Volume 24
No. 5
May
2018
In this issue:
Upcoming
Sermons p. 2
Children and
Youth Programs
p. 3
Music p. 4
Adult Religious
Education p. 4
Outreach
p. 5
Garden &
Groundss
P. 7
Events
p. 8,9, 10
focus...
on the future
From the Minister
Caring for the Caregivers
We have a high number of caregivers in our congregation. I am not simply talking about all who are compassionate and generous. I mean people who have primary responsibility for supporting, feeding, transporting, cleaning, and loving another. Our church mirrors the increase in caregiv-ing nationally. Every day many at Hope Unitarian help children, spouses, siblings, and friends who are disabled or sick.
Lately I have thought we should be paying much closer attention to these caregivers. They cope with extra stress while trying to continue life as “normal.”
“A substantial body of research shows that fami-ly members who provide care to individuals with chronic or disabling conditions are themselves at risk. Emotional, mental, and physical health problems arise from complex caregiving situa-tions and the strains of caring for frail or disa-bled relatives.”
This quote comes from an invaluable resource. For all who are responsible for aging parents or a chroni-cally family member, the Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA)
addresses the complex needs of providing long-term care for loved ones . The FCA speaks on behalf of caregivers in this uncompromising way.
“Caregiving takes many forms. We know we are helping, but we don't think of ourselves as caregivers. We are glad to do this and feel rewarded by it. But if the demands are heavy, over time we can also become exhausted and stressed. We think we should be able to handle caregiving roles on top of busy work and family schedules and begin to feel guilty and depressed as our stamina wanes.
“About 44 million Americans provide 37 billion hours of unpaid, "informal" care each year for adult family members and friends with chronic illnesses or condi-tions that prevent them from handling daily activities such as bathing, managing medications or preparing meals on their own. Family caregivers, particularly wom-en, provide over 75% of caregiving support in the United States.”
My question is how can Hope Unitarian Church support its caregivers? I collaborate with our Care Team to support the sick and infirm. How can we better support those who provide primary care? Caregiving can be lonely and stressful. Would a well-led support group be of service so you can share your experience and get emotional support? What would help the most?
With joy,
Rev. Cathey Edwards [email protected]
1 Family Caregiver Alliance, “Caregiver Health.” https://www.caregiver.org/caregiving 2 Family Caregiver Alliance, “Caregiving.” https://www.caregiver.org/caregiving
Sunday Services—May
Sunday Worship
11am - Sanctuary
Sunday, May 6
“Born Again Unitarian Universalist ”
The Rev. Cathey Edwards
We explain it to every newcomer," becoming a member of this church is easy, being Unitarian Universalist is hard." Just sign the book and make a pledge―simple. Figure out what you believe, what resides of the core of your heart and moti-vates your actions AND accept that all around you are doing the same but have come to different conclusions or at a different stage of transfor-mation.
Sunday, May 13
“No Two Flowers Are Alike:
Celebrating Mother's Day & Flower
Communion”
The Rev. Cathey Edwards
Join us as we celebrate our human diversity with the annual ritual of our Flower Communion. Bring a flower and take a different one home. We cele-brate creation and motherhood together.
Sunday, May 20
“Like a Rubik's Cube: 1980's at Hope
Unitarian Church”
The Rev. Cathey Edwards
Hungarian sculptor and professor of architecture Ernő Rubik's mathematical puzzle swept the world early in the 1980's. How is Hope Church in the 1980's like a Rubik's Cube? How is religious life and working out individual and communal credos like "solving" a puzzle? We'll explore these ques-tions and the 1980's decade of log cabin building, preschool opening and explosive growth at Hope
Sunday, May 27
“What’s the Question?”
Memorial Sunday
Yadenee Hailu
In a world searching for answers we will explore how our questions determine our possibilities. Using questions from literature, spiritual text, and history our path of transformation will be
May Monthly Theme: Transformation
Change is inevitable and undeniable. With certainty we can count on change and trans-formation. This is both a blessing and a curse. We can’t wait for the traffic light to turn green, our child to be-come for independent, this pain to go away, and the weather to change. At the same time, we want to freeze this moment in time hoping the weekend or vacation will never end, our child will remain innocent forever, and we never age.Our religious tradition insists on transformation. It demands that we remain curious, interrogate our own beliefs, and stay open-hearted to learning and change.
We can idealize change—holding on to an image of a cater-pillar transforming into a butterfly. We can reject transformations— bemoaning changes that don’t suit us or frighten us.
Maya Angelou reminds us:
There were people who went to sleep last night, poor and rich and white and black,
but they will never wake again.
And those dead folks would give anything at all for just five minutes of this weather
or ten minutes of plowing.
So you watch yourself about complaining. What you're supposed to do
when you don't like a thing is change it. If you can't change it,
change the way you think about it.
We explore our monthly theme of Transformation all month in wor-ship and religious education for all ages. There is a new opportunity to be part of small group discussion and listening. You can join one of these newly formed InReach groups facilitated by trained Hope members by contacting:
Annie Simpson, [email protected]
About Our Monthly Themes
Our monthly themes express Hope Church’s openness to theolog-ical exploration. They are not an endorsement of any particular creed or belief. Instead, they provide a monthly opportunity to examine in common a religious doctrine or idea.
Children and Youth Programs
Susan Spooner, Director, [email protected]
CYP Committee Members: Laura Reiman (Chair), Paula Haight, Kerri Vandiver, Ann Lee, Laura Ezell
~
Send a Friend Request to Join~
Parent Page—Hope Unitarian Church: “It Takes a Village”
Youth Page—The Youth of Hope Unitarian Church
4 – 6 Years Old
Chalice Children delves deep into our Unitarian Universalist faith. It strives to teach about our faith and provide expe-riences around the strength of commu-nity, the wonder and awe that trans-cend everyday understanding, and life issues we all share. Activities encour-age spiritual seeking, develop their openness to sharing, and experience the benefit of a supportive community.
Elementary
Moral Tales helps children go forth into a complex world where they are often faced with difficult decisions and situa-tions. Moral Tales provides children with spiritual and ethical tools needed to make choices and take actions reflec-tive of UU beliefs and values. Stories and activities woven throughout Moral Tales can activate and inform children's learning about how to make moral choices.
7
th– 12
thGrades
Coming of Age is designed to support youth as they transition from childhood to young adults. Workshops for youth include interfaith education, social ac-tion projects and rites of passage. Par-ticipants explore theology, spirituality and history through discussion, drama, music, writing and art.
Youth also build community by getting together once a month after church.
Need childcare for a church event? Please email your request to [email protected], Drew Maher is our childcare coordinator.
Parenting Contemplation
Am I a humble parent? If no, what can I do to be morfe humble towards my children?
For additional information about our programming, please contact Susan Spooner at
[email protected]
.
Sunday Morning Schedule
May vary depending on programming 10:00 Community Building
10:20 Religious Education 11:05 Chapel
11:25 Snack & Story Time
Art, Outdoor Play or other Spiritual Practices
Children & Youth Religious Education on Sundays
Community Building begins at 10:00.
Children’s Chapel, at 11:00, focuses on Humility, our theme this month.
Loving childcare is provided for infants through children three years old.Most Sundays, children & youth will be involved in outdoor activities. Please dress your child so they will be comfortable outdoors.
Upcoming Events
• Active Parenting offered by our own Diane Dudley—see page 10
• Fall Break Nature Camp on the Hill, October 17-19. Mark your calendar
Music Notes
The monthly theme for May is “Transformation,” and we can viscerally ex-perience this on Hope Hill with the suffusion of blooming plants and flow-ers and the onset of mild-er weathmild-er.
The choir will musically celebrate and reflect on the idea of transformation with such anthems as “Beautiful City,” by Stephen Schwartz, and (also for Mother’s Day) “What the World Needs Now is Love.” These two songs from the 1960s/1970s continue to speak to us today.
Later in the month we will celebrate the 1980s at Hope as we explore Hope’s history decade by decade, and to reference this time and Hope’s future, the choir will perform the classic 1980s song, “We Are the World,” by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie.
The Hope Singers will take a break beginning Memorial Day weekend and during June and July until about the middle of August. We look forward to welcoming guest musicians to the Hill during the summer vacation period.
I would especially like to thank the choir members and other musicians for their outstanding service in the last year. We are all grateful to Hope’s singers and in-strumentalists who have lifted our hearts and spirit with so much beautiful music throughout the past church calendar year.
Joseph Rivers, Director of Music
Adult Forum
Sundays, 10:00 am in the Sanctuary
May 6
Generosity Sunday
Our speaker is Mr. William Lonn an attorney with “Still She Rises” lin North Tulsa, our generosity recipient for May.
May 13
Mothers' Day Adult Forum:
A panel of church members will talk about their unique experiences in mothering & what it means to be "maternal."
May 20
Hope History—1980’s
With a panel from people who helped grow the church, build the log cabin and host a pre-school, we will look at highlights from Hope’s history in the 1980’s.
May 27
Memorial Day Adult Forum
Care Team Corner
Do you have an elderly par-ent or grandparpar-ent living in another city that has diffi-culty with transporta-tion? Perhaps you've told them about Lyft or Uber, but they're not crazy about getting a smartphone? Are YOU not crazy about using a smartphone? Would you enjoy an evening concert or event but don't like driving at night?
Check out "Go Go Grandparent" at
GoGoGrandparent - Use Lyft and Uber Without A Smartphone
Several Hope members have used this service for Sunday service and Women of Hope. Deborah Whittaker signed up to try it out in New Orle-ans. The safety features are great!
Sharing information to make life a little easier!
Your Care Team
Hope’s Annual Meeting
May, 20th after the service.
Please check the voting members list on bulletin
board.
Hope Outreach
Generosity Offering
Each Sunday, we give away ALL of the undesignated funds from our Offering. The Outreach Committee chooses organizations that support the mission of Hope Unitarian Church out in our community.
In April we raised: $1,312.00
for Healthy Community Store Initiative
Thank you for your generosity.
Below are the totals raised in previous months:
Feed the Homeless Program
Volunteers from Hope prepare and serve a meal for cli-ents at the Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless the third Saturday of every month.
Thanks to the following people who helped in April: Shopping: Keith Hamilton
Friday cooking: Mary Newman and Drew Maher Cooking at Hope with Linda Tracy: Rich Jackson, Drew
Maher, Joey Dewiel, Manny Tracy, Taner McKee, Marge Carrison
Serving at the Day Center with Anita Ward: Judy and
Guy Sims, Joan Coffey, Jean Scheulen, Drew Maher
We served 153 plates
Next Feed the Homeless date is:
Saturday, May 19, 2018
Volunteers Needed!
2:30 pm at Hope to help cook and prepare food.
5:00 pm at the Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless
to help serve the meal.
You can also sign up for the months ahead. Sign up sheet is in the folder on Administrator’s desk.
Generosity Recipient—May
With it’s start in the Bronx, New York, this or-ganization is the first public defender office in the country dedicated exclusively to the repre-sentation of mothers in the criminal justice sys-tem.
“Still She Rises” seeks to: Reduce jail time, de-fend mothers, preserve women’s jobs and rights, provide support and assistance and pre-serve families.
With nearly two-thirds of women in jail being mothers, “Still She Rises” fills a great need for mothers in the justice system seeking help for themselves and their families.
https://www.stillsherises.org/
Month Organization $ Amount March Tulsa Control Initiative $1,117.61 February Community Health
Con-nection
$1,477.52
January Tulsa Boy’s Home $1,437.00
Cereal Sunday
Sunday, May 13
Please bring cereal for the homeless. This cereal, along with several gallons of milk, is taken to the Tulsa Day
Center for the Homeless every month when we prepare
their meal. The collection basket is in Fellowship Hall.
Thanks to Yadenee Hailu
Have you noticed how much more attractive the Day Center donation area is. Thanks to Yadenee for all the effort she has put into making this area so much neater and appealing!
Yadenee has also worked hard on the Fair Trade cart signs and organizing the cart. All this is much appreciat-ed.
Celebrating 50 Years of Hope in April 2018
We began celebrating Hope’s founding in January and throughout the
year culminating on the weekend of October 5-7
th.
Mark your calendars.
May 20, Sun 10:00am 1980’s Hope History Adult Forum (Open to all)
With a panel from people who helped grow the
church, build the log cabin and host a pre-school, we will look at highlights from Hope’s history in the 1980’s.
May 20, Sun 11:00am Like A Rubik's Cube: 1980's at Hope Unitarian Church (Open to all)
Hungarian sculptor and professor of architecture Ernő Rubik's mathematical puzzle swept the world early in the 1980's. How is Hope Church in the 1980's like a Rubik's Cube? How is religious life and working out individual and communal credos like "solving" a puzzle? We'll explore these questions and the 1980's decade of log cabin building, preschool opening and explosive growth at Hope.
May 15, Tues 5:00pm 50th Anniversary Planning Committee (Open to all)
Join the Hope members and staff who meet monthly to plan these events and the ma-jor public weekend Oct 5-7. We can use your creative ideas and skills.
Foundation Quarterly Meeting
The Board of Directors of Hope Unitarian Church Foundation, Inc., met at the church on Thursday evening, April 19, 2018. Ryan Saylor and James Donovan were our guests, representing Hope’s Board of Trustees.
The Foundation directors discussed and agreed to establish a “Legacy Society”. This group would consist of Hope members and others who have made provision for the Foundation in their wills or other estate instruments. Ex-pect a letter soon, requesting information about whether you have already included the Foundation in your estate planning, and guidance on doing so now if you are interested.
The Foundation also plans to compile a scrapbook of its history over the years. This scrapbook will be available online and a hard copy will be available at the church.
In other business, officers were elected. David Tracy will serve as president of the Foundation this year. Other officers will be Don Miller, Vice President; Rebecca Jones, Treasurer; and Marcia Schaefer, Secretary. Directors are Paula Haight, Barry Kinsey, and Vanessa Torluemke.
If you have questions about the Foundation, please contact any of the directors, or write us at [email protected].
Garden and Grounds May 2018
Redbuds, daffodils and sand plums are past and it is dogwood time on the hill. The native rough leafed variety is blooming throughout the woods and the more familiar flowering variety is planted along Dogwood trail. The showy white “petals” are not the flowers; they are bracts - large petal like leaves surrounding the small greenish yellow blooms. Both varieties produce a high-fat, fleshy fruit that more than 40 species of birds will eat, including northern cardinals, tufted titmice, bluebirds, juncos and wax-wings. In Oklahoma they are an “understory tree” needing shade from our harsh summer sun and dry winds to thrive.
Our early spring clean-up day was Saturday, March 24. A heartfelt thank you to all who showed up. It was a beautiful day, birds singing, gentle breeze, good company and the small crew did quite a lot. We trimmed shrubs and cut back grasses (Warren Cox). (Partially) mucked out the back ponds (Julia Harris and Corrie
Dor-man). Cleaned up iris and perennial garden and big rain garden (Katharine Dillsaver and Janet Williamson).
The “Butterfly Garden” area along the south road is being repurposed as a generic butterfly garden as the milk-weed didn’t get enough sun to thrive. Donations of butterfly friendly perennials are being solicited. The area has been cleaned out, so plant away. (Let me know what you are bringing so we don’t inadvertently dig it up.) Hardy things only please as it will not get much water other than rainfall, as dragging a hose down there is not easy. The milkweed will be planted in 5 or 6 other smaller areas that did well so we can maintain our designa-tion as a Monarch Waystadesigna-tion.
Personal note: I thought the Earth Day service with the four directions altar and theme was just lovely. And in the preceding Adult RE class Margaritte Knezek articulated beautifully many of the reasons I do what I do on the hill – connect children (and adults) with nature. We are fortunate to have such a special place to that. Come walk the trails with me. . .
Janet Williamson
___________________________________________________________________________________________
WHAT CAN WE DO NEXT?
The walk-out changed the shape of conversation in Oklahoma around education funding. Come to this event to hear about what is next in the effort. We will hear from teachers, public policy and legislative ex-perts including key note, David Blatt, of the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Then develop next steps to continue the work of reinstating funding to public education in Oklahoma. Join Hope members concerned about edu-cation and our community. Join in the conversation here at church.
Contact Hope member on ACTION’S Education Team:
Hope Events
Childcare is available by rsvp at least two business days before most events. Please email [email protected] to make a reservation.
Brown Bag Lunch
Meets every Thursday at 11:30 am in the RE Wing
Bring your lunch and join us. Twice a month we have a lively discussion after watching short TEDx talks. Rev.
Cathey leads the group May 12and plans to show half of the documentary, How to Live Forever. Yadenee
Hailu will lead on May 31.
Claudia Vandiver [email protected]
______________________________________________
Women of Hope
Thursday, May 3
Social time 6:00 pm • Potluck 6:30 pm • Program 7:00 pm
Women of Hope meets on the first Thursday of the month. May's program will be our own Diane Dudley sharing inspiring stories from a book she found while on a trip to South Dakota. Dakota Dreams: Women's
Sto-ries of Passion and Perseverance tells many stoSto-ries of
modern women who are today enriching their lives and those of their families and communities. Each story is inspiring and affirming as they tell the unique life’s jour-neys full of resourcefulness and resilience. Diane will highlight a few of the stories, as well as tell how the book idea was conceived.
Please bring a dish to share for the potluck (and a $2 donation if you would like wine). Please check the
board for the current donation needs of the Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless.
______________________________________________
Hope Book Club
1st Monday in the month in the log cabin
For questions contact Chris Anrig [email protected]
Threads of Hope
2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 11:30 am in the Log Cabin
Come and find out what we are working on for Hope or bring your own personal projects.
We begin at 11:30 am, so bring a sack lunch and we'll stay till about 1:30 pm. You're welcome to just drop in anytime.
Carrie Muzika Deborah Whittaker
[email protected] [email protected]
_____________________________________
Hope Lunch Bunch
No Lunch Bunch in May
_______________________________________________
Breakfast on the Hill
Sunday, May 6, 9:00 am
Join us for a delicious breakfast on the first Sunday of the month. Our youth will be preparing & serving the first Sunday breakfast for May, June, & July as a fundraiser for their trip to Boston
$5 per person Children eat free.
_______________________________________________
Movie Night
Tuesday, May 8 at 7:00 pm
Death At a Funeral is the tale of a dysfunctional British
family who gathers for the patriarch’s funeral. Tensions rise, old conflicts are uncovered and, when a man arrives saying he’s the dead man’s gay lover and threatens black-mail, drastic measures are taken. As one reviewer said this movie tempts you to laugh at things when you are absolutely not supposed to. The movie was released in 2007, and has many familiar faces from the British world of acting.
Come and join us and laugh when you shouldn’t. We will have popcorn, soft drinks, and conversation. is the tale of a dysfunctional British family who gathers for the
patri-Walking Meditation
through the Seasons
Sunday, April 29, at 9:00 am
Hope Barbeque!
Saturday, May 12, at 4:00 pm
Food served at 5:30 pm
Smoked meats, and veggies. Beer and soft drinks available.
Bring a side dish or dessert, if you want.
Bring lawn chairs and blankets.
$15 per person
18 and younger eat free
Live music from the band Metamorfx!
Invite your friends!
HOPE DAY AT THE BALLPARK!
Tulsa Drillers vs Corpus Christi Hooks
Sunday, June 3, 1:05pm
Free hot dog, milk, & fruit for all kids 12 & under!
Tickets $9 each ($1 group discount)*
We will all sit together in section 116
*Sold at church on Sundays in May
For more information, contact
James Donovan at [email protected]
Active Parenting Class
a 6 week class for parents of children ages 5 to 12
Tues May 29th to Tues July 3rd, 6:00 to 8:00pm
Pre register by May 18 by contacting Diane Dudley
[email protected]
This parenting curriculum teaches how to develop courage, responsibility, cooperation, self-esteem
and respect in your children as well as explaining positive discipline and communication techniques
that help families run more smoothly.
Each participant will need to purchase a Parent Guide for $16, available the first night. We want to offer
this to any interested parents or grandparents. Feel free to let friends know that Hope is offering this
Parenting series. 6 parents needed for the class to make.
http://www.activeparenting.com/parents
Childcare available. To reserve childcare email [email protected]
This class will be led by Diane Dudley. Diane worked as a Certified Parent Educator for Jenks Public
Schools for 10 Years. She currently teaches Child Development to early education teachers and
caregiv-ers. Diane is trained as an Active Parenting Facilitator with OK-UP: Oklahoma University for
Key People
When no one is at the church, the building is locked and the security system is on. A committee of key people have keys and security clear-ance to open and close the building for church events. Each takes a one-week turn April 30—May 6 Fred Pottorf 918-407-0924 7-13 May David Lynn 918-250-3677 14-20 May Fred Pottorf 918-407-0924 21-27 May TBA 28 May-3 June Sherrill Womeldorff 918-638-7610
Policy for function organizers
1. First, determine if someone -attending your function can open the building.
2. Find out if church will be open/ closed for another event at the same time as yours.
3. If no one is available and you need entry, contact above volunteer Key Person a few days in advance of the event.
Submissions for the Focus should be sent to [email protected] with “Focus” in the subject line and are normally due 9 am the 4th Wednesday in the month. Submissions are subject to editing for length and
content.
The next Focus will be published May 30,2018.
Next Deadline: 9 am, Wednesday, May 23, 2018
For Hope’s May Calendar
see Hope’s website
http://hopeuu.org/blog/calendar/
Members’
Birthdays
In May
Holly Baker
7th
Rick Paschal
9th
Lynn Walters
9th
Janet Williamson
12th
Gerald Carter
13th
Gail Hawk
14th
Ken Blenkarn
17th
Clint Haight
24th
Sunday, May 27
at 9:00 am
Last Sunday of
each month.
Meet on the deck of Hope Log Cabin.
Wear shoes and clothing to match the weather.
For all ages.
Walking Meditation
through the Seasons
Our Staff
The Rev. Cathey Edwards, Minister, [email protected]
Yadenee Hailu, Intern Minister, [email protected]
Maggie Scott, Administrator, [email protected]
Joseph Rivers, Director of Music, [email protected]
Susan Spooner, Director of Children and Youth Programs, [email protected]
Rebecca Jones, Accountant (off site), [email protected]
Chris Powell, Pianist
Susan Michael, Drew Maher, Amy Jones, Nora Potter, Child Care
Our 2017/18 Board of Trustees
Ken Jones, President Cate Potter, President Elect Claudia Vandiver, VP of Finance James Donovan, VP of Programs Marcia Schaefer, Treasurer Annie Simpson, Secretary Anita Ward, Past President
Trustees: Ryan Saylor, Paula Haight, Carrie Muzika, Rick Eagleton
Hope Unitarian Church 8432 S. Sheridan Road Tulsa, Oklahoma 74133 (918) 481-0999 www.hopeuu.org [email protected] www.facebook.com/ HopeUnitarianChurch
Office Hours
Mon–Fri 9 am—3pm
FOCUS Issue May 2018 by Hope Unitarian Church, 8432 S. Sheridan Road., Tulsa, OK 74133-4137.
8432 S. Sheridan Rd Tulsa, Oklahoma 74133-4137 (918) 481-0999 [email protected]
TO:
Hope's VisionSeeking Truth, Sharing Love Within - Among - Beyond
Hope's Mission
Supporting the free and responsible search for truth and meaning; Teaching the history and traditions of Unitarianism; Promoting and defending freedom of thought; Celebrating life's passages; Serving the larger community with justice and compassion.
Hope's Values
