September 22, 2022
This Week
Worship
September 25, 10:00am - In Person or online (visit www.liveoakuu.org for the link)
Tell Me Everything
Rev. Joanna Fontaine Crawford

We are big fans of facts at Live Oak but when it comes to our lives it's the stories behind those facts that shape us and help us grow both as individuals and as a community.
Share the Plate
Going forward with Lilith Fund
Lilith Fund, the oldest abortion fund in Texas, is our Share the Plate recipient for September. It has been forced to pause direct funding of abortions while it evaluates the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court's summer decision in the Dobbs case and Texas laws that have made almost all abortions illegal in the state.
You can learn more at lilithfund.org.

You can contribute to Share the Plate during Sunday services or donate on our website. All checks and envelopes marked “Share the Plate” and half of all undesignated cash during the services will be donated to recipients. Or go to https://www.liveoakuu.org/community/donate/
A Few Words from the Minister
UU Identity and Inviting Others
How do we help "our people" find us? Read more
Special Notices
We Are A Generous People
The Live Oak congregation is already generously responding to the Stewardship appeal and renewing their commitment to our future. 30% of the congregation has pledged $104,480.00. Add your name to the List of Live Oak Supporters by submitting your 2023 PLEDGE FORM today.

Thank you,
The Stewardship Committee

There's an Elevator in Our Building!
The elevator technicians were busy this week. The elevator is complete. Next, the elevator adjuster will come and then the inspectors. We are so very close! Click here for more photos.



Office Closed
The office will be closed on Monday for Rosh Hashanah.

New info for 30th Anniversary party!
The celebration is Saturday, Oct 1 from 3-7 pm. Some things to know:
*Even if you’re not playing in the music program we hope you’ll bring instruments to jam with other musicians in Common Ground.
*The party is come and go as you please; no need to arrive at right at 3 and stay until 7.
*At 4:00 Everyone into the sanctuary for the live music. If you come while it’s in progress, there will be someone to help you slip in, hopefully unobtrusively.
*Please DO take as many photos and selfies as you wish, even during the music program!
#louu30 #30&thriving

3:00 Start arriving, get/make nametag, browse our booths, learn about the history of Live Oak, check out the scrapbooks and old photos, have fun at the Photo Booth, greet old friends, take photos.
4:00—Everyone to the sanctuary for music! Please no food or drinks there except water in a covered container.
5-ish to 7 – Chat with special guests, get food & drink, enjoy popcorn and cotton candy, greet friends, continue browsing booths and history project, jam/listen to
jamming in Common Ground, check out Photo Booth with friends.

Anniversary Celebration needs your help!
We're in need of a few volunteers!
1. People to help us set up tables and do some decorating, some of which will include (but not be limited to) climbing a ladder to attach things at the top of walls, and taking some round tables out to Common Ground. We’ll be at the church to set up and decorate on Friday 9/30 from 1-5 pm and again on Saturday 10/1 starting at 10 am or noon, depending on how much gets done on Friday.

2. Someone to set something up to provide music in the Narthex and Fellowship Hall just from 3-4 p.m. on Saturday 10/1 while people are arriving. Apparently there are speakers in both rooms but not sure how/what/where to go from there.

3. Also day of: Two people to set out food and help replenish food trays after the music program. One person from 5-6, another from 6-7.

Questions? Text Jen 512-468-4735 or email 30thannivteam@liveoakuu.org

Your Church Needs You To Get People to the Polls
Write, walk or drive.
Live Oak is committed to getting citizens to vote. Climate justice, racial and gender equality, reproductive freedom, schools that teach, fair elections, voting rights, dignity and worth for all, freedom from oppression – these are the fruits of our Principles in action. Voting matters. Here’s how you can help. Read more


For more information or to sign up for an action, contact the Live Oak Voting Rights Team at votingrights@liveoakuu.org

Labyrinth Fairies Have Been Very Busy
Have you visited the Live Oak labyrinth recently? You may be in for delightful surprise. Fairies have been hard at work maintaining the labyrinth, revitalizing the kiosk, and filling the kiosk with artistically designed materials. Thank you very much, Becky and Ray McPherson!

Attention Live Oak Voters!
We've got technology helping with our Voting Pledge effort.
As of September 18, we have reached the 35% voting mark. We still have a ways to go to achieve our goal of being a 100% voting congregation. The pledge cards are in the narthex alongside the green return box--not the stewardship box! You also can pledge online using this new link

And remember the last day to register to vote is OCTOBER 11.

Vote Forward Meets Again
Could We Mail 500 Letters??
Live Oak members have completed 320 Vote Forward letters so far this election cycle, so 500 is not impossible! These letters will go out to registered Texas voters who are not regular voters. We hope to spur them on to the polls this fall. We will meet again Oct. 23 after the service for one last push to get even more letters ready for the national mail-out Oct. 29. Please join us to stuff and seal envelopes or write letters. Bring the letters you've printed out yourself or come work on some that other members have ready. If you want more information about Vote Forward, check out their website VoteForward.org

Social Justice News
Astroturfed!
The Social Justice team was advocating with the Texas State Board of Education to “teach the truth” recently and we were Astro-turfed! Thank you, Rev. Joanna for explaining in your sermon 9/18 that “Astro-turfing” is when powerful people give community members “talking points” to use to flood an organization with their agenda. With the Board of Education, this was a religious right agenda. Read more

My experience teaching ESL classes by Jon Durbin
Teaching English as a Second Language - living my UU values

I was talking with Mary Hengstebeck the other day about the importance of the Church’s ESL classes and my experience teaching.

While I come from a family of teachers, I am not one. For this introvert, even thinking about teaching was a bit intimidating at first and stretched my comfort level. But teaching people who have immigrated to the United States and want to assimilate by learning English is one way for me to live my UU values. Read more

Learn More About LOUU Social Justice
Live Oak UU Church is committed to Social Justice! To keep informed about the important work of the Social Justice Ministry, become a member of an email group.

Just complete this brief Social Justice Email Group Form

The Social Justice Ministry Team

Upcoming: Ted Lasso & Bowen Discussion Group
Mark your calendar! Beginning in October, Rev. Joanna will be showing episodes of Ted Lasso then leading a discussion group around the Bowen Family Systems concepts shown in the show -- things like triangulation, differentiation, etc. The group will meet in the library at 6:00pm on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. If you're interested, email minister@liveoakuu.org to reserve a spot.
In the Community
Fall events at UBarU:
 
Bioblitz Oct 7-9
Women Aligned retreat Oct 14-16
Men Aligned retreat Oct 21-23
Winter Family Camp Dec 16-19

LiveOakUU.org Pages to Visit:
Worship Service & Fellowship Hour: http://www.liveoakuu.org/
Community Outreach & Social Justice: http://www.liveoakuu.org/justice/
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