San Antonio, TX 78209-3454.
Our congregation is saddened and diminished by the passing of Henry Halff. His memorial service will
be on Saturday, September 26 at 3:00pm.
Arline Terrell broke her hip on August 14 and had surgery that night. She would appreciate cards at 9511
Callaghan Rd., San Antonio, TX 78230-4617
Share the Plate
Planned Parenthood envisions a world where every child is born wanted, cared for and loved. Family
planning is the priority, including a full range of health care options for women.
Currently, Planned Parenthood is enduring attack from organizations designed to destroy it and constant
vilification by legislators and candidates. PP’s tenacity speaks to the heartfelt belief most Americans have
in family planning and the strong mission commitment of PP leadership and staff. But, why must
something so many believe in be on the defensive for its very survival? First UU has a history of standing
by Planned Parenthood, and we especially need to stand with it now to assure that it continue its good
work around the nation and in our region.
We will do that this month with our Share the Plate Program. On September 20, loose bills and checks not
otherwise marked will go to Planned Parenthood South Texas. PPST has three health care subsidiaries
that, together, operate eight health centers for women, men and teenagers in San Antonio, Harlingen and
Brownsville.
Read about our September Standing on the Side of Love project for PP staff and our PP educational forum
elsewhere in this newsletter.
Adult Religious Education Classes - September 2015
- Religious Explorations Mark Ackerman Fellowship Hall Sun 9:30 am
"The Passions: Philosophy & the Intelligence of Emotions" ... recorded lectures by
Prof. Robert Soloman, UT Austin
- Dialogue with Fellow Seekers Jeff Addington Darwin Sun 9:30 am
Variety of spiritual topics/concerns discussed in a respectful & caring environment
- World Faiths Book Club Terry Goddard Beatrix Potter Sun 9:30 am
" Fields of Blood" by Karen Armstrong facilitated by Bill Bush Aug 2-30
"Yoga, Discipline of Freedom, The Yoga Sutra attributed to Patanjali" translated by
Barbara Stoler Miller facilitated by Christine Chesnut
- Newcomers Meet & Greet facilitators vary Sophia Fahs Sun 9:30 am
Meet and greet for those new to or considering joining First UU
- UU Young Adults Megan Demers Janzen Beatrix Potter 4th Sun 12:00 noon
Ages 18-35 meet for food and fellowship
- UU Philosophy Bruce Beck Fellowship Hall 1st & 3rd Sun 7:15 pm
"Big History: The Genesis Story of Science"
- Our Chosen Faith Office Conference Room August 18-September 15, 7-9 pm
A foundational course designed for those new to UU as well as those wanting
to deepen their UU faith. Course book: "A Chosen Faith: An Introduction to
Unitarian Universalism" by John Buehrens and Forrest Church.
- Theological Anthropology (or, thinking about God, human beings & salvation)
Terry Goddard Beatrix Potter Sept 3-Oct 22, 7-8pm
American theologian Frederick Buechner has said that "all theology...is at its heart autobiography." In
this course we will explore both. We will review UU history and early theology by reading some of the
works of Hosea Ballou and William Channing among others. Other readings from our UU tradition as
well as various World Religions will be provided to stimulate discussion of our three major themes.
Membership Round Up! Wow! It’s been a long hot summer . . . . and we’ve had tons of visitors!
I was gone most of the summer but in August I put together my first First UU 101 session
of the new church year – we had 30 wonderful people attend!!!!! I hope all of those people
keep coming and find us to be the church that “fits” them. Please continue to extend a
warm welcome to all our visitors every Sunday! The next First UU 101 is tentatively
scheduled for Sunday, October 11th at 12:15 (after the service). Sign up through the church
office at [email protected] or with me at [email protected] .
I’m starting a new monthly feature called “First UU Heroes”. When I joined this church I
had no idea how wonderful some of our members were and it took me a while to find out, too
. . . to save others from that fate, I’ll be featuring ordinary people from our church who do
truly extraordinary things, both for our church and our community. If you have a person
you think is a “First UU Hero”, just drop me an email and tell me a little about them. I’m
hoping this will be a fun and informative feature every month. Get to know your local UU
hero! P.S. Youth can be heroes, too!
Dorothy Wallace, Membership Coordinator
First UU Heroes Rowena Rodgers, June Kachtik, and Peggy Lippert
WOW! Here’s a trio! These three wonderful women have been members of our church for many years.
These three lovely ladies went up to Austin this summer to support Planned Parenthood! Long advocates
of reproductive rights, and so many other social justice causes – these are women you should meet and
talk with – maybe they’ll turn out to be your heroes, too! What’s the best way to honor them? Pick up a
protest sign and join them this month as they go about providing educational opportunities regarding this
month’s Share the Plate recipient: Planned Parenthood. You Go, Ladies!
Planned Parenthood under attack – Why is this an issue for UUs?
In Texas, Planned Parenthood is being investigated due to allegations in undercover videos
released by anti-abortion activists. It has lost its joint state-federal funds to provide breast and cervical
cancer screening services to low income women, yet Planned Parenthood leaders vow to maintain their
presence in Texas despite lawmakers’ efforts to cut their funding.
Reproductive health has long been an important issue for Unitarian Universalists. At General
Assembly this past June, the delegates adopted a Statement of Conscience on Reproductive Justice. This
statement represented the culmination of four years of study and conversation in UU congregations
throughout the US.
If you agree that continued funding of Planned Parenthood is an important element of
reproductive justice in Texas, become involved in the activities sponsored in September by the Social
Justice and Denominational Connections Committees. They include:
Brush up on what UU’s think – the Statement of Conscience will be in the church foyer and catch Rev.
Josh’s sermon on September 20.
Contribute generously to Share the Plate on September 20 – our collection will benefit Planned
Parenthood.
And, meet with representatives of the local Planned Parenthood board after church that Sunday for a
light lunch and discussion.
You don’t have to wait until September 20. Consider writing a letter to the editor, signing a thank-you-
to-staff card, and touring the new facilities. (Information on all these activities will be forthcoming.)
June Kachtik and Donna Harrison, Co-chairs, Denominational Connections Committee
Parenting class begins Sunday, Sept. 6
1,2,3,4 Parents! is an interactive kit-based class with videos for parents or
caregivers of children ages one to four. Parents of infants are also invited
so they can "get ready”. The classes will be Sept 6, 13, 20, 27, Oct 4, 11 for
six weeks at 9:30 AM Sundays. The class is based on Active Parenting
Adlerian principles and includes developmental stages and mutual
respect among family members within an authoritatively-run family.
Terri Chadwick will facilitate the class. For more information, contact
Sheri, [email protected] or 344-2431.
Grounded in Nature By Ron Tullius Photos by Ed Codina
High Summer in San Antonio, marked by sweltering heat and parched soils, calls forth a profusion
of Swanflowers (Aristolochia erecta). Swanflower is a deep-rooted perennial, with narrow, grass-like leaves
and a tubular-shaped flower, expanded in the center, purplish brown with white freckles, standing only 8-
10 inches high.
It serves as the larval host plant for the Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly (Battus philenor), a raven-
colored beauty with a row of pale spots along the wing margins. The hindwing below has a row of orange
spots over a background of iridescent blue.
The fluttering female quickly lays her reddish-orange, globose eggs singly, in pairs, in quaternions.
The larvae, orange and black, passing through several instars, eagerly consume flower, leaf and stem until
the pupal period, when the crawling caterpillar makes the transformation into a winged insect. The
chrysalis is brown or light green, to match the color of its attachment surface.
The grassy median between the west parking lot and the IH-10 access road serves currently as
butterfly maternity ward and nursery. The all-you-can-eat buffet is open to Pipevine Swallowtail larvae.
Tread carefully, look into the twin circles of rock, observe the miracle of a butterfly's thread of life.
Coming in September For other activities, see the church calendar.
FAMILY CIRCLE DINNER & VISIONING WITH THE MINISTER - Saturday, September 5, 6:00pm,
Fellowship Hall - We want to hear from you! After enjoying a potluck dinner, parents will have an
opportunity to share hopes and dreams for our youth religious education program with the minister and
religious education director. Separate activities for the children will be offered. Please bring one dish
(entree, side or dessert) to share.
YOUTH CHOIR - Sunday, September 6, 9:00am, Sanctuary classroom - The First UU Youth choir begins
rehearsals for the new church year. All youth, ages 5-13, are welcome to join.
MABON RITUAL – Saturday, September 19, 7:00pm. Celestial Celebrations Circle invites to our Mabon
Ritual to celebrate the Autumnal Equinox. We will seek to find balance on this night of equality in the
second harvest of the year. A potluck supper will follow the ritual. Please bring a dish to share and a lawn
chair (if possible). Joan Wells 210 377-2942 [email protected]
ADULT CIRCLE DINNERS - Saturday, September 19, 6:00pm, Off Campus – Meet others for food and
fellowship at each other’s homes. Hosts rotate monthly. Contact the Adult Circle Dinner coordinator at
[email protected] if you would like to participate. All are invited.
DIALOGUE WITH PLANNED PARENTHOOD - Sunday, September 20, 12:00pm, Fellowship Hall –
Representatives from Planned Parenthood of South Texas will be available after service to answer
questions about their program and engage in civil discussion.
GREEN TEAM FUUND LUNCH & PHOTO EXHIBIT - Sunday, September 20, 12:00pm, Fellowship Hall–
The Green Team sponsors this month’s FUUnd Lunch in addition to the “Celebrating Nature”
Photography Show. Submit your best summer nature pictures to be displayed at the luncheon. Contact the
Green Team at [email protected] for rules and entry form for the photography show or to donate food
to the FUUnd Lunch.
Save the Date
First UU 101Information for new and prospective members
October 11, 2015
Following the Sunday Service at 12:15 PM
In the Fellowship Hall
Contact the church office at (210) 344-4695 or Dorothy Wallace at (210) 590-1393 or email [email protected]
Childcare available upon request
Of Special Interest
RAICES FUNDRAISER DINNER – Friday, September 4, 6pm, First Presbyterian Church, 404 N Alamo -
Marking the unfortunate one year anniversary of family detention, this dinner will be an opportunity to
reflect on the monumental work of many to bring this practice to an end and raise money for continued
work. Tickets are $25/person or $200/table. Contact Social Justice at [email protected] if you are
interested in attending.
HEART OF TEXAS LEADERSHIP SERIES - A three session training series designed for current or future
congregational leaders. Anyone may attend any or all sessions, including UUs from outside the region.
Cost is $30 per session, if registering early, and includes lunch.
· Sept 12th, 2015 at San Gabriel UU Fellowship, 1322 E University Ave, Georgetown
· Dec 5th, 2015 at Comal County UU Society, 135 Alves Lane, New Braunfels
· Feb 6th, 2016 at First UU Church of San Antonio, 7150 W Interstate 10, San Antonio
Go the http://uuasouthernregion.org/hotleadershipseries.html for more info or to register.
Women’s Retreat at U Bar U October 9-11. Join us for a weekend of Sharing Our Stories.
Recharge your body, mind and spirit; be your own true beautiful authentic self; deepen your relationships; do what
your spirit needs. This is a weekend you won't want to miss! Please join us!
The cost for the weekend is $120 if you register by August 31st, $135 thereafter. The cost for Saturday only
(without an overnight stay) is $55. To register, contact Sheri Phillabaum, [email protected]; 210-344-2431
UBarU Is Going Solar! UBarU is soliciting donations to install a solar facility. The more money they receive, the more Kilowatts
they will be able to generate. For more information: http://ubaru.org/home/SolarPanelsProject.
Services for September
11:00 am – In the Sanctuary
Religious Education for All Ages at 9:30 am – Various Locations
September 6: “The Sound of Sheer Silence” – Rev. Josh
What do we mean by the idea of “grace?” One of the earliest
stories about grace in the Bible is of the prophet Elijah standing
outside of a cave waiting for God to pass by. As we prepare for
the “Days of Awe” in the Jewish tradition, let us consider this story
and what it teaches us about grace.
September 13: “Joy” – Shannon Hawkins
Life is full of things which delight us, but there is also that about
joy which is not merely shiny and happy, but also suggests a more
serene confident experience. There is grace and power in joy that
we don’t always recognize. It enlivens us and others around us.
We invite everyone to experience a bit of joy during this worship
service.
Shannon is currently Co-Chair of First UU’s Worship Committee.
September 20: “Which Side Does Love Stand On?” – Rev. Josh
One of the most controversial topics of our time is abortion and a
woman’s right to choose what happens to her body. While it is not
the place of the church to give UUs their opinions on any issue,
there are many philosophical and theological implications that our
faith needs to address.
September 27: “If Grace Be True” – Rev. Josh
Universalism was founded on the idea that everyone is saved
through the infinite grace of God. Oddly enough, some
mainstream Christians, and even some evangelicals, have worked
their way toward Universalism in the past few years. Let’s explore
the Universalist side of our religious heritage.
Contacts
Rev. Dr. Josh Snyder, Minister
210.344.4695
Dr. Sheri Phillabaum, Director
of Lifespan Religious
Education
210.344.2431
Dr. Susan Dill,
Music Director
Mary Wright,
Office Manager
210.344.4695
Dr. Betty Dabney,
Newsletter Editor
Website: www.uusat.org
Sermon Podcasts: http://uusat.org/worship/sermons/
Facebook: First Unitarian
Universalist Church of
San Antonio
Twitter: @FirstUUChurchSA
A Beacon on the Hill Monthly Newsletter of the
First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Antonio
First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Antonio
7150 West Interstate 10
San Antonio, TX 78213-3465
210.344.4695 / www.uusat.org
TO:
