Sunday, August 25, 11:00 am, Sanctuary

“A Reclamation”

Join us in person or watch on YouTube.

For many years, Christianity has been utilized as a political tool, rather than a religious practice. It is time for people of all faiths to reclaim the language of morality and faith.

The Rev. Dr. Shannon Fleck is an Oklahoma native who took on the role as Executive Director of the Oklahoma Faith Network (formerly Oklahoma Conference of Churches) in 2018. Since that time, she has reworked what it means to be an active faith voice, that relies on community centered work and collaborative models of ministry. She empowered and united the broadest coalition of faith communities and secular organizations in Oklahoma around ideas of love, affirmation, acceptance, and grace; ya know, biblical stuff, and believes the answers to today’s greatest worries in faith communities can be found in the radical nature of the ministry of Jesus. Through grassroots work and relationship development, Dr. Fleck works with her team at the Oklahoma Faith Network towards creating a new mission for faith communities in the state, called “No Hate in the Heartland”, which works collectively to shine a light on the bright hope found in abundant love.

Participating in today’s service:

Service Leader: Rev. Dr. Shannon Fleck; Worship Associate: Carmen McBride;  Chalice Lighter: Celeste Flemming; Call to Offering; Jessica Lothrop; Song Leader/Soloist: Becky Tallent; Accompanist:  Steven Elkins Kennedy; Technical Support: Tammy Epperson and Ellisya Ravencroft

Sunday, August 25, 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, August 25 (immediately after the service) Daniel Hall

Coffee, Lemonade and Conversation

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

Sunday, September 8

Official Start of the New Church Year - Join Us for Ingathering and water ceremony!

Once again, this service will feature a water ceremony. In this ceremony, everyone brings a small container of water that represents a journey (real or symbolic) they’ve taken over the summer. It might be water from a trip to the ocean, or from a favorite fishing hole. It might be rainwater collected after a storm, or water from a beloved pet’s bowl. We gather all these into one container, to symbolize the way we come together as individuals on our separate paths but form one community. 

Please join us for this special day and don't forget your water!

Let's Welcome Rev. David H. Messner

Transition Tracker

As we welcome Reverend David into his consulting ministry with us, I hope you will view his video and reach out to him with your hopes and dreams for our congregation.

In addition, we realize you may have questions about the role of a consulting minister and what else we might have in store for the upcoming church year. 

Please consider staying for coffee hour, in Daniel Hall, and talking with the Executive Team for a Q&A about Reverend David's planned work with us and more!

See you Sunday,

Cathy

President of the Board of Trustees

2024-2025

Get to Know Our Consulting Minister

Rev. David H. Messner is the Senior Minister of the First Unitarian Church of Chicago. He’s a born-and-bred Unitarian, a Christian Humanist, and a Universalist who believes in boundless Grace and resurgent possibility, especially when all seems lost. He knows that church done right can be the key to a life well-lived and communities well-built. His ministry is rooted in preaching, teaching, writing, and coaching toward individual fulfillment and collective flourishing.

He is a Religious Advisor at the University of Chicago and is an incoming member of the U of C Alumni Board. He is a “Compelling Preaching Exemplar” in the Lilly-funded Preaching Initiative at the Christian Theological Seminary. He serves ministerial colleagues in his denomination as a Continental Good Officer. He works with interfaith colleagues for change as part of the Chicago Police Department’s District 2 Faith-Based Subcommittee. He is a consultant to the Anti-Defamation League, facilitating anti-bias programming and practices.

Rev. Dave is also an Accredited Interim Minister and previously served as the Interim Senior Minister of the Main Line Unitarian Church and the Interim Minister at the Unitarian Church in Charleston. He was the settled minister for seven years at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Savannah, which he accompanied in their growth into a mid-sized church with an outsized public voice for unity and justice. He trained at the First Unitarian Church of Rochester, NY, and the University of Rochester Medical Center, where he specialized in trauma response, acute psychiatric pastoral care, and end-of-life support.  

He earned his Ph.D. in Religion (Ethics & Society) from Emory University, a Master's in Divinity from the University of Chicago with an emphasis on theology and ethics, an MBA from Yale University with concentrations in strategy and organizational behavior, and an undergraduate degree in psychology from Reed College with a focus on decision making under risky conditions. His scholarly interests include how institutions, professions, and practices can be conducive to better moral choice and action. He most recently taught ethics and social justice at Jefferson and Villanova Universities. He is a member of the Society for Christian Ethics, the American Academy of Religion, and the Society for Business Ethics.

His career began in public sector financial planning and management consulting, focusing on organizational effectiveness and strategies for growing businesses to reach new customers and markets. For more than a decade, he was a leader in international pharmaceutical businesses (Eisai, Pfizer, and Bausch & Lomb). He was in charge of teams responsible for strategy development, partnership formation, and transaction execution. His most recent industry role was Vice President of Business Development at B&L, building their international pharmaceuticals business.

He was born in Washington, D.C., and now lives in Woodlawn on the South Side of Chicago with his wife of 28 years. They have two wonderful young adult offspring and a Blue Heeler that just won’t quit. In his free time, he writes, grows (very) hot peppers, grills meat, and photographs wild places.

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 

REASONS TO CONTRIBUTE TO 1UC’S GENERAL ENDOWMENT FUND

• TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN A LASTING WAY
• TO SUPPORT FUTURE GENERATIONS
• CONTRIBUTIONS WILL GROW IN VALUE

Questions?  Contact one of the committee members: Russell Bennett, Tammy Epperson or Linda Wasson

Tuesday, August 27, 6:30 pm

Board of Trustees Meeting

Join us for the Board of Trustees Meeting on Tuesday, August 27, at 6:30 pm (via zoom).  Everyone is welcome!

See board documents here.

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://zoom.us/j/97199144268?...

Meeting ID: 971 9914 4268
Passcode: 541007

For more information or questions, contact Cathy Webster csw202@nyu.edu.

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 Larry Little.

Summer RE Programs

Our elementary aged students will head upstairs to learn about solar energy! Throughout August our focus will be on sustainable living and climate change.

Our middle and high school students will head downstairs to  play the game Tsuro, where they are learning about working together

YOUTH LOCK IN

1UC Summer Youth Activities (6th grade - 12th grade)

Friday, August 30 - Lock In at 1UC, 6:00 pm (pick up is 8:30 am on Saturday August 31), Contact Tim Atkins for information.

We’re having a youth lock in for our 6th-12th graders!! We’ll meet at church at 6:00 pm on Friday, August 30th, and students should be picked up 8:30 to 9:00 am, Saturday, August 31!

Register for the lock in: https://1ucokc.breezechms.com/...

We always need volunteers willing to spend the night for the lock in! Please sign up to volunteer at https://www.signupgenius.com/g...

2024-2025 RE Registration

This year all of our children and youth religious exploration classes will be exploring the new Article 2 values through different means. Our youngest (PreK-1^st) will explore them using stories, our elementary (2-5^th) will explore them using legos and art, our middle schoolers (6^th-8^th) will explore them using Pixar cartoons and teambuilding activities, and our high schoolers (9-12^th) will explore them using The Twilight Zone. 

Every year we ask for an updated registration form – please register online at https://tinyurl.com/1UCRE2425

RE Teaching 2024-2025

We need a total of sixteen folks to volunteer for the RE Program Year as a Sunday Morning RE Teacher! We believe it takes a village to raise a child. And we believe that by showing up for each other, we show that we care. The best way to change the future is to change the upcoming generation. Imagine Oklahoma with more and more Unitarian Universalists! Great RE teachers don’t need to be experts in their curriculum. 

Because connection matters more than the curriculum. Great RE teachers don’t need to be experts in Unitarian Universalism. Because we are a Religious Exploration program - we explore together; we don’t teach. Great RE teachers don’t need to have been a teacher before. Because all that matters to be a great RE teacher? You just have to care - you have to care about our children and youth. You have everything it takes to change the lives of our children and youth. 

Consider becoming a Sunday Morning Religious Exploration Teacher!  Contact Tim at tatkins@1uc.org to learn more or with any questions you might have!

News from Befrienders

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 and visitations.

Even though the work of our church relaxes during the summer while a minister is taking time for reflection and study, the work of Befrienders continues. We may not meet in person, but we continue to offer cards of well wishes, meals, transportation and visitations. Remember that Befrienders offers short term care to our congregants and friends of First Unitarian Church.

Our Befrienders team consists of:

Lana Henson and her team of well-wishers with cards

Kathy Nyswonger and her team of visitors

Patti Kate and her team of drivers ready to help with transportation

Ginny Boykin and her team ready to provide receptions for memorial services

At First UU, we are all Befrienders to and with each other because we care about you!

Change for Change

For the month of August our Change for Change partner is Girl Scout Troop #3115/Classen SAS Middle School Food Bank

Classen SAS Middle School provides weekly, and as needed, food from their Food Bank to their own families and students. The Regional Food Bank partners with Classen SAS Middle School to accomplish this. Each year the Girl Scout Troop #3115 provides the food for a Thanksgiving Dinner to 10-20 Families of the school. The Troop members plan and deliver the special T’Giving Meal to each of the Classen SAS Middle School Families requesting help celebrating this holiday. The money from 1UC C4C would help buy these Thanksgiving Meals.

The GS mission is building girls courage, confidence, and character, in order to contribute to a world that is a better place. Girl Scouts girls discover the fun, friendship, and power of girls together. Girls grow courageous and strong through a wide variety of enriching experiences, such as field trips, skill-building sports clinics, community service projects, cultural exchanges, and environmental stewardship. GS helps girls develop their full individual potential; relate to others with increasing understanding, skill, and respect; develop values to guide their actions and provide the foundation for sound decision-making; and contribute to the improvement of society through their abilities, leadership skills, and cooperation with others.

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 be found in Breeze.

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

Updates on COVID 19 & the Flu

Dear Church Family,

As we navigate through the late summer, it’s essential to stay informed about the current health situation in our community. Here are the latest updates on COVID-19 and influenza in Oklahoma:

COVID-19: 

• Current Status: Oklahoma is now providing weekly COVID-19 updates to give a comprehensive overview of the pandemic. Recent reports indicate stable case numbers, although localized increases have been observed.

• Vaccination: Updated COVID-19 vaccines are available, targeting the latest variants. It’s crucial to keep up with vaccination schedules to ensure the best protection against the virus.

Influenza:

• Current Status: Influenza activity is on the rise compared to last year. The state has reported an increase in flu positivity rates, signaling the importance of early vaccination.

• Vaccination: The CDC recommends getting your flu shot as soon as possible to protect against multiple strains expected this season.

We encourage everyone to maintain good hygiene practices, stay updated with vaccinations, and monitor local health department updates. For more detailed information, visit the Oklahoma State Department of Health’s COVID-19 https://oklahoma.gov/covid19.html page and the Viral View https://oklahoma.gov/health/flu.html dashboard.