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This Week
Sunday, February 23 at 9:00am & 11:00am
Peacekeeper, Peacemaker, Troublemaker
Rev. Joanna Fontaine Crawford
Share the Plate:
Your Donation Makes Their Lunch (Count)
We Share the Plate this month with LunchCounts!, a local organization started by a student at St. Andrews, dedicated to paying off school lunch debt in Austin, Pflugerville and Del Valle ISS schools. All month long, half of all cash donations and all StP-designated checks will be donated to LunchCounts!
January Share the Plate total: $1687.20
Hill Country Community Ministries
Love Notes
Each month, there will be a different group at Live Oak featured in our "Love Notes" appreciation program. You're encouraged to grab one of those pink sheets and let the group know how much you appreciate what they contribute to Live Oak life. January love notes will be for our Nominating Committee. Please be sure to stop by the Love Notes box and show your love!
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A Few Words from the Minister...
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Ministerial Sabbatical 1: Purpose
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A Few Words from the DLFD...
(Director of Lifespan Faith Development)
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Who's Who in UU
The need to "Christianize Christianity" is "timely and urgent..."
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Teacher and Preacher Answer Your Questions
"What is the difference between a Chalice Circle and a Covenant Group?" Find out here.
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Help Distribute Food to Our Neighbors 
Live Oak UU will distribute food to our neighbors at Fresh Food Friday. Please volunteer:
Friday, February 21st @ 8:30 a.m. to 11:15 in the Live Oak parking lot is when we distribute food to our neighbors. Volunteers are needed to set up the tables, help with the selection of food, and to help carry food to our neighbors' cars. You do not need to remain the entire 2 1/2 hours.
Your help is needed!
Any questions please contact Donna Durban at HCCM@liveoakuu.org
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Every fourth Sunday is H.O.P.E. Sunday - Help Our People Eat! Please bring non-perishable groceries this Sunday to Live Oak, to be donated to Hill Country Community Ministries. The groceries will be taken up during the worship services at 9 and 11 am. Help fill up the cart with non-perishable food and household essentials. Here is a list of items that are needed. In January 182 pounds of donated cans and hygiene items. Let's do it again - help us continue to Empower the Dream of helping our neighbors.
In addition to providing our donation last Friday, we distributed 1,620 pounds to 93 families totaling 309 individuals. Thank You, The HCCM Team
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The Policy Committee will be having a regular business meeting on Wednesday, February 26 at 6:00 PM in the Narthex. The meeting is open to all members of the congregation.
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Baby/Child Dedication Sunday, March 29
On Sunday, March 29, we will have a baby/child dedication during the morning worship services. If you are interested in having your child participate, please send an email to minister@liveoakuu.org. More information about this ceremony.
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Polytheistic Family Gatherings
Come polytheists, witches, animists, pagans, and earth based spiritualists!
We will meet Friday February 28th from 5-7pm to celebrate the coming spring, have a potlock, share discussion and do candle craft. We will do a short child friendly meditation and discussion. We will continue discussion of candles in rituals, altars and ceremonies with materials we didn't finish using from our first meeting. Children are welcome, and you may always bring items to decorate the altar with (which you can take home with you afterward) and children's toys to share with the group. Look forward to seeing you!
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Undoing Racism Chalice Circle
2020
This chalice circle focuses on our own unlearning, using materials from Layla Saad's workbook, and now book,
Me & White Supremacy
. The intended audience is "white identifying" people. There will be intense individual work between meetings. The circle time will focus on sharing what we have learned, where we are struggling, and what we do next.
From the book: "The Me And White Supremacy Workbook is a personal anti-racism tool that has been designed to help you to take ownership of your participation in the oppressive system of white supremacy, and to help you take responsibility for dismantling the way that this system manifests both within you and within your communities. This workbook is part education, part activation. It helps you to take a clear look at the different multifaceted aspects of white supremacy and how they operate in both subtle and direct ways within you, and within others.
This chalice circle will meet for six 2-hour sessions on Sunday afternoons, 12 - 2:00 PM. Bring a lunch and spend the first 30 minutes chatting and eating, before moving into deep listening.
Schedule: Sundays, 12:00 - 2:00 PM, Room 111
6 Sessions @ 2 hours: Mar 1, Mar 15, Mar 29, Apr 19, May 3, May 17
Participants will be required to purchase the book, Me and White Supremacy, by Layla Saad. $9.99 on Kindle, $16.91 in hardback. Information on that will be provided via email.
Sign up at Here. Childcare may be available for this Chalice Circle, if indicated at registration time. Class size limited to 8 people.
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The new Vergers Team met on February 18 to discuss their role as Sunday "hosts" while Rev. Joanna is on sabbatical. On Sundays with guest preachers, they will welcome the minister, introduce them to their worship leader and others involved with that Sunday's service, and offer hospitality. Beginning in September, they will assist with the sacramental ceremonies, and collaborate with Rev. Joanna in the overall development of worship services. Welcome new vergers: Michele Olivier, Darius Long, Becca Russell, Rob Sartin, Liz Waters, and Dianne Sylvan.
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Shirley Mackey,
Michael & Jessi Davis, Kathy & Chip Weiss - Hull,
Nancy Sheehy, Carmen Rumbaut
Get acquainted with Live Oak's newest members:
Shirley Mackey comes to Live Oak with a wealth of UU experience.
Meet Shirley
Michael Davis enjoys sharing his sense of humor with others.
Meet Michael
Jessi Davis connects and enriches lives in many ways.
Meet Jessi
Kathy Weiss - Hull is always looking for a good hiking trail.
Meet Kathy
Chip Weiss - Hull is drawn to the mix of people at Live Oak.
Meet Chip
Nancy Sheehy values a community of like-minded people.
Meet Nancy
Carmen Rumbaut may just be our
mystic poet in our midst.
Meet Carmen
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We are excited to announce a brand new way to help our community, and to make it happen we need your ideas! In order to help our church do more, and be more we have formed a committee to help raise some extra funds. That's where all of your great ideas come in. We need some outside the box thinkers t
o find innovative fundraising ideas that match our goals and feel like us.
If you're interested in joining us, or just have a couple of great ideas to submit send an email to
policy@liveoakuu.org
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Music at Live Oak - Spring 2020
Looking for (musical) play dates?
At our recent Music Team meeting, it was decided that we would try to get more of our own (members and friends) up on stage doing music. Although hiring professional musicians is a wonderful change once in a while, there is nothing like being up there playing with and for your own community. Even very simple music can add to the service. It takes courage, but it really is a gift to the congregation. You may last have played your horn or violin in high school. You may have sung in the high school choir but you can't commit to the Live Oak choir. That's OK! If you are willing to do a little work remembering how to play (or sing), along with others, it can be very rewarding, and who knows where it might lead.
Here is a link for signing up on our list. If you would like to comment about it, there is a space for that too. I think we have many amateur musicians in our congregation that might enjoy trying something new! Thanks in advance!
- Rebecca Maze
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Chalice Pathways and Memorial Garden 
Live Oak is so fortunate to have beautiful space behind the church building, it is much like having our own park. With spring fast approaching take a walk out back, breath deeply and enjoy this piece of nature. In our 'park' there is the chalice circle which is available for life's celebrations holding up to 110 people. Just down the path from the chalice circle is a grove of oaks with wild flowers called the 'memorial garden'. This is a place for sprinkling and burial of ashes and placing a memorial marker to honor a loved one. This peaceful garden is available for members of Live Oak and the general public at a modest cost. Also in the planning stage by one of Live Oak's forward thinking teens is a corner of our garden for pet ashes and remains, please no St. Bernards. If you would like more information, check out our
web page or email
chalicepathways@liveoakuu.org
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Have You Heard? 
Have you heard about Live Oak campouts?
Live Oak has campouts twice a year (spring, fall) and all members and friends are welcome! This spring we're camping at Cedar Breaks Park on Lake Georgetown the weekend of April 17-19. You can make your reservations here.
If you're thinking you'd like to try camping but have never done it before or haven't in a long time, talk to some of the folks who go on the campouts regularly. Read more
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Have a great potential member? Concerned that someone is struggling to find their place? Contact the Membership Team and we can reach out. Email: membership@liveoakuu.org
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Faith Development
Here's what you need to know this week!
Harmoni Anderson, our awesome childcare coordinator, is in need of volunteer help. We are actively searching for more childcare staff, but having difficulty filling the position. If parents of children in the nursery, or other adults in the congregation are interested in taking a slot once a month, please speak with me or Harmoni. I would really like to give our staff a Sunday off occasionally.
This week our elementary classes finish up their unit on Who's Who in UU with a look at Ethelred Brown. Middle school and high school will meet to discuss our sixth principle.
Adults are invited to join Carolyn Dower for a drop-in session on effective organizing and advocacy. That class begins at 10 AM in room 109. You might also consider reading more about the upcoming
UU 101 class which begins in March. The Articulating Your UU Faith class has been cancelled due to low enrollment.
Our Whole Lives (OWL) for 4th and 5th grades begins this Sunday and will meet from 10 to 11:30 in Room 206. Families should meet their children in the Fellowship Hall at 11:30. If you are in worship, facilitators will bring them to you there.
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Lucie Blue Tremblay Trio in Concert
February 21, 2020 7pm at Live Oak UU Church
Lucie Blue Tremblay is one of Canada's great voices and songwriters, bringing her bilingual Canadian heritage to life in songs that celebrate love, strength, truth, peace and honor. French and English lyrics, a gorgeous voice, and her whistle have melted hearts of listeners around the globe.
www.luciebluetremblay.com. Songwriter Kiya Heartwood w/violinist Anna Joy Harris will open. Tickets at
www.kiyaheartwood.com/store or at the door $20.
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2020 Camp UU
Hogwarts Summer Camp
Registration opens Friday, February 28
From July 27th-31st, 2020, we continue the annual tradition of transforming First UU of Austin into a magical castle of fun and adventure. Students will have the opportunity to play Quidditch and Wizard Chess, as well as pursue studies of Herbology, Potions, Magical Creatures, and more! Most importantly we relate our UU values and traditions to the rich story of bravery and loyalty and love in the Harry Potter series our classes in Defense Against the Dark Arts and by learning about social justice and service in Muggle Studies. Registration will open Friday, February 28 for members of all Austin area UU churches and returning campers. Registration will open to the public on Friday, March 6, 2020. We welcome campers (rising 1st-6th grade), junior prefects (rising 7th-9th grade), and senior prefects (rising 10th-12th grades) for the full-day camp. Info here.
UBarU Upcoming Retreats & Camps
Men-Aligned Retreat March 27-29
Spiritual Practices Retreat April 3-5
Women-Aligned Retreat April 17-19
Writer's Weekend May 1-3
Family Camp May 22-25
Summer Youth camps June & July (based on age)
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The deadline for the weekly e-newsletter and the Sunday announcements is midnight on Tuesday. The submission form can be found here
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