A Month of Sundays - 2004 Worship Services

December 2004

December 5, 10:30 am. Rev. Chuck Freeman: I’m No Quitter!: We tend to admire the person who “has no quit in him”. Quitting may be an act of cowardice. Continuing could be a fool hardy dive into quicksand. The spiritual practice of surrender or letting go can give this picture an entirely different frame.

December 12, 10:30 am. Dr. Harry Mallard: The Path and Power of Music in Spiritual Practice: Dr. Harry Mallard will be speaking on the roots of religious music in Western Civilization. A piano dedication will be included, with performances from several of our church pianists and the choir.

December 19, 10:30 am. Rev. Chuck Freeman: On the Road to Amory: I warmly recall the childhood car trips to Amory, Mississippi, visiting grandparents and relatives. Those journeys are no longer, but the family “road trip” continues. How can we grow spiritually and emotionally with the deep mixed emotions evoked by family holiday time?

December 24, Friday, 7:00 pm. Rev. Kathleen Ellis: We’ve been looking for something this Christmas, but we’re not sure what it is. It’s more than gifts, more than laughter, more than a few moments of happiness and good cheer. We want all this and peace throughout the world. We want to live in harmony with our families and friends. We even want love that sustains us through thick and thin. Come share your hopes and dreams in a candlelight ceremony of story and song. Bring beverages or a dessert to share for a reception following the service. Bring a standalone candle for a table in the sanctuary to decorate it, and exchange the candle with someone else. Merry Christmas!

December 26, 10:30 am. Rev. Rich Thompson: Arrivals and Departures: The New Testament text, Luke 2:22-40, a traditional reading for the season, recounts the arrival of the infant Jesus in the temple, followed by the priest Simeon declaring, “Lord, now lettest thou they servant depart in peace.” That Biblical event suggests how life’s graceful transition – our arrivals and departures – are inseparable from hope. The sermon will explore the sources of hope and the means by which transitions may be made creatively.

Henry Mallard holds a Ph.D. in musicology from the University of Texas, with post-doctoral work emphasizing interdisciplinary studies at Aston Magna, the University of Minnesota (English), and the University of Washington (Comparative Literature). He retired in 2001 after forty-three years of teaching in a regional state university. He was also a practicing church musician for many years.

Richard Austin Thompson is an ordained Presbyterian minister, having last served at Central Presbyterian Church. Prior to that, he was pastor for twenty-two years in Glen Ellyn, a Chicago suburb. Following his retirement, he served as interim minister at First Congregational Church in Houston and Austin Congregational Church. Since 1988 he has been host of Austin Faith Dialogue, which airs on Sundays at 8:00 am on KNVA-TV Channel 54 (cable channel 12). The series is sponsored by Austin Area Interreligious Ministries. He is married to Jane Neth Thompson, librarian at Anderson High School. Between them they have seven children and eight grandchildren.

November 2004

November 7, 10:30 am. Rev. Chuck Freeman: Everyman: Everyman is a late-15th-century English morality play. Called by Death, Everyman can persuade none of his friends – Beauty, Knowledge, Kindred, Worldly Goods – to go with him, except Good Deeds. We will honor the cherished beings (human and animal) who have graced us with their goodness while on this earth. PLEASE BRING PICTURES OR MEMENTOS OF LOVED ONES FOR THE ALTAR.

November 14, 10:30 am. Rev. Chuck Freeman: Walkin’ the Strait and Narrow: Many of us grew up in King James Bible quotin’ churches. How many times were we exhorted to “walk the strait and narrow”?! Is it possible to do so as a Unitarian Universalist? You may be surprised!

November 21, 10:30 am. Rev. Kathleen Ellis: Water on a Stone: Water carves the landscape, drop by drop, into rivulets, streams, and rivers, and by tides roaring in and out. When we harness our own human power we can also make a difference in the world. Dare to join persistence and patience along with many hands and hearts and we may even transform … ourselves. Today we will learn about the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee and their annual Guest at Your Table program.

November 28, 10:30 am. Tere Kaulfus: Recreating Your Dreams Using the Four Agreements: You are living in a world of dreams, but whose dreams are they and how did they become your own? By challenging the agreements that you have made with yourself about who you are, what you feel, what you believe, and how you should behave, you can create a new dream. Come learn about how to break those old agreements that come from fear and adopt four alternative agreements that can transform your life.

About Our Guest Speaker

Tere Kaulfus has been a member of Live Oak UU for three years and is currently serving as our Member­ship Team leader and Assistant Treasurer. In July of this year she completed our UU district’s week-long leadership training experience, which was a life-changing event for her. Tere thinks best while in motion and is regularly inspired while jogging, painting (lots of Live Oak walls!), gardening, and dashing after her three young children. Most recently she initiated and co-facilitated an eight-week spirituality course called Evensong, which will become a regular addition to our adult program offerings.

October 2004

October 3, 10:30 am. Rev. Kathleen Ellis: Celebration Sunday:  Once a year we set aside some time to celebrate how far we’ve come and where our talents and resources might take us. We are grateful for the foundation built by others and now we ask for new pledges of time and money to carry us forward. Give a little or give a lot – it’s all good!

October 10, 10:30 am. Dr. Barbara Coeyman: The Prophetic Imperative: Our Call to Social Ministry:  Why do you go to church? Why are you part of a religious community? Certainly one answer for many of us is about the inward and the personal: inward calming, personal growth, friendship, and support within our church community. However, equally important in virtually all religious traditions is some sort of outward direction, what is called by some “social ministry” or “social action”. UU minister Rev. Richard Gilbert calls this our “prophetic imperative”. What can this congregation do to respond to the prophetic imperative? What can you personally do to get involved? What can you do to demonstrate that there is not only a conservative religious voice speaking out in and for our communities?

October 17, 10:30 am. Rev. Chuck Freeman: Survival of the Fittest:  Unitarian naturalist and scientist Charles Darwin remains as one of the most potent and controversial thinkers of our time. Capitalism has employed his theory to create a dog eat dog world. Come hear his real truth, as Darwin swallows the $ sign!

October 24, 10:30 am. Rev. Chuck Freeman: Hard Sayings:  One sultry day, Jesus uttered a teaching. His disciples got rattled. “This is a hard saying. Who can accept it?” Today Chuck will trot out some of the “hard sayings” he has observed in this life, with an eye to how these mysteries can engender profound depth. We will celebrate CHILD DEDICATIONS during this service (see article inside).

October 31, 10:30 am. Rev. Kathleen Ellis: Circle of Life:  All Hallow’s Eve celebrates the turn of seasons after the last harvest. This used to be the time when people stopped between worlds, between light and dark, between life and death. We are part of this circle of beginnings and endings. This will be an INTERGENERATIONAL SERVICE and the children and youth will also Trick or Treat for UNICEF. Watch for magic potions, too.

About Our Guest Speakers

Dr. Barbara Coeyman received preliminary ministerial fellowship in the Unitarian Universalist Association in 2003. She has recently served UU congregations in Houston and San Antonio, and has been a hospital chaplain in Austin. Currently she serves as a community minister, as chaplain for Planned Parenthood of Austin. Prior to ministry, Dr. Coeyman was professor of music at West Virginia University. She is also a soccer mom and avid contradancer.

Meet the 5^th and 6^th Grade Class on October 17: The creative juices are flowing in our 5^th and 6^th grade class, while we use the curriculum “You the Creator”. Come enjoy the worship parable as our 5^th and 6^th graders give us a slice of what they have been up to! Our creators include Jack Bartley, Zach Bullard, Eric Claver, Amy Collins, Lily Connor, Kelly Connor, Cassie Crane, Bonnie Gibson, Rowan Hershberger, Hannah Hostak, Emily Huntington, James Huttenmaier, Declan Murtagh, Savannah Wood, and Bronté de Cardenas.

September 2004

September 5, 10:30 am. Ken O’Neill: The Contribution of Buddhism to an Emerging Humanistic Spirituality:  Over the past 50 years Buddhism has taken root as a new, alternative spirituality in the West. Once associated with the counterculture, most Buddhisms present in the West today are religious institutions deeply rooted in the social infrastructures of various Asian nations. As such, it is easy to mistake the forest for the trees with respect to the vital liberative art of Buddhism. More so, Buddhism's unique contribution to an emerging global culture is lost sight of. This talk explores Buddhism's unique mythic image of 'persons of awakening' or bodhisattvas, emphasizing the art of healthy relationships.

September 12, 10:30 am. Rev. Kathleen Ellis: The Learning Community:  We are aware that the search for truth and meaning is a lifelong search. We are never too young or too old to be learning. This morning we celebrate the beginning of a new religious education curriculum for each class of children and youth. Even so, let us not become complacent in our ongoing spiritual development as adults.

September 19, 10:30 am. Rev. Chuck Freeman: Watching the River Run:  This was the sermon Chuck was to give the morning of the water ceremony, before Montezuma got his hellish revenge! It is an anthem to how we help one another keep our boats afloat through choppy and smooth waters. Hopefully the effect on the listeners will be milder than the effect on the preparer!

September 26, 10:30 am. Rev. Chuck Freeman: Heaven Lite:  Earlier this year a New York Times columnist wrote a stinging critique of Liberal/New Age religions. He concludes that their “self-help” God cannot deal with the realities of life like the Charlton Heston cinematic Almighty. Chuck will mix, mingle, and then separate the sheep from the goats all along the pen.

About Our Guest Speaker

 Ken O’Neill is a senior American Dharma teacher, one of the first to become a Kyoshi (Teachings Master) in Kyoto, Japan, in 1972. His work emphasizes Buddhism as a “liberative art” rather than a religious doctrine, with application to recreating one’s daily life as a realm of beauty – in sports, management, and organizational development, fine and performing arts.

August 2004

August 1, 10:30 am. Don Hudson: Daring to be Yourself:  We live in a world where everyone seems interested in telling us what to think, do, or say, and a society that seems bent on looking or being like someone else. Dare to be yourself! After all, self discovery is the journey.

August 8, 10:30 am. Rev. Chuck Freeman: Do Not Resist An Evil Person:  This teaching from Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount” is found in other religious scriptures as well. Were these teachers sheltered and naive? Are they teaching hopeless passivity? Perhaps they were misquoted, or someone tinkered with the text. What if any meaning does a saying like this have for us in a “weapons of mass destruction” world?

August 15, 10:30 am. Steve Brooks: For the Sake of the Song: Songwriting as a Spiritual Path:  Where do songs come from? Austin folksinger Steve Brooks explores the ties between songwriting, meditation and prayer, as he tells the stories behind some songs. He exposes the hidden links between Oedipus Rex and Mama Tried. And illustrates his points with glorious song.

August 22, 10:30 am. Rev. Kathleen Ellis and Rev. Chuck Freeman: Watching the River Run:  Come inaugurate our church year! We will share Live Oak’s traditional Water Ceremony, integrating the youths’ tribal adventures from the Honoring Mother Earth summer program. Please bring water from your worldly travels and contribute a photo to the slide show if you so choose. This service is INTERGENERATIONAL.

August 29, 10:30 am. Rev. Kathleen Ellis: Living Deeply, Authentically, and Creatively:  The diverse beliefs among our members could have a tendency to pull us apart unless we have a solid core to which we can return again and again. What lies within the core of Unitarian Universalism? What draws us back to Live Oak?

About Our Guest Speakers

Mild-mannered Steve Brooks is a folksinger/humorist with the energy of a Texas twister and eclectic songs that range from the sublime to the ridiculous and back. He never loses his sense of fun, even when touching the most serious subjects. He’s a legend among songwriters at the Kerrville Folk Festival, who voted him into the staff concert two years running. And he’s a legend in Austin, where he has been crowned world champion punster three times. And he wrote a satirical song a week for a year about current events for Jim Hightower’s nationally syndicated radio show. His latest CD is Bushwhacked.

Donald R. Hudson is an author, published poet, and internationally recognized professional speaker and trainer. Over the past 30 years he has appeared on radio, television, and in personal appearances on many occasions, speaking on subjects ranging from the technical integration of computer systems to stress management, motivation, self-improvements, and spiritual topics.

July 2004

July 4, 10:30 am. Rev. Chuck Freeman: Honoring True Patriots: Heroes of Conscience:  How many of us wear flags, wear patriotic clothing or jewelry? What does it mean to be patriotic? Is it marching in time with the government? Or is it standing up for the bedrock principles of our Republic? Members will be invited to name their hero of conscience and Chuck will “bat cleanup” in a patriotic roll call. See the article inside for more information on our July 4^th extravaganza following the service!

 July 11, 10:30 am. Rev. Chuck Freeman: Talking Leaf:  George Guess coined this term for the white man’s paper with writing on it. This unlettered Indian is the first person in history to single-handedly create, perfect, and teach a syllabary (alphabet) for his people. Come hear his story and learn his Cherokee name.

 July 17, 10:30 am. Rev. Kathleen Ellis: Signs of Life:  From birth to death we reach out across the generations in a fabric of community. Here are some observations about the possibilities for strengthening that fabric – maybe with a little starch? heavier thread? Congregations are among the few places in our society in which people of all ages interact in a meaningful way. From infants to elders, we all play a part.

 July 25, 10:30 am. Thom the World Poet: Healing Self and Others Via Poetry:  Reflections upon reflecting. Poetry is more than therapy – it is a door to explore the depths of oneself and the worlds around and within. Hear one of Austin’s live poets share an alphabet of emotions and responses to extend your own range of possible ways to adapt to our astonishing times.

About Our Guest Speaker

Thom the World Poet has published hundreds of thousands of poetry broadsheets and 55 chapbooks, as well as three CDs and 35 poetry and music (improvisational) tapes. He tours England and Australia regularly, and was a featured guest at The Cheltenham Literature Festival (1996-2000), Bristol International Poetry Festival (1999-2000), Steel City Revels (2000), Paddington International Poetry Festival (2000), as well as the Sydney International Poetry Festival (1998) and the Queensland Poetry Festival (1998-1999). He is available for poetry workshops with students at all levels, and has been Writer in Residence at Kansas City School of Performing Arts (1996), Charles Sturt University (1995) and Dickinson University of New Jersey (1999).

June 2004

June 6, 2004, 10:30 am. Rev. Chuck Freeman: Ask a UU Guru:  Is there a religious/spiritual question that you always wanted a minister to give a straight answer to? Submit them in writing to editor@liveoakuu.org (Editor’s Note: please put June 6 Sermon in the subject line of the email.). (Self Proclaimed) Guru Chuckananda will answer them sight unseen for the sermon portion of this service. Make up your mind about his Guru status!!

June 13, 2004, 10:30 am. Rev. Kathleen Ellis: Walking Together:  When Porcupine met Rabbit on a road in Russia, they journeyed together through many adventures toward Rabbit’s home. “Walking together makes the road seem half as long”, said Porcupine. I’ll use this story as a metaphor for our new ministry at Live Oak. Traveling with my friend and colleague Chuck Freeman and all the Live Oak members, we will encounter adventures unknown. Here’s to walking together!

June 20, 2004, 10:30 am. Rev. Chuck Freeman: Papa the Patriarch:  We have heard legitimate critiques aplenty about patriarchy. On this Father’s Day we will ask – Is there anything of worth in this archetype? Do we throw the Papa out with the Patriarch? NEW MEMBER DEDICATIONS will be celebrated today.

June 27, 2004, 10:30 am. Hannah Wells: Spirituality of Humor:  The Buddha meditated a lot and that was key to his enlightenment. But he also laughed a lot, too, and I’m sure that didn’t detract from his mission to reach nirvana. Laughter as a legitimate spiritual practice is uncharted territory. How does having a sense of humor increase our sense of well-being? Can humor and laughter be paths to the divine? Crying and laughing are two sides of the same coin – both are good for healing. And in an increasingly absurd world, taking time out to laugh may be as good for us as taking time out to pray.

About Our Guest Speaker

Hannah Wells is finishing up her parish internship at First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin. She graduated with a Master of Divinity from Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley, CA. Look for her commencement speech in the Sept./Oct. issue of UU World in the Reflections column. Hannah will be in Austin in the fall, fulfilling her last requirement for ordination at Seton Hospital, where she will be doing her Clinical Pastoral Education.

May 2004

May 2, 10:30 am. Live Oak Choir: Church of Peace and Love:  The Live Oak Choir’s spring music service will feature music of the Beatles, with readings and thoughts on the continuing relevance of their contributions to our lives.

 May 9, 10:30 am. Rev. Chuck Freeman: Ain’t I …. Isabella Baumfree  You know this former slave, born in 1797, by her spiritual name. She was a tireless Pentecostal preacher, abolitionist, and defender of women’s rights and human dignity. There is no more fitting soul to lift up on this Mother’s Day than Isabella.

 May 16, 10:30 am. Rev. Dr. John H. Brand: Strings and Light.  Dr. Brand examines two fundamental insights into the nature of Nature: string theory and light’s wave/particle duality. Both concepts defy common sense. But could it be that to stop the killing we have to abandon all previous logic and actually get in tune with the laws of nature? Galileo liberated us from an earth-bound cosmology. Perchance the insights of strings and light’s dual nature might liberate us from myths that keep our species in a perpetual uproar of wars, hatreds, economic oppressions, and social injustice.

 May 23, 10:30 am. Rev. Chuck Freeman:  Separation of Spirituality and State?  One of the bedrock doctrines of our American form of government is the “separation of church and state”. This is still a work in progress that most of us support. Is it desirable or even possible to separate spirituality and state? What are the consequences of attempting such in the public square? How can our UU approach to religion contribute to this thorny question?

 May 30, 10:30 am. Becky Harding: The Meaning of Success.  Ralph Waldo Emerson suggests success involves laughter, respect, affection, and a social conscience. Becky will expand on these ideas with stories, readings, and insights that trace her journey toward the meaning of success. A spiritual romp with humor and a few poignant moments is promised.

About Our Guest Speakers

John H. Brand was born in Vienna, Austria. He moved to the United States in 1938 and has been a citizen since 1943. He attended New York University, received a J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law and a D.Min. from SMU in 1991. He was in the army from 1943-1945 and received the Combat Infantry Badge, the Bronze Star, and a Purple Heart. He is the Founder and Director of CONTACT, the first 24 hour a day, seven day a week telephone crisis intervention center in the US. He is the author of Shaking the Foundations, Coming of Age in the Postmodern World, and Rebuilding the Foundation, Forging a New and Just America.

Becky Harding taught public school speech and theater for nearly 20 years before choosing to be a stay at home mother. She was Austin ISD’s Teacher of the Year in 2000 and spoke at Live Oak last  November on gay and lesbian issues. She lives in north Austin with her partner and their three-year-old daughter.

April 2004

April 4, 10:30 am. Rev. Chuck Freeman: The Fix is In:  The author of the book of Job casts him in a 12-round bare knuckle boxing match with the Almighty, and Job has Yahweh on the ropes. In the final round Job takes a dive, God is declared the winner, and Job gets a healthy pay off. What would this match be like if it wasn’t rigged?

April 11, 10:30 am. Rev. Chuck Freeman: A Silent Yes.  Jacob Trapp reflects, “simply to say a silent yes to the hillside flowers … is the simplest, the quietest of sacraments.” We will celebrate the Unitarian tradition of Flower Communion this morning. Please BRING A FLOWER to exchange for the ritual. This service will be INTERGENERATIONAL.

April 18, 10:30 am. Sharolyn Browning: Finding Unity and Diversity Through Storytelling.  It was the first prose and the first poetry. It is the act of recreating a part of our lives, reliving it through words so that it is shared by more than one. Storytelling becomes the meeting place of hearts. Religious storytelling, especially with children, is the most delicate and yet the most important. In the wonder of the religious language, children discover both the search and the answers to the existential limits of mankind: being alone, death, threat of freedom, and the meaning of life.

April 25, 10:30 am. High School Youth Group: The Rocky Road to Tolerance.  Throughout our lives we will encounter others whose views do not coincide with our own. Intolerance is something that we all must deal with in our daily lives, but how do you remain open-minded when someone is shutting you out? The Live Oak High Schoolers discuss how we can remain committed to our faith without judging others’ beliefs.

About Our Guest Speakers

Sharolyn Browning comes to Live Oak with a wealth of experiences and insights. Currently she serves as the Children’s Ministry Coordinator for St. Martin’s Lutheran Church in downtown Austin. She is also an accredited “Godly Play” teacher, which is a Montessori inspired curriculum designed to tell Old and New Testament stories to preschool and elementary school aged children. Sharolyn is the mother of three children and is the quintessential “Montessori Mom”.

The High School Youth Group is too diverse to be described accurately with any generalized statements. We are between the ages of 14 and 18 and all live in Texas. Our religious beliefs and commitments vary but we all believe in the Live Oak Vision Statement and Seven Principles. And on April 25 for perhaps the first time ever we will come together to speak about one thing we can all agree on – the importance of tolerance.

March 2004

March 7, 10:30 am. Mary K. Isaacs: “Why You Wanna Trip on Me?”:  He’s the most successful entertainer in history, even his critics concede. Brilliant, talented, rich … and weird. What is it about Michael Jackson that raises people’s hackles and prompts them to nod with suspicious certainty when the child molestation charges against him are mentioned? When confronted with the unknown, it might be our first impulse to shoot to kill, but don’t we have a spiritual obligation to keep our hearts open? Are we up to this test?

March 14, 10:30 am. Jackie Van Voris: Moxie*.  This is the ability to face difficulty with spirit and courage. Nobody did it better than the determined women who pioneered the struggle for education and subsequent careers as doctors, lawyers, ministers, or wherever their interests and talents led them. Jackie will pay tribute to a few women who fanned the flames and passed along the fire. *Thanks to Hank Peirce, minister of the UU church in Medford, Massachusetts, for suggesting the title. Guest musician will be Brent Baldwin conducting the First UU Church Choir.

March 21, 10:30 am. Rev. Chuck Freeman: Meet Our Newest Member.  This member is and will be the most influential in the history of our congregation. She is green, yellow, and red all over. He is ancient and has been the longing focus of religious disciples for eons. NEW MEMBER DEDICATIONS will be held during our sacred gathering and the LABYRINTH DEDICATION will be held after the service.

March 28, 10:30 am. Rev. Chuck Freeman: Roots of My Arrogance  Since getting back into the “parish ministry” eight years ago, I have had many occasions to gather with fellow ministers. I normally don’t think of myself as an arrogant guy, but I have certainly been forced to admit and wrestle with this nasty emotion. Come view my “innards” and be prepped to examine yours as well. TEACHER APPRECIATION will be conducted during the worship.

About Our Guest Speakers

Jackie Van Voris escapes Massachusetts winters to live in Austin with her daughter, Alice Sessions. Jackie has had a longtime interest in women’s history and has published several books more or less related to the subject from her first in 1967, Constance de Markievicz: In the Cause of Ireland, to her last in 1987, Carrie Chapman Catt: A Public Life. Having said everything she wanted to say, she retired when her husband did in 1991. Now she mainly reads.

 Last fall our 5^th and 6^th graders built a time machine using recycled materials. Since then, they have been “Traveling in Time” to explore the roots of Unitarianism and Universalism. Please join them in the sanctuary on March 7 as they present some of their findings during the parable for all ages. Shipmates include: Will Bryant, Zach Bullard, Allyson Coldiron, Amy Collins, Zach Fredlund, Gregory Huntington, Will Bryant, Sam Kalk, Ian Koskinen, Laura Meitz, Declan Murtagh, Ryan Osborne, William Pritchard, Evan Schumann, and Savannah Wood. Our able teachers Barbara Coldiron, Julie Lake, Kirby Kendall, Siboné Gardner, and Mary Pritchard guide the class.

February 2004

February 1, 10:30 am. Dr. Antaro Burke: Learning to Love Your Core of Rot:  Perhaps the core spiritual question and mystery is “Who Am I?” One large part of the mystery is what Carl Jung and others have called the Shadow. Learn what this Shadow is (including a part of your own Shadow!), why it is important, and how to recognize it and use it in building relationships and in your spiritual journey of self-discovery.

February 8, 10:30 am. Rev Chuck Freeman: Spontaneous Mantras.  Before I had the faintest notion of what a mantra was, I found myself leaning on sacred passages, song lyrics, quotes from poetry and prose to make it through tough times. Assigned and reputed “holy” mantras have never helped me at’all, but the spontaneous variety have provided spiritual grounding and nurture. CHILD DEDICATIONS will be celebrated during the service. Notify Chuck if your family wants to participate.

February 15, 10:30 am. Rev. Chuck Freeman: The Warrior.  If you want to remain in good standing in liberal circles, refrain from using any war metaphors or terminology. It is close to banned speech. Yet, the archetype of the Warrior is strong and in full bloom in America and around the world. Can one be a Warrior and not be given to violence and killing? Can the profession of “soldier” be an honorable one?

February 22, 10:30 am. Rev. Kathleen Ellis. If Only…  If only others were as intelligent and thoughtful as we are. If only our elected officials saw things our way. If only our strength of character and generosity and eloquence could become the standard. Are we willing to look at the other side of life? Can we see ourselves as others see us?

February 29, 10:30 am. Laura Emerson. Why People Convert.  Is UU destined to remain a tiny denomination? Why are evangelical churches and the Church of Latter Day Saints growing so rapidly? Let’s consider a dispassionate, sociological, and historical review of conversions, from early Christianity to Hare Krishnas. Did you know that the women’s rights offered by Judaism and Christianity attracted waves of converts? What are the implications, for our denomination and others, of large numbers of Americans unaffiliated with other faiths and a mobile society of fragmented social networks?

About Our Guest Speakers

Our own Antaro Burke is a Ph.D. in Social Psychology and Personality, with specialties in group dynamics, organizational behavior, teambuilding, and personal growth training. He is a “sometimes organizational consultant”, a trainer with the NTL Institute, and a retired professor (from U. of St. Thomas, U. of Houston, and U. of Kansas). Most of all, though, he sees himself as “in a journey of exploration in understanding and developing my own psyche.”

Laura Emerson (good Unitarian name) is a member and past board member of Emerson Unitarian Church in Houston and the Foundation for Contemporary Theology. She was a religion major at Duke University, with two master’s degrees from Washington University. She gives frequent sermons at UU churches throughout Texas and other states (including Kerrville this May). Her focus is on the psychology and sociology of religion, and the historical intersection of Judaism, early Christianity and the Roman Empire. Her day job is as a business writer and communications consultant (www.greatc.net)

January 2004

January 4, 10:30 am. Rev. Ed Wilder: A Fresh Start:  This time of year we joke about New Years resolutions, because almost no one keeps them. We make resolutions because we know intuitively that we need to change. Our faith traditions contain tools to help us move from good intentions to effective change/growth.

January 11, 10:30 am. Rev Chuck Freeman: Follow the North Star.  Born of a white father whom he never knew and a slave mother, Frederick Douglass escaped slavery as a young man. A man of broad intellect and spacious moral character, Douglass championed not only freedom for his people, but for all races. He is truly a forerunner to Martin Luther King, Jr.

January 18, 10:30 am. Susan Steffes, Linda Webster, & Joyce Phelps: The Labyrinth as a Sacred Path.  Labyrinths can be found in almost every religious tradition around the world, yet they are mysterious because we do now know the origin of their design. We will look at the history of the labyrinth, explore the sacred geometry components of transcendental numbers and the Golden Mean, and share how the labyrinth can be used for intuition, creativity, healing, ritual, and celebration. Join us for a labyrinth walk on the lawn behind the church after the service and explore for yourself the power and mystery of the labyrinth.

January 25, 10:30 am. Rev. Chuck Freeman. Former Dirty Words.  As a young person, words such as discipline, work, responsibility, and the like were dirty words. With a few years under my belt and a little salt and pepper on rooftop, these words have shifted into another category. Come share in the conversion!

About Our Guest Speakers

Rev. Ed Wilder is a retired United Methodist minister with 30 years of service. He has also worked as a counselor and spiritual director, hospital chaplain, campus minister, and publisher of a spiritual formation newsletter. He has two grown sons. He is currently the founding director of Prayerways, a ministry promoting and developing resources in prayer and spiritual growth, www.prayerways.com. He has recorded and produced "Meditations", a CD of Christian guided meditations for inner healing (available through The Upper Room and Cokesbury Bookstore).

Susan Steffes is Chair of the Live Oak Labyrinth Committee and a member of the Central Texas Labyrinth Network. Together with her husband she is funding the Live Oak labyrinth project, to be completed in March of this year. Having received profound inspiration and insight during labyrinth walks, she wishes to make available this sacred tool to others in the Live Oak community and the community at large. Joyce Phelps is a labyrinth walker and has constructed labyrinths for retreats and personal use; she and her husband John gave birth to the idea of a labyrinth for the Live Oak community and as such is a founding member of the Live Oak Labyrinth Committee. Linda Webster is a member of the Central Texas Labyrinth Network and the Live Oak Labyrinth Committee. She is both a labyrinth walker and facilitator, organizing labyrinth walks at various Austin area labyrinths and leading labyrinth workshops.

Copyright ©2006, Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Church.
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