Sunday, November 17, 11:00 am, Sanctuary

"Transforming Hate to Compassion: Transgender Day of Remembrance”

Join us in person or watch on YouTube.

Transgender Day of Remembrance recalls people who have lost their lives because of their gender identity. And it gives us an opportunity to reflect on how to transform hate to compassion — in ourselves and in others. Can we increase the amount of love and care in our lives and in our world?

Participating in today’s service:

Service Leader: Rev. Jonalu Johnstone, Worship Minister and Pastoral Care; Worship Associate: Elli Ravencroft; Chalice Lighter: Hazel Tate; Call to Offering: Maureen Harvey; Choir Director: Chukwuebuka ('Ebuka) G. Ezeakacha; Music: 1UC Choir; Accompanist: Steven Elkins Kennedy; Technical Support: Tammy Epperson and Ellisya Ravencroft: Ushers: Members of 1UC VOICE

Our Ushers for the month of November are: Members of 1UC VOICE. VOICE (Voices Organized in Civic Engagement) is a coalition of dues-paying congregations, nonprofits, worker associations, and schools that have come together out of a deep sense of mission and concern about the pressures families face in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. They work to better understand those pressures by listening to the experiences of the people in our member institutions. They then engage those impacted in better understanding the issues and learning to work effectively for improvements that benefit all. While they differ on some issues, they focus on the areas in which they find the common ground that allows them to work together. They develop the leadership skills of our own members to work effectively within the democratic process with civic leaders and public officials on issues of concern to families.

Sunday, November 17, 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, December 1, 6:00 pm

Join Us for the Interfaith World AIDS Day Service

First Unitarian Church is honored to host this year’s Interfaith World AIDS Day Service on December 1st at 6:00 pm. Our Radical Welcoming Team warmly invites you to attend the evening service, followed by a reception.

To help make this event a success, we’re seeking volunteers to contribute desserts and hors d’oeuvres for the reception. If you’re unable to attend the evening service, you can still participate by dropping off your items in the kitchen during our regular morning service.

We greatly appreciate your support and generosity in making this gathering meaningful for all. Thank you!

Sign up here:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4BABA82EA2FBC25-53187772-world

Saturday, November 16, 2:00 pm

Space for 8 1UC members at next listening session

A month ago, a small group of 1UC members sat down with Rev. Dave Messner to talk about their experience with the church and their hopes for the future. Sessions like these help Rev. Messner with his work steering the church into a successful path for future growth and a successful Ministerial placement by the end of this year.

The next listening session will be Saturday, Nov, 16 at 2PM-3:15P PM and will occur over Zoom. To keep the conversation focused and the meeting short, we have space for only 8 congregants. Due to the compressed tenure of Rev. Messner, this may be one the last listening sessions conducted. So don't miss out on being part of the future of our church! To lock down one of these spots please contact Committee on Ministry co-chair Tom Peryam at peryam@gmail.com.

Cheers,

The Committee on Ministry

Sunday, November 24

People’s Budget Coalition of OKC

If you are looking for a new way to participate in local community building, read below!

I, Marilee Peryam, am a member of the newly formed People’s Budget Coalition of OKC. This is a group dedicated to organizing around the City of OKC’s budget making process with the following goals:

1. Significant funding increase for human-centered services
2. Increasing the number of citizens involved in the budget making process
3. Changing the narrative around community safety and policing

The group currently includes City Councilors, JoBeth Hamon and James Cooper; co-founders of the Foundation for Liberating Minds, Aurelius Francisco and Tevin McDaniel; Executive Director of Freedom Oklahoma, Nicole McCafee; as well as little ol’ me!

We are looking to get people from all 8 wards to work on teams on the following tasks:
Education: help develop and lead education on city budget, process, and making information more accessible to neighbors in your ward

Participation: plan events to build community, lead 1 on 1 relational organizing and canvassing efforts in your ward

Action: plan public direct action to demonstrate the people power behind this work
The work will be long-term, centered around budget decision times and events, and not a large time commitment.

If you're interested in learning more and meeting others involved in this coalition, please contact Marilee Peryam! We will be meeting Sunday November 24th to plan next steps.

Thursday, November 28, 12:00 pm, Daniel Hall

Thanksgiving Lunch at the Church!

Come sit down with your fellow UU's for a Thanksgiving Day dinner! Bring something tasty to share! 

Contact Becky Tallent at (405) 882-8295 or beckyktallent@gmail.com if you aren't sure what to bring, or if you have any questions!

There will be two fully cooked turkeys and a ham ready for you to "gobble up" and enjoy!

Please be ready and willing to set up and clean up if you attend! It will be "all hands on deck".

Come and enjoy the day with your friends at church! Hope to see you there!

SURVEY!

The Adult RE Committee is conducting a survey of congregant interests for planning and programming. 

We need your input. Please click on the following link i for a 5 to 10 minute long survey.

https://forms.gle/jhBAfsDNYYJNERQNA

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 Mary Tate.

Tuesday, November 19, 11:00 am

Adult Ed: Tuesday Discussion Group

Debbie Allen will facilitate Tuesday's discussion:

Why should you read Kurt Vonnegut? - Mia Nacamulli - YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwwK7NmfF9w

Read transcript: A Commencement Speech Delivered by Kurt Vonnegut

https://versailles1.tripod.com/syracuse.html

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us05web.zoom.us/j/85136394096?pwd=3cbFY7zpaqEgRtS6JNuL0SfEFuub7A.1

Meeting ID: 851 3639 4096

Passcode: 6J2dPQ

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

Saturday, December 7, 10:30 am, Eddy Room

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:  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.

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 November our Change for Change partner is  VOICE.

VOICE (Voices Organized in Civic Engagement) is a coalition of dues-paying congregations, nonprofits, worker associations, and schools that have come together out of a deep sense of mission and concern about the pressures families face in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. They work to better understand those pressures by listening to the experiences of the people in our member institutions. They then engage those impacted in better understanding the issues and learning to work effectively for improvements that benefit all. While they differ on some issues, they focus on the areas in which they find the common ground that allows them to work together. They develop the leadership skills of our own members to work effectively within the democratic process with civic leaders and public officials on issues of concern to families.

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!

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