November 19, 2020
This Week
Worship
November 22nd at 10:00am
Sarah's Thanksgiving
Rev. Joanna Fontaine Crawford
 
The United States was divided into friend and foe, and many were heartsick. It was 1863, and the Unitarian editor of a popular magazine wrote an editorial begging President Lincoln for a national holiday so that “every one who claims the name of American, wherever he may be—in the old world or the new, on the land or on sea—unite to commemorate the day.” Come join us online for our annual bread communion and to learn more about Sarah’s vision for a day of thanks.


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

Worship, 10:00 am. Link: https://link.liveoakuu.org/LOUUworship

Join us for Fellowship Time immediately following the service (approx. 10:45/11:00)


Share the Plate
Resolve to Share the Plate this month
Help bring more Live Oakers into this world!

Our November Share the Plate community partner is Resolve: The National Infertility Association. Resolve helps provide access to infertility care, insurance coverage, support, education, and awareness for infertility. Reproductive medicine is a new and constantly changing field, and insurance companies haven’t caught up to providing equal access to the care that thousands of hopeful parents need.

October Recipient - The Breast Cancer Resource Center $428.39
A Few Words from the Minister

Grumbling Gratitude
I am not a fan of forced gratitude and have even preached about it...but some years break the rules. Read more

Special Notices
Faith Development 11.16.20 to 11.22.20
Updates for Faith Development Read more

Live Oak Leaders Make Church Data Management a "Breeze"
Church leaders C.T. Goss, Nick Pritchard, Jennifer Hale, and administrator Diane Stepakof-Fay have moved all of Live Oak's financial and membership data to a new program called "Breeze." Transferring and organizing data from one system to another takes significant work. So this has been a giant undertaking, and one that is already making a tremendous difference in how we take care of membership, stewardship matters, even things like connecting up all of the members willing to be readers for the worship services. This cloud-based program allows the assistant-treasurers and Treasurer to conduct the financial management of the church through secure means from their own homes, and allows leaders throughout the church to easily communicate with different groups in the congregation. (For instance, all members are "tagged" with the geo-group they are in.) Thank you, C.T., Nick, Jennifer, and Diane!
Winter Speech Choir
Last chance to sign up to participate in the Winter Speech Choir for worship on December 13th. All ages welcome. Form closes on 11/22. 
??? - Contact Carrie Krause, [email protected]
The Mitten Tree is Back
Donations will be handled differently, but there are several ways you can participate without leaving your house!
Questions? [email protected]

Congregation Business

Semi-Annual Congregation Meeting & Special Meeting Called by the Board of Trustees
Meetings will be back-to-back online with Zoom beginning at 11:00am on December 13. A quorum is required. The Congregational Meeting will primarily focus on reviewing and voting on the proposed 2021 budget. A Special Meeting is called to discuss and vote on the movement of funds to enable balancing the 2021 budget. Meeting link, agenda, and a proxy ballot form will be available here
Share the Plate Nominations
Now is your chance to say where our money goes!
The share-the-plate team is in need of your help. Starting now and going through the whole month of November, you may nominate any 501(c)3-designated organization to be a S-t-P partner for 2021. Fill out this form by December 1 and the team will make final decisions by the end of the year. You may submit as many organizations as you would like, as long as they 1. uphold our UU values and 2. have a 501(c)3 number. Include as much information about the organization as possible so we can know why their mission matters to you.

Your Christmas Song Videos
We love seeing families like yours sing!
Reminder- everyone who enjoys singing Christmas Carols with their family is invited to make videos for services during the holiday season. Wouldn't you love to see other church families singing? Of course! We miss seeing everyone on stage, especially at this time of year! Pick a carol or song, and if you need my help or a piano accompaniment, let me know! [email protected]

Videos due by the last Sunday in November.

Thanks all! Rebecca
Help Distribute Food to Our Neighbors
Live Oak Church will be distributing food to our neighbors at Fresh Food Friday November 20th and need volunteers to help.

* Friday, November 20th @ 8:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. in the Live Oak parking lot. This is when we distribute the food to our neighbors. Volunteers are needed to set up, direct people to the drive through area, collect client information, and place food in client’s trunk. You do not need to remain the entire 2 & 1/2 hours.

HCCM has asked for 7 people for each activity. We are asking you to please let us know if you will be able to participate in either activity, so we know if we have enough or too many people.

To RSVP or for any questions please contact Donna Durbin at: [email protected]
Live Oak Has a New Phone Number
737-240-3345
Change your automatic donation
Changing your automated pledge contribution to our new church management system makes giving a breeze! If you've struggled with donating money electronically to Live Oak, this news is for you.

Live Oak is saying goodbye to VANCO's complicated donation screens and adopting Breeze, which will make pledge and other church contributions easier. The assistant treasurers are asking all Live Oak contributors who contribute through VANCO to transition to Breeze by January 1 at the latest. Read more
LiveOakUU.org Pages to Visit:
Worship Service & Fellowship Hour: http://www.liveoakuu.org/ for
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

UBarU Winter Family Camp December 31, 2020 thru January 2, 2021   
Weekend includes winter holiday activities, games, and multi-generational times.
 Fun, campfires, rest and a chance to celebrate some winter holidays
together with folks at camp! Physical distancing, masks and other COVID
accommodations are expected of all participants and staff. Event is limited to
7 family/quaran-team units in cottages and Suites. Tent campers and/or use of
personal campers in encouraged for a limited number of groups.

   
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: [email protected]