We Grow in Spirit to Serve Our World and Transform Lives

3315 El Salido Parkway
Cedar Park, Texas 78613
We Grow in Spirit to Serve Our World and Transform Lives
July 7, 2013 A musical reflection service with Funkatonic,
featuring readings our 1993 hymnbook, Singing
the Living Tradition.
July 14, 2013 Rev. Linda Bunyard
Across the Divide
“The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all
religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us
always to treat all others as we wish to be treated
ourselves.” We will look the power of world religions
to unite on what is permanent and most enduring in
religious traditions.
July 21, 2013 Rabbi Marie Betcher
What Reform Jews and UUs Have in Common
In the second part of a pulpit exchange with our
Interim Minister, Rabbi Betcher will talk about what
Reform Jews believe and are called to do in the
world. Rabbi Betcher serves Congregation Shir Ami as
Cantor and Rabbi and teaches the Hebrew School.
July 28, 2013 Rev. Christ-Singh Khalsa
Insights into the Sikh religion
Honoring the Needs of Our Community
In an effort to make sure that hearing-impaired individuals
who comes to our congregation feels welcomed,
the Worship Committee is supplying a written
copy of sermons each Sunday. These can be found on
a table at the entry to the sanctuary.
Sunday services are 10:30 am
Contents
A Month of Sundays…………………………………… pg. 1
Interim Journal…..…...……………………….………...pg. 2
Worship and Spiritual Life……...…………..……….pg. 3
Religious Education ……………………………………..pg. 4
Community Outreach and Social Justice….……pg. 6
Congregational Life ……………………………………..pg. 9
Administration and Operations...…….……….... pg. 15
Contact info...…………………………………………….. pg. 16
Page 1 Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Church Newsletter July 2013

Interim Journal: June 21, 2013
Rev. Linda Bunyard
Our theme for summer worship is World Religions. We launched the series
last Sunday with “The Enduring Power of Myth.” I have been reading Karen
Armstrong and Joseph Campbell. They agree that myth- and meaning- making
began with our prehistoric ancestors. It was a time when the sacred and the
profane were not separated.
From the very beginning of human society our ancient ancestors dealt with
what Rev. Forrester Church used to name as the reality that life and death is part
of the same cycle. “Religion is our human response to the dual reality of being
alive and having to die.” Likewise, Campbell says “You have to balance between
death and life--they are two aspects of the same thing, which is being, becoming.”
(Campbell)
Joseph Campbell wanted modern thinking to understand that myths are
not simply entertaining tales to be told “for amusement around ancient campfires.”
They were “powerful guides to the life of the spirit.”
Hinduism and Buddhism will be the first two Sundays (the last two Sundays
in June), followed by a musical reflection service with Funkatonic, featuring
readings our 1993 hymnbook, Singing the Living Tradition. Mid-July I will reflect on compassion in world religions, and
host Rabbi Marie Betcher. A guest speaker at the end of July will bring more insight into an Eastern religion, and for
the last service in this series Lew Scheffler, retired minister and college professor, will reflect on all the world
religions.
When we see the great stories of other world religions, compare the symbols, and see how the stories have
evolved over the years, we are able to look at the Christian and Hebrew scriptures and understand the enduring
power of myth in the stories that many of us learned from culture and church experiences. In doing this we can
integrate that early learning and put it to use in our lives.
I urge you to do some homework this summer and find the great myths of each of the religions that we feature
on Sundays. Do some comparing and contrasting. See if you don’t have a deeper understanding of the power of myth
and symbol in your own life.
Our mythology and the religious systems that develop around it are there to help us understand our world and
our place in it. Moyer said to Campbell in an interview about twenty-five years ago: “We’re not going on our journey
to save the world but to save ourselves.” And Campbell replied. “But in doing that, you save the world.”
Blessings on This Journey,
Rev. Linda
Minister’s availability in June, July and August
Vacation and Study Leave: June 17 th — July 7 th and July 23 rd — August 11 th I will not be reading and answering email while
on leave. I will be available July 8 th - July 21 st for regular meetings, classes and Sunday Services.
Office hours: I do not post office hours because my schedule changes each day and not every meeting or event
happens at the church. I am available for personal meetings afternoons and evenings Tuesdays, Wednesdays and
Thursdays and some Saturdays. If you would like to meet with me for any reason let’s make an appointment. I can be
reached by email minister@liveoakuu.org or by cell phone 512-927-7230.
Rev. Linda
Page 2 Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Church Newsletter July 2013

Worship and Spiritual Life
Labyrinth News
September 14 (Saturday), 7:30 p.m.:
Drumming in the Moonlight
labyrinth@liveoakuu.org
Women’s Labyrinth Group: This year’s
themes are from Lauren Artress: The Sacred Path
Companion. The group is open to women high school
age and older and welcomes new members at any
time. lindawebster@grandecom.net
Pastoral Care Team
There are several ways to contact the Pastoral Care
Team or to share your joys and concerns with Live Oak
members and friends.
1) Confidential needs: send an email to
pastoralcare@liveoakuu.org. It will only be seen
by the Pastoral Care core team of Rev. Linda
Bunyard, Sharon Fitzpatrick, Mary Hengstebeck,
Sandy Prins, Mary Scheffler, and Kate von Alt.
Someone on the team will answer the email
promptly.
2) Shared Joys and Concerns: subscribe to liveoakuujoys-concerns@yahoogroups.com
and share your
news with all who have joined the list.
3) Fill out a card in the seatback of a chair in the
sanctuary and drop it in the offering plate or slide
it under the office door.
Please view our web page if you'd like to know more
about the role of the Pastoral Care Team at Live Oak:
www.liveoakuu.org/content/pastoral-care
The Index to the Pastoral Care Resource Book has
recently been updated to include several links to grief
support resources, thanks to Kate von Alt. The link is
www.liveoakuu.org/content/pastoral-care-resources.
Sharon Fitzpatrick, Chair of Pastoral Care Team
Volunteers are needed to provide altar flowers for Live Oak Sunday morning
worship services. Please sign the flowered sheets on the bulletin board ("Live
Oak News and Business") on the wall in the narthex. To honor a person or
event, place your name next to a date that has meaning for you, a family
member or a friend.
Some people bring flowers or plants from their homes. Others prefer to
purchase them at Randall's, HEB, or wherever is convenient. Vases are
available in the Live Oak kitchen, but many use their own. Volunteers are
asked to remove the flowers after the service. As the date you choose
approaches, you will be sent a reminder. For more info: contact Georgia
Weber at geoalweber@austin.rr.com or 512-261-5568.
Page 3 Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Church Newsletter July 2013

Religious Education
Adult Faith Development Retreat coming September 21 st
One of the core texts on Faith Development, James Fowler’s book Stages of Faith, is still relevant today. For him, faith
can be seen as
* a way of knowing, constructing, and interpreting existence
* a way of making meaning
* one’s mode of being in the world
* the primary focus/orientation of one’s existence
* that which defines one’s relationship with self, God and others.
Carol D. Meyer, in Our Unitarian Universalist Story (a UU curriculum),
To have faith is to be related in such a way that -- our heart is invested, our caring is committed, and our hope is
focused on the other.
Now, with these definitions, would you be interested in “faith” development here at Live Oak?
We have rescheduled the Adult Faith Development Retreat for Saturday, September 21 st . 9:30 to 1 pm in the
Fellowship Hall. All are welcome to participate in this retreat. We are building familiarity and interest in the many wonderful
courses available for UUs, especially the new ones widely available online. The workshop will feature hands-on
experiences with a few of these curricula. If you have other faith development resources, experience and ideas we
would like to have you be a part of the retreat.
Sign up by emailing minister@liveoakuu.org. Please let me know if you will need childcare.
Rev Linda
Theological Diversity Discussions Coming May through September
By our very nature we Unitarian Universalists have a diversity of theological positions. No two Atheists among us
would describe their faith the same way. That goes for the UU Christians, the Buddhist, the Humanists, and the
Theists.
As the Minister I get the pulpit each Sunday to elaborate on various theological stands among us. Going into the
second year of interim it would be wonderful to have more dialogue with the people in the pews about theological
issues. Next year we might feature “This I Believe—or Not” with theological flavors!
I am going to offer an open discussion each month, May through September, on five different perspectives. We
will have the UUA brochures on these perspectives to begin our dialogue, but just as a conversation starter.
You have options for dates and times each month. Tuesday evenings 7 to 8:30 pm and Friday brown-bag lunch
from 11:30 to 1 pm. You will not be asked to sign up. Just drop in. Check the Adult Classes board and pick up a brochure
each month before the class.
Theological Diversity Discussion Series
July Topic is Humanism
Pick up a pamphlet at the Adult Classes and Groups board in the Narthex, bring your thoughts and writings and come
join us for an hour discussion on the topic. There are two days/times for you to choose.
Tuesday, July 9 th , 7 :00 – 8:30 pm
Friday, July 12 th , noon—1:30 pm, bring your lunch
No need to sign up ahead of time, but let me know ASAP if you need childcare
Rev Linda minister@liveoakuu.org.
Page 4 Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Church Newsletter July 2013

Page 5 Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Church Newsletter July 2013

Community Outreach
Social Justice
Hill Country Community Ministries
appreciates the generosity of Live Oak's members and
friends who donated 448 pounds of food to replenish
food pantry supplies. The Share the Plate collection
has not been finished at the time this newsletter article
was written.
Stay tuned for "Undie Sundays"
scheduled for August to help the HCCM
clothes closet. We will be collecting
underwear of all sizes and for both
sexes before school begins.
Thanks,
Sharon Fitzpatrick
Quick way to help English as Second
Language classes:
If you have an old IPhone or IPad the English as a
Second Language (ESL) morning and evening classes
can put them to good use. We have found
that students learn how to correct their pronunciation
by listening to the difference between their
recorded voice and the recorded voice of a specific
language application.
Contact Mary Hengstebeck
(mary.hengstebeck@gmail.com | 512 260 7768 |
512 983 7009 cell)
Thanks,
Mary Hengstebeck
Share the Plate
The recipient for this month's Share the Plate contribution will be the Round
Rock Area Serving Center (www.servingcenter.org). The RRASC is a local non
-profit which carries out the community-wise mission of area churches,
organizations, and individuals in the City of Round Rock and surrounding
areas.
Services provided include a food pantry, Coats for Kids, clothing and
furniture vouchers, Computers for Kids, community gardens, The Volunteer
Center, computer skills training, and financial assistance for utilities, rent,
medication, and temporary lodging. There is also a Community Clinic located
on site.
They also maintain and staff a clothing and thrift store called Treasures,
revenue from which supports their programs. Donations of clothing, books, furniture, and appliances are gratefully
accepted.
Share the Plate collections will now be done every Sunday. This month, checks made out to Live Oak UU with “STP” in the
memo line will go to RRASC. If contributing cash, please put “STP” on the envelope.
Page 6 Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Church Newsletter July 2013

PRISON OUTREACH -Death Row Letter
Writing Group
On June 15, a Saturday, our Prison Outreach Group tried a
new approach. Rather than meeting on a Tuesday evening, we
met on a Saturday afternoon. We plan to meet on a Saturday
once a quarter. Our next 1 pm Saturday meeting will be on
September 14 at 1 PM in Room 106.
We discussed many topics at the June meeting. We are likely
to discuss a wide variety of things at the September meeting,
but I hope to consolidate our
search by using more structure.
Each person who wants to
present a topic or a problem
will be given a time for the
presentation, and any wild card
discussions will be held to the
end of the meeting, for
coverage IF time permits.
Perhaps we can limit our
meeting time to 90 minutes or
less, which will help keep our meetings from becoming
burdens.
As the September meeting begins, I will ask each person to
introduce themselves and identify which prisoners are in their
letter group. If a correspondent presents a problem needing
solution, we’ll make considering those solutions our second
order of business.
I’m hoping that we add two individuals to our writer group
between now and September. People living on death row lead
desperate lives with little meaning. Our letters help keep them
connected to their common humanity. If you would like to
consider this service opportunity in greater detail, please call
Lynn at 512-538-8999. Thanks.
LifeRing is a network of people who support one
another in living free of alcohol and other nonmedically
indicated addictive drugs. LifeRing
meetings, in person and online, are friendly, confidential,
non-judgmental gatherings of peers. The
atmosphere is relaxed, practical, and positive.
LifeRing members believe that complete abstinence
from alcohol and other non medically indicated drugs
is the necessary foundation for us to lead a better
life.
The desire to stop drinking/using is the only requirement
for membership in LifeRing. In LifeRing
meetings, your religious and spiritual beliefs, or lack
of them, remain a private matter. There is no
religious or anti-religious content in the meeting
process.
LifeRing does not require participants to follow any
particular steps or guidelines, other than staying
clean and sober. Each participant builds a personal
recovery program tailored to their individual needs.
Our meeting format and literature provide a structure
for this project.
LifeRing meets in room 103 on Wednesday nights
from 7:30-9:00 pm.
Contact Bob Moyers at robertmoyers@hotmail.com
EXCERPT OF ARTICLE WRITTEN BY DEATHROW INMATE—R.L. Jasper
This article is posted in
it’s entirety on the
church bulletin board
in the narthex.
Page 7 Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Church Newsletter July 2013

Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
Intersections of Immigration and Labor
More than 11 million undocumented farmworkers, restaurant workers, factory workers, construction workers, and others
contribute every day to our economy and our country. UUSC works with grassroots partners throughout the United States
to defend and protect the basic legal and social protections that every worker deserves — no matter their nationality or
immigration status.
From collaborating with partners such as the Northwest Arkansas Workers' Justice Center (NWAWJC) to advocate for lowwage
immigrant workers in the construction, restaurant, and poultry-processing industries, UUSC knows that immigrant
and undocumented workers too often endure a host of labor violations. These include the following:
• Unsafe working conditions
• Low wages or nonpayment of wages commonly referred to as "wage theft"
• Discrimination based on race, ethnicity, and nationality
Ariel Jacobson, senior associate for UUSC's Economic Justice Program, explains, "This injustice faced by immigrant workers
is intensified by threats of retaliation from their employers when they report workplace violations and anti-immigrant
measures that put them at risk for deportation. The result is an environment in which labor standards are lowered for all
workers."
The Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, another UUSC partner, works with restaurant workers throughout the
country to bring fair working conditions — living wages, paid sick days, equal chances to advance — to all restaurant
workers, many of whom are immigrants. Current industry standards keep people in poverty, deny workers their full rights,
and contribute to the stagnation of the U.S. economy.
UUSC recognizes the intersections of workers' rights and immigrant rights — and believes that comprehensive immigration
reform is key to creating a sustainable economy with fair working conditions that respect workers' dignity. This means
creating an inclusive and attainable path to citizenship and working toward the other tenets put forward by the United
Workers Congress. Jacobson says, "As people of faith, we're calling for an immigration reform bill that upholds justice,
equity, and compassion by ensuring sustainable jobs with living wages for all."
Want to know more about the work of UUSC? Talk to your Live Oak UUSC representatives, Tim Buckley and Larry Smith.
Page 8 Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Church Newsletter July 2013

Congregational Life
Film Showing at First UU about
Unitarian Heroes during WWII
Thursday, July 11, 2013 @ 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Two Who Dared: The Sharps’ War is the never-beforetold
American, World War II and Holocaust story of
Waitstill Sharp, a Unitarian minister, and Martha
Sharp, a trained social worker, who, in February 1939,
boldly committed to a life-threatening mission in
Europe to assist refugees.
There will be a discussion following the film. We may
consider the broader theme suggested by this film
such as the idea of Professor Irwin Straub of the
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, who believes
that goodness, like evil, begins with many small steps.
He argues that “people become brave by doing brave
acts. People become compassionate by doing compassionate
acts. People become good citizens by engaging
in acts of good citizenship.” Waitsill and Martha Sharp
are the founders of UUSC.
All are welcome. Donations will be accepted.
Babysitting will be available.
KidsActing and Abrakadoodle will be back at Live Oak this summer! Take a look at their websites to see
the class offerings:
KidsActing - http://www.kidsactingstudio.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=176&Itemid=203
Abrakadoodle - http://www.abrakadoodle.com/tx03/
CURIOUS EINSTEIN Kids will become little geniuses over the course of a week as they explore computers
math, science, and creative writing. And it wouldn't be camp without play time. Ages 8-12. June 3-Aug. 12. Live Oak
Unitarian Universalist Church, 3315 El Salido Pkwy, Cedar Park, 512/808-0103; 3315 El Salido Pkwy, Cedar Park,
$300. www.curiouseinstein.com
Page 9 Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Church Newsletter July 2013

Card Making “Play-shop” August 31st
On the occasion of my 62 nd birthday I asked Diane Stepakov-Fay to teach me (and other interested souls) the fine
art of greeting card making. We have set the date for the Saturday after my birthday, August 31, 1 to 4 pm, at the
church. I will bring the birthday cake and drinks.
If you think this would be fun and would like to join us, we are taking names and numbers during July so we can
arrange for space and supplies. Children 10 and older are welcome. If you need childcare please let me know when you
respond. Email me at minister@liveoakuu.org
This will round off a summer of indulgence in creative play for your Interim Minister and I am happy to share it
with you!
Rev. Linda
History Project
Saturday, July 20 th 1 to 3 pm
The Interim Transition Team invites you to join other long time members in a gathering in of Live Oak historical
documents and information. Our long term goal is to tell the story of the birth and development of the congregation
so that no matter when a member joined they have a sense of the original purpose and also the quirky ways in
which this congregation developed.
We will celebrate this on Sunday, November 3.
The job of those who are coming together this summer is to
*collect photos from each era,
*identify members who joined in each era, and
*draw timelines of Ministers, Directors of Religious Education, Music Director, Church Administrators, and
“Board” Presidents (as well as members for each year).
We will provide basic information for twelve different eras of Live Oak history and a mock-up of a poster for each
one. We need your memories, photos, artifacts, artistry and conversation with one another to help this process be
successful.
If you want more information talk to any one of us
Kathi Lunny learnspirit@yahoo.com
Larry Smith larry.smith46@yahoo.com
Brian Winkelmann bcwinkelmann@gmail.com
(Katherine Enyart had to leave to work with the Ministerial Search Committee.)
Page 10 Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Church Newsletter July 2013

Volunteers Needed to Coordinate
Second Sunday Lunches
The Second Sunday Lunch Program needs
new coordinators as Grace Glenn will not be
coordinating that program in the coming
year. Grace will be moving on to other
church responsibilities.
We are hoping that in the coming year the
coordinator job will be shared by two or
more persons. It is not complicated to run
the program and Grace will train and support
the new coordinators. It takes an average
of about four hours per month to coordinate
the Lunch Program. This would be a
great activity for two friends to share. So
find a friend or a sweetheart to be your
partner in running a great church program.
For questions or to volunteer:
graceglenn787@gmail.com.
Don’t Miss the Fun!
Women’s Potluck Ingathering
August 14 th at 6 PM
The women of Live Oak have an annual event at
which they close out the summer and make plans
for the coming new church year. We begin the
evening enjoying a delicious potluck supper and
catching up with what friends have been doing for
the summer. We look forward to the new church
year by listening to a presentation about the Chalice
Circles, sharing groups, and interest groups that
will be available in the coming year. There is an opportunity
to join the groups of your choice. The
highlight of the evening is a ritual that celebrates
ourselves, our connection with others, and our
church community. It is good fun. Don’t miss out.
This is a great opportunity to make get to know
some women that you may not have had an opportunity
to meet. You never know, you might make a
new friend. So do attend. Bring your fun self and a
potluck dish.
This joyous event will take place on Wednesday,
August 14 th in the Fellowship Hall. We will start
gathering, visiting, and eating about 6 PM. If you
are coming from work and cannot arrive until later,
that is okay since the programming will not start
until about 6:45.
Any questions? Contact graceglenn787@gmail.com.
The Sunday Lunch Bunch
The Sunday Lunch Bunch (open to everyone) has picked 3 kid-friendly restaurants that will accommodate large
groups.
1st Sunday - Waterloo Ice House - 14900 Avery Ranch Boulevard Austin
2nd Sunday - Saccone's Pizza and Subs - 11416 FM 620 North
3rd Sunday - Tino's Greek Cafe - 13450 Research Boulevard #237 Austin
4th Sunday - Fuddruckers - 11023 Pecan Park Boulevard, Cedar Park
If you want to join the group sign up in the Fellowship Hall for that Sunday’s event. There are maps from the
church available on the sign up easel. On Sundays that we have Town Hall or Congregational meetings, we will not
go to the designated restaurant.
The first person who arrives at the restaurant will tell the hostess the size of the group. For more information you
can contact Mary Hengstebeck (mary.hengstebeck@gmail.com/ 983 7009), Clint Miller
(clint.miller1@gmail.com /919-9264) or Alyssa Goss (alyssalgoss@gmail.com /415-8627).
Mary Hengstebeck | 512 260 7768 (home) | 512 983 7009 (cell)
Page 11 Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Church Newsletter July 2013

Thursday Live Oak Zen
The Live Oak Zen Meditation Group meets in Room 109 weekly on Thursday
evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. Meetings consist of two 20 minute periods of
meditation (sitting on a cushion or in a chair) separated by 5 minutes of
walking meditation, followed by a Zen reading and discussion. These are open
sittings so that you can also come late or leave early. Practice guidelines and a
description of how to meditate are on the website.
One topic of discussion: Zen Master, Thich Nhat Hanh on Rebirth
At first, we might think of reincarnation as a soul entering a body. The body is seen as impermanent and the soul as
permanent, and when we get rid of one body, we re-enter another. You might be surprised to know that people in
Buddhist Asia are not fond of reincarnation. They want the circle of birth and death to end because they know it
represents suffering without end.
The Buddha taught that a so-called "person" is really just five elements (skandhas) that come together for a limited
period of time: our body, feelings, perceptions, mental states and consciousness. These five elements are, in fact,
changing all the time. Not a single element remains the same for two consecutive moments.
Not only is our body impermanent, but our so-called soul is also impermanent. It, too, is comprised only of elements like
feelings, perceptions, mental states, and consciousness. When the idea of an immortal soul is replaced, our
understanding of reincarnation gets closer to the truth.
But if we observe the things around us, we find that nothing comes from nothing. Before its so-called birth, the flower
already existed in other forms -- clouds, sunshine, seeds, soil, and many other elements. Rather than birth and rebirth, it
is more accurate to say "manifestation" (vijñapti) and "remanifestation." The so-called birthday of the flower is really a
day of its remanifestation. It has already been here in other forms, and now it has made an effort to remanifest.
Manifestation means its constituents have always been here in some form, and now, since conditions are sufficient, it is
capable of manifesting itself as a flower. When things have manifested, we commonly say they are born, but in fact, they
are not. When conditions are no longer sufficient and the flower ceases to manifest, we say the flower has died, but that
is not correct either. Its constituents have merely transformed themselves into other elements, like compost and soul.
-Zen Master, Thich Nhat Hanh, Living Buddha, Living Christ (New York: Riverhead Books, 1995), pp 133-135
So, come join us Thursday evening.
For more information, contact: John Daniewicz at: layover3@att.net.
UU Musicians Network Annual Conference
July 24-28, 2013
First Unitarian Church of Dallas, TX
The UU Musicians Network conference is not just for Music
Directors (or angels)! We offer five days of inspirational
music-making, vibrant worship, invaluable resources for your
music program and harmonious fellowship for anyone who
supports the ministry of music in our beloved UU community.
Attendees include church music staff, clergy, choir members, UU
troubadours, Music Committee members. There is still time to
register. For more details: wwwuumn.org.
Rebecca Maze and Susan Meitz will be attending the conference
this year. This will be the 4 th time for Rebecca, and the 1 st time
for Susan. We would love more from Live Oak to join us!
Page 12 Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Church Newsletter July 2013

The fall campout is set for the
weekend of Nov. 8-10, 2013 at Lockhart State Park
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/lockhart/
map, about an hour's drive from the church, south of
Austin. The park has hiking, fishing, and a 9-hole golf
course. There are just 20 campsites in the park -- half
with just water and electricity, and half with the
addition of sewer hookups. You can make reservations
online at http://texas.reserveworld.com/Home.aspx?
SL=Y
So far we have 12 families/individuals/couples going on
the campout! Most are sharing sites, but there are 2
who have room in their sites for another family/
individual/couple to share with them. Let me know if
you want one of those spots! I just checked availability
and there are no more sites without sewer hookups
available, but it looks like you can still reserve a site with
sewer hookup even if you don't need the hookup. There
are 7 of those sites left as I write this and they cost $21
per night instead of $18.
Our campouts are very casual, with everyone doing their
own thing whether it's hiking, birdwatching, nature
photography, fishing, or just sitting around chatting. We
traditionally have a potluck dinner on Saturday evening
and even if you don't want to camp you are
welcome to come for the day and stay for the potluck!
Afterwards we'll have a campfire, music (guitars and
other instruments extremely welcome; I think we're
going to at least have a ukelele!) and s'mores!
We are delighted that we will be seeing so many new
faces at the campout, including quite a few children! If
you've never camped or it's been a long time and
you're interested, there are many experienced
campers who would be happy to help you plan
your campout!
Please consider joining us in November -- early
November is usually great camping weather.
Questions? Email Jennifer Swan
at jmkswan@gmail.com or give me a call, I'm in the
church directory.
NEW HIKING GROUP FORMED
The Live Oak Hiking Group's
Mission: To explore some of
the unpaved hiking trails in the
Austin area. Starting again in
the Fall, hikers will meet every
Thursday morning at 8:30am,
usually at the Church in order
to carpool to a trail head. The
hikes are 3-5 miles on unpaved
trails, often on rough terrain
with climbs and descents. The goal is to be back by
1pm. Please consider joining us. It is recommended
that you bring adequate clothing, snacks, water and be
ready to negotiate rough hilly terrains. Contact Tim
Buckley or Nancy Decker, 255-5603 if you are
interested in joining us or have questions.
A GREAT SUMMER CAMP EXPERIENCE FOR U.U. CHILDREN AND YOUTH
At our very own U-Bar-U Camp and Retreat Center
Meet new friends from other UU Churches in our District and live our Unitarian Universalist values in community. Children
and Youth who have attended U-Bar-U Summer Camps come back reporting a wonderful camp experience and
can’t wait to attend the next year.
Registration for the 2013 UBarU Summer Camps is now available ONLINE! These camps provide an opportunity for fun
and friendship in a UU setting for children and youth from 3rd grade to recent graduates from high school. A week at
UBarU camp includes swimming in our aquifer-fed swimming tank, hiking, teambuilding fun on a Low-Ropes
course, learning about Unitarian Universalism, and plenty of time to make new friends and reconnect with old friends.
Space is limited, so register early! For more information, including information on Scholarships and to register visit the
website: http://www.ubaru.org/home/News/YouthCampNews/tabid/1434/Default.aspx
Dates Age Category Age as of Sept 1, 2013
June 30 - July 6 Primary 8 – 11 yrs. old (rising 3-6 grade)
July 7-13 Junior 12 - 14 yrs. old (rising 7-9 grade)
July 14–20
Senior
14 – 18 yrs. old, 19 if just graduated from high
school (rising 9 – 12 grade)
Page 13 Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Church Newsletter July 2013

Women Together
Looking for friendship, support and great discussions?
Come meet with us on the first Thursday of each
month from 6:30 to 8:30 in Room 103. This just might
be the group you have been looking for! Facilitated by
Mary Scheffler
512-635-2565, or ag36@att.net
WISDOM CIRCLE
If you are retired, this group is tailor-made for you. We
meet on the third Tuesday of each month from 1:30 to
3:30 at the church in Room 103 to share what is going
on in our lives and to discuss topics relevant to our age
group. Come join us!
BOOKWORMS
meets in the evening
on the 3rd Wednesday
of each month at 7:15-
9:00pm. The next
meeting is July 17th.
Diane selected the
book The End of Your
Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe. Will talks about his
mother and their relationship as she is dying of cancer.
There will be no meeting in August.
For September 18th, Hella has selected the novel The
Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery. The audio
recording of this French story would be a special
treat. To receive emails about the meetings and the
books, send an email to:
liveoakuu-bookworms-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Facilitated by Mary Scheffler 512-635 2565,
ag36@att.net
Dream Group Open to New Members
The LOUU Dream Group welcomes new members who
are interested in sharing and exploring the meaning of
dreams. We meet on the first Tuesday of every month
in Room 103 at LOUU Church from 7 to 9 p.m. Our
format is the “If it were my dream” format, based on
Jeremy Taylor’s The Wisdom of Your Dreams. If you are
interested and/or have questions, please contact Sandy
Prins, 512-623-0125 or prinssandy39@me.com.
Parents of Young Children
Chalice Circle
Parenting is challenging. We know.
The Parents of Young Children Chalice Circle provides
an opportunity to spend time with grown-ups and discuss
issues that are important to us. We don't judge,
just build friendships and support each other and our
church. If you have kids elementary school-aged or
younger (yes even babies), please join us.
We meet on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month
from 7-8:30 in Room 208. Childcare is available by
RSVP. For more information or to RSVP please contact
Jen Carroll at
jencarrolltx@gmail.com or 512.736.1281.
Page 14 Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Church Newsletter July 2013

Administration & Operations
Newsletter News:
Live Oak will be moving to a weekly e-newsletter
beginning in August. This is the last monthly newsletter
to be published.
The new weekly e-newsletter will take the place of the
monthly newsletter, the weekly “This Week” email, and
the Yahoo Announce group. A version of it will also take
the place of the yellow Announcement page on Sundays.
Here are the FAQs:
How will I receive it? If you are in the current directory
or have joined Live Oak since it was published (March
2013), you will automatically be added to the email list.
Otherwise, you will need to opt-in. Instructions will be
sent on how to do this.
Will I be able to opt-out? There will be an unsubscribe option at the bottom of each email.
How do I submit something? Send your submission to Diane Stepakof-Fay at administrator@liveoakuu.org. The
deadline is midnight on Wednesday each week.
What kinds of things can I submit? You can submit any kind of announcement or photo. Lengthy articles may be
shortened with a link to given to find the whole story on the website.
When will the e-newsletter be sent out? The plan is for every Thursday. The first few may come out on Fridays as they
may take additional time to set-up.
When will I receive the first one? The target date for the first issue is August 8 th .
I thank you in advance for your patience as this new program is rolled out. We are excited to move to this new way of
providing current, relevant information in a very timely manner.
-Diane Stepakof-Fay, Administrator
Thank you to Jeannie Wiggermann
As we transition from a monthly newsletter to a weekly newsletter format, the Communications Committee
and Executive Team would like to thank Jeannie Wiggermann for her service as newsletter editor this past year.
She accomplished this each month despite the fact that she works in Houston during the week.
Jeannie brought the newsletter into the hands of newcomers and long timers alike as she provided printed
copies for Sunday distribution. She brought her own creativity to the job of editor. She did this all with grace and
punctuality.
Thank you Jeannie!
Page 15 Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Church Newsletter July 2013

Stewardship Event by Mark Anderson
Rob Sartin and I started talking about the 2014 Stewardship Event last Fall when we were
working on the 2013 drive. We were looking for something that would bring in the vast majority
of the pledges in a short time with a minimum of volunteer labor, and would excite the
members of the church. We did not feel that an event at the church would be special enough
to get the level of participation that we hope to have, and if it did there was nowhere to do
food and a presentation without losing participation between the two events. I presented the
idea to multiple groups, including the policy committee, stewardship committee, and finance
committee over the Winter. The stewardship committee began meeting and planning in
March and investigated numerous venues and ideas.
Many of the folks involved think of this event as an experiment, and we believe that similar
events have worked well elsewhere. Recently, as we worried that we would not be able to do
the event that we envisioned, generous members of the congregation who believe that this is
a worthwhile experiment stepped forward and expressed a desire to contribute money above
and beyond their pledges in order to fund this event. Plans for a Sunday morning service to be held and catered at a local
hotel were presented to the Policy Committee at their June meeting, at which time concerns were expressed about the
budget of the event and the funding. I had a conversation with members of the board on June 23rd, presenting what I've
said here and more. Members of the board and the Stewardship Committee are now working on scheduling a town hall
meeting where I can more fully express the history of the idea and address any remaining concerns.
MINISTERIAL SEARCH COMMITTEE (MSC) ACTIVITY:
Your MSC has been already very busy with weekly committee meetings getting ready to go full speed in search of our/your
settled minister for the future. We have completed preliminary tasks of setting procedures and guidelines as stated in the
Settlement Handbook for Ministers and Congregations by the transitions Office of UUA and other normal office procedures
required to run an effective project.
Last week The Committee met with Rev. Mark W.Christian, Ministerial Settlement Representative for consultation, understanding
and instructions on the process. Among many technical aspects of the process, the important role of the Church
Congregation was emphasized. MSC has the responsibility to understand the needs and the vision of the Congregation for
the future of the Church. We need your opinions, suggestions and input.
We will be offering various opportunities for church members to discuss and express their concerns and valuable suggestions
and we encourage you to attend such gatherings. Only YOU can tell us what you want in your minister and give MSC
the necessary direction. We also invite you to speak with any of the MSC members one on one if you prefer. MSC members
will be glad to visit with you.
Next on our agenda is an eight hour Working Retreat. We will be meeting on Saturday June 22 in Leander from 9:30 a.m. to
6:30 p.m. The basic purpose of the retreat is to provide the team members an opportunity to better understand and know
each other, thus to develop Team Trust and a Great Team. We will tell you more about (how it went) in the next news release.
Stay tuned!
Submitted by
Niranjan Sharma for MSC
Help Live Oak when you shop. If you shop at amazon.com, just access it through the Live Oak web
site and a percentage of what you spend will automatically be deposited into Live Oak's account. Enter
www.liveoakuu.org, click on Members and select “Raise Money for Live Oak”; then click on the rectangular box that
says “In Association with Amazon.com”. Everything after that is the same as if you went directly to Amazon.com to
shop. You can also link a Randall's remarkable card so that it benefits Live Oak and you can shop at Freytag's Florist by
taking the same route as Amazon.
In 2012 these simple steps provided Live Oak with almost $1200 of income!
Page 16 Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Church Newsletter July 2013

These email lists are available for people to send and receive messages
and announcements of interest to the Live Oak community.
You can subscribe yourself to any of the lists by sending a blank
email to the corresponding address below. You will need to copy
the address and paste it into your email program.
Announcements and News:
liveoakuu-announce-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Receive the Newsletter in PDF Format:
liveoakuu-newsletter-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Chat (coffee hour discussions in cyberspace):
liveoakuu-chat-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Church Business:
liveoakuu-business-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Live Oak Bookworms:
liveoakuu-bookworms-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Live Oak Choir:
LOUU_Choir-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Live Oak Community Outreach:
LiveOakCommunityOutreach-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Live Oak UU Christian:
LiveOakUUChristian-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Live Oak Joys and Concerns
liveoakuu-joys-concerns-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Live Oak Labyrinth Announcements:
louu-labyrinth-announce2-subscribe@yahoo.groups.com
Live Oak Men’s Groups:
Liveoakmen-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Live Oak Music Committee:
LOUUMusicCommittee-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Live Oak UU Parents:
LiveOakUUParents-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Live Oak Women’s Sharing Group:
LOUU-Women-Sharing-subscribe@yahoo.com
Women of Live Oak Announcements:
womens-group-announcements-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
All Austin Interweave:
AllAustinInterweave-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Pastoral care-Rev. Linda Bunyard
minister@liveoakuu.org.
Questions or problems? Contact the Electronic Communications
Committee at ecc@liveoakuu.org.
Lost & Found
The Lost & Found is located in room 103, behind the door.
SCHEDULING
Help keep the church working smoothly by scheduling
all your in-building meetings and events with the
Live Oak UU Administrator-Diane Stepakof-Fay
administrator@liveoakuu.org. 512-219-9008
Mon 8:30am - 1:00pm
Tues 8:30am - 1:00pm
Wed 12:00pm - 4:00pm
Thur 8:30am - 2:00pm
Live Oak UU Church
3315 El Salido Parkway
Cedar Park, Texas 78613
Current information about Committee and Teams is
located on the church website.
Please visit www.liveoakuu.com and look at the "Get
Involved" menu.
Connect on Facebook!
Become a Facebook Fan of Live Oak
Unitarian Universalist Church in 3
easy steps.
Step 1): Log into www.facebook.com
Step 2): Search for Live Oak Unitarian Universalist
Church in the Facebook search menu.
STAFF
Rev. Linda Bunyard, minister@liveoakuu.org
Rebecca Maze, Music Director
219-9008; music@liveoakuu.org
Patty Bissar, Director of Religious Education
219-9008, ext. 17; DRE@liveoakuu.org
Diane Stepakof-Fay, Administrator
219-9008; administrator@liveoakuu.org
Page 17 Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Church Newsletter July 2013