| 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, July 21, 11:00 am, Sanctuary
"For Pity Sake"
Join us in person or watch on YouTube.
Pity can be condescending or even selfish, but it can also be a consoling virtue. William Blake places pity as a great virtue, and it can be when it leads us to compassion, deep caring and even care taking. Virtues are those things that lead us to be the best at what it means to be human. How do we become good at being human. Listening to our hearts can lead us there. Join us this Sunday for a celebration of virtue.
Participating in today’s service:
Service Leader: Rev. Jim Eller, Guest Minister; Worship Associate: Liz Pillar Little; Song Leader/Soloist: Lana Henson; Accompanist: Steven Elkins Kennedy; Technical Support: Tammy Epperson and Ellisya Ravencroft
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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.)
Childcare will be taking place in the nursery and attached preschool room.
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Sunday, July 21, 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, July 21 (immediately after the service) Daniel Hall
Coffee, Lemonade and Conversation
Join us after the service in Daniel Hall for coffee, lemonade and conversation.
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Upcoming Services
July 28 - "When Hope is Hard to Find, We Take Care of Us: Shared Ministry as Mutual Aid" - Steven Leigh Williams, Guest Minister
August 4 - Rev. Tamara Lebak, Affiliated Community Minister
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Transition Tracker
Dear Members and Friends,
The transitions abound. On July 1st, I transitioned into my role as President of the Congregation, but as I was enjoying a long-scheduled vacation last week, this is my first opportunity to share news myself.
Thanks to Marcia Woodward and Marshal Gimpel for keeping the chalice flame lit while I was away!
In addition, Marshal and I (along with Deborah Shinn, Ann Meeks, and Sundra Flansburg) are working with the UUA transitions team in our search for a contract minister of some kind. When we have news to share, we will happily do so! For now, however, our DLRE Tim Atkins is leading the effort to provide a strong line-up of Sunday worship that include some lay-led services and some guests in our pulpit.
This is new territory for everyone involved and I personally welcome your contributions, participation, and good energy as we move into this next chapter at First Unitarian.
Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions you may have.
In faith,
Cathy Webster
President of the Board of Trustees 2024-2025
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| Adult Education Classes & Courses |
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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.
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Our Summer RE Program series kicks off this week!
K-5th
graders will begin at 11:00 am directly in their classroom upstairs – Kaleidoscope. Class runs from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm, so after worship ends please head upstairs to collect your kiddos!
Throughout July our focus is going to be different artistic projects, and throughout August our focus will be on sustainable living and climate change.
Our 6th-12th
graders will begin down in the youth room at 11:00 am for socializing and games. We could always use one more volunteers for the middle and high school youth on Sundays. If you are interested please contact Lynn Ann Wagner at flowerdancer@hotmail.com.
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July Events
1UC Summer Youth Activities (6th grade - 12th grade)
Thursday, July 18 - Middle School Movie Night, 7:00 pm, Peryam House; Contact Marilee Peryam for information
Monday, July 22 - Cat Cafe Party!, Don't Stress Meowt, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm ($14 or what you can); Contact Marilee Peryam for information
Friday, July 26 - Family Game Night/Potluck, Daniel Hall, 5:30 to 9:30 pm; Contact Marilee Peryam for information
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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 Nighswonger 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!
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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 contact Susan Bishop (Chair of Befrienders).
Please contact Cathy Webster (President of the Board) or Sundra Flansburg (President Elect) 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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Change for Change
For the month of July our Change for Change partner is Pet Food Pantry of Oklahoma.
For animal lovers, it’s hard to imagine not having enough money to care for your beloved pets. But can you imagine having to choose between feeding yourself and feeding your pet? Digging through trash to find food for your furry companion or giving up your pet because you can’t feed them?
For some, pets are their only family or friend. The human-animal bond is vital to a person’s well-being, offering companionship, unconditional love, joy, comfort, friendship and acceptance – all without judgment. No one should face the decision of giving up their pets just because they have no resource for pet food. Most likely these people are sharing their food with their pets–feeding their animals before feeding themselves.
Their Purpose: Because of you: No one will go hungry! No one will have to give up their pet! Fewer animals will end up in rescues, shelters or on the streets! The pet’s person won’t have to give up their own food to feed their pet.
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Human Rights Commission holds panel on housing in Oklahoma City July 24
07/15/2024
Link to story
The community is invited to attend a panel on housing in OKC as part of the Human Rights Commission's July 24 meeting.
The panel, titled “Human Rights in Housing: Fairness, Security, and Solutions in OKC,” and the HRC meeting will be held at 6 p.m. July 24 at ReMerge, 823 N Villa Ave. The event is open to all ages.
“We are thrilled to have this much-needed conversation on housing and evictions in our communities,” Ward 2 HRC Commissioner Cindy Nguyen said. “According to Shelterwell, Oklahoma has the 6th highest eviction rate in the nation with one of the shortest eviction timelines. The shortage of fair housing and the skyrocketing cost of living impacts us all. We hope you can join us for this conversation.”
Panelists include:
For more information, contact the HRC Compliance Officer at hrc@okc.gov.
About Oklahoma City’s Human Rights Commission
The Oklahoma City Human Rights Commission meets every other month and is responsible for addressing alleged harm to people who have been discriminated against because of their race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, national origin, age, familial status, genetic information, or disability related to employment, housing, and public accommodations as provided by Oklahoma laws regarding discrimination.
# # #
Media Contact: Kristy Yager, (405) 297-2550, kristy.yager@okc.gov
Follow us: Threads • Facebook • Instagram • YouTube • X/Twitter
City Hall, 200 N Walker Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73102
News Release Archive
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Saturday, July 20
Help out OKC Beautiful!
We are so grateful for your church's support of the OKC Harvest expansion to Esperanza Elementary.
We have an upcoming volunteer opportunity as part of the garden build, should you or any congregation members be interested in joining - July 20th. We'll share more details in the coming weeks about a ribbon cutting at Esperanza Elementary as well.
Click here for the volunteer sign up!
Thanks again for your support!
Natalie Evans, MPA (she/her)
Program & Marketing Director
OKCBeautiful.com
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HEARING LOOP T-COIL INFORMATION
Our hearing loop needs your hearing aid to 'switch' to T-coil by pushing a button on your hearing aid, which must be activated before use. Individuals with T-coil equipped hearing aids and cochlear implants simply activate the T-coil program to hear enhanced sound clarity. There is no need to check out a separate receiver. To use a loop system, simply enter a looped location and enable T-coil mode on your hearing aids. Not only do your hearing aids need a telecoil to use a loop, they also need to be set up to switch into telecoil mode. Your audiologist can show you how to do this. Usually, you can press a button on the hearing aid to enable T-coil mode, or use an app on your phone. Then, you can press the same button or use the same app to switch out of T-coil mode and go back to your hearing aid’s normal settings.
Think of it like switching on the radio in your car. Activating T-coil mode allows your hearing aids to ‘tune in’ to the sound signal from the loop. When you leave the loop, the signal will no longer be picked up by your hearing aids. Make sure to deactivate T-coil mode when you’re not in an area with a loop system, or else your hearing aids may sound strange.
T and M Settings: Most hearing aids models have a switch that gives you access to receive signals either from the hearing aid microphone or a loop system. It is called a “T switch.” Activating the T-setting switches off the microphone - so only signals transmitted from the loop system are audible. In some situations it can be useful to receive signals via both telecoil and microphone – like when you want to hear the TV and surrounding sounds like your spouse´s voice. Many hearing aids therefore have an “MT” setting that allows for both the microphone and telecoil to be active.
In order to use a loop system, you need hearing aids with a built-in telecoil. If you’re not sure whether or not your hearing aids include a telecoil, you can call/text (405-241-2728) or email (info@ashaud.com). Not all hearing aids come with a telecoil, so make sure you let your audiologist know that you want a telecoil in your hearing aids if you want to take advantage of loop systems.
Phones, Cellphones, Bluetooth:
The FCC requires that all workplace, public, and emergency phones are hearing aid compatible, meaning they include a telecoil. Technically, phones aren’t ‘looped,’ they are compatible with telecoils. However, this works almost exactly the same way as public loop systems do. When you’re using a public phone, simply activate T-coil mode in your hearing aids, exactly like you would to tune into a loop system. This will send the signal from the phone directly to your hearing aids.
Nowadays, most cell phones connect to hearing aids via Bluetooth, not with a telecoil. So don’t activate your T-coil when talking on your cell phone - that will just make it harder to hear. The good news is that one can have BOTH Bluetooth and a t-coil in their hearing aids to maximize hearing in different situations
YouTube References:
Our TCoil System https://assist2hear.com.
The Benefits of a Hearing Aid Telecoil (T-Coil) for Wireless Connectivity in a Public Venue (youtube.com)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
Hearing Loop Demonstration: What is a Telecoil, and How to Activate the Telecoil on your Hearing Aid (youtube.com)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
How to change the T/M setting https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
How to use tap settings from tablet https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
How to connect T-Coil and Bluetooth https://www.youtube.com/watch?...
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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 - 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month, 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) No rehearsals till September.
- BRUU - Wednesday, July 17, 7:00 pm (contact John Schneider for information)
- Exploring Spirituality - Friday, July 19, 7:00 pm (contact Lu Ann Faulkner-Schneider for information)
- SLO - Sunday, July 21, 10:00 am, Eddy Room (contact Tempie Nichols Rood for information)
- Game Night/Potluck - Friday, July 26, 5:00 pm, Daniel Hall (contact Marliee Peryam for information)
- Fiber Connections - Saturday, July 27, 10:00 am, Eddy Room (contact Paula Geisinger 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
Director of Lifespan Religious Exploration - Tim Atkins
Choir Director - Chukwuebuka ('Ebuka) G. Ezeakacha
Accompanist - Steven Elkins Kennedy
Congregational Administrator - Marlies Grogg
BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2024-2025
President of the Congregation – Cathy Webster
President Elect – Sundra Flansburg
Immediate Past President – Marcia Woodward
Clerk – Doug Vincent
Treasurer – Ron Wasson
Cortney Custer Lorriana Lee-Knapp Ann Meeks Carrie Moore Mariliee Peryam Maired Todd
Committee on Ministry
Suzanne Broadbent Lori Jervis Liz Pillar-Little John Schneider Tom Peryam Derrick Wagner
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