focus..
on the future
From the Minister
October Theme: Creation
The accumulations of changes from the earth’s tilt plus our elliptical orbit around the sun become more pronounced for me in
October. The quality of the light is changing and now is almost
too dark to get in a long bicycle ride before coming to work at
Hope.
I squint my eyes to see if fall colors are showing up in a bank of trees. Early in
the month, it is still a blur of various greens but by the end, the red, oranges and yellows from the lost green chlorophyll will take over.
Unless we break state temperature records, there will not be another 100° day
until late next spring. I can open the sliding door in my church office. Letting the breeze
and neighborhood sounds inside is soothing and inspiring.
A new sign of change for the month is the regional leadership training opportunity hosted by the Tulsa Sponsoring Committee, October 11 and 12. Set aside your
weekend leaf raking and yard work to experience new possibilities for the church and
your own personal growth (see attached flyer).
Bringing in organizers from around the country to lead sessions, this training is
for all Hope members and staff. Side-by-side with other churches and non-profits, the
sessions will enrich our existing social justice outreach and to embark on collaborative
ones within our city.
I am committed to making sure at least four Hope members attend so we have
a critical mass of informed leaders. I attended a version of this workshop in Oklahoma
City last fall. What I learned remains helpful for identifying and developing sustainable
leadership. Unlike the changing fall leaves that are ephemeral, this social justice effort
means to build a long-lived coalition in Tulsa to meet citizens’ needs.
Gratefully,
Rev. Cathey Edwards
[email protected]
Volume 20
No. 10
October
2014
In this issue:
Upcoming
Sermons p. 2
Children’s
Religious
Education p. 3
Music p. 4
Outreach and
Generosity p. 5
Garden &
Grounds P 11
Events/Classes
p. 9& 10
Adult Religious
Education p. 8
Sunday Mornings
October 2014
September Theme:
Creation
“Life is always a rich and steady
time when you are waiting for
something to happen or to hatch.”
E.B. White
Sunday Religious Education for
Children and Youth
10 am - RE Wing
Necker Cube Illusion
Sunday Adult Religious
Education
10 am - Sanctuary
Sunday Worship
11am - Sanctuary
Sunday, October 5
“Created from Stardust”
Rev. Cathey Edwards
Sunday, October 12
“Creating a Loving
Community”
Rev. Dr. Jacob George
Sunday, October 19
“Love in Motion: Service”
Rev. Cathey Edwards
Sunday, October 26
“Why Worship?!?”
Rev. Cathey Edwards
Humans are born to look for patterns and to fill in missing gaps.
This Necker Cube is two illusions built into one. First, despite incomplete
lines, virtually everyone can see the outline of a cube in the arrangement
of the eight circles. The second illusion is the ambiguous orientation of
the wire frame cube. Some people view the face of the cube coming forward on the lower left. Others see it rising in the upper right.
Not only do we interpolate visually, but also in stories, ritual, and
in bringing meaning to our lives. With our imagination humans have created systems of ideas, languages, art forms and cultural norms. We are
created to be creative.
We are not alone in being a creative force in the cosmos. Watch
an orb spider build its circular web. Listen to the mysterious songs of the
humpback whales. And as the essayist and author E.B. White proposes,
life unfolds in a fertile way as we are waiting. We merely have to pay
attention
Join us as we explore Creation this month in story, music, readings, small discussion groups, and sermons. Really, is any part of church
life not an act of creation—from greeting newcomers that builds a bridge
to new relationships, to preparing the monthly meal for the Day Center
for the Homeless, to teaching a lesson in Children’s Religious Education
and to adding your voice as we sing during worship?
About Our Monthly Themes
Our monthly themes express Hope Church’s openness to theological 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.
Hope Church is a questioning community. It is a safe place to
bring doubt and new ideas. This month we are exploring mystery
together. Join us!
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Religious Education for Children & Youth
Sundays 10:00 am—noon
“Imagination is the beginning of creativity”
George Bernard Shaw
Chaos and Wonder
Parenting/Grandparenting Class
Sunday, October 12 at 9:00 am—9:50 am
in the Log Cabin
The group is open to all. Childcare provided.
The church theme this month is creation. Within our
religious education program, we are creating a caring community where children use their imagination to play, laugh, sing, talk and build together.
October News
October 26—Great Pumpkin Family Sunday
Each child will bring a hollowed out, small pumpkin.
Families are invited to help one another carve awesome works of art which will be displayed at the
end of the worship service during the Parade of
Pumpkins. Children may wear costumes.
11:00 am – 11:15
Children’s Chapel downstairs. Parents are invited to
join us.
11:15 – 11:45
Pumpkin snack party. Weather permitting, we will
go on a nature walk. We will play games and create
a craft or two. Parents are invited to participate.
11:50
Parade of Pumpkins in the
Sanctuary
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Youth Fellowship
(grades 6 – 12) will meet :
Oct 1, Oct 15, and Oct 29 from 6:30 – 7:30 pm in RE area.
Topic for the month—Where do all those cuss words
come from? Pizza will be served at 6:30 pm . Youth are
welcome to invite friends to the group.
Jackie Portman
Director of Religious Education
[email protected]
Visitors’ Corner
Our Sunday program begins at 10:00 am with
crafts, music, or outdoor play. At 11:00 am, we
hold a short children's chapel before religious education classes. We provide nursery facilities for
infants and toddlers. If you have questions,
please contact Jackie Portman.
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Music Notes
There are many musical ways of exploring our monthly theme, “Creation,” which we can take
both as “nature” and the “ results or act of creating.” Both the natural world and human beings are often partners in creation. A few of the ways we will examine this theme will be
through our choir anthem selections. The exuberant anthem, “Morning, So Fair to See,” by
Beverly McLarry, music director of First Unitarian Church in Oklahoma City, explores words by
UU minister Vincent Silliman, which speak of our pilgrim journey amidst the beauty of the natural world around us. If we permit our spirit to respond to this beauty, our journey will be
both joyful and replenished.
Emily Dickinson’s poem, “Morning,” in a lovely musical setting by Janet Gardner, evokes images of nature and the
yearnings of the heart to ask metaphorically whether there yet lies a “morning” ahead of us. In Kent Newbury’s lively
arrangement of “I’ve Got Peace Like a River,” the images of nature provide a metaphor for experiencing peace and joy
on our journey. These are among the various ways that we will respond and participate in “creation” and “creating”
through making music.
I would like to invite anyone who loves choral singing and can carry a tune well enough
to get it off the ground, to rehearse and sing
with us. If you cannot yet commit for the
entire year, you can rehearse with us during
the months of October and November
through mid-December and perform with us
during the “Sing Noel!” service on December
14. We rehearse every Wednesday evening
(except for the evening before Thanksgiving)
from 7pm to 9pm. Regular choir rehearsals
begin at 6.30 pm until Sing Noel
Joseph Rivers
Director of Music
[email protected]
Meet the Minister
Sunday, October 26, 12:15 pm Minister’s Study
Newcomers and their families are invited to meet with Rev. Cathey Edwards after
the service. Get to know each other and about Hope.
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Hope Outreach
Generosity Offering
Each month, we give away ALL of the undesignated
funds from our Sunday Offering. The Outreach Committee chooses organizations that support the mission of
Hope Unitarian Church.
In August we raised
$1,767.00 for New Life School in Uganda
Generosity Recipient for October
Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless
The Day Center
was created in
1986 by a group of
concerned Tulsans
seeking to provide
a safe place for
people who were
homeless and was
originally founded by Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry
(TMM), The Day Center is a 501(c)(3) private nonprofit organization. The facility provides night shelter, case management, a free Nurses' Clinic, showers, restrooms, telephones, Community Voice Mail, a
clothing room, mail services and a locked storage
area. An average of 400 people seek shelter and
services each day at the Tulsa Day Center for the
Homeless, which is the only day time shelter in Tulsa
for people who are homeless or in need.
Hope provides a meal for the Day Center on the
Third Saturday of every month. We also donate
milk and cereal and have collection boxes in the
Fellowship Hall for their monthly needs.
Sandra Lewis, Director of the Tulsa Day Center for
the Homeless, will be our speaker at our 10 am Adult
Forum on Sunday, October 5. Please be sure to come
to learn about all the necessary services this organization provides to those Tulsans in need.
focus
Feed the Homeless
Volunteers from Hope prepare and serve a meal for the
folks at the Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless every
third Saturday of the month.
Thanks to everyone who helped in September
Shopping: Keith Hamilton
Pre-cooking: Mary Newman
Saturday cooking/preparing:
Hap Lowry, Deborah Whittaker, Rich Jackson, Ross
Guthrie, Sarah Brown, Emma Tracy, Linda Tracy
Serving at the Day Center:
Jean Coffey and Joan Scheulen (who also delivered the
food from Hope to the Day Center), Coe McGinley and
her friend, Shirley, Don Miller, Meredith Miller, Sarah
Brown and Ross Guthrie and Laura Prather Reiman.
Next Feed the Homeless date is:
Saturday, October 18
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 sign up for the months ahead. Sign up sheet is
in the folder on Administrator’s desk.
Cereal Sunday
Sunday, October 12
Please bring cereal for the
homeless. There’s a large
basket in the Fellowship Hall
where you can place your
boxes/bags. This cereal,
along with several gallons of
milk, is taken to the Tulsa
Day Center every month when we prepare their meal.
Fair Trade Coffee and Chocolate
When you purchase fair trade coffee and chocolate you
are helping small farmers and helping the environment.
Oh, and also—it’s delicious! Always on sale in the Fellowship Hall.
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September Board Highlights
From your President
The contract is signed for replacing Hope's heating
and air-conditioning system with completion date by
November 1st. A 5.75 percent loan to pay for this
approved pending appraisal of church property. PSO
rebate is expected to be $1,300.
The Board of Trustees caravanned to Grand Lake last
Friday and Saturday for a retreat. The setting was
beautiful, the food was good, and our time together
was beneficial.
Acceptance of credit cards for pledge payments, other
donations and payments will be available in the next
few days via Hope's website. A credit card reader will
be available to take credit card payments at the Auction.
The board accepted an anonymous $7,000 donation
to Hope, $5,000 earmarked for RE playground equipment fund, $2,000 for grants to enable Hope members to attend General Assembly.
Within, Among, Beyond
Our discussion sessions centered on: why we accepted
these responsibilities; a look at where Hope is and
where it's going; and lastly, setting specific Board goals
for this year.
We enjoyed being together, getting to know each other
better, and the quiet time that getting away from the
city can give. We returned tired, but refreshed and
enthusiastic.
The Charter for the Personnel Committee approved.
Thank you to Marcia and Sherrill for their wonderful
hospitality at Holway Point.
Hope's Visioning Committee inaugural meeting is Oct.
2.
Paula Haight, BOT President
The board had a very productive Board of Trustees
retreat identifying Board goals, broader Hope Church
goals, Board's areas of influence, great ideas for Hope
Church now and in near future, and membership concerns.
On another note...
I wish to thank all the Committee Chairpersons for a very
successful "Committee Fair" on
September 7. All of you did a
great job. Thank you for your
hard work which continues
throughout the year.
Paula
Hope’s 2014-15 Board before
heading out for their retreat.
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Oklahoma Food Coop
Order deadline October 9
Hope Church’s membership in the Oklahoma Food Cooperative provides a way for members and friends to
try the Coop without buying an individual membership.
On their website, you’ll find humanely-raised and
healthy foods from Oklahoma farms that are identified
by name and location, at prices that are competitive
with Reasor’s organic or free-range food products.
This month’s order period is from October 1 until midnight October 9, and delivery date is October 16. To
order, contact Joseph Rivers on cell phone # 562-2438656, or Rich Jackson at 918-494-0767 for ground rules
& password, log on at www.oklahomafood.coop, click
on the Shop tab, browse, and add items you’d like to try
to the shopping cart.
Green Sanctuary Certification
Application
A draft of Hope’s application for Green Sanctuary
certification was added
to the Hope website
www.hopeuu.org
the
weekend of September
20.
This challenging UUA program requires 12 actionplan projects in 5 specific
areas. There have been so many initiatives from Hope
Church members and friends that the current draft defines 27 projects, and at least one more is in negotiation
with the UUA Program Manager.
Contact Rich Jackson or Janet Williamson with questions, suggestions, or comments.
Outreach Committee
The Outreach Committee will be meeting at Hope on
Wednesday, October 15th at 5:30 pm to discuss our
Generosity offering recipients for January, 2015
through June, 2015.
Every month Hope donates the Sunday plate collection to different 501(c)(3) organizations that are doing
important and charitable work.
Please feel free to attend the meeting if you have any
suggestions for Generosity offerings or if you have any
interest or questions about the Outreach Committee.
In addition to selecting the Generosity plate recipients
the Outreach Committee is in charge of our monthly
meal to the Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless, Tulsa
Day Center Donations, Guest at Your Table, Christmas
Outreach and Fair Trade coffee and chocolate sales.
You
may
also
contact
Mary
Newman
([email protected] or 918-810-0953) if you want
to make suggestions about the Generosity offering or
have any questions about the Outreach Committee.
Thank you,
Mary Newman
Outreach Committee Chair
Notes from the Office
Pay by credit card!
Acceptance of credit cards for pledge payments,
other donations and payments will available in
the next few days via Hope's website. A credit
card reader will be available to take credit card
payments at the Auction. Stay tuned for more
information.
Minister out of town
The Rev. Cathey Edwards will be out of town October 11-14. Please contact Carmen Kinsey (918298-6486) for pastoral care needs.
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Adult Religious Education
Adult Forum
Sundays at 10:00 am in the Sanctuary
October 5
Generosity Sunday. Our speaker will be Sandra Lewis, Director of the Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless, our generosity plate recipient for the month of October.
October 12
Mary Fallin has been invited to participate in our Meet the Candidates program.
October 19
We continue with Part 2 of “The Long Strange Trip”, The Birth of Unitarianism. Part 2 begins by chronicling how
Michael Servetus’ message influenced David Ferenc (Francis David) in Transylvania and led to the first coherent
Unitarian theology.
October 26
Part 2 continues by tracking that theology as it spreads to Poland with Faustus Socinus and then west across Europe towards the Netherlands and England. It discusses the work of Theophilus Lindsey and Joseph Priestley in
forming an organized English Unitarianism
New Time, New Day, New Title!
Digging Deeper
A discussion class that provides the opportunity to delve more deeply
into our monthly themes.
October: Creation
Thursday, October 16
7:00-8:30 pm
Free childcare with 48 hour advance reservation.
Contact Jackie Portman for childcare, [email protected]
Rev. Cathey serves as the facilitator for this monthly class. With an
agenda that includes readings, questions and time for sharing, this
smaller group allows for dialogue and reflection.
“To listen is to lean in softly with a willingness to be changed by what
we hear.” - Mark Nepo, poet
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Events
Lunch Bunch
Women of Hope
Thursday, October 2
Wednesday, October 15 at 11:30 am
Social time 6:00pm
Dinner 6:30 pm
Program 7:00pm
Our women’s Lunch Bunch event will be Napa Flats
Wood-fired Kitchen. This is a new restaurant, located in
the former Michael Fusco’s restaurant at 99th & Riverside Parkway. If you want to attend, contact Jane
Brumley, 918/488-1370.
Our speaker will be Debbie Gordon from Resonance
Women's Center. Debbie attended Hope at one time,
and some of you may remember her.
Bring a dish/dessert for potluck. And invite a guest for a
lovely fall evening on Hope Hill.
Anita Ward and Deborah Whittaker
___________________________________________
Breakfast on the Hill
____________________________________
Hope Men’s Group
Tuesday, October 21, 7:00 pm
All men are invited to our monthly gathering. Bring a
snack and drink to share if you wish. Newcomers welcome.
______________________________________________
Sunday, October 5, 9:00—10:00 am
Women of the Thread
$5 for adults, free for children
Prepared by Cate Potter, Bob
Pannell and Alice Van Wormer.
We will have a pot of oatmeal,
with condiments and breakfast casserole (both vegie and
meat), banana bread, biscuits,
jam and fruit.
Meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 11:30 am in the log
cabin. Bring your projects and enjoy the companionship.
All are welcome.
Carrie Muzika
and Deborah Whittaker
___________________________________________
Movie Night
Tuesday, October 14, 7:00 pm
The Meaning of Life is a film created by the Monty Python troupe and released in 1983. It is a series of
sketches that connect life from birth through death. If
you aren't familiar with Monty Python, or even if you
are, be prepared to laugh.
Please join us for a good discussion after the movie, and
soft drinks and popcorn will be provided.
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“Autumn on Hope Hill—Change is in the Air!”
6-6.30 pm—Drinks and Fellowship
HOPE’S
ANNUAL
AUCTION
Saturday
November 8
6.30-7.30 pm—Dinner
7.15 pm—Silent auction closes
7.30 pm—Live Auction

$20 includes dinner, drinks and
bid card

50/50 raffle

Parking Space raffle
We need your donations!
Do you have an item or service to donate to the auction? How about a theme dinner, a
vacation, artwork, jewelry, handmade craft items, theme basket, personal services …….
Fill out an Auction Donation/Dinner Reservation Form and turn it in at the Auction Table
on Sundays. Also, you may email descriptions and photographs of donations to Maggie
Scott at [email protected]
The deadline for handing in your reservation/donation forms is Sunday, November 2.
You may begin bringing in your auction items from next Sunday, October 5. Deadline for
bringing items is Saturday, November 8 by 10 am
(Please note: Payment for auction items is required on the night of the auction and
this year you will be able to pay by credit card!)
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Page 10
Garden and Grounds
Early Autumn 2014
Many thanks to the seven hardy souls who worked on roadside clean up in the rain September 6 th. It was a great
start, continued in the beautiful weather on the 13th. Many railroad ties were relocated to edge the north parking lot
and much briar has been removed from the big trees. A number of small redbuds and wild dogwoods were freed of
briar and honeysuckle. There is more to do, but it is much improved. Special thanks to Fred Pottorf for the trailer
and brush hauling.
Thanks also to the faithful watering crews who have kept the pots and beds looking good and the roses blooming.
The late summer dry spell typical in Oklahoma has been challenging. All the young trees have been mulched for fall
and winter. The bronze fennel by the patio continues to host black swallowtail caterpillars. First they eat the flowers, then the leaves, then the stems. They also like the parsley in the kids’ garden.
There are preliminary plans to construct a labyrinth north of the sanctuary. It will be simple and unobtrusive, using
flat stones to define the path. There are many patterns, but the (experienced) designer thought an irregular, meandering one would fit our hillside area best.
The last few weeks
the children have
worked on a scarecrow that will be on
display at the Oklahoma Botanic Garden October 4 –
November 1. We
did “Charlotte Visits
the Garden” complete with garden
lady, spider and pig.
Come see it 9-4 Saturdays at the garden. Map (and lots
of fun information)
at www.ocbg.org.
A fence has been
installed along the
patio and ramp in
the children’s playground – area now
much safer.
Barry Kinsey built us a butterfly house. Do you know where it is? There are plans next year to plant a lot more milkweed to assist the struggling Monarch population.
Janet Williamson
Chair, Garden & Grounds Committee
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Key People
Weekly Events
Hope Singers Choir Rehearsal
Wednesday, October 1—7:00 pm
Hope Singers and Sing Noel Rehearsals
Wednesday October 8—Dec 10 from 6.30 – 9pm
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
clearance to open and close the
building for church events. Each
takes a one-week turn of duty.
Sept 29-Oct 5
Sherrill Womeldorff
918-638-7610
Brown Bag Lunch and Discussion Group
Every Friday from 11.30 am to 1:00 pm
Oct 6-12
Larry Vandiver
918-230-7354
Yoga Classes
Currently on hiatus. Watch this space.
Oct 13-17 & 19
Jim Sleezer
918-760-9711
Oct 18
Fred Pottorf
918-230-7354
October
Birthdays
Oct 20-26
Sherrill Womeldorff
918-638-7610
Brad Adams
Elva Knoles
Tom Swatek
Lynn Rivers
Larry Sharp
Paula Haight
Jean Coffey
Ada Galli
Joan Scheulen
Jim Sleezer
Shirley Adams
Marcia Schaefer
Peter Marschall
1st
3rd
3rd
12th
15th
16th
17th
17th
17th
16th
22nd
23rd
30th
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
Man a few days in advance of your
event.
For Hope’s October
Calendar—see Hope’s website
www.hopeuu.org
Focus Deadline
Submissions to the Focus should be sent to [email protected] with “Focus” in the subject line and are due 9 am
the 4th Wednesday in the month. Submissions are subject to editing for length and content. Next Focus will be
published Wednesday, October 29. Next Deadline: 9 am, October 22.
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8432 S. Sheridan Rd
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74133-4137
(918) 481-0999
[email protected]
PERIODICAL POSTAGE
PAID AT TULSA
FOCUS Issue October 1, 2014 (USPS 009-016) is published monthly
by Hope Unitarian Church, 8432 S. Sheridan Road., Tulsa, OK 741334137. Periodicals postage paid at Tulsa, OK. POSTMASTER: send
address changes to FOCUS, 8432 S. Sheridan Rd., Tulsa, OK 741334137
TO:
Hope's Vision
Seeking 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
Reason - Integrity - Tolerance
Our Staff
Rev. Cathey Edwards, Minister, [email protected]
Maggie Scott, Administrator, [email protected]
Jackie Portman, Director of Children’s Religious Education, [email protected]
Joseph Rivers, Director of Music, [email protected]
Our Board of Trustees
Paula Haight, President
Janet Nobles, President Elect
Ken Jones, VP of Finance
Alice Van Wormer, VP of Programs
Fred Pottorf, Treasurer
Vanessa Torluemke, Secretary
Claudia Vandiver, Past President
Hope Unitarian Church
8432 S. Sheridan Road
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74133-4137
(918) 481-0999
www.hopeuu.org
[email protected]
www.facebook.com/
HopeUnitarian Church
Office Hours
Mon –Fri 9:00 am—3:00 pm