March 10, 2023
Dear Members and Friends,
I don’t say this lightly, but Sunday will be one of those events you don’t want to miss. People will be talking about it for a long time, and you will want to have been there – and on time! Clocks spring forward this Sunday!
Dr. Rocke and Chelsea de Souza impress us each week with their music, and this week they will present the music of avant-garde composer John Cage. They will be joined by Dr. Isabelle Ganz, who will be performing “Aria”, a piece written specifically for her by Cage. Dr. Bossen will speak about Cage and how his Daoist and Buddhist spirituality informed his musical compositions.
Be ready for a unique, interactive, musical worship service - it is sure to be memorable.
I am also really excited about our upcoming Spring Equinox Service. I asked Carol to tell me about it, and this is what she sent me!
“Every year, summer turns to fall, fall turns to winter, winter turns to spring. As people living in a big city, we may pass over some of the detail nature offers up to mark the transitions of these seasonal changes. These changes are connected to us at a deep level, and affect us in ways large and small.
“This Spring Equinox, March 21, Tuesday at 7:00 pm, you are invited to join us in Channing Hall as we explore letting go of winter, opening ourselves up to spring and exploring what each of us anticipates in the new season. We will be together in circle worship at this year’s transition, half way between the shortest and longest day to enjoy singing, listening, reflecting and connecting to the 4 directions. This is a multi-generational service led by Carol Burrus, our Director of Religious Community and Rebecca Throop, a student of Religious Studies at Rice University, experienced UU youth worship leader and member of our church. We have childcare available for children too young to be in the service.”
I attended the Third Ward Cloth meeting Tuesday, and learned about University of Houston’s Health Family Care Center. Some of you may be newer to Houston and not yet found a health provider, or are looking for quality, affordable health care. The physicians are U of H faculty, they take several types of insurance, and they have a sliding fee discount program. I encourage you to find out more about them, especially if you live near U of H.
Thanks to all who attended (or got us their absentee ballot for) the Special Congregational Meeting on Sunday. Members voted to adopt the revised By-Laws as well as the Vision, Mission, and Covenant statements.
Have a blessed week.
Rev. D. Scott Cooper
Assistant Minister of Congregational Life
First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston
scott@firstuu.org
Where are the Minsters in March?
Rev. Colin will be leading the services on March 12, 19, and 26. He will be at U-Bar-U the weekend of April 2, participating in the TXUUJM Lobby Day in Austin on March 13, and presenting work online at Rice's Black Houston(s) symposium and for the Unitarian Universalist Studies Network Convocation in Chicago on March 24 and 25.
Rev. Scott will join Rev. Colin on the chancel on March 19, and will be visiting family in Kentucky on March 26. He’ll welcome a special guest preacher on April 2 for those not joining Rev. Colin and Carol at U-Bar-U.
Tonight, he and Conrad will be attending a fundraiser for the Montrose Center; on March 17, Rev. Scott will be at the Traveler Concert here at church, and the next night at the Emergency Aid Coalition Gala.
