Starting on Friday, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Bell County will host a year-long third-Friday concert series at 1726 Morgan’s Point Road in Morgan’s Point Resort.
This Friday will be the first show, and the performer will be Mike Blackwell, a folk and Indie singer/songwriter who has ties to Austin.
“We’re very excited,” said Scott Horsak, UU program coordinator. “We’re eager to incorporate more music into our programs.”
But the main purpose of the concert series is community outreach.
“The idea, hope and concept of this concert series is to provide something fun for community,” Horsak said. “There’s a lot of misunderstanding about what Unitarian Universalists are. We want to invite folks in to see us and learn what we’re all about. We’re not monsters; we’re just like everyone else, and we want the whole community to feel at home with us.”
With luck, Horsak said the concert series will be a good tool at integrating the UU church with people of other faiths.
“We don’t want to be an island out by ourselves,” Horsak said. “We want to be a part of the community, and our gesture of brotherhood is to give the town some good concerts to enjoy.”
Horsak’s inspiration to start a UU concert program was the annual acoustic concert series at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton.
“That’s good music,” Horsak said.
Hershall Seale, director of UMHB’s acoustic concert series, will be a part of the musical line-up. With his Schade Tree Band, Seale will perform on Aug. 14.
“I’m not a member of the church, but I’ve played out there before and had a great welcome,” Seale said. “I’m looking forward to playing there again.”
The musician thinks that the UU’s effort in hosting the monthly concerts will be of great benefit for the community.
“Our music - Texas music - is unique,” Seale said. “It’s a pleasure to hear, and this will be a great venue for it.”
Anybody is welcome to attend the UU concerts. Snacks and soft drinks will be provided, and guests are welcome to bring their own beer and wine to enjoy. There’s no cost to attend the concerts, but to help pay the artists, the suggested donation is $10 per person.
At each concert, doors will open at 7 p.m., and the show will start at 8 p.m.
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IF YOU GO
WHAT: Mike Blackwell in concert
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday, June 19
WHERE: Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Bell County
COST: Suggested donation is $10
NOTE: Upcoming third-Friday concerts at the UU church include Austin folksingers Phil Lancaster and Allison Moore on July 17 and the Schade Tree Band on Aug. 14.
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The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Bell County meets at 10:45 a.m. the first and third Sundays at 1726 Morgan’s Point Road.
“We don’t have a regular, full-time pastor,” said Scott Horsak, UU program director. “Our programs are by a variety of guest speakers, from all kinds of backgrounds and faiths.”
Dress isn’t an issue for attendees, and neither is sexual preference, faith or culture.
For that reason, atheists are welcome. “The Unitarian Universalists celebrate every individual, including his right to believe and not to believe,” Horsak said. “It’s a warm, welcoming place to be.”
In addition to Sunday programs, the UU church holds routine roundtable discussions.
“Fifty percent of those are about social justice and current events,” Horsak said. “The other 50 percent is more spiritual in nature. But they’re all talks that get you thinking, talking and learning about all ways of life.”
More is available online at uufbc.org or by phone at 780-1008.
