Member Announcements

(draft) First, thank you for offering to give a presentation or sermon! We value inspiring words of wisdom from UU members and the members of the community and are eager to hear what you have to say! We are a 'lay-led' Congregation which means that we do not have a full-time minister, so each Service is led by one of the members of the congregation. Each Service features a presentation or sermon given by one of our Fellowship members, a member of the community, or by a visiting minister. If you are doing the presentation or sermon, but NOT leading the entire service, you may skip ahead to the LAY PRESENTERS/MINISTERS section. LEADING A SERVICE The Orders of Service are digital slide presentations stored in a shared folder online which contain each part of the Service for the day. <describe the parts of the service> Currently, Scott Ferguson assembles the Orders of Service slides for each Sunday Service which include music and readings based on the monthly them

To post announcements to appear in the Order of Service: Email announcements to the blog from any email program to uulalafellowship.announce@blogger.com putting the title of the announcement in the subject box and announcement text in the body of the email. If you need assistance, you can contact either Hunter or Scott. --- sf

Taylor Coen played the part of the cowboy suspect in the murder mystery musical 'Christmas at the Mansion' on Saturday Dec. 28th at Cite des Artes. Jackie Phelps, Scott Ferguson and Daniel Brewster attended. It was funny and entertaining! The Cast Alyssa McMurray wrote the intro song duet which was very good!

RootsCamp 2020 opens at 5pm Friday March 6 and runs all day Saturday March 7, at LSU in Baton Rouge. Activism and education, come join in and choose your adventure! Meet activists from around the state. https://www.facebook.com/724938315/posts/10156882930873316/

Join us on Christmas Eve at 7:00 PM for a special event! We will have a sing-along service featuring music by Scott Ferguson, Bruce Snow, and Philip and Chaz Frey. Seasonal drinks and treats will be provided! Guests are always welcome :) Here are some pictures from Tuesday's 'Songs of the Season by Candlelight'. We ate some good vegan food and the music and sing-alongs were great fun! Susan Morton played uplifting cello arrangements for us Bruce Snow played three sets of delightful Yule medleys Philip and Chaz Frey entertained us with 'Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer' Our guests enjoyed vegan gumbo, potato salad, baklava, wine, spiced wine and cookies Hunter Miller gave us a reading describing the mixed emotions that we may feel at this time of year Daniel Brewster in front of the lovely table arrangement prepared by Emily Carline and Hunter Miller

What: Southwest UU Womens Conference We will be coming together in the heart of Cajun and Creole country to strengthen our sisterhood. Our keynote speaker Colette Pichon Battle will talk about the challenges facing Louisiana as climate change threatens its coastline and its people. We’ll enjoy this unique and special part of the world with Cajun music from the Magnolia Sisters. When: Feb 28, 2020 at 7 PM – Mar 1, 2020 at 11 AM Where:  DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Lafayette 1521 W Pinhook Rd, Lafayette, Louisiana 70503 Register to Attend!

Our next EC meeting is on January 7th at 6:00 pm. All members are welcome to attend.

Our Parish Library announced the next Reads Together book. Called cli-fi, Dry looks at climate-change and life in a future dry California. Read more at this link to KATC news. https://www.katc.com/news/lafayette-parish/next-lafayette-reads-together-book-announced

Our second Thursday movie night meets again this month to view the 2005 film Joyeux Noël (Merry Christmas) . This film is a fictionalized retelling the Christmas truce of December 1914, depicted through the eyes of French, Scottish, and German soldiers. Roger Ebert wrote: Joyeux Noël has its share of bloodshed, but the movie is about a respite from carnage. Its sentimentality is muted by the thought that this moment of peace actually did take place, among men who were punished for it, and who mostly died soon enough afterward. But on one Christmas, they were able to express what has been called, perhaps too optimistically, the brotherhood of man. Meet for snacks and fellowship on Thursday at 7:00; movie starts at 7:30. We gather at the home of Ann and Mike, 110 Seville Blvd, Lafayette, LA 70503 . If you have questions call Mike at 337-852-3668 , Please do feel free to invite your friends. -- ann and mike

Scott drove Nell Hahn to prepare her client for a court appearance. Photo taken from the parking lot of detainees exercising

Nell Hahn will host this meeting for those interested in supporting or advocating for immigrants in detention in Louisiana. We will meet at the church on Thursday, December 12th at 6 pm. We will discuss forming local organization to do concrete things such as visiting detainees, organizing stakeholder tours, driving detainees and just getting the word out through education. Here is the email I received from Nell regarding this: " Hi, folks. This is Nell Hahn. I've set up a meeting for people in the Lafayette area who've expressed interest in getting involved in supporting and/or advocating for immigrants in detention in Louisiana.  The meeting will be at the Unitarian Universalist meeting space: 1119 Johnston, Suite 12, Thursday, Dec. 12 at 6 pm.  This is behind Domino's, and across from First Presbyterian on Johnston and University. Don't park in the Domino's lot.  I'm afraid that mass incarceration of immigrants will be going on

UULALA is beginning a campaign to reduce the use of plastic water bottles. Pollution by singe-use plastics is a big problem worldwide. It is found in the deepest parts of the oceans, sickens and kills birds and sea creatures and litters our beaches. If you use a reusable water bottle, you will soon be able to refill your bottle with filtered water at church. Alternatives to plastic cups and straws are also available. TAKE A SELFIE WITH YOUR REUSABLE STRAW, CUP OR BOTTLE AND EMAIL IT TO OUR BLOG. WE WILL PUT YOUR NAME IN THE ANNOUNCEMENTS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT SERVICE :-) THANK YOU! --- Social Concerns Committee

The Equal Justice Initiative Community Remembrance Project is part of a campaign to bring recognition to the 4000+ victims of  terror lynching  in the United States. By collecting soil from lynching sites, erecting historical markers, and creating the  national memorial  in Montgomery Alabama, EJI presents graphic acknowledgement of the horrors of racial injustice. Lafayette’s  Move The Mindset  coalition is honored to be a chosen participant in this ongoing work. Our first Lafayette Parish Soil Collection Ceremony, memorializing victims Rosemond and Rosalie Cormier, father and daughter, will be accompanied by the prayerful commentary of Pastor John Milton and the gospel voice of Ms. Deannie Steven. Fredrick Prejean, President of MTM, and Trey Walk from EJI in Montgomery will introduce the overall Community Remembrance Project. The event features a historical discussion of the fate of Rosemond and Rosalie Cormier, provided by MTM affiliated scholars and EJI researchers.

After picking up a load of mulch on Thursday for the Reviving Resilient Landscapes workshop , Scott Ferguson's trailer tire had a blowout in front of neighbor Ryan Hebert's home. Ryan brought out his tools and Jack and installed the new wheel. Thank you, Ryan who was caught being awesome!

Harold Schoeffler got an early start planting overloaded trailer! Sarah Schoeffler was my contact information tables Brett Geesey with HDR Engineering (coastal restoration) Lillian Espinosa-Gala and Jackie Vargas attended! Sycamore planted 5? years ago Group photo Acadiana Native Plant Project table Free plants from Acadiana Native Plant Project the HDR Engineering table Signs given out by Bayou Vermilion Preservation Association Jackie Vargas of Bayou Vermilion Preservation Assoc. and UULALA Mo Huval of Arnaudville was hard at work planting trees Debra Amy was also helping spread mulch Lawrence Rosa of  Acadiana Native Plant Project picked out landscaping plants for the church We made mulch levees around the trees on Garfield Street Extra mulch and plants from Bayou Vermilion District Preservation Society stored behind church

View our past Services here .

(copy of Facebook event page shown. Links do not work.) Schedule · Sunday, December 15, 2019 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM Training/Breakfast 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM Free Brake Light Changes This December, DSA SWLA will be replacing brake lights for free for anyone who needs them in an attempt to reduce unnecessary police interactions. We also teach anyone who'd like to learn how to change brake lights, so stop by even if you don't have a car! This month's clinic will start with some food to get us fueled up and a volunteer training from 9am-10:30pm. We'll be changing brake lights at the parking lot in front of Cupid's Daquiris in Lafayette, between the Evangeline Thruway where it intersects with Louisiana Ave. from 11am-3pm. No experience necessary! If you’d like to volunteer, fill out this form: https://forms.gle/eBmqqJUkhg6aubzY8 --- Source:  https://www.facebook.com/jacqueline.phelps.1

Celebrate the Winter Solstice! Friday, December 13, 2019 6:30 PM 3075 Highway 754 Sunset, Louisiana 58436 Come to Bob and Linda's BIG party to celebrate the Winter Holidays! It will be a potluck, so bring a dish to share. Soft drinks will be provided, but bring additional libations if desired. Bring a chair to sit by the bonfire, musical instruments, noise makers, etc. Children and friends are welcome. Come prepared to "pass a good time!" RSVP to  (337) 351-6585  or  golunge@yahoo.com . Directions via I49: Take Exit 11 (Hwy 93) toward Sunset for 1 mile. Turn right on Hwy 182 for 2 miles. Turn left on Hwy 754 (there is gas station and bar on the corner). Our place is on the right about 1/4 mile on 754. Dormer window on house, detached garage to the right. Park in driveway and on the grass to either side of driveway. Note: Do not speed on 182 through Sunset. Do not turn left at flashing yellow