This Week
Worship
January 22, 2023, 10:00am

Evolution of UU
Rev. Joanna Fontaine Crawford

A common question is how did we get from there (two Christian denominations) to here (a pluralist, humanist association)? Come hear about the methodical and deliberate evolution of this faith.
A Few Words from the Minister

Living with Amazement

What if the World Offered to Celebrate Your Birthday?


January Share the Plate
Digging Deeper to Reach Higher

UBarU supports future lifelong UUs. This is our opportunity to ensure UBarU has the resources needed to keep doing what we do.

Many of us know about UBarU, the Unitarian Universalist retreat center near Kerrville, but for those who do not, click here for a bit of background

Today UBarU faces a challenge that may cost its very existence. More on the current situation and why Live Oak's help is urgenty needed.

Please join us in generously contributing to the January Share the Plate for UBARU.
A Message from the President

Live Oak UU starts 2023 with a bang!

Live Oak at the MLK March

On Monday, January 16, 35 members and friends of Live Oak marched in the second annual Leander MLK Day march. The march went through the "downtown" area of Leander, ending at Old Town Park, where there were numerous presentations, vendor booths, and musical performances. One organizer estimated that they had double the participation of the previous year. Thank you to all Live Oakers who participated!

Video from event: https://fb.watch/i89Oht5xpE/
This Week's Special Notices

Click on the picture below - it's linked to the Roots & Wings newsletter!
Read about the Voice of a Movement Class here

This meeting was informational -- no decisions were made. The Board planned how to successfully execute our 2023 goals and assigned upcoming action items, including: restructuring the Board Google Drive, preparing for a Town Hall to discuss the Outreach Fund, kicking off Fed and Informed Sundays, and preparing for the May Congregational Meeting. Links to reference documents are included in the meeting minutes, linked below.

More information about OWL can be found here.

In addition, find out more about Parents and Caregivers as Sexuality Educators by following this link.
Youth and Children Invited to TXUUJM: 10 Years and Growing Celebration this Saturday, Jan. 21st.

There will be special programming for our youth and children at the TX UU Justice Ministries event this Saturday.



Learn more about the event and new additions to the agenda, including speaker Rev. Deneen Robinson, in the latest TXUUJM e-news.

Why not get a carpool together? Please holler with any questions! txuujm@gmail.com
Next Meeting Tuesday, January 24, 7pm

Let's talk ritual! What is it for? How do you do it? What are some different approaches? Come join us in room 206 for another lively discussion.

For more information contact Dianne Sylvan.
Upcoming Events in January
Help Distribute Food to Our Neighbors

Live Oak Church will be distributing food to our neighbors at Fresh Food for All and need volunteers to help.
This month, on Friday, January 20, Fresh Food For All participants will be able to select their own produce (Farmer's Market style), instead of having the prepackaged produce placed in their car trunks. We will need to help fill bags, direct traffic, weigh the food, and help people carry food to their cars. If you can help anytime on January 20th between 8:30 and 11AM. RSVP to Donna Durbin at: HCCM@liveoakuu.org
Time To Add To Your Shopping List

Time To Add To Your Shopping List

It’s time to grab your green bag or any bag and help feed our neighbors. Bring food and other items for Hill Country Community Ministries (HCCM), our Fresh Food for All partner, to church and leave them in the Narthex. Some of the highlighted canned items are green beans, tuna, pineapple, dried beans, and personal care items. The complete needs list can be found here.
Save the Date: January 29, Fed & Informed!

Mark your calendar for Sunday, January 29 when we bring back "Fed and Informed," which will happen immediately after the worship service.

Everyone: Bring a dish to share, and an appetite for good food, and finding out what is happening at Live Oak over the next three months.

Group/Team/Committee Chairs: Prepare a short and snappy update as to events your team will be hosting that others may be interested in, over the next three months.







On Tuesday, January 31, iAct (Interfaith Action of Central Texas) will be hosting their monthly "Red Bench Dialogues" dinner and conversation at Live Oak. The topic for the evening will be "Gender Identities."

Participants in Red Bench come from all different faith traditions. For some, this may be their first substantive discussion about gender. With this being a topic both in the news and in bills in the Texas legislature, it is an opportunity to, as iAct says, be a "place for conversations that cultivate peace and respect.”

Everyone is invited to attend this free event. A light dinner will be provided by Live Oak. Please RSVP here.

from iAct:

“There is no gender identity behind the expressions of gender... identity is performatively constituted by the very 'expressions' that are said to be its results.”
-Judith Butler

Coming Soon!
Spring Campout April 21-23!

Embrace Joy, Enrich Connections, and enjoy the wildflowers at our spring campout April 21-23 at Cedar Breaks Park on Lake Georgetown!

Our church campouts are casual and unstructured. Our only planned group activity is our customary potluck on Saturday evening. We don’t usually decide which campsite or what time until that day. People bring everything from store-bought chips and salsa to home-cooked dishes. It depends on what you have the time and energy to do! If you have a folding table that’s easy for you to bring, we could probably use it to put food on. Don’t forget to bring chairs, and BYO serving utensils, dishes, cups, flatware and napkins/paper towels. Sometimes someone brings beverages to share, but BYO in case that doesn’t happen.

If there’s no burn ban, we’ll have a campfire and s'mores if people bring the fixings. We ask everyone to take their dishes, leftover food, etc. back to their own campsite that evening so there’s no mess left for critters to scatter around that night.

If you don't want to camp, the park is close enough to come out for the day to visit and stay for the potluck!

For info about the park, see last week's newsletter. If you haven't reserved a campsite yet, do it here. Sometimes families or individuals share a site, and you're welcome to invite friends who are not Live Oakers.

Contact Jen Swan for more info.

In the Community

Side With Love

This first week of 30 Days of Love, our resources focus on the intersections between the spiritual theme of Interdependence and Side With Love’s work on Democracy, Voting Rights, and Electoral Justice.

We are delighted to offer you a blessing from the Rev. Duncan Teague, a Time for All Ages from JeKaren Olaoya, a body practice from Katie Resendiz, a prayer from the Rev. Wendy Bartel, a grounding practice from Canedy and our Fun & Spiritual Nourishment Squad, and a reflection on the week’s themes by the Rev. Ashley Horan. See all of this week’s fantastic resources at our website. #30DaysOfLove

The Texas Legislature is back in session...

And so is TXUUJM's weekly We Cry Justice & Action Hour programs!  

Every Thursday 6-8pm CT, join UUs from around the state on Zoom as we make meaningful connections and take impactful actions, together in community. Come for all two hours or drop in for what you can. All welcome! Details and Zoom link here.
Spring Events at UBarU

Our UU Camp and Retreat Center Has Several Spring Events You Won't Want to Miss!

UBarU, for those who are unfamiliar, is a wonderful UU camp and retreat center about an hour west of San Antonio. The 142 acre center hosts a number of events and retreats, and three of them are coming up this Spring.


For any questions about these or other upcoming events, See UBarU.org, or contact Robyn at director@ubaru.org
Registration is Open for SWUUWCon 2023, Phoenix Rising!

Take advantage of our conference registration Early Bird Special of $160. This rate will disappear on February 17, 2023. We have different discounts for first time attendance and maidens. Those interested in applying for scholarships, please apply here before registering.

Reserve your hotel room

Remember to also lock in your early bird rate ($85 a night) at the Sonesta Select Dallas Central Expressway. by Feb. 17.

Fore more info about the conference, visit our website.
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