Sunday, September 29, 11:00 am, Sanctuary

SLO - "Climate Change Revival"

Join us in person or watch on YouTube.

Join members of the Sustainable Living Organization and over 300 UU Congregations across the nation as we introduce the “Climate Justice Revival” on Sunday, September 29th!

CJR initiates our exploration of how the environment and climate intersect with Social Justice and our wider community and our beliefs.

Participating in today’s service:

Service Leader: Lois Pokorny and SLO Team Members; Worship Associate and TFAA; Tim Atkins, DLRE; Chalice Lighters:  Elizabeth Muller and Teagan Muller;  Offering:  Carrie Moore; Reflections:  Bill Dinger and Dirk Neitzel; Choir Director:  Chukwuebuka ('Ebuka) G. Ezeakacha; Music: 1UC  Choir;  Accompanist: Steven Elkins  Kennedy; Technical Support: Tammy Epperson and Ellisya Ravencroft

Sunday, September 29, 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, September 29 (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,

Thank you for providing such a warm and robust welcome to our Consulting Minister, Rev. Dave Messner! And for the spontaneous and positive response to his announcement that Rev. Jonalu Johnstone will be returning to us on a part-time basis for this Church Year as our Pastoral Care and Worship Minister

Many of you have asked the appropriate question: "Who is doing what?"

While I will let them do more of the explaining in the days ahead, I find it helpful to think of it this way, using a restaurant as a metaphor.

Dave is our "back of house" specialist (kind of a good analogy because he just worked in the kitchen at Star Island). He will be working with the Board, Transition Team, Staff, Committee on Ministry, HRWG, etc. to guide and advise. Most of the time, this will all happen virtually, but Dave will return to 1UC three more times during the church year.

As of October 1st,  Rev. Jonalu will be our "front of house" specialist. She will be in the pulpit about twice each month and coordinate Sunday services even when she's not preaching (coordinating with Tim and our in-development Worship Committee). In addition, she will assist the congregation with our pastoral needs, connect with the Befrienders, and be available for rites of passage.

Please stay tuned for more information as specifics get worked out, including Rev. Jonalu's schedule and details surrounding Rev. Dave's next visit (he'll be back October 11).

I deeply appreciate everyone's grace and good will as we have made this team a reality! Special thanks to Tim Atkins for stepping up as Acting Head of Staff these past few months, and to the Transition Team members, past and present (Sundra Flansburg, Ann Meeks, Marilee Peryam, and Marcia Woddward,, plus Marshall Gimpel, and Deborah Shinn) for their good and thoughtful work.

In faith,

Cathy

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)

Fellowship Dinners

It is time to sign up for a popular social activity, Fellowship Dinners! There will be four or possibly five dinners, in November, January, February, March and possibly April. You and your partner, if you have one, will be placed into a rotation schedule where you will have dinner with three other couples or singles, different people each month. If you are single your participation is welcome. And if you can pair up with another single, that enhances the experience.

The beauty of this program is getting to know people of our church whom you may not know now in a small-group setting. Some of us have participated for decades because we enjoy it so much!

There are four parts to each meal, and each month you will bring one of the components This will also rotate, so that one month you will be the host, opening your home and providing hors d'oeuvres and beverages. Next you will provide the main dish. Another month you will bring a vegetable and dessert. The fourth assignment is salad and bread.

Your home or dining spot doesn’t need to be fancy; just do what is comfortable for you. Please don’t let a concern about that deter you from signing up! Signup has begun and will close on October 8. To sign up or to ask questions, please email Barbara Gallivan, bgallivan@cox.net, 405-209-7386. You also may sign up in Daniel Hall after church on Sunday during coffee hour.

Let’s dine together!

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 1, 11:00 am

1UC Alliance Brown Bag Lunch and Program

We are meeting on Tuesday, October 1. Happy half hour, 11-11:30, then BROWN BAG lunch.

There will be a presentation about 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.

Please join us!!

We still need finger food for Alyssa Lee’s ordination reception. Please consider signing up at our October 1st meeting. Thanks!

Can't join in person?  Join via Zoom!

Join Zoom meeting:

https://zoom.us/j/92600917353?...

Meeting ID: 926 0091 7353
Passcode: 931009

Thursday, October 3, 7:00 pm

UU Book Club

UU Book Club will be meeting on Thursday, October 3, at 7:00 pm and will be discussing "Lessons in Chemistry" by Bonnie Garmus.

Our book selections for the next few months are:

• November and December: The Covenant of Water: Abraham Verghese
  
• January: The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

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

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

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 September our Change for Change partner is Casa of Oklahoma County. 

CASA stands for “Court Appointed Special Advocates” - CASA’s mission is to provide trained volunteers to be champions for the individualized best interests of children in foster care. Casa serves as a caring, consistent adult and provides a voice to a child during a highly traumatic time in their life. The goal is to find a safe, permanent home for the children/youth. Funds will be used to support program expenses related to recruiting, screening, training, and supervising CASA volunteers.

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 of 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 Oct 13^th or Oct 20^th. Stamps will be available for those who need them.

Juan’s fierce advocacy for justice contributed greatly to recent successes achieved by our partner Fundación San Alonso Rodríguez (FSAR) against extractive industries in the Honduran Aguán region.

The circumstances of the murder suggest López was targeted for his very public witness against powerful corruption. We are holding Juan’s family and community in our hearts as they face unthinkable grief.

NEWS FROM REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE:

• Do you think women are intelligent enough to manage their own bodies?
• Do you think reproductive justice is only about abortion access?
• Do you think IVF (invitro fertilization) is a part of reproductive justice?
• Do you think the topic of reproductive justice is a topic worth discussing in small groups?
• Do you think our church needs to be involved in reproductive justice activism?

Consider what you are willing to do to assure that you have the same rights that men have in controlling your body. If you answered yes to any of these questions, would you also be willing to help our church form a working group devoted to these issues? If so, contact Susan Bishop at sdbishop50@gmail.com.

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.

Tuesday, October 1, 7:00 pm

Defend Trans Lives

Did you miss the first session of "Defend Trans Lives" for UUs by the Transforming Hearts Collective?

Good news! The next session on October 1st at 7:00 PM (via Zoom) is open to all UUs. This is a crucial opportunity for cisgender UUs to stand in solidarity with, defend, and support gender-diverse folx within our congregations and the broader world community.

Larry Little, Lynn Ann Wagner, and Marcia Woodward attended the first session, and it was both deeply informative and incredibly impactful.

We encourage you to join us in this essential work. Please sign up today and help create a more just and inclusive world for trans and gender-diverse people.

Sign up here: tinyurl.com/build-trans-justice

Information for our Consulting Minister

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