Sunday, August 4, 11:00 am, Sanctuary

"We Need a New King"

Join us in person or watch on YouTube.

Not the monarch kind of King, bare with me….

We are in a struggle for saving Democracy from its possible post-modern growing pains. David Brooks writes in the Opinion Section of the New York Times, “The task… is to build a new cultural consensus that is democratic but also morally coherent. My guess, and it is only a guess, is that this work of cultural repair will be done by religious progressives, by a new generation of leaders who will build a modern social gospel around love of neighbor and hospitality for the marginalized.” What are we, as religious progressives, being called to do? What are you, specifically, being called to do? And should you run?

Participating in today’s service:

Service Leader: Rev. Dr. (Tamara) Celeste Lebak, Affiliated Community Minister; Worship Associate: Susan Bishop,  Chalice Lighter: ????; Song Leader: Joan Chambers; Music: ; Accompanists: Dianne Broyles and Barbara McCalla; Technical Support: Tammy Epperson and Ellisya Ravencroft

Sunday, August 4, 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, August 4 (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,

The heat is on! In spite of the insufferable weather, the Transition Team and the Executive Committee of the church are working at a fever pitch to put everything in place for the upcoming church year.

Behind the scenes, we have adopted a creative mindset and look forward to announcing our plan once the Board has had a chance to review it and the ink dries on the contracts.

Please watch this space for news in the next week or two! In the meantime, I want to express gratitude to Tim Atkins, our DLRE, who has been coordinating our Sunday worship in spite of the crazy temperatures; our guest ministers and members have offered wonderful services.

As ever, I welcome your input, thoughts, and feedback.

Stay cool,

Cathy

Building Capital Fund

The Building Capital Fund was established in 2015 through the efforts of Jon Scott with the goal to address deferred building maintenance issues and supplemental facility improvements. Project prioritization criteria are: health and safety issues, building structural integrity, and opportunities for improvement. 

Since 2015 more than $100,000 has been spent on very expensive major projects including repair or upgrade of the steeple, driveway, electrical, lighting, HVAC, roof, gutter, and water leak issues.

During the last month an unsafe Murdoch Wing wall was dismantled and rebuilt. All exterior wood surfaces were repaired or replaced, scraped, caulked, and painted. These were very expensive projects that could not have been completed without the Building Capital Fund. For those of you that routinely contribute to the Building Capital Fund ---- thank you. For those of you that haven’t contributed in a while, this is a perfect opportunity to replenish this fund to help maintain our beautiful church.

Ron Wasson

1UC is an Honor Congregation

UUA Annual Program Fund

Dear Leader,

Every year, each congregation in the Unitarian Universalist Association is asked to give a financial contribution to support the wider movement and sibling congregations across our Association. This contribution supports the Annual Program Fund, which is the single largest source of income for the work of our UUA. Our support of one another strengthens the covenant among us.

Your congregation gave the full requested amount to the Annual Program Fund during this fiscal year 2024. This means you are an Honor Congregation, honoring the covenant between and among our congregations. THANK YOU!

Your giving is a concrete expression of our congregations’ covenant with one another, and is a recognition that we are not alone, but are part of an Association of Congregations. This support allows the UUA to serve the diverse needs of the 1,002 member congregations across five regions. Congregational giving through the Annual Program Fund (APF) makes the work of the UUA possible.

Please display this Honor certificate somewhere prominent and share with your congregation my personal appreciation on behalf of all the congregations that your generosity benefits.

Your support strengthens Unitarian Universalism and its vital, liberating message for our time. Together we are organizing for justice, imagining new ways forward in community, and growing spiritually. Thank you for your giving to the Annual Program Fund. You make so much possible.

With gratitude and hope,
Rev. Sofía Betancourt, Ph.D.
UUA President

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, August 6

The 1UC Alliance

Greetings! Our August 6th outing is coming up soon and we plan to gather at 1UC and carpool to Shawnee, OK (about an hour) to the Mabee-Gerrer Museum, lunch and the Pottawatomie History Museum. We have 15 people signed up but if you didn't get a chance to sign up, now's your chance. The museum is free thanks to a grant and they have a really cool traveling show.

If you didn't sign up originally, but want to come, let Maureen Harvey know. More info will follow on the details. 

Thursday, August 8, 7:00 pm

UU Book Club

UU Book Club will be meeting on Thursday, August 8th this month and will be discussing "What You Are Looking For Is In the Library" by Michiko Aoyama (translated by Alison Watts).

Our book selections for the next few months are:

• September: The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure
• 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

For question or more details contact Steve at stgryg@yahoo.com

Our Summer RE Program series kicks off this week!

K-5^th graders will begin at 11:00 am directly in their classroom upstairs – Kaleidoscope. Class runs from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm, so after worship ends please head upstairs to collect your kiddos! 

Throughout August our focus will be on sustainable living and climate change. 

Our 6^th-12^th graders will begin down in the youth room at 11:00 am for socializing and games. 

July and August Events

1UC Summer Youth Activities (6th grade - 12th grade)

Friday, August 2 - High School Swimming and Pizza, Custer-Bynum house, 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm (please bring $5 towards pizza) Contact Cortney Custer for information.

Wednesday, August 7 - Middle School Pizza and Laser Tag at Brickopolis, 6:30 pm (bring $20 or whatever you can) Contact Marilee Peryam for information.

Saturday, August 10 - Volunteer Day at Other Options, 9:30 am to 12:00 pm, Contact Tim Atkins for information.

Friday, August 30 - Lock In at 1UC, 6:30 pm (pick up is 8:00 am on Saturday August 31), Contact Tim Atkins for information

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!

Change for Change

For the month of August our Change for Change partner is Girl Scout Troop #3115/Classen SAS Middle School Food Bank

Classen SAS Middle School provides weekly, and as needed, food from their Food Bank to their own families and students. The Regional Food Bank partners with Classen SAS Middle School to accomplish this. Each year the Girl Scout Troop #3115 provides the food for a Thanksgiving Dinner to 10-20 Families of the school. The Troop members plan and deliver the special T’Giving Meal to each of the Classen SAS Middle School Families requesting help celebrating this holiday. The money from 1UC C4C would help buy these Thanksgiving Meals.

The GS mission is building girls courage, confidence, and character, in order to contribute to a world that is a better place. Girl Scouts girls discover the fun, friendship, and power of girls together. Girls grow courageous and strong through a wide variety of enriching experiences, such as field trips, skill-building sports clinics, community service projects, cultural exchanges, and environmental stewardship. GS helps girls develop their full individual potential; relate to others with increasing understanding, skill, and respect; develop values to guide their actions and provide the foundation for sound decision-making; and contribute to the improvement of society through their abilities, leadership skills, and cooperation with others.

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!