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Weekly Newsletter for April 17, 2025
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Sunday Service
In Person and on Zoom
Sunday, April 20, at 11:45 am
Service Coordinator: Simone Monique Barnes,
Wildflower’s Director of Membership and Spiritual Life
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We Shall Be Known By the Company We Keep
As we explore Luke 24:1-12, an Easter story in which the tomb where Jesus was buried is surprisingly found to be empty, what lessons can we learn from the named and unnamed women who followed Him, whose actions, compassion, courage, steadfastness, and sisterhood sparked major change in the world?
Children and youth in kindergarten through 12th grade will be meeting in person in their classes after being present in the sanctuary for the first part of the service. The nursery is available for babies and children from 6 weeks to 5 years old during the entire service period. You may choose either option for your child if they are 5 years old.
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Newsletter Content Submission Guidelines
The link to submit newsletter content has been updated.
Please submit content for weekly newsletter using this form.
Content should be submitted no more than (approximately) 2 weeks in advance of event.
Weekly Newsletter content deadline is Wednesday by 12 pm
Submissions received after the deadline will go in the following week’s edition.
NOTE: Please refrain from using ALL CAPS or “quotation marks” when submitting content.
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Join the new Fundraising Team!
After the church's visioning workshops on March 1 and 30, it is clear that we are ready for a Fundraising Team! Four Wildflowers have already expressed interest in this work, and they would love for you to join them! Are you passionate about helping Wildflower raise money? If so, please email board@wildflowerchurch.org and we'll connect you! |
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Orientation to Membership
Interested in becoming a Voting Member of Wildflower UU Church?
Join us for an Orientation to Membership session, held every other month on the 4th Wednesdays. Next session is Wednesday, April 23, 7pm-8:30 pm on Zoom.
Sign up for orientation today! |
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Partnership with the Community -
March Use of Wildflower’s Community Room
In the month of March our Community Room hosted the events of 5 organizations. All of the organizations are supporting the social and environmental justice areas that we feel are key as a church and are at increased risk today.
We make our space available to those organizations and groups who align with our mission and values and sponsor and welcome them while they are in our space! Gratitude to the growing number of Wildflowers who are willing to be sponsors!!
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Are you looking for a more meaningful way to serve Wildflower and connect on a deeper level with our congregation?
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Mary Moore Searight Park
photo by Susie
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Then consider joining the Wildflower Board! This Summer, the
Congregation will be voting for new trustees to join the Wildflower
Board. Help shape the future of our community, develop your leadership
skills, and make lasting connections with other church members.
If you are interested in growing through this sacred work, please
reach out to Adrian, Susie, and Sarah at
nominating@wildflowerchurch.org
or complete the following form:
Wildflower Board Interest Form
Deadline to apply is 5/1/2025.
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In Their Own Words:
Current Board member, Cathy Cramer, shares her experience serving on the Wildflower Board
Current board members were asked:
What do you like about being on the board?
What stands out for me from my Board service is how interesting it was and how much I learned. There are so many decisions that need to be made at a church. It was fascinating learning what it takes to make this church work, and it was humbling being a part of the process. And doing it all while working with amazing people, for the benefit of an incredible organization, was just icing on the cake! I really recommend that every member of the church serve on the Board at some point. |
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Artists Salon Series
Simone Monique Barnes, Wildflower’s Director of Membership and Spiritual Life, hosts an annual gathering of artists and creative thinkers for virtual living room-style conversations, in the tradition of the Harlem Renaissance. This seven-week salon series of artist-led, artist-centered conversations uses a mix of art, music, poetry, dance, essays, film, current events, and/or spiritual texts as springboards for dialogue and community.
Salons are open to anyone, especially those who self-identify as an artist (in any visual, performing arts, literary, or other creative expression), art lover, or as a creative thinker. You do not need to be a professional artist to attend a salon.
Held on Monday evenings, March 24 through April 28, 2025, on Zoom.
https://wildflowerchurch.org/director/2025-artists-salons/
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Meet Preston Andrew Patterson, this week’s featured salon guest on Monday, April 21, 2025, from 7 pm – 9 pm, on Zoom. You can learn more about the salons and find the registration link to attend here.
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Wildflower Book Group: The Message (Chapter 3)
Wednesday, May 7th at 7-8 pm via Zoom
Wildflower Book Group's current read for our April 2nd online meeting is "The Message", by acclaimed Black liberation author Ta-Nehisi Coats. Acknowledging these difficult times, our little group has decided to adopt more ease by dividing our book selections into sections, instead of reading the entire book. Therefore for our May 7th meeting we are reading Chapter 3 to discuss at our next meeting. Come join us! Questions? Contact Susie: ARE@Wildflowerchurch.org |
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*Volunteer Service Opportunity*
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Support and Enjoy the Student Led Powwow at Travis High!
On Saturday, April 19 from 9:30 am to 8:00 pm
The Native American Indigenous Collective will hold a Powwow on the campus of our neighbors, Travis Early College High School.
This student powwow was formerly held on the UT campus prior to anti DEI legislation which pushed the students off campus.
This powwow provides Wildflowers with an opportunity to be in relationship with the indigenous students who are organizing this event. There are opportunities to both provide support (as a volunteer or donating to prizes for the dancers) and enjoy the event! To volunteer or to help with hospitality email the student leaders at naicpowwow@gmail.com.
Monetary donations can be made via cash app $The AustinPowwow
or PayPal @AustinPowwow and make a note that says NAIC Powwow.
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Save the Date:
Earth Day Celebration!
Meetup at the Puerto Rican Cultural Center
Sunday, April 27, 2025, 2pm to 5pm
Join CYRE, Wildflowers, and friends as we attend an annual community gathering hosted by the Puerto Rican Cultural Center at 701 Tillery St in East Austin.
Let us know if you plan to attend (note if you need a ride or can offer a carpool ride to/from the event). The PRCC encourages attendees to come wearing flowers. The Taino Spring Ceremony will honor Ataabey (Mother Earth) with Areyto (dance) and activities for the whole family! This event is free and open to the public. |
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Regional and National Information |
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Save the Date:
May 4, 1:30-4:00pm
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Be BRAVE - A Fireside Chat with Rep. Gene Wu, Followed by a High-Energy K-Pop Dance Experience!
Join us on Sunday, May 4th for our upcoming BRAVE Communities Connections, an intergenerational and multicultural event celebrating AAPI Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month. Connect with the community, hear from Texas State Representative Gene Wu, and enjoy a KPOP demo and lesson by LASA’s Choreopop dance crew!
This event is family-friendly and all racial, religious, cultural, and political backgrounds are welcomed. Space is limited, register NOW to secure your spot
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First UU Reproductive Justice Film Festival
Dates: 3/9, 4/16 and 5/11 at 1pm in First UU Sanctuary
First UU Church of Austin is proud to present a 4-film festival with films about reproductive justice issues.
Contact reprojustice@austinuu.org for more information.
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Austin Youth River Watch Volunteers Needed
Austin Youth River Watch is looking for volunteers to help with meal deliveries to their students and families. The commitment is about 4 hours on Fridays starting between 10am-2pm (depending on your availability). You'll pick up meals at Cook's Nook in East Austin and deliver them to student's homes. Please fill out our Volunteer Meal Delivery Driver Form and Emma Walsh will reach out to you afterwards to go over the details.
Why We Need Your Help
Food security remains a concern for many of the students we work with. Each year, we hear from students who do not have consistent access to nutritious food. That's where our meal delivery program comes in!
For the past four years, our staff has been handling the delivery routes, but as our program grows, we’re hoping some of our awesome supporters (like you!) can step in to help out. This would really ease the load on our team and keep this program running smoothly.
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