STEWARDSHIP UPDATE
Thank you to the nearly 60 of you who have already submitted your 2020 pledge so far. We are nearly half-way to our goal! For those who haven’t made their pledges, this is an urgent request for you to submit your pledge as soon as possible. That way, we can most effectively plan a 2020 budget that will best make your expressed wishes and dreams for UU Oakland a reality!!
We look forward to seeing all of you this Sunday, November 17th, Celebration Sunday, to celebrate our collective generosity towards our 2020 Stewardship goal, including an inspiring guest minister, Rev, Ranwa Hammamy, Executive Director of the UU Justice Ministry of California and former President of DRUUMM (Diverse Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries). This will be followed by a delicious, multi-cultural, celebratory lunch!
Please contact stewardship@uuoakland.com with any questions about your pledge or if you want to join in the fun of helping in our Stewardship Celebration!
with Gratitude,
your Stewardship Team
~~~
<strong>From the Board of Trustees</strong></p>
"Anti-oppression is at the core of our mission as a Church. The Board sees the recent release of the Assessment of our Church’s progress in that regard (available on our website!) as a great opportunity. In fact, we chose responding to that opportunity as one of our six priorities for the year.
Here are just a few of the actions we’ve taken since March:
<ul>
<li>we responded to the Assessment’s recommendations to become more transparent, accessible and communicative by scheduling some Board meetings after Sunday services, and by beginning to write this column.</p></li>
<li><p>We selected one Board member (Dan Wright) to ‘champion’ our response to the Assessment.</p></li>
<li><p>We’ve begun regular conversations to understand and implement improved anti-racist Board practices and policies.</p></li>
<li><p>In response to our Journey Toward Wholeness Transformation Team’s request this past spring to lead the Church in eliminating micro-aggressions, we have begun to organize a Healthy Congregations Team, whose mission will include educating about and working toward eliminating micro-aggressions."</p></li>
</ul>
<p>~~~
Invitation from Rev. Theresa Soto, the Board of Trustees and the Leadership Development Team!
Congregational life at First Unitarian Church of Oakland is a vibrant, busy experience. One of the things we can do to enrich our experiences of serving the community and the city is to focus on serving, as Frederick Buechner put it, in the “place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” All the ways that are possible for us to serve together have the possibility of contributing to this shared deep gladness.
Are you interested in learning, exploring and thinking together about what factors support joyful, burn-out-free, church lay-leadership and service?Are happily settled in a leadership or service position currently?Are ready to change your leadership or service for the new year?Have not yet committed to church leadership or service?Are taking a break from church leadership and service?Are you wondering where your deep gladness connects to the congregation and its work?
You are invited to participate in an exploration of the possibilities!
Three different workshop dates offered (including a potluck meal at each):
Saturday Nov. 23, 10:00 – 1:00
Wednesday Dec. 4, 6:00 – 9:00
Tuesday Dec. 10, 6:00 – 9:00
We will share a meal together and explore how the elements of service, joy and skills can blend to create a culture of service which nourishes the spirit. We hope you will join us. (Room TBA)
Please click on the link below to RSVP (yes, no, maybe) for one of the above Learning Sessions. If you know of someone who might be interested in this event, please forward the invitation to them!
Click Here to RSVP (Yes, No or Maybe) and to add comments or questions
~~~~
Tues., Nov. 19, Accompaniment – What is it?, 6:30 – 8:30 PM, 2nd Floor Program Room.Join members of UU Oakland’s Accompaniment Team to learn about this ministry. Teams, from Bay Area congregations, are trained by the Interfaith Movement 4 Human Integrity, to support newly arrived immigrant families as they navigate the challenges of life here. Our team will share our experience with others who are interested in exploring this ministry and considering it for themselves.questions or for more info, please contact Lauren Poole.