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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.

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 fill out a pastoral care request form on our website: https://1uc.org/connect/pastor... or contact Rev. Diana or Susan Bishop (chair of the Befrienders).

Please contact Rev. Diana directly 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!

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 can be found in Breeze.
• October’s community partner, Freedom OK, received $1,276.05
• November’s community partner, VOICE, received $2,619
• December’s community partner, UUSC, received $2,413.83

WE APPRECIATE IT WHEN CONGREGANTS NOMINATE WORTHY COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THANK YOU!

BOHEMIAN CAFÉ – HUGE SUCCESS! Social Justice Council thanks everyone who attended the Café and listened to the great sounds of Ms. Brown to You! Many of you looked great on the dance floor! Due to your generosity, the Council raised $1938. These monies will be used for parade and Peace Festival registrations, flags, banners, and so much more. Thank you all!

UPCOMING EVENTS: MLK parade will step off at 2:00 pm step off is at 5^Th and Lee. If you are interested and wish to march in the parade, contact Becky Tallent. 1UC will have a vehicle in the parade for anyone who needs to ride instead of walk. The vehicle holds 4 passengers (and 1 driver) and it will be at the church at 1:00 pm. Contact Susan Bishop if you wish to reserved a space in her vehicle. Otherwise, marchers should head to the parade line-up area.

The next meeting of the Council will be Sunday, February 4^th at 9:00 am in the Eddy Room.

NEWS FROM V.O.I.C.E: (Voices Organized in Civic Engagement)

Jan. 25 (Thu.), 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Congregational Organizing 101 - For Clergy @ Fellowship Lutheran Church (6727 S Sheridan Rd, Tulsa 74133). More info, and free registration here: https://www.actiontulsa.org/cl...

Jan. 26 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm to Jan. 27 10:00 am - 3:30 pm: Community Organizing 101 in English and in Spanish @ Fellowship Lutheran Church (6727 S Sheridan Rd, Tulsa 74133). More info, and $25 registration here: https://www.actiontulsa.org/community_organizing_101

The Tulsa trainings are great opportunities, and your help in spreading the word and helping with turnout is requested. We might be able to help with transportation or lodging, if needed. If you or others you share info with register, please let Sundra Flansburg or Maureen Harvey know!

NEWS FROM REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE: Earlier this week, Center for Reproductive Rights client, Dr. Austin Dennard, joined other experts to discuss the devastating reality of life in post-Roe America in a briefing on Capitol Hill. The briefing was led by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Schumer (D-NY), Stabenow (D-MI), Klobuchar (D-MN), Baldwin (D-WI), Warren (D-MA), Cortez Masto (D-NV), and other U.S. Senate Democrats.

Dr. Dennard is one of the brave plaintiffs in Zurawski v. State of Texas, a case brought by the Center on behalf of physicians and women denied abortion care in Texas despite facing severe and dangerous pregnancy complications that threatened their health and lives.She shared her experience as both an OB/GYN who understands the importance of abortion as life-saving medical care, and as a patient who was forced to flee her home state of Texas to seek this critical care for herself.

Monday, January 21^st, should have been 51 years since the US granted safe abortions to women. However, instead of celebrating, women and organizations, such as the Center for Reproductive Rights, are in courtrooms across the US fighting for abortion access. We cannot sit idly by and watch women die when an abortion would have saved their lives. Contact your legislator and let them know your thoughts.

Other news! Fifteen governors who refused the federal “Summer Food 4 Kids” program are in states with the highest food insecurity, according to the FDA. It is the FDA which administers the federal food benefits. Gov. Stitt refused this program for Oklahoma children. One in five Oklahoma children (yes, that’s 20%) live with food insecurity.

A right-wing, anti-LGBTQ+ social media influencer whose attacks on a Tulsa-Union school librarian preceded days of bomb threats and learning disruptions has been made an adviser to Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters. [Tulsa World]

1UC Recycles! Look for the blue bins lined with plastic bags throughout the church. Deposit your paper, cans, and plastic bottles. The kitchen and Daniel Hall have compost buckets that can take food waste including meat and even napkins! There is a separate blue bin for glass in the hallway west of Daniel Hall.

Back in the spring of 2020, the 1UC Board of Trustees expressed support (without specific next steps) for renaming the Jefferson Room, based on reasons you can find HERE, at the bottom of the page. The "Jefferson Room" sign was removed and we began referring to the room as simply "the meeting room," but COVID froze any other movement on this project.

In early 2022, we started meeting in person again, around the same time that the new Racial Justice team was formed. The Racial Justice team crafted a survey that went out to the whole congregation that spring, asking for nominations for a new name for the meeting room. 32 people responded and offered a variety of thoughtful suggestions, which included UUs who were active in racial justice (such as James Reeb and Theodore Parker), local racial justice leaders (such as Clara Luper), and members of the congregation who have had a lasting positive impact. Names were also suggested that reflected UU values instead of specific individuals. 

Around this same time, the Board noted that the congregation did not have a formal policy or procedure for naming rooms or other parts of the church building. A policy was developed and approved by the Board at their December 2022 meeting.  This policy established a new protocol for naming rooms either in connection with a major donation or when the congregation deems that it is appropriate to name or rename a space.

Rather than continuing to work according to a process that was launched before the creation of the naming policy, the Board has determined that it would be appropriate to operate under the guidelines of the policy, which requires any naming that is not connected to a major donation to be initiated via a petition process.

Here is an excerpt from that policy:

Facilities, rooms, and gardens/landscaping that are new, renovated, or existing may be named or renamed through a process of petition to the Board, followed by congregational study and input. Because the naming or renaming process involves a significant investment of time and energy on the part of the Board and other members of the congregation, petitions must include evidence that at least 10% of the current membership supports the naming or renaming process and the individuals or group(s) submitting the petition must be willing to take a leadership role in facilitating communication and education about the process.

A petition may be made to give a facility/room/garden a specific name or to open a congregational process for choosing a name. Spaces do not necessarily need to be named after individuals. They may be named after Unitarian Universalist principles or values. As with donor-based naming opportunities, named individuals should have a personal connection to the congregation, to Unitarian Universalism, and/or to Oklahoma. Honored individuals should exemplify our larger faith’s principles and purposes with their legacy or life accomplishments. As a general rule, spaces that are named by petition rather than donation should not be named after individuals who are still living.

Before initiating a naming/renaming process, the Board should ensure that: 1) the space hasn’t previously been named by arrangement with a donor; 2) the space isn’t already named after a member of the congregation whose positive legacy should be remembered and honored; 3) a name change wouldn’t result in significant confusion or disruption.

If the Board votes to launch a naming/renaming process unrelated to a donation, it should also specify: 1) individuals who will lead the process; 2) specific steps of the process; and 3) a targeted date for completion. In most cases, a formal, congregational vote is not required, but the Board should be guided by the values of openness, inclusivity, and covenantal communication.

You can find the full text of the policy, as well as all other church policies and Board minutes under the "Members" link on the 1uc.org website.

To access all materials in the Members section, just go to 1uc.org, and click on "Members" (in the upper right-hand corner). The password is @600NW13thSt [Note: there is no period at the end of the password, with no spacing between numbers and letters]. To find the naming policy, click on "church documents," then click on "policies," then click on "facilities." The naming policy is included in the facilities folder. 

First Unitarian Covenant of Healthy Communication

“We need not think alike to love alike.” One of our Unitarian Universalist ancestors, Francis David, spoke those words more than 400 years ago to describe the foundation of our unity as a religious community. To this end, we, the people of the First Unitarian Church of Oklahoma City, agree to the following:

* I tell my own story and let others tell theirs.
* I use “I” statements when expressing my own views, always mindful that my thoughts, opinions, and experiences may not be shared by others
* I check the accuracy of my perceptions and assumptions.
* I avoid “awfulizing” negative experiences.
* I say what needs to be said to the one who needs to hear it.
Communicate directly with the person or group involved, instead of gossiping or speaking negatively about others in the wider community
* I devote at least as much energy to careful listening as to careful speaking.
Listen actively and seek to understand the perspectives and opinions of others
Be curious, appreciative, and informed about perspectives that differ from my own.
Recognize and honor the diversity of beliefs and spiritual paths within our community, including the words and ways people choose to express their spirituality
Honor the contributions and needs of those who have been historically marginalized in the larger world and in our congregation and seek growth in our ability to be welcoming.
* If something prompts anger in me, I report it honestly in a way that invites positive solutions.
Be forgiving and loving when I or others make mistakes
Apologize, when warranted, and seek to make amends
Call on congregational resources when help is needed
* I refrain from blaming and shaming.
Assume that others act with good intentions
Be respectful and kind in our words, tone, and body language
Use email, social media and other forms of electronic communication with respect, kindness, and special care.

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 - Beginning January 3 - Every Wednesday, 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)

• Membership Meeting - Thursday, January 25, 6:00 pm (contact Lorriana Lee-Knapp)
  

• Fiber Connections - Saturday, January 27, 10:00 am, Eddy Room (contact Paula Geisinger for information)

• Gardening Covenant Group - Tuesday, January 30, 7:00 pm, Eddy Room (contact Barbara Gallivan for information)

• UU Book Club - Thursday, February 1, 7:00 pm (contact Steve Gryglewicz for information)

• Mandala Workshop (Auction Item) - Saturday, February 3, 9:00 am (contact Maureen Harvey for information)

• Social Justice Meeting - Sunday, February 4, 9:00 am, Eddy Room (contact Susan Bishop for information)

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.

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.

CHURCH STAFF

Lead Minister - Rev. Diana K. Davies

Director of Lifespan Religious Exploration - Tim Atkins

Choir Director - Chukwuebuka ('Ebuka) G. Ezeakacha

Accompanist - Steven Elkins Kennedy

Office Administrator - Marlies Grogg

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2023-2024

President of the Congregation – Marcia Woodward

President Elect – Cathy Webster

Immediate Past President – Marshal Gimpel

Clerk – Deborah Shinn

Treasurer – Ron Wasson

                Clare Auwarter               Emily Hildebrandt              Lorriana Lee-Knapp                          Larry Little                          Ann Meeks                            Doug Vincent

Committee on Ministry

                Rebecca Daniels                Lori Jervis                             Liz Pillar-Little                                                         Tom Peryam                 Derrick Wagner