Live Oak UU Congregation
805-967-7867, [email protected], www.liveoakgoleta.org
Miss a Sermon?
The Acorn
January 24, 2016
No problem!
Worship This Sunday
This Week’s Meetings and
Events
Check out past
sermons by
clicking on the
link.
Sunday January 24
10:00 am Worship
11:30 am Town Hall
11:30 am RE Council
Meeting
-Rev. Tamara
http://liveoakgoleta.org/
multimedia/
Our Live Oak
Social Justice
Ministry asks
you to please
take this
survey.
It will decide Live
Oak's choice to
send to UUA for
the next national
Congregational
Study Action
topic which will
begin in
2016. (Right now
we are studying
Escalating
Inequality with
this program.)
https://
www.surveymonk
ey.com/r/
CSKL3ZS
Monday January 25
No Scheduled Events
Tuesday January 26
4:00 pm C-Team Meeting
7:00 pm Sangha (S)
7:00 pm Auction
Planning Meeting (C)
Wednesday January 27
No Scheduled Events
Thursday January 28
12:30pm Afternoon Book
Group (C)
Friday January 29
10:30am Hookers &
UU and Me
Jacob Rosenberg and Rev. Tamara Casanova Suzuki Needlers (C)
What does it mean grow up as a Unitarian
Saturday January 30
Universalist? Come hear as one our youth, Jacob,
No Scheduled Events
shares stories and insights of his journey growing up
UU.
Sunday January 31
10:00 am Worship
Upcoming Sermons
January 31: Lessons from a Life Worth Living
William Peters, founder of the Shared Crossing
Project, will speak about the challenge of being
human and how one finds meaning in the midst of
adversity. Following the service, William will answer
questions and share his knowledge about near-death
and shared-death experiences. All are welcome.
http://liveoakgoleta.org/
events-calendar/
We value your contributions to the
Acorn.
Please submit articles to the editor
at:
[email protected]
submissions due by
Wednesday.
Children’s Exploration
This week we continue our exploration of Buddhism. Children will learn about promoting peace and
compassion by creating prayer flags that they will hang on Live Oak’s Peace Pole. After the Message for
All Ages, Pre-K/Kinders, 1st-5th Graders, and Jr. High youth will gather in their grade-level classes.
Childcare available for little ones in the Farmhouse Childcare Center.
Made with Love – Last Spring, Live Oak Youth Lura, Dorothy & Josette embarked on an RE service
learning project where they designed and created 3 handmade quilts with the specific purpose of donating
them to a child or family in need. This past week, Lura and Dorothy presented the quilts to the Coastal
Quilt Guild, a local organization which has a community quilting program that donates lovingly made
blankets like these to various non-profit organizations that directly serve our local community. The Live
Oak quilts will be donated to CALM. Both Lura and Dorothy spoke eloquently about how and why they
created the quilts, and answered questions in front of an audience of over 125 people! We are so proud to
see our Live Oak youth carry on the tradition of social action and compassionate giving.
Live Oak’s Director of Religious Exploration Tracey Goforth is now a certified Our Whole Lives (OWL)
facilitator. OWL is a comprehensive lifespan sexuality education curricula developed by the UUA that
helps participants make informed and responsible decisions about their sexual health and behavior by
equipping them with accurate, age-appropriate information. Our Whole Lives not only provides facts
about anatomy and human development, but also helps participants clarify their values, build interpersonal
skills, and understand the spiritual, emotional, and social aspects of sexuality. Live Oak is currently
building our OWL program to serve Grades 4-6, 7-9, 10-12 and Adult. If you are interested in training to
become an OWL facilitator, please talk with Tracey or contact her at [email protected].
Path to Membership at Live Oak
Now that the New Year is here, it’s a good time to look at your values and principles, and take action.
Maybe you’d like to make a resolution to become a member of Live Oak Unitarian Universalist
Congregation in 2016.
Why Become a Live Oak Member?
All are welcome to attend, worship with us, and reap the benefits of our Religious Exploration
program or Youth Group, share the joy of Sundays in this community and participate in our programs, and
are even encouraged to contribute financially with a pledge, but what does a capital-M
Membership mean?
Well, there are the little benefits of membership:
Voting rights at our congregational meetings (help decide the BIG issues)
Ability to serve on the Board of Trustees and various ministry teams: Pastoral Care,
Membership, Worship, Good Relations and the Committee on Ministry
Use of Live Oak space for parties or gatherings that are open to the other members of the
community
Path to Membership at Live Oak Cont.
Being counted among the U.U.s who are served by our Pacific Southwest District and our
Unitarian Universalist Association, including being on the distribution list for the excellent UU
World magazine.
And then there are the BIG BENEFITS:
Becoming a member is about aligning your actions with your beliefs. It’s saying to yourself, your family,
and this community that you agree with the actions and values of Unitarian Universalism, and are
committed to working to live these values.
Becoming a member is also about making visible your sense of belonging to this congregation. It’s
an entering into covenant with us, and an expression of commitment to our shared future. It is a
heart and spirit decision, and confirms that you will share your time, talent and treasure to support
our common goals.
Join us on this spiritual journey. Walk down the path to Membership with the following steps:
Path to Membership – We ask all newcomers or prospective new members to attend our “Path to
Membership” class, an orientation led by Rev. Tamara, which is offered two or three times a year.
“Path to Membership” is a great way for newcomers to get to know one another as we share
thoughts about our own spiritual paths and grow in knowledge about our congregation and about
Unitarian Universalism. The next Path to Membership will be at Live Oak on Sat., Feb. 20, 2016,
9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., including lunch. You can register for this orientation by
contacting [email protected], and let us know if childcare is needed. If this date
doesn’t work for you, please let Rev. Tamara know you are interested, and we’ll try to
accommodate you.
New Member Welcome Ceremony – After each Path to Membership we offer a new member
welcoming ceremony, held during a Sunday service, at which you will sign our membership book,
be introduced as a new member, and receive a gift from the congregation.
We look forward to welcoming you as a member into our Live Oak community, and sharing in your
participation and involvement on our journeys!
FUUn Team News
LINE DANCE PARTY!
Live Oak Sanctuary Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016 - 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
We’re fools whether we dance or not. So, we might as well dance!
Japanese proverb
Join us after dinner for an evening of beginning line dancing at Live Oak Sanctuary on Saturday,
February 6th! No experience necessary, no partner necessary! Just come ready to have fun.
Easy ultra-beginner and beginner line dances will be taught by Ellen Hamilton including some
Country Western as well as other styles. Ellen has been co-teaching a line dance class at Valle Verde
Retirement Community and is also one of several line dance teachers at Goleta Valley Community
Center.
Wear comfortable low-heeled shoes. Smooth soled shoes are easier to dance in as they allow you to more
easily turn, and do the various steps, but being comfortable is key.
Snacks and refreshments will be provided by the FUUn team. Questions about dancing? Call Ellen at
FUUN Team News Cont.
968-3098. Other questions? Call Liz at 964-5410 Come be foolish with us!
SOUPED UP SOUPER SUNDAY on Valentine’s Day, Feb 14!
Showering our Live Oak members and friends with love in the form of home cooked goodness, we have a
little Valentine’s gift up our sleeves for you. Lunch is on us on Feb 14, as we host SOUPED UP SUPER
SUNDAY - Soups AND Salad Bar for your dining pleasure. Please plan to stay and share the love on this
day, and may we suggest sitting with someone you don’t know very well, so that you can go home with a
new friend or two? Donation jar will be out for those who feel inclined to help cover the costs of lunch,
but participation is not expected.
HELP NEEDED to move chairs in the sanctuary on Friday, Feb. 5. Please call Liz asap if you are able
to come and assist with this large task. Many hands make quick work! Time TBD by availability of
volunteers. Would love to make it happen during the day.
Haskell’s Beach Walks – February 3 and 17
We start at 10:00 a.m. from the Bacara parking lot (near the tennis courts) on the first and third
Wednesdays of the month, followed by a picnic for those who wish to bring lunch. Contact Linda Hill for
further details at 685-2951 or [email protected].
Goleta Beach Walks EVERY Thursday at 9:00 a.m. January 28, February 4, 11, 18, 25
We will meet by the play structure and decide if we want to walk up onto campus or along the bike path
towards Santa Barbara. NO beach access currently. Don't forget your water, sunscreen and a post-walk
snack. Contact Liz Z. for further details at [email protected].
SUPPORTING OUR MEMBERS
WE WANT TO KNOW about the performances, art shows etc. of our members and friends and to
spread the word here. Please send any fliers or information to Liz at [email protected] for inclusion in the
electronic version of the Acorn.
Friends, now that we're in the midst of the long, cold winter, it's important to find fun whenever we can.
Head on over to Cold Spring Tavern this Saturday night, Jan 23. Carter Morgan's band
(thenombres.com) will be playing from 6:00-9:00 . . . so you will get home way before Saturday Night
Live comes on : ) We hope to see you there!
The Acorn
Live Oak Auction
Dear Community Members:
Listen to the lyrics from the Rodgers and Hammerstein hit musical
“South Pacific.” I hope they will inspire you to call a friend and conjure a dream to share and bid for at our “Bali High Bid Auction “ on
March 5!
Don’t wait! Call me now to help you describe your dream auction
bid item for services, certificates, and events! We would like to have
ONE auction item from everyone by February 14, 2016 (Oh my
Valentines Day).
Have a dream then call me, Jan Kettler at 805 965-0055.
Contact Us
820 North Fairview Avenue
Goleta CA 93117
Website: www.liveoakgoleta.org
Facebook: Live Oak Unitarian Universalist
Congregation
Office Hours:
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
11:00-am-3:00pm
1:00pm-5:00pm
11:00am-3:00pm
1:00pm-5:00pm
11:00am– 3:00pm
How to reach the Live Oak staff::
Rev. Tamara Casanova Suzuki:
[email protected] or
805.967.7867 x 2
John Douglas, Music Director:
[email protected]
805.284.2082
Tracey Goforth,
Dir. of Religious Exploration:
[email protected], 805.967.7867 x 3
Clacey Kahn, Administrator:
[email protected]
805.967.7867 x 1,
Janet Mocker, Bookkeeper:
[email protected]
Coordinating Team:
[email protected]
Happy talk, keep talkin' happy talk,
Talk about things you'd like to do.
You got to have a dream,
If you don't have a dream,
How you gonna have a dream come true?
Hookers and Needlers
The Hookers and Needlers are being resurrected. Come, bring your
knitting, crocheting, mending or whatever, and join us for a morning
of projects and conversation. Have you always wanted to learn to
crochet or knit? Here's your chance. We will give lessons to anyone
interested. We will meet on Friday mornings at 10:30 in the
Cottage. After the first few meetings we will discuss how often to
meet and if Friday AM is the best time.
For questions or input contact Jeri Moulder, 805-966-6461 or
[email protected].
Birthdays
Happy Birthday to the following friends and members
celebrating birthdays soon! We are so happy that you
are part of our Live Oak family!
Priscilla Marchus 1/22
John Douglas 1/22
John Sonquist 1/22
Lura Pearson 1/23
Luana Psaros 1/24
Lisl Auf der Heide 1/30