Dear Reader,
This is the Friday, December 19, 2025 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:
Winter Solstice
by Tracy Cook
As the longest night of the year settles around us, the Winter Solstice invites us to pause, breathe, and remember that even in deep darkness, the earth is already tilting back toward the light. Across cultures and centuries, people have marked this moment with story, song, fire, and wonder—honoring nature’s rhythms and the promise of returning warmth. In that spirit, our Unitarian Universalist celebration will be both meaningful and delightfully hands-on. This year’s service is interactive, inviting all ages with ritual and a bit of seasonal mischief. Come prepared to play and reflect within and among us.
If you're unable to join us in person, Zoom is still an option by clicking HERE.
Announcements:
Brew CrUU Cancelled this Sunday
Hello everyone! In anticipation of people traveling and having holiday plans, we've decided against hosting Brew CrUU this Sunday, December 20th. We hope you all have a wonderful holiday season, and we'll be back to our regular schedule in the new year. Looking forward to seeing you all then!
~Daniel and Laura, Team Leads
TXUUJM NEWS: December 2025
The TXUUJM staff and board send gratitude to UUs around Texas for all your powerful work for justice in 2025! THANK YOU! (Click here for an amazing report on what TXUUJM members did this year!) To make more good trouble in 2026, we ask your year-end pledge to the Texas UU Justice Ministry FAITHIFY CAMPAIGN: Deadline this Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. Your donation will be matched by a grant from the UU Funding Program -- and will fund significant Get Out the Vote and justice work in Texas during a pivotal election year! Faithify link here.
UBarU News: Winter is Here! Kind of...
by Tracy Cook on 12/16/2025
January 16-19, 2026
This is a weekend with no "expert" telling you how or what to write, just time at UBarU to write undisturbed and opportunities to share your work with other writers, receiving feedback or participating in workshops if desired. You may also enjoy and be inspired by hearing the work of others.
Come with your drafts, finished products and empty pages. All genres welcome, from fiction to memoir, from poetry to sermon.
Lodging, meals and programming is included. Lodging options include a private room or bunk in the Brown center, or you can bring a tent or small RV for camping. Please indicate dietary preference on the registration. You can bring snacks and drinks as well. We have a refrigerator and microwave for your use, as needed.
Additional information about the schedule and what to bring will be emailed prior to the event.
February 14-15, 2026
UBarU is hosting a fundraiser on Valentine’s Day. Join the fun which will include an elegant dinner with candlelight, music, chocolate, and wine on Saturday night, followed by a Star Party, 1 night lodging, and breakfast on Sunday morning. Enjoy yourself and know that your are helping UBarU to raise money for updates needed to meet new camp safety requirements, as well as general improvements to our campus. Cost will be $300 per person to stay in a private suite in the Brown Center or cottages (double occupancy- there are queen beds in the DMBC private rooms, and a mixture of queen, king, and full in the cottage rooms).
If you would like to arrive early on Friday, Feb 13, please add that option to your registration ($50 per person). We will provide dinner on Friday and a Continental breakfast on Saturday, in addition to the Saturday night dinner and Sunday breakfast already part of the event. Please plan to bring something for lunch on Saturday. There is a refrigerator and microwave available for your use.
Join us FEB 20-23, 2026
Bring your art projects to work on, share, and collaborate with friends at UBarU!
Breaking with tradition a bit since President’s Day weekend is also Valentine’s weekend - we have moved the event a week later. Still 2 or 3 nights to give plenty of time for project work! Meals (Friday dinner - departure day breakfast) and lodging included in the cost.
Check—In Friday after 3pm or Saturday morning. Opening circle will be after dinner on Friday.
Check—Out Sunday morning after breakfast or Monday by 10:30 am.
Fun with friends (old and new) enjoying creative processes together. The retreat will include a brief workshop on a creative art for those interested. The retreat may also include an optional field trip on Saturday to shops or art displays in the area. There will be lots of time for project work, visiting, and exploring.
Formerly known as “Fiber Arts” but we have expanded the range of projects. Come join the Fun!
Read More and Comment on the UBarU News Blog
We’re Hiring: Sunday Child Care Provider!
Tapestry UU Church is looking for a caring, reliable person to watch our little ones on Sundays, 10:30 AM–1:30 PM. A church volunteer will be there to help!
Details:
- Ages: 16+
- Pay: up to $25/hr (depending on experience)
- All toys and supplies provided
- Background check required
- This paid position is open to non-members only
- CPR Certification a plus
If you are interested, or know someone who might be, please send a brief resume and two references to the Tapestry UU Church Board at board@uutapestry.org.
Cooking Covenant Group: January: Brainstorming Session!
by Tracy Cook on 12/15/2025
Howdy Friends and Neighbors!
On January 3, 2026 (wow, can you believe the year is almost done!) we will have a brainstorming session for the next year of Cooking and Eating topics. We will have some old faves, but we are interested in trying new things, too!
I think in 2026 I will begin hosting a quarterly Freezer Meal event at my house. You bring the ingredients, I will provide all of the herbs and spices. And if you don’t have any of the baggie holders, I will provide those, as well. Because there is nothing worse than spending the time getting a baggie of dinner ready only to have it slip away from you!!! So, that spot is open on the calendar.
Our standard topics are:
- February: Chocolate!
- April: Imposter Foods
- October: Spooky Foods
- December: We will try again for the Bake Sale, or maybe try one in the spring?
Not sure where we are going to meet yet, so check back here in a week to see. But the time will be from 3:00-4:30 PM. All are welcome, of course, even if you only have one idea.
Read More and Comment on the Cooking Covenant Group Blog
Share-the-Plate
December's share-the-plate offering is going to the Houston Food Bank. In collaboration with a network of more than 1,600 community partners, the Houston Food Bank provides assistance to thousands of individuals each week through their innovative programs and services.
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.
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!
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:
December 19 (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
December 20 (Saturday), 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM: WFPB Covenant Group Meeting
The Whole Food Plant Based (WFPB) Covenant Group meets via Zoom every Saturday at 2:30 pm. Our mission is learning more about WFPB eating, cooking, recipe-sharing, and supporting each other in our healthy lifestyle journeys. We are currently viewing each of the 40 video presentations each week from the Holistic Holiday at Sea cruise which several of our members recently enjoyed, along with discussion, and monthly sharing potluck WFPB snacks. Please contact wfpb@uutapestry.org if interested in joining us.
December 21 (Sunday), 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM: Adult RE - Understanding the World's Religions
Who: Adult Tapestry members, friends, and visitors
WHAT: Join teachers Pat Snyder & Tracy Cook for a wonderful adult religious education class.
When: Twice monthly on the first and third Sundays of each month from 12:30-2pm September 2025 through June 2026.
Where: The class will meet in the Tapestry office at CJCN.
Prepare:
- Please purchase a copy of Huston Smith's The World Religions ISBN: 0062508113 There are many used copies available at www.betterworldbooks.com.
- Contact Pat Snyder and/or Tracy Cook for more details
Schedule:
- September: Hinduism
- October: Buddhism
- November: Confucianism
- December: Taoism
- January: Islam
- February: Judaism
- March: (skip this month due to spring breaks)
- April: Christianity
- May: Primal Religions
- June: A Final Exam (1st or 3rd Sunday for 1 session only)
Here is some information on the curriculum:
Understanding the World’s Religions
A Study Guide to Huston Smith’s The World’s Religions
This is intended as an adult reading and discussion course centered on Huston Smith’s perennial classic, The World’s Religions (first published under the title The Religions of Man in 1958). In the decades since it first appeared, this book has remained continuously in print, inspiring millions of readers with sympathetic treatments of Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Islam, Judaism, Christianity, and the primal religions.
Page numbers that are cited refer to the 1991 edition of The World’s Religions, published by Harper-San Francisco. Each participant will need a copy of this book to read the relevant material before each session.
More Info: https://www.uua.org/lifespan/curricula/huston-smith-religions
December 23 (Tuesday), 5:30 PM - 6:00 PM: Worship Team Meeting
Weekly team meeting to discuss upcoming services and current projects.
Thank you for your interest and readership...
Newsletter editor, Tapestry Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston
newsletter@uutapestry.org