|
Weekly Newsletter for March 20, 2025
|
| |
Sunday Service
In Person and on Zoom
Sunday, March 23, at 11:45 am
Service leader: Daniela Silva
|
|
|
|
Learning from Many Teachers:
On the Practice of Fasting and Striking Balance This Vernal Equinox
Ostara, or the Spring Equinox is here; a day where sunshine and darkness exist in equal balance, teaching us ways to embody balance in our own lives! This season of budding potential invites us to begin planting the seeds of our future. Let us take learnings from three religious practices that are simultaneously happening right now - Islamic Ramadan, Baháʼí Nineteen-Day Fast, and Catholic Lent - to inspire the ways in which we approach cultivating our goals and dreams. How can we hold space for both energies - that of balance and that of making things happen? Together we’ll explore what it means to hold two truths at once and how centuries-old practices can help us create fertile ground in which to grow the world we want to see for ourselves and generations to come.
As part of our closing song, Here Comes the Sun, all will be invited to join the Wildflower Band in calling in the sun, balance and new beginnings. Bring your drums and percussion to the service - for yourself and to loan to others. We also have several options and, of course, our bodies are amazing percussives! Laura Jo Acuna will lead this part of the service
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.
|
|
|
| |
| |
| |
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.
|
|
|
| |
Are you looking for a more meaningful way to serve Wildflower and connect on a deeper level with our congregation?
|
|
 |
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
|
|
|
| |
 |
Equinox Drum Circle
Sunday, March 23 at 11:45 am
During the march 23, 2025 service, we encourage those who want a drumming circle experience to bring their instruments and join in the live performance of "Here Comes the Sun".
|
|
|
| |
 |
Austin Youth Hangout! Hosted by Wildflower Youth Group ~ Do you know youth who care about what’s happening in our country and would benefit from a space to talk and connect with like-minded people? Wildflower Youth Group is hosting a space for youth in Austin to be heard, get to know each other, make tacos, and play board games. RSVP HERE to join us on Sat, March 29th 5-9PM. Please share with youth who may be looking for a community like ours!
|
|
|
| |
|
Wildflower Book Group: The Message
Wednesday, April 2 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 April 2nd meeting we are reading Chapters 1&2 to discuss at our next meeting. Come join us! Questions? Contact Susie: ARE@Wildflowerchurch.org |
| |
Partnership with the Community
Use of Wildflower’s Community Room
In the month of February, our Community Room held 5 organizations, some holding several different meetings. Approximately 3/4ths of the meetings addressed the immigration rights area spurred by the Trump administration's recent executive orders. The other area was more generally focused on the impacts of racism. The training was contextualized in terms of the efforts of the Trump administration’s racist agenda.
|
|
 |
|
| |
 |
Wildflower Church Q’1 2025 Second Offering Recipient:
BRAVE Communities
|
|
Our mission is to cultivate BRAVE spaces for people of diverse backgrounds to come together and Build Relationships Awareness Voices and Engagement so we can co-create more just and equitable communities.
Read about BRAVE Communities on our website, or visit theirs at: https://bravecommunities.org/
|
|
|
| |
|
Regional and National Information |
| | |
 |
What This Training Offers
Led by Natalie Nguyen, Danya Davis and Atena Danner of Justice Movement, this 12-hour, four-session course is a chance to explore:
-
How our socialization, privilege, and systems of oppression shape our engagement with racial justice
-
How to move from reaction to response, from guilt to responsibility, from allyship to solidarity
-
How to practice radical love, accountability, and the courage to be in movement with others
-
This is not a place for easy answers. It is a place to wrestle, to listen deeply, and to grow.
Who Is This For?
This training is open to all, and we especially encourage Unitarian Universalists who are longing for a deeper practice of racial justice in their ministries, their congregations, and their daily lives. We are prioritizing BIPOC attendance and have scholarships available to ensure accessibility. We also have space for white allies who are committed to showing up with humility and a willingness to be changed. Participants will receive a certificate of completion that may be utilized for continuing education credit.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
First UU Reproductive Justice Film Festival
Dates: 2/9, 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.
|
|
 |
|
| |
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.
|
|
| |
|
TXUUJM February News:
