News – May 12, 2023

Dear Members and Friends,

I’ve been grinning this week! I heard from the UUA that I achieved Full Fellowship as a Unitarian Universalist minister. It was a decade of work before I even arrived here. A huge thank you to the church members on my Ministerial Formation Team: Karen Carlson, Earl Dredge, Kathy Kinson, Michael Morrison and Carlos Rodriquez; also to Dr. Bossen, and the entire staff for helping me reach this milestone.

I’m also still grinning from the great weekend we just had at church. On Friday night, those who had turned in their Pledge Cards turned up for a Cinco de Mayo celebration with food, drinks, dancing and great conversation. The next day, our first annual Spring Arts Festival was held. There were crafts to make, music and poetry to listen to, and snacks to enjoy. There was even a May Pole! On Sunday, we recognized you – our wonderful volunteers – at both services and afterwards with cake.

Tomorrow, Carol and I will be celebrating the Coming of Age Youth at a ceremony in the morning. Their parents and mentors will be there as they achieve this milestone.

Then, that evening, Dr. Bossen will be leading the Spanish language Dia de la Madre service. Mother’s Day will continue on Sunday morning as I preach a sermon titled “The Horizon Leans Forward,” a phrase from Maya Angelou’s poem “On the Pulse of Morning.” A less well known observance is Wednesday’s International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. It is especially important this year considering the many hateful anti-LGBTQ bills sailing through the Texas Senate. This despite 72% of Texans supporting anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people.

This is not an abstract problem. One of Conrad’s dearest friends, who taught Coming of Age with him at the Dallas Church, is moving out-of-state to protect her trans son. The far-right extremists are making Texas an unsafe place for our families, friends, and yes, for some of us. I applaud those from our congregation and TXUUJM who have been sending emails and going to Austin to fight for our UU values.

The International Day Against Homophobia began in 2005 and by 2016 the commemorations were taking place in over 130 countries. The date of May 17 was specifically chosen to commemorate the World Health Organization’s decision in 1990 to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder.

While the deadline to turn in your pledge card has passed, it is not too late to send it in. (We’ll pretend it was delayed in the mail.) Or you can do it online – it’s even easier that way.

I hope to see you Sunday; have a blessed week.

Rev. D. Scott Cooper
Assistant Minister of Congregational Life
First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston
scott@firstuu.org