Sunday, October 13, 11:00 am, Sanctuary

“Animal Instincts"

Join us in person or watch on YouTube.

On this day of celebrating animals, we rejoice also in ourselves as part of that family and take our rightful, if more modest, place within it.

Bring your beloved pet or a memento of remembrance for our blessing ritual.

Participating in today’s service:

Service Leader: Rev. David H. Messner, (from First Unitarian Church Chicago) Consulting  Minister; Worship Associate: Lori Jervis; Chalice Lighter: Carmen McBride;  Choir Director:  Chukwuebuka ('Ebuka) G. Ezeakacha; Music: 1UC  Choir;  Accompanist: Steven Elkins  Kennedy; Technical Support: Tammy Epperson and Ellisya Ravencroft: Ushers: Sponsors for SJC's Change for Change

Our Ushers for Sunday are:  Sponsors for SJC's Change for Change 

C4C gather applications for the program from members of the congregation for nominations of charitable organizations to be chosen to receive one month’s Sunday service plate collections. Any 1UC member, in good standing, can submit a not-for-profit organization that is doing the work we want to be done in the world for a Change for Change Recipient. The Committee will review accept, ask for more information, or deny. The accepted are then recommended to the Board of Directors for a month when donations are accepted for Change 4 Change. Chairs:  Rosalinda Espinosa and Deborah Shinn

Sunday, October 13, 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, October 13 (immediately after the service) Daniel Hall

Coffee, Lemonade and Conversation

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

Transition Tracker

Dear ones,

The pieces are now in place for our ministerial leadership and we're moving forward together.

Please take part as you can in this week-ends activities with Rev. Dave since your input means a great deal to the future leadership of the 1UC.

Friday, October 11 at 6:00 pm -- Come experiences the "Thirsty Theologians" discussion with the BRUU Crew at Skydance Brewing (1 NE 7th St Suite A, Oklahoma City, OK 73104) -- RSVP to Cathy Webster (csw202@nyu.edu).  Everyone is invited to come.

Saturday, October 12 at 2:00 pm in the Eddy Room -- Interested in getting more involved with the congregation? Or in helping us develop our leaders?  RSVP to Marcia Woodward (Marcia_woodward@verizon.net)

Sunday, October 13 at 12:30 pm -- Reflection Circles with Rev. Dave and the Committee On Ministry -- Come share what makes First Unitarian great and what you see in its future. Questions? Contact Tom Peryam (peryam@gmail.com)

The Transition Team will also be meeting on a future Sunday, so watch this space for an update from them next week.

In faith,

Cathy

Jottings from Jonalu

It was such a thrill to reintroduce myself to you this past Sunday. And how exciting to do it on the same day that you ordained Alyssa Lee to the ministry! I’m so proud of her and of you for helping her find her way to ministry.

As your Pastoral Care/Worship Minister, from now through May, my responsibilities fall into those two specific areas. I will work with BeFrienders to be sure that we attend to the caring needs within the church. Community coming around people who are in physical or emotional need matters profoundly. I’ll make visits, too, to hospitals or homes, or speak with you by phone or on-line. Know that you are loved and held in care by the church. Of course, we’re not psychic, so please let me, and/or BeFrienders Chair Susan Bishop know about needs.

In the area of Worship, I will preach about twice a month, and working with our new Worship Committee, ensure that we offer quality worship every Sunday, whether led by me, Rev. Dave, a visiting professional, or by your talented lay people. I’m excited about getting this Worship Committee up and running, and hope that its engagement will continue long after I am gone.

The eight months we will have together will undoubtedly fly by. Still, we have this precious time to connect, to learn from one another, and to help the church grow in depth and mission. I look forward to getting to know those of you I don’t, and to deepen the relationship with those who I already know.

If you’d like to set a time to meet – in person when I’m town (I am living in southern Oklahoma), or via zoom, email me at jjohnstone@1uc.org, or text me at 405-627-3859.

Blessings!

(Rev.) Jonalu Johnstone (she/her)

Deadline is Friday, October 11

Voter Registration!

New Registrations or Address Changes

Tell your friends! Tell new neighbors!

Update your own info with a new address

Now on the web at: OK Voter Portal

https://oklahoma.gov/elections/ovp.html

See info flyer and paper forms

on poster in our church hallway

(Part of nationwide UU The Vote Project)

Sunday, October 20, 12:30 pm, Eddy Room

Let's Talk Medicare

There are so many changes, and new options for 2025.

 A $2000 a year max cost for drugs.

 More Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans.

 Shop prices every year for your Supplement (Medi-Gap).

Whether it's for you or the elders in your life, let's share our experience and learn what's new. Church member Steve Goldman will host. He works on health insurance options education, but is not an agent/broker -- does not sell any insurance.

Bring your questions and listen in while Steve explains how things work.

Church Security from the Health & Safety Committee

The attached link to our Quick Reaction Security/First Aid Checklist incorporates everything Tammy and I learned at the Security training provided by Rabbi Harris and Bob Bennett at Temple B’nai Israel, the voluminous UUA Threats from Without Care from Within Webinar last August that many of us attended and the recent 14 September Fire Dept. CPR/AED/Choking training. It stresses the importance of always maintaining building security to prevent dangerous situations from developing, while also providing practical actions to be taken in the event of a variety of security incidents or injuries. As an update, the Oklahoma City Police Department Crime Prevention Unit said that we are in a low crime area, and that the primary crime threat is from thefts from parked cars, so please remember to keep your car doors locked. As a working document it undoubtedly will evolve over time, as will our Updated First Unitarian Emergency Operations Plan which provides extensive procedures and detailed maps of our Church building on what to do in a wide variety of natural disasters and other threats.

https://d.docs.live.net/03C42911AC92139F/Documents/Current%20Quick%20Reaction%20Security%20Checklist.docx

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.

Tuesday, October 15, 11:00 am

Tuesday Adult Ed: Discussion Group

Ron Wasson will facilitate Tuesday, October 15 discussion:

Moral behavior in animals | Frans de Waal

https://www.ted.com/talks/frans_de_waal_moral_behavior_in_animals?subtitle=en

95% of your behavior is primate behavior | Frans de Waal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrb2SwXU594

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us05web.zoom.us/j/84398706253?pwd=rFvNbVX0U0kDXsopuwYLaiEh3rPDMC.1

Meeting ID: 843 9870 6253
Passcode: 7pnLya

Let Ron know if you have something you would like to present on a future Tuesday, wassonr@sbcglobal.net 

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.
• Ginny Boykin leads our Memorial Receptions team. She calls on folks to bring food for the receptions.
• 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 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 October our Change for Change partner is Calm Waters. 

The Calm Waters mission is to help children and families in their grief journey caused by death, divorce, or other significant loss.

The Calm Waters vision is to be the leading provider of grief support services for children and families throughout Central Oklahoma, serving as a safe place for those who have experienced a loss to receive grief resources, peer support, and hope for the future. Calm Waters is the expert on grief and trauma as it relates to loss, using research-based curriculum and programming.

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!

NEWS FROM THE SOCIAL JUSTICE COUNCIL: The national election is right around the corner and we know that some in our congregation prefer to vote by mail. If you need a notary, the Council is providing two. Sundra Flansburg and Marlies Grogg have agreed to staff a table so bring your ballots on either October 13^th or October 20^th. Stamps will be available for those who need them.

We each have a responsibility, not just a role, in our community history: Every year, as October begins, we celebrate 2SLGBTQ+ History Month. An exercise that has become grounding for all of our team, in expanding our knowledge of the  2SLGBTQ+ folks who came before us, who fought and loved before us, who paved the way for us, as our work now will become history for future generations. We’re kicking off this month, focusing on what a commitment to keep one another safe means, what it means to build a future where every 2SLGBTQ+ person has the safety to thrive. So, we’ll ground our history in our commitment to the future.

NEWS FROM UUSC (Unitarian Universalist Service Committee) After Juan Antonio López was killed last month for speaking out publicly on corruption, UUSC’s partners who continue to confront powerful mining interests in Honduras are at immediate risk. His murder was meant to send a message: those who speak up to defend human rights and the environment will not be safe.  In response, we must send an even louder message: the whole world is watching what happens in Honduras, and we demand government action to ensure the safety of environmental defenders. Call on the U.S. Ambassador to Honduras to ensure Honduran officials act immediately and guard activists from further harm. Environmental defenders are putting their lives on the line to protect our shared planet. They deserve to be protected in return. Raise your voice in solidarity by contacting Ambassador Dogu to pressure U.S. and Honduras leaders to act now.

NEWS FROM REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE: Oklahoma represents nearly one-third of pregnancy-related prosecutions a year after Roe’s end: Oklahoma had the second-highest number of pregnancy-related prosecutions nationwide in the year after Roe. v. Wade was overturned, according to a new study by the advocacy organization Pregnancy Justice.

If reading this is upsetting, consider joining the Reproductive Justice Team. Contact Susan Bishop @ sdbishop50@gmail.com

NEWS FROM UUME (UU MINISTRY FOR EARTH): Dear UU Ministry for Earth (UUMFE) Community! 

We continue to pray for all congregations impacted by Hurricane Helene and any of those in the path of Milton. Rev. Dr. Audette Fulbright Fulson, Lead Minister/Executive at UU Congregation of Asheville and a long time UUMFE Board member shared this message:

“The Emotional Lifecycle of a Disaster is going to be tremendously important in the days ahead. Please be aware that as much as anything else, this is a difficult emotional journey.

Folks at the church on Sunday already began to recognize some exhaustion setting in; trauma affects the brain deeply, but recovery also does. Beauty, care, repair and rest all help recovery. C.A.R.E. -- Compassion (for self and others), Act (with consideration), Rest, Exchange (sorrow for joy, labor with leisure, pain with beauty because all cycles matter).

Thank you, Rev. Audette, for your spiritual leadership.

NEWS FROM OKLAHOMA WATCH: Both Sides Say Glossip Should Live: There is no dispute about this basic fact in the death penalty case the Supreme Court will hear on Wednesday: On a chilly morning in January 1997, in Room 102 of the Best Budget Motel in Oklahoma City, a handyman named Justin Sneed beat the motel’s owner to death with a baseball bat. The rest of what happened is murkier. The U.S. Supreme Court appointed an attorney to argue for the state and will hear the case today.

Nitrogen Executions Were an Oklahoma Idea: Alabama has carried out two executions using nitrogen hypoxia, but The Guardian reminds us the idea came from a Michael Portillo BBC film and it was Republican state Rep. Michael Christian who spearheaded the nation's first legalization of the procedure. 

"When I signed on to letting the death penalty back in, I thought the procedural protections against executing an innocent person were stronger than they turned out to be." —John Paul Stevens

Celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month: Honoring a Legacy of Resilience and Pride

LGBTQ+ History Month, celebrated every October, offers an opportunity to reflect on the rich history and profound contributions of the LGBTQ+ community. Founded in 1994 by Missouri high school teacher Rodney Wilson, the month is dedicated to recognizing the milestones in the fight for equality, the individuals who have shaped LGBTQ+ history, and the culture that has been built from resilience and pride.

The month shines a spotlight on iconic figures like Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, Bayard Rustin, and Harvey Milk, whose activism and courage paved the way for progress. It also educates the broader community about landmark events such as the Stonewall Riots, the struggle for marriage equality, and the ongoing fight against discrimination.

LGBTQ+ History Month also provides a platform to celebrate diversity and foster understanding, aiming to bridge gaps between different communities. Schools, organizations, and individuals are encouraged to engage in discussions, host events, and share resources that highlight the triumphs and challenges of the LGBTQ+ movement.

Ultimately, LGBTQ+ History Month serves as a reminder that the fight for equity is ongoing, and the stories of the past inspire the activism and progress of today.

Here are a few helpful resources for learning more about LGBTQ+ historical events and figures:

1. Wikipedia’s Timeline of LGBTQ+ History: This comprehensive timeline covers global LGBTQ+ historical milestones from the 17th century to the present, including key legal changes and cultural moments. It’s a good starting point to explore major historical events across different countries. Learn more here: (Wikipedia)​.

2. University of Northern Colorado’s Historical LGBTQ+ Figures: This resource highlights influential LGBTQ+ activists, authors, and leaders, such as Marsha P. Johnson, Stormé DeLarverie, and Audre Lorde, all of whom contributed to social justice movements, the arts, and advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights. Explore these figures here: (UNC).

3. Wikipedia’s Timeline of LGBTQ+ History in the United States: For a U.S.-focused overview, this timeline provides key historical moments such as the Stonewall Riots, the establishment of important LGBTQ+ organizations, and major legal battles that shaped the rights of LGBTQ+ people in the U.S. Find more information here: ​(Wikipedia).

4. LGBT History Month Website: This official site offers a wealth of information on LGBTQ+ history, featuring biographies of notable figures, educational resources, and information on past and present LGBTQ+ milestones. It’s also a great source for finding out about events and celebrations during LGBTQ+ History Month. Visit the site here: (LGBTHistoryMonth).

Racial Justice Team Book Club

Your Racial Justice Team will be hosting a book club. We have done this occasionally over time. Our upcoming book is "Waking Up White and Finding Myself in the Story of Race" by Debby Irving. Rev. Sue recommended it to us. We have 9 people signed up so far.

We will meet in person in Eddy Room the first Saturday of the month: November 2, December 7, January 4 and February 1 from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. 

The book is available through Half Priced Books, etc. I will try to explore ordering them in bulk through the book store once we have a number.

Text or call Becky Tallent at 405.882.8095 or email beckyktallent@gmail.com.

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