News: June 12, 2026
Dear Members and Friends,
Someone told me, “It seems like I was just listening to your first sermon, and next thing you know, seven years have passed.” I admitted, “well, sometimes I do preach way too long.”
I’ve heard the adage for parents, “the days are long but the years are short.” Seemingly endless days changing diapers or driving kids to school, but you look up and they’re graduating. I’ve had this experience with my step kids, although I’ve only known them half their lives, and my niece and nephew, whom I’ve known all theirs.
It seems to me this time warp happened to me here in Houston. Long days in my office, meetings, then events. But I looked up, and almost seven years have passed. I got here in September of 2019 to serve this congregation and our then-satellite Thoreau. Six months later Covid hit. And as I’ve often quipped, they don’t teach how to deal with a global pandemic in seminary. But after navigating through that, we persevered. And this congregation was kind enough to vote to make me Associate Minister once I achieved full fellowship.
But let’s do the time warp again. I’ve also heard that this can happen once one retires. If you’re not careful, it’s long days of The Price is Right, waiting for the mail, a nap, then Wheel of Fortune. Then you look up, and everyone you know looks ten years older.
Harry Emerson Fosdick was one of the most prominent liberal ministers of the early 20th century. He served the historic, inter-denominational Riverside Church in Morningside Heights, Manhattan. He once advised, “Don't simply retire from something; have something to retire to.”
I’ve had various people advise me of just that - have something to retire to - but take your time deciding what it will be. I’ve had even more people ask me what I’ll be doing.
I outlined our plans in last month’s newsletter, but will recap for those who missed it. Conrad and I have two trips planned this summer, and we leave for one in a week. Once back from our travels, I will be providing ‘pulpit supply,’ meaning I’ll guest preach around north Texas for UU churches without a minister and for ministers on vacation. I’ve also described the many projects around the house I’ll now have the time to tackle.
I suppose it would be out of character for me to not reference a musical, so I end with a few lyrics from the show “On the Town.”
Where has the time all gone to?
Haven't done half the things we want to.
Oh, well, we'll catch up
Some other time
This day was just a token,
Too many words are still unspoken.
Oh, well, we'll catch up
Some other time.
Just when the fun is starting,
Comes the time for parting,
But let's be glad for what we've had
And what's to come.
There's so much more embracing
Still to be done, but time is racing.
Oh, well, we'll catch up
Some other time.
Holding you in hope and love,
Rev. D. Scott Cooper
Associate Minister
First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston
scott@firstuu.org
Someone told me, “It seems like I was just listening to your first sermon, and next thing you know, seven years have passed.” I admitted, “well, sometimes I do preach way too long.”
I’ve heard the adage for parents, “the days are long but the years are short.” Seemingly endless days changing diapers or driving kids to school, but you look up and they’re graduating. I’ve had this experience with my step kids, although I’ve only known them half their lives, and my niece and nephew, whom I’ve known all theirs.
It seems to me this time warp happened to me here in Houston. Long days in my office, meetings, then events. But I looked up, and almost seven years have passed. I got here in September of 2019 to serve this congregation and our then-satellite Thoreau. Six months later Covid hit. And as I’ve often quipped, they don’t teach how to deal with a global pandemic in seminary. But after navigating through that, we persevered. And this congregation was kind enough to vote to make me Associate Minister once I achieved full fellowship.
But let’s do the time warp again. I’ve also heard that this can happen once one retires. If you’re not careful, it’s long days of The Price is Right, waiting for the mail, a nap, then Wheel of Fortune. Then you look up, and everyone you know looks ten years older.
Harry Emerson Fosdick was one of the most prominent liberal ministers of the early 20th century. He served the historic, inter-denominational Riverside Church in Morningside Heights, Manhattan. He once advised, “Don't simply retire from something; have something to retire to.”
I’ve had various people advise me of just that - have something to retire to - but take your time deciding what it will be. I’ve had even more people ask me what I’ll be doing.
I outlined our plans in last month’s newsletter, but will recap for those who missed it. Conrad and I have two trips planned this summer, and we leave for one in a week. Once back from our travels, I will be providing ‘pulpit supply,’ meaning I’ll guest preach around north Texas for UU churches without a minister and for ministers on vacation. I’ve also described the many projects around the house I’ll now have the time to tackle.
I suppose it would be out of character for me to not reference a musical, so I end with a few lyrics from the show “On the Town.”
Where has the time all gone to?
Haven't done half the things we want to.
Oh, well, we'll catch up
Some other time
This day was just a token,
Too many words are still unspoken.
Oh, well, we'll catch up
Some other time.
Just when the fun is starting,
Comes the time for parting,
But let's be glad for what we've had
And what's to come.
There's so much more embracing
Still to be done, but time is racing.
Oh, well, we'll catch up
Some other time.
Holding you in hope and love,
Rev. D. Scott Cooper
Associate Minister
First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston
scott@firstuu.org
