Keeping Alisha

by James Moore on 4/6/2024

I had already been to the congregation many years earlier while I was in Huntsville when it was in a different location with a different name, but even back then, I had felt very welcome and at home with the community there. As a new member, my biggest concern for the future is whether Tapestry will be able to keep our wonderful minister, Rev. Alisha, due to budget concerns. With pledges for next fiscal year below the necessary level to continue employing Rev. Alisha, I fear that our congregation may lose her without additional financial support. Because of that concern, I have decided to increase my pledge this year by over 30%.

While I realize that small increase may not make a big difference, if we all give a little more, then in the end we can continue to have Rev. Alisha at our pulpit twice a month, and hopefully we can expand her work with the church if all of our members can give enough support. Not everyone can give equally, but everyone can do their part to make sure we can continue to offer a spiritual safe space that recognizes the inherent worth and dignity of every person.

Warmest regards,
James Moore
Worship Committee Member

Stewardship UU

by Jasmine Pantuso on 3/16/2024

Have you ever felt at home? I mean, relaxed and free to be yourself? This could be in a job, church, town, neighborhood, etc.

Tapestry is the place I feel “AT HOME!” I really can’t believe it. I have been on a quest my whole life to find groups of folks that were warm and welcoming.

I’m living in the Houston area at this time because of a few relatives that I can’t bear to part with. Now, after being a part of Tapestry, I have another reason to BE here.

I knew that I had found “my people” when I joined up with the camping group for the weekend. I was amazed to discover that a cooking group was serving us and there were vegetarian and vegan options!

When I attend a service I come away feeling good about life, our country, and the future of our children. I realize that supporting Tapestry with my time, talents or treasure will bring us closer to love and light in our lives.

Howdy, Friends and Neighbors!

by Tracy Cook on 2/26/2024

My name is Tracy Cook, and I have been a member at Tapestry Unitarian Universalist Church for 17-ish years.

I started my journey looking for a community for myself several years ago. I wasn’t out of the broom closet yet, but I wanted somewhere I could go to grow spiritually. I know, that sounds weird right?! Why would I go to a Christian organization to grow my pagan self?! Well, my work friends all attended church together. And I thought I could use my internal translator for the messages. 

Nope. It was super frustrating and stressful. At one point, all of this hit me hard. I came home nearly in tears and told George I NEEDED something different, and he sighed and said he thought he knew just the place we all could go as a family. 

He was raised UU, for like 5 generations back. He took us all to NWCUUC (former name) and we met the then-President and her kids after a scheduled Play Group. My kids loved it, I liked what she had to say, and we showed up the next Sunday.

George jokes that he saved me, but he really did.

The kids liked that they weren’t harassed on the bus any longer, no more scary stories about going to hell since they could answer that they attended church. They enjoyed learning from the other adults in the community, especially Andy!

I embraced my pagan side and found kindred spirits to honor the natural rhythms of our world. 

So what do I see for our future? What is next?! I see so much opportunity for us to be a beacon to those who feel lost and overwhelmed. I love the home I found here, and I want others to feel they are welcome here, too. Rev Alisha has laid out an excellent plan and timetable for involvement, both here at Tapestry and in the larger community. She put a lot of thought and work into aligning everything we shared, and came up with a wonderful document.

I’m going to increase my Pledge in order to help us make these dreams a reality! Who’s with me?!

Spider-Man

by Eric Huckabay on 2/14/2024

Spider-Man. That's why I invest in Tapestry. Well, him and the Scoobie gang.

Wait... what??!

OK, perhaps I've gotten ahead of myself. I should back up.

Any of you who have heard me speak on spiritual topics will know that I'm a little obsessed with Challenge and Solace. Those are my spiritual touchstones. To afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted, if you want to get Biblical about it.

Which brings us to Spider-man. What was his primary motivation, throughout his career, no matter who was writing him? With power comes responsibility. I have great enough power to inherit some of that responsibility, but little enough that it would be irresponsible to try to be a super hero. I won't change the world in my lifetime. But maybe I can change the little things, the local things.

The Scoobie gang, whether you mean Daphne and Velma or Xander and Willow, have something in common. No world changing power, but a willingness to be there, and to help. And a second thing -- a discovery that being the hero is hard, but that it gets easier when you have the support of friends around you. People you can count on.

Maybe I'll never be a "big damn hero". Tapestry is the sort of place where I feel like I can be somebody's little hero, today, this week, and where I'm in good company doing it.

Thank you for being a part of that. You are, in many senses, my super group and my Solace. Blessed be.

Allan’s Witness Statement

by Allan Perkins on 1/1/2024

My family and I were going to a large church in the area but were not really happy. I had been a deacon and helped serve Holy Communion for four years. Members kept asking if we were new at the church.

Then I heard about a group of families who were starting a new church. I went to several planning meetings and liked what I saw. So, we joined the new church for its very first service.

That was 1995 and Northwest Community UU, which later became Tapestry. Even when the church was at its largest, it always had a family feel. Members have always shown true concern for each other and the community. NWCUU/Tapestry has always been a family centered church with a big heart.

We have always had a strong religious education effort and expect to see that again as the church continues to grow. For example; We had a family who adopted a preschooler who had a very rough early life. She wanted to stay with her parents and didn’t want to participate in RE activities. But everyone tried to treat her with love and understanding.

Then one Sunday as the children were sitting in a circle singing. This frightened child left her parents and walked up to one of the teenaged girls. The teen held out her hands and the toddler walked into her arms. She then sat on the teen’s lap. From then on the two of them were the best of friends and the teen looked out for the toddler.  They are now middle aged women with their own families.

This is the kind of love that has always made this church a unique place to worship.

Allan T. Perkins
Corner Forum Leader