News: May 8, 2026
There are many events happening this weekend. Sunday is Mother’s Day, and each service will be unique. There is at least one congregant (not in the choir) who stays for both services on most Sundays, but this Sunday you’ll likely want to as well. Brunch can wait! At 9:30, Rev. Colin will lead one of our annual Spanish-language services, Día de la Madre, and at 11:30, Nina will lead the English-language Mother’s Day service. If you’re a newcomer, or newly interested in becoming a member, I’ll be at the Inquirer’s Table discussing UU History and Values after each service.
Tomorrow, Saturday at 2:00, will be our second annual Pet Blessing. We’ll honor the animals we still love and care for, and remember those we’ve loved and lost. We hope you and your companion pet can join us.
Also, be sure June 7 is circled on your calendar. It’s only a month away. Both our beloved Flower Communion and the church’s annual meeting are that day.
People have been asking me what my plans are after I retire. Conrad and I have two trips planned this summer, which I’m very excited about. I will also 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. And, sadly, I’ll have no excuse to avoid them. Conrad and I both inherited a strong collecting gene from our mothers. Not hoarding, mind you, collections are both curated and organized. But nevertheless, they take up space, and I saw first-hand that someone has to deal with these beloved collections once we leave for that giant flea market in the sky.
So, I’ve begun going through boxes provided by us, the kids, and our parents. I opened my mother’s cedar chest, which my father made by hand and gave her before I was born. It was brought to Texas full of scrapbooks and photo albums. One album is full of postcards featuring beautiful artwork and addressed to my great-grandmother and her friends. There are also newspaper clippings and photos from nearly one hundred years ago.
But most of the scrapbooks were full of things my mother collected from my life. Seemingly a program from every theatrical production I was involved in, from the ninth-grade play to grad school. Certificates from long-forgotten achievements. Photos and newspaper clippings.
My first thought was ‘good gravy, Mom saved everything!’ But my almost immediate next thought, the one that made me tear up, was the subtext adhering the clippings to those pages. She was proud of me and my accomplishments.
I hope on Sunday, you have good memories of your mom. Or, if she’s still here, you can give her a call. Or better yet, a hug. Happy Mother’s Day.
Holding you in hope and love,
Rev. D. Scott Cooper
Associate Minister
First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston
scott@firstuu.org
Where are the Ministers?
Rev. Colin will be out of town this weekend visiting his son at college. He will be in the pulpit for Mother’s Day though, leading the Spanish language 9:30 a.m. service and assisting Nina with the 11:30 a.m. English language one. Immediately after the second service on May 17th he heads off to England. He will be at Harris Manchester College, University of Oxford through June 3rd. While he’s there the college will be hosting a book launch for The Political Theologies of Populism featuring a roundtable of a number of notable theologians and political theorists on May 25th and chairing a conversation with famed Czech photographer Marketa Luskačova. Both events should be livestreamed so look for more information about them soon.
Rev. Scott is encouraging you to bring your companion animal to church! Plan to join him at our second annual Pet Blessing on Saturday, May 9 at 2:00 pm in Channing Hall. We will not only bless our present-day pets, but also remember those who’ve crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Rev. Scott will be in the office all that following week, and will preach on May 31. He’ll be back in Houston on Memorial Day, and will remain here until he preaches his last sermon (for now) on June 14. His last day in the office in June 16. He and Conrad will then sail off into the sunset on another Broadway Cruise.
Nina is back from a lot of guest preaching and will be at First throughout the month, except May 31st, when she’ll be back at Emerson.
