Now through Friday, April 28!!! (EXTENDED)

2023 Auction is still going on......don't miss out

First Unitarian's Biggest Fundraiser of the Year

In addition to pledges, First Unitarian relies on the spring fundraiser to cover the costs of our ministries and programs. Our goal is $15,000!

This year, we’re offering a curated list of items with a focus on gourmet meals, gift cards and certificates, and events. The auction is entirely virtual this year NOW through Friday, April 28 at 11:59 pm.

If you have trouble registering or navigating the website, please contact either Nathan Boone or Marlies Grogg.

After the auction, we'll gather to celebrate with a night of Bingo, Barbeque, and Beer (aptly named the BBB) on Friday, May 12, 2023! Dinner and drinks at 6:30 pm!  Bingo will begin at 7:30 pm!

We will have fried chicken and baked chicken, coleslaw, macaroni salad and chips for the kids! Beer, wine and ROOT BEER! Cookies and watermelon for dessert! Of course, we'll also have some great prizes for our bingo winners.

Adults: $25 (includes dinner and 3 bingo cards)

Children 12 and under: $12 (includes dinner and 3 bingo cards)

Register early for a discount on your admission.

Here’s to making this another successful auction! Let’s finish the church year strong and we look forward to seeing you at the BBB Party!

April 30 - 11:00 am

Spread the word! On April 30, we will meet at Will Rogers Park INSTEAD of church!

Help us spread the word! The OKC Memorial Run makes getting to our church very challenging so we decided to take a field trip! We’ll be meeting at the South Pavillion at Will Rogers Garden on Sunday, April 30.  The church building will be closed. If you are participating in the Memorial Run this year, we wish you luck!

Things to bring to this special service:

• your own folding chair (or picnic blanket, although the grass may still be wet)
• your own picnic lunch and/or treats to share
• frisbees, bubbles, outdoor games, kites
• a jacket or blanket (it will be a little on the cool side when the service starts)
• an attitude of wonder :-)

The Will Rogers Gardens is located at 3400 NW 36th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73112

Sunday, April 30 - 11:00 am

"The Wonder of Nature"

Join us in person or watch on YouTube (not Zoom).

April 30 is the OKC Memorial Marathon, which means that it will be extremely difficult to access our church building that day. So, we're moving off-site! We will gather in Will Rogers Park South Pavilion at our usual worship time. Please bring a folding chair or picnic blanket. We'll have some chairs for those who forget or are unable to bring one. You're also welcome to bring food to share picnic-style after the service. HERE is more information about the location for our special April 30 service.

Service Leaders: Rev. Diana Davies, Lead Minister and Tim Atkins, DLRE; Choir Director: Chukwuebuka (‘Ebuka) G. Ezeakacha; Music: Wendy Pitt, Cathy Webster and 1UC Choir; Technical Support: Tammy Epperson and Chris Gonzales

Upcoming Sunday Morning Services - 11:00 am

May

May 7 - "Why Is the World So Beautiful: 100 Years of Flower Ceremony"

May 14 - Coming of Age

May 21 - Bridging

May 28- "Singing the Body Electric: On Spirit"

NO MEDITATION CLASS SUNDAY, APRIL 30

Sunday Morning Meditation (In-Person)

Please join us for meditation practice in the Buddhist tradition (lower level, next to Corley Commons).

All are welcome; no meditation experience necessary!

For more information contact Lori Jervis.

NO ADULT ED ON Sunday, April 30

Adult Ed in the Eddy Room

Each week there are two options for 10:00 am Adult Ed:

• Our meditation group that meets downstairs in the Corley Commons - Meditation Room
• Our main Forum like programming will take place in the Eddy Room every  Sunday at 10:00am (except the 3rd Sunday of the month it will be in Daniel Hall) and the topic will change each week. 

This Sunday - No Class

2023 Article II Idea Submission Form

At General Assembly (GA) 2023, Unitarian Universalists will take an initial vote on proposed changes to Article II of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Bylaws, which includes the current UUA purposes, principles, sources, and clauses on inclusion and freedom of belief. Please use this link to submit any suggested edits that you may have to the current draft of Article II Study Commission's proposal (there is a link to the proposed draft in the form): https://form.jotform.com/UUA/A2Ideas. Suggested edits must be submitted by Sunday, April 30th.

Coming Soon - Sunday, May 7 - 12:00 pm

Plant Sale!

Sunday, May 7, will be the Gardening Covenant Group’s annual plant sale on the front lawn after church. More information will be published later, but we wanted to make you aware that it will be coming. If you have plants to donate to the sale, please inform Barbara Gallivan, bgallivan@cox.net.

On Saturday, April 29, the Gardening Covenant Group will be adding dirt to the east Memorial Garden and then planting new dwarf boxwood shrubs in both sides of the gardens. We have good workers but could really use more. We'd love it particularly if some of the strong, young people could join us. We will begin at 9:00 am. If you have questions, please contact Barbara Gallivan. 

We hope to see you!

Monday, May 22 by 5:00 pm!

Annual Reports Due!

It is getting close...the Annual Meeting of the Congregation is Sunday, June 4 (immediately after the service).  If you are the chair of a group or head of a committee, please make sure you email Marlies your annual report no later then Monday, May 22.  

If you have questions, please feel free to contact Marlies at mgrogg@1uc.org.

June 5th through June 9th

SAVE THE DATE for Chalice Camp!

Every year in early June, we host a week long day camp called "Chalice Camp" that's been going for almost fifty years.

The dates for this years Chalice Camp will be June 5 through June 9! Mark your calendars!

Tuesday, May 2 - 11:30 am

1UC ALLIANCE BROWN BAG LUNCH/PROGRAM

The next Alliance Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday May 2, 2023 at noon. Please join us at 11:30 for lunch in Daniel Hall. Please bring your own lunch and drink. The presentation will be from Dr. Germaine Odenheimer on Alzheimer's

During the business meeting we will be installing Alliance Officers for the church Year 2023 - 2024, voting on a contribution to Chalice Camp, discussing summer activities.

If you would like to attend the presentation online, the Alliance Zoom information is listed below.

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://zoom.us/j/92600917353?pwd=K1pjRURzTkdLYkFqRzRUYWs4VXBaZz09

Meeting ID: 926 0091 7353

Passcode: 931009

If you have questions, please contact Lu Ann Faulkner-Schneider/

Thursday, May 4, 7:00 pm

1UCOKC Book Club

Join us Thursday, May 4, where we will be discussing, Code Name Blue Wren: The True Story of America's Most Dangerous Female Spy - and the Sister She Betrayed by Jim Popkin.

For more information please contact Steve Gryglewicz at stgryg@yahoo.com

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/8997...

Meeting ID: 899 7238 4616

Passcode: 729712

Saturdays at 10:00 am -- May 6, 27, and June 10

Classes are offered in person in Daniel Hall or you can join via Zoom. All classes are Kripalu-style, integrating breathwork, meditation, and highly personalized movement and poses, with modifications and options for all bodies and experience levels. I hope to see you at an upcoming class! - Rev. Diana

Current Safety Level: Masks Are Encouraged

Masks are optional at all church events but are always welcome and encouraged.

• If you choose not to wear a mask, it is especially important that you do not attend services or events if you have any symptoms typical of COVID, flu, or RSV. Please stay home and join us online.
• Please continue to wash your hands frequently. And please be sure to throw away used tissues. Don't leave them in the pews.
• No one should ever be pressured into removing their mask. Please honor everyone's choice.
• If you haven't yet had your latest COVID booster please get it now!
  

Social Justice News!

• SOCIAL JUSTICE COUNCIL MEETING: May 7th @ 9a in the Eddy Room. This is an open meeting.

• EARTH DAY UPDATE: BEEF! Livestock husbandry generates 18% of all greenhouse gas emissions – more than cars, trains, and ships combined, according to the U.N. Agricultural Organization. 

• SLO NEWS: The Sustainable Living Organization is working on a policy regarding the use of our kitchen with regard to non-recyclable plastic products. As you can imagine, we frown on plastics. We are also looking at a possible compost program with Fertile Grounds, a compost and recycling center you heard about from Mordikai Hornpetrie in service Sunday. Remember too, that before & after services at church, SLO sells free trade coffee, teas, and chocolates.

• CHANGE IS POSSIBLE | Join Together Oklahoma on May 9 for our 2023 Day of Action at the Capitol - Together Oklahoma will be holding its 2023 Day of Action at the Capitol on Tuesday, May 9, to help everyday Oklahomans engage with lawmakers and help build political power in our communities. Advocates from around the state will gather together at the State Capitol in Oklahoma City to advocate for change that makes our state healthier, safer, more equitable, and more representative. [Learn more and register] For more information and a full list of Together Oklahoma events, visit TogetherOK.org/events.

If you are interested in becoming involved in social justice programs and activities, please contact Susan Bishop at (405) 623-4017 or sdbishop50@gmail.com

March Change for Change

For the month of April our Change for Change recipient is the is OKC Beautiful Garden Support Program/OKC Harvest (school gardens at Cleveland Elementary/Wilson Elementary/Bodine Elementary).

Their Mission: Is to bring environmental science to life through a school garden! To do this they involve students in the preparation of garden soil, planting, growing and eating healthy foods. Our educators provide curriculum tied to state standards.

Reduce. The average American’s consumption is too high, but can be decreased by avoiding unnecessary energy use. Only having a cup of tea? Don’t boil an entire kettle of water, just 1-2 cups. Is the TV, stereo, computer or light left on in a room when you leave? Turn them off when going out of the room. Small acts add up. (This section was adapted from True Green (100 everyday ways you can contribute to a healthier planet) by Kim McKay and Jenny Bonnin.

Our economy is based largely on consumption, and not all of it is necessary. We are bombarded by multiple media to buy more of everything than we need, but we don’t have to! For years, I’ve thought of every purchase as an investment, trying not to spend money blindly. It’s frackin’ hard, too. Any store we go in, we are the target of decades of merchandising research, telling dealers where to position their wares effectively to sell the most. Women’s magazines and TV shows promote great “bargains” that we do not need. Online shopping has added another way for us to fill our homes with useless stuff. However, we can turn off the computer and leave Amazon & Etsy! Except for my granddaughter. Anything I get for her is something she needs. Especially books.

This doesn’t mean we need to be judgmental, or punish ourselves when we buy the occasional treat. My idea of something that’s indispensable is not the same as anyone else’s, and it definitely includes dark chocolate. Remember, you can buy Equal Exchange chocolate every week in Daniel Hall!

Kidding aside, if you have a suggestion for the Green Minute, please contact me at lacorderagnew@cox.net. Have less this week!