Events at Northwoods
Connect, Create, Celebrate: Open Invitation to events beyond Sunday services.
Join us! Everyone is welcome!
Continuing July 5, 12, and 19
Empathy Circle: Come As You Are—Leave Feeling Connected
Learn to listen deeply and be heard with compassion. Join Susan Wildin for an online Empathy Circle every Saturday, 10–11:30am on Zoom. This online gathering is designed for anyone seeking compassionate listening and meaningful connection.
Each session begins with a brief introduction to NVC’s empathy process, followed by dedicated practice time. Whether you’re navigating personal challenges or looking to deepen your listening skills, this circle offers a supportive space to be heard without judgment or unsolicited advice.
Open to all Northwoods members and friends. To attend online: Use our custom URL to attend https://zoom.us/my/northwoodsuu or join by Meeting ID: 766 833 5778.
What Does It Mean to Belong? Discernment Circle on Membership – Sunday, July 6
We’re taking time this summer to reflect on the meaning of membership at Northwoods. How do we welcome new folks? What commitments do we make to one another? How can our membership process better reflect our values of inclusion, shared ministry, and spiritual growth?
Join Rev. Sarah for a Discernment Circle on Sunday, July 6, following worship, as we explore these questions together. Whether you’re a long-time member, a newcomer, or somewhere in between, your voice matters.
Drum With Us: Friday, July 11
Start the weekend with a ritual to honor the cycle of the moon. Step into sacred space that’s fun, community building, and liberating! Drumming happens Friday, July 11, at 7 pm in the Northwoods UU sanctuary. Optional smudging beforehand. All experience levels are welcome. Children who can follow basic drumming etiquette are also very welcome. Bring your drum, shaky think, or share from our generous collection. Please, invite friends.
Millbend Coffeehouse Presents Aaron LaCombe on Saturday, July 12 at 7:30pm
Listening to Aaron’s songs, you won’t hear a lot of effort to sound like anyone else or to play by any particular set of rules. Sure, it’s only natural that dashes of heroes like Lyle Lovett or Guy Clark sneak into the stew, but what you’ll mostly hear are stories being told from the perspective of a man who has been there and wants to share what he learned from them. Laundry hanging on the line, or the death of a dear friend in the passenger seat of his truck; if it’s in the song, it probably happened. Aaron can be found driving across the United States and beyond with his rescue pals Oscar and Mae. He Plays theaters, listening rooms, festivals and back yards… the kind of places where all the seats face the stage and folks are there to hear the songs and the stories behind them.
For tickets go to www.millbend.org.
Dead Table: Coming Up on July 20
We’ve smelled the sizzle and pop, now its time to get down to the meat- planing for a smooth exit! Sunday July 20, noon, in the Garden Room and on Zoom, Dead Table, will provide the ultimate list of all the paperwork we need to have in order to make all things easier for us and for those we leave behind. It’s a long list, and for me, having others to curse about it with will make it easier and insure it gets done. Not just wills and DNR, all your passwords, there is much to organize and check off the list. We want a format to provide new folks joining NUUC the ability to get their paperwork in order as well. Dead Table Sunday in August we will have a notary and folks to act as witnesses for paperwork that requires such. In summary 3rd Sunday in July talk about and get the giant list of paperwork that we will need to have for 3rd Sunday of August.
Dead Table has some ambitious projects in the works, we need computer savvy folk and help creating a UU health care data base.
Dead Table is responsible for 3rd Sunday at noon, we welcome speakers and ideas for all things healthcare, aging and retirement.
Become a Soul Supporter: Pastoral Care Training Opportunity – Saturday, July 26
Are you someone who listens deeply, offers compassion, or simply wants to support others in times of need? Join us for Soul Supporter Training—a new opportunity to strengthen our shared ministry of care.
The in-person workshop will take place on Saturday, July 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Northwoods (please bring a lunch). Co-led by Rev. Sarah and Northwoods member and NVC facilitator Susan Wilding, this training will focus on active listening, compassionate presence, and the foundations of Nonviolent Communication (NVC).
Two companion Zoom sessions (before and after the workshop) will help participants prepare and reflect.
This training is part of our new Mutual Aid Circle—an invitation to build the kind of community where no one feels alone.
Interested? Email Rev. Sarah to sign up or learn more. (sarah@northwoodsuu.org).
Tuesday, July 29 at 5pm:
Taco Tuesday meet up at Torchy’s Taco in Spring!
Responding to the Anti-Trans Movement: A Course for Unitarian Universalists
This brief course is designed to offer you an introduction to gender diversity and trans identity, help you understand the current political attack on trans people and the misinformation that is part of that attack, and train you in how to create safety and belonging for trans people in UU congregations in this moment.
Dates: July 27th, August 3rd, August 10th in the Garden Room
The 2024 Service Auction event was a success, and it’s not over!
There will be opportunities to participate in open sign up events all year long. Keep an eye out! Every time you join a Sign Up event, our net income increases – have fun, support Northwoods, and most importantly, spend time with like-minded friends!
There is one open event in June (click the title for more information):
- 2nd Annual Holiday Cookie Party in July Join us for a fun, all-ages cookie decorating party with holiday music, snacks, and plenty of supplies to decorate and take home 6 cookies. Relax and enjoy—everything is prepped for you! Saturday, July 26 at 10am. Hosted by Hillary Valor — Spring, TX — $10. Alcohol-free event.