September 2, 2021
This Week
Worship
9/5/2021
“What Shall We Do with Our Disillusionment?”
Rev. Joanna Fontaine Crawford
Online Only 10:00 am
 
The last 5 years, and especially the last 8 months have given us ample reason to question some things we took for granted. We may be feeling disillusioned with humanity and with life itself. What do we do with those feelings? 


Join us for Worship at 10:00am: the link will be on the Live Oak homepage: www.liveoakuu.org

Join us for Fellowship Time immediately following the service (approx. 10:45/11:00): https://link.liveoakuu.org/FellowshipHour
Share the Plate
Share Your Support with Share the Plate
It’s the High Holidays!
Our September 2021 Share the Plate community partner is the Anti-Defamation League of Texas. ADL is a leading anti-hate organization, founded in 1913 in response to an escalating climate of antisemitism and bigotry. Today, ADL is the first call when acts of antisemitism occur, and continues to fight all forms of hate. A global leader in exposing extremism, delivering anti-bias education, and fighting hate online, ADL’s ultimate goal is a world in which no group or individual suffers from bias, discrimination or hate.

ADL was chosen as our partner specifically for September, as Jews across the world observe the High Holidays. In addition, this donation is in recognition of our friendship and shared sacred space with Shir Ami. We stand united with them in fighting antisemitism.

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 September will go to the fund.

July recipient: UBarU - $1068.25
A Few Words from the Minister
The Stockdale Paradox
Jim Collins interviewed Admiral Stockdale, asking him who were the POWs who didn't make it. "Oh, that’s easy,” he said. “The optimists.” Read more
A Few Words from the DLFD
(Director of Lifespan Faith Development)
Family Focus Launch
Welcome to a new series of faith development for your home! Read more

Special Notices
Real Talk (aka Faith Development News)
Here is what I know right now...read more

Carrying the Flame -
Cindy LaGreca, Joel Bercu, and Stephani Bercu
In our new member ceremonies, we end by explaining that at Live Oak, it is important that what happens here does NOT stay here. It's important that we do justice work together, and it's also important that each of us carry our UU values out into our own particular spheres of influence.

This past week, three of our members notably did that:

Knowing that eating outdoors carries a much smaller risk of catching or spreading covid than being indoors, CINDY LAGRECA organized a volunteer effort to provide more tables at McCallum High School. Read more here.

JOEL and STEPHANI BERCU had a long night of it (that lasted until morning), waiting to testify at the state capitol in opposition to SB2. Then, just two days later, Stephani was at the Leander ISD School Board meeting, testifying in favor of their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policy. (It passed!)

Know of a Live Oak member who is carrying the flame out into the wider community? Let me know! minister@liveoakuu.org

Live Oak UU Endowment Grants
Help the Endowment Committee reach out to your favorite charitable organization
Do you know an organization that might benefit from an outreach grant from our Church? This is a reminder that Live Oak UU Church Endowment is accepting grant applications through the end of September.
The Endowment was created with the mission of providing grants that support UU values through congregational growth, as well as social and environmental action initiatives.
Proposals are being solicited from UU congregations, community organizations, or their affiliated groups. Organizations do not have to be UU to apply but need to support/advance UU values.
Grants are not awarded for the following purposes: debt reduction, bridge financing, and matching funds for other grants.
More details here.

An Invitation to an Ordination!
We have a new minister in our ranks! LOUU member Lee Legault is being ordained and you’re invited.
Lee Legault will be ordained into the UU ministry on Saturday, Sept 18 from 2-4 pm. Everyone at LOUU is warmly invited to attend via a link that will be posted. Due to Covid, there will only be a small in-person service for those needed in the ceremony, but please watch the ceremony online to join in Lee’s well-wishes.

Live Oak Seniors' Coffee Hour
Join us for Coffee hour on Thursdays at 10:30am. On the 1st & 3rd week of the month, Rev. Joanna will lead a lively discussion. The other weeks will be an informal gathering. The Zoom link will be on the What's Happening page.
coffee_beans_cup.jpg
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
UBarU Camp & Retreat Center is offering e-events to help you connect with camp and with each other. All the details are at http://ubaru.org/home/e-events. The cottages are available for personal and family get-aways. Just send me an email and we can confirm plans. Details about rates and accommodations

Each Friday at 6:30 p.m.   Join us for Friday Fellowship with Rev. Betty. Friday Fellowship includes meditation, readings, homily and discussion. All are welcome! Co-sponsored by UU Free Range Ministry and UBarU Camp & Retreat Center registration

Each Friday at 10 a.m. Dance as a spiritual practice, for all ages (adults and kids), genders, abilities, and fitness levels. Set an intention for joy, energy, movement, and community. Open to UUs and wider community, led by Community Minister Rev. Erin Walter. Questions or song requests, contact erinjwalter@gmail.com  link

Details at www.ubaru.org:
Men Aligned Fall Retreat   October 1-3, 2021 
Women Aligned fall retreat October 15-17, 2021

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