April 22, 2021
This Week
Worship
April 25, 2021
10:00am
The Tao of Sustainability
Rev. Laura Shennum

Rev. Laura Shennum is a guest in our online pulpit this Sunday. Using the Process Theology concept of harmony, she will explore how we can create sustainability in our relations with each other and the world we inhabit. 


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
Healthcare Is a Human Right. Share-the-Plate to clear their debt.
Our April 2021 Share the Plate community partner is RIP Medical Debt. RIP uses donors’ funds to wipe out medical debt from the neediest cases, and every $1 donated forgives $100 in medical debt. Every day 79,000,000 Americans choose between paying their medical bills and basic needs like food and shelter. Sixty-six percent of all US bankruptcies are due to medical debt and 25% of all US credit card debt is medical debt. RIP specifically focuses on “hot spots” around the county, those places most in need of medical debt relief, and Texas is one of those hot spots. So far they have paid off nearly $4 billion in medical debt and have provided relief for nearly 2.5 million American families. You can read more about their mission at ripmedicaldebt.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 April will go to the fund.

March recipient: The Safe Alliance - $470.00
A Few Words from the Minister
The Guinea Worm Straw
After being president, Jimmy Carter wanted to focus much of his time and resources. He spoke to experts around the world, asking them what was one problem that with time and attention could actually be solved? Not minimized, but solved?

Their consensus? Little Dragons. Read more
A Few Words from the DLFD
Faith Development 4.19 to 4.25.21
The latest news...read more
Special Notices
Fun & Fellowship Team Lead
The Executive Team is pleased to announce that Edith Waters has been appointed to lead the Fun & Fellowship Team. Edith and the team are already discussing how to continue the fun in accessible ways online even when we are physically back together, and we appreciate her leadership. If you are interested in joining this dynamic (and fun) team, email fun@liveoakuu.org.
Happy Earth Day!
From your friends on the Live Oak Environmental Awareness Group.
You are invited to join this intergenerational group for members over the age of 14. The meeting starts at 6:30 this evening. The Zoom Meeting Link is on the What's Happening page.

At Live Oak We EMPOWER DREAMS
Live Oak Hands on Housing volunteers completed our 2021 Spring Blitz on Saturday, 17 April, 2021 for Melvin and Faye Sterling on Carwill Drive, Austin. We made some minor carpentry repairs and painted the exterior of the home. As has become custom, we were teamed with the good folks of First UU Church of Austin. A great big thank you, and air hugs, to the volunteers:

Mark E. Anderson
Ed Boissevain
Jon Durbin
Jane Justice
Cindy La Greca
Wayne McCullough
Garrett Taylor
Marjorie Taylor

If conditions in the Fall permit, we will have a Fall Blitz, usually some time in October. Pertinent details will follow as the time grows near.
Last Call for VANCO
There are a few people that haven't changed their electronic payments from VANCO to Breeze. We are going to be cancelling our VANCO service. If you still need to change, please do the following:

  • Go to the VANCO payment page at http://bit.ly/byebyevanco
  • Log in to: see your existing automatic transactions.
  • Follow the on-screen instructions to delete those transactions.
  • Then go to the Breeze online contribution page at https://louu.breezechms.com/give/online
  • Go through the (much simpler) steps to set up your new contribution.

Questions? Email asst-treasurer@liveoakuu.org.

ABE Tutors Needed
Do you want an activity to punctuate your week, give you something to look forward to, help you remember what day it is? Our Adult Basic Education program needs 2 tutors right away. We're getting one student who realizes it's time to get his GED but falls short of the requirements for the Literacy Council Williamson County pre-GED program, and another who didn't learn to read or write properly due to civil war in her home country of Liberia. Our program offers one-on-one lessons to students. Training is provided. If you can spend 1 1/2 hours each week giving an online lesson and about thirty minutes for preparation, this may be just the volunteer opportunity you've been looking for. Contact Kim Ono or Mary Hengstebeck for more information.
Opportunity – help your neighbors learn English on Zoom.
If you have been thinking you might want to help, we invite you to observe some classes.
Getting to know our wonderful students, is a great way to have a positive influence in our community. Our goal is to increase student’s confidence so they can talk with people at stores, their neighbors, their children’s teachers, and health professionals. Our goal is not perfect grammar or perfect pronunciation.
Anyone who wants to teach or assist, will work with current teachers to become familiar with our classroom activities. You determine when and how much you want to participate. Conversation classes are 1.5 hours, and we structure them so that the students are doing 80% of the talking.
If you would like more information, please contact Mary Hengstebeck or 512-983-7009.
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.
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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. Friday  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


May 28-31 Family Camp  - Details at www.ubaru.org

Youth Summer camps- dates are based on age of camper
Details at www.ubaru.org

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