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First Church Now
January 25 - February 1, 2015
Mary Livermore: Universalist Prophet
Sunday, January 25
Rev. Dr. Daniel O’Connell
Today, we'll explore the life of a strong Universalist woman involved in the precursor to the Red Cross,
and one of very few suffragettes who'd lived on a plantation in the south.
Rev. Dr. Daniel O’Connell, preaching.
The Big Idea: Love Knocks, Will You Answer?
First UU Houston Tapestry of Justice Art Project
Tapestry of Justice is a chur ch-wide art project happening on January 18 and 25. We hope you will
participate by decorating a letter in Channing Hall after each service. Help us increase awareness of our
Unitarian Universalist Voice for Justice (UUV4J) pr ogr am.
Our UUV4J team responds to issues in our community related to LGBT equality, religious freedom and
reproductive rights. You can join! Be part of creating history. To join, come to one of the orientation and
training sessions to be held after each service on February 1 in room 202.
Standing on the Side of Love is an interfaith public advocacy
campaign, through the Unitarian Universalist Association. It seeks to
harness love’s power to stop oppression, and to challenge exclusion,
oppression, and violence based on sexual orientation, gender identity,
immigration status, race, religion, or any other identity.
For more info go to: www.standingonthesideoflove.org.
UUV4J Orientation and Training
Sunday, February 1, After each Service
Those interested in lending their voice to our Unitarian Universalist Voice for Justice program are invited
to an orientation and training session in Room 202, on Sunday, February 1. The training session will be
held after each service, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., AND from
12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. For information contact our Museum District
UUV4J Coordinator, Ron Cookston, roncookston@sbcglobal.net.
Social Justice Opportunities
Stop by the Social Justice table in Channing Hall to signup for these upcoming projects:
Saturday, February 7: Trees for Houston Workday
Sunday, February 22: Houston Pride 2015 Parade Float Planning Meeting
Mon, Tues, Wed, and Fri, February 23, 24, 25, and 27: SEA RCH Homeless Services Meal Service
Parents Group
Second and Fourth Sundays - January 25 and February 8 - 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Looking for thoughtful parents who share your values and concerns? The
Parents Group is a special Growth Group for discovering where and how
our UU values apply to our lives as parents. Infants are welcome in our group.
Childcare is provided in the nursery for older children. Contact Sue Steinhardt
or Natalie Browne at: ParentsGroupCoordinators@firstuu.org
First Church Now
January 25 - February 1, 2015
Standing on the Side of Love
Sunday, February 1
Rev. Dr. Daniel O’Connell
We will celebrate the ways—large and small—that our church community inspires and encourages us to
work for justice and toward a Beloved Community for all. Our faith is about doing the work that brings
even a little more heaven to reality in our world. If you have a Standing on the Side of Love t-shirt, please
wear it today (we’ll have an alternative if you don’t). Also bring your smart phone to help us celebrate!
Rev. Dr. Daniel O’Connell preaching.
Thinking about becoming a member of First Church?
Membership Day is Sunday, February 1, 2014
To join First Church we ask that you complete a few forms: a New Member
Information, Talents and Interests form, a Pledge Card that requires a financial
commitment, and a Skills Inventory form. These forms are available in the office
or from a Welcome Team member on Sunday morning. If you have questions
visit the New Member sign up table in Channing Hall after any service.
New members are invited to join on the first Sunday of each month at the
Welcome Table in Channing Hall after church.
First Church Music Workshop
Saturday, January 31, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Museum District
Members from all three campuses are invited to the First Church Music Workshop on Saturday,
January 31, from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., at the Museum District campus. The workshop will
be “conducted” by Copperfield Music Director, Jen Rathbun, and Copperfield Campus Minister,
Randy Partain.
Come learn some new music that will be sung at all three campuses
on February 1 for Standing on the Side of Love Sunday and develop
skills for leading congregational singing! We’ll also learn about
“Music in the Brain”. Lunch will be provided. Signup sheets are at all
three campuses, or RSVP to Grace Amborski, Music Administrator,
at grace@firstuu.org, so we know how many lunches to provide.
Come sing and have fun!
Young Adults Gather for Lunch
First and Third Sundays - February 1 and February 15 - 12:30 p.m.
All between the ages of 19 and 35 are invited to get together with other young adults for social connection
and spiritual growth. Join us for our Twice-a-Month Lunch on the first and third Sunday of every month as
we head out to a local restaurant for a good meal, great conversation and fun.
Gather in the front courtyard at 12:30 p.m. after the second chur ch ser vice.
For information on our current planned activities and to get on our email list simply
email YoungAdultCoordinators@firstuu.org or sign up on the clipboard on the
office counter on Sunday mornings.
First Church Now
January 25 - February 1, 2015
Nominating Committee Seeks Candidates
for
Board of Trustees and Nominating Committee
DEADLINE: This Friday, January 31
Are you interested in serving First Church in a leadership capacity? If so,
consider a position on our Board of Trustees or on the Nominating Committee.
Or if you know of someone whom you believe would be an effective Board
member, consider nominating that person.
The Nominating Committee will have a table set up at each of the campuses during January to answer
your questions. They will have job descriptions and nomination forms for fiscal year 2015-2016, and
for the first time this year, you may also apply online at www.firstuu.org/nominating.php. Job
descriptions and nomination forms are also available at the church office.
There are 3 openings on the Board and 2 openings on the Nominating Committee, itself, this year.
The Deadline to turn in nominations is this Friday, January 31.
Contact the Nominating Committee at nominatingcommittee@firstuu.org if you have any questions.
Healthy Parenting News
Healthy Parenting is F irst Church’s signature, long-term Social Justice project
and our efforts have begun to make a difference. The project focuses on the Third
Ward, as this is “our” neighborhood, and we want to be a presence here.
He a l t h y P a r e n t i n g
Our Signature Social
Justice Project
We currently tutor mothers and provide child care at Project Row Houses (PRH),
support PRH’s Third Ward College Bound Project, mentor and tutor the sixth,
seventh and eighth grade students at WALIPP Academy, and work with Spanish
speaking mothers at MacGregor Elementary through our “English over Coffee”
program.
For information about any of our Healthy Parenting programs please contact the following persons:
Grace Amborski, Healthy Parenting Program Chairman, graceamborski@sbcglaobal.net.
Rita Saylors, Healthy Parenting Communications Coordinator, tb.rs@comcast.net.
Nancy Edwards, WALIPP Tutor Coordinator, needwards@comcast.net
Georgette Dredge, WALIPP Mentor Coordinator, edredge@sbcglobal.net
Sue Steinhardt, PRH Tutor and Mentor Coordinator and Third Ward College Bound Project leader,
steinhardts@earthlink.net,
Sue Cox, PRH Nurturing Child Care Coordinator, sanncox@sbcglobal.net
Mary Koch, “English over Coffee” Coordinator, mktootsie@gmail.com
Or stop by the Social Justice table in Channing Hall on any Sunday.
Looking for a way to be Involved?
We have volunteer opportunities available in the church office. Sunday morning
volunteers are needed to sit at the front desk every Third or Fifth Sunday of the month to
help with way finding and answering general questions. And you don’t have to miss
attending the Sunday service. If you are interested please contact Jon Naylor at
jon@firstuu.org or call (713) 526-5200.
Need Sunday Morning Volunteers - 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. - To sit at the front desk in the office .
First Church Now
January 25 - February 1, 2015
MARK YOUR February CALENDARS
Common Grounds Coffeehouse Presents Jim Scott
Saturday, February 7, 2015
Thoreau / Stafford Campus
Doors open at 7:30 p.m. / Music at 8:00 p.m.
Suggested Donation $20 / Students and Seniors $15
PROCEEDS BENEFIT the THOREAU SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Jim Scott is an exciting acoustic guitarist, singer, and composer of powerful music that furthers the ideals
of ecology, justice, and peace. Wine, sodas, and coffee will be available for a donation.
Mark your calendars for this fundraiser at Thoreau/Stafford.
Annual Saint Valentine’s Dance Fundraiser
Featuring the TSU Jazz Experience Big Band
Saturday, February 14
6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Advance Tickets $25 / At the Door $30
Tickets on sale now at the church or
online at http://firstuu.org/firstchurchpay.php.
What could be better than spending St. Valentine’s day with your sweetheart (and church friends) at
church? There will be really great music, delicious desserts and plenty of bubbly at this terrifically
FUN fundraiser. Hope to see you and your sweetie on the dance floor!
This annual, crowd pleasing fundraiser is likely to sell out, as seating is limited!
9th ANNUAL JOSEPH PRIESTLY LECTURE
The Health of Two Cities: Paradoxical Risks for Poor and Prosperous Houstonians
Dr. Winifred J. Hamilton, PhD, SM
Sunday, February 22 - 1:30 p.m.
In general, higher income correlates with better health. However, the Latino population in the U.S. is
by most indicators as healthy or healthier than the Anglo white population, despite on average lower
incomes, less education, and poorer living conditions. Can this Hispanic paradox
be explained by so-called "Affluenza," the harms of extravagance, social isolation,
and stress? This presentation looks at specific complexes of disease from obesity,
depression, and asthma to chronic fatigue and ADHD, comparing and contrasting
factors such as diet, exercise, and pollution. While the science of environmental
health can teach us to avoid certain risks, it also shows the importance of finding,
or creating, a healthy place.
Dr. Hamilton is director of the Environmental Health Service at Baylor College of Medicine. She has
received numerous awards for her work in environmental health, including the U.S. EPA’s Children’s
Environmental Health Champion Award.
There will be a reception in Channing Hall following the lecture.