• Feb2025

    Fighting for Our Values

    February 11, 2025

    Occasionally, I’ll get a question about the line between politics and religion, and what it means to our church and to Unitarian Universalism. I don’t believe it is possible at the present time to advocate for our UU values without addressing the actions being taken by government/political officials. I absolutely...

  • Jan2025

    On Tuesday, overwhelmed by the blizzard of executive orders, news that Medicaid’s portal was down in all fifty states, and the repeated attacks on the rights of transgender people, I added five pints of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream into my cart. I don’t recommend this. I mean, if you...

  • Steadfast

    January 22, 2025

    And so we begin a new (well, old, a repeat) presidential administration. News stories warn of deportation raids ordered by the president. The Texas Legislature has already been seated, with several immigration-related bills in the works. Trans people have already been verbally attacked by an executive order attempting to limit...

  • To Be of Worth

    January 13, 2025

    After Sunday’s service, which addressed Martin Luther King’s argument that equating a person’s value with their financial means is an “unjust measurement of human worth,” Live Oak member Michael Van Slyke shared that he finds it frustrating when the news media describes someone as being “worth” their financial resources, e.g....

  • The Legacy of Jimmy Carter

    January 8, 2025

    January 9 is a national day of mourning on the death of President Jimmy Carter. What a life and what a legacy. I never met him, but he has been an influence in my life since I was a child. My parents were big fans of his – I think...

  • Dec2024

    This Sunday is our annual “Fire Communion.” This is a participatory service, one of our four community-based rituals, in which which we honor that we are each on our individual life journeys, but we do not journey alone. On Sunday, we will be noting things that we would like to...

  • Holiday Love

    December 24, 2024

    There are so many ways that Live Oak members show their love for this church. You serve in leadership, teach classes, work on committees, donate your time, talent, and treasure to this church. And there are little touches that often others don’t know about (like Ray, Becky M, and Tim...

  • Selfies with Santa

    December 18, 2024

    The Selfies with Santa Holiday Festival was pretty amazing. We now have families who have been coming to this for eight years – some began on their baby’s very first Christmas, and have been every year since (except 2020). Some of them even bring photos to show Santa their history....

  • ALL the Holiday Things!

    December 10, 2024

    This week, we have multiple holiday events happening, so you’re sure to find something that fits what you need. This Thursday, Dec. 12, at 6:30 pm, we will gather in the sanctuary for the annual “Blue Christmas Vespers” service. This service is for anyone who is having a challenging time...

  • Nov2024

    Finding Our People

    November 27, 2024

    At the bonfire/s’mores feast last Friday night at Live Oak, we had a good crowd. And what I heard over and over again was, “I just needed to be with my people.” Significantly, we had several people new to Live Oak at the bonfire. I have shared before about an...