Dear Reader,
This is the Sunday, July 12, 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 Sunday Service at 11:00 AM:
Too Much, or Bravely Yourself?
by Monica White
What does it mean to be fully yourself in a world that keeps asking you to be smaller? This sermon explores authenticity not as performance, but as integrity: the brave and tender work of living truthfully without demanding that others stop being human too.
If you're unable to join us in person, Zoom is still an option by clicking HERE.
Announcements:
In Memory of Tracy Pace
We are saddened to share that Tracy Pace passed away recently. Tracy was a pianist for Tapestry over the years and was a cheerful soul with remarkable musical talents. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, July 15 at 7pm at St. John Luthern Church, 15235 Spring Cypress Rd, Cypress 77429.
The Pagan Pages: Our Inaugural Meeting
by Tracy Cook on 7/7/2026
Hello, Fellow Learners!
We had our official First Meeting a few weeks ago, and so I just wanted to kind of recap what all we discussed.
One topic we all said was of interest was Tarot. So I asked everyone to bring their sets of cards to our next meeting if you have one (July 25 at 6:00 PM for nibbles, and 6:30 PM to start the meeting) and we could explore how we use the Tarot. For example, I usually get ideas about layouts and questions from Pinterest. That’s my resource, ha! I choose to ask myself more open questions, and use the cards to kind of focus my thinking.
So, what is your go-to resource? What kinds of cards do you use? Is there a particular reason why you chose those cards over another? Where do you get inspiration? What questions are you asking? How do you use the information? Do you ever do readings for others?
Another topic of interest was following the Moon. This can look like adding or growing a habit as the Moon waxes, and letting go of a habit that is no longer useful to you as the Moon wanes. The next New Moon is on July 14, so that’s the time to swap from growing a habit to letting one go. You do not have to be done with the growing one! Just take a pause and pick it back up at the Full Moon.
On August 1, many pagans will celebrate Lughnasad, or Lammas. This is, in European traditions, the beginning of the harvest season. Fruits and veggies are ripening, and the grains in the fields are standing but not yet ready to be picked. Also at Lammas, people may honor those who are teachers or mentors or craftspeople. Basically, helpers of others - especially with knowledge or skills. So, look around! Who has helped you to learn something new? Maybe let them know…
Please contact me at pagan@uutapestry.org if you are interested in joining the next meeting! We meet in person, and also on Zoom.
Read More and Comment on The Pagan Pages Blog
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.
Share-the-Plate
July's share-the-plate offering is going to Youth Odyssey. Created in 1997, Youth Odyssey is a 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Corpus Christi, Texas driven to address the rising tide of juvenile crime and violence. Youth Odyssey is on a mission to inspire, engage, and empower disadvantaged and underprivileged youth through leadership development, life skills, and outdoor adventure. We target youth ages 10-17 through teaching basic life skills.
UBarU News: Summer Events
by Tracy Cook on 5/21/2026
Summer Camp for Youth!!!
For full details, go to https://www.ubaru.org/summer-camps.
UBARU Summer Camps are a favorite of UU kids! Many children have made lasting friendships that started at camp and continued into ‘real life’. My own kids did this, and both have worked the camps for years. My elder son still works in the kitchen!
Highly recommended, 5 stars!
YA Weekend - June 27-30
The participation in this event has continued to grow! We have at least one person who attended in the past. For more information, go to https://www.ubaru.org/young-adult-camp-weekend.
SWUUSI Camp - July 14-19
Ahhh, SWUUSI! Southwest Unitarian Universalist Summer Camp for the entire family! This camp was started as a ministerial retreat, but quickly grew to include our church families. Or ‘framilies’ as I like to refer to us. This camp is in its 80+ year, how cool is that!
We have several families who attend, my own included. Want to join in?! Go to https://www.ubaru.org/swuusicamp for all the details, including a sample schedule.
I apologize for the late notice this year, as the Director had many requirements that she and about 20 local camps were trying to renegotiate with a legislature that was not in session this year.
GenderfUUl Weekend - August 14-16
The GenderfUUl Retreat is an affirming retreat where trans, non-binary, and agender UUs can build community with each other. For more details please go to https://www.ubaru.org/genderfuul-weekend.
Read More and Comment on the UBarU News Blog
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.
We're Looking for More Liturgists!
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:
July 13 (Monday), 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM: WITS Meeting
- What's that Document Repository all about and how do I use it?
- I'm on the worship team and I'm puzzled about some of the features of the Worship Schedule.
- I'm a snack provider, greeter, or liturgist and I have questions about how the scheduling works.
- How can I update the church calendar, or submit a newsletter article to the editor?
These are some of the many questions you may have if you are a member of Tapestry and have explored the Members Portal and other interactive sections of our website.If you would like to know how to use all the features available to you, and discover more that you weren't aware of, feel free to attend one of our WITS meetings on the second Monday of each month at 4:30 pm. Click here to join via Zoom, or contact wits@uutapestry.org at any time to ask questions or provide suggestions for our website.
July 14 (Tuesday), 5:30 PM - 6:00 PM: Worship Team Meeting
This meeting is to discuss ongoing Worship Team tasks
July 15 (Wednesday), 6:00 PM - 8:45 PM: Mahjong and More
Please join me, Chris Lowe, at Odin’s Place, formerly Dragon’s Lair, on 249. on Wednesday, July 15 from 6 to 8 for the reintroduction of game night. In this case, we will be starting with one game. We shall learn how to play American Mahjong. It’s similar to Dominoes, poker, hearts, and spades, except with Chinese “dominoes”— or tiles. We have several sets arriving to play with us. It’s a game of strategy where you need to be on your toes, quick, fast thinking and have good hand-eye coordination. no need to bring anything. There will be plenty of food at the tavern inside the store. We may even be playing in there because they have the smaller tables which would be ideal. Of course, don’t forget to bring yourselves and your children. We will have other board games for them to play if they don’t want to learn how to play Mahjong and for adults who don’t want to learn how to play Mahjong, but support their partners.
If interested, please text or email me at mahjong@uutapestry.org. The more the merrier, plus I’ll be celebrating my birthday with friends, so that means you and yours.
July 16 (Thursday), 6:30 AM - 8:00 PM: Tapestry’s Decluttering Covenant Group
Tapestry’s Decluttering Covenant Group is relaunching!
Meetings will be held on zoom starting Thursday, June 18, then subsequent Thursdays for 7 to 8 weeks.
Meeting time: 6:30pm to 8:00pm
Leader: Elisa Kaplan
Coleader: tbd
This will be a repeat of the material we covered back in 2021, so it’s time to revisit what we learned and attack our new clutter! We will meet once a week, on zoom, for 7-8 weeks, followed by two fundraisers for Tapestry. The first will be an online auction for furniture and household items in good or better condition. The second will be an in-person garage sale of whatever didn’t sell in the auction plus other items such as clothes, toys and books. Please note that you do NOT need to join the covenant group to donate items to the auction or garage sale (but if you’re having trouble letting go you may want to participate!)
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/95470366583?pwd=SHy68SfDixwb8UaFYPeTQqNyJsnSxU.1.
Email deculttering@uutapestry.org with questions.
July 17 (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.
July 14 (Tuesday): International Non-Binary People's Day
Annual observance to raise awareness and improve inclusion of non-binary people. Non-binary people do not identify exclusively as a man or a woman. They may identify as being both a man and a woman, somewhere in between, or as falling completely outside these categories.
July 14 (Tuesday) - July 19 (Sunday): SWUUSI at UBarU
SWUUSI camp is covenant, community, relaxation, nature, worship, music, faith development, justice work, great food, and programming for all ages. https://www.ubaru.org/swuusicamp
Thank you for your interest and readership...
Newsletter editor, Tapestry Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston
newsletter@uutapestry.org