Living Our Values Circle Beginning
Would you like to join others in an exploration of how we can live our UU values more richly, meaningfully, and enjoyably? The "Living Our Values" Circle will meet 6:30 to 8 pm the second Tuesday of each month, over a "finger food" potluck (e.g, cheese and crackers, veggies and dip) with the first meeting on May 13 at Judy Morgan’s home. We’ll explore the UU Seven Principles and how we can more fully express them in our own lives and in our congregation. Contact Judy Morgan, judymorgan711@yahoo.com or 804-0123 if interested.

Peace/Justice Movie Nights Starting!
Gay and Jim Patterson will host the first of a series of Peace and Justice Movie Nights, on May 3 at 7 pm at their home. The first video will be “A Force More Powerful,” a documentary that covers six history-making examples of non-violence, with much original footage and interviews of actual participants. We will watch the segments on Gandhi’s nonviolent campaign in India, and the Nashville, Tennessee sit-ins at lunch counters which were inspired by Gandhi and became a model for the civil rights movement. Please join us – it’ll be an entertaining and uplifting evening! Contact Judy Morgan at 804-0123, judymorgan711@yahoo.com to RSVP.

May 18 is Social Action Sunday!
You can participate by doing any or all of the following:

1. Bring food items and printer cartridges to donate to the local Food Bank

2. Bring used batteries to be recycled

3. Donate to a local charity in the Second Offering collected during the service.

4. Bring used compact fluorescent light bulbs to be recycled safely

5. Bring old glasses to go to the South Austin Lion's Club

6. Come to the Social Action Forum

Second Offering

This month the Second Offering will again go to Caritas of Austin. Caritas of Austin was founded in 1964 to provide a safety net for the community’s working poor by providing for basic needs in times of crisis. They help the working poor, the unemployed, the homeless, the near homeless and documented refugees. Caritas provides rent, utilities, food and support to people in crisis. This year, 20,000 Travis county adults and children will benefit from Caritas services.

May 18 Social Action Forum
Austin Energy's Green Choice renewable energy subscription has been the number one Green Program in the country for 5 years running. Carol Harwell, manager of the Green Choice Program will be talking about that as well as other programs Austin Energy has to help save customers money and reduce energy consumption. This will include Total Home Performance with the Energy Star Program, the Green Building Program, the many energy efficiency and solar rebates and the Customer Assistance Program. Join us on May 18th at noon at SASAC for another outstanding program. (If you would like child care for the Forum, please contact Penny Burnette two weeks in advance.)

Peacemakers Book Group
The Peacemakers Book Group will meet Wednesday, May 14, at 7 pm, at Jan Austin’s home, to discuss The Third Side: Why We Fight and How We Can Stop, by William Ury. This book summarizes Ury’s research on conflict resolution around the world, as co-founder of the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School. It presents roles that we can play in peacemaking in contexts ranging from family squabbles to international disputes. It’s a lively, hopeful, and down-to-earth discussion of how harmful conflict can be prevented at all levels. The discussion will be led by Rev. Eliza Galaher. Please join in - you don’t need to have read the book or participated in previous discussions to attend! Contact Judy Morgan, 804-0123, judymorgan711@yahoo.com, with any questions.

Eco Tip of the Month

Close vents and doors in unused rooms and close dampers on unused fireplaces.