| First Unitarian Connection |
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Note: When the newsletter is sent via email, the text may be truncated. To be sure you are seeing the entire newsletter, please click on the "view in browser" link near the top of the message or scroll to the bottom where it says [Message clipped] and click on: View entire message
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| Sundays at First Unitarian Church |
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Sunday, June 23, 11:00 am, Sanctuary
Join us in person or watch on YouTube.
This service was written by Rev. Clyde Grubbs and Mary Jane Holden, and adapted by Erika Hewitt. It uses readers—as many as ten, plus the Worship Leader—to tell the story of the Civil Rights movement as it unfolded over the course of a decade. This story is a sacred one; a powerful one. The worship components included in this service center Black voices as an intentional effort to decenter whiteness.
Participating in today’s service:
Service Leaders: Tim Atkins, DLRE and Members of the Racial Justice Team; Worship Associate: Lori Jervis; Chalice Lighter: ; Call to Offering: Fenton Rood; Accompanist: Steven Elkins Kennedy; Ushers: Members of the Racial Justice Team; Technical Support: Tammy Epperson and Ellisya Ravencroft
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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.
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Sunday, June 23, 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.
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Sunday, June 23 (immediately after the service) Daniel Hall
Coffee, Lemonade and Conversation
Join us after the service in Daniel Hall for coffee, lemonade and conversation.
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Upcoming Services
June 30 - No Sunday Services (We encourage you to attend the Pride Parade)
July 7 - Suzanne Broadbent & Deborah Shinn
July 14 - Rev. Nicole Kirk, Guest Minister
July 21 - Rev. Jim Eller, Guest Minister
July 28 - Rev. Steven Leigh Williams, Guest Minister
August 4 - Rev. Tamara Lebak, Affiliated Community Minister
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News from Rev. Sue
As I write my last newsletter message, my heart is full from our last Sunday together. Thanks to all of you who came to the service and reception, or sent greetings in other ways. I'm so grateful for your kind words, and enthusiastically return them. I meant what I said in Sunday's "exit interview" with Tim Atkins: that of all the wonderful things I've experienced from my time here at First Unitarian, it's the people I've appreciated most. You truly are an amazing congregation!
When I arrived in March, we'd all anticipated that I'd be handing the mantle of ministry over to another intentional interim minister. Instead, it has passed temporarily into the capable hands of Tim Atkins, your religious educator. Tim will be serving as Head of Staff, in collaboration with your very able administrator, Marlies Grogg. I'm confident they'll make an excellent team, working with the Board - and with the rest of you! - to make sure the vibrant and vital ministries of this church continue.
As I said in Sunday's sermon, you're entering unknown territory for now - what William Bridges called the Neutral Zone. It's possible that you've experienced other times without ordained clergy, but if you have, it's been a long time. Plans are in place to navigate this new terrain, but how long the journey will take no one knows. Please know that I'm spreading the word among colleagues about what a great congregation you are, and I know Rev. Diana is, too.
And yet, I have every confidence that you'll navigate this terrain well. I invite to think of it as a fruitful and creative time - time for reflection, time for discovery of new possibilities. And I invite each of you to ask yourself, "What am I being called to now? What gifts do I bring now to this beloved community? And what gifts could I bring?"
On Monday morning, I'll be starting the drive for my home in Albuquerque. As I prepare to leave Oklahoma City, words come to mind from a group I used to sing with in Boston. It's a traditional American folk song, and the group sang it as a blessing at the close of every practice. I offer it here, slightly amended:
Kindred all, this meeting is over,
Kindred, we must part.
But if I never see you anymore,
I'll love you in my heart.
I do carry you in my heart as I leave this place, full of gratitude for our time together. Thanks for inviting me into your midst for these three months!
Love and blessings,
Rev. Sue
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Transition Tracker
We have said good-bye to Rev. Sue, and she has left us with a new understanding of a different way a minister can function. Rev. Sue had a style and expectations that were not the same as Rev. Diana's. And we got along just fine, adapting where needed. So we have already been transitioning - from how things were over the last 5 years to a little more openness to new ways of doing things. The Transitional Ministry has served its purpose.
So have we found a minister yet?
I know that's what you're thinking! The answer is no; no one has responded yet to our online posting about our open position. There could be an inquiry at any time; on the other hand, the season when most ministers would be looking for a position draws to a close around August. There will be fewer people looking after that, though it still could happen.
Meanwhile, the staff and the Board are going ahead with plans for the summer and the fall, with or without a minister. Tim is busy scheduling and planning services, as well as the resumption of the RE program after a break in June. The Executive Team and Human Resources Working Group, along with the staff, have been taking a close look at who will be handling which responsibilities, to make sure nothing falls between the cracks. Although the Board of Trustees won't meet again till August, the Executive Team (consisting of the President, Immediate Past President, President-Elect, and now Tim, as Head of Staff), will be meeting weekly all summer.
We will keep you posted on any new developments.
Marcia Woodward
President, Board of Trustees, 2023-24
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| Adult Education Classes & Courses |
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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.
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Saturday, June 29, 9:30 am Daniel Hall
Into the Silence
You are cordially invited to join the 1UC Scissortail Sangha for a day
of meditation practice, Saturday, June 29 – 9:30am - 3:30 pm.
We will enjoy
alternating 30 minute periods of sitting and walking meditation… plus lunch
(please bring your own), and a
video/dharma talk by the beloved Thich Nhat Hanh, who passed away in January,
2022.
Questions, curiosities? Dara - 405 556-0665 or Larry – 405 510-1705 are
happy to receive your inquiries.
This event is free of charge and open to
all!
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| Radical Welcoming Team (RWT) |
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Friday, June 21, 7:00 pm, Daniel Hall
Pride Without Prejudice - A Safe Space All-Ages Party
Join us for a joyous celebration of queer pride in a welcoming and safe space! We understand that many 2SLGBTQIA+ folx may not feel comfortable celebrating Pride at larger community events. So, the First Unitarian Radical Welcoming Team is offering a safe space to express your Pride and celebrate queer joy this Pride Month!
This inclusive event is open to all 2SLGBTQIA+ attendees of First Unitarian Church, their safe and supportive friends and family, and 1UC attendees who are allies of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Come dance the night away to our vibrant Pride playlist! We are featuring a special family-friendly drag performance by Kronie Khalil Raine at 8:30 PM. Our lovely performer has agreed to waive their usual fee for our event, so please feel free to tip generously as you enjoy the show. There will be a delightful selection of hors d’oeuvres, desserts, and non-alcoholic beverages to enjoy!
While fancy dress is encouraged, the most important thing is that you come in attire that makes you feel comfortable and true to yourself.
For safety, members of the 1UC security team will be present.
Important Notes:
To ensure a safe space, please refrain from advertising this event outside the First Unitarian community. Minors must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Please enter through the back door with the stairs that lead to Daniel Hall, the door will remain locked and we will greet folx there. If you come late, please ring the doorbell. If you need to enter with the accessible z as ramp, please call or text 1UC security team member, Todd Hildebrandt at 970-210-2238.
We look forward to celebrating Pride together in our community!
Questions? Contact Lynn Ann Wagner at flowerdancer@hotmail.com
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| Wednesday, June 26, 7:00 pm |
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| Community Pride Worship Service |
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First Unitarian Church is co-sponsoring the interfaith Community Pride Worship Service at Mosaic Community Church on Wednesday, June 26th at 7:00 pm. Click for more information: https://www.facebook.com/share/aBcuWRM66WAN1wSD/
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Sunday, June 30, 11:00 am
UUs at Pride 2024 Celebrating 2SLGBTQIA+ Folx!
The OKC Pride Alliance Parade will be held on Sunday, June 30th starting at 11:00 am (no worship service at First Unitarian this day). To join us in walking the parade or riding in the First Unitarian trailer, we will be lining up at 10:00 am. We will meet at the parade lineup on Walker Ave., more information to come. Look for our banner or familiar faces in the lineup. First Unitarian youth will be decorating our trailer for the parade, please meet at 9:45 am (please note the time change).
Pride Alliance Pridefest runs from Friday, June 28th through Sunday, June 30th at Scissortail Park, click here to learn more about Pridefest and the parade: https://www.okcpridealliance.org/
If you want to join in celebrations and don’t want to walk/ride in the trailer, bring out your favorite chair and join the folx watching and cheering along the parade routes! All are welcome! All are loved!
Need further information? Contact Lynn Ann Wagner for details at flowerdancer@hotmail.com.
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Memorial Garden
Are you familiar with our Memorial Garden? Established in 1987, our tranquil garden, located on each side of the entrance to the church from the Allen Courtyard, holds cremated remains and provides a place for congregants to honor and memorialize the lives and memories of their loved ones.
Beautiful slabs of granite with bronze plaques identify the deceased. The east side of the garden will be in use soon.
You can prepay for a portion of your ashes to be interred in the garden. There is a one-time fee of $275, BUT the price will rise to $300 on July 1. If you think this is something you might be interested in, send your money to the church office.
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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!
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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 contact Susan Bishop (Chair of Befrienders).
Please contact Marcia Woodward (President of the Board) or Cathy Webster (President Elect) 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!
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June Change for Change
For the month of June our Change for Change partner is OKC Beautiful. (Garden at Esperanza Elementary)
Their Mission: is to lead Oklahoma City’s beautification and environmental stewardship through collaboration, education, and advocacy.
Their Vision: Oklahoma City is a vibrant community where citizens practice environmentally sustainable lifestyles and nurture economic growth through our programs.
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Commentary: While summer is quickly approaching and yes, our church allows our minister to have the summer off for study, reflection and rest, the work of justice seeking and justice making continues for all our teams. The teams may not meet as often during summer months, but the work of justice continues.
We hope you will take this summer to think and reflect on the various justice issues happening in all our lives, from voting restrictions to bans on drag queens and books, losing our bodily autonomy to injustices in our communities based on ethnicity and culture. If you are concerned, there is a way to help. Join one of our Justice Teams when our church in-gathers in September. If you don’t particularly care for sitting in meetings, that’s okay because the work of justice doesn’t happen in meetings. There are projects for everyone.
Join the struggle for “liberty and justice for all” as it says in our Pledge of Allegiance.
CHANGE FOR CHANGE: Our May Change for Change partner, Re-Merge, received a check for $990.00. Thank you all for your generosity.
NEWS FROM RACIAL JUSTICE: Several members from our church attended the Juneteenth on the East celebration last Saturday, June 15th. Despite the heat, we enjoyed the music and festivities. We hope to see more Unitarians at this celebration next year!
NEWS FROM UU MINISTRY FOR EARTH: September 28-29, 2024
UU Ministry for Earth is happy to be one of the primary organizers of the Climate Justice Revival. The Revival events will be held in your congregational setting. Gather your justice teams, problem solvers, and dreamers. The Revival planning team will provide everything needed: facilitation toolkits, training, music, projects, coordinated justice action focused on the election and climate justice, and more. No matter your congregation’s size or resources, you can join and together we will enter a new era of climate action. Let's go—appoint two volunteer facilitators who will be trained to participate. Registration fee goes from $50 to $100 on July 1, 2024. (Scholarships available.) Register: https://www.uuclimatejustice.org
NEWS FROM UUSC (Unitarian Universalist Service Committee)
The Right to Live in a Sustainable Climate:
Being forced to leave your home because of environmental destruction that you did nothing to cause is unjust. UUSC’s partners support communities upholding their right to live in a sustainable climate and to relocate, if necessary, with dignity and self-determination. Recently, Elder Rosina Phillipe and Brandy Bartholomew of Louisiana’s Atakapa Ishak Chawasha Tribe and Morris Alexie of the Nunapitchuk Alaska Native village were among those who testified before the Inter-American Human Rights Commission (IACHR) in Manaus, Brazil, about the continued impacts of climate change and its effects on Indigenous communities.
NEWS FROM OK POLICY INSTITUTE: Federal judge issues temporary injunction blocking key provision of House Bill 1775: More than 2½ years after the lawsuit initially was filed, a federal judge in Oklahoma City issued a temporary injunction Friday that keeps the state from enforcing a key section of House Bill 1775, which bans the teaching of certain racial and gender topics in Oklahoma classrooms. [The Oklahoman]
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Backlash against DEI spreads to more states: In several states, lawmakers are enjoying growing success in their pushback against DEI programs at public universities, many of which have hired administrators and established departments dedicated to creating more diverse faculties and student bodies. [Oklahoma Voice]
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After final vetoes include line-items on OSDE, Stitt issues order on all state PR contracts: Gov. Kevin Stitt announced Friday afternoon that he vetoed five bills passed by the Oklahoma Legislature in the final days of its regular session. He also quietly line-item vetoed a budget-limits bill that had provoked the ire of State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters, but the governor issued an executive order dealing with the same topic to apply restrictions statewide. [NonDoc]
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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.
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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 - 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month, 6:00 pm, Meditation Room - Corley Commons (contact Larry Little for information)
- BRUU
– Wednesday, June 19, 7:00 pm (contact Jon Schneider for information)
- Exploring Spirituality - Friday, June 21, 7:00 pm (contact Lu Ann Faulkner-Schneider for information)
- Pride Without Prejudice - A Safe Space All-Ages Party - Friday, June 21, 7:00 pm, Daniel Hall (contact Lynn Ann Wagner for information or see article above)
- Fiber Connections - Saturday, June 22, 10:00 am, Eddy Room (contact Paula Geisinger for information)
- VOICE Meeting - Sunday, June 23, 9:00 am, Eddy Room (contact Maureen Harvey for information)
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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.
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**********************************************************************************
In order to save printing and mailing costs and to conserve natural resources, the Annual Report will not be mailed by default to all congregants. Instead, it is available online. Please contact Marlies Grogg (mgrogg@1uc.org) if you would like to receive a hard copy of the Annual Report.
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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.
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CHURCH STAFF
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
Suzanne Broadbent Lori Jervis Liz Pillar-Little John Schneider Tom Peryam Derrick Wagner
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