November 2, 2022
This Week
Worship
November 6, 10:00am - In Person or online (visit www.liveoakuu.org for the link)
Above Earth's Lamentation
Rev. Joanna Fontaine Crawford

Optimism is a tenet of Unitarian Universalism. What does that look like in times of uncertainty?

Share the Plate
Shelter for victims of family, sexual violence
The Social Justice Ministry team chose Hope Alliance as the recipient of Share the Plate donations in November. The organization is the only resource center and emergency shelter for people affected by family and sexual violence in Williamson County.

Hope Alliance provides free emergency shelter in Round Rock. Food, clothing, safety planning, case management, counseling and legal help are available without charge to clients. Demand for safe shelter is great; there is frequently a waiting list. There also is a 24-hour hotline providing support and advice on staying safe until entering the shelter.

You can learn more about the organization at www.hopealliancetx.org. Contribute to Share the Plate during Sunday services or donate on our website. All checks and envelopes marked “Share the Plate” and half of all undesignated cash during the services will be donated to recipients. Or go to https://www.liveoakuu.org/community/donate/
A Few Words from the Minister
How Are Your Values Showing Up?
Oh, Lordy, there are more flyers trying to scare us into voting a certain way. But what does it look like when you're motivated not by fear, but by your most important values? Read more

A Few Words from the Administrator Diane Stepakof-Fay

I am super excited to report that we have a new newsletter editor. Dianne Sylvan will be creating the newsletter starting with this issue that we did together. To submit an article, use the link on the website or https://link.liveoakuu.org/HearYe. Be sure to send any photos or changes to editor@liveoakuu.org. If you see Dianne, be sure to thank her for volunteering to take on this important job
Special Notices
Memorial Service and Luncheon
The memorial service for Live Oak member Lois Scott will be Saturday, November 5 at Live Oak. There will be a luncheon beginning at 1:00 pm, and the service will be at 2:30 pm.

To RSVP and sign up to bring a dish, drink, contribute money, or for setup/cleanup, please go here. For more information, please talk to Mary Hengstebeck. Thank you.

Hands on Live Oak
November 6th after Faith Development time
Please stay after Faith Development to help us spruce up the buildings and grounds! The list of projects is long. We can use all the help we can get. The children & youth will be working on projects during Faith Development, but they are welcome to stay after and do more. This would be a great opportunity for some family time while showing our kiddos what it means to be part of a congregation. Lunch will be provided for the workers. Projects include: cleaning, repairs, painting and more! Email Diane at administrator@liveoakuu.org for more information or to signup.

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


Social Justice News
Vote all the way down and help reduce intimidation at the polls
HELLO FRIENDS! Time to VOTE! Remember to fill out the WHOLE ballot. Local elections, especially school boards, and State Board of Education are making decisions about banning books, restricting gay rights, and eliminating the history of minorities. This MAY be our most important vote! In our area, Leander and Round Rock are voting on school boards and some parts of Travis County are voting on State Board of Education.

NEED INFO about who is progressive on school boards and State Board of Education lists? Go to Texas Freedom Network (www.tfn.org) endorsements. This organization works to promote “teach the truth” in all schools as well as in the curriculum guidelines and textbooks of the State Board. For information about YOUR candidates, go to www.vote411.org. Click “voter guide” to get candidate info. Click “find your polling place” to know where to vote. Click “go to my races” to see what you will be voting on. Let’s make Texas OUR Texas again! Now is the time. VOTE!!

Also, our partner, League of Women Voters, is asking for people to volunteer to be poll monitors to help ensure safe voting environment. Look here for more information.
Video Editors Needed
Develop some mad Video Editing Skills
The Live Oak web team wants to develop some video tutorials about editing the new web site. We can supply the content, but it would be great if someone could edit the content into something nice. If you can help with this project, please contact Mike Schultz via webteam@liveoakuu.org. (And teens, this is a great way to volunteer time to the church.)
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like (the) Christmas (Mitten Tree)
Here is your annual chance to play Santa’s helper

Congregational Meeting
Save the Date
Our semiannual Congregational Meeting will be Sunday, Dec. 11, following the morning service. Members will vote on a proposed budget for 2023 and on whether to adopt the 8th Principle for Live Oak.

In adopting the 8th Principle, the church would commit to take action to "accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions." Watch the newsletter for more information about this new principle.

Please plan to attend. A quorum is required to conduct business at the meeting.
Doing the Work That Needs to Be Done
The 8th Principal from the perspective of a BLUU Beloved (Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism)
There are UU Congregations that haven’t adopted the 8th Principle, or have voted against it because they feel our other Principles cover it. But they don’t. The other Principles absolutely do not cover it. Read more
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Join the LOUU Holiday Chorus TODAY!
The holidays are approaching and we would love your help bringing our favorite tunes to life!

Do you like to sing Christmas carols? Are you a fan of winter wonderlands? Do you have holiday cheer to spread this year? Well...

The LOUU Chorus is calling for singers of all experience levels. We would love to have you join us as we begin our preparations for the upcoming holiday season. No prior experience is required to join us, and we seek all voice parts. Children ages 12 and up are also welcome to participate.

We rehearse every Wednesday evening from 7:00 - 8:30 pm in the Sanctuary. You can email the LOUU Music Director for more information or get started singing by joining us at any rehearsal.

Learn More About LOUU Social Justice
Live Oak UU Church is committed to Social Justice! To keep informed about the important work of the Social Justice Ministry, become a member of an email group. Just complete this brief Social Justice Email Group Form
-The Social Justice Ministry Team

Thanks Live Oak
500 VoteForward letters are ready to mail.
Thanks to all the participants in our VoteForward effort this election cycle! Thirty-three person hours after Sunday services have made it possible for us to put 500 letters to Texas voters in the mail October 29. These letters are going to registered Texas voters who don't always go to the polls. The themes of our messages to them generally were: Be a Voter, Urge your family, friends, and co-workers to be voters too; Every vote counts! Completing these letters together multiplied our individual efforts. Thanks for writing, folding, addressing, sealing, stamping, and chatting those Sunday mornings.
Bizarre or Bazaar? You choose!
Calling All Crafters (Elves or Not!)
Santa's elves are busy at the North Pole, and you could be busy helping Live Oak's very own Santa raise funds for Live Oak with your own handmade items. Do you do woodwork? Fiber Arts? Candles? Soap Making? Sculpting? Something even more fun that I haven't thought of? In conjunction with Selfies with Santa, Live Oak is hosting its own craft bazaar. It is a great way for us to use our creative talents and donate to LOUU. Please let Alison McPherson know if you would like to make a donation or help on the day of the event.

Ted Lasso & Bowen Discussion Group
Mark your calendar! Beginning in October, Rev. Joanna will be showing episodes of Ted Lasso then leading a discussion group around the Bowen Family Systems concepts shown in the show -- things like triangulation, differentiation, etc. The group will meet in the library at 6:00pm on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. If you're interested, email minister@liveoakuu.org to reserve a spot.
In the Community
iACT's 38th Annual Interfaith Day of Thanks
St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church 
Sunday, November 20, 2022
Service: 3-4:30pm
Reception: 4:30-5:30pm
For more information visit iact@interfaithtexas.org

Fall events at UBarU:

Winter Family Camp Dec 16-19

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