| 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, March 19 - 11:00 am
"What Might We Do"
Join us in person or watch on YouTube (not Zoom).
Join us for Stewardship Sunday and stay after the service for a community celebration in Daniel Hall.
Service Leaders: Rev. Diana K. Davies, Lead Minister; Tim Atkins, Director of Lifespan Religious Exploration; Chalice Lighter: Deborah Shinn; Call to Offering: Ron Wasson; Stewardship Testimonial: Marshal Gimpel; Choir Director: Chukwuebuka (‘Ebuka) G. Ezeakacha; Music: 1UC Bell Choir, 1UC Choir; Technical Support: Tammy Epperson and Chris Gonzales
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| So that we can craft a budget that reflects our capacity and our values, please make your pledge by March 19! |
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After the service this Sunday!
'Taters and Time Together
Immediately after the service on March 19, all are invited to a celebration of community in Daniel Hall. Join us for baked potatoes, church trivia, a raffle drawing, and an update on the success of our 2024 pledge drive.
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Upcoming Sunday Morning Services - 11:00 am
March
March 26: "The Bully on Our Block" How do we respond to the grown-up bullies who seem determined to cause harm to those who are already marginalized and struggling in our society? Do we try to ignore them? Do we match their violence with more violence? Do we attempt to love them into positive change? How do we achieve the world we want to see when we are fighting so hard just to keep fighting?
April
April 2: "To Hope and Be Held: Showing Up for Each Other's Mental Health"
April 9: Music Sunday (Easter)
April 16: "The Grace of the World"
April 23 - Earth Day
April 30 - Celebrating Chalice Camp [Note: this service will take place off-site, at Will Rogers Park, to avoid marathon traffic around the church]
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Child Care and Nursery
The Childcare Rooms are open from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm each Sunday morning. (10:00 am to 11:00 am for childcare for any adult programming happening and 11:00 am to 12:30 pm for worship.)
Children age four and up are expected to wear masks. Childcare will be taking place in the nursery and attached preschool room.
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Sunday, March 19 - 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.
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Sunday, Sunday, March 19 - 10:00 am
Adult Ed in Daniel Hall
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 Daniel Hall every Sunday at 10:00am and the topic will change each week.
This Sunday - We will be exploring ideas those present may have for what First Unitarian Church might look like in the future. What
ideas do you have about mission, adult education, children/youth education, worship, community outreach, building use, church growth, etc. Hear what others have to say and listen to how others respond to your ideas. Rebecca Schaller will be facilitating.
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| Lifespan Religious Exploration |
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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!
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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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Art Show through Sunday, April 2
“Sunday Morning Meditations”
by Mtn Woman Silver
The current exhibition is intimately connected to this church. All the art pieces started as sketches which Silver created while listening to sermons on Sunday mornings. In 2020, while looking through her sketch books, she counted over 80 of the elaborate abstract sketches and was inspired to reproduce them on canvas, using acrylic paints, ink and sometimes pencils.
This exhibition will be on display through Sunday, April 2, 2023. On Sunday, March 26, at 12:15 pm in Daniel Hall, there will be a reception and a “Meet the Artist” event.
Calling all visual artists!
The 1UC Art Committee is up & running. We are planning shows for every other month of the 2023 calendar year.
Are you an amateur or professional artist who might be interested in participating in a group or solo show at 1UC? Do you have a good idea for an art show? If your answer is "yes" to either question, we want to hear from you!
Please contact Jeanne Parkhurst via email or text: jeanne.parkhurst@gmail.com; (405) 496-0445.
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| Adult Education Classes & Courses |
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Every Wednesday through April 12, 5:45 - 7:00 pm
A New Adult RE Series: "A Beginner's Guide to Holy Week"
Join Rev. Diana for an exploration of Christian Holy Week, using Dr. Amy-Jill Levine's book, Entering the Passion of Jesus. Wednesday evenings.
Support VOICE by purchasing your book at the 1UC bookstore. You will not need to have the book or do any reading or preparation before our first meeting. Please just show up!
We will meet in-person, in Daniel Hall. You're also welcome to join via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8442...
Meeting ID: 844 2118 0872
Passcode: 112358
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Saturday, March 18 - 3:00 pm
Solidarity Saturday
This Saturday on the steps of the Capitol! The trans, Two-spirit and non-binary solidarity hang will be joining forces with the March for Mental Health privacy to include our voice in the concern over confidentiality. There will be space after public speaking starting at 3:00 pm for community, HRT, snacks and refreshments.
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Saturday, March 25 (online) - 3:00 pm
Mistakes and Miracles: Congregations on the Road to Multiculturalism
Mistakes
and Miracles: Congregations on the Road to Multiculturalism: Nancy
Palmer Jones and Karin Lin
Saturday,
March 25 on Zoom from 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm. Group size will be limited to allow for
discussion.
Join
us for a discussion about the chapter in this book that details the journey
that All Souls UU in Tulsa has been making. As a congregation, they are doing
the work to become anti-racist, anti-oppression and multicultural. They have
been on this journey for a number of years, and have seen both successes and
speed bumps.
The
book is the UU Common Read for this year. If there is interest, a class on the
whole book may be offered in the Fall.
Mistakes
and Miracles will be available for purchase from our VOICE bookstore, or see
the Common Read website for where to get an audio edition.
To
get the Zoom link, contact Laura Lochner.
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Love Letters/Art to Trans Oklahomans
We need YOU to write/draw/create a physical manifestation of your love for Transgender, Two Spirit, and gender diverse Oklahomans ahead of Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31st.
We know that art has always been central to celebrations for 2SLGBTQ+ folks, so use the medium that makes sense for you. We want to see your photos, your videos, your zines, your quilts, your knitting, your protest signs, your poetry, your handwritten letters, and everything in between.
Tag Freedom Oklahoma on social media, use the hashtag #TDoVOklahoma23, fill out our form or DM us your submissions, and we'll spend the day highlighting the beautiful, expansive community we celebrate on Transgender Day of Visibility and beyond.
Submission form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScATKsrJ_cdEUFKY2jDAvcZt7LmbLhcn7hRHP5kYpqhUd_dSg/viewform
Twitter: @FreedomOkla
Instagram: @freedomoklahoma
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreedomOklahoma.org
*Disclaimer: While we believe in art free of censorship, we will be limited by the community guidelines of social media platforms in terms of what we can share.
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March Change for Change
For the month of March our Change for Change recipient is Pambe Ghana.
Their Mission: Their mission is to provide a model of quality basic education that integrates language, culture, literacy and academic excellence.
PAMBE Ghana is a partnership with local communities in northern Ghana and a United States-based Board of Directors. Together we have built the La’Angum Learning Center, an innovative school for bilingual child-centered education from pre-Kindergarten to grade 6.
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| Bohemian Cafe |
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Mary Reynolds and Louise Goldberg (Miss Brown to You) will
entertain for the evening. There will be food, beverages (both alcohol and
non), door prizes, and a lot of fun! This is a fund raiser for all the social
justice work our church does throughout the year. So, put on your dancing
shoes, wear a scarf, and get ready to dance!
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Social Justice News!
- MARCH IS WOMENS HISTORY MONTH – International Women's Day is a global holiday celebrated annually on March 8 as a focal point in the women's rights movement, bringing attention to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women.
Spurred on by the universal female suffrage movement, IWD originated from labor movements in North America and Europe during the early 20th century. The earliest version was purportedly a "Women's Day" organized by the Socialist Party of America in New York City February 28, 1909.
This inspired German delegates at the 1910 International Socialist Women's Conference to propose "a special Women's Day" be organized annually, albeit with no set date; the following year saw the first demonstrations and commemorations of International Women's Day across Europe.
After women gained suffrage in Soviet Russia in 1917 (the beginning of the February Revolution), IWD was made a national holiday on March 8; it was subsequently celebrated on that date by the socialist movement and communist countries. The holiday was associated with far-left movements and governments until its adoption by the global feminist movement in the late 1960s. IWD became a mainstream global holiday following its adoption by the United Nations in 1977.
International Women's Day is commemorated in a variety of ways worldwide; it is a public holiday in several countries, and observed socially or locally in others to celebrate and promote the achievements of women.
The UN observes the holiday in connection with a particular issue, campaign, or theme in women's rights.[6] In some parts of the world, IWD still reflects its political origins, being marked by protests and calls for radical change; in other areas, particularly in the West, it is largely sociocultural and centered on a celebration of womanhood.
- CELEBRATE RAMADAN! Yes, it’s been four years since
1UC was able to host the iftar for our Muslim friends from the Turkish Raindrop
House and Dialog Institute. This year we are opening our doors and our hearts
as a chef direct from Turkey delights us with wonderful delicacies. The holy
days of Ramadan begin March 21st and this year, our church is
hosting the dinner on March 26th beginning at 7:00 pm. Prior to the
dinner, there will be an opportunity to learn about Ramadan, including Q &
A’s. Seating is limited to please contact Susan Bishop for a reservation.
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
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| Green Sanctuary/Green Minute |
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Sunday, April 2, 10:00 am
Members from the Sustainable Living Organization will present information on our Green Sanctuary status and the upcoming 2030 Green Sanctuary Project.
There will be a follow-up planning session Saturday, April 8th 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. Watch this space for additional information.
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Our consumer-powered culture is not only an enormous waste of our time and money, it is also destroying our planet. Clothing is one of the worst offenders, partly due to the amount of water required to rinse dyed cloth. Also, clothing is a necessity, making it way too easy to indulge. Another down side of much clothing production is that it is also be a source of exploitation of the (usually) women who work in the industry.
How to get around this? My daughter seldom shops for new clothing; she has discovered some great finds at thrift stores. I have seen her bring home clothes still bearing the sales label! Another source of used clothing is a Swap Meet. Norman used to have one yearly; people brought donations and picked up garments for themselves. We could have one of these. Prior to the Pandemic, we discussed having a Swap Meet for people who are or have transitioned.
Since finding clothing that simply fits me is a challenge, I often feel it is easier to sew my own. This task used to save a lot of money. Unfortunately, the largest fabric retailer closed a few years ago, and the remaining fabric chain immediately raised its prices by about $4.00/yard. Added to that, manufactured clothing has gotten cheaper, albeit less durable. Fashioning one’s own clothing also has satisfaction beyond thrift; when it’s done!
This will not save the planet, but sometimes it can be empowering to think that we are doing something, however little.
If you have a Green Hint, send it to me at lacorderagnew@cox..net. And stay tuned for the beginning of our Green Sanctuary 2030!
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Wednesday, April 12 - 7:00 pm, Eddy Room/Meeting Room
1UC VOICE- House Meeting Scheduled
The VOICE 1UC Team has been gearing up for House Meetings.
Through House Meetings we are able to find out what pressures are affecting families and this information is used to develop VOICE's agenda. Sign up after the service on Sunday.
There will be a Leadership Retreat on Saturday, April 15th, and a Delegates Assembly on Sunday, April 16th.
Our next VOICE 1UC meeting will be Sunday, April 23rd, at 9:00 am in the Eddy Room. Join us!
For more information contact Maureen Harvey at mharvey5@cox.net.
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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)
- Adult RE – Every Sunday, 10:00 am in Daniel Hall (contact Tim Atkins for information - see article above)
- Qigong - Every Monday and Friday, 12:15 pm (contact Janice Martin for information)
- Tuesday Discussion Group – Every Tuesday, 11:00 am (contact Ron Wasson for information - see article above)
- Bell Choir Rehearsal – Every Wednesday, 5:45 pm (contact LaDonna Hunt for information)
- Choir Rehearsal – Every Wednesday, 7:00 pm (contact 'Ebuka Ezeakacha for information)
- Art Show: “Mtn Woman Silver” – Through Sunday, April 2, Daniel Hall (contact Joan Cain for more information)
- Ad Ed Class: Beginner's Guide to Holy Week - Wednesdays, March 8 - April 12, 5:45 pm, Daniel Hall (contact Rev. Diana for more information)
- New Friend Gathering - Wednesday, March 15, 7:00 pm, Meeting Room (contact Nathan Boone for information)
- Exploring Spirituality - Friday, March 17, 6:00 pm, (contact Lu Ann Faulkner-Schneider for information)
- Bohemian Cafe - Saturday, March 18, 7:00 pm (contact Susan Bishop for information)
- Stewardship Party – Sunday, March 19, 12:00 pm, Daniel Hall
- Healthy Lifestyles – Monday, March 20, 7:00 pm (contact Lu Ann Faulkner-Schneider for information)
- Finance Working Group – Tuesday, March 21, 6:30 pm (contact Ron Wasson for information)
- Membership Committee Meeting – Thursday, March 23, 6:00 pm (contact Lorriana Lee-Knapp for information)
- Yoga with Rev. Diana – Saturday March 25, 10:00 am, (in person and online), Daniel Hall
- Fiber Connections – Saturday, March 25, 10:00 am, Meeting Room (contact Paula Geisinger for information)
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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.
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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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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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**********************************************************************************
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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CHURCH STAFF
Lead Minister - Rev. Diana K. Davies
Director of Lifespan Religious Exploration - Tim Atkins
Choir Director - Chukwuebuka ('Ebuka) G. Ezeakacha
Congregational Life Coordinator - Nathan Boone
Office Administrator - Marlies Grogg
BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2021-2022
President of the Congregation - Marshal Gimpel
President-Elect - Marcia Woodward
Immediate Past President - Lynn Ann Wanger
Clerk - Deborah Shinn
Treasurer - Ron Wasson
Clare Auwater Lorriana Lee-Knapp Larry Little Laura Lochner Becky Tallent
Committee on Ministry
Lori Jervis Dex Marble Tom Peryam James Vaughn
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