INVITATION: Gabe Gelb's Celebration of Life
This Friday, September 9, at 3:30 p.m. CDT
(held in Seattle but also available via Zoom)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4080929282.
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HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF TXUUJM CO-FOUNDER GABE GELB
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Gabriel M. (Gabe) Gelb, 93, an Emerson UU member since 1990, is currently in hospice care at home in Seattle, where he moved in 2021 with his wife Betsy. Gabe served on Emerson’s Board of Trustees, chaired the Outreach Board, and greatly enjoyed his role for many years as Emerson’s Easter bunny. Along with other Emersonians, he helped to found the Harris County Drug Court Foundation (now Justice Forward) and the Texas Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry (TXUUJM).
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The family invites you to his celebration this Friday (see box), which Gabe helped plan, and says "contributions in Gabe's memory to TXUUJM.org will be greatly appreciated."
“Gabe was essential for us when we started TXUUJM, his expertise and professionalism. Gabe is just a great person, a great sense of humor and commitment to justice." - Mike Phillips, TXUUJM Board President
"Gabe and Betsy have always been warriors of social justice at Emerson and with TXUUJM, for which we will all be forever grateful." - Mary Koch, former TXUUJM board member
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From Rev. Erin Walter, TXUUJM Minister & Executive Director:
Dear Texas UUs and our justice-seeking friends,
Please join me in sending love and light to Gabe Gelb, his family, friends, and church members at Emerson UU in Houston. Gabe's wife Betsy reached out yesterday to let us know that Gabe is in home hospice, nearing the end of his rich and meaningful life, which has included his role as a co-founder of the Texas Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry. Even after moving to Seattle in 2021, Gabe and Betsy have remained two of TXUUJM's most steadfast supporters, and it did my heart good to speak with their friends when I visited Emerson UU last month.
To Gabe, you are loved by your friends and fellow justice-seekers at TXUUJM! We thank you for your heartfelt service, your generosity, and the legacy and example you have set for all of us. May you and Betsy feel surrounded in love at this time.
To Betsy, thank you for inviting us to celebrate and honor Gabe with you. We will continue to bend Texas toward justice with the Gelb family on our hearts.
In sympathy and support,
Rev. Erin, on behalf of TXUUJM
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INVITATION: Gabe Gelb's Celebration of Life
This Friday, September 9, at 3:30 p.m. CDT
(held in Seattle but also available via Zoom)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4080929282.
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*SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023!*
On Jan. 21, 2023, TXUUJM members will gather at First UU Church of Austin to celebrate TXUUJM's 10-year anniversary, honor Rev. Chuck Freeman as minister emeritus, hear from our justice partners, prepare for Legislative Action Day later in the spring, give out volunteer awards, share a meal, and HAVE FUN together after these two+ years apart.
Event RSVP and more info to come. Meanwhile, please MARK YOUR CALENDARS for 1/21/23 and tell your church!
*NOTE: This is NOT the day we go to the capitol to talk with legislators. That will be a weekday later in the spring. This is the annual preparation event so we are connected and informed before we gather at the capitol. Legislative Action Day date still TBD.
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Texas UUs are Getting Out the Vote!
Way to go, TXUUJM! We see all the good work you are doing with postcard parties, voter registration, and other UU the Vote activities. Big appreciation to Sarah Berel-Harrop for serving as TXUUJM's organizer and to the UU Funding Program for a grant funding TXUUJM's GOtV work with 20 member congregations this year! Send us your GOtV photos, stories, and more to txuujm@gmail.com!
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IT'S OFFICIAL: TXUUJM AND TRANSFORMING HEARTS TEAM UP!
The Texas UU Justice Ministry is thrilled to officially announce our new partnership with the Transforming Hearts Collective! Through this partnership, Texas UU congregations will have ongoing access to the Transgender Inclusion in Congregations course, for use this year or any time. The program also comes with a worship service, put together by Transforming Hearts leader Zr. Alex Kapitan and TXUUJM Minister and Executive Director Rev. Erin Walter.
One leader from each congregation may fill out this form to get started with access to the curriculum and worship materials.
TXUUJM is deeply grateful to Live Oak UU Church Endowment and to the North Texas UU Congregations for funding the curriculum, and to Transforming Hearts for working with us to shape this emerging partnership! Appreciation also goes to San Gabriel UU Fellowship (Georgetown) and Northwoods UU Church (The Woodlands) for their contributions.
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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: Megan Brown (she/her) is part of the TXUUJM Action Hour volunteer squad! Megan is a poly-queer, neurodivergent nerd with disabilities who spends her time writing, reading, voice acting, and making art when she isn't at her day job saving the environment. She is a career scientist and cat mom with 18 years of advocacy experience on the whole spectrum of issues. Her superpower is knowing people who know people so feel free to introduce yourself! Meet Megan at Action Hour!
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TEAM TXUUJM: Hooray! TXUUJM.org is being revamped, with help from volunteers and our new web developer Carlisle Rice. Carlisle (he/him/his) is a Black father, foster parent and special education teacher doing freelance web development. He has experience building and managing websites as well as conducting website migration from static websites to web content management platforms. Check out his portfolio here. Thank you to the UU Funding Program and the Unitarian Universalist Association for tech grants!
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Join in honoring Gabe Gelb with a gift to TXUUJM
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