OakLeafNewsletter_Ap..

The Oak Leaf
NEWSLETTER OF THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF OAK CLIFF
EARLY APRIL 2008
SEE THE CALENDAR
FOR MORE
ng
i
m
o
c
Up nts
Eve
Celebrating the
7th Principle
On March 30, Kathy
Moser returned to
lead us in a service on
responsible stewardship and partnership
with our planet.
See page 4 for more.
APRIL 1
Photo by Rex Fountain
FIRST TUESDAY SOCIAL
ACTION FILM • 7pm
Sunday Services – 10 am
APRIL 6 – Let the Sky and Water Teem with Living Creatures –
The 5th day of creation – Rev. Mark Walz
APRIL 13 – Let the Land Produce Living Creatures...and Let us
Make a Man – The 6th day of creation (Part I) – Rev. Mark Walz
APRIL 20 – Earth and Justice Sunday – Ministry for Social Justice and
Lay leaders will present the service. All are invited to gather later Sunday afternoon at our booth at the Earth Day festival at Lake Cliff Park.
April 27 – And God Created Woman - The Last, Best Gift to the
World – The 6th day of creation (Part II) – Rev. Marcia Shannon
Welcome Visitors!
We hope you find our services, programs, and groups stimulating
and interesting. We extend a warm invitation to you to come often,
and hope you will help us get acquainted with you!
Please feel free to contact our minister, Mark Walz at
(214) 337-2429 with any questions you may have.
The Oak Leaf • Early April 2008
Emmy Award-winner Danny
Schechter's In Debt We Trust explores the relationship between
Congress and the credit complex,
and how it is having an enormously negative impact on the
country's financial health.
APRIL 15
UUCOC BOARD MEETING
Tuesday, April 15 at 7pm. Contact
Sandy McFeeley at (214) 941-9729
or oakcliffsandy@yahoo.com for
any agenda issues.
_______________________________
COORDINATING COUNCIL
Scheduling is difficult. Time is
precious. Watch for notice of a
virtual CC meeting.
APRIL 26
LABYRINTH WALK COFFEE
HOUSE • 8pm
HEADLINER: Reflecting Pool
OPENER: Marilyn Duncan
See page 6 for details!
Mark’s Trail
Please join me
on the journey…
In last November’s newsletter I shared with you
an idea that is catching on with a great number of
organizations, called micro-lending. A Bangladeshi
economist named Muhammed Yunus and his Grameen Bank won the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize by pioneering a new category of banking known as microcredit (or micro-lending), which grants small loans to
poor people who have no collateral and who do not
qualify for conventional bank loans. In presenting
their award, the Nobel committee recognized that
lasting peace cannot be achieved unless large population groups find ways to break out of poverty.
Yunus’ strategy was to do the opposite of what
other banks were doing. If the others “lent to the rich,
I lent to the poor. If they lent to men, I lent to women.
If they required collateral, my loans were collateral
free. If they required a lot of paperwork, my loans
were illiterate friendly. If you had to go to their bank,
my bank went to their village.” These aren’t gifts. But
he found that by caring about these people and giving them a fair deal, they are able to put their motivation, skills, and business savvy to work. His repayment percentage on his market rate loans is a
stunning 98%. The pressure on borrowers to honor
the re-payment of their debts comes from neighbors
and friends. They realize that additional loans will be
forthcoming only if they all honor the terms of the
ones they have already received. For most this is their
only shot at survival. And 96% of his clients are
women. The average loan was for only $200 American dollars.
developing countries. And Kiva is even matching
American lenders to the poor in Iraq.
Through Kiva you get to choose whom you
lend to. It could be a fruit stand or a goat-herding
business. It could be somewhere in Eastern
Europe or a village in Africa or Central America.
They allow lenders to ask questions and the partners to report back. Most hear the details of what
happens through their website.
We have been a very busy church since I last
wrote about this, but our Ministry of Social Justice
team has been considering additional possibilities
for our involvement in micro-lending. One scenario
is to use the funds we have been collecting in our
building fund, and to engage our children to create
the team that manages our participation.
Rather than investing the funds in a savings or
money market account with its usual small return,
what would it mean to invest our building fund in
a project that built up the lives of others? What
would it mean for our church children to make the
decisions of who to lend to, and to create relationships with the families receiving our loans? What
would it mean for those of us who chose to mentor
our young congregants in this venture?
Although these funds will eventually end up in
bricks and mortar here on Kiest Boulevard, what
would it mean to create a model at the Unitarian
Universalist Church of Oak Cliff where we match
our stated faith principles to our building fund, and
build something wonderful on our way to building
a wonderful church?
Please let me hear from each of you.
See you Sunday,
Mark
And there are groups like the non-profit Kiva.org
that operate a people-to-people model, allowing individuals and groups to make loans as small as $60 to
borrowers seeking to establish small businesses in
The Oak Leaf • Early April 2008
Page 2
Thoughts from the President
Sandy McFeeley
So where does
the money go?
Spring is arriving in little bursts of green, in the haunting fuchsias of
redbuds in still-gray woods, and in big bursts of blue-purple flowers in
front of my house. Signs of hope and growth are all around us. In adult
RE, for example, two Credo groups have nearly completed their work
and there are serious murmurs of interest in continuing this kind of
small group ministry. A class for New UUs (and those of us still catching up) will soon begin. Religious education for our youngsters is also
growing and stretching. We keep some old traditions like hunting
Easter eggs and start new ones with planting wildflowers. Our recent
focus on how we and our planet came to be in the first place, has
generated new creation stories, drama, and beautiful works of art, and
the wonderful glitter communion in mid-March. I really like the idea
that my ancestors were stardust.
In the May Oak Leaf,
our incredible Treasurer,
Kimberlyn Crowe, will
have a summary of our
financial situation: income, expenses,
wiggle room, and how
we're doing with
both the endowment
fund loan and the
NTAUUS grant. Stay tuned!
We are continuing to reach out to our Oak Cliff and south Dallas
neighbors. The First Tuesday Films draw larger audiences each month,
including many young people to the recent showing of China Blue,
which documented the human suffering that goes into our chic jeans
and other clothing from Asian countries. Other peace and justice initiatives are progressing well, with Mark leading crowds in prayer and attending planning meetings. On April 20th, Earth Day and Justice Sunday, you will find our church members at a UUCOC booth in Lake Cliff
Park (Zang & Colorado in North Oak Cliff), where we’ll be letting the
World South of the Trinity know we’re here. And more plans are in the
works.
We are bursting with ideas, hope, and energy. Our church coffers,
however, are not bursting with cash. Member pledges, supplemented
by rental receipts, are keeping up with the everyday operating costs –
but just barely. And summer lies ahead. Some of our ambitious plans
and programs for this year may succumb to an attack of the vapors,
unless there’s a major whiff of smelling salts to revive them.
Why is this happening? For all the usual reasons: Some members
have left us permanently. Others have moved elsewhere in the country.
Some have stopped pledging; and some pledge, but no longer give.
And what can be done about it? Sure, we can be extra careful with the
air conditioning and the dripping faucet. And of course we can make
and fulfill our own financial pledges. And then we can . . . . How will
you fill in the blank?
The Oak Leaf • Early April 2008
Oak Leaf
Q&A
Why has the format of the
newsletter changed
AGAIN?
In the world of digital communications, it’s all about the
right tool for the right job.
Remember the story of
Goldilocks and the Three
Computer Programs? Heroic
Gay Roberts had a program
that was just too small. Willing
volunteer Rex Fountain has a
program that's way too big.
Kathy has a program that's
just right. So she gets to do
the newsletter this month!
Please let the editors know
what you like and what you
don’t like, and be prepared for
even more changes next
newsletter. :-)
Page 3
Ripe, juicy tomatoes!
Is anyone interested in learning more about the possibility of a UUCOC
Community Garden? It sounds like a huge undertaking, but we have been
approached by a local group that has already done much of the groundwork. Community Gardens of Oak Cliff is a group of gardening enthusiasts wishing to partner with organizations such as schools and churches
to establish organic community gardens. They would provide advice (from
how to lay out the plots to how to manage the garden), we would provide
the land, and after preparing the garden together, each participant would
maintain their individual plot. Many community gardens donate their excess produce to local food banks.
Vivian Walz and Kathy Grey would like to schedule an informational meeting if enough people are interested. So let us know! Sign up on the sheet
at church, or call or email either of us: vivwalz@aol.com (214) 942-6207 or
kmgrey2@tx.rr.com (972) 660-2443
Celebrating the 7th Principle with Kathy Moser
We were honored to have award-winning songwriter and environmental
activist Kathy Moser return to our pulpit on March 30. Using music, essays
and stories, she celebrates the wonder and beauty and wisdom of the natural world, and encourages people to move towards a more environmentally
conscious lifestyle. At the forum following the service, Kathy shared her
enthusiasm about sustainable building materials and living “off the grid.”
The slide shown in the photo on the first page is of a straw-bale cafe/office/
residence in the mountains of NC. (A recording of the service will be available on our website.)
Kathy tours nationally and is in Texas finishing her 5th CD. She will be back
in October, and will be performing for us at the Labyrinth Walk Coffee
House. (Good job, booking agent Gene!)
More info on Kathy and her projects is available at KathyMoser.com.
The Children’s RE
classes recently
decorated three
recycling boxes
(for toner, ink, and
cell phones), as
well as the Building Fund Box.
Rex Fountain said
of this box: “It just
screams ‘Take my
picture!’”
The Oak Leaf • Early April 2008
ies
t
i
v
i
t
c
oing A
Ong
Covenant and Activity
Groups are a great way to
meet people who share a
common interest.
Women's Birthday Dinner
Out - Second Tuesday of
every month at 7pm. Contact
Mary K. at (214) 335-0346.
Out to Lunch Bunch
Everyone is invited to gather
for lunch at a local restaurant
following Sunday service.
Games Night - Second
Saturday of each month.
6:30pm, Barbara Kalley’s
home. Bring healthy snacks.
RSVP to (972) 572-7445.
Dollar Llama Investment
Group - Meets last Saturday
of the month from 10am to
noon in Hope. Open to all.
A Course in Miracles Meets every Monday at
7:30pm in the Faith lobby.
Contact Dee Lewis at (214)
337-3946 for information.
UUCOC Singers - All are
welcome. Practice is every
other Thursday. For more information, call Glorian at
(214) 372-2892.
Social Action/Social
Justice Ministry - Meets
2nd Tuesday of the month
after RE.
Free Pranayama Yoga
Class – Saturdays 8-8:45am
in Charity South. Info at
cheryl@ombalance.com
Page 4
Building old fashioned neighborhoods in a
brand new way
A little over one year ago,
NTAUUS (North Texas Association of
Unitarian Universalist Societies) Raible Place Trust began looking into
the wave of the future in housing
communities. They discovered the
Cohousing Principle that was started
in Denmark many years ago.
Cohousing basically is a neighborhood designed and built by those
who will be living in that neighborhood. The residents work together in
the initial planning, site selection,
development and construction of
their own homes. This cooperation between neighbors builds a very strong
community where all of the neighbors
know and respect each other.
NTAUUS selected Janet Martinique to investigate and initiate a cohousing project in the North Texas
area. She worked with an outside
consultant and visited numerous cohousing neighborhoods around the
country. She is now President of our
group. Over the past year, this initiative has resulted in the creation of
our Wildflower Village.
separate guest room to be heated,
cooled and cleaned all year, when it
will be used for only a few days.
This practice of sharing facilities is
used throughout the community for
greater energy efficiency and affordability. The ultimate design of the homes
will be developed by our design committee headed by Connie Fountain,
working together with our selected
architect, Gary Olp.
Wildflower Village presently has
a contract pending on a beautiful,
quiet residential area in Duncanville.
Claudia Klipp, who chairs our property committee, found the property;
and we loved its easily accessible
shopping and the medical facilities
within walking distance. Jim Klipp,
working with the city’s Planning and
Zoning Department, will lead the effort to have the area rezoned for our
own unique residential needs.
Wildflower Village will consist of
an initial 24 homes, a common house
and a swimming pool. The common
house will be a shared facility with
kitchen, large multi-purpose room,
craft room, home theater and two
guest rooms.
We are excited that ours will be
one of the first elder, green cohousing neighborhoods to be built in
Texas. Elder cohousing is built for
couples or individuals age fifty and
above, who are interested in aging in
place in a totally sustainable neighborhood that will protect and preserve our environment. The homes
will be built in a single-story, elderfriendly style surrounding a park-like
open area.
With shared guest rooms, the
resident homes can be smaller and
more energy efficient. This is because each house will not require a
We have chosen Anderson Sargent to construct our homes. It is a
local company that has been recognized many times over as one of the
leading builders of energy efficient
houses. The estimated heating and
cooling bill for a typical unit will be
less than thirty dollars a month.
NTAUUS’s Raible Place Trust will
follow through on their initial vision of
energy-efficient, affordable housing
for the next generations, by providing
a loan for acquiring the property.
Updates on our progress, as
well as numerous pictures from our
official photographer, Rex Fountain,
can be found on our newly designed
website wildflowervillage.org and in
future articles in this newsletter.
Our neighborhood group, which
now consists of eleven individuals,
meets twice each month on the first
and third Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the
Cedar Hill Chamber of Commerce
building in Cedar Hill. New people
are invited come early, at 1:30, to be
brought up to date on what we are
doing and what has already been
done. We also have one social
event each month. Our social calendar and meeting refreshments are
coordinated by Barbara Kalley.
Our group has attracted members from as far away as Nevada
and Austin, Texas. We even have an
observer who is writing a book on
elder housing. If you feel that this
may be something that you might be
interested in, please join us. In the
never-to-be-forgotten words of
Mister Rogers, “Won’t you be my
neighbor?”
Jim Klipp, Marketing Chair
New NTAUUS Rep
On the way to NTAUUS meetings in far-off Carrollton, Marjorie Flowers will have a new carpool pal, Marcia Shannon.
Our thanks and hugs go to Julie Culbertson, who recently resigned this post. We're counting on Marjorie and Marcia
not only to support NTAUUS in all its endeavors, but to solve all the world's problems on their drive to and from the
meetings. Thanks to all of you.
The Oak Leaf • Early April 2008
Page 5
Friends and Family at Labyrinth Our Newest Member
The newest member of UUCOC is
Walk Coffee House April 26
Bonnie Roberds. A few now-andagain visits many months ago turned
into regular Sunday morning
appearances—sometimes accompanied by Buck, her husband, or
Clay, one of her sons. And on the
last Sunday of March, even before
finishing a six-week Credo Group,
Bonnie signed the membership book.
She brings to us her thoughtful, reflective approach to life, and a wonderful
sense of humor. We are delighted to
welcome her to our church.
Jenni Mansfield Peal is no stranger to the Labyrinth Walk Coffee
House. Her character ballads and engaging songs won her
friends and fans as a solo folk-singer. Now, with her first original
ensemble, Reflecting Pool, she returns as chanteuse. Jennie is
joined by Bob “Zen Bubba” Williford on lead guitar and dobro;
Paul Marroquin on violin; and Mark Wilson on bass and mandolin.
Reflecting Pool will swing and sing to your mind's eye and your
heart's ear.
Opening for Reflecting Pool will be Marilyn Duncan, singer,
songwriter, Oak Cliff Dweller. Marilyn performed at our fall festival
a couple of years ago, and is a regular performer at the Cherry
Blossom Festival in Washington, DC.
April Birthdays
Remember, tickets are only $8 for UUCOC members. Doors open
at 7:30; show starts at 8pm.
3 – Randy Schoesler
5 –Barbara Bauke
6 –Tanja Evans
11 – Ian Grey
13 – Delphine Humphrey
13 – Louanne McGhee
16 – Julie Culbertson
19 – Kaij Spencer
21 – Sebastian Ulibarri
23 – Sherry Lewis
25 – Cheryl Johnson
25 – Kricket Percival
28 – Jim Monroe
See LabyrinthWalkCoffeeHouse.com for more information.
Calling the Feminine Spirit
On the last Sunday of April, Rev. Marcia Shannon is in the
pulpit, with the reflection “And God Created Woman –
The Last, Best Gift to Our World.” All UUCOC women
and girls are invited to participate. Contact Marcia Shannon (onewithriver44@yahoo.com) to plan your part in the
service and to offer your unique talent and viewpoint for
that day. 2008 Worship Service Attendance
Adults
60
54
48
53
56
54
52
42
36
43
38
30
Children
44
44
45
54
50
47
43
24
18
12
6
0
6
11
8
6
10
7
8
10
8
Jan 5 Jan 13 Jan 20 Jan 27 Feb 3 Feb 10 Feb 17 Feb 24 Mar 2
The Oak Leaf • Early April 2008
10
8
11
6
Mar 9 Mar 16 Mar 23 Mar 30
Page 6
Springtime Project:
Your Basic Life-Planning Documents
March 1 – April 30, 2008
Attorneys Sandra McFeeley and Roy DeLay are again offering a
package of basic life-planning documents. The service includes
initial consultation; preparation of draft documents; discussion
and revision, as needed; and a meeting for the formal signing.
Documents typically include:
• Simple will (not one structured mainly for tax planning)
• Medical power of attorney
• Directive to physicians (sometimes called a living will)
• Durable power of attorney
• Declaration of guardian.
Susan Ammons and Marjorie Flowers, our Notaries Extraordinaire, have generously offered to help with the signing formalities.
Three payment options:
Level 1: Normal rate of around $500 for the package.
Level 2: If your circumstances require: $25 per document.
Level 3: If your circumstances are limited: Discuss
privately with attorney.
ALL payments (except copying costs) go directly
to UUCOC!!!
ALL attorney discussions are in confidence. Feel free to call
either one of us.
Roy DeLay, III
(214) 750-9027
Do You
Sandra McFeeley
(214) 941-9729
?
What if UUCOC earned a penny every time you searched the
internet? Or if a percentage of every purchase you made online
went to support our church? Well, now it can. GoodSearch.com
is a Yahoo-powered search engine that our church is registered
with. It donates half its advertising revenue, about a penny per
search, to the charities its users designate. Over the past year or
so, UUCOC has received a small but steady stream of checks
from GoodSearch, as a result of users like you. Just go to
www.goodsearch.com and enter Unitarian Universalist Church
of Oak Cliff as the charity you want to support.
The Oak Leaf • Early April 2008
Attention UUCOC
Middle-Schoolers
An Invitation arrived today,
Wednesday, April 2, for our youth
ages 11-14 to participate in an
overnight weekend conference being held by First Jefferson UU
Church in Fort Worth. Tammy
Hayward, the church member organizing this event, also happens
to be a pediatrician whose passion
is working with middle school
youth. The details of the Invitation
are below:
What: Middle School Youth
Conference
When: April 12 - 13
Time: 8AM Sat. - 9:30AM Sun.
Who: Any youth ages 11-14 or in
grades 6-8
Where: First Jefferson Unitarian
Universalist Church, Fort Worth
Why: They have fun, meet new
friends, play games & participate in
social action (a service project involving the East Side Ministry)
If you are interested in attending,
please contact Marcia Shannon as
soon as possible. If three or more
of our young people are interested
in attending, an adult from UUCOC
will chaperone this trip. Deadline
for registering a group to attend
from UUCOC is April 6, 2008. The
adult chaperon will return youth to
UUCOC by 9:00 AM so they may
participate in play & music practice.
3rd Saturday Work Day
April 19 will be an informal work
day—just come on out if you have a
little time and energy to put into the
buildings or grounds. Contact Scott
at (214) 693-8882 if you want a
specific assignment!
Page 7
Adult Religious Education
A message from the DRE
Deepening
Marcia Shannon, M.Div., Director of Religious Education
As did UUCOC’s first Credo Group, the follow-up Credo Groups have proved equally successful in
fostering connections and caring within small groups of church members. The Credo Group structure
has provided an avenue for personal growth and spiritual development, which ultimately strengthens the
fabric of our community. Members of the current Credo Groups are moving towards closure of a meaningful time of connecting each week. As the groups draw to an end, participants will likely react differently. Some members will
not want to stop meeting as a Credo Group, as they have found a safe place to learn to love themselves
and one another. Some members will be ready for a break, in order to process and practice what they
have learned and experienced. Some members will have had issues emerge in the Credo Group that will
lead them to seek out professional guidance to continue the momentum of their journey. Still a number of
other participants will be searching for ways to continue to explore the mysteries of our world and our
spiritual paths in subsequent Religious Education Groups. There is no right or wrong way to respond to the closing of a group experience that has proved
meaningful. A sense of fulfillment and loss may both be present. To each participant and leader of the
Credo Groups, I would like to say, you have been courageous in making yourself vulnerable enough to
participate in a group learning to love one another and oneself.
In order to continue a process of building our connections to one another and to strengthen the overall fabric of our faith community, I would like to introduce a variety of ways we can continue to “deepen”
at UU Church of Oak Cliff. The following are options for Deepening Groups that would be open to all
members, in addition to Credo Group participants:
• Exploring sacred journeys, through journaling or the writing of spiritual memoirs
• Exploring the art of listening as a manifestation of love, through the practice of a variety of listening
and reflective techniques
• Exploring the inner self, through the path of guided meditation and reflection
• Exploring how to love yourself and your body through a focus on transforming ones body image,
utilizing art as a medium
• Exploring ones morphing faith as one learns how the UU Church transformed historically
I envision two or three Deepening Groups running concurrently during the Adult RE Hour. Two or
more of the Groups could meet on a week night at the church or elsewhere, if participants could commit
to a day, time and location. Each group would be made of up to six to eight persons and run for a three
month time period. The groups would be facilitated by Volunteer Leaders or Staff Members. Suggested
format: an opening reading, time for check-in and sharing, discussion or exploration of the topic, then a
time for feedback and a closing reading. Groups meeting during Adult RE time would last an hour.
Groups held in the evening or at an alternative location could run longer.
Please consider how you would like to continue your own process of deepening as an individual,
as a small group and as a faith community. I would like to schedule an orientation meeting soon to hear
your suggestions, entertain comments, and answer questions. I look forward to the next step in our
journey together.
The Oak Leaf • Early April 2008
Page 8
Children’s Religious Education
Continuing with themes related to the creation of the earth and all of its creatures
SPECIAL DRAMATIC PERFORMANCE:
Sunday, April 6
On April 13th Mark will talk about that special “day” of
creation when the land produced living creatures. As
part of the worship service, several of our children
will perform a short play with puppets, called
Menagerie of The Mind. 9:00–9:30am – Play practice
9:30-9:45am – Music practice
11:15am RE – Creation of Animals
We’ll use Mammals Who Morph, the third book in a
series by Jennifer Morgan. It’s an adaptable reading
that can be read by, or read to, all ages. Each
class’s discussion will be geared to the understanding and interests of those children.
Play practices are scheduled for Sundays before
church and one on Tuesday evening, April 8. The
script has gone out to all the parents, and we are
hoping for great participation. Please contact Marcia Shannon as soon as you can, with questions or
your child’s RSVP.
SPECIAL MUSICAL PERFORMANCE:
April 20th is Justice and Earth Day Sunday at UUCOC, with the service to be presented by the Social
Action Ministry and other lay leaders. The kids will
help Rachel Betzen perform a wonderful song
called The Children's Peace Song. This beautiful
music features voices and percussion, and all our
children are urged to be part of the presentation. Practices are scheduled for Sundays, April 6 & 13
after the play rehearsal, and on Tuesday April 8. Please note that at the first practice on Sunday,
April 6, we will discuss possible alternative dates
for the evening practices. Invitations and lyrics have
been sent to all the parents, who should contact
Marcia with questions and their child’s RSVP.
Tuesday, April 8
7:00-8:00pm – Play practice
8:00–8:30pm – Music practice
Saturday, April 12
10-11:30am – RE planning meeting – NEW TIME
Sunday, April 13
9:00–9:45am – Last play practice
10:00am – Presentation of Menagerie of the Mind
11:15am RE – Creation of Men
Each class will make a cardboard image of a boy or
a man, and then decorate it with symbols or images
of how men are special and unique. A great opportunity to talk about the uniquely masculine ways of
acting, thinking and communicating—and the ways
girls and boys are not so different after all.
Sunday, April 20
9:00–9:45am – Last music practice
10:00am – Performance of The Children’s Peace Song
11:15am RE – Justice Sunday & Earth Day
Discussion in each class of the Islamic people,
ideas, traditions, and religious beliefs.
Saturday, April 26
10-11:30am – RE planning meeting – NEW TIME
Sunday, April 27
Youth Group Leader Gay Roberts helps plant wildflower
seeds on Easter Sunday.
The Oak Leaf • Early April 2008
11:15am RE – Creation of Women
Each class will make a cardboard image of a girl or
woman and then decorate it with symbols or images
of how women are special and unique. A great opportunity to talk about the uniquely feminine ways of
acting, thinking and communicating—and the ways
girls and boys are not so different after all. Page 9
Unitarian Universalist
Church of Oak Cliff
3839 W. Kiest Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75233
Minister: Rev. Mark Walz
Office hours Wednesday 10am-5 pm or
call for an appointment
Office (214) 337-2429 • Cell: (214) 755-4315
Email: walzact2@aol.com
Director of Religious Education:
Marcia Shannon (214) 226-3662
UUCOC President:
Sandra McFeeley (214) 941-9729
Vice President:
Kathy Grey (972) 660-2443
Secretary:
Vivian Walz (214) 942-6207
Treasurer:
Kimberlyn Crowe (214) 339-0585
Trustees: Rex Fountain, Ed Stofko, Wilbur
Roberts, and Mathias Schmassmann
April Newsletter Editors:
Sandra McFeeley and Kathy Grey
Children’s Religious Education
(continued)
The second quarter of children’s RE is underway. Creative and gifted
volunteers are leading classes from April through the end of June.
Children (Ages 5-8) Roy DeLay & Emily Brock
Youth (Ages 9-12) Jim Wrightsman & Chris Snively
Teens (Ages 13-17) Kimberlyn Crowe & Stephen Betzen
NOW is the time we begin to recruit teachers for the 3rd Quarter of the
year. The volunteer position is a 13-week commitment to teach, mentor,
nurture and listen to the children of our church.
The adults best suited for this role are those who can:
• Attend church & RE regularly for 12 weeks
• Participate in two planning meetings per month with the DRE
• Participate in an Orientation Workshop the last week of June (date
not to conflict with General Assembly)
• Using materials provided by the DRE, creatively implement the
program themes and outlines for their particular age group
• Assist with preparation for special programs and/or a youth group
one evening per week.
If you think you might be interested or have any questions, please contact Marcia Shannon, DRE, at (214) 226-3662.
And look for the sign-up sheet on the Youth Bulletin Board. It could be
your most profitable quarter of the year!
The Oak Leaf • Early April 2008
Wanted: Young People
Looking for middle and high
school students interested in
forming a Youth Group at
UUCOC.
Qualifications:
• Desire to develop leadership
skills
• Willingness to have fun
together & plan social events
• Commitment to community
service
• Courage to engage youth from
other congregations
• Motivation to meet one evening during the week
Interested? Apply to Youth
Director, Marcia Shannon
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