| 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 7, 11:00 am, Sanctuary
"And The Pursuit of Happiness"
Join us in person or watch on YouTube.
What did these words in the Declaration of Independence mean to the Founders? What do they mean for us to today? What do they mean for democracy? Given that signing the Declaration was tantamount to signing one’s death warrant, why were these words important enough to be in that document?
Participating in today’s service:
Service Leaders: Suzanne Broadbent and Deborah Shinn; Call to Offering: Stephen Melsh; Song Leader: 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 7, 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 7 (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 14 - "Nature’s Inspiration: A New Transcendentalism" - Rev. Dr. Nicole Kirk, Guest Minister
July 21 - "For Pity Sake” - Rev. Jim Eller, Guest Minister
July 28 - Rev. Steven Leigh Williams, Guest Minister
August 4 - Rev. Tamara Lebak, Affiliated Community Minister
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Transition Tracker
The transition that is happening this week is the changing of the guard for the Board of Trustees and Executive Team.
New President Cathy Webster will be taking over as soon as she returns from Europe. Sundra Flansburg will be joining the Executive Team as President-Elect, along with Tim as Head of Staff and me as Immediate Past President. Since the Board won't be meeting until the end of August but the Executive Team is meeting all summer, if you need anything, contact an Executive Team member.
When the Board starts meeting at the end of August, new members Cortney Custer, Carrie Moore, Marliee Peryam and Mairead Todd will be joining us.
There's nothing new on the minister search. Plans are being made to keep chugging along as usual, with or without a minister.
Marcia Woodward
Immediate Past President
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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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Wednesday, July 3, 7:00 pm
UU Book Club
UU Book Club will be meeting on Wednesday this month due to the 4th of July holiday and will be discussing "The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion" by Fanny Flagg.
In August the book to be discussed will be "What You Are Looking For Is In the Library" by Michiko Aoyama (translated by Alison Watts).
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88051248829?pwd=dHhUZjJIenozazJ1K1pNNEVOWHhlUT09
Meeting ID: 880 5124 8829
Passcode: 398265
For question or more details contact Steve at stgryg@yahoo.com
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Our Summer RE Program series kicks off this week!
K-5th
graders will begin at 11:00 directly in their classroom upstairs – Kaleidoscope. Class runs from 11-12, 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 use one more volunteer for the middle and high school youth this Sunday (July 7). 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)
Sunday, July 7 - RE Family Lunch, Eastside Pizza House, 12:30 pm, (buy your own lunch); Contact Cortney Custer for information
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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July Change for Change (through July 14)
For the month of July (through July 14) our Change for Change partner is OKC Beautiful. (Garden at Esperanza Elementary)
Their Mission: is to lead Oklahoma City’s beautification and environmental stewardship through collaboration, education, and advocacy.
Their Vision: Oklahoma City is a vibrant community where citizens practice environmentally sustainable lifestyles and nurture economic growth through our programs.
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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.
- UU Book Club - Wednesday, July 3, 7:00 pm (contact Steve Gryglewicz for information)
- Racial Justice Team - Wednesday, July 10, 11:00 am (contact Becky Tallent for information)
- Fiber Connections - Sunday, July 14, 12:00 pm, Eddy Room (contact Paula Geisinger for information)
- Healthy Lifestyles - Monday, July 15, 7:00 pm (contact Lu Ann Faulkner-Schneider for information)
- Gardening Covenant Group - Tuesday, July 16, 7:00 pm, Eddy Room (contact Barbara Gallivan for information)
- 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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