UUMC Film Festival: TONIGHT, July 15 & 22
Second Sunday Suppers: THIS SUNDAY!
Night Out at Dell Diamond: July 28
Jennifer Knapp Concert: August 9


This Sunday's Worship in the Sanctuary 
Sun. July 12 at 8:30 and 11 am  
Explore some of the foundational teachings of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, as we continue our sermon series on "What Would Wesley Say?" Rev. Katheryn McNeely preaches on "Works of Mercy" (Luke 10:25-37). To listen to our sermon archives, visit our UUMC podcast page: http://universityumc.podomatic.com/.

"Second Sunday Supper" Potluck Lunch
Noon, Fellowship Hall
Bring a dish to share for the second installment of our new "Second Sunday Supper" Potluck Lunch gatherings. This on-going, regular fellowship event at University UMC is designed to help bring our community of faith closer together -- and it won't be as fun if you don't come! For this Second Sunday Supper, we'll be assembling flood buckets for UMCOR. If you have questions, please contact Rev. Heather Lee, our Youth Ministry Director and Social Justice Associate, at [email protected]. No RSVP is necessary -- just bring a dish to share, stay a while and get to know the people of UUMC.   

Let Us Know Your Favorite Hymn
Got a favorite hymn? Let us know and your suggestion will be added to our list of songs this summer in worship. Write down your picks on the "Additional Information" slip in the attendance book. Tear off the slip and place it in the offering plate.

Rain Damage in Sanctuary Building
North Balcony Closed 
The north balcony in the Sanctuary building sustained water damage from the recent bout of rain storms in Central Texas. For your safety, this area and the north stairwell will be closed until further notice. Please sit in the center and south balconies until repairs are complete.


ACTION NEEDED! Bring Summer Clothes for Fig Leaf
UUMC's Fig Leaf ministry needs your help NOW! We are almost out of t-shirts and shorts for the men and women who depend on this ministry for clothing. Please look through your closets and bring in this week (or on Sunday) any items that you can donate. You may leave your donations in the elevator lobby at the entrance of Heinsohn Hall or in the collection bins in the Sanctuary lobbies. We expect to experience high demand for these items throughout the summer -- so please consider asking your neighbors, workmates and friends for their donations, too. For more information about how you can help, contact Jane Leifeste at [email protected].  

UUMC Collects Items for UMCOR Flood Buckets

From now through mid-July, we're collecting your donations of items that go into UMCOR flood relief buckets, which are given to crews and individuals who help clean up after floods and other natural disasters. A list of these items can be found here. Please contact Rev. Heather Lee, our Justice Associate, at [email protected] if you have questions. Financial donations are also accepted for this effort. Please designate "flood buckets" on the memo line of your check or on a giving envelope, which are found in the Sanctuary pews.
Praxis | Faith Enacted, Love Practiced, Christ Embodied
Our community of faith is committed to working toward social justice and caring for the marginalized. "Praxis" serves as our congregation's online hub for news and conversations of social justice and missions at UUMC and within the surrounding Austin community. Please contact Rev. Heather Lee, our Justice Associate, at [email protected] with mission or social justice updates, opportunities, pictures and event notices. Click here to visit Praxis and learn more about our justice and missions news or click here to read the Praxis newsletter.

UUMC Film Festival | Wednesdays in July, 6:30 pm
 
Beat the summer heat and join us in the Fellowship Hall for a series of three free film screenings, complete with popcorn and post-movie discussions.
The Jones Family Will Make a Way
, TONIGHT!, 6:30 pm, with Director Alan Berg in the audience.
For 30 years, Bishop Fred Jones and his family have performed on the southern gospel circuit, largely unseen by those outside the Pentecostal faith. When the Bishop, despite objections from many within his faith, decided to take his family's musical ministry outside the church, he unexpectedly connected with the oddest of allies -- a jaded, atheistic rock critic, who also happened to be a gospel historian. To Michael Corcoran, the Jones Family Singers represent a living link to a style of gospel he thought had disappeared. These most unlikely of friends bonded through perhaps their one shared trait -- a deeply rooted rebelliousness.
When I Rise
, Wed. July 15, 6:30 pm, with Co-Producer Ramona Kelly in the audience.
A gifted black music student at the University of Texas is thrust into a civil rights storm that changes her life forever. Barbara Smith Conrad is cast in an opera to co-star with a white male classmate, fueling a racist backlash from members of the Texas Legislature. When Barbara is expelled from the cast, the incident escalates to national news, prompting unexpected support from a pop superstar. This small-town girl, whose voice and spirit stem from her roots in East Texas, emerges as an internationally celebrated mezzo-soprano and headlines on stages around the world.
Young @ Heart
, Wed. July 22, 6:30 pm.
The Young@Heart Chorus is a vocal group from Northampton, Mass., who have earned an international reputation for their unique interpretations of songs by Sonic Youth, the Ramones, and the Clash. However, this isn't a teenage garage band attacking the classic punk rock songbook -- the Young@Heart Chorus is comprised of 22 senior citizens whose average age is 80, and under director Bob Cilman they've gained a degree of fame for their enthusiastic a cappella renditions of well-known rock & roll tunes. Filmmaker Stephen Walker spent several weeks with the members of the Young@Heart Chorus as they rehearsed for their annual concert in Northampton, and Young@Heart is a documentary which offers a look at their rigorous rehearsal process, the background of several members, and their efforts to stay active and think positive, even as their friends succumb to old age.

"What You Don't Have to Believe to Be a Christian" Summer Churchwide Reading 
This fall, our pastors will begin a sermon series called "What You Don't Have to Believe to Be a Christian" -- a theme inspired by a book under the same title by UUMC Pastor Emeritus George M. Ricker. Many Christians live with doubts about certain traditional Christian beliefs, and their doubts often result in guilt. Others are led to reject the faith out of disagreement with beliefs that seem to be absurd and anti-intellectual. Despite the notoriety of the fundamentalist worldview, some stories need not to be taken as literal or historical. Learning to separate fact from symbol, metaphor, or myth may actually strengthen the Christian witness. Liberation from literalism opens the possibilities for greater depth of meaning to be found in what have been traditional beliefs. "What You Don't Have to Believe to Be a Christian" is a helpful guide to discovering the non-essentials of Christian beliefs. Pick up your copy in the Church Office for $15 or order a copy online -- and join us in this summer reading project! 

When Should I Call A Pastor? 
Sometimes people wonder when to call their pastor. If you go into the hospital, have surgery or receive a difficult diagnosis, we want to be there by praying for you and with you. We can visit you in the hospital or at home. You can call the church office at (512) 478-9387 and you'll be connected to the pastor on-call, or email Rev. Lisa Blaylock at [email protected].
 
UUMC Night at the Dell Diamond
Tues. July 28, 7 pm
Batter up! Members and friends of UUMC have an exciting opportunity to attend a Round Rock Express baseball game. We have reserved an enclosed picnic area with a playground for Tuesday, July 28, as the Express takes on the Omaha Storm Chasers at 7 pm. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children. The price includes a ticket in our reserved seating area, dinner (hamburger/hot dog, chips, cookie) and unlimited non-alcoholic beverages. Children and parents are welcome to go back to the enclosed playground area throughout the game. If interested, email Rev. Heather Lee at [email protected] or contact Maren Roberts at [email protected] in the Church Office to purchase your ticket. 
UUMC Roadtrip to "Gather at the River"
Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 6-9
Join your friends at UUMC as we head down to San Antonio for an invigorating time of fellowship, reflection and music. This special social justice event is a partnership of the Methodist Federation for Social Action & Reconciling Ministries Network. Learn more and register now:  http://www.rmnetwork.org/newrmn/gather2015/#!  Scholarships are available for interested college or high school students. Please contact Rev. Heather Lee, our Justice Associate, for more information at [email protected]
 
Jennifer Knapp in Concert at UUMC 
Sun. Aug. 9, 7 pm, UUMC Sanctuary  
Tickets ($10) are on sale now for Jennifer Knapp's concert this summer at UUMC -- click here to save your seat! You won't want to miss this amazing singer-songwriter. If you're not already familiar with her music, click here to listen up.  

Youth Confirmation Begins This Fall at UUMC 
This Fall, we'll begin offering a Confirmation class using the curriculum "Confirm Not Conform" for students in Grades 8 through 11. This curriculum was chosen because it engages youth in Scripture, tradition, reason and experience. It also focuses on church history, the Nicene Creed, the Lord's Prayer, worship, world religions and social justice. We now are recruiting Confirmation mentors and will be training them this summer. To ensure that we have enough mentors for all of our students, please let Rev. Heather Lee, our Youth Director, know if your student plans to participate in Confirmation. It will be a five-month program from September to February, and students will meet during the Sunday School hour three out of the four Sundays each month. Please email Pastor Heather at [email protected] or call (512) 478-9387 ext. 213 to register your student or sign up as a mentor.