| First Unitarian Connection |
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Note: When the newsletter is sent via email, the text may be truncated. To be sure you are seeing the entire newsletter, please click on the "view in browser" link near the top of the message or scroll to the bottom where it says [Message clipped] and click on: View entire message
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| Sundays at First Unitarian Church |
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Sunday, January 14 - 11:00 am
In Person Service and Programs Canceled This Week
Because we expect this weekend will be bitterly cold, with the possibility of heavy snow, we have decided to cancel our in-person service and all in-person programming this Sunday, January 14.
Instead, we invite you to watch our January 16, 2022 MLK Day service: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCxO9bj9XOw and then join us at 12:00 for a brief Q&A with the Board, followed by break-out chat groups (as we used to do during COVID).
Join Zoom Meeting: (Q&A and break out chat groups)
https://zoom.us/j/98503589612?...
Meeting ID: 985 0358 9612
Passcode: 327619
Please note: Our Change for Change partner is Not Your Average Joe (see more information about them below). Because we will not be meeting in person this week, please remember to mail in your Change for Change donation or make a donation online.
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Child Care and Nursery
(canceled due to impending weather)
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Sunday, January 14
Sunday Morning Meditation (canceled due to impending weather)
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Sunday, January 14
Sunday Morning Coffee Hour (no in-person social time due to impending weather)
Instead, please join us at 12:00 on Sunday, on Zoom! We'll have a brief presentation by the Board on the next steps in the ministerial transition process, have some time for questions and answers, and then break out into small chat groups for informal conversation.
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Ornament Sale!
We're starting up a new tradition in January - our Ornament Sale! We're going to sell the ornaments we created during our Blessing of the Greens Service and that were used to decorate our holiday trees. (The plastic wish ornaments will stay year to year.) Every year we're creating more ornaments, so let's sell them after the holidays each year!
We're suggesting a donation of $5 dollars for 2 ornaments. We'll be selling them in Daniel Hall after worship the Sundays in January (or until they're all sold!) We're going to take these proceeds and put them in our Chalice Camp account! So help fund this year's camp and take home some beautifully decorated ornaments for next year's tree!
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Upcoming Sunday Morning Services - 11:00 am
January Theme
Where Do We Come From? Where Are We Going?
January 21 - "Brave and Besieged Bodies"
January 28 - "Loneliness and Community"
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Transition Tracker News!!
There will be a Q&A session after the January 14 service at 12:00 pm in via Zoom in case you have any questions about Rev. Dr. Redfern-Campbell or other aspects of the ongoing transition process.
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://zoom.us/j/98503589612?...
Meeting ID: 985 0358 9612
Passcode: 327619
I am happy to announce that the contract with the minister who
will be with us from March 18 to June 18 has been finalized. She is
Reverend Dr. Suzanne Redfern-Campbell of Albuquerque NM. Here is how Keith
Kron, our UUA Transition Advisor, describes her: “She brings a wealth
of experience to ministry having served congregations of all sizes and for
a variety of durations…She brings a calm, seasoned eye to ministry, has a
natural pastoral presence, and has spent much of her time working as an
accredited transitional minister.”
In recent years she has served 3-month stints in Golden CO and Fairbanks AK
while their ministers were on sabbatical. Before that, she served UU
congregations in Brighton MI, Las Cruces NM, and as interim minister in
Colombia MO and Danbury CT. All of this was after she retired from
full-time ministry!
Her years of full-time ministry were as associate minister
in Vancouver BC and Weston MA, and as minister in Cottonwood
Heights UT and Studio City CA. (I’m mentioning
all these locations because some of you may have had contact with
her before.) Rev. Dr. Redfern-Campbell started as a lawyer and practiced law
for 7 years in the Boston area.
She has had a long term interest and involvement in social justice issues. And she has a very collaborative view of her role in supporting our church’s
continued growth and transition to an interim minister. By
all indications, Rev. Dr. Redfern-Campbell is an excellent fit for our congregation.
Marcia Woodward
President of the Congregation 2023-2024
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A BIG HUGE THANK YOU
A GIGANTIC THANK YOU to my little elves who came and helped take down the seasonal decorations at the church.
Maureen Harvey, Lana Henson, and Larry Little... I don't know what First U would do without you!
Also, Larry Little was nice enough to take the mittens, scarves and hats from the mitten tree to the Homeless Alliance.
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From the Yarbrough Family
A sincere thank you to our wonderful church community for surrounding us with your loving care, concern, thoughts and prayers after the recent passing of our beloved John, husband, father, uncle, grandfather, friend.
We appreciate all the calls, cards, hugs, messages, meals and visits. A special thank you to Rev. Diana, Marlies Grogg, Steven Elkins Kennedy, choir members, Ellisya Ravencroft and the Alliance for providing a beautiful Celebration of Life service and reception. You helped make this difficult life change more bearable and we are grateful.
With love,
The Yarbroughs - Marianne, Carmen, Pam, Jon and Family
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News from Befrienders
Befrienders relies upon donations. Those donations are used to provide cards, stamps, occasional meals, and items for memorial receptions. If you wish to make a donation, please send a check and put Befrienders on the purpose line of your check. Thank you.
Befrienders is ready to assist members of our church who are recovering from surgeries or illnesses by offering cards of well-wishes, meal trains, transportation to church or medical appointments as well as arranging for visitations, and we provide the receptions following memorial services.
Befrienders have teams assigned for specific roles.
- Lana Henson leads our Cards of Well Wishes team and can always use extra hands to write cards to our members who are ill or who are recovering from surgeries.
- Ginny Boykin leads our Memorial Reception team.
- Patti Kate leads our Transportation team and is looking for folks to be added to her list of people willing to be drivers for anyone needing a ride to a doctor’s appointment, therapy appointment, etc. She is actively recruiting for folks to be on her team.
- Kathy Nyswonger leads our Visitation team. She, along with others, actively go out and visit with members who are unable to get to church or some of the social events. She is actively recruiting for folks to be on her team.
- Meal Trains – we don’t have a team leader yet for this team of people willing to step up and provide a meal to an individual or family. Much of the work of the leader is organizing the Meal Train online.
Our next Befriender meeting will be Thursday, January 11th at noon. This will be an in-person meeting in the Eddy Room for the team leaders.
If you are interested in joining any of these teams, please let Susan Bishop know at sdbishop50@gmail.com.
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First Unitarian Cares!
If you (or someone you care about in our community) would like a caring card, a ride, a meal delivered to your home, a prayer, or a pastoral visit, please fill out a pastoral care request form on our website: https://1uc.org/connect/pastor... or contact Rev. Diana or Susan Bishop (chair of the Befrienders).
Please contact Rev. Diana directly if you need financial assistance. The Minister's Discretionary Fund is available for anyone who needs emergency financial support. In the past, the fund has been used to help cover rent, groceries, fuel, home repairs, medical costs and other needs. Allocations from this fund are completely confidential.
Requests for support from this fund have risen significantly. If you have financial capacity, please consider making a gift to the Minister's Discretionary Fund. Thank you!
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| Adult Education Classes & Courses |
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Every Wednesday - 6:00 pm
Wednesday Night Meditation
Interested in meditation but can't quite make it on Sunday mornings? Or maybe you just want more meditation? We are adding a Wednesday night session to our schedule (6:00 pm - 7:00 pm) in the meditation room in the lower level (Corley Commons).
For more information contact Larry Little.
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Sunday, January 21 - 9:00 am, Eddy Room
VOICE Meeting
The 1UC VOICE Team will meet Sunday, January 21 at 9:00 am, in the Eddy Room.
There is much work to be done! Join Us!
Also, the SoUUp Cook-Off will be happening on Friday, February 23... put it on your calendar!
- Maureen Harvey
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Sunday, February 11, Daniel Hall - 1200 pm
The 1UC Alliance - Buck a Dip!
The Alliance Annual Buck-A-Dip Lunch Fundraiser has been moved to Sunday, February 11, after the service.
Our next regular meeting will be on Tuesday, February 6 at 11:30 am.
Bring a brown bag lunch and join us!
-Maureen Harvey
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January Change for Change
For the month of January our Change for Change partner is Not Your Average Joe.
Their mission is to inspire the community by including students and adults with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities in the creation of exceptional coffee in an encouraging atmosphere.
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Saturday, January 20, 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm (Daniel Hall)
Bohemian Cafe
Join us on Saturday, January 20 from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm in Daniel Hall for the "BOHEMIAN CAFE".
The Social Justice Committee sponsors this special fundraising event every year so they can continue their work in the community.
Featuring the music of Mary Reynolds & Louise Goldberg of "Miss Brown to You".
There will be raffles with prizes, yummy hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar.
$15 entry (includes a plate of food)
$50 entry (includes unlimited food and drink)
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CHANGE FOR CHANGE needs your help. Did you know that anyone can suggest a worthy local non-profit in our community? Do you know how?
- Check out the 1uc.org website and click on the justice tab
- Then click on Community Partnerships and click on the application in green in the middle of the page.
- Submit the application to Deborah Shinn or Anne Murray, or leave it in the office Social Justice mailbox. Or you can email the completed application to them. They can be found in Breeze.
WE APPRECIATE IT WHEN CONGREGANTS NOMINATE WORTHY COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THANK YOU!
UPCOMING EVENTS
***Oklahoma City MLK Alliance celebration events (breakfast, silent march, parade) has been rescheduled for Saturday, January 27th. The Racial Justice Team is sponsoring a decorated car and will have signs for people to carry if they want to march. Family friendly event. Additional details to follow in upcoming newsletters.***
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JANUARY 20TH 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm: BOHEMIAN CAFÉ NIGHT! Mark your calendars now to join in a celebration of all the social justice teams to the musical entertainment by Miss Brown to You. Come join us for a night of dancing, eating, and having fun. There will be raffle prizes as well. (See Below)
NEWS FROM V.O.I.C.E: (Voices Organized in Civic Engagement)
Jan. 20 (Sat.), 9:00 - noon: Recognizing the Stranger @ St. Charles Borromeo.
Jan. 21 (Sun.), 3:00-6:00: Leaders Retreat/Delegates Assembly. Location TBD.
Jan. 25 (Thu.), 1:00-5:00: Congregational Organizing 101 - For Clergy @ Fellowship Lutheran Church (6727 S Sheridan Rd, Tulsa 74133). More info, and free registration here: https://www.actiontulsa.org/cl...
Jan. 26 5:00-8:00 p.m. to Jan. 27 10:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.: Community Organizing 101 in English and in Spanish @ Fellowship Lutheran Church (6727 S Sheridan Rd, Tulsa 74133). More info, and $25 registration here: https://www.actiontulsa.org/community_organizing_101
TheTulsa trainings are great opportunities, and your help in spreading the word and helping with turnout is requested. We might be able to help with transportation or lodging, if needed. If you or others you share info with register, please let Sundra Flansburg or Maureen Harvey know!
NEWS FROM C.A.I.R. (Council on American and Islamic Relations) - The Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations has seen an uptick in Islamophobic hate speech as Israel’s war with Hamas continues. Adam Soltani, the organization’s executive director, said since the war began Oct. 7, CAIR-Oklahoma has received several hate emails and phone calls and been targeted in social media posts. There’s also been an increase in reports of discrimination and other hate-related conduct. Before the war erupted, the hateful rhetoric had largely died down in the years since President Joe Biden was elected, he said. Soltani said one message contained vulgar language and called him a “terrorist.” Soltani also provided Oklahoma Voice with a copy of a recent social media post that he reported to the FBI where someone appears to threaten to use a weapon to harm peaceful pro-Palestinian protesters. He said all...[Oklahoma Voice]
NEWS FROM FREEDOM OKLAHOMA: Youth Action Month (YAM) is right around the corner, and we can’t wait to see what young Oklahomans are creating in their communities! “But what is YAM?” you say?
YAM is a reminder that youth belong in Oklahoma. YAM is cataloged resources, videos, and tips to assist 2SLGBTQ+ young people in finding and using their voice and their power. YAM is modules and activities that provide you with the tools you need to enact change in YOUR community in a multitude of ways. YAM is about celebrating the work young Oklahomans have done and will do in the future to make Oklahoma better for all of us.
1UC Recycles! Look for the blue bins lined with plastic bags throughout the church. Deposit your paper, cans, and plastic bottles. The kitchen and Daniel Hall have compost buckets that can take food waste including meat and even napkins! There is a separate blue bin for glass in the hallway west of Daniel Hall.
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Help Us Keep Our Building Safe
Please, if you exit the building through a door that is locked, make sure that the door is completely closed and locked behind you. If you are one of the last people out of the building, please help us make sure that all doors are fully closed and locked. And if you are holding an event at the church, please do not prop exterior doors open or unlock them and leave them unattended. And when you are done, don't forget to lock the door!
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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!
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First Unitarian Covenant of Healthy Communication
“We need not think alike to love alike.” One of our Unitarian Universalist ancestors, Francis David, spoke those words more than 400 years ago to describe the foundation of our unity as a religious community. To this end, we, the people of the First Unitarian Church of Oklahoma City, agree to the following:
* I tell my own story and let others tell theirs.
* I use “I” statements when expressing my own views, always mindful that my thoughts, opinions, and experiences may not be shared by others
* I check the accuracy of my perceptions and assumptions.
* I avoid “awfulizing” negative experiences.
* I say what needs to be said to the one who needs to hear it.
Communicate directly with the person or group involved, instead of gossiping or speaking negatively about others in the wider community
* I devote at least as much energy to careful listening as to careful speaking.
Listen actively and seek to understand the perspectives and opinions of others
Be curious, appreciative, and informed about perspectives that differ from my own.
Recognize and honor the diversity of beliefs and spiritual paths within our community, including the words and ways people choose to express their spirituality
Honor the contributions and needs of those who have been historically marginalized in the larger world and in our congregation and seek growth in our ability to be welcoming.
* If something prompts anger in me, I report it honestly in a way that invites positive solutions.
Be forgiving and loving when I or others make mistakes
Apologize, when warranted, and seek to make amends
Call on congregational resources when help is needed
* I refrain from blaming and shaming.
Assume that others act with good intentions
Be respectful and kind in our words, tone, and body language
Use email, social media and other forms of electronic communication with respect, kindness, and special care.
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Note: Most meetings continue to meet via Zoom but some groups may elect to meet in the building. Please contact the meeting organizer directly if you are uncertain of the location.
- Sunday Morning Meditation – Every Sunday at 10:00 am, Meditation Room - Corley Commons (contact Lori Jervis for information - see article above)
- Tuesday Discussion Group – Every Tuesday, 11:00 am (contact Ron Wasson for information - see article above)
- Bell Choir Rehearsal – Every Wednesday, 5:45 pm, Sanctuary (contact LaDonna Hunt for information)
- Wednesday Night Meditation - Beginning January 3 - Every Wednesday, 6:00 pm, Meditation Room - Corley Commons (contact Larry Little for information)
- Choir Rehearsal – Every Wednesday, 7:00 pm, Sanctuary (contact 'Ebuka Ezeakacha for information)
- Befrienders – Thursday, January 11, 12:00 pm (contact Susan Bishop for information)
- Q&A Session - Sunday, January 14, 12:00 pm, via Zoom (in regards to Rev. Dr. Redfern-Campbell or other aspects of the ongoing transition process)
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://zoom.us/j/98503589612?...
Meeting ID: 985 0358 9612
Passcode: 327619
- Healthy Lifestyles – Monday, January 15, 7:00 pm (contact Lu Ann Faulkner-Schneider for information)
- Finance Working Group – Tuesday, January 16, 6:30 pm (contact Ron Wasson for information)
- Gardening Covenant Group – Tuesday, January 16, 7:00 pm, Eddy Room (contact Barbara Gallivan for information)
- BRUU – Wednesday, January 17, 7:00 pm (contact John Schneider for information)
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If you have a newsletter article you would like to submit please email your article to mgrogg@1uc.org no later than Tuesday (the day before the newsletter goes out) by 5:00 pm.
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**********************************************************************************
In order to save printing and mailing costs and to conserve natural resources, the Annual Report will not be mailed by default to all congregants. Instead, it is available online. Please contact Marlies Grogg (mgrogg@1uc.org) if you would like to receive a hard copy of the Annual Report.
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Did you know that you can access all church policies and procedures as well as Board meeting minutes on our new website? Just go to 1uc.org, and click on the "members" link in the upper right-hand corner (just to the left of the Facebook and other social media icons). This will open a page that says "Protected: Members." The password is @600NW13thSt [Note: the password is case-sensitive; do not put in additional punctuation or spaces.]
From here, click on "church documents." All official policies and procedures can be found in the "policies" folder. The bylaws and Board of Trustees meeting minutes are in the "governance" folder. Please disregard the "website SOPs" folder, which is for administrative use only.
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CHURCH STAFF
Lead Minister - Rev. Diana K. Davies
Director of Lifespan Religious Exploration - Tim Atkins
Choir Director - Chukwuebuka ('Ebuka) G. Ezeakacha
Accompanist - Steven Elkins Kennedy
Office Administrator - Marlies Grogg
BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2023-2024
President of the Congregation – Marcia Woodward
President Elect – Cathy Webster
Immediate Past President – Marshal Gimpel
Clerk – Deborah Shinn
Treasurer – Ron Wasson
Clare Auwarter Emily Hildebrandt Lorriana Lee-Knapp Larry Little Ann Meeks Doug Vincent
Committee on Ministry
Rebecca Daniels Lori Jervis Liz Pillar-Little Tom Peryam Derrick Wagner
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