Preston Andrew Patterson is a native of Atlanta, Georgia where he began his training with Ballethnic Academy of Dance. At 14, Preston enrolled at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and at age 19 he completed his dance training with The National Ballet School of Canada. Preston joined Ballet Austin as an apprentice before joining the full company, where he was a member from 2008-2022. In his time at Ballet Austin, he danced works by George Balanchine, Christopher Wheeldon, Justin Peck, and Pam Tanowitz. In addition to dance, Patterson has made two short films The Prophet and Cloud Nebula. The Prophet made its world premiere debut at the Seattle Transmedis and Independent Film Festival in 2017.
Preston joins us as a featured guest during the 2025 Artists Salon Series 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.
Lisa sings and plays with The Therapy Sisters, Nonviolent Austin, and The Raging Grannies. Creativity, music, and social justice are her current trinity. thetherapysistersmusic.com
Lisa joins us as a featured guest during the 2025 Artists Salon Series on Monday, April 14, 2025, from 7 pm – 9 pm, on Zoom. You can learn more about the salons and find the registration link to attend here.
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 six-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.
During these salons we focus on the artist, rather than solely on their artwork, engaging in conversations that artists want to discuss, such as imagination, creating during hard times, survival, rejection, criticism, racism, oppression, the creative process, fear, artistic expression, developing new work, spirituality, faith, religion, and more.
This year’s theme is Keeping Pace, inspired by the poetic words of Kahlil Gibran (b. 1883 – d. 1931): “You work that you may keep pace with the earth and the soul of the earth,” which is a line from the poem “On Work” in The Prophet in which Gibran reminds us that “Work is love made visible.”
Join us for one or more of the six Monday Virtual Artists Salon dates, held from 7pm – 9pm Central Time, on Zoom.(Note: The first 30 minutes are for checking in, getting settled, and socializing. The salon topic of conversation begins at 7:30 pm CT.)
Apr 28 – Blood Memories: Formative Experiences, Feelings, and Emotions That Fuel the Work. We explore the work of Alvin Ailey and Judith Jamison, including Revelations and Cry.
Notes for Artists and Creatives:
The artist salon is a day off, not a day on for artists. There is no expectation of performance or art exhibition. There is no expectation to talk about “the work.” The salons are an invitation for artists to participate in conversations with other artists, art lovers, and creatives about topics they are interested in.
Why Lent and Why Artists?
In many Christian traditions, Lent is a solemn forty-day period of self-examination, reflection, spiritual discipline, fasting and prayer leading to Easter. The word “Lent” comes from the Old English “lencten,” referring to Spring and the “lengthening” of days that occurs at this time of year.
In the book The Cross and The Lynching Tree, Black Liberation theologian James H. Cone writes about how it was artists who pushed the Church into social change during the Harlem Renaissance. “Most black artists were not church-going Christians. Like many artists throughout history, they were the concerned human beings who served as society’s ritual priests and prophets, seeking out the meaning of the black experience in a world defined by white supremacy. As witnesses to black suffering, they were in the words of African American literary critic Trudier Harris, “active tradition-bearers of the uglier phases of black history.””
This Artists Salon Series honors artists, as a whole, as society’s ritual priests, prophets, and tradition-bearers who demonstrate our understanding of people’s experiences. In this series, the Artist’s Lent is an inter-religious, spiritual season of creative reflection, self-examination, reading, meditation, and connection.
As Cone notes, “More than anyone, artists demonstrate our understanding of the need to represent the beauty and the terror of our people’s experiences.”
“Artists force us to see things we do not want to look at because they make us uncomfortable with ourselves and the world we have created.”
This year’s series extends past the season of traditional season Lent, as we explore together the experience and themes of transformation.
There are many ways to uplift the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other servant leaders of the Civil Rights Movement as we celebrate this annual day on, not a day off. Below are a few activities from our extended Wildflower community and friends to get involved in this week. (You can also read the Austin Statesman for additional activities and volunteer service projects in our region. Or watch programming from The King Center in Atlanta on YouTube or other platforms.)
Thursday, January 16th, 9 am to 12 pm Resist! Pre-Inauguration Kingian Nonviolence Workshop
Join Nonviolent Austin for a Kingian Nonviolence workshop to honor MLK’s birth & meet the moment of the upcoming presidential inauguration. Thursday, January 16 · 9am – 12pm CST. Doors at 8:45am at the Carver Library
Thursday, January 16, 7 PM TXUUJM Action Hour on Zoom
Join Texas UU Justice Ministry as we take action every week, over Zoom, as a community. We check-in and connect with folks around the state as we make calls to elected officials, write letters to the editor, send emails of appreciate to justice partners, and more. https://txuujm.org/
Sunday, January 19th, 11: 45 am MLK Worship Service at Wildflower
“Revolutionary Dreams” sermon by Simone Monique Barnes. Drawing inspiration from some of the music, poetry, and speeches of the civil rights movement and the liberation era, we’ll think about one of the most revolutionary prophetic dreams of all: normal life.
After the Sunday worship service, spend some time in Beloved Community by engaging in conversations and other moments of connection over popcorn and coffee in the Community Room, as we celebrate the life and legacy of Rev Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Coretta Scott King, and other servant leaders of the civil rights movement and beyond. Encourage a friend or neighbor who needs community this weekend to join us for the service at 11:45 am, or for coffee in the community room from 1 pm
Monday, January 20th MLK March and Festival, 9:30 am to 4 pm UPDATE: The March is cancelled due to inclement weather. Festival is postponed to February 1st
The Annual Community March celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy while uplifting diversity and multi-culturalism in our city. All are invited to march and celebrate Dr. King’s legacy.
The MLK Community March kicks off on Monday, January 20, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. on the south steps of the State Capitol for a rally.
At the conclusion of the program we will march to Huston-Tillotson University for the MLK Festival, from 11am to 4 pm.
The family friendly festival includes vendors and local musical artists to make this year’s celebration the best ever! Come prepared to have a great time. Marchers are asked to help by bringing can goods or non-perishable food items which will be donated to the Central Texas Food Bank. See the march and festival webpage for guidelines on what to donate. https://mlkcelebration.com/celebration-events/march-and-festival/
Monday, January 20th, 2-4PM BRAVE Communities Connection
“MLK’s Dream in Action”. This family-friendly event is a chance for all of us to embody MLK’s values and vision of a beloved community through community conversations, community service, and meaningful connections.
This free event is open to all, but pre-registration is required. Let’s honor Dr. King’s dream by coming together to create the beloved community he envisioned—a community where everyone belongs, and justice and love prevail. Rozco’s Comedy Club, 1805 E 7th St, Austin TX 78702
(Note: The event venue is a very short walk from MLK Festival held at Huston-Tillotson. Festival postponed until February 1.)
Our theme for November is Comforting Light. Here are some resources for community care, to hold your joys, your concerns, your wellbeing, and the fullness of you this week and beyond.
— Simone Simone Monique Barnes, Director of Membership and Spiritual Life
Quiet Practices for Everyday shared by Unitarian Universalist Association
Friends, as we enter into a week – and perhaps longer – filled with deep uncertainty, anxiety, and fear, UUA chaplains the Rev. Dr. JJ Flag and the Rev. Victoria Safford offer some simple, quiet practices to tend to our spirits and souls, and remind us that through weariness and trouble, love will guide us.
Today, we center Interdependence:
**It’s time to go outside. Sometime today or this evening, make time to go out, rain or shine. Touch the living earth: soil, leaf, water, or just let the air touch you. Find a quiet place where you can stop a while, just quietly. In your mind, or whispering, speak to the earth as if it were a loving grandparent, an elder. Say (in your mind or whispering) what you’re most afraid of now. Stay still a little longer, and then offer a small prayer, perhaps like this: “Right now, what I need most is _____.” Breathe deep, and touch the earth again, with gratitude.**
Hosted by our campus partner Faith Presbyterian Church (1314 E Oltorf Street). Rev. Amy Myhand (she/her/hers), aka Pastor Amy, will be on hand in the sanctuary from 10 am to 2 pm on Tuesday, November 4th.
DRUUMM Election Evening Gathering Space (BIPOC-only space)
Tuesday, November 5, 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM Central Time (8:00 PM – 11:00 PM EST) Diverse and Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries (DRUUMM) is hosting a space for support and spiritual care on the evening of Election Day. They’ve designed this as a BIPOC-only brave space to share music, readings, poetry, prayers, meditations, etc., and to provide sustenance to each other. Please register (https://druumm.org/events/) and join for any part of the time.
This event is BIPOC-only, a sacred space reserved for those who identify as Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color and UU or interested in Unitarian Universalism. DRUUMM recognizes every Community of Color is impacted differently, and each community maintains its own unique identity and culture. BIPOC/People of Color/Person of Color/Community of Color is a political identity of survival and being in resistance to racism and colonialism, one that builds solidarity and creates positive change. White allies with questions or concerns are strongly encouraged to reach out to Allies for Racial Equity.
Election Night Care Space – Tuesday, November 5, 6:30 CT
Hosted by the UU Women’s Federation
It’s been a L-O-N-G election season. We know that whichever way it goes, we will continue our work towards justice. UUWF invites you to spend some election decompression space with us on Election night.
We’ll start one hour before the polls close on the East Coast, and make space for you to reconnect. Join us for music and inspiration.
(UUWF builds covenental relationships among Unitarian Universalist Women and Femmes that equip us all to be better co-conspirators and allies in the movement for collective liberation.)
Wednesday
Coffee and Conversations, Wednesdays at 10 am
(For the Zoom link, check your Wildflower newsletter or contact the care team on this form or email careteam@wildflowerchurch.org.)
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
Laughter Yoga is open to all bodies and all experience levels. You don’t need props or tools, just bring yourself. Laughter Yoga is the union of unconditional laughter and deep yogic breathing. You can practice it anywhere, anytime.
UUA Forward Together: Anchoring in Community Post Election
Wednesday, November 6, at 7pm Central
Find Support & Community in Our Post-Election Series
Join Side with Love, UUA Congregational Life, and senior UUA leadership for a series of online gatherings to help us reflect, respond, and prepare together following the 2024 Election. Each session provides spiritual grounding, practical insights, and community support.
Session One – 11/6: After Election Day Ground yourself, connect with UUA resources, and get insights from Side With Love.
Session Two – TBD (When Election is Called) Join UUA President Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt and others for reflection and immediate action steps.
Session Three – 11/19: The Way Forward Discuss next steps and hear from Side With Love on the movement landscape.
All sessions at 8pm ET / 7pm CT / 6pm MT / 5pm PT. Register to attend and receive updates! https://bit.ly/4e5EzGJ
Thursday
TXUUJM Action Hour with Rev Erin J. Walter, 7pm – 8 pm
All are welcome to join the Texas Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry (TXUUJM) as Rev Erin J. Walter hosts this week’s weekly Thursday night justice gatherings on Zoom from 7pm – 8pm CT. It is a time to check in and connect with folks from around the state and be in community. Invite friends, UU or not, Texan or not. ALL WELCOME. Learn more about these programs at txuujm.org. Register for Thursday’s Action Hour here.
Sunday
Wildflower Church’s Sunday Worship, Sunday, November 10, 11:45 am on Zoom
“The Wonder of Who You Are,” speaker Simone Monique Barnes.
As we continue our month-long theme of Comforting Light, we will take time to meditate, dream, imagine, and breathe, honoring our own inner light and the comforting lights that surround us.
After the virtual service, the Wildflower Community Room will be open from 2pm to 6pm for our Community Recharge Day. It is a self-guided afternoon of restorative activities, community, and quiet time; whatever it is that you need to recharge your own batteries.
This is a Zoom-only service. There will be no children’s and youth religious education classes.
Come as you are, take what you need. Stay for a few minutes, or stay all afternoon. A self-guided afternoon with space to quietly contemplate and space to engage. It’s a relaxing day of both fellowship and solitude, to recharge your batteries.
This little light of mine Used to be too scared to shine When mine met yours it would run and hide But in time I came to find I wanna shine so bright It makes this whole world smile And pay back the beautiful feeling That allows me to be Whatever I wanna be And I am gonna be Free and easy
**It’s time to go outside. Sometime today or this evening, make time to go out, rain or shine. Touch the living earth: soil, leaf, water, or just let the air touch you. Find a quiet place where you can stop a while, just quietly. In your mind, or whispering, speak to the earth as if it were a loving grandparent, an elder. Say (in your mind or whispering) what you’re most afraid of now. Stay still a little longer, and then offer a small prayer, perhaps like this: “Right now, what I need most is _____.” Breathe deep, and touch the earth again, with gratitude.** 
Session One – 11/6: After Election Day
All sessions at 8pm ET / 7pm CT / 6pm MT / 5pm PT.
Register to attend and receive updates! 
