The New Braunfels Chamber Music will be offering a season of concerts beginning October 21 and running through April 28. The programs will be presented at Unitarian Universalists of New Braunfels, 135 Alves Lane, beginning at 7 pm. There is no admission charge but a donation of $20 is suggested.
The first concert will be held on October 21 and feature William McNally, piano, Daveda Karanas, mezzo-soprano, and Kimberly Sullivan, viola and on November 11, Mark Dover, clarinet and Daniel Anastasio. The new year will start with a performance on January 20, 2023 with Daria Rabotkina piano solo; followed by February 24 appearance by Chavdar Parashkevav, violin and Natasha Kislenko, piano; and March 24 Brendan Shea, violin and Yerin Kim, piano. The final concert of the season will be on April 28 with Ian Davidson, oboe, Daris Hale, bassoon, and Jason Kwak. Mark your calendars now to enjoy superb chamber music presented conveniently in your hometown.
Ancestor Altar/Spirit Altar/Ofrenda (ALL of October)
For the month of October, there will be an altar at the back of the UUNB Gathering room leading up to our Sunday service on October 30th about honoring our ancestors and deceased loved ones. We will make a spirit altar, ask our loved ones to join us and rejoice in their presence.
As we enter a transitioning time between warmer and colder months the festivals and celebrations of ancestors and loved one’s passed emerge. Dia de los Muertos, Day of the Dead where we bring food and gifts to the dead; Samhain, the Celtic word for Summer’s End, marked a time to pay homage to the deceased; and many more. Celebrations for the dead span across the world. The traditions vary from culture to culture, region to region and family to family. Food and offerings to be shared with the departed. Bells to ring in spirits, drums to guide their footsteps, fires to open doorways and windows. Alters to pay respects and remembrance. Dances and songs to entice their presence. Stories of lore, love, laughter, and life.
The altar will be decorated with candles, marigolds, and pictures of our loved ones who have come and gone. Please feel free to bring pictures of loved ones passed to place upon the altar; ancestors, recent loved ones, and even pets. Feel free to be creative, maybe even leave a story about the person with their photo.
SHARE THE PLATE recipient for May is UBarU Retreat Center
Nestled in the Texas Hill Country, this Dark Sky UU camp has been enjoyed by many of our children, youth and adults as a perfect getaway from the busyness of the I-35 Corridor. You can share with UBarU the same way you donate to UUNB, which is either with a check mailed to our PO box or through the donate button here on our website. Make sure to designate the funds to UBarU.
Two years after the breakout of COVID, UUNB members and friends wrote haikus to express their memories and thoughts about the pandemic as well as their hopes for the future.
We mask our faces
In the fear of fog and doubt
All paths are rocky.
- Mary Powell
Green fields beckoning
Count lessons learned and move on
Fingers crossed, eyes bright.
- Mary Powell
Time seems to stand still
Good friends seem farther away
But love connects us
- Bruce Carpenter
Since 2020
An all-out fight to survive
Now we turn the tide
- Kelly Schaefer
Covid visiting
Eating on the patio
No masking required
- Diane Pepin
Another long night
Nothing exciting to do
But stay here with you
- Diane Pepin
My daughter arrives
There’s a bright smile on her face
Now my heart revives
- Diane Pepin
Granddaughter is born
Covid says don’t see her now
That did not stop me
- Diane Pepin
Shadow pear blossoms
fatten shadow butterflies
on a sky of earth.
- William Mills
We have visitors
Deer, critters, birds, butterflies
Few human pals, though
- Sarah Laird
Having to stay home
Something I have never done
How long can I last?
- Peggy Vieira
Getting projects done
Doll clothes made and pictures hung
Quarantine bonus!
- Peggy Vieira
Boundaries enclose
What is safety really?
Mist obscures the dawn
- Judith Ferrari
Fear breathed loneliness
Shadows hovered the landscape
Hope smiles once again
- Irene Keller
The world stood silent
Bated breath in transition
Inevitable
- Chol Romero-Dungan
A single moment
Nature was as it should be
A beautiful sight
- Chol Romero-Dungan
First we were afraid.
Vaccines calmed us down.
But still we wore masks.
- Carolyn Carr
The church closed its doors—
cameras appeared on site.
Zoom hosts soon followed.
- Carolyn Carr
Masks are coming off!
The community is safe.
Now coffee comes back!
- Carolyn Carr
Like new butterflies,
We emerge from private places
to dance in the sun.
- Janyth Fredrickson
How could a virus
be red or blue? Get real, man.
It’s really purple.
- Janyth Fredrickson
Stuck indoors alone
my iPhone was my best friend
You’re the exception
- Trisha Stevens
Northbound and Southbound
all the freeways were quiet
thanks to Covid-19
- Trisha Stevens
Hard to understand
why some won’t get vaccinated.
What are they thinking?
- Trisha Steven
Masks hide others’ faces
cover laughter, expressions
communication
- Trisha Stevens
It could kill us all!
So we stayed home and stopped living.
Was that our best move?
- Allen Somers
Down, up, all around
To vaccinate or not
Many lessons learned
- Bob Keyser
Masking all the time
No coffee drinking in stores
No lost coffee cups!
- Bob Keyser
Pandemic, like war
Part of human life on Earth
Up to us to fix
- Bob Keyser
We stayed home in isolation.
No hugs, no grandchildren,
no Friday night dominoes.
Life resumes, thanks, miracle vaccinations.
- Joan McGaffic
After two long years
Even an introvert wails
“Enough already!”
- Jan Estes
Washed produce outside.
Let mail sit in the garage.
Should I have washed the mail?
- Daria Rabotkina
At first, walks were fun.
Food was fun as well to me.
Then food ate my walks.
- Daria Rabotkina
School on Zoom for us.
Why feeling tired more, not less?
How low can this go?
- Daria Rabotkina
Masks saved lives again.
I learn to smile with my eyes.
Bummer. Lips forget.
- Daria Rabotkina
Want to hug someone!
Whoa, radical. Now even
Fistbumps bring goosebumps.
- Daria Rabotkina
Basically, homeschool.
And, yet, I’m seeing others.
I can’t touch through Zoom.
- Nick McNally
Trish Stevens welcomes
Bob Keyser is president
We’re no longer lost
- Peggy Ornelas
Stewart’s ponytail
Judith’s engaging laughter
Jan’s Sisyphus Hill
- Peggy Ornelas
SOS Food Bank
On Wednesdays walking the walk
Gathering to give
- Peggy Ornelas
Joan Rabb teaching us
To serve people with little
Makes Red Cross a truth
- Peggy Ornelas
And Thea makes five
Who never thought ninety wasn’t young
Never met our mom
- Peggy Ornelas
Silent streets at fist
Waiting for the gunslinger
To show up on Main
- Bill McNally
Marriage rates are up
Cohabitation is king
Your turn for the dishes
- Bill McNally
Starting April 3, masks and social distancing will be optional for vaccinated adults and children over five at UUNB, barring unforeseen Covid flare-ups. Spaced seating will also be available in the gathering room for those who want extra precautions. Other Covid requirements, including vaccination, remain in place with one exception–coffee will be available following the April 3 service! See you there.
This three-volume curriculum is based on the assumption that everyone is their own theologian. The first session begins with an introduction to the six sources of Unitarian Universalism. At the end of the three sessions participants will create a personal credo. All sessions will be virtual from 9:00am-12:00pm. Contact Rev. Addae with questions or to enroll. revaddae@verizon.net or email uunb135@gmail.com
February 19, Saturday – Volume1
Introduction to the six Sources of our UU faith, and discussing/exploring your personal fundamental religious beliefs, values and convictions that inform the way you direct your life.
February 26, Saturday – Volume 2
This session continues the credo-development process by focusing on various theological questions to help you grow in your ability to understand and clearly articulate your own belief systems.
March 19, Saturday – Volume 3
Participants will examine key issues in religious inquiry, including truth and authority, theological diversity, spirituality, sin and salvation, justice, suffering, death, immortality and the concept of the beloved community.
Reading List
Rev. Addae strongly recommends these titles to newcomers and anyone else who wishes to fill in the gaps about the history of Unitarian Universalism. All of these books are available at www.uuabookstore.org
Being Liberal in an Illiberal Age: Why I’m a Unitarian Universalist by Jack Mendelsohn
A Chosen Faith: An Introduction to Unitarian Universalism by Forrrest Church, John A. Buehrens
Universalism 101 by Richard Trudeau
The Larger Faith: A Short History of American Universalism Author: Charles A. Howe
A Stream of Light: A Short History of American Unitarianism Author: Conrad Wright
Without Apology: Collected Meditations on Liberal Religion by A. Powell Davies (Forrest Church)
Black Pioneers in a White Denomination Author: Mark D Morrison-Reed
A People So Bold: Theology and Ministry for Unitarian Universalist John Millspaugh editor
Three Prophets of Religious Liberalism: Channing, Emerson, Parker Author: Conrad Wright
Faith Without Certainty by Paul Rasor
A Documentary History of Unitarian Universalism from beginning-1899
A Documentary History of Unitarian Universalism from 1900- Present
Please save the date for our next Congregational Meeting to be held on Saturday, January 22, 2022 at 1:00PM in the Zoom Room (zoom details will be provided closer to the date).
Please review the following documents before the meeting:
Listed below are items considered but have not yet selected for discussion. The group shares these to give you a sense of the subjects we’re willing to tackle.
This list, plus other subjects no yet identified—including any great ideas you suggest—will be used to identify the focuse of our next extended conversation.
So join and help us decide which.
YouTube Videos
“Is America Due for a Revolution? How to fix a broken system. Some Americans have claimed that the time has come for another revolution. See what others think.
Is America due for a Revolution? A Braver Angels Debate
Podcast The New Liberals Podcast: When it comes to the political, it’s not unusual to agree to disagree. But when our modern discourse so often feels toxic, how can we be more agreeable in our disagreement? “Disagreeing Better” with John Wood, Jr. https://newliberals.fm/episodes/1-disagreeing-better-with-john-wood-jr
BookLess is More: How Degrowth Will Save the World. This book by Jason Hickel due to come out Nov. 1, 2021, in paperback and Kindle, is described as “A groundbreaking exploration of the best possible solution to the climate crisis: a new economic model, and a new way of viewing our relationship with the natural world
Weblinks “Death of local newspapers: 2,” 100 or 25% of 9,000 local newspapers published in 2003 died by 2018, creating news deserts with no coverage of critical local issues; many in rural places but also wealthy suburbs. Numerous causes and dire consequences aggravate divisiveness and political divide. Why a problem? How can we fight back and better support local news sources?
BookForget the Alamo: The Rise and Fall of an American Myth, Chris Tomlinson and Jason Stanford. The Texas revolt, for 150 years, was largely ignored by academics, in part because…state government of Texas…for 120, 130 years, made very clear to the University of Texas faculty and to the faculty of other state-funded universities that it only wants one type of Texas history taught … and that if you get outside those boundaries, you’re going to hear about it.
BookThe End of White Christian America, Robert P Jones. The religious right may be even more “dangerous on its decline than in its triumphant phase.”
BookSurviving Autocracy, Masha Gessen. …the Trump phenomenon and how it has transformed US society
BookThe Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race, Walter Issacson. Explores significant advance in biology… important consequences for the future of the human race…presents a set of ethical questions on the issue of gene editing – should we or not, who decides, what should be permitted
