November 25, 2021
This Week
Worship
Join us for Worship at 9:30am in person or online: the link will be on the Live Oak homepage: www.liveoakuu.org

Join us for Fellowship Time immediately following the service (approx. 10:15/10:30): https://link.liveoakuu.org/FellowshipHour

Share the Plate
Giving Thanks Through Sharing Our Plate
Here’s your chance to share a meal though Share the Plate.
Our November 2021 Share the Plate community partner is the Round Rock Area Serving Center. The Serving Center offers many programs and services: The Community Gardens, clothing and furniture vouchers, Computers for Kids, Keep Round Rock Warm, alternative loan repayment program, and financial assistance (utilities, rent, prescriptions, transportation & temporary lodging). It also runs a food pantry initiative that distributes fresh fruits and vegetables to the Round Rock area community.

RRASC was chosen as our partner specifically for November, as Americans give thanks for their abundance. www.rrasc.org

Go to the Donate link on the Live Oak website’s home page. Use the drop down menu to designate your donation for “Share the Plate”. In addition to those designated donations, half of all undesignated gifts in November will go to the fund.
A Few Words from the Minister
Gratitude as a Tool for Awakening
If you had told me that one year later, I would be sitting here with 2 vaccines plus a booster under my belt, that we would be meeting in person, albeit outside, for church ... well, I would have said I couldn't ask for anything more! Read more


A Few Words from the DLFD
(Director of Lifespan Faith Development)
Faith Development 11.22 to 11.28.21
No classes this Sunday, November 28. Read more
Special Notices
Ted Lasso Coming to Live Oak in January
Our January worship series will be drawing inspiration from the TV show on the Apple+ app, "Ted Lasso." You don't need to have seen the show to enjoy this series, but if you'd like to see it, but haven't budgeted for another streaming service, email minister@liveoakuu.org and ask for the "Ted Lasso Scholarship." If you're a Live Oak member, we'll get you all set up.
Adult Basic Education
Immediate need for two tutors
Part of Community Service at Live Oak is literacy work. We need you to volunteer.
Our Adult Basic Education program gives adult students the opportunity to improve their reading and writing skills. We work one - on - one with students. As you can imagine, we get to know them well and feel much satisfaction witnessing their progress. For example, one of our students couldn't read and barely knew her letters. After one year, she is reading at a third grade level. Another student greatly improved his writing skills and got a full time job in his profession. If you would like to know more about this program, please contact Kim Ono

Christmas Pageant
I can't believe it is time again but here it is. This year is a strange one for sure, but we are forging ahead with our live worship that will also be livestreamed. We need singers, mimes, storytellers, and readers. People of all ages are welcome.
This year's theme is A Very Unitarian Christmas.
Pageant date: December 12, 9:30 AM. There will be one blocking rehearsal on Saturday, December 11, 9:30 AM. There may be additional rehearsals for the singers. Rebecca will provide recordings for practicing the songs at home.
If you would like to help with this fun, active worship service, please fill out the form below.
??? - contact Carrie Krause, dlfd@liveoakuu.org.

Spring 2022 Campout!
It's been awhile, let's do this!
The 2022 spring campout will be the weekend of April 8-10 at Cedar Breaks Park on Lake Georgetown. Make your reservation here. It’s a COE (Corps of Engineers) park so if you have a national parks pass, you can use it here. I’ve made my reservation in one of the 20s facing the lake, if you want to try to be in the same area.

Everyone, friends and members alike, are welcome to camp with us! And if you just want to come out for the day it’s not far from Austin. Join the Live Oak UU Camping Group on Facebook here There you can ask questions and communicate with others about the campout.

Watch this space for more detailed info in future newsletters. - Jen Swan
Used Laptops and Tablets Needed for Literacy Programs
Laptops and Tablets support Literacy students (ESL & ABE)
There are several programs we install to support English as a Second Language and Adult Basic Education students. Used computers/tablets are set back to factory settings and all previous data removed. We especially need Windows machines for one of the programs. If you can help, contact Mary Hengstebeck (mary.hengstebeck@gmail.com 512-983-7009)

Holiday Help for Our Neighbors
Grocery shopping for the holiday? Pick up a few extra items for Hill Country Community Ministries and drop them off at the church. They still need a few things to finish the holiday meal kits – Canned Peaches, Jell-O, and Evaporated Milk. They also need hygiene items. The HCCM monthly needs list can be found here.
Want a Live Oak Green Bag for HCCM Donations? You can pick one up on Sundays or at the church during office hours.
Live Oak Seniors' Coffee Hour
Join Rev. Joanna for Coffee hour on the 1st & 3rd Thursdays at 10:30am. The Zoom link will be on the What's Happening page.
Call for Share the Plate Nominations
The share-the-plate team is now accepting nominations for next year’s partners.
This year, we will be accepting nominations quarterly—we will plan partners 3 months at a time so that we can choose new partners as the year’s news and events unfold. This means we will need your help on an on-going basis. Nominees can be local, state, or federal 501(c)3 organizations that share our UU values and mission. Submit your suggestions here:

Nominations are accepted from LOUU members, friends, and youth.

The Mitten Tree is Back
Is it really time for the holidays again? The mitten tree says ‘yes.’
As you remember, LOUU partners every year with Hill Country Christmas Bureau. After some experimenting last year with how to navigate the mitten tree in a pandemic, the elves at the Christmas Bureau have asked us to just focus on a few different types of items that will cover a lot of the requests they get each year. Because we like alliteration, we decided to go with blankets and board games. Purchase any size or style of blanket, and/or board games for any ages, and drop them off at church unwrapped on December 12th.
That’s the day of the LOUU pageant, so bring the blankets and board games to service for collection. We will likely have an after-service drive-through option as well (details will be confirmed as we know them). If you have an item to donate but can’t get there on the 12th, please let Cindy La Greca know and we will figure out another day.

LOUU typically overachieves on the mitten tree and I hope this year is no exception.

LiveOakUU.org Pages to Visit:
Worship Service & Fellowship Hour: http://www.liveoakuu.org/
Community Outreach & Social Justice: http://www.liveoakuu.org/justice/
In the Community
Online Meditation Group
Meditation is a skill strengthened with practice. Join us on Tuesdays at 6:30 Central to share 30 minutes with other meditators.  On the third Tuesday of each month, we add an extra half hour to explore different forms of meditation. The group is led by two Unitarian Universalist ministers, Rev. Betty Skwarek, and Rev. Rob Moore. We meet on Zoom To register follow this link.
For more information, contact Rev. Betty Skwarek at hskwarek@uuma.org or  512-994-8748.
The deadline for the weekly e-newsletter and the Sunday announcements is midnight on Tuesday. The submission form can be found here
If you have any questions or comments about this Newsletter please email: editor@liveoakuu.org