Sunday, September 1, 11:00 am, Sanctuary

“Labor Day Service”

Join us in person or watch on YouTube.

As a holiday, Labor Day itself has never really meant much to me. Typically known as a blue-collar holiday, Labor Day is an annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers. But for myself and many others, it’s more known for the wild philosophies, smart wit, and personal interpretations of a former member of the congregation; Mr. Arthur Patrick Corley. As the waves of time come crashing into the shoreline of our lives, we take a moment to reflect on some of the powerful messages and theologies from Labor Day Services from the past, and build on new changes and challenges for our Labor Days of the future. Join us as we re-discover our RC Cola and Moon Pie past and the changes we endure being human.

Participating in today’s service:

Service Leader: Frank Victor Roesler III; Worship Associate: Ed Pope;  Chalice Lighter: Kade Roesler; Song Leader: Becky Tallent; Music: Labor Day Singers:  Deb Blakely, Celeste Flemming, Lana Henson, Barbara Gallivan, Maureen Harvey, Barbara McCalla, Sue Scott and Becky Tallent;  Reading:  Lana Henson; Prayer/Meditation:  Sundra Flansburg; Accompanist:  Steven Elkins Kennedy; Technical Support: Tammy Epperson and Ellisya Ravencroft

Sunday, September 1, 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 1 (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!

Transition Tracker

Dear ones,

On Tuesday night, the Board was delighted to welcome Dave Messner ("Reverend Dave if you're feeling fancy," he said) into our virtual midst. He has already offered great perspective, as he brings years of experience in a variety of church settings. Dave will be serving us as Consulting Minister for the coming year. He'll be with us in September for a first in-person visit, so stay tuned for opportunities to meet him!

In addition, a newly constituted Transition Team (comprised of Board members) will assist us in formulating agreements with additional clergy. We are making arrangements for both on-the-ground pastoral care and in-the-pulpit ministry to carry us through the 2024-2025 church year. With any luck, by the time we are ready to "gather in" for the year, we will consider ourselves to be fully staffed for the year.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have questions!

In faith,

Cathy

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 

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.

Thursday, September 5, 7:00 pm

UU Book Club

UU Book Club will be meeting on Thursday, September 5 at 7:00 pm.  We will be discussing "The Paris Architect" by Charles Belfoure.

Our book selections for the next few months are:

• October: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
• 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

If you have question or need more details contact Steve Gryglewicz at stgryg@yahoo.com

Sunday for RE!

Sunday, September 1 - Labor Day Weekend - No Sunday classes. Kids are welcome to attend service, nursery will be open.

Sunday, September 8 - Ingathering Sunday!! All ages worship featuring our annual water communion. Save that water from your summer travels...or bring some water symbolic of them!

Sunday, September 15 - First Week of Classes for the Program Year!

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!

Saturday, September 14, 9:30 am, Daniel Hall

Fire Department/CPR/AED/Choking Tranining

Please set aside Saturday morning, 14 September, 9:30am – 11:00 am, in Daniel Hall at First Unitarian Church, to attend Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)/Automated External Defibrillator (AED)/Choking Training provided by the Oklahoma City Fire Department as a public service. While certifications won’t be provided, you will learn everything you need to know about how to save someone’s life who is experiencing cardiac arrest or choking. And coffee and donuts will be provided. Everyone invited. See you there!

If you have any questions, contact Larry Little or Tammy Epperson from the Health & Safety Committee

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!