Sunday, December 15, 11:00 am, Sanctuary

"What's Jesus Got to Do With It?"

Join us in person or watch on YouTube.

Many UU’s can spout off all the heroes and gods who preceded Jesus in virgin birth or sacrificial death. And here in this country, the holiday around his birth has transformed into an orgy of consumerism. What, then, does Jesus (“the reason for the season,” according to some of our Christian cousins) have to do with it? And why do we UU’s, who do not see Jesus as Savior, admire him at Christmas and keep him in our pantheon of religious exemplars?

Participating in today’s service:

Service Leader: Rev. Jonalu Johnstone, Worship Minister and Pastoral Care; Time for All Ages:  Tim Atkins, DLRE; Worship Associate: Lori Jervice; Chalice Lighter: Michelle Swedlow; Choir Director: Chukwuebuka ('Ebuka) G. Ezeakacha; Music: 1UC Choir; Accompanist: Steven Elkins Kennedy; Technical Support: Tammy Epperson and Ellisya Ravencroft: Ushers: Members of The Gardening Covenant Group

"The flowers were given today by Ed Pope in memory of his late husband,                        Kevin O'Donnell, also loved as Joe Alvardo."

Our Ushers for the month of December are: The Gardening Covenant Group meet once a month, on the third Tuesday at 7:00 pm in members’ homes or at the church. As a Covenant Group we support one another when a person’s need arises. Each month we check in and connect socially, and we share gardening tips and ideas with each other. Occasionally we have educational and fun field trips, locally and out of town, such as a guided tour of Will Rogers Park and of the Dallas Arboretum. For the First Unitarian Church we provide limited gardening services for the grounds including the Memorial Garden. For many years we have provided an offering in the annual church auction when members of the Gardening Covenant Group agree. Contact: Barbara Gallivan for more information.

Sunday, December 15, 10:00 am

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.

Sunday, December 15, Daniel Hall (immediately after the service) Daniel Hall

Coffee, Lemonade and Conversation

Join us after the service in Daniel Hall for coffee, lemonade and conversation.

Gifts are Due Back by Sunday, December 15!

Drug Court Christmas

Your gifts for the Drug Court Christmas is due under the tree in Daniel Hall by Sunday, December 15.

Thank you for your help!

If you have any questions please call Genie Baumann at (405) 401-7531

Sunday, December 15! Last day to bid!

Alliance Vintage Aprons Silent Auction!

Last day to place your bid is Sunday, December 15!  

The Alliance has extended the silent auction for the beautiful vintage aprons hanging on the wall in Daniel Hall for one week. 

Please pick up your apron after church this Sunday, December 15th, and pay Linda Wasson. 

All sales going to Alliance which supports the church in many ways!

Update from the Transition Team

We've accomplished some important steps recently in our search for a contract-to-call minister for the 2025-26 church year! The board approved a maximum salary and benefits package during the November board meeting, which allows 1UC to be competitive with other churches that are searching, and allows the team some negotiating room when we begin to hone in on a potential candidate. Every team member was critical to preparing an excellent Congregational Profile to be published on the UUA's job board. We submitted it to the UUA Transitions Office just before Thanksgiving, and it was approved and published December 4.

We are now focusing on getting the word out and reviewing the applications coming in. With his knowledge of other churches and what ministers are looking for, Rev. Dave is being especially helpful as we move into this phase. Because we're going the route of a contract-to-call rather than a settled minister search, we have more flexibility in terms of the timeline and how we "market" the position. He has shared a two-page version of our lengthy profile with his network of clergy, and helped us organize a webinar for potential candidates last Sunday. For the latter, President Cathy Webster and Transition Team members Marilee Peryam, Marcia Woodward, and I formed a panel to share information about different aspects of 1UC's congregation and mission, and interested parties could attend anonymously to listen and ask questions. It was interesting!

We already have some interesting applications for the position, with more likely to arrive soon. Thank you to the other members of this excellent team: Suzanne Broadbent, Todd Hildebrandt, Ann Meeks, Marilee Peryam, and Marcia Woodward.

- Sundra Flansburg

Mitten Tree

A tradition for many years, our Mitten Tree will be up in Daniel Hall through January 5.

Please help bring it to life with mittens, gloves, scarves, or winter hats (no socks please), which we will donate to those less fortunate to help them get through these cold winter months.

Sunday, December 29, 12:00 pm, Daniel Hall

Stone Soup Sunday is almost here!

Stone Soup Sunday is Coming!

I have the perfect stone to brew delicious stews for you on the last Sunday of this year, December 29^th.

I invite you to come and enjoy either or both of our omnivore stew or our vegan/vegetarian stew. We will have plenty to share! Though it would truly add so much to include something from you, be it a carrot, an onion (chopped up ahead of time, please), a potato, a butt end of that wonderful ham you had last night, or those leftover cookies from your holiday festivities. Oh, and if you would be so kind, please bring your contribution, be it large or small, to the church kitchen prior to the service at 11 am. Then, after the service ends at noon, come to Daniel Hall and share our last ingathering meal of 2024. Your friends will be there!

Wednesday Nights 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm

Wednesday Night Social Youth Group

We are ready to announce a Wednesday night social youth group for middle and high schoolers! We will begin Wednesday, December 4th, and it will run from 6:30-8pm. We will have pizza for the youth at 6:30. Meet downstairs in the youth room.

This youth group will be social focused. We'll eat pizza, have a check in, and then free time to hang out, play games, etc. We'll see what the youth want to do - maybe there's a group what wants to do a weekly hour long DnD session, maybe art club, maybe board games, maybe chatting about life. We're thinking our youth might need a safe place to go midweek after the election, and we're honored to provide that.

We could still use another volunteer or two to help out as part of the team of volunteers who will rotate in to help. Reach out to me if you can!

2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month - 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 Mary Tate.

Friday, December 13, 6:00 pm, Daniel Hall

Documentary Movie Night

Join us for the first of our new monthly Documentary Movie Night Series, hosted by DLRE Tim Atkins.

Our documentary movie night will be on the second Friday of every month in Daniel Hall.

The doors open at 6:00 pm: you're welcome to grab dinner out and eat it at the church! The movie begins at 6:30 pm, and after the movie, up to a half hour of discussion after.

For December, we're going to watch the documentary Bad Faith. BAD FAITH is a feature-length documentary that explores the dangerous rise of Christian Nationalism in the United States. Part archival chronicle, part exposé, the film reveals the secretive political machinery that has relentlessly sought to weaken and destroy American democracy in order to promote its authoritarian vision.

Contact Tim Atkins if you have any questions.

Tuesday, December 17, 11:00 am

Tuesday Adult Ed Discussion Group

Jon Scott will facilitate next Tuesday's discussion:

Julia Galef , "Why you think you’re right, even when you’re wrong"
https://ed.ted.com/blog/2018/09/07/why-you-think-youre-right-even-when-youre-wrong
David Dunning, "Why incompetent people think they're amazing"
David Dunning: Why incompetent people think they're amazing

If you want to read the original amazing paper : Kruger & Dunning (which is highly advised) Unskilled and unaware of it: how difficulties in recognizing one's own incompetence lead to inflated self-assessments.

J Kruger, D Dunning - Journal of personality and social psychology, 1999 - see attached image

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us05web.zoom.us/j/86202361707?pwd=YaxulKZVgXbbg9DsExewoxsWUHl4h7.1

Meeting ID: 862 0236 1707

Passcode: 9eRC65

No class on December 24 & 31 to celebrate the holidays. January 7 is the Alliance luncheon so we will be back to regular schedule on January 14. Please let Ron wassonr@sbcglobal.net know if you have something you would like to present next Year!

News from Befrienders

BEFRIENDERS WELCOMES REV. JONALU JOHNSTONE TO OUR MERRY BAND.

Befrienders relies upon donations. Those donations are used to provide cards, stamps, 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. If you enjoy writing cards to people, let her know.
• Ginny Boykin leads our Memorial Receptions team. She calls on folks to bring food for the receptions. If you are a baker or cook, let her know.
• 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.
• 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 on-line. If you are interested, please contact Susan Bishop for more info,

If you are interested in joining any of these teams, please let Susan Bishop know at sdbishop50@gmail.com.

Change for Change

For the month of December our Change for Change partner is  UUSC (Unitarian Universalist Service Committee).

Their mission: UUSC advances human rights and social justice around the world, partnering with those who confront unjust power structures and mobilizing to challenge oppressive policies. Their work is grounded in the belief that all people have inherent power and dignity.

You may wish to make your donation by either using a credit card through our website (www.1uc.org), text to give at (405) 643-8691, by leaving your check in the offering plate on Sundays or by mailing a check to the church (please put C4C in the memo line).

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 leave it in the office Social Justice mailbox. Or you can email the completed application to them. They be found in Breeze.

WE APPRECIATE IT WHEN CONGREGANTS NOMINATE WORTHY COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THANK YOU!

NEWS FROM THE SOCIAL JUSTICE COUNCIL:

BOHEMIAN CAFÉ is January 18^th 7-10p. Come join with friends as we imbibe from the fruit of the vine, gnosh on wonderful tidbits, and dance to the sounds of Ms Brown To You. Mark your 2025 calendar now for an evening’s entertainment you don’t want to miss.

1UC’S CURBSIDE PANTRY needs donations. When you attend services or activities at church, please bring a can or other non-perishable food item and place it in our pantry along Dewey St. If you can’t bring food, consider making a financial donation to the pantry instead. We have a very helpful elf who does the shopping.

Sunday, January 26, 9:00 am, Eddy Room

1UC VOICE

The 1UC VOICE Team will not be meeting until January 26th, 9 am in the Eddy Room, when we have a new Lead Organizer in place. Happy Holidays and Thanks for your dedication.

Information for our Consulting Minister - Rev. David Messner

Schedule a meeting directly: https://revdave.youcanbook.me/

Professional FB Profile - like/follow: https://www.facebook.com/revmessner

Visit his website:  messnerministry.com

You can email him directly at:  dhmessner@1uc.org