Are you interested in a Christmas party? We are currently discussing the possibility so if you want to weigh in and offer to help, please contact Rita at the church on Tuesdays or Thursdays. You can also email her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We need volunteers to make these special events happen.

I'm not sure what's happening for Workday Wednesday this week, but it's always a good opportunity to help us maintain the church and get to know some of our members on a personal basis. It's from 5:00-7:00 pm and Rebecca Mohr leads.

A special thanks to everyone who was at the service this past Sunday and signed a birthday card for me. I appreciate you all!

Well, that's really about it for this week. As the holidays begin the news gets less exciting. I'm totally okay with this myself.

Enjoy the rest of your week!

E. Beth Ferree, UUCOC President of the Board
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Helping to build a beloved community in Dallas

In other news, the executive committee gathered Sunday, November 13^th to meet with the people in charge of the In The Beats We Trust Project. Given that this weekend's event was causing some contention last week, we wanted them to know who the board officers were and welcome them to campus. Since we are a congregation-led church, it was important they have the information necessary to communicate with your board officers. Everything that happens on campus is overseen by the Board and any communication in regard to our events goes to myself or one of the other officers. I think there has been some confusion about who can authorize events so we wanted to make that clear. The In The Beats We Trust Project will continue to bring their healing music to the sanctuary the second Sunday of each month and will be donating what they are able from the proceeds. Autumn and I also discussed the possibility of asking Alex Camara or one of the other leaders to speak for us one Sunday. Since this group offers so many wonderful opportunities for outreach, we would consider having a Share the Plate that week to help them. This will be on the agenda at the next Board Meeting on November 27^th at 12:30 pm. Also on the agenda will be a discussion on the proposed policy that's been written by Judy Watkins, and the possibility of renting space as an office to one of our congregants. If you are interested in learning more I encourage you to come to the meeting. If you have anything you would like to see on the agenda, please contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. no later than the 22^nd so we can get the full agenda in that week's eBlast.

We are having our Thanksgiving dinner once again and there's a lot of excitement about it. I will be up bright and early to cook two turkeys. You can sign up for whatever you would like to contribute at www.tinyurl.com/uucocThanksgiving22. We are also asking everyone to bring an item for us to distribute through our Bags for The Homeless project or luggage to go to Genesis Shelter. We are also collecting blankets to hand out to the people who live in the tent community next to the church.

On Workday Wednesday things will be getting cleaned out and ready so we have the space in Hope for the potential office rental. There will be several things we will be offering for sale on Facebook Marketplace and other venues. If there's something going away that you might want, come help so you can grab it before it's gone.

I will be taking the weekend of November 20^th off. If there's something you need you can contact our VP, Kirsten LaBauve at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. If it's not an emergency you can also send me an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and I will deal with it that next week.

Have a great week everyone and I will see you on Thanksgiving!

E. Beth Ferree, UUCOC President of the Board
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Helping to build a beloved community in Dallas

Judy and Don Watkins met with Kirsten LaBauve and me on Sunday to discuss the ongoing work with policies and procedures. We are currently trying to determine priority so we have the most important ones written first. On Wednesday, November 9^th there will be a Coordinating Council meeting and the policies on the use of the property will be discussed. All heads of ministries and committees are expected to attend or appoint a member to attend in their stead.

There is a Workday Wednesday this week from 5:00-7:00 pm since Rebecca will be finished working the polls. All are encouraged to join in and help put the Halloween decorations away until next year. The next board meeting will be November 27^th after TalkBack (12:30 pm). If you have anything you would like on the agenda you're encouraged to send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. before the 22^nd so I can publish the agenda in the eBlast.

We are having a Thanksgiving dinner this year and it's actually going to be in person! This dinner is open to anyone who might otherwise be alone, or just doesn't want to cook a huge meal. You can sign up for it at www.tinyurl.com/uucocThanksgiving22. While you're there, please sign up for a dish you can bring to share. We are also encouraging everyone to bring an item that can be put in our bags for the homeless project or luggage that will be taken to the Genesis Women's Shelter.

We had one of our homeless neighbors request a blanket last week. I was able to get some donations but we need more with the cold weather coming on. If you happen to have a blanket or coat you no longer use, bring them to the church Sunday or on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 am-2:00 pm and we'll make sure they get distributed. Thank you for all your help these past two years. As a result of your donations we have given out approximately 50 bags filled with necessities. Now that we're getting through the pandemic, it's time to start this ministry up again. I think that's about it for now.

Be sure to read the rest of the eBlast for any information I missed and I hope to see you Sunday.

E. Beth Ferree, UUCOC President of the Board
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Helping to build a beloved community in Dallas

We will be having a watch party on November 8^th in Hope, starting around 6:00 pm. It will be a finger food potluck and everyone is welcome to join for a short time or stick it out until the bitter end. Yes, I will make the popcorn. (That was the first question I was asked when I suggested it.)

Yolonda Blue Horse will be leading an event in Faith on November 15th. The details are in this eBlast and there will be dancing so, if you are available, please join in!

Our new CommUUnity on the website is still in development. You'll be notified as soon as it is ready and open for business. In the meantime, if you're on a committee, or a board member, please check on Slack so you don't miss anything important. Changes in policy, rules and procedures are underway and it behooves us all to keep up so no one is left behind.

That's it for now from me. As always, most of what I mention is also in other places in the eBlast, so please be sure to read it all.

E. Beth Ferree, UUCOC President of the Board
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Helping to build a beloved community in Dallas

Don't forget we have the Haunted Forest again next Sunday, October 30^th from 7:00-9:00 pm so we could still use some ghouls, witches or zombies as well as help with set up and tear down. We usually have a pretty busy night on Halloween Eve so we need all hands on deck.

There isn't any Workday Wednesday this week (26^th) or next week (2^nd of November) since Rebecca will be working the polls. But, if you happen to get a chance to check the grounds and pick up debris, it would be much appreciated. Photos of Sunday's event are up on our Facebook TalkBack Group for your enjoyment. Check them out!

It's a short report this time since all efforts have been focused on the fundraiser. Enjoy the next few days and I'll see you Sunday.

E. Beth Ferree, UUCOC President of the Board
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Helping to build a beloved community in Dallas

Our award recipients are:

Sally Jones Awards
Alicia Kalich
Joeie Hile
Sherri Randall

Harry Jones Award
Kathy Grey

Special Addition:
Carol Dengle - Enthusiastic Welcomer Award
Kirsten - Humble Worker Award
Rebecca - Sacred Spaces Keeper Award
Johnnie Chatman - Fellowship Builder Award

Don't forget to come help us on Wednesday, the 19^th at 4:00 pm so we can get all the last-minute clean up and organizing done for our big event on Sunday the 23^rd. We still need help for both the Fall Market and the Haunted Forest. You can sign up to be a ghoul, or help with set up at www.oakcliffuu.org/2022hfvolunteer. Jayde still needs donations of food,raffle items and other things for the Fall Market. You can reach him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

We also have the Haunted Forest going again on the 30^th so, if you're not around this coming Sunday, be sure to sign up for the next.

Not much else to say, but more than enough to do, so I'll see you Sunday!

E. Beth Ferree, UUCOC President of the Board
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Helping to build a beloved community in Dallas

Speaking of October 23^rd, I am doing the service that day on storytelling and ancestral legacies. I am hoping some of you will be willing to share a story with us that is meaningful to you. Some of our long-time members may be interested in sharing some of their historical knowledge of our grounds as well. We are planning to deck out the stage for atmosphere, so if any children are interested in sitting around a "fire" I'd love to have them! You're also welcome to bring photos or memorabilia to share. If you have questions or want to be sure you're included, you can contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

We still need people to participate in our Haunted Forest! Ghosts, ghouls and other creatures of the night can sign up to help at https://tinyurl.com/2022HFVolunteers. You can also offer to help with the Fall Market by reaching out to Jayde Harrington at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Time is running out and we need to have all hands on deck to make this a successful fundraiser!

If you are a ministry or committee head, please be prepared to introduce your team to the congregation. If you have any media to share, you need to have it to Scott ASAP (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

That's about it for now. You'll find the Fall Parish meeting agenda in this eblast, as well as information on all the other things happening!

E. Beth Ferree, UUCOC President of the Board
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Helping to build a beloved community in Dallas

Also at the Parish meeting there will be a presentation of the Harry and Sally Jones awards. These awards are given to two volunteers who have made a significant difference in keeping our church going. The Sally Jones award is for those who have been front and center, while the Harry Jones award is for those who have worked diligently behind the scenes. If you haven’t nominated anyone yet there’s still a couple of days to do so. Please use this form to submit your nominations: https://uucoc.breezechms.com/form/VolRecognition22 The board will decide the recipients this coming Sunday, October 9th at our meeting.

Not only will we have the Parish meeting on October 16^th, we will also have an opportunity for you to share your best recipe for chili. There isn’t going to be any judging this time, just lots of chili!

October 23^rd is our Fall Market and the first Haunted Forest event. Set up will begin immediately after church and the market opens at 4:00 pm. At 7:00 pm on the 23^rd and on the 30^th we will open the Haunted Forest. If you’d like to participate in either of these events, be sure to sign up! The links for doing so are in this publication. We still need people willing to give a little time so we can raise money for the church.

There is a Workday Wednesday this week from 5:00-7:00 pm as we prepare the campus for all the fun. This is a great time to get to know a smaller group of people, develop friendships, and get outside while it’s still warm enough to enjoy.

Have a good week all and I hope to see you soon.

E. Beth Ferree, UUCOC President of the Board
214-229-7384
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Helping to build a beloved community in Dallas

October 23^rd and 30^th are the dates for our annual Haunted Forest. On the 23^rd it will be in conjunction with the Fall Market put together by Jayde Harrington and the Healing Justice Ministry. The market will run from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm on the 23^rd, with the Haunted Forest going from 7:00-9:00 pm on both the 23^rd and 30^th.

If you are interested in having a booth at the market you can contact Jayde Harrington at FThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Next week, on Wednesday at 7:00 pm there will be a fundraising meeting on Zoom. We want to encourage more involvement and recruit volunteers for our events. If you’d like to help, just hop on Zoom by following the link in this eBlast. Even if you can’t attend this meeting, I want to encourage you to volunteer to help with the Haunted Forest. We need all hands on deck to make it a success. Just go to https://tinyurl.com/2022HFVolunteers and let us know what you would like to help with.

October 9^th at 12:30 pm we will have our next board meeting to prepare for the Fall Parish meeting on October 16^th. During the board meeting we will vote on the recipients of our Harry and Sally Jones’ awards. There’s still time for you to for you to nominate a volunteer for recognition, so go to https://uucoc.breezechms.com/form/VolRecognition22.

We still need pledges for the year so we can continue to grow our campus and offer activities! If you haven’t filled yours out yet you can do so at oakcliffuu.org/pledge2023. If you have questions, you can ask Rita by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Enjoy the rest of your week and I hope to see some of you Friday night.

E. Beth Ferree, UUCOC President of the Board
214-229-7384

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Helping to build a beloved community in Dallas

There is a board meeting scheduled for this coming Sunday, September 25^th at 12:30 pm in Hope Chapel. It will be a hybrid meeting, so the Zoom link can be found elsewhere in this newsletter. Our primary point of discussion right now is policies and procedures since it’s getting increasingly difficult to keep all the trains on the track without a firm written set of guidelines and rules. If you have anything you’d like to have considered on an agenda, please, let me know at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. at least three days prior to the meeting, so we can review and publish it.

On October 23^rd there will be a Fall Market as well as our annual Haunted Forest. If you’d like to be a vendor or need more information you can contact Jayde Harrington at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. More information is coming soon. If you’re willing to help with the Haunted Forest, please go to https://tinyurl.com/2022HFVolunteers. We need as much help as possible to make these fundraisers a success.

On October 16^th we will be holding the Fall Parish meeting after the service. It will include a potluck for which everyone is encouraged to bring their homemade chili to show off your favorite recipe. During the meeting we will introduce our ministries and committees and hand out the Harry Jones and Sally Jones Awards. There will also be recognition of all our volunteers, so go to the Breeze form Rita created and fill it out: https://uucoc.breezechms.com/form/VolRecognition22

On September 30^th at 7:00 pm we are hosting a watch party for the Beto/Abbott debate in Hope Chapel. I have been informed I need to make the popcorn, but whether you eat it or throw it is up to you as long as you help clean up afterward.
 
I think that’s it for now. Have a good rest of your week and I’ll see you Sunday.

E. Beth Ferree, UUCOC President of the Board
214-229-7384

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Helping to build a beloved community in Dallas

A majority of the congregation seems to feel we should be offering sanctuary to those who need it and we have successfully done so at various times during the past few years, but those were very short term and now we're looking at longer periods so there are naturally growing pains and wrinkles that need to be ironed out. Your board is committed to doing so and we are working with policies and procedures that will address rules on how we can create a loving healing environment for all. Not just the guests on campus but also the congregation already in place that needs to have their needs met. We cannot move forward without being heard from all sides of the issue. This will be on the agenda at our board meeting on September 25th at 1 PM. Please feel free to join us and make your voice heard.

In the meantime, we also have a rule in place that all internal conflicts must be heard by the Executive Board. At the end of the day, anyone on our campus falls under the jurisdiction of the board since we must consider the boring side of church life, liability and property management. This is made up of elected officers and anyone else the President sees fit to include to resolve an issue. Since we are speaking about liability issues, it might be someone with a legal background who can answer any questions. This group will be investigating this matter this week. I also want to assure those who were concerned about the issue being made public that the remarks made were not released in the final product that went out to Facebook and YouTube.

On Wednesday evening, September 14th at 7:30 PM Kirsten LaBauve will be leading the Coordinated Council. This is the group from which a vast majority of our new policies will come. It is important that our ministry leaders attend this meeting so they can have input. You'll find the link to the meeting in this eblast or you can join a few of us at the church in Hope Chapel. 

Wednesday Workday is still on hiatus until the 21st. Rest up now since Rebecca Mohr always has a lot of things that need accomplished and very few of us can keep up with her energy!

By the time you read this, I will have attended a workshop through Wellspring Mental Health on conflict resolution and relationship. I always enjoy these webinars since it's a time to connect with other people in the counseling profession and it's always an opportunity to learn something new. 

I hope you all enjoy the rest of your week. Remember, it is Mercury Retrograde so don't call your ex or cut your bangs!

E. Beth Ferree, UUCOC President of the Board
214-229-7384

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Helping to build a beloved community in Dallas

Autumn started off our annual Pledge drive by reminding us all of the work we’ve done, as well as the work we hope to do. She asked everyone to increase their monthly pledge by $25 this year if they can so we can complete our current goals and dream up some new ones. There’s always so much potential in a loving community that is dedicated to growth and outreach.

I hope you are all getting some rest this week because next Sunday, September 11^th, promises to be another busy one! After church there will be Jazz Jam at 2:00 pm and another Drum circle event that evening starting at 5:00 pm.

On Tuesday night, September 6^th, we are having our first Tuesday Night Film showing at 7:00 pm. The film will be The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson and popcorn will be served. I have seen this film and I can tell you it’s well worth a trek out after work. I hope to see many of you there.

On a personal note, I want to express my deep gratitude to the congregation. August was probably the worst month on record for me. I was sick for three weeks with some mysterious malady, then my computer was compromised. As I was working on fixing the issues the cat got tangled up in the cord and pulled the computer down to its demise. Throughout it all, people were there for me with deliveries of food, financial help that enabled me to get my phone replaced and my number changed, and I have been gifted a laptop computer so I can continue my work. I am very blessed to be a part of this congregation and I can honestly say that I have never been in a place where I have felt so loved and cared for. Bless you all and I love you!

I think that’s all for this week. Enjoy the cooler weather (I can’t believe I’m celebrating 90 degrees!)

Namasté
E. Beth Ferree
President of the Board at Unitarian Universalist Church of Oak Cliff
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Other matters discussed were the reinstatement of Don and Judith Watkins as members, retaining their original join date. This made Don the most recent past president, and Susan requested that he be allowed to take the position, allowing her to leave the board and focus on other opportunities, such as RE. The board agreed to the changes. I want to thank Susan for her years of service and support as a member of the board.

Judith Watkins has agreed to work with board officers in creating a new set of policies and procedures to replace the ones that have disappeared. We agreed this was one of our primary goals given that it will allow us to focus on how we communicate and how the committees are run. Kirsten will be requesting that each ministry and committee put together a draft of how their committees work. This will enable us to create rules and policies with everyone’s input.

On September 4th we will have our InGathering service. Rev. Deneen will be speaking and there will be a Water Ceremony, so bring a container of water you’ve collected from your travels this year or even your kitchen tap. We will also have a backpack blessing for the children, so make sure your kids bring their backpacks! After the service we will have a potluck at which the kids will have the opportunity to meet the RE teachers. Autumn will also be leading everyone in dreaming and visioning what we can do with more funds as we take the first step into our six-week long pledge drive.

If you have been volunteering and haven’t been keeping up with tracking your hours, now is the time to begin. You can easily submit your hours online with the form on Breeze. (https://uucoc.breezechms.com/form/2022-volunteer) If you have any questions, you can send a message to Rita (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). On October 16th we will have our Fall Parish meeting. This meeting is not for business, but for recognizing all the fantastic things we have happening in the church. There will be awards for volunteers who have worked for us and reports from the committees and ministries. Also, this time the usual potluck will be a “Chili Show Off.” It should be getting cooler and the perfect time to pull out the chili powder and cumin.

There’s lots going on and you can find other information elsewhere in this eBlast. It’s time for us to gear up for a great year!

Namasté

E. Beth Ferree
President of the Board at Unitarian Universalist Church of Oak Cliff
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On August 16^th I met with our newly formed Finance Ministry. Currently, it consists of Autumn Van Volkinburg, Emily Brock, and Steven Martinson. If you’re interested in joining the group, please let Autumn (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or myself (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) know. We need to start the stewardship drive and make some major adjustments to how the budget is organized. If the work is distributed among more than one person, our budget will be in better shape, and we will no longer have problems with financial issues overwhelming us.

Tonight (Wednesday, August 17^th) at 7:30 pm we will have our monthly board meeting. Now that we are meeting monthly, rather than weekly, we will need to be more efficient about how the meetings are run. We would love to have you join us and participate in discussion, but I do ask that remarks be kept brief and to the point. You will find the agenda and link to the meeting below.

If you’ve been on campus this past week, you may be aware that we have a couple living in their RV next to Charity. Koa and SolAmor are going to be with us for up to a month while they figure out the next leg in their journey. In exchange they are doing work around the campus. They are a wonderful couple and I encourage you all to meet them. They have simply dived in, and I’m so impressed with how much they’ve already accomplished! They also have two elderly dogs with them that are crated in Hope chapel. The pooches are very agreeable (wait, where did agreeable come from? My father always said that!) Anyway, they are friendly and absolutely no trouble at all.

A reminder that there is no Workday Wednesday until mid-September as Rebecca is out traveling. However, if you ever feel the urge to work out in nature, we can certainly hook you up with a task!

Have a great week and stay tuned to this channel for updates on what’s happening!

Namasté

E. Beth Ferree
President of the Board at Unitarian Universalist Church of Oak Cliff
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Other things we are currently working on include bringing back our annual Thanksgiving dinner, the Haunted Forest and more!

Workday Wednesday is currently on break until September 21^st as Rebecca will be out of town. There will still be some maintenance continuing during the hiatus, but the larger jobs will be done when the weather cools down a little.

The board will have a short retreat this coming Sunday, August 14^th with Deneen leading us in a visioning exercise. At 2:00 pm that afternoon Jazz Jam returns, followed by a drum ceremony by In the Beats We Trust at 5:00 pm. If you would like to attend the drumming event, please let Sara or Deneen (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) know as the number of people are limited.

If you’re one of our leaders, remember there’s a Coordinating Council meeting at 7:30 pm tonight (Wednesday, August 10^th) and a board meeting next Wednesday, August 17^th at 7:30 pm. You’ll find the links to these meetings at the bottom of this eBlast.

Enjoy the rest of your week and may the rain gods continue to anoint the nature surrounding us so the drought will become a thing of the past.

Namasté

E. Beth Ferree
President of the Board at Unitarian Universalist Church of Oak Cliff
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If you’ve been attending Adult RE with Sarah Ricke, you’ll be happy to know she’ll be back this Sunday to continue the class. I always hear how much people enjoy that class so feel free to pop into Charity at 11:30 and join them. Of course, we love seeing you all in TalkBack as well, but it’s always nice to have choices.

On July 30^th there was a NTUUC board meeting attended by our representative, Alicia Kalich. She tells me they spoke about the strengths and weaknesses of the NTUUC member churches, as well as considering ways that things will need to change as we adapt to this new normal. She was able to brag about our Communications Team and all the great work we’ve been doing. When they evaluated different areas of our churches, Alicia was excited to see that we are way ahead of the others! (Fantastic work, Alicia, and thank you!) She emphasized that our communications team is definitely one of our strengths and she felt very good about where we are headed.

On August 14^th after services, our board will be holding its retreat in Hope Chapel. Rev. Deneen is going to help us with visioning and coming up with what we want to see happening in the future. With Covid starting to seem endless, I realize that it feels difficult to consider dreaming about the future, but it is essential so we don’t get stuck just spinning our proverbial wheels. It’s also important to note that this hesitancy to dream is probably one of the biggest concerns for the other churches within the North Texas cluster as well. We are not alone.

I would like to see this visioning happening throughout the congregation. As I often say, the board represents you, the congregants, and it’s important we have an idea of where you want us to head. We can only grow as far as the congregation dreams. Let us know where you want us to head!

I hope you can continue to stay cool in this unbearable heat. As always, if you find yourself without air conditioning or power, the church can be opened as a sanctuary if the power stays on there. Just let me (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or Rev. Deneen (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) know.

Namasté

E. Beth Ferree
President of the Board at Unitarian Universalist Church of Oak Cliff
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Sunday evening there was a Sound Bath and Gong Meditation led by Mélissa Reneé. I was unable to attend but I heard wonderful things from those who attended. I very much hope to be able to participate in one of the wonderful spiritual healing events soon.

At our board meeting last week, Johnnie Chatman proposed the church have a booth at the For Oak Cliff back to school event on August 13. The cost of the booth is $300 so we approved the booth with the understanding that the funds to reserve the space would be raised. The drumming circle that performs here on campus later decided to pay that sum for us as a thank you for allowing them to use our space! A huge thank you to Alex and his group! Any additional funds raised for this event will be used to update our marketing materials which have needed an upgrade for several years. This is a huge event that could potentially bring in more people, so we want to make sure we have updated brochures, cards, and other materials. If you would like to support our efforts, please consider a donation! (www.oakcliffuu.org/Donate)  We also need people to staff the booth that day. You can reach out to Johnnie at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for information or to volunteer.

Also discussed at the board meeting was the current COVID status. Although the CDC has declared the area in red, Judge Jenkins still has us ranked in orange as of this writing. We are strongly encouraging people to wear a mask, especially in the sanctuary, but there are no plans to shut down unless the government calls for an area wide shut down. We have had several cases within the congregation the last couple of weeks but that also appears to be dissipating so we want to encourage you all to return to campus. If we’re masked and vaccinated, we are doing the best we can with a difficult situation. The reality is the virus is everywhere, and we’ve just been notified that there’s an outbreak of Monkey Pox in DFW and beyond. Closing the doors of the church would not make us safer since the spread is in the community. The trauma we suffer from today is more a result of two years of isolation than anything else, so let’s move forward with proper precautions and begin the healing process together.

The other major development at the board meeting is that we agreed to purchase a OneLicense subscription which will provide us with the ability to include a lot more music in our services while continuing to livestream and share our services online. We are no longer limited to the same hymns  due to copyright laws that limit what we can put out there on Zoom and Youtube. In fact, this would be the perfect time for us to build a choir again! If you love to sing, let Autumn (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or Deneen (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) know. They are more than ready to have more people involved. Perhaps I should threaten to sing if you won’t. 😉

I hope the rest of this week finds you well, or healing, and I look forward to seeing more of you this coming Sunday.

Namasté

E. Beth Ferree
President of the Board at Unitarian Universalist Church of Oak Cliff
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1. Given that Dallas County, as well as much of the surrounding area is back in red, we discussed how we were handling the moving target called Covid risk. Only one congregation was planning to shut down for 4 weeks, but that is their usual summer break and has nothing to do with the level of infections. Most were continuing with masks optional under the assumption that everyone has free choice and it’s up to the individual. One or two have masks required in the sanctuary, but optional elsewhere. First Church has upgraded to masks strongly encouraged. When the risk level skyrocketed this week, I did the same for our congregation and the matter is on the agenda for the Board meeting on Wednesday, July 20^th at 7:30 pm. The bottom line for all of us was, that given pandemics historically last 3-5 years, it is unrealistic for any to consider a shutdown unless the government mandates it.

2. Daniel Polk will be setting up a leader’s group on Facebook or Slack where the Presidents and VPs can gather and keep each other informed of events or opportunities to collaborate. One of the items most discussed was the possibility of joining together to teach OWL classes. Many of us have either a lack of children or a lack of teachers. This is especially true in the middle and high school ages which cannot be taught on a virtual basis. Those of us training in the adult level will be checking with our trainers to see if this is a possibility. Especially the two of us who are currently interested in offering the new older adult class. Other items that will be considered in the group are joint campouts as well as summer camps. They are very interested in our new Healing Justice Ministry under Sara Latchison, so I will be sending along that information as well. Religious trauma and feeling unsafe in a church environment were a consistent challenge for the churches.

3. One of the matters we will discuss Wednesday is the securing of a copyright license so we can greatly expand our musical offerings while continuing to livestream and record our services. I asked how the others dealt with that and discovered the license we are currently pursuing is working well.

The rest of the information is mostly pertinent to the Worship team and will be relayed.

You’ll notice a few changes in how meetings are run this year. I had three personal goals these past few years, of getting the repairs done, finding a minister, and fixing the communication issues in our governance. Since the pandemic threw us for a loop, I found myself doing much more of the day-to-day supervision, so we got off track on the communication. This year we have rules for the Board meetings that will be passed along to the other ministries for consideration. As of this meeting, the agenda will be published publicly in the eBlast so you can determine if you’d like to be a part of the discussion. My hope is by the time I leave office next July we will have a more smoothly running governance that people feel comfortable participating in. As we get into the year, and everyone gets settled you will probably see a few other changes pop up.

Reverend Deneen Robinson (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) has been asking us all what our dreams for the church are. Since our meetings tend to focus on what needs to be done at that particular time, I would like to encourage all ministries and committees to use one meeting a quarter, or every six months, to set aside time for long term dreaming. The first time can be used to create a vision board, while the others can be used to check in on how we’re coming along. This enables us to engage in the big visions while using the rest of the meetings to do what needs to be done for the church to run smoothly.

We now have Mélisa Reneé on campus as our own “healer in residence.”.On Sunday evening at 6:00 pm she will be hosting a healing drum circle and encourages everyone who is interested to join. Please let Deneen or Sara know if you’ll be attending.

I hope I see many of you in church Sunday. NTUUC will be in house to present us with a check for $25,000 so we can keep paying our new minister and supporting her vision as well.

Namasté

E. Beth Ferree
President of the Board at Unitarian Universalist Church of Oak Cliff
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To accomplish these things, we must have some guidelines. There must be a clear and concise method of communication, so we are not scheduling conflicting events. If you are using space on campus, or if you are using a Zoom channel, please contact Rita so that all church activity is on the calendar. Also, we want to give everyone the opportunity to be aware of the events and give the Communications team the opportunity to do their job. So far, it’s been an adjustment, but we’re getting there. So, I’m encouraging all ministry heads and committee chairs to attend Coordinated Council (Zoom link: https://tinyurl.com/UUCOC-CC) this week to get everyone on the same page.

Another change you’ll soon see is in the way we handle conflict and misunderstandings. I have been doing a deep dive into my past training materials in leadership and communication and am working on coming up with a solution that enables everyone to be heard without reacting to harm by creating more of it. Because this is a diverse community, it means understanding the different ways of dealing with conflict and misunderstandings. I know our neurodiverse congregants have a very different way of coping, as do those who come from a history of religious or family trauma, as well as those who tend to just put it all out there. This will require some adjustment but will be worth the effort as we seek to reach a place of peaceful loving coexistence. We have a warm loving family with so much going for it. Let’s bring in more love through direct honest communication and a renewed commitment to our Covenant and 7 Principles.

In other news, there is a Workday Wednesday this week from 5:00 - 7:00 pm. Come on over, help spruce up your environment and stay for the CC meeting at 7:30 rather than join on Zoom.

Next Wednesday, July 20^th, will be the board meeting, also at 7:30. You’re always welcome to attend and provide input. As of now, the agenda consists of a report from the repairs team and discussion on a potential board retreat. I will work on having the agenda prepared and published in the Eblast this year, so you all know what’s going on.

I think that’s it for now. Don’t forget Sara has meditations happening during the week as well! Be sure to check our calendar at www.oakcliffuu.org/calendar

Namasté

E. Beth Ferree
President of the Board at Unitarian Universalist Church of Oak Cliff
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Don’t forget there are opportunities for meditation and healing in Charity over the week. I’m sure Sara Latchison would love to have some of us taking advantage of these. There’s also a drum circle ceremony coming up on July 10^th at 5:00 pm.

There is a workday this Wednesday, the 6^th from 5:00 - 7:00 pm. I heard rumors there will be painting.

Jayde has donated several postcards to the church for us to write to political leaders who need to be reminded for whom they work. We will have those available for anyone interested and suggested wording for anyone who would like that assistance.

If you volunteer on a ministry or committee, please be sure to respond to Rita’s email so she can finish our new “Who’s Who” at UUCOC.

In the interest of transparency and communication, I am COVID positive as of Wednesday morning. I will still be available as much as possible virtually but will not be on campus until after Sunday.

Namasté
E. Beth Ferree
President of the Board at Unitarian Universalist Church of Oak Cliff
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There’s no Workday Wednesday this week and the building will be cleaned prior to the next service.

I heard everyone who went bowling had a great time and we brought in $89! That’s pretty good for a fundraiser that takes little to no work and is fun for all who participate. Rebecca Mohr tells me this is going to be a regular event every 4^th Sunday.

If you happen to come on campus this week, you’ll notice that the roof of Hope is being torn off and replaced. Thanks to Performance Roofing who has agreed to take this on for the amount paid out by insurance. While we are hoping Church Mutual will update their payment to reflect the increased costs of material, we want to acknowledge that the contractor is probably taking a significant loss of income to help us out. All they ask in return is that we give them a good review when it’s done.

As of this Friday, July 1^st, Kirsten LaBauve will be our new Vice President. I’m looking forward to working with her on getting the Coordinating Council back on track after the two years of isolation. I also want to thank Renée Brill for stepping into the position during that very difficult two years. 

If you haven’t heard, Renée and her husband have moved up to Maine with the intention of starting a campground. They are also expecting their first baby in September. Renée will continue to be involved with Widening the Circle by attending the meetings virtually. I wish them all the best in their new journey.

Take care, have a good rest of your week, and I’ll see you Sunday.

Namasté
E. Beth Ferree
President of the Board at Unitarian Universalist Church of Oak Cliff
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The platform for the Texas Republican party just came out and it reflects the fear and anxiety of some of their leaders as they struggle to remain relevant. Having said that, I want to emphasize that this does not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of everyone in that party and we need to acknowledge that so we can be welcoming to those with different conservative ideologies.

As a socially aware congregation, we have committed ourselves to justice, equity, and the concept of providing sanctuary. It’s time to change a few things so we can keep everyone safe.

The monthly calendar will be handled at the Coordinating Council meetings on the second Wednesday of the month, at 7:30 pm, when all ministry and committee leaders gather. If you have a great idea for an event or fundraiser, this is where it gets presented. Anything happening that is not an already scheduled event or meeting should always go through Rita, so it gets on the calendar. Events that need board approval will be presented at the next board meeting, tentatively scheduled for the third Wednesday at 7:00 pm.

While we want to encourage use of our space, if you’re planning to be on campus for any reason, please let Rita know. That way if anything happens, we are aware of who was there and what is taking place. If you happen to see anything unusual or suspicious going on, call me immediately. We do have a small group of homeless who use our water and electricity on a regular basis, but they are always very polite and a few of us have developed a relationship with them. Having them on campus gives us a small level of protection because they are aware of what is happening when we are not. Just because I know who they are, doesn’t mean everyone does, so I am available if there are any concerns. Alicia Morales, Rita Jackson, Reverend Deneen, and Autumn Van Volkinburg are also there a great deal of the time. Other than in the case of an emergency, it’s not necessary to contact me personally if someone else is aware of what’s going on at any given time.

If we all commit to communicating with one another we can fight injustice, provide sanctuary, and maintain safety on campus, without any misunderstandings or conflict. Thank you!

There is a board meeting this Thursday, June 23^rd at 7:00 pm. As usual, it’s an open meeting and everyone is invited to attend. This week we will be focusing on transition to the new church year and taking care of a few loose ends. Starting next month, there will be a few changes in how the board meetings are run, but you’ll always be heard, and your input is invaluable.

Have a good rest of your week!
Namasté
E. Beth Ferree
President of the Board at Unitarian Universalist Church of Oak Cliff
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This Thursday, June 16^th, there will be a Coordinating Council meeting at 7:00 pm. If you are a ministry or committee leader, I encourage you to attend this one. Kirsten LaBauve, our new Vice President, will be there and I want to be sure she knows everyone and the purpose of each committee. We will be meeting in the Hope Chapel as well as online using Zoom. Now that the pandemic is over, I’ve discussed with Kirsten how we can get Coordinated Council back on track. We've had a few glitches lately with events that didn’t get on the calendar or go through proper channels. We need to fix that as we move forward, so everyone is on the same page.

Rebecca Mohr is out of town so there’s no Workday Wednesday this week. I hope you can all stay cool and find something relaxing to do with your time.

The Board will be meeting next Thursday, the 23^rd at 7:00pm.  We will be discussing the ongoing issue with Waste Management and our plans as we transition to the new year. Everyone is welcome to attend, and the link is in this eBlast. Some of us will be on campus as well, so you’re also welcome to attend in person.

We did host a friend of the church Monday afternoon as we waited for her air-conditioning to be fixed. If you, or someone you know needs help, there are cooling stations at the West Dallas multipurpose center and the Martin Luther King activity center. Also, Reliant and the City of Dallas are giving away air conditioners. I will have these added to my list of resources. If you need more info, you’re always welcome to reach out to us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Enjoy the rest of your week and stay cool.

Namasté
E. Beth Ferree
President of the Board at Unitarian Universalist Church of Oak Cliff
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

There will be a meditation on campus June 20^th at 11:30 am. A half hour will be dedicated to conversation before meditation begins at 12 noon sharp. This is part of a worldwide meditation time to usher in a period of Harmony. Even if you can’t join on campus you can meditate at home as part of the energy lines connection.

On Tuesday, June 21^st at 8:00 pm we will have the summer Solstice celebration led by Sarah Ricke. It’s always a beautiful celebration of the changing seasons and the labyrinth has so much peaceful positive energy I have no doubt joining the group will help you move into summer with a hopeful attitude. Something we all need during this time of social and global chaos.

Our next Board meeting has been moved from June 9^th to June 23^rd to accommodate our outgoing Vice President, Renee Brill, who will be traveling to Maine. This will be her final meeting with the board before our new Vice President takes office in July.

Not much else to report on my end since I’m largely buried in paperwork this month. I hope I see you on Saturday and Sunday!

Namasté

E. Beth Ferree
President of the Board at Unitarian Universalist Church of Oak Cliff
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The team working on the NerdCon coming up on June 11^th has been very busy getting the word out to everyone. If you have a friend or family member who might be interested in taking part, invite them! We still need vendors, items for displaying, and a lot of goodies for our concessions. Be sure to email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you want to participate or have questions. You’ll find more information on the event in this eblast.

I am gearing up to welcome the new board next month and prepare for the retreat as well as creating archives of information and files. We’ve been dealing with an issue of disappearing files and information so one of my goals is to centralize everything and possibly investigate getting a hard drive we can use to back up everything. If you happen to have any church documents or archives in your possession, please bring them to the church. Thank you.

The next board meeting will be held on June 23^rd at 7:00 pm. We will be welcoming our new member, taking care of some business and setting a date for a possible board retreat.

As Deneen has stated we will be having healers in residence on campus available to anyone who needs it. If this interests you, or you want more information, you can reach out to her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Anyone interested in doing face painting or balloon animals for PRIDE this coming Saturday, you can let Daniel Polk know at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. If you have experience, there is payment involved so it’s a good way to earn a little extra money.

Don’t forget we are still doing Workday Wednesdays from 5:00-7:00 pm.

 I think that’s it for this week. See you all soon.

Namasté

E. Beth Ferree
President of the Board at Unitarian Universalist Church of Oak Cliff
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

On Saturday, June 11^th we will be having NerdCon thanks to the Hile family and their planning. There are a lot of activities planned, so help us make this a big fundraiser. We need people to staff the event and bring concessions to sell. You can sign up at www.tinyurl.com/nerdconvol. We also need you to help us spread the word. You can look for our Facebook event to share on social media and share our web page, www.oakcliffuu.org/nerdcon.

 We will also be planning for our Halloween Haunted Forest in a few months. Since a few of us have been making a huge effort on outreach, I believe these events will bring in members of the larger community and the younger visitors we need.

As you’ve probably heard, our minister, Deneen Robinson, headed to the ER in the wee hours of Saturday morning and is currently a patient at Baylor, Scott, and White hospital. We wish her a speedy recovery. When I spoke with her partner, Sara, Monday morning Deneen was currently undergoing tests. We will update you as we know more. Sara will be speaking this coming Sunday and I’m sure she will also update the congregation then. Flowers are being sent on behalf of the church.

On Sunday, May 22^nd, most of the board members gathered at the church to approve the transfer of our banking to Frost from Comerica. Autumn did a great deal of research into our best option, and, as many of you know, we have discussed the need to change banks for years. It feels good to be accomplishing several goals that have been on hold.

One of the issues brought up in TalkBack this last Sunday is the possibility of losing our coffee hour. We only have three people volunteering to do it, so it’s not sustainable. Unless more are willing to do so that part of our service will be spotty at best. This is probably the one thing we need to focus on continuing as we gather during this year. While we all value the contribution, we must also be willing to help make it happen. If you’re interested, you can contact Johnnie at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Namasté

E. Beth Ferree
President of the Board at Unitarian Universalist Church of Oak Cliff
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Another way we are cutting costs is by sunsetting our bank withdrawals with Vanco and instead using only Breeze, so we aren’t paying for two services. If you had set up an automatic bank withdrawal from Vanco, look for an email from Rita (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) on May 5th, with the subject line, “Help Streamline Donations via Bank Transfers.” Rita provided specific instructions on how to change your automatic bank withdrawal to Breeze. Be sure and check your Junk or Spam email folder!

Remember to add This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to your contacts so you receive important information from the church, and if you would like to know more about Breeze, go to www.oakcliffuu.org/breeze.

Here are your church officers as of July 1st:
President: Beth Ferree
Vice President: Kirsten LaBauve
Secretary: Nancy Harms
Treasurer: Autumn VanVolkinburg
Trustees: Yolanda Graham and Sherri Randall
Endowment Fund Managers: Jim Klipp, Alice Kinsey, and Steven Martinson
Leadership Development Committee: Kenneth Jackson, Nancy Johnstone, Kathy Grey

Thank you all for agreeing to be members of our leadership.

Although I was hesitant to accept another term as President, I already see so much potential in this next year. Having Deneen  taking the lead in caring for our congregation’s spiritual needs will enable me to focus more on tightening up the board and focus on how we can attract more leaders with the help of Leadership Development. We managed to get a great deal of work done despite the pandemic, and I’m very proud of our accomplishments. Now we will focus more on how to meet our goals for the upcoming year. The board goals will be determined at our board retreat later this summer.

One of my personal goals is to have a more relaxed Parish meeting in the fall, where we can get to know what’s happening in our ministries and committees as well as to honor those who have put in so much work over the course of the pandemic. I will be asking for nominations for the Harry and Sally Jones awards in August. These awards are given to our outstanding volunteers for their work.

Since we’ve reopened the church for services, I’ve noticed the energy change. There’s more excitement about the future and less anxiety. While there’s certainly still much anxiety over the state of the world, it feels as though there’s a much greater desire to work toward the one goal we all have for our church – to create a beloved community for everyone who comes through our doors. Can we do it? We’re already headed in that direction and, together, we can do anything!

Namasté

E. Beth Ferree
President of the Board at Unitarian Universalist Church of Oak Cliff
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Namasté

E. Beth Ferree
President of the Board at Unitarian Universalist Church of Oak Cliff
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

We are gearing up for the Parish meeting on the 15^th and an email with information and a link to our online voting form, as well as copies of the proposed budget and requested changes to the endowment fund bylaws, was sent out on Sunday. Please be sure to check it out since we have a few important items to be voted on. Given how we are conducting the Parish meeting, we need you to vote in advance of the 15th on a motion being made to temporarily waive the term limits section of our bylaws and to cast your vote for our elected officers. Absentee (advance) votes on the budget and the proposed endowment fund bylaws changes can also be submitted at the same time, but the final vote on those two items will only be recorded during the meeting in case anyone would like to wait until discussions have been held. (If you do vote on those two items in advance, and happen to change your mind during the meeting, your updated vote will be counted.) We encourage everyone to please be on campus that day, so we are offering the opportunity to join the meeting from the Hope building, as well as from the Sanctuary. This will be a hybrid meeting, so those who cannot join in person can participate on Zoom. If you can’t join in person, or on Zoom, please remember to fill out the absentee ballot completely so we can count it toward our quorum and register your votes. If you have any questions about your status as a voting member, please contact Rita at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Just remember, if you don’t join us in person, you will miss out on our first potluck in over two years as well as the opportunity to reconnect with your church family!

Please note that we are moving the start of the Parish meeting from noon to 11:15 am. The potluck will be held immediately after the meeting, but there will be coffee and snacks available during the meeting to tide everyone over until lunch. Given there may be some serious discussion needed on the budget, we hope that this will provides a way for everyone to decompress after the business of the meeting has been completed and also serve to remind us that we are a community of hope and love.

I also want to encourage you to look at the proposed budget carefully. Unfortunately, with costs for the necessities rising and our plans to hold more in-person events, we are showing a significant projected deficit. Also, since we’ve been closed for so long, the numbers are still a  best guess. I have so much appreciation for our new treasurer, Autumn VanVolkinburg, who dove in and worked hard to put this together on a tight timetable. Work will continue to find ways to reduce some expenses and create a better organized budget with the help of our new finance ministry team.

On Saturday, May 21^st, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, we will be hosting a booth at the New Vida’s Parking Lot Market in conjunction with CraftCycle Dallas. (New Vida is the church on the east side of the Five Mile Creek Cemetery next door to us.) We will have craft items available to sell and you’re welcome to join us if you’d like to sell items you’ve made. If you decide to participate, you will get the profits you make less 20% which will go to the church. Please send a message to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or let Kathy Grey know as soon as possible.

Saturday, June 11^th, will be the Nerd Con Joeie and Josh Hile are organizing. I’ve seen the trophy for the best cosplay costume and it’s cool. You will want to come dressed up and ready to play. There will be games, concessions, and all sorts of silliness to enjoy. This is an event we want to encourage our youth to attend as well. The schedule is as follows:

• 10:00 am - doors will open for venders and set up
• 12:00 pm - open to the public
•  3:00 pm - costume contest
•  6:00 pm - doors will close

We’re heading in the right direction and I’m excited about all the things we have going on already. It’s going to be a good year.

I will be signing up people interested in taking OWL training August 5^th through the 7^th. It is an intensive training, so we need people who are willing to commit to working with our children. We currently have four people interested and the classes will be covered by the RE grant provided by NTUUC two years ago.

Namasté
E. Beth Ferree
President of the Board at Unitarian Universalist Church of Oak Cliff
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

This past Sunday, there were around ten in the sanctuary. Since Dallas County has placed us in green on the COVID infection risk, I gave those on campus the options of taking off their mask. This was not a blanket policy for all future events; rather, it was a decision based on who was present and their personal preferences. Given that the County has determined it to be safe for vaccinated people to gather I’m looking at possible ways in which someone can make it known if they would feel safer with a mask mandate when they attend services. If you are one of these people you can let us know by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We will honor that request by simply mandating masks. It will be confidential, and no one will know who requested this. We want everyone to feel safe and welcome. I’m also currently looking at ways in which we can offer an anonymous vote for masks once on campus. I understand this is a moving target, and one blanket policy may be problematic. I welcome your input into this policy so we can best accommodate everyone.

In other news, Deneen’s partner, Sara, is currently working on some exciting possibilities for the church! One of the options she was working on Sunday was the addition of a drum circle. This is an exciting time for our church and there will be a lot more happening as we focus on switching from pandemic mode to growth and opportunity.

You’ll also find a list, in the members' section of the new website, of our ministries and committees with a description of who to contact for what. We did this because Scott is getting overwhelmed by the personal requests for doing things that are part of the Communications team’s job. Scott is our tech guru, and his job title has been adjusted to reflect that. As we grow in the future, keeping the requests going to the right channels will make a world of difference in our sometimes-complicated communications issues. One of the board’s top goals is to operate in full transparency and fix the communications problem.

We’ve got the description for the finance committee approved now so we just need a few more people to step up and be willing to help us maintain communication and transparency in our financial health as well. Autumn VanVolkinburg has been working hard to adapt to her new job as Treasurer, and many great ideas have been voiced that will keep our financial team accountable. Many of these ideas will be applied to endowment and fundraising as well. It’s essential that every part of our church operates in full transparency and with open communication.

Have a great week everyone and I hope to see you on campus soon!

Namasté
E. Beth Ferree
President of the Board at Unitarian Universalist Church of Oak Cliff
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The other matter brought to the Board was a request from Scott for $200. He will be using it to finish purchasing some equipment needed for us to begin services from the sanctuary again, while also including those attending on Zoom and on our other media services. The primary issue that needs to be resolved is to adjust our stage lighting so the speakers at the pulpit do not disappear into the background. We are planning a dry run this next Sunday, April 10^th, to be sure everything is working correctly before Easter Sunday, which will be Deneen’s first service as our minister. Be sure to join us either in person or on Zoom! Please remember that we are still working out the new technology, but nothing that will dampen our sense of community.

At the worship team meeting on April 3^rd, plans for an Easter re-opening were discussed. Possibilities include a picnic lunch on campus with everyone bringing their own lunches. We will have our first real potluck before the Parish meeting on May 15^th. Since Deneen will be attending the next meeting this coming Sunday, there might be more news on this next week. This meeting of the committee will be held on campus at 1:00 pm. If you’d like to be a worship leader, or help with tech, you’re encouraged to attend.

Don’t forget to join Rebecca Mohr for Workday Wednesday this week from 4:00 - 7:00 pm. They are working hard to get everything cleaned and fixed for our re-opening.

If you have a little time this Saturday, we could use a few people to help us clean out a storage unit. The unit contains tons of quilting and craft supplies for Aline McKenzie’s Craft Cycle Dallas program. Much of this will be used for our next craft sales fundraiser.

We were gifted four large bags of purses by First Church this past week. Many of them are simply too nice to hand out to the housing insecure because it would put them at risk for being targeted by criminals. Our plan is to sell the nice ones, and use the money to purchase items for our next Bags for the Homeless program. I still haven’t figured out how this sale will happen, so I’ll keep you posted. If you’re at the church, you can go through them and see if you’d like one. (There are a couple of Kate Spade bags in there.) Which reminds me, we need to rename that program, as referring to people as "homeless" is not using the correct terminology in keeping with our work on Widening the Circle of Concern. We need to be using "housing insecure." Since Bags for the Housing Insecure doesn’t exactly roll off your tongue, I’m offering a free bag to whomever comes up with the best name for the program. Please send your suggestion to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

A friend of the church, Carlos Sánchez, lost everything in a fire on Friday, April 1^st. The pastoral care team has agreed that anything donated to the Hopeful Hearts fund for the next two weeks will be donated to Carlos and his family. Carlos has been a huge help in helping the church with some of the issues with the acoustics in the sanctuary. You can donate by going to www.oakcliffuu.org/hopefulhearts or by texting your donation to 214-225-5996 with HH in the text.

Have a good rest of the week and I hope to see a lot of you in person this coming Sunday!
 
Beth Ferree, UUCOC Board President

We also heard from Joeie Hile. Due to COVID, the Comic Con event has been rescheduled for June 11^th. It sounds like there will be a lot of great opportunities for anyone identifying as a nerd, so watch for more information as it gets close - especially if you would like a vendor table or want to participate in any way.

Since the contract discussion lasted two hours, the Board tabled the discussion on the budget until next week. A reminder to everyone that ministry and committee requests need to be sent to the board as soon as possible for consideration. If you are the head of a committee that has not been active, you can let us know what you’d like to accomplish once we are fully opened. Share your dreams with us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Speaking of finances, I want to thank Paul Fucile for taking on the role of Treasurer despite being very busy, and thank and welcome Autumn VonVolkinburg for agreeing to take on the rest of his term. Autumn will be very involved in our budget discussions as we prepare for the upcoming new fiscal year.

We are still planning to have our re-opening celebration on Easter Sunday, April 17^th, but I am continuing to keep an eye on the COVID situation. I am aware that China is currently locking down for a new strain.

Rebecca Mohr updated me on the status of our kitties. The only two who didn’t get TNR were the black female, Mama Cass, and a black Manx, Brutus Maximus. Since Brutus appears to be male there’s still a possibility of kittens arriving, but they were just too smart to be trapped. All the others have been returned to campus and there are currently no plans to try again unless someone else steps forward to do so.

Wednesday workdays are continuing as we prepare to be fully open. Most of the work is outdoors right now and will likely continue to be until it gets too hot. It’s from 5:00 - 7:00 pm and everyone is welcome.

A huge thanks to the group who stayed on campus this last Sunday to fix a few things that needed attention. Kenneth Jackson and Joslyn Grey worked together to put up molding in the minister’s office to cover the wiring that was exposed. Kathy Grey glued and fixed the desk in the lobby where it was coming loose. Thanks to Scott for getting the computer back up and running. In addition to all that, a shout out to Kirsten LeBauve and Alicia Morales who rushed to prepare the church for in person services. They truly went above and beyond! To anyone I missed, thanks so much for your help as well!

If you’re wondering about the full dumpster sitting on the back parking lot, we’re trying to get it taken care of. We cancelled our service with Waste Management, but they don’t seem to be communicating with each other as we are still getting bills and a threat of bill collection. Susan and Leland Ammons have sent them letters to cease and desist. Another letter was sent a few days ago, so we need to give them a couple of weeks to respond. If we do not get a response, I will create a video in front of all the trash they claim to be picking up and will then take the matter to the public forum. We will also be offering the dumpster to anyone willing to come and get it.

That’s about all for now. Have a good week and we’ll see you soon.

Beth Ferree, UUCOC Board President

While the board approved Deneen Robinson as our new minister, there are still a few hoops to go through to make it official. The ministerial search committee will meet with her Thursday to go over the contract minutia, then the Board will discuss it Sunday, March 27^th at 3:00 pm and make a final decision. If all goes according to plan, her start date will be April 1st.

The other discussion taking place at the Board meeting will be the budget for the next fiscal year. We need all committees and ministries with a budget to submit the amount they require and how they intend to use it over the next year. There are limited funds, and we want to be sure everyone has what they need to succeed. Please submit your requests to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. as soon as possible.

Joeie Hile will also be reporting on the date change for the game convention they are planning on campus. It was decided to postpone the event due to the COVID risk.

There is a workday Wednesday this week from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. I’m not sure what the plan is, but there is still a lot to be done before we fully open and your assistance is needed. Remember, your volunteer hours count toward your voting status. Just make sure you sign the sheet in the Hope kitchen when you spend time at the church so your records can be updated by Rita. If you’re volunteering from home, send your time and description of task to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Speaking of voting status, if you haven’t submitted your pledge information since November, please go to www.oakcliffuu.org/Pledge2022 and do so. We are now managing this information in Breeze and your data may need to be updated. You can also indicate what volunteer opportunities you’re interested in so our Leadership Development Committee can reach out when a task comes up that would fit your talents and interests. Volunteering doesn’t need to be painful!

Thank you to Kathy Grey for doing such an amazing job recovering the bench in Faith lobby. It looks soooo much better now!

Enjoy the rest of your week. It looks like after a couple more days of winter, we are heading full force into spring. The flowers and trees are blooming on campus, and they look beautiful. You really should come by and enjoy them.

Beth Ferree, UUCOC Board President

Kids are welcome to come back, but will need to be immunized, and masks will continue to be mandatory. Since we still need to work on getting RE back up and running, they will need to be with their parents during service for the time being. This will be a process of trial and error and we know there’s still a significant risk of Covid in the community. Since we don’t want to close the church again, continuing with certain mandates will enable us to stay open.

We appreciate your patience as we begin navigating how to work with our new normal. If you have any questions or concerns you can contact Worship, myself at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or Rita at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We are happy to help in any way we can.

The board created an Endowment bylaws review committee, with Barbara Fudge as chair. This committee will review the current bylaws and consider updates that have been suggested. Once they have finished, the board will review and present it to the congregation for a vote.

At the next Board meeting on March 27^th, we will also be working to create a possible budget for the next fiscal year. If you head a committee with a budget I want to encourage you to attend and give input or send a letter to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. explaining what you think you need for your budget and how you intend to use it. We need your input!

On Tuesday, March 15^th, I attended a meeting with Side with Love on the strategies to be considered when protesting the anti-trans laws that are being proposed across the nation. There were some important points made and links I want to share with you all.

These proposed laws are unlikely to succeed through legislation when you consider that approximately 30-40% of the trans children have parents who belong to the GOP. A parent is a parent in a vast majority of the world. This current attack on trans children is the Religious Right’s way of creating a wedge issue and has nothing to do with the kids themselves. These children are a way to connect the issues they are trying to manipulate in education. Therefore, it’s important to get involved on a local level with the school boards and City Council. The difference you make on a local level is what will block these attempts to change laws on a state and national level.

These laws will not win overall, so we need to focus on keeping these kids safe and creating an environment in which they feel loved. Reach out to the families and ask them how they are doing. I would ask, in this congregation, that we work to create a space in which our adult, and youth LGBTQ congregants can gather to meet and have support. They make up more than 20% of our congregation and it’s essential that we find a way to help get through this difficult time. As Sam Ames from the Trevor Project said, “keeping people alive is the revolution.”

As we met last night, Sam received word that the proposed bill in Idaho failed. We are headed in the right direction. We just must keep focused and join with other groups focused on the same battles.

Those who are cisgender need to be willing to speak up for the kids and parents who are unable to. It’s not always safe for the community itself to speak out, so they need us to do it for them. If you are interested in reading the stories of trans kids/families in a public setting I encourage you to sign up for training as a spokesperson. You can do that at Speak Up for Trans Lives: Spokesperson Training (everyaction.com).

If you’re wanting to help with the Rapid Response team by writing letters or contacting your representatives when something urgent comes up you can join here: Rapid Response Interest Form (everyaction.com)

The actions taken against trans kids are not legally binding. If you know a child who is currently being targeted you can report the issue to the Department of Human Services here: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services - Office for Civil Rights (hhs.gov)

For those who are trans, nonbinary or identify as something other than cis, there is a place of support in the UUA for you to find like-minded friends and allies on your personal journey. I encourage you to sign up and attend. This group is for any age and parents can accompany children. Transgender / Non-Binary Monthly Gatherings - 4th Tuesdays @ 8pm ET / 5pm PT | UUA.org

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this rather long message and I will see you soon.

Beth Ferree, UUCOC Board President

We do have a board meeting next Sunday, the 13^th, at 3:00 pm on Zoom. We will be discussing the re-opening, and the ministerial search team will be presenting the candidate interviewed the week before last. It’s going to be a full agenda, so if you have thoughts to share, please keep them brief so we can have input from all. Thanks!

In other news, I’ve been talking to rentals and there are still a few things that need to be completed to keep our campus safe for everyone. The primary item is installing security cameras in the parking areas and in the sanctuary. Scott is currently investigating the necessary specifications and cost of these items. Sadly, we need to accept that the world is increasingly more dangerous. Given the current global atmosphere we must keep our renters safe as well as face the possibility that our more liberal congregation could possibly be targeted at some point.

Don’t forget to pick up the items you won in the auction soon! Contact Donna Leach at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any questions or concerns about it.

I’m certain I’m missing something; however, if I am you’ll always find it in the rest of the eblast, on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or announcements on Sunday morning. We have a great communications team that works hard to get the word out, but it’s up to all of us to read the information put out there for ourselves.

Whatever is happening in your world this week, I hope it’s a good one!

Beth
Beth Ferree, UUCOC Board President

 

The minister search team held an interview this past week, and they were very pleased with the candidate, so will be bringing the candidate’s name before the board at the meeting on March 13^th.

We will also begin preparation for the Parish meeting on May 15^th. I am very hopeful that we can hold elections at the church with a link for those wanting to join on Zoom. We still need officers to fill positions so be sure to write This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you’d like to be considered or wish to nominate someone. This next year will be hugely significant for the future of our congregation post-pandemic.

On March 19^th, Aline McKenzie from CraftCycle Dallas is organizing a crew to empty out a storage unit in North Dallas. This is a huge amount of quilting paraphernalia, including frames, fabric, and other supplies. Everything is already boxed and ready to move and the Girl Scouts have agreed to help in exchange for some of the items. The items they take will be donated to a local theater group, while the rest will be used for our next fundraiser. If you’d like to come help transport items, you can let Kathy Grey or me know. Personally, I love anything fabric related! I’m sure if you helped you might be able to get a few cool things for a small donation to the church before someone else snatches it up.

There is a Workday Wednesday this week from 5-7 PM. The weather should be beautiful this week and I’m sure it would be nice to spend a couple of hours outdoors. Let Rebecca Mohr know if you’re planning to come. You can reach her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

We still need help with TNR. Spring is coming, the flowers will be blooming, and the kitties will be – well, you know. It would be helpful if we didn’t go from 5 cats on campus to 25 by fall. I did ask them nicely not to procreate, but that’s about as useful as asking a teenager to clean their room. With it getting warmer the task shouldn’t be quite as onerous now.

I think that’s it for this week. I have much to do before Sunday, so I guess I’d better get to it. Have a great week and stay safe!

Beth
Beth Ferree, UUCOC Board President

 

But there’s good news, too! The online auction brought in more than our goal for the worship team! As of this writing we received $1532.46, and you can still donate through the site at www.oakcliffuu.org/auction2022 . I would love to see us have more of these successful fundraisers in the future, but we need someone who’s willing to lead our fundraising team. If this is something you feel passionate about, let our Leadership Development Team know at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

LDC is also currently looking for how our congregants can put their individual talents and passions to work for the church. We need leaders as well as worker bees! The church doesn’t work unless we have volunteers willing to give of their time to keep it going. You don’t have to take on a full-time job, just a few hours a week is a significant boon for us.

On March 6^th we will have the T’Monde concert on campus. Right now, it’s planned to happen in the Gazebo. Please make sure you have your mask with you. There will be cookies and beverages provided, with all the donations for snacks going to the church. Suggested donation for the concert is $10 to help cover the band's cost of travel and meals. If the weather is cold, we will take it indoors and distance people. Plan to bring a lawn chair and your own beverages if you want anything stronger than coffee, tea, or water. Just nothing harder than beer or wine, please. We aren’t equipped for dancing on the tables.

Take care, stay safe, and Namasté
 
Beth
Beth Ferree, UUCOC Board President

 

We heard from Jim Klipp, head of our endowment, who tells us we currently have over $201,000 and a change in investments resulted in a 20% growth over the past year. He pointed out we have not been following the endowment bylaws and suggested changes that the board will review at our next meeting on March 13^th.

At the next meeting we will also begin the process of creating an agenda for the next Parish meeting on May 15^th.  The Leadership Development Committee will be present to help and report as well.

On March 6^th we will have T’monde (www.tmonde.com) on campus to provide us with a concert. As I mentioned in my last report, they call themselves a Cajun fusion band. There will be a suggested donation of $10 at the door, but don’t let that stop you from enjoying the music! The band will also be selling their CDs and other merchandise. If you’d like to donate some cookies you can drop them off at the church during Rita’s office hours on Tuesday and Thursday or make arrangements with one of us and we’ll make sure somebody will be on hand to accept them. I will be on campus the day before to plate and wrap them as well.

On June 11^th, we will have our mini-game convention on campus. Joeie Hile oversees that so you can contact her for more information.

There is a Widening the Circle of Concern webinar with NTUUC on February 24^th at 7 PM. You can register at www.NTUUC.org/WideningWebinar .

Don’t forget that our auction to benefit the worship team is now up and running! You have a week to check out all the awesome offerings and bid on them. You’ll find it at www.OakCliffUU.org/Auction2022. There’s something there for everyone!

Have a great week and I’ll see you Sunday on Zoom.

Beth
Beth Ferree, UUCOC Board President

On March 6^th we are planning to join with St. Augustine’s Episcopal church to have a concert by T’monde on our campus. We’re still working on all the details but as of right now it looks like the concert will take place from 2-4 PM in the gazebo. I’ve been chatting with Jim Fears, and they seem to have it well planned so there’s little to do on our end. If you’d like to donate some cookies or snack bars, we would like them to be individually wrapped in cellophane. As is our usual policy right now, masks will be required, and social distancing enforced; especially if we need to move it indoors due to bad weather. T’Monde is a Cajun fusion band out of Lafayette, Louisiana. You can learn more at http://www.t’monde.com or do a search on YouTube. Any donations over $100 (to help pay the band) will go to the church. I should have a better idea of the schedule next week.

A reminder that if you’re interested in attending the Widening the Circle of Concern discussion starting this coming Sunday you can reach out to Sherri Randall at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

On February 24^th NTUUC will have their next Widening the Circle of Concern webinar featuring two Black speakers sharing their views on White Supremacy. I hope to see many of you there. You can get more information and sign up at www.NTUUC.org/WideningWebinar

On February 15^th Side with Love will be holding their next webinar titled Texas Power Hour for Democracy. To learn more and sign up, go to https://sidewithlove.org/actioncenter. You’ll also be able to see other offerings to check out.

Dallas City Council member, Casey Thomas, is calling for anyone interested in holding a book review or discussion on the 1619 project to contact him. If you’re interested in discussing more about the history of slavery and how it affects us today, you can let me know by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. If enough are interested I will reach out to Mr. Thomas and set up a time for us to participate.

This coming Thursday, February 10^th at 7 PM, NTUUC is holding a Social Action meeting on Zoom. This will be a monthly meeting on the 2^nd Thursday for discussion of how the cluster churches can participate and connect on social action/justice matters. If you’d like to participate and aren’t on Facebook, you can email me for the link.

Good news for our kitty lovers. The condo built by Kenneth Jackson, and the shelters donated by Pepper Mintz did their job. All five of our current known residents were accounted for Sunday by Sarah Ricke. Now, we just need to catch and TNR those that slipped through the cracks last time. If you’re willing to help with that you can contact the church.

That’s about it for this week. I’ll see you all Sunday on Zoom. Let’s all hope we’re out of red soon so we can gather in person.

Beth
Beth Ferree, UUCOC Board President

 

The Widening the Circle of Concern group is starting its next series of meetings to discuss the report on February 13 at 7 PM. The time is negotiable, but please let Sherri Randall know at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you’d like to be included and when you’re most available to do so.

Later in February NTUUC will be offering a webinar on Widening the Circle, which will feature POC voices. We’ll keep you updated once the date and time are confirmed.
Stay safe and warm this week!

Beth
Beth Ferree, UUCOC Board President

On Monday, Alicia Kalich, Kathy Grey, and I met with Reverend Ranwa Hammamy from Side With Love to discuss our social justice needs and actions. One of the suggestions we really appreciated was to reach out to all of you and ask a simple question. What are you passionate about in terms of social justice? You can let us know by sending an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can also visit the sites she shared and let us know what you’d like to see us do. You’ll find them at https://justtx.org/sacred/ which discusses reproductive rights and at https://sidewithlove.org/actioncenter which provides information on their priorities with links to action items such as webinars. There we can get access to videos that we can watch together and discuss.  

Do you want to tell the world how much you love your church? Alex Kennedy is taking lead on creating short videos of congregants talking about what makes our church so special. Please let her know if you’d like to participate by sending a message to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. today! We have a TikTok account so we can put them there as well as YouTube and our church site. If everyone did this we would have more outreach to the larger community.

Don’t forget our auction starting February 14^th! All proceeds will go to funding our worship team so we can continue to bring you quality services on a variety of topics. Do you have something you’d like to donate? Contact Donna Leach at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to give her a photo, or photos, and a detailed description of your items or services.

We know some of you love to sing! And we would love to have more voices in our recorded hymns. If the current Wednesday evening recording sessions don’t work, but you want to join, reach out to the worship team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and let them know. You don’t even have to be on campus to be recorded. You can join from home. Oh, the wonders of modern technology and Zoom!

I think that’s all I have for this week. Take care and I’m sending healing vibes to all those who are currently isolated due to Omicron.

Beth
Beth Ferree, UUCOC Board President

 

At Sunday’s board meeting there was a great deal of discussion about how the church will pay for the minister on a long-term basis. There were a lot of great ideas suggested and a general feeling of possibilities. But let’s be honest here. It’s one thing to talk about manifesting what we want; however, we all know that with faith and hope comes a lot of hard work to make things happen. We can no longer just come up with ideas and no clear plan of how to implement them and expect it to work. You all know I’m big on manifesting, but I’m also realistic about what that entails; especially after all the hard work that was put in to get the needed repairs done. I’m asking you, our congregants, to help make this happen so we can realize our long-term goals of growth. If you have not yet pledged, or have pledged but not updated your information, please do that now. You can do this by going to www.oakcliffuu.org/Pledge2022. We’re fully aware that many are struggling financially after these two years of pandemic so, if you can’t increase your pledge, please consider giving some of your time so the volunteers who have been working will have some help. This is your church; you have shown us you want a minister so let’s do it together!

One of the ways in which you can help is to become part of a finance/fundraising committee. I have asked the Leadership Development Committee to help find a small group of people who best represent the congregation and are willing to provide input for the next budget and do some creative thinking about future financial goals. If this is something you might be interested in helping with you can reach them at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Even if this isn’t your jam, be sure to fill out the Time and Talent pledge form so your leaders can match you with the right opportunity.

I want to thank Alicia Kalich for agreeing to be our new rep in NTUUC board meetings! The next meeting is January 22^nd, and she will bring any concerns we have to them as well as keep you updated on what NTUUC is doing.

Speaking of NTUUC, the Widening the Circle of Concern Webinar from the perspective of Black voices, has been postponed. Originally planned for January 27^th, it is currently being considered for February. You’ll be updated as we know more.

I wish I could tell you we were re-opening soon. Unfortunately, Omicron is still creating problems in hospitals across the world. I have heard it’s expected to peak this week, and I’ve heard it’s expected to peak at the end of the month. We remain closed but at the ready when the status changes.

I hope you all have a good week, and I will see you on our Zoom services this Sunday.

Beth
Beth Ferree, UUCOC Board President

 

In Sunday’s board meeting the board agreed to give the Worship team permission to hold an auction fundraiser specifically for the money needed to pay speakers. This money means that we will need to reuse services less often and will be able to provide the congregation with more variety.

Alicia Kalich was present for the meeting and updated the board on the contract and benefits package that would be provided to a new minister. The board agreed to go over all the details next week and come up with a package the search committee can use. As soon as this is provided the search committee will begin the interview process.

The other issue discussed was the problem of Waste Management. Although we officially stopped our contract on November 2^nd, the company went ahead and auto renewed us for another year. Susan Ammons and I will be taking care of this this week so we can get their dumpster off the property where it is currently taking up much needed parking spaces.

Scott Grey tells me our website needs to be updated within the next month due to upcoming changes in the web servers we use. This means if you have any suggestions on what you would like to see changed, this is your chance. Please take a moment to look at the site and send your suggestions ASAP to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

There is still a Wednesday Workday happening since the upkeep of the grounds doesn’t stop for a virus. If you’d like to join, please contact Rebecca Mohr at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. so she knows and can keep track of who is on campus.

If you’re a ministry leader. Or committee chair, there is a Coordinating Council meeting this coming Thursday. The ministerial search committee will also be meeting this week to discuss next steps.

Namasté

Beth
Beth Ferree, UUCOC Board President

There will be a board meeting Sunday afternoon at 3:00 pm, with a report from the ministerial search committee. We will also be looking at the pledge drive and a request from the Worship Committee. The meetings are open and everyone is encouraged to attend and let the board know your views.

As I mentioned earlier, we are still in the red as far as COVID risk is concerned. This means it’s highly transmissible and this Omicron variant is running rampant. Hospitals are currently overwhelmed. As such, the church will remain closed until the risk level goes down, so be sure to join us on Zoom Sunday mornings. Besides, it’s getting colder, and this gives you the opportunity to connect with your church family without leaving the comfort of your home.

Not much else to tell you. It’s been quiet lately, between the holidays and the shutdown. I hope you’re all staying safe and healthy.

Beth
Beth Ferree, UUCOC Board President