Dear Reader,
This is the Monday, September 7, 2026 full edition of the Tapestry newsletter of upcoming events and announcements. All events are open to anyone who wishes to join, except where otherwise noted.
Quick Links to Contents:
Upcoming Service:
Connecting with the Community
by Offsite
On Sunday, September 13, Tapestry will be off-site while CJCN holds Rosh Hashanah services. The Worship Team has decided that this is the perfect opportunity for Tapestry to get out into the community! Instead of gathering at CJCN that Sunday, we invite you to find your own way to connect, contribute, explore, or lend a hand. Then, when we gather again on Sunday, September 20, we’ll have an opportunity to share with one another how you got involved!
Here are a few ideas:
* Volunteer to plant seeds in NAM’s Community Garden! There are many opportunities, not just on September 13, so feel free to volunteer on another day if that works better for you! Sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090F44AAA929A0FA7-65246
516-2026#/ (from NAM’s website)
* Volunteer at a pet shelter near you. Some shelters require more than a one-day commitment or have age restrictions, so be sure to check their requirements before showing up.
* Join a clean-up crew at a nearby park—or create your own! And perhaps enjoy a picnic in your newly beautified space
afterward!
* Spend some time contacting your representatives about an issue you feel passionate about. Look up key phrases to use or even find a pre-written letter, but remember to include your own details and experiences to make your message personal.
* Visit a museum, either in person or virtually, and leave a positive comment or review about your experience.
* Come up with your own way to get involved! Big or small, we’d love to hear about it.
We’ll see you on September 20 for services—and we can’t wait to hear how you spent your Community Sunday!
Note: There will be no Zoom available this Sunday.
Announcements:
September 13th Off-site Opportunities
On Sunday, September 13, Tapestry will be off-site while CJCN holds Rosh Hashanah services. The Worship Team has decided that this is the perfect opportunity for Tapestry to get out into the community!
Instead of gathering at CJCN that Sunday, we invite you to find your own way to connect, contribute, explore, or lend a hand. Then, when we gather again on Sunday, September 20, we’ll have an opportunity to share with one another how you got involved!
Here are a few ideas:
- Volunteer to plant seeds in NAM’s Community Garden! There are many opportunities, not just on September 13, so feel free to volunteer on another day if that works better for you! Sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090F44AAA929A0FA7-65246516-2026#/ (from NAM’s website)
- Volunteer at a pet shelter near you. Some shelters require more than a one-day commitment or have age restrictions, so be sure to check their requirements before showing up.
- Join a clean-up crew at a nearby park—or create your own! And perhaps enjoy a picnic in your newly beautified space afterward!
- Spend some time contacting your representatives about an issue you feel passionate about. Look up key phrases to use or even find a pre-written letter, but remember to include your own details and experiences to make your message personal.
- Visit a museum, either in person or virtually, and leave a positive comment or review about your experience.
- Come up with your own way to get involved! Big or small, we’d love to hear about it.
We’ll see you on September 20 for services—and we can’t wait to hear how you spent your Community Sunday!
The Worship Team
Letter From Our President: Beginnings
by James Moore on 9/3/2026
Our theme for services this month is Beginnings, which fits perfectly with the fact that our new minister, Rev. Dr. Laura McGuire, will deliver their first service virtually on September 27. It has been almost a year since we began the process of finding Dr. McGuire, and the worship team is so excited to be working with them! I've heard nothing but positive comments from our members in regard to Dr. McGuire's visit. The pastoral care they will provide was one of the major deciding factors in moving forward with the hiring process. Having a minister is about more than just having someone to speak on Sunday morning. My hope is that our congregants will grow spiritually and feel supported thanks to the pastoral care our new minister will provide. Please check the Tapestry calendar for updates on Dr. McGuire's availability.
Read More and Comment on the Letter From Our President Blog
Announcing: UU 'Elevator Speech' Session
What does being a UU mean to you?
Such a short question with so many answers. And as UUs, we acknowledge that everybody's perspective may be a little different. That's part of our beauty, isn't it?
Join the Nominating Committee on Saturday, October 3rd, for a Faith Forward initiative created by UU Dallas. In this group setting, which will be available both at Tapestry and on Zoom, write your own answer, called an Elevator Speech, to help answer this question comprehensively and succinctly for anyone who asks. Save the date: Saturday, October 3rd! More details to follow closer to the event. We do know that for those who attend in person, Spooky Snacks will be provided by the Cooking and Eating Covenant Group. We look forward to writing our truths together with you!
Share-the-Plate
September's share-the-plate offering is going to Houston Area Women’s Center (HAWC). Since 1977, the Houston Area Women’s Center has helped countless women, children and families affected by domestic and sexual violence.
Our Next Camping Adventure
Greetings, Campers
The Camping Group is planning our next adventure! We are headed to Goose Island State Park in Port Aransas on September 18-20. We (the Cook Household) have reserved bay front site #24 for $25 per day. The person recommended reserving a spot ASAP since this is not a huge park. Bayfront sites #18, 19, 21, and 23 are still available. More sites under the trees are also available, but with a clearance of 12’ recommended so you don’t scratch the roof of your trailer. If you want to tent-camp, talk to Tracy Cook to see if there is space for a tent without needing another site.
There are also houses for rent in town. Use your favorite site (VRBO, AirBnB, etc) and make reservations! The Park Person did recommend making day pass reservations up to 30 days prior to arrival, as the park does get a significant amount of visitors on the weekends.
Are you more interested in a hotel or motel? Then go ahead and do you! Just also make day pass reservations.
For the Park:
- No firepits at the campsites!
- Portable charcoal or propane grills are permitted
- There *are* fire pits in the day-use area.
- Two vehicles per site, but car + trailer counts as two
- Each site can accommodate 8 people
- Tent campers can be at an RV site for an extra $4 per person per day, as long as we have the space - this head count also includes day-use passes, though!
- If we do end up needing another site, it is only $25 per night or $20 if you want to set up under the trees.
- Check-in is at 2:00 PM
- Check-out is 12Noon - and that means like we are gone by noon, not getting ready to leave around noon.
There is a cancellation policy.
If you cancel on or before the 13th, then you can get most of your money back. The Park will keep $10 per day as a fee.
If you just don’t show up, then the Park gets to keep your money ??
Please email camping@uutapestry.org if you have any questions, or to let us know you have made reservations.
Cooking Covenant Group: October: Spooky Foods! Potluck-Style
by Tracy Cook on 8/26/2026
It’s Fall, Y’all!
Football season starts, the sun is rising a little later and setting a little earlier each day, and soon the weather will be crisp and cool(er). I’ve already started serving myself Pumpkin Spice coffee - iced, but that still counts!
Next month, we will have our Annual Tradition Spooky Foods Event, held up at Tapestry because it has waaaaaaaaay more table space for our treats. Saturday, October 3, starting at 3:00 PM
What can you bring? Anything that has a ‘spooky’ name works! I’ve brought Oreo Cookie Butter, which is black as night, and called it Melted Witch or some such - to be honest, I don’t remember the scary names I pick for things from year to year, ha! Or Headless Gingerbread People, with ‘blood’ (icing dyed red) dripping from where their heads were cut off. Need inspiration? Google spooky foods and pick something to try!
Does it have to be made from scratch? Absolutely not! I brought chocolate-covered raisins one year and called it Monster Poop! Cheese Poofs, those orange balls you can buy in the chips and snacks aisle, make great Pumpkin Poop. I sense a theme here…
Do I have to bring something? Nope! You can just show up and eat. Several of us loooooove to create fun things for people to eat, so Cooking and Eating Covenant Group *always* has more food than we can eat. So come and help us devour all of these yummy and spooky treats!
A few notes, if you are bringing something:
- Have it ready to go - heated up if the dish is served warm, chilled if it's served cold.
- Write a list of ingredients so people with allergies or food sensitivities are aware. Full recipes not needed, just a list of ingredients will do.
- Savory foods are also welcome! We want a variety of deliciousness!
- Please bring some leftovers containers so you can take treats for later. Even if you don’t make anything, you are invited to take food away.
Read More and Comment on the Cooking Covenant Group Blog
WASG Accepting New Members!
Registration for the Women Aligned Spirituality Group 2026-27 season is now open! We will meet once a month from September through May. We will be exploring a wide variety of spiritual practices while fostering opportunities for meaningful discussions and connections. New members are welcome to join WASG for the first two months. Then our group will be closed in order to create a sacred space of sharing. Meetings are usually on the THIRD THURSDAY of each month at Elisa and Dawn’s house from 6:30pm - 9:00pm. However, due to the church wide camping trip, WASG will meet on Tuesday, September 22. Then in October, we are planning a “day trip” to Coldspring TX on Saturday, October 17 - times TBA. For more information and to sign up, please see co leads Erika Calderon and Laurie Buffington, or email us at wasg@uutapestry.org.
Four-Day Local Buddhist Retreat
There has been interest among Tapestry members to learn more about Buddhism and this 4 day retreat in Hempstead offers time and reflection in the Buddhist tradition. It is led by the Mindfulness Practice Community of Houston (MOCH) and former Buddhist monk and now teacher Michael Ciborski. Scholarships are available for those who would like them and the deadline for submission for scholarship is September 7th. Deadline to register for the retreat is October 16th. If you have questions before registering, please feel free to contact Michelle. See more information here: https://www.mpchouston.org/retreats/2026-fall-retreat
We're Looking for More Liturgists!
Tapestry Disc Golf!
Disc Golf Signal app group SIGN-UP
Interested in getting together for disc golf? If you'd like to play disc golf some early Saturday morning then join the Disc Golf Signal app group for notifications on the day(s) before the game. Then if you are available show up with some water and a hat. There will be discs available so there is no need to buy or bring discs. The game takes less than 2 hours and is free.
You can email dg@uutapestry.org with your Signal app phone number or userName to get an invite to join the Signal app Disc Golf group. If you have the Signal app installed you can send a message to: oldwippersnapper.01 to join the group. Then you'll get a Signal app Disc Golf group event notification whenever anyone posts an upcoming disc golf game event with the date, time, and location for the game. If you see the event notification just show up on Saturday to get some exercise, to spend some time in nature, and to enjoy playing disc golf with friends.
Disc Golf is good fun, companionship, and a great way to get out in nature. All skill levels are welcome, and loaner discs are available. There are a variety of attractive and challenging courses in the NW Houston area (no fees required), and we sometimes organize road trips to sample other venues. See our Disc Golf group slideshow at: https://uutapestry.org/DiscGolf. We also meet on Zoom Fridays at 4 pm CT to talk and plan future events.
The Group is open to current and former members and friends of Tapestry UU Church of Houston who are interested in playing disc golf. Games and other outings are organized on the Tapestry Disc Golfers Facebook private group page and via the Signal app. To learn more, request to join the Tapestry Disc Golfers Facebook group, or email dg@uutapestry.org. See you on the course!
Tapestry Board Meetings
Your Tapestry Board of Trustees is meeting monthly.
When: 2nd Saturday of each month beginning at 3:00 pm.
Where: Location will vary. Email board@uutapestry.org for more meeting specifics.
View the upcoming agenda by clicking HERE.
Covenant Groups
The following groups are currently accepting new members:
- Cooking Covenant Group
- Gardening Covenant Group
The Women Aligned Spiritually Group is currently closed, but it may reopen to new members next summer.
For more information, please see https://uutapestry.org/CovenantGroups or to suggest a new group, email pastpresident@uutapestry.org.
Tapestry Caring Team
Upcoming Events From Our Calendar:
September 7 (Monday), 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM: Nominating Committee
September 10 (Thursday), 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM: Pastoral Care Services
Rev. Dr. Laura McGuire will be available to schedule pastoral care sessions. Please use the following link to schedule your time with them.
https://calendly.com/ncea/tapestry
September 11 (Friday), 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM: Disc Golf V-Beer Meeting
Weekly Friday 3 PM to 4:30 PM disc golf v-beer Zoom meeting. Contact dg@uutapestry.org for more information.
September 12 (Saturday), 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: WFPB Covenant Group Meeting
The Whole Food Plant Based (WFPB) Covenant Group meets via Zoom on the second and fourth Saturday of each month at 2:00 pm. Our mission is learning more about WFPB eating, cooking, recipe-sharing, and supporting each other in our healthy lifestyle journeys. Please contact wfpb@uutapestry.org if interested in joining us.
Thank you for your interest and readership...
Newsletter editor, Tapestry Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston
newsletter@uutapestry.org