A Month of Sundays - 1997 Worship Services
December 1997
Dec. 7: Rev. Chuck Freeman, "The Wounded Unitarian Universalist's Guide To
Christmas". For those of us hurt by the Christian Church this can be a tough, arduous
time of year. We are barraged with the trappings that have perpetuated our spiritual pain.
Dec. 14: An ensemble specializing in Persian music will perform with a speaker of the
Baha'i faith.
Dec. 21: "Winter's Rainbow". On the day of the Winter Solstice, we will
celebrate the colorful variety of the season's holidays in an intergenerational,
interfaith service.
Dec. 24, Wednesday, Christmas Eve Service, 7:30 PM: A musical service of madrigals,
carols, and songs in celebration of the holiday season. The Live Oak Church Choir and
guitarist Michael McAllister will perform. Everyone is encouraged to bring a poinsettia to
decorate the sanctuary.
Dec. 28: Kwanzaa. This modern African-American cultural holiday will provide us the
opportunity for an educational and intercultural year-end holiday service. No Religious
Education classes held.
November 1997
November 30: "A Guest at Your Table" This intergenerational Thanksgiving
service will initiate this year's "Guest at Your Table" project of the UU
Service Committee. The project is a fundraising effort for work that assists the
disadvantaged, afflicted, and oppressed in our world. The children and youth in our R.E.
program will also announce a social action/outreach project of their own.
October 1997
October 5: Rev. Chuck Freeman, "Being In Mars". No, it's not a misprint.
Ancient psychologists saw the movements of the soul in poetic resonance with the planetary
spheres. What does the fiery red of Mars have to contribute to the constellation of the
cosmic and personal soul?
October 12: Paula Effle, a lawyer and activist for the Coalition to Abolish the Death
Penalty, will speak on the modern history of the death penalty. Has implementation of
capital punishment actually changed since the Supreme Court's ruling 25 years ago? Alison
Dieter and Jay Jacobson will lead the service.
October 19: Rev. Chuck Freeman, "The Integrity of Skepticism". Our Unitarian
Universalist heritage is filled with questioners of every stripe. Frederick Buechner
writes, "doubt is the ants in the pants of faith." But is it enough on which to
build a solid spiritual practice?
October 26: [Remember, daylight saving time ends!] Musician and songwriter Ruth Huber
will inspire us with her wonderful music. The American tradition of Halloween has roots
that reach back into many ancient traditions that can give this time of year a rich
spiritual meaning. We will embark on a journey of song and meditation that allows us to
honor those who have gone before us, those who have died, and the circle of life in which
we are all a part.
September 1997
September 7: "Transitions". In many ways, a new year now begins - for
school, college, religious education, the end of summer activities - and the transitions
to different modes of everyday life occur. Esther Ford will be our featured speaker on
this topic. Mary Pritchard, Lay Leader.
September 14: Rev. Chuck Freeman - "In Line At The Buffet". Normally we might
be satisfied with a single plate of food. But when we get into a buffet line it takes
concentrated discipline not to gorge ourselves. This is the situation we find ourselves in
as Americans in relation to the rest of the world. We are probably not going to sell our
autos and hit the bicycle lane. Moving from our spiritual center, what are appropriate
responses?
September 21: "Nothing Special" - What is Zen practice? This service will
provide an introduction to Joko Beck's teachings about Zen in contemporary life. Peg
Syverson will be our speaker.
September 28: Rev. Kathleen Ellis, "Alone Together". We stand alone as
individuals against a backdrop of infinity and insignificance. Yet together we create a
caring community which lifts us above individual joys and sorrows in a celebration of the
human spirit. Rev. Ellis is minister at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the
Brazos Valley and campus minister at Texas A&M University.
August 1997
August 3: "The Other Universalists" James Hamilton will present a program on
the Quaker Universalist movement within the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).
August 10: "Was Suzy Creamcheese a UU in Disguise?" Ricky Maze will talk
about the life, music, and philosophy of Frank Zappa.
August 17: DEDICATION SERVICE from 11 to 12:30. Rev. Chuck Freeman, "The Goddess
Surfs The Web". On this day of our Building Dedication we will reflect on our church
as a melding of earth-centered wisdom and the emerging technology. How far has this recipe
brought us? What is its potential for future travel? We will be uplifted with special
music by Tapestry.
OPEN HOUSE: 2:30 to 4:30 PM.
August 24: Rev. Chuck Freeman, "Holy Hilarity, Batman!!" Church services have
always been considered solemn and sober occasions. Can laughter be a way to express sacred
intent? Risk being sacreligious. Come and find out for yourself. We will have New Member
Dedications, hee-hawing with them all the way to the membership book.
August 31: Mike Bown, a Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, will speak
on "Developing the Right Questions to Create A Meaningful Existence".
June 1997
June 1: Meera Devi, Teacher and World Traveler, representing the International Society
of Divine Love, will speak to our congregation this Sunday about the spiritual path of
divine love consciousness.
June 8: Rev. Chuck Freeman, "If You Meet Jesus On The Road, Give Him A High Five
And Keep On Going". Chuck will deliver nothing short of a tirade on why he doesn't
believe in lords, heroes, gurus,or saviors.
June 15: A lay-led service, Honoring Fathers. The fathers in our lives, our roles as
fathers, and the importance of fathers in our society.
June 22: Rev. Chuck Freeman, "Liked Or Significant?" In our roles as parents,
spouses, children, as well as in our roles as leaders at work, in the church, and the
community, we often are faced with this dilemma: Is it more important to be liked or to be
significant? Sometimes Life calls us to make a choice between one or the other. Which will
it be? (Child Dedications today)
June 29: The Youth Group will conduct this service to help us celebrate the joys of
summer in their own unique way.
April 1997
April 6 - Rev. Chuck Freeman: "The New Humanism".Unitarian Universalist
congregations are poised to nurture the growing spiritual climate that weds various
beliefs from divergent sources. Live Oak seems to be in this stream. Can all of us fit in
the boat without it tipping over?
April 13 - "Camping as Re-creation". Join us for our indoor campout and
communion of the senses, where we will reconnect with the Earth, Air, Fire, and Water.
(Intergenerational)
April 20 - Rev. Chuck Freeman: " A Natural Spirituality". Like a serene lake,
a dignified tree, breathing, and friendship, spirituality is a naturally-occurring
phenomenon. How can we cultivate this in our everyday life? (New Member Dedications)
April 27 - Ann Fox, intern minister currently serving at Emerson UU church, will give
us one of her prepared sermons. We are really in for a treat. Title and subject will be
announced at one of the upcoming services so don't miss any of them !!!
March 1997
March 2 - Rev. Chuck Freeman: " What's Up With Hip-Hop?" Chuck will
collaborate with, and interview, Les Jacobs and Kari Orr, DJs from KOOP and KVRX, to
explore the social and spiritual messages of Hip-Hop music. This service not for the faint
of heart!
March 9 - Cecile Richards: " Keeping The Pats Off Our Back ". Cecile is the
founder and Executive Director of the Texas Freedom and Texas Faith Networks based in
Austin. She will outline a faith-based response to the religious right typified by people
like Pat Robertson and Pat Buchanan.
March 16 - Donna Frysinger: "Celtic Spirituality". Donna, a Pastoral
Counselor and Spiritual Director with the Samaritan Counseling Center, will key in on the
Celtic view of the sacredness of all creation, and what we can learn from their spiritual
beliefs today.
March 23 - Rev. Chuck Freeman: "Batteries, Radiators ....Healing" The
relationship between Minister and Congregation is a substantial one that can be
transformational or scarring in spiritual development. A buddy of Chuck's used to complain
that conversations at church were too superficial, seldom delving deeper than a discussion
of "batteries and radiators." Chuck will seek to create an intimate dialogue
with the church to acknowledge the healing that we have experienced and that we desire, on
the one-year anniversary of Chuck's ministerial liaison with the church.
March 30 - Rev. Chuck Freeman: "The Choir Of Heroes". Dr. Norbert Capek, a UU
martyr and the originator of the Flower Communion, wrote that those who suffer creatively
will be welcomed into "the choir of heroes". PLEASE BRING A FLOWER to the
worship to share during the Flower Communion. This will be an intergenerational service
with children and adults in active participation.
February 1997
February 2 - Rev. Chuck Freeman: "Do We Really Want A Color-Blind Society?"
The current critiques on Affirmative Action tout creating a "color-blind"
society. How much would you enjoy a flower garden without all its brilliant colors? Can we
recognize differences, yet still honor and appreciate each of them? Maybe cultivating a
multi-colored nation is a more humane ambition.
February 9 - This Sunday we will recognize Black History Month by celebrating the
language that all races, cultures and nationalities have in common: music. The Bells of
Joy, a prominent gospel group who have performed at Lincoln Center, will share their
special brand of joy with us. Afterwards we will all go to Bo Knows Barbecue for lunch.
Food for the soul and food for the body. Y'all come now.
February 16 - Rev. Chuck Freeman: "Freeman Meets Freeman". In 1787 King's
Chapel Episcopal Church ordained James Freeman to the priesthood since the bishop refused
on account of Freeman's disavowal of the doctrine of the Trinity. Freeman is given the
distinction of being the "first avowed" preacher of Unitarianism in the United
States. Two hundred years later another Freeman made his move in the same direction. The
history of these two theological rebels could be a savory treat, depending upon your
palate.
February 23 - Our own Alison Dieter presents a short play entitled : "Caseworker
Caught in the Crossfire". Though somewhat dated (what with the recent welfare
reform), it seems an excellent point of departure for a discussion of the moral
implications of welfare and what is the best way to help those in need.
Copyright
©2006, Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Church.