Upcoming Events
From fun, community building activities to educational and spiritual growth opportunities, there are always great events happening at UUMC. If you want to stay in the loop about upcoming events, sign up for our newsletters!
How Did Church Music Become Bach? (UUMC Masterclass)
How Did Church Music Become Bach?
with Eun Joo Fierro, Adjunct Professor of Music, Northwest Vista College.
Come spend an evening exploring how church music has changed through the centuries, from the simplicity of Gregorian chant to the beautiful and intricate music of J. S. Bach. We'll listen together, hear short musical examples, and discover how one generation of musicians built on the ideas of the past. No musical background is needed. Just come with curious ears and a love of music.
About Eun Joo Fierro
Born in Seoul, Korea, Eun Joo Fierro began playing piano at the age of six. When she was 15 years old she emigrated to the United States with her family. She earned her Bachelors of Music, Masters of Music, and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the University of Texas at Austin, where she studied with Dr. Frank Speller.
She is an award recipient of the Se-Kwang Piano Competition and the William Hall Organ Competition. Among her many performance credits is a live broadcast of the Saint-Saens Organ Symphony under the direction of Maestro Peter Bay and the Austin Symphony Orchestra. She has also appeared as guest organist with the University of Texas choirs and orchestras, UT Early Music Ensemble, and numerous school and church organizations.
About UUMC Masterclass
What happens when some of the finest teachers in our congregation bring their compelling lectures beyond the classroom?
UUMC MasterClass invites professors from our church to share their knowledge, passions, and best ideas with the broader public. Every Tuesday, a different lecturer will introduce us to a subject through an engaging and accessible presentation. No academic background is required. This is for anyone who enjoys learning and asking questions. Attend in person or on Zoom for a single lecture or return each week for a new topic and teacher! For a Zoom link, or with any questions, please email Pastor Earl: pastorearl@uumc.org
Central Texas Interfaith: Accountability Session
Central Texas Interfaith will be holding an accountability session at UUMC. CTI is a non-partisan organization that does not endorse candidates, rather they ask candidates to commit to work on our peoples agenda. An agenda of issues built from thousands of conversations with families in our member institutions—UUMC is one of those institutions. All are invited to join them to hear stories of how these issues are impacting Central Texas families, and what they are doing to address it.
RSVP on the Central Texas Interfaith website.
Event Details
Doors
Please use our Courtyard gates on Guadalupe to sign in and enter the Sanctuary.
Parking
The UUMC Lot is reserved for ADA Parking for this event.
Free Parking is available in the Platinum Parking Lot at 2438 Guadalupe St. and in the UT San Antonio Garage located at 2420 San Antonio St. If you park in the garage, you will need to get your ticket validated.
UUMC MasterClass
What happens when some of the finest teachers in our congregation bring their compelling lectures beyond the classroom?
This fall, MasterClass invites professors from our church to share their knowledge, passions, and best ideas with the broader public. Every Tuesday, a different lecturer will introduce us to a new subject through an engaging and accessible presentation. No academic background is required. This is for anyone who enjoys learning and asking questions.
Topics will vary from week to week and may explore theology, history, literature, science, culture, public life, and more. Whether the subject is familiar or completely new, each gathering is designed to inspire curiosity, encourage thoughtful conversation, and make meaningful learning available to everyone. Attend in person or on Zoom for a single lecture or return each week for a new topic and teacher! For a Zoom link, or with any questions, please email Pastor Earl: pastorearl@uumc.org
Sound Bath Sundays
On the last Sunday of the month, Lauren (Elford) Puthoff will come lead a sound bath in our chapel to help us connect and move peacefully into our week.
Participants should bring a yoga mat, small blanket, and pillow. This event is free for everyone, however there will be a Venmo for tips as people are able. RSVPs are helpful, but not required.
This class is open to anyone, of any age, that would like to participate. We are unable to provide childcare at this time.
Email Natasha—natasha@uumc.org—with any questions or to RSVP!
Telling Stories through Clothing (UUMC Masterclass)
Telling Stories through Clothing
with Susan Branch Towne, Associate Professor of Practice in Theater Design at St. Edward's University.
In this session, Susan will discuss the process of costume design, the challenges and rewards of working in live theater, and share a range of her work as examples
About Susan Branch Towne
Susan Branch Towne has been designing costumes for plays, musicals, opera and ballet for over 40 years, and she is an Associate Professor of Practice in Theater Design at St. Edward's University. She holds a BFA from Carnegie-Mellon and an MFA from the Yale School of Drama. Her professional credits include numerous productions at regional theaters like The Denver Center, Salt Lake City's Pioneer Theater, and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival; Off Broadway and New York City Opera; Ballet Austin, Austin Opera, Mary Moody Northen Theater, and 43 shows at Austin's ZACH Theater.
About UUMC Masterclass
What happens when some of the finest teachers in our congregation bring their compelling lectures beyond the classroom?
UUMC MasterClass invites professors from our church to share their knowledge, passions, and best ideas with the broader public. Every Tuesday, a different lecturer will introduce us to a subject through an engaging and accessible presentation. No academic background is required. This is for anyone who enjoys learning and asking questions. Attend in person or on Zoom for a single lecture or return each week for a new topic and teacher! For a Zoom link, or with any questions, please email Pastor Earl: pastorearl@uumc.org
Tending the Fire at the Center of the World (UUMC Masterclass)
Tending the Fire at the Center of the World
with David F. White, Professor Emeritus of Christian Education at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary
This lecture will engage the central question of Christian formation: what kind of knowing is most likely to awaken and sustain Christian faith? This book seeks to reclaim aesthetics—beauty and creativity—as the church’s most native theological way of knowing and being, which participates with God’s own glory and creativity.
About David F. White
An ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, David F. White has served congregations in Alaska, California, and Mississippi, as well as in conference leadership in youth ministry.
Before joining Austin Seminary, White served at Candler School of Theology, Emory University, as visiting assistant professor of youth and education and associate director of research for the Youth Theological Initiative. From 1997 to 2002, he directed the Youth Discipleship Project at Claremont School of Theology, a research initiative exploring innovative approaches to youth ministry and congregational discernment.
White’s most recent book, Tending the Fire That Burns at the Center of the World: Beauty and the Art of Christian Formation(Cascade, 2023), will provide a primary resource for his masterclass at UUMC. His work explores Christian formation, beauty, discernment, vocation, and the spiritual lives of people. He previously served as a senior editor for the Theology of Joy and the Good Life project at the Yale Center for Faith and Culture, work that contributed toJoy: A Guide for Youth Ministry (Wesley’s Foundery Books, 2020).
His other books include Practicing Discernment with Youth (Pilgrim Press, 2005), Awakening Youth Discipleship in a Consumer Culture (Cascade, 2007), coauthored with Brian Mahan and Michael Warren, and Dreamcare: A Theology of Youth, Spirit, and Vocation (Cascade, 2013).
White’s research and teaching have been supported by grants from Lilly Endowment Inc., the Wabash Center, and the Templeton Foundation, including a $1.2 million Lilly Endowment grant supporting research and programming in youth discipleship.
About UUMC Masterclass
What happens when some of the finest teachers in our congregation bring their compelling lectures beyond the classroom?
UUMC MasterClass invites professors from our church to share their knowledge, passions, and best ideas with the broader public. Every Tuesday, a different lecturer will introduce us to a subject through an engaging and accessible presentation. No academic background is required. This is for anyone who enjoys learning and asking questions. Attend in person or on Zoom for a single lecture or return each week for a new topic and teacher! For a Zoom link, or with any questions, please email Pastor Earl: pastorearl@uumc.org
Sound Bath Sundays
Our Community Life Team has a new, peaceful event to add to your schedule. They’re starting Sound Bath Sundays on the last Sunday of every month.
Lauren (Elford) Puthoff will come leading a monthly sound bath in our chapel to help us connect and move peacefully into our week. Participants should bring a yoga mat, small blanket, and pillow. This event is free for everyone, however there will be a Venmo for tips as people are able. RSVPs are helpful, but not required.
This class is open to anyone, of any age, that would like to participate. We are unable to provide childcare at this time.
Email Natasha—natasha@uumc.org—with any questions or to RSVP!
The Origins of Jazz (UUMC Masterclass)
The Origins of Jazz
with Paul Harper, Adjunct Professor of Music, Northeast Lakeview College, San Antonio
This lecture will be a historical overview of how this truly American style of music came to be. We’ll talk about the roots of jazz and the musicians who helped make this America’s music.
About Paul Harper
Paul Harper is an Adjunct Professor of Music at Northeast Lakeview College in San Antonio where he teaches Music Appreciation.
About UUMC Masterclass
What happens when some of the finest teachers in our congregation bring their compelling lectures beyond the classroom?
UUMC MasterClass invites professors from our church to share their knowledge, passions, and best ideas with the broader public. Every Tuesday, a different lecturer will introduce us to a subject through an engaging and accessible presentation. No academic background is required. This is for anyone who enjoys learning and asking questions. Attend in person or on Zoom for a single lecture or return each week for a new topic and teacher! For a Zoom link, or with any questions, please email Pastor Earl: pastorearl@uumc.org
Methodism 101
Would you like to learn more about the United Methodist Church and Methodism—its history, core beliefs, mission, and structure? Pastor Earl will be leading a three-week Sunday School class and everyone is welcome to attend. The class will meet during the Sunday School hour from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. in the Heath Conference Room in the Educational Building—located on the second floor of the Education Building at the end of the hall on the right side.
September 13: "Methodism: What and Why?" led by Pastor Earl
September 20: "What Do Methodists Believe?" led by Dr. David White
September 27: "The Methodist Story” led by Ángel Gallardo
October 4: "How Methodists Connect and Serve" led by Pastor Teresa
Questions? Contact Pastor Earl at PastorEarl@uumc.org
And Who is My Neighbor (UUMC Masterclass Series)
And Who Is My Neighbor?:
Why Third Spaces and Neighboring are Good for our Mental Health
with Marlon Johnson, Associate Professor of Counselor Education
This lecture explores the conversation beneath the Parable of the Good Samaritan as it connects to our connection to space, to beloved community building, and to our mental and emotional wellbeing. This conversation will help us see the role of our church community as a useful Third Space for an ever-disconnected world and how we can identify other Third Spaces that help us and those around us live more flourished and engaged lives.
About Marlon Johnson
Marlon Johnson serves as the Dean of Community Life and Associate Professor of Counselor Education at Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas. His research centers the stories of Gay Black male relationships, the connections between spirituality and sexuality, and the exploration of third spaces to community wellbeing and racial healing. He owns both Johnson Counseling and Consulting, his private counseling practice, and the Bridgework Collective, where he partners with faith leaders, small organizations, and community advocates to transform good intentions into lived inclusion
About UUMC Masterclass
What happens when some of the finest teachers in our congregation bring their compelling lectures beyond the classroom?
UUMC MasterClass invites professors from our church to share their knowledge, passions, and best ideas with the broader public. Every Tuesday, a different lecturer will introduce us to a subject through an engaging and accessible presentation. No academic background is required. This is for anyone who enjoys learning and asking questions. Attend in person or on Zoom for a single lecture or return each week for a new topic and teacher! For a Zoom link, or with any questions, please email Pastor Earl: pastorearl@uumc.org
Spiritual Cleanliness & American Culture (UUMC MasterClass Series)
Spiritual Cleanliness & American Culture
with Chad Seales, Associate Professor of Religious Studies
This lecture will show how the phrase "cleanliness is next to godliness," popularized by John Wesley, has been lived out in American culture, using examples from soap advertisements, banking, apparel, and agriculture.
About Chad Seales
Chad Seales is Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Holder Designate of the Brian F. Bolton Distinguished Professorship in Secular Studies. He taught at New College of Florida in Sarasota and George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia before arriving at The University of Texas at Austin. He earned a B.A from the University of Florida, an M.T.S. from Candler School of Theology at Emory University, and a Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
His research addresses the cultural relationship between religion and secularism in American life. He is editor of the Routledge Handbook of Religion and American Culture (Routledge Press, 2025), and the author of Religion Around Bono: Evangelical Enchantment and Neoliberal Capitalism (Penn State University Press, 2019), and The Secular Spectacle: Performing Religion in a Southern Town (Oxford University Press, 2013), and has published articles and book chapters on religious comparison, religion and food, industrial religion, corporate chaplaincy, religion and film, and secularism and secularization in the United States. He currently serves as co-editor of the Iconologies book series with The University of Chicago Press.
About UUMC Masterclass
What happens when some of the finest teachers in our congregation bring their compelling lectures beyond the classroom?
UUMC MasterClass invites professors from our church to share their knowledge, passions, and best ideas with the broader public. Every Tuesday, a different lecturer will introduce us to a subject through an engaging and accessible presentation. No academic background is required. This is for anyone who enjoys learning and asking questions. Attend in person or on Zoom for a single lecture or return each week for a new topic and teacher! For a Zoom link, or with any questions, please email Pastor Earl: pastorearl@uumc.org
Joint Sunday School with Felicia Martin, President of Texas Freedom Network
Join us as we welcome Felicia Martin, President and Executive Director of the Texas Freedom Network. Martin will provide an overview of the organization's mission and current efforts, including their critical work with the State Board of Education. She will offer clear, actionable ways for congregants to get involved and make an impact.
Felicia Martin is the President and Executive Director of the Texas Freedom Network, bringing nearly two decades of experience in advocacy, strategy, and movement building. She has led impactful work across civic engagement, mental health, college access, and youth organizing, with a deep commitment to equity and progressive change in Texas. A seasoned leader and coalition-builder, Felicia is driven by a bold vision for a more inclusive and just democracy.
Questions? Contact Pastor Earl at pastorearl@uumc.org.
Teen & Young Adult Choir Rehearsal
High School, College, and Young Adult Singers are invited to this one rehearsal pop-up choir! We will sing Eric Barnum's ethereal piece "Dawn"! Singers are recommended to take a look and listen to music before this rehearsal- tracks and music can be found here!
Questions? Contact AV!
*RSVPs are helpful as we plan, but is not required.
Writers' Group
For the last few months, on Wednesday afternoons, about 3 - 6 of us have met in the Church Library, from 1 - 3 p.m., to write. It provides a nice, quiet, regular place to just sit down and write, a place where, once you’re there, the “What I ought to be doing’s” might have a little less persuasion in keeping you from getting something written down. If you’d like to join us, please do. And, if you’d have any questions, please contact me, Mark Jones (512-749-3898), or Christy Moore (deebuss@gmail.com).
Sound Bath
Join yoga teacher Chris Leigh for a sound bath event in our chapel. Whether you are feeling overwhelmed or simply seeking solace, sound can assist meditation, relaxation and self-compassion.
Chris received her Hatha teaching certification under the guidance of her beloved teacher Sat Nam Joti Kaur Khalsi at the Blue Cypress School Of Holism in Wimberley Texas and has been teaching for a decade.
Questions? Contact Pastor Teresa at PastorTeresa@uumc.org.
Joint Sunday School with Rev. Dr. Amy Laura Hall
Everyone is invited to the Fellowship Hall for a Sunday School hour opportunity. Rev. Dr. Amy Laura Hall will lead this time and give us a book talk on her forthcoming book. Her new book examines how religious rhetoric and preaching have shaped Christian nationalism in modern American history, and its title is "Erecting the Pulpit: Muscular Christianity from Teddy Roosevelt to Donald Trump." You can learn more on her publisher’s website. Contact Pastor Earl with any questions! pastorearl@uumc.org.
This opportunity will be in-person only. Thank you for your understanding.
Vital Conversations on Immigration
Week 1: November 30 | 9:45 - 10:45 am | Fellowship Hall
Weeks 2 - 4: December 7, 14 & 21 | 4 - 5 pm | Zoom
Please join this four-week Advent study series, Vital Conversations on Immigration. This study, provided by the General Commission on Religion and Race of The United Methodist Church, guides us in learning more about immigration, which is not merely a political issue—a theological and spiritual matter deeply rooted in our Christian faith. We will explore topics such as "Immigration and the Bible: what does our faith require?" "Why do people migrate?" "Race, culture, and immigration: who belongs?" "From charity to justice: the church's role in immigration" and "Connecting faith, race, and immigration justice."
For the zoom link and more information, please email Pastor Earl at pastorearl@uumc.org.
Chosen Family Friendsgiving
Queer, Trans, & Questioning folks, and all those we call our family are invited to a Chosen Family Friendsgiving potluck dinner. Location TBA, hopefully at AV & Kenzie's new home, fingers crossed! Bring a treat to share or just yourself, there will always be enough to go around. Intergenerational event, allies more than welcome!
Questions? Email AV at av@uumc.org.
In-Transit: A Young Adult Sunday School
Life in your 20s and early 30s can feel like everything is in transit—school, work, relationships, and faith. And that’s probably why we'd better gather together each week to navigate our path by sharing stories, asking honest questions, and exploring how faith connects with real life. Whether you’re in college, starting a career, or just figuring things out, let's build a welcoming community and fellowship here and grow in faith together.
Questions? Contact Pastor Earl at pastorearl@uumc.org!
Lunch & Learn: Daughters of Palestine
In this Lunch and Learn, the Rev. Leyla K. King, Canon for Mission in Small Congregations of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas, will share highlights from her recently published book, "Daughters of Palestine: A Memoir in Five Generations," as well as reflections on the current humanitarian tragedy in Palestine and broader challenges in global politics.
About the Book
Leyla King has been a keeper of family stories since long before she sat down across from her grandmother with a tiny cassette tape recorder. And in this beautifully crafted memoir, she braids matriarchal memory into a vivid saga of love and survival as her ancestors flee war and poverty. From Haifa to Ramallah, Damascus, Beirut, and finally Texas, Leyla makes global politics deeply personal as family squabbles, ambition, mental illness, romance, and religion shape their immigrant journey.
Queer Fellowship Brunch
Join us for an intergenerational queer fellowship event! All LGBTQIA+ and questioning folks are invited to this community-building event to share our joys and concerns, and eat tasty pancakes. Colored batter will be provided, and an opportunity to design your own pancake as unique as yourself. We’d love to see you there!
Questions? Contact AV at av@uumc.org!
Trans Clothing Swap
Trans, gender nonconforming, intersex, nonbinary folks of all ages, shapes and sizes are welcome at the Trans Clothing Swap! This is an affinity space for gender non-conforming folks to freely share clothing, community, and resources with one another. Please bring items to swap AND any donations you may have for our neighbors on the street (they especially need jeans, caps, and shoes).
Allies - We can use your help to make this event a success! If you’re interested in helping out as a greeter, sorter, clean-up crew, or have another skill you’d like to offer, please contact AV!
Feel good, look good, do good. Questions? Want to volunteer to help? Contact AV at av@uumc.org.
Lunch & Learn: What's Happening in Our Country?
Our UUMC Central Texas Interfaith leaders invite you to come and share your concerns about what is happening in our country. Perhaps you are concerned about immigration, the free press, the judicial branch, or the diminishing work of federal agencies. You will have an opportunity to share what is on your mind.
A short historic overview to provide context will be presented followed by small group discussions. Together we will identify common concerns and explore opportunities to respond.
Regional Advocacy Webinar with Equality Texas
Please join us for a regional advocacy webinar provided by Equality Texas, the largest statewide nonprofit fighting for equality for LGBTQIA+ Texans. In this webinar, we will learn how to advocate more for LGBTQIA+ rights in this challenging time and have more information about the current state of equality in Texas, including key legislative developments and the ways to engage in advocacy efforts at the capitol, including tips for providing testimony at the capitol and how to effectively meet with your lawmakers. Please email Pastor Earl for the Zoom link.
UUMC Poetry Club
Do you like poetry (or tolerate it at least) and want to find community at the church? Come to Poetry Club! For this meeting I’d love for everyone to bring a spring time poem! It can be something you wrote, something you found on a random google search, or a poem near and dear to your heart. Do not stress about what you bring! We’ll go around and share poems and stories and all around have a great time. Feel free to bring a friend if you have someone interested as well!
Reach out to Blake Coleman for more info: blakeaverycoleman@icloud.com.
Gardeners' Christmas Party
Our Gardener's “Young Adult” Sunday School class will be gathering to celebrate together.
If you’d like to join, please email Megan for more details! motto@uumc.org
Gardeners' Thanksgiving Potluck
The Gardeners, our “Young Adult” Sunday School Class will gather to share in a Friendsgiving potluck.
If you’d like to attend, please email Megan at motto@uumc.org!
Lunch & Learn: Faith and Politics - Christian Witness in Turbulent Times
In this chaotic and polarizing presidential election season, it can be hard to discern a way forward. Rhetoric escalates into shouting. Disagreements degenerate into fights. Sometimes Christian voices in these disputes seem to be not very Christian. How does our faith have an impact on our voice and vote? Should it have an impact? This Lunch and Learn, lead by Dr. David Jensen, will focus on the variety of ways Christians can engage in politics and suggest some ways of navigating disagreements in our broader society.
Questions? Contact Pastor Earl at PastorEarl@uumc.org
About Dr. David Jensen
A professor at Austin Seminary, Dr. David Jensen’s teaching and research focus on Reformed theology, interfaith dialogue, and the interconnections between Christian theology and daily life. He received an MAR from Yale Divinity School in 1994 and a PhD in theology from Vanderbilt University in 1999. Dr. Jensen is also the editor of “Compass,” a book series that encourages theological reflection on everyday practices.
UUMC Poetry Club
Do you enjoy reading, listening to, or writing poetry? Check out UUMC's poetry group! They meet on the third Tuesday of every month at 7 PM. We'll rotate meeting locations around the area (usually homes). Gatherings usually entail everyone bringing a couple of poems that they want to share aloud. The poems can be your own, old faithfuls from your favorite poets, or newly-discovered pieces.
Reach out to Lauren Hanks for more info: laurennicolehanks@gmail.com.
Tuesday Night Lights - Faith & Politics
What can we do, and how should we live as Christians in this season of political battles? Let us get together and talk about the topics of faith and politics (the politics of Jesus, church and state, democracy and Christian faith, and more) as the presidential election approaches.
This class will run through the Tuesday after the election, where we search for ways to process and find home, regardless of the outcome.
Habitat for Humanity Build
University UMC and other churches in the university area are collaborating on a Habitat for Humanity house-building project. As a partnering church, we are contributing $5,000 to the project, and our August and September communion altar rail offerings will assist us in raising the necessary funds. We are excited about this opportunity to be in mission and ministry together! Stay posted for more details, and let Pastor Earl know if you are interested in being a part of the building day and/or if you have any questions.
Questions? Ready to sign up to build? Contact Pastor Earl.
Queer Fellowship Dinner - September
Come join us in a time of Queer Fellowship! We will break bread together, share our joys and concerns, and enjoy each others company.
Summer Shareholders: Thank You Lunch, Presentation & Open House
All shareholders are welcome to come to a lunch prepared and served by the UUMC youth. Enjoy yummy food, good company & photos of our 2024 "Be the Neighbor" Mission Trip to St. Louis.
Questions? Contact Natasha!
Sunday School Meet & Greet
Anyone looking to join a Sunday School is invited to come out, meet the different classes, learn about what topics they cover and find a good fit for you!
We’re gonna have a whole day of events, for a UUMC Sunday Social. We hope to see you at a few of them!