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Weekly Newsletter for October 09, 2025
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Sunday Service
Zoom Only
Sunday, October 12 at 11:45 am
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Congregational News and Events |
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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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THE WILDFLOWER STEWARDSHIP DREAM
Our congregation likes to dream big! We dream in our thoughts, our words, and our actions. Last week, the Giving Team launched this year's Stewardship Campaign. Since the kickoff, here is a breakdown of the commitments members have made so far towards supporting next year's budget: 11 pledges totaling $32,380 - a 31% increase from this point last year!
This is FANTASTIC! The increased giving has varied anywhere from 15% to 100%; you can pledge your commitment to our spiritual mission by increasing your pledge in whatever amount you feel called to.
"Thank you to everyone who participated in making my dream of a Spanish language service come true this year. As a result of that service, several of the ten first-time visitors attended the following service and expressed interest in potentially joining our community. In order to bring this service to life, the financial investment totaled $700 - or just $58.33 per month. With your help, we can more of our dreams possible." - Daniela Silva
Tune in this Sunday via Zoom to hear Sarah's stewardship testimony sharing the history of our beloved Community Room! If you'd like to see last week's testimony from Cory and Adrian, visit our website: www.wildflowerchurch.org/2026-pledge-drive |
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Announcement About Our Blended Services
Last Sunday, we announced our worship plan to PAUSE our blended Zoom services this fall (pause start date to be determined). This temporary pause is to work on improving our in-person and our at-home worship experiences. With some of our audio and visual tech “gremlins” that frequently make challenging (sometimes humorous, sometimes frustrating) glitches during our worship experiences, our small, stretched thin, team of volunteers and staff recognize that we need time and energy to focus on addressing our equipment, software, and training, and test our refreshed practices and equipment to improve our worship experience for everyone–including in-person and at-home attendees, worship team, tech, and hospitality.
Know that we are working to create a Worship-at-Home weekly email list, to provide recorded access to services, and a method of submitting joys and concerns during this pause.
We also want to encourage more congregants to attend our 2nd and 5th Sunday Zoom-only services, as it is both a meaningful worship experience AND it allows our members who only worship with us virtually to engage with a wider group of congregants. After worship there are breakout rooms on Zoom for informal conversations that offer the chance to connect, learn more about each other, and build community (and welcome newcomers).
In addition to testing and strengthening our technology, skills, and equipment, during the pause, the worship and volunteer teams will work to keep our virtual attendees connected to Wildflowers and encourage deeper connections between congregants. We will also reach out to gather input and feedback about service access and experiences from regular Zoom attendees that will inform our future virtual worship excperiences.
Please be patient, and encouraging, as we work to support our beloved communities, together. |
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Climate Education: Death and Life--Ten Years Shorter Lives in the South, and How to Help Trees Help Us
Sunday, October 12 at 9:30am
Via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2635700913?pwd=bjNxMEczWHU2bUp3dXpEcVRXWjhRUT09
Meeting ID: 263 570 0913 Passcode: 002030
We have two short videos to watch, from episodes of “Weathered” on PBS:
(1) Why do people die a DECADE earlier in the Southeast US? Natural disasters seemingly don’t explain it, but new research reveals a long-overlooked hidden toll.
(2) The surprising origins of the viral “trillion tree” campaign, why it nearly ended the careers of the scientists behind it, and what actually works when it comes to storing carbon and fighting climate change.
As always, we reserve plenty of time for discussion and sharing. Our time together can continue to 10:45 if desired by any participants.
The WildEarth Climate Action Team offers class on most second Sundays at 9:30 am.
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Become a Trained Volunteer to help Wildflower Kids and Youth!
The strength of our Children's and Youth Religious Education Program depends on consistent volunteer support! Please join us online after our Zoom-only service on Sunday, October 12th from 1:45-3:45pm to learn more about volunteering with our amazing Wildflower kids and youth! Email or talk to Sonia to register: dcyre@wildflowerchurch.org.
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Help Clean Up Children’s and Youth RE Spaces!!!!
Saturday, October 18, 9 am - 12 noon
It's long overdue to deep clean the spaces we use for children and youth programming!! These are Classrooms 1 & 2 and the CYRE room off of the Commuity room. It has been several years since they had attention. They need dusting, vacuuming, wiping down and windows washed! We will find homes for materials no longer needed and schlep things to the Sanctuary closet where there are also items that need a new repository!
Allen and Dee are spearheading this effort. Come for all or part of the time. Meet in the Community room. Coffee, tea and breakfast snacks will be provided!
SIGN UP HERE TO HELP
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Growing Faith and Wildflowers: Corn From Our Garden to Our Table Workshop featuring Doug Martin
Sunday, October 19, 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Join us for an afternoon of transformation: it's time to prepare and eat our community garden's corn! Doug Martin (Central Texas Cherokee Township) will show us how to make hominy and grits from field corn (grown in our Three Sisters Garden and nixtamalization), and share wisdom about the community garden, food sovereignty, and the importance of growing food as a community, interspersed with Cherokee stories and culture, and indigenous foodways. This is an intergenerational cooking demonstration activity open to all ages. Guests and friends are welcome!
Let us know you're planning to attend! RSVP
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Between the students and construction workers at Travis High School across the street, our parking lot has become filled most weekdays, making it hard at times for those coming church-related events to find parking.
Starting Monday October 13, the church parking lot will be patrolled each weekday, and vehicles without parking permits will be towed. For a permanent or temporary parking permit, please contact Lin at the church office
(office@faithpresaustin.org, 512-444-1314)
The towing company is Austin Tows, 512-653-7674, 2601 Hoeke Lane, Austin 78744.
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All Ages Trunk or Treat on Sunday, October 26th After Service!
In the spirit of living out our mission to spread JOY, you're invited to Wildflower UU Church's first ever Trunk or Treat on Sunday, October 26th following our worship service. The service starts at 11:45am, and we will set up for Trunk or Treat in the parking lot immediately after it ends. Please come to service dressed in your family-friendly Halloween costume (no weapons, gore or cultural appropriation) and be ready to receive treats afterward! Please contact dcyre@wildflowerchurch.org if you would like to decorate your trunk and pass out candy and/or run a game/activity. This event is open to all ages. Please invite
your friends! See you there!
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Did you know you can donate your used car to Wildflower?
https://careasy.org/nonprofit/wildflower-church
Donating your used car or truck to Wildflower is easy-peasy! Just click on the above link to make your couch-potato friendly arrangements for your used car or truck to be picked up and turned into the cash Wildflower needs to continue our mission of spreading Love, Justice and Joy! |
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The Disability Team wants to hear from YOU!
Did you know that Wildflower has a Disability Team?? The Disability Advisory Team coordinates with our Facilities and Worship Teams along with the Board (and with Faith for all architectural/building modifications) to improve accessibility. Past projects include: installation of wall-hung diaper-changing stations in bathrooms, leveling of the sidewalk and courtyard pathways, Community Room ramp and doorbell, insulation of HVAC closet to decrease noise in Community Room, and a donated wheelchair left by a former team member.
What ideas and recommendations do you have to increase Wildflower's overall accessibility???
We'd love to hear from you! Contact Alyxis and Susie at: disability@wildflowerchurch.org |
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Wildflower Orientation Dates
We organize Orientations to Membership to help people understand Wildflower’s culture, structure, and history and how to become involved in the life of the congregation. We welcome new members and pledging friends
https://wildflowerchurch.breezechms.com/form/orientation-2025
Upcoming dates (on Zoom) are
Wed, Oct 22
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Coffee and Conversations
Wednesdays at 10 am
https://zoom.us/j/93681478930
Meeting ID: 936 8147 8930
Hi, Wildflowers! Come check in about life, the universe and everything with other Wildflowers, Chaplain Bis, and the Pastoral Care Team. Chaplain Bis is also available 1:1 Zoom sessions, which you can sign up for at calendly.com/wildflowerpastoralcare
Ideas Worth Contemplating
1st and 3rd Sundays at 9:30 am
https://zoom.us/j/97826544113?pwd=SVVPM2NaNm5vaXJtZmN3ZjgrU3l3UT09
Ideas Worth Contemplating is an ongoing group led by Wildflower Mike Ignatowski that uses inspiring and thought-provoking TED Talks to generate discussion about important topics.
Climate Education Zoom class
2nd Sunday, May 11, 9:30 am to 10:15 am
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2635700913?pwd=bjNxMEczWHU2bUp3dXpEcVRXWjhRUT09
Meeting ID: 263 570 0913 Passcode: 002030
Our Climate Education classes usually feature a 20-30 minute video, and ample time left over for lively discussion. Join us! Next class is a week from Sunday, topic To Be Determined, but probably related to this Spring's 15-year anniversary of the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in the Gulf. Our WildEarth Climate Action Team offers this class on most 2nd Sundays of the month.
Wildflower Book Club
1st Wednesdays at 7-8 pm via Zoom
Contact : ARE@wildflowerchurch.org if interested.
Tarot Circle: 3rd Wednesdays @ 7:00pm
Come and explore your spiritual life with support from the tarot!
On May 14th, the KNIGHTS of the tarot will guide us in the practice of aligned self-expression.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81959828225
Contact MelissaOMeeks@gmail.com to register. |
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Regional and National Information |
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Hospitality is an opportunity to make sure that the dancers, drummers, staff, and volunteer are fed and cared for during that full day celebration.
To volunteer for hospitality for the 11/22 Powwow, register here.
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 TXUUJM News: Fort Worth Youth Justice Training - Register to Vote by October 6th!
Big shoutout to all the youth who joined in for our recent virtual justice training! We can’t wait for our next one–TXUUJM is proud to partner with Texas Rising to offer a youth justice training for ages 11-19 in Fort Worth on October 19th! You can learn more and sign up here. We’re thrilled to announce that Dean Spade will join us online for a special presentation on mutual aid to close out our year on Sunday, November 23, at 2pm! Don’t forget to register to vote by October 6th in order to vote on proposed constitutional amendments–learn more from the League of Women voters here. Join us for Thursday Night Action Hour this week and we’ll take action together and nurture our spirits for the work ahead. Sign up for our newsletter, and we’ll keep you up to date with all the latest developments and calls to action–October newsletter coming soon! Thank you for Bending Texas Towards Justice with us! -the TXUUJM team
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