SimpleGifts - All Souls Unitarian Church

SimpleGifts
All Souls Unitarian Church
Tulsa, Oklahoma
March/April/May 2016
Volume 15, Issue 5
Salvation,
Letting Go, Grace
Are Humanists
“Saved”?
Being a Muslim Ally
What is It and How to Be It
Education in Oklahoma
You Get What You Pay For
A Mix Tape to Move You
March/April/May 2016
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
A MESSAGE TO OUR READERS
A MESSAGE TO OUR READERS
Published monthly by:
All Souls Unitarian Church
2952 S. Peoria Ave.
Tulsa, OK 74114
allsoulschurch.org
Editorial Team
Exec. Dir. of Ministry
Rev. Barbara Prose
Design & Layout
Sheba Sanders
Copy Editors
Emily Hecker
Judy Jarvis
Contributors
Rev. Marlin Lavanhar
Rev. David Ruffin
Claudia Arthrell
Mykey Arthrell
Brooklyn Benway
Nattasha Bogdanova
Charlie & Martha Cantrell
Rodelio Contreras
Cindy Decker
Doug Fishback
Sarah Kennedy
Jennifer Powers
Knowlan Randza
Kate Starr
On the cover
Shutterstock
VISIT US ONLINE!
FACEBOOK
facebook.com/allsoulstulsa
TWITTER
twitter.com/allsoulstulsa
GOOGLE+
google.com/+allsoulsunitarian
YOUTUBE
youtube.com/allsoulsunitarian
LIVE STREAM
allsoulschurch.org/live
PODCAST
allsoulschurch.libsyn.com
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COVER STORY
Are Humanists “Saved”?
4
JOURNEYS
Letting Go of Gender
6
Grace & Peace
7
From Roy to Rogelio
8
Lent: Renunciation and Redemption
FAMILY
Why I Enjoy Volunteering
10
What Volunteering Means to Me
11
JUSTICE
Wake Up, Oklahoma!
12
The Education Crisis in Oklahoma
13
Being a Muslim Ally
AT A GLANCE
22
Letting Go & Transformation Through Energy Healing
16
Shambhala
17
REVIEWS
All Souls Mix Tape
18
An Invitation to Read
20
TRANSITIONS
23
A MESSAGE TO OUR READERS
Dear Readers,
We know the face of journalism is changing
all around us. We want our news immediately. We want it on our phones and tablets.
We want it downloaded and uploaded so
that even when we’re on the move – in cars,
trains, planes, and bicycles – we will know
what’s happening. We want to be in a dialogue, not receiving and reading a written
monologue. We love our favorite blogs and
follow them. And many of us still love to
hold a book, a newspaper, or a magazine in
our own two hands.
We’re less loyal to specific publications and
so we surf the web, scanning headlines,
seeking answers, searching for words and
images that meet our newest needs. We
develop online relationships with writers
and organizations, seeking inspiration daily
on our very portable screens. We post ques-
tions, track down sources, and choose
search engines, according to our
ever-changing and broad-ranging tastes
and interests.
Writers, photographers, and videographers
are becoming more independent too, identifying themselves by their subject and
style, rather than a particular paper or magazine. We expect to see short, challenging,
and inspiring videos. We want to connect
with, and stay connected to, new ideas,
positive trends, emerging philosophies,
and movements for justice.
All Souls is aware, accepting, and changing
with the times. Our online audience is
growing in numbers and reach. We have
viewers joining us every month from all
around the world. They are joining us from
Italy, India, Germany, China, South Korea,
Romania, Sweden, Australia and Canada.
Every month we have more than 500 live
stream viewers, 5,000 people listening to
our podcasts, and 6,000 Youtube viewers.
ALL SOULS NEW JOURNAL
So, this fall we will launch our new journal,
Beyond Belief. We will still be in print and
will add an online version with the same
name, BeyondBelief online. Our online
journal will be beautiful – with interactive
articles, comment sections, photos, videos,
and more.
Simple Gifts was created years ago to
explore our monthly themes, celebrate our
history, and keep our community connected. As our online viewing audience
grows and the ties that bind us to our friends
and supporters in the larger community
and beyond deepen, we have faith that
Beyond Belief will support our vision and
mission as we move forward together into
the mid 21st century.
Launching soon!
We are confident that our core values and
practices are resonant and relevant to the
spiritual challenges and opportunities people of all ages are facing today.
We want to share our good news with all
those who are thirsty for it.
We imagine a day not too far in the future
when our All Souls journal, with its new
name, Beyond Belief, will be in yoga studios, doctors’ offices, lobbies of local
non-profits, seminary libraries across the
country, and more.
We hope you enjoy this final issue of Simple
Gifts which explores the interrelated and
intersecting themes of Salvation, Letting Go
and Grace.
As always, we welcome your comments and
questions.
With Love Beyond Belief,
Rev. Barbara Prose
U.S. soldier Pfc. Janelle Zalkovsky provides security while other soldiers survey a newly constructed road in Ibriam Jaffes, Iraq in 2005. (Handout/Reuters)
March/April/May 2016
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FROM A MINISTER
Are
Humanists
“Saved”?
By Dr. Rev. Marlin Lavanhar
Photo by Magdalena Roeseler,
Creative Commons, flickr.com/magdalenaroeseler/
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Some people, who do not know much about All Souls,
assume this congregation has a humanist hour on Sundays,
called The Point, as a way of trying to “save” people who do
not believe in God. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Actually, I have discovered that since most Humanists do
not believe there is a God, or any other supernatural force
that is going to swoop down to earth to save us and make all
things right and just, Humanists tend to be very active in
serving others and the community. Many Humanists volunteer and support causes for social and environmental
justice because in a Humanist’s worldview, if human beings
do not work to repair the brokenness of the world, there is
no higher entity that is going to do it for us. In other words,
the salvation of the world and its people requires the
actions of actual people.
One humanistic way to understand salvation is by looking
at the etymology of the word. Even though most Humanists
do not typically use words such as salvation, the word itself
can be interpreted in a non-theistic way. The Latin roots of
the word salvation are health and whole. In other words,
one could argue that actions that lead to health and wholeness are actions that help to “save” us. Acts of compassion,
understanding, generosity, and love all help to create a
healthy and whole person and world. Conversely, those
things that lead away from health and thereby create brokenness, such as racism, violence, and abuse of power, lead
us away from wholeness and consequently away from
salvation.
At All Souls we tend to see wholeness as a life-long journey.
All of our Sunday services, classes, and programs try to
assist us in leading healthy lives that are grounded in integrity. In that way, one could say that regardless of someone’s
theology, we are all “saved” by what we do. When we make
mistakes, we are saved by forgiveness. When we are hurting
we are saved by the unexpected acts of kindness and love
that come to us, even when we may not feel we deserve
them. We are saved by a love beyond belief. Love, not belief,
is what makes us whole.
Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister
serves the wider Tulsa community as a
member of the Downtown Clergy Association, a board member of the John Hope
Franklin Museum for Reconciliation,
and the Mayor’s Police and Community
Coalition.
March/April/May 2016
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JOURNEYS
LETTING GO OF GENDER
GRACE & PEACE
By Knowlan Randza
By Jennifer Powers
Every time I fight against facing what I know
I must deal with, and resist what I know in
my heart is the right thing to do, I find myself
in a miserable place.
The last half of 2015 was a miserable place for me.
In 2014 I was able to complete some deep recovery work that
brought me present in my body in a way I’d never been before. I
am an abuse survivor and most of my life I lived completely dissociated. When I arrived in this place of presence, I was surprised to
find the gender of my mind and of my body didn’t match. I had
always felt some discomfort about my gender, but I blamed that
on the effects of abuse. I finally saw that there’s a difference
between trauma pains – phantom pain and terror left from sexual
abuse, and gender dysphoria – a state of distress or unease with
the sex a person is assigned at birth.
The Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and trauma reactions are desperate, terrifying, and usually set off by something happening or a
thought that reminds me of the past. The gender dysphoria feels
different. It doesn’t come and go the way trauma feelings do. It
feels as though something is missing, or something that is there
shouldn’t be. It’s nagging, constantly irritating.
Once I recognized this mental and physical mismatch, I tried to
suppress it. I thought that if I could just dress male enough, then I
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could be happy. There were female mannerisms, that I’d made
myself use for many years, I allowed myself to drop. It wasn’t
enough. In September I went to Bending Gender & Other Twists on
at church. Finally, I was honest with myself as I filled out the
I had a prophylactic bi-lateral mastectomy in
December. I was asked to tell you about the peace and grace I
found through my recent physical journey.
Gender Unicorn worksheet and charted how I really feel about my
Our genetic make-up determines much of who we are as a person.
gender identity and expression. I realized I can’t go on without
After some testing, I found out that I am BRCA 1 gene positive,
dealing with this. That was the turning point for me.
which means I had an 80 percent chance of developing breast can-
A wonderful therapist who specializes in gender identity helped
me sort the difference out. Still, I fought the idea of transitioning.
Fears that I would wreck my life, my family, my job, and that
cer in my lifetime. Take that 80 percent and tack on the fact that my
grandmother and all of her daughters developed breast cancer and
the odds weren’t good that I would escape the same fate.
learn to sustain ourselves from an internal place that echoes our
soul.
I did not start this journey, nor any other journey in my life for that
matter, with grace or peace. Because I am human, I cry unexpectedly. I feel things I don’t want to feel. I am just one woman trying
to do better every day. I am not striving for perfection. I don’t long
for a trophy at the finish line. In the end, for me, grace and peace
come from the knowledge I am still running. They come from
knowing I am capable of learning from the splatters on my face.
There is so much peace just knowing I am still in the game. That
everyone would turn their back on me left me frozen. I finally
I wrote pages on my experience: reflections on conversations with
there is another day to learn. That this journey that you and I are
became so miserable from fighting against it. I came to a place of
surgeons and quiet times waiting to be taken into surgery. Some
on, no one has ever been on before. Our path is unique and bril-
surrender, realizing that no matter what happened I’d never be
small relief came when my pathology report revealed I was in fact
liant and we’ll leave something behind that only we can leave.
happy unless I go through with this transition.
a ticking time bomb. After trudging through all of the verbiage of
What a marvelous infinite opportunity we are given.
Hormone therapy started in December and I had my first surgery
this path, I found my voice.
in January. Already, I feel more at peace. As my body changes, I am
I did find peace and grace through my experience, but it wasn’t this
becoming calmer and more satisfied in my own skin. I have a lot
one experience or another that gave it to me. The truth is, I con-
to face in the next month, telling work and family and all of you.
tinue to find grace and peace in my life. I don’t get to tie a ribbon
That task seemed monumental a few months ago, but as I become
on this journey because I made it through my parents’ divorce, or
happier and more secure in this transition, I am not afraid. I know
through a dear friend’s near fatal auto accident, or through a loved
beyond a doubt I am doing the right thing.
one’s death, or cancer. My journey to find peace comes in waves
When I am on the right path for me, things just tend to work out.
I’ve let go and am back in my place of surrender – what I know is
right for me. In that place, life is good.
and ripples. At times, I am knocked over by its majesty and at other
times, it is a quiet whisper in the back of my soul. Sometimes it is
So, here is the story about my journey. No better or worse than the
story you could tell me.
Jennifer Lynn Powers is a mother of
three, wife to one, and soul sister to
Robin, Sarah, and Andrea. Everything
else is just icing.
dirty and splattered with mud and sometimes it is a clean, clear
awakening. Where grace and peace are found is in the knowledge
that they exist. That even feeling unloved or alone, we all must
March/April/May 2016
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JOURNEYS
FROM
ROY
TO
ROGELIO
By Rogelio Contreras
My family came to the U.S. from Mexico. I am one of nine children
and my first language is Spanish. Before my father obtained immigration status in the 80s under Reagan’s amnesty, he would travel
to the U.S. to work in agriculture.
My family settled in south Texas where approximately 85% of the
population is Mexican-American, mostly second generation or
more. However, the majority do not speak Spanish and many do
not identify as Mexican. It was ingrained into us as early as kindergarten that our language and culture were inferior. We were not
allowed to speak Spanish and would get in trouble if we got caught
doing it. By the time we were in middle school most kids spoke
only English and would make fun of other kids if they spoke
Spanish and would call recent immigrants ‘mojados’ (wetbacks).
My family also spent half of every year in Wisconsin, as migrant
farm workers in a mostly European-American community. I often
One time a
principal put a bar of soap in my mouth to wash it
out for speaking Spanish. I was constantly getting in
fights because other kids did not like Mexicans.
got in trouble for speaking Spanish there as well.
I was getting the same message in both places. I stopped speaking
Spanish in public and devalued my Mexican cultural roots.
It was in the Navy and throughout college that I changed my
thinking. I read a lot of books about the history of Mexico, developed relationships with people from diverse backgrounds, and
started to value and reconnect with my cultural roots. Now I am
part of a nation-wide demographic of Hispanics using “American
Indian” – a blanket term for indigenous people of the Americas –
to identify our race.
As a parent it is important for me to teach my children to be bilingual and bicultural. I want them to be proud of their background,
but I know I will have to teach them how to handle racism, mis-
LENT: RENUNCIATION AND REDEMPTION
by Doug Fishback
Our spring 2016 themes of Letting Go, Grace, and Salvation
converge in the season of Lent, the 40 days between Ash
Wednesday and Easter Sunday, when adherents emphasize
self-discipline, sober reflection, prayer, and charity.
Those who did not grow up with Lent might know it mainly
– or only – for its emphasis on self-denial, the practice of
giving up a vice or pleasure as a way of “mortifying the
flesh.” Indeed, the somber tone of the season is set by its
opening rite – the imposition of ashes on the forehead,
along with the admonition, “Remember that you are dust,
and to dust you will return.”
Beneath this talk of denial and death, however, is the life-affirming truth that as long as we do draw breath, we have
options. The gift of Lent is not the thing cast off, but the
thing taken up in its place. Letting go of old habits frees up
time, money, and energy that we can channel into better
pursuits, including ministry to others, building of community, attention to our health, and a deepening of our spiritual practice. In that sense, Lent becomes a spiritual
laboratory for exploring alternate ways of being in the
world. The lessons learned along the way are gifts of grace.
This grace finds its ultimate expression in the glorious
eruption of new life that is the focus of Easter Sunday. For
orthodox Christianity, that new life is the salvation bought
by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But even
those who do not take the Gospel as literal truth can find
meaning in a Lenten practice and realize a salvation that is,
if not absolute and eternal, nonetheless powerful as an
incremental redemption of the here and now.
conceptions, and stereotypes. I will try to teach them to respond
with love and grace, while being proud of who they are.
At All Souls I have found a community where I can bring my whole
self: my religious views, culture, and language. However, even
here in our open and progressive community, I have experienced
Doug Fishback is a Lent-observing
religious humanist who is foregoing
both alcohol and Facebook during
an election year, with no promises
about what happens after November.
micro aggressions. I have been told I speak English well, made to
feel I don’t fit the idea people have of an All Souls member, and
told to refill the coffee pot or fix the tables by people assuming I
am on staff. For this article I was asked to write about my experience coming to this country and assimilating, even though I was
born in Texas. Although it isn’t my every day experience at All
Souls, I share this to further our work as a church community
breaking down barriers and bringing people together.
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Rogelio Contreras has been a member of
All Souls for five years. He is the husband
of Diane and the father of Isabela and
Cuauhtémoc. He is a Spanish teacher at the
Tulsa School of Arts and Sciences. He is a
member of the Generosity Committee and
Unidos.
March/April/May 2016
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FAMILY
WHY I ENJOY
YRUU
VOLUNTEERING PARENT’S
By Claudia Arthrell
GROUP
I have always believed that I must have a purpose
in my life, find meaning in the way I spend my
time, and possess a sense of belonging to something larger than myself.
My purpose has always been to make a difference with the life I
have. I have done that through the profession I have chosen – a
marriage and family therapist. I saw my dad do it through his profession – an OB/GYN. My mother-in-law, Millie Arthrell, was not
What
A new YRUU Parents Group
When
Third Sundays
September-May
6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
By Mykey Arthrell-Knezek
“Whatever you do in life will be insignificant but it
is important that you do it because nobody else
will.” —Mahatma Gandhi
than I could and putting too much on my plate manifested in my
I use quotes in the work I do and was recently moved to use this
privilege I have.
one. It takes into account the futility everyone experiences at one
point in one’s life while simultaneously validating the importance
of action. I have felt much of my life that things I was doing were
meaningless, nevertheless I found myself grateful for having the
only a teacher, but also a historian. She taught our sons every
Where
privilege to do them.
summer and organized the historical component of many sum-
Sponge Room
As a kid raised in an upper middle class family I played every sport
mer vacations we took together.
I find special meaning in life through the unique story each of us
tells ourselves about what we do. Since I believe we all do the best
we can with the information, resources, and circumstances we
have, I am always aware that I can be a resource to any organization or person in my life. It is a gift to be asked to help.
I hope I can make a difference by using my skills and resources. At
What will the group cover?
working with interns and being being invited into a process.
Feeling like I belong nurtures my soul. I imagine it is more important to me than to others because I was an Army brat. My family
moved twelve times by the time I was twelve. I learned to create a
sense of belonging wherever we went. I made sure I was part of a
team, that I had role with others; and I follow up and stay connected to people who are important to me.
I imagine this is part of what fuels my desire to stay connected to
All Souls, be a part of the Tulsa community, work hard on my marriage of 42 years, and stay connected to my sons, their wives, and
our grandchildren.
for his favorite political candidates. It felt exhausting and sometimes was too much but every time I dropped an activity I picked
opment. Other parents might be struggling with the influence
another one up.
of drugs, sex, and relationships. Other parents might be looking for what normal might look like at 20, 25, 30, and 35?
drinking too much and partying too hard. I spent two years of my
life playing the martyr. Balance could not be achieved until I
accepted the emptinessness of what I was doing and accepted the
It is a blessing to be of service. It is through this that I can help
others. It is through service that peace comes. Letting go of expectations and assumptions guided me to follow, listen and understand what I need to do in this life. On 2/12/2016 I celebrate 10
years of sobriety and, at 31 years of age, I am coordinator of the
shelter at Youth Services of Tulsa. It is in giving that I have received
and I am grateful for the opportunity.
The pattern continued throughout my life; being asked to help
people and work in human services became a no-brainer, and
saying yes to volunteer opportunities was automatic. Giving more
Why are we forming the group?
Life can be far more challenging than any of us expect. Some
of our families have experienced loss, which stresses our relationships. Also many parents find themselves surprised or
blindsided by the intensity of parenting teens. We are facing
challenging circumstances and together we can explore possible options for dealing with them. The group will be a safe
place to talk about struggles and celebrate victories as we
move toward supporting our teen’s ability to make wiser
choices. The focus: how to build strong relationships with our
kids in the face of great difficulty and how to maintain strong
connections when we are worried about our son’s or daughter’s ability to survive these choices? This will be a place to
ing how to keep connected through the rough spots, and nurture
grieve the missteps we and our kids make, explore options we
changes in relationships in a respectful way.
never considered, and support one another.
Claudia Arthrell, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, works at Family
We hope that the framework of acceptance, love, and being in
& Children’s Service as a Senior Program Director of Professional
a “right relationship with one another” will help all of us
Services. She coordinates the Family Life Education Programs,
weather this process together.
which include Parenting and Relationship Programming among
SimpleGifts
church function. My dad even took me to canvass neighborhoods
ticipants might want information on brain growth and devel-
I like to work with other parents who are on a similar path, learn-
other programs at F&CS.
imaginable, participated in every book club, scouting event and
The group is designed to support you as a parent. Some par-
All Souls I enjoy teaching a class or joining a committee. I like
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WHAT VOLUNTEERING
MEANS TO ME
Come join us.
Let us be a resource for you,
for your family, and for your child.
Mykey Arthrell-Knezek
graduated from Evergreen State
College and is married to Margaritte
Arthrell-Knezek. He is the father
of Millie and Simone. He works as
a Youth Services of Tulsa Shelter
Coordinator, and is an All Souls Our
Whole Lives facilitator. Mykey has
been an All Souls Church member
since birth.
Claudia Arthrell Licensed Clinical
Social Worker, works at Family
& Children’s Service as a Senior
Program Director of Professional
Services. . She coordinates the Family
Life Education Programs, which
include Parenting and Relationship
Programming amongst other programs at F&CS.
March/April/May 2016
11
JUSTICE
EDUCATION SHOULDN’T BE JUST DAYDREAMING
THE EDUCATION CRISIS
IN OKLAHOMA
By Sarah Kennedy
By Cindy Decker
WAKE UP, OKLAHOMA!
As I contemplate writing about the budget cuts hitting education
45 and under (the typical ages with children in K-12), the ratio was
I dream that schools are a beautiful place to work. I learned in
yet again, I can’t help thinking of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and
college about Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Basically, if your more
The facts clearly show that our state is investing far less in K-12
his inspirational “I Have a Dream” speech. Like King, I have many
primitive needs like food, shelter, and safety aren’t being met,
education than other states. Oklahoma is 49th in total per pupil
have a college degree and to have higher household income. If
dreams for a near, but much better, future. Instead of focusing on
then you don’t have a chance at learning anything new or using
expenditures. We are 48th in teacher pay and as a result, teachers
lawmakers represent those who support their campaigns and
racial harmony, I dream of a state where education for all truly
the higher-level thinking parts of your brain. The same goes at
are leaving the state or the profession and fewer college graduates
vote, they are representing a biased slice of our society who may
holds value in the community. I have many dreams for the chil-
school. If you are sitting in a rusty metal chair with a hard seat at a
are entering the profession.
have a preference for lower taxes over funding education. In a
dren and educators of Oklahoma.
table with 20 layers of graffiti and worrying about when to use the
way, this is no fault of their own.
I dream that every student in every desk has a belly full of healthy
bathroom that has no lockable stalls, then you are not focused on
On the other side of the coin, what it takes to be elected might de
learning tasks. School should look like an ultra clean lounge and
facto mean our legislators are out of touch with the average citi-
should smell like lavender and mint. It should not be crumbling
zen. To win my recent campaign to the Tulsa Public School’s
and smelling of mildew; it should not have questionable mold
board, I had to have personal money up front to loan to the cam-
veggies and herbs, hot oatmeal with berries, and milk. I see
growing in the heating vents.
paign, or some large donations to get things started. I had to have
lunches with fresh salads, grilled fish and chicken, and whole
As teachers, we hear talk that crushes these dreams every day. We
a job that allowed me to come into the office late after a cam-
fruits. I don’t see any students eating Hot Cheetos from the vend-
hear that managers at Chipotle make higher salaries than we do.
paign-related meeting and to take calls and write emails during
ing machine for breakfast or tossing back a package of Pop Tarts
We hear that teachers in Texas make $10,000 more per year than
my workday for my campaign. Who has both money saved to put
before first hour, and then crashing by third hour.
we do. We hear that our state funds our schools at the lowest (or
toward a campaign and work flexibility? Not the “average”
I dream of gym classes, activity periods, and athletics teams that
second-to-lowest) levels in the country. Yet, we still dream. We still
food to start and to carry them through the day. I see students
walking into bright cafeterias where they sit joking with their
friends while scarfing down fresh fruit, eggs scrambled with fresh
don’t have to spend valuable practice time fundraising for their
uniforms for the season. I hear choirs singing, violins playing, and
guitars strumming in my dream hallways. I see pottery spinning,
canvases painted, and photography edited in my dream classes.
I dream that students have laptops for research, communication,
Oklahoman who, statistics show, doesn’t have a college degree
Oklahoma Policy Institute, okpolicy.org
carry on each day, trying to make the best out of what we are
and who has an average yearly household income of $48,000.
given. My dreams certainly cost money, but I think that, like Dr.
King’s dreams, they are worth paying for and worth fighting for. I
And, the trend is going in the wrong direction. State funding for
hope that Oklahoma taxpayers join me in my dream of making
education has decreased nearly 10 percent from Fiscal Year (FY)
WHAT CAN WE DO TO SUPPORT EDUCATION?
school what it should be, not what is easy or inexpensive.
2008 to FY 2016, while enrollment in public school has increased
We the people can make change. It will require work, and time,
nearly eight percent. Further cuts are a certainty for FY 2017.
and all of us.
and creation…that students come out of school with knowledge
• We must all vote and convince others to vote. With early
of how to operate a computer (not just a smart phone). I want my
EXPLANATIONS
students to be able to fix my computer when it breaks, dang it!
and absentee voting and the polls open from 7:00 a.m.-
What explains the ability of lawmakers to fail to adequately fund
7:00 p.m., there are few legitimate excuses.
I dream that students get instruction from engaging teachers in
education? Is this truly the preference of registered voters? It
• We must learn who our legislators are and email, phone,
all of their classes. I want them to use manipulatives in math, to
appears not. A poll of 500 voters from March 2015 showed that 74
and visit them so they know our thoughts. Visit OK Policy
Skype with real authors in English, and to dissect creatures in
percent of Oklahomans think Oklahoma is not spending enough
at okpolicy.org to learn more.
biology. Classrooms should be active places where creation is
on education.
• We must support other groups such as the Together
happening all the time. There should be REAL WORK going on:
How is it possible that legislators are not aligned with registered
Oklahoma coalition togetherok.org and the Oklahoma
things moving around, papers being written, and discussions
voters? One large possibility is low voter turnout. Barely one in
Education Coalition.
being held. With staffing at current levels, the student load is
three adults voted in the 2014 midterm elections. Among adults
• We must convince people who support funding public
around 175 students per teacher at the high school where I teach.
education and can mobilize a huge network to run for
This equates to about 1.7 minutes per student each day. In these
Cindy Decker serves on the Board of Edu-
1.7 minutes, teachers are expected to tailor quality instruction to
that student, assess if the student has gotten the information, and
formulate an individual plan for instructing the student. This is a
tall order. As a parent, I want my daughters to get more than 1.7
minutes per day with their teachers. They deserve it, and I believe
that my students do too.
12
only one voter in five adults. And, voters are much more likely to
SimpleGifts
Photo by The U.S. Department of Education,
Creative Commons, flickr.com/photos/departmentofed
cation for Tulsa Public Schools and is CAP
Tulsa’s Director of Research and Accountability.
Previously, Cindy worked on education issues
as a Senior Economist at the U.S. Government
Accountability Office. She holds a Ph.D. in
economics from the University of California,
Berkeley and has been a member of All Souls
since 2006.
state office.
• We must ensure that our schools are teaching children
the importance of voting.
March/April/May 2016
13
JUSTICE
WHAT IT MEANS
TO BE A MUSLIM ALLY
HOW TO BE
A MUSLIM ALLY
by Brooklyn Benway
by Kate Starr,
Director of Adult Programs & Membership
At a time when the word “Muslim” has become synonymous with
maintaining an alliance. Being able to discuss differences in
I met Aliye Shimi about a decade ago at an OCCJ Teen Trialogue. Aliye
“terrorist” in the minds of so many, it is crucial that we all become
beliefs and ask each other questions is extremely important.
was my first friend who wore a hijab, the headscarf worn by some
more aware of the discrimination our Muslim brothers and sisters
People are not born with an innate knowledge of everything, but
Muslim women that conceals their hair and neck. I learned that it’s a
face everyday. We all must learn to be allies. Being an ally can take
we are naturally curious. Asking helps dispel misconceptions and
cultural, not necessarily religious, custom in Islamic societies for
many forms – correcting an ignorant comment made by a friend,
helps strengthen the bond between those who are of the Islamic
women to dress modestly outside the home. Aliye is a Turkish
going to peace rallies,and donating time or money to organiza-
faith and those who are not. Then we can come to understand
Muslim, director of outreach/public relations for the Islamic Society
tions like CAIR, the Council on America-Islamic Relations. No role
each other on a deeper and more sincere level.
of Tulsa, who chose to start wearing hijab as an adult as an outward
is too small when it comes to being an ally. We are all working
Being an ally is as simple as deciding you want to help those in
expression of her faith.
your community who face oppression and discrimination. The
I admit my ignorance and discomfort during our first meeting. Like
significance of being an ally cannot be overstated. By standing
many, I had been influenced by media images and media rhetoric.
with a community which has done nothing to deserve such cruel
But Aliye is passionate about helping others understand of her faith,
treatment, we can help make a difference, not just in the lives of
culture, and building bridges in her community. She and I became
toward to same goal – to build a safer, more loving future for ourselves and for our Muslim counterparts. Being a Muslim ally
means being educated, understanding, overcoming one’s own
biases, and maintaining an open, continual dialogue between
Muslims and non-Muslims.
Muslims who live in our community, but in our own lives and
fast friends, establishing mutual respect and trust. She let me, and
Hate crimes against Muslims tripled in 2015, spiking in December
those of the generations to follow. Only when we stand in solidar-
the youth in my charge at that time, ask all the questions we needed
as a result of recent terrorist attacks in places like Paris and San
ity can we hope to end the perpetual cycle of hatred and
to educate ourselves about Islam and what it means to be a Muslim
Bernardino. While many terrorist groups, such as al Qaeda and
Islamophobia.
in America. She invited me and All Souls youth to the Turkish
ISIS, operate in the name of Islam, it is extremely important to
Raindrop House, a social and cultural organization in Broken Arrow.
acknowledge that they are extremist groups and that their views
We invited them to the All Souls Youth Sponge Room. It’s a tradition
do not represent those of most Muslims.
that continues in our youth department today – youth from the
Islam is a religion based on five pillars. A practising Muslim must
1) declare faith in the oneness of God and the sanctity of the
prophet Muhammad, 2) pray, 3) give charitably, 4) fast during the
sacred month of Ramadan, and 5) make the pilgrimage, or Hajj, to
* Microaggressions
Raindrop House recently led and shared evening prayers during a
The everyday verbal, nonverbal, and environ-
And Aliye just facilitated a class entitled How to be a Muslim Ally. Her
Mecca. The mass murder committed by terrorist cells is, in fact, a
mental slights, snubs, or insults, whether
sin according to the Quran. Equating a Muslim to a terrorist is, in
intentional or unintentional, which commu-
itself, a microaggression.* By educating ourselves on what Islam
Young Religious Unitarian Universalists (YRUU) gathering.
advice is simple, although not easy.
1. “Educate yourself. Don’t make assumptions.
Ask questions. Make decisions based on truth, not
nicate hostile, derogatory, or negative mes-
rhetoric.
can make the country that is home to 3.3 million Muslims actually
sages to target persons based solely upon
2. “Be supportive. Reach out to Muslim neighbors, co-work-
feel like home.
their marginalized group membership.
truly stands for, and by spreading the knowledge we acquire, we
After looking outward for knowledge of the Islamic faith and helping spread said knowledge, we must look inwardly at ourselves
ers, friends, letting them know that you stand against racism, bigotry, and Islamophobia.
November 17, 2010, psychologytoday.com.
3. “Help a stranger. Many Muslims are subjected to hate
speech and violence when out in public. Counter hate
and our own beliefs. Every person has biases. While having these
speech with love. Walk up to Muslims you see and let them
biases is not necessarily good, it is good to be able to acknowledge
one’s own bias because having seen it, one can do something
change it. Recognizing biases can be hard, since many times they
are subconscious. Once we recognize our biases, though, we can
get to work on correcting our own and helping to educate others
know the loving thoughts and feelings you have for all
Brooklyn Benway is a sophomore at Booker
human life, including Muslims. I have heard beautiful sto-
T. Washington High Schoolin Tulsa, OK. Sheb
has attended All Souls her entire life and enjoys
writing and listening to music.
ries of people offer to escort Muslims who feel threatened
into public places.”
In short, use our covenant as a guide with our Muslim neighbors.
on theirs so that they can correct them too.
“Love is the spirit of this church, and service is its law … dwell
Last, and maybe most important, keeping an open dialogue
together in peace, seek the truth in love, and help one another.”
between Muslim and non-Muslim people is an integral part of
14
SimpleGifts
Photo by Jorge Quinteros, Creative Commons, flickr.com/ jorgeq82
March/April/May 2016
15
AT A GLANCE
Letting Go and Transformation
Through Energy Healing
Shambhala
by Deborah Bright
by Nattasha Bogdanova
Have you ever found yourself thinking, “I feel so
comfort of any kind always starts at an energy
SHAMBHALA takes its name from a legendary kingdom famous
ness, bravery, and genuine dialogue. Our vision is to inspire com-
stuck. And I have no clue why. How do I get
level, using this map gives us an opportunity to
for being an enlightened society. Today, the global Shambhala
passionate, sustainable, and just human society.
unstuck...”? You might feel you are on the verge
get to the root cause of our problem. No more
network brings together people of all ages and from all walks of
of a big personal transformation but are frus-
stuffing things down or leaving them unspoken.
life who are interested in exploring our own minds, transforming
Shambhala is a global community of people inspired by the prin-
trated because there is no clear road to follow. If
No more feeling stuck. Everything comes to the
our experience, and awakening our potential for enlightened
this is you, then it sounds like it is time to let go
surface, for an up-close examination and, if
society.
of what no longer serves you.
ready, for letting go.
Shambhala is based on trust in human dignity. We offer a path of
Many spiritual traditions talk about the need to
In this spring’s energy healing workshop series,
meditation practice and contemplative arts oriented toward
let go. We are asked to let go of our pride, resent-
we will be learning to use the chakra system as a
modern life. Our communities around the world cultivate kind-
ment, judgment, violence, greed, envy. Letting
map of self-awareness in our daily lives. Through
go is said to make way for more light to come
interactive exercises, we will be evaluating where
into our lives and to allow us to transform into
we currently are in regards to each chakra. We
happier, healthier people - closer to God and
will be learning and discussing specific ways to
better aligned with the Universe. If letting go is
let go of what is not serving us and to strengthen
the quest we find ourselves on, how do we know
what is working well.
what to work on? How do we know what to let go
One of the best things about this workshop
OF?
series is that it is a group program. Your group’s
support and collective intention to be positively
Energy healing is an ancient, time-proven tool of
transformed creates the most powerful, nurtur-
self-awareness. It teaches us that self-awareness
ing environment for letting go and transforma-
is medicinal. Often, a clear understanding of
tion. Hope to see you there!
are no longer victims. Awareness gives us the
power and freedom to make a choice and stop
suffering.
Energy healing sages of long ago studied human
energy in the body and psyche, and created a
map of self-awareness. This map consists of
seven major energy centers (or “chakras” as they
Transformation
Through
Energy Healing
Wednesday nights
in March
Room 128
specific, helpful information about what it feels
like to be in alignment vs. out of alignment with
our ideal, healthy self.
Applying this map of awareness to our life yields
living lineage holder of the Shambhala teachings. “That society
would have an unequivocal and deep sense of confidence. This
confidence would not be based upon competitiveness or arrogance, nor would it be tinged with paranoia. The society would be
awake, and enriched by the most inexhaustible principle.” From
this deep, profoundly human foundation, it is possible to grow
and create what the Shambhala tradition calls “enlightened
This vision offers possibilities for a radical paradigm shift – not a
utopia, but a culture in which life’s challenges are met with kindness, generosity, and courage in action. Shambhala is both a spiritual path of study and meditation that helps us work with our
minds, as well as a path of serving others and engaging with our
The Tulsa Shambhala Meditation Group began in January 2013.
We are part of the wider Shambhala international mandala of
meditation groups, urban centers, and land centers. We offer
open meditation weekly on Tuesday evenings, as well as classes in
the Shambhala path curriculum and free meditation instruction.
Visit our website for dates and times. We are very excited about
offering the Shambhala wisdom to Tulsa with the All Souls
Unitarian community.
We look forward to sitting with you.
tulsa.shamhala.org, tulsameditationgroup@gmail.com
cord, each corresponding with a particular area
sive study of who we are and it provides very
ple, and natural principle,” says Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, the
sionate care for ourselves and others.
are commonly called), located along our spinal
of our life. The chakra system is a comprehen-
“An enlightened society would be based upon the most deep, sim-
world. These vital and timely teachings open the door to compas-
why we are angry with someone or why we are
healing for us. Once we have this awareness, we
goodness.
society.”
This is where the art of energy healing comes in.
experiencing a particular fear is tremendously
ciple that every human being has a fundamental nature of basic
Nattasha
Bogdanova
certified holistic
health counselor
Shambhala Meditation
Tuesday nights at All Souls
miraculous results. Knowing that a pain or dis16
SimpleGifts
March/April/May 2016
17
REVIEWS
Just as members of All Souls may find “scriptural” inspiration in everything from Sufi mystics to contemporary poets,
the Baghavad Gita, or Judeo-Christian scriptures, the world
of musical inspiration is also wide open. Between our three
Sunday services and other gatherings, like the new Soul
Garden, we enjoy some seriously eclectic and powerful
musical offerings at All Souls. But even that’s only the tip of
the iceberg of what’s out there and what’s inspiring us.
So, I was thinking… anyone remember when one of the
most powerful ways you could show your love, whether in a
romance or friendship, was the sacred creative act of… the
mix tape? Man, the energy with which I imbued that coiled
up magnetic tape with my heart and soul!
In this online age where it’s almost too easy to pass around
the power of music that moves us, we should be a bit more
intentional about sharing our musical inspiration with one
another and, with that, find another way to share our love.
This is just a start. Allow me to share just two of the bands
that I’ve jammed out to the most over the last year, to raise
both my spirits and my consciousness.
Bear. Nahko Bear is a
native of Oregon, born a
mix of Apache, Puerto
Rican, and Filipino, but
he draws particularly
on his Native American
ancestry and its spiritual power. “For us,”
he says, “music is a tool to
create healing and activate people to
change things.” “I have come to build a bridge, so come
let’s build,” he sings, as he invites his listeners to join him
not just in singing but in moving. He’s inspired me with a
vision of being able to live in better relationship with this
land and with one another, as well as to live out my own
visions of change with greater integrity. Even when shining
a light on what’s broken, his music has a quality of celebration rooted in its connection with spirit. Start with Black as
Night, their most recent album, from which comes the
provocative example, My Country. Stay tuned for a new
album release expected this year.
For irresistibly heart-opening folk pop, I love me A Great
Big World, aka Ian Axel and Chad King. In song after song
they remind me I’m not alone in still putting my stock in
love. If you prefer subtlety, they may not be for you, as their
message is loud and clear. But when the message is that
you are beautiful as you are, needed, and loved, I don’t
mind it being a little “on the nose.” That is, provided it’s
quality music of course. And no one does somewhat overearnest, uplifting, bouncy better than they. Check the song
from their debut album, Is There Any Body Out There?
What are you listening to? Post the music that moves you
on All Souls Friends Facebook group and tell us why you
love it? Or write a review (like Dionne Lambert did for this
issue). Let’s be real, we all have songs that have basically
saved our lives. Don’t keep their salvific power to yourself.
My Country
Nahko and Medicine for the People
This is the New Year
A Great Big World
My country 'tis of thee
sweet land of poverty
for thee I weep.
Land where my mother cried,
Land where my father died,
sweet land of genocide,
Pride of my heart.
Another year you made a promise
Another chance to turn it all around
And do not save this for tomorrow
Embrace the past and you can live for now
And I will give the world to you
My country 'tis of thee
Sweet land of industry
we'll break your back
Clean out your minerals
Fill you with chemicals
We kill for what is profitable
Oh concrete world.
Our climate's suffering
All nature feels the sting
Poisoned progress.
All of these mouths to feed
All of this land to seed
From sea to shining sea
Gold underground
Our people left to die
Battlefield country-side
Paved-over graves.
Suburban privileges
make desolate villages
Broken treaties,
Broken promises
Conquer, repeat.
Speak louder than the words before you
And give them meaning no one else has found
The role we play is so important
We are the voices of the underground
And I would give the world to you
Say everything you’ve always wanted
Be not afraid of who you really are
‘Cause in the end we have each other
And that’s at least one thing worth living for
And I would give the world to you
A million suns that shine upon me
A million eyes you are the brightest blue
Lets tear the walls down that divide us
And build a statue strong enough for two
I pass it back to you
And I will wait for you,
‘Cause I would give the world … to you
All warriors represent
Remind those who forget
The time is now.
To walk in humble pride
Prepare and fortify
Resist comforts of compromise
Pray for guidance
Dionne Lambert
There’s nothing like soul music. It is literally
music that pours from and expresses the
very wishes, desires, and sway (or “swag”, if
you will) of the soul. [Music from newer
artists who have put their unique spin on
the style is now called “Neo-Soul”, literally
“New Soul”.] One of my favorite Neo-Soul
artists is India Arie. From her very first
arrival on the mainstream music scene in
2001 with her single Video, she has been
challenging the status quo and promoting
conscious dialogue. One of her many songs
which have become my life’s soundtrack is
Strength, Courage, & Wisdom. As the title
might indicate, it speaks to that which exists
even amid inner turmoil and insecurity,
and reminds the listener that this fortitude
has been inside “all along”. What better way
to nurture the soul?
Strength, Courage, and Wisdom
India Arie
Inside my head there lives a dream
That I wanna see in the sun
Behind my eyes, there is a me
That I’ve been hiding for much too long
‘Cause I’ve been too afraid to let it show
‘Cause I’m scared of the judgment
That may follow
Always puttin’ off my livin’ for tomorrow
It’s time to step out on faith
I gotta show my face I
t’s been elusive for so long
Freedom is mine today
Gotta step out on faith
It’s time to show my face
Procrastination had me down
Look what I have found, I’ve found
Strength, courage and wisdom
It’s been inside of me all along…
Rev. David Rufffin, AssistantMinister at All
Souls
NAHKO AND MEDICINE FOR THE PEOPLE
For truth-telling power that keeps it real, yet gives me hope,
I currently trust no musician’s medicine more than Nahko
18
SimpleGifts
March/April/May 2016
19
REVIEWS
AN INVITATION TO READ
All Souls Reads
March 2016
The Indigenous People’s History of the
United States
by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
Today in the United States, there are more than five hundred federally recognized indigenous nations comprising
nearly three million people, descendants of the fifteen million Native people who once inhabited this land. The centuries-long genocidal program of the US settler-colonial
regimen has largely been omitted from history. Now, for the
first time, acclaimed historian and activist Roxanne
Dunbar-Ortiz offers a history of the United States told from
the perspective of Indigenous peoples and reveals how
Native Americans, for centuries, actively resisted expansion of the US empire.
April 2016
A Review by Andrew Donovan-Shead
The Half Has Never Been Told :
Slavery and the Making of American
Capitalism
Geek Heresy:
Rescuing Social Change from
the Cult of Technology
by Edward E. Baptist
by Kentaro Toyama
For residents of the world’s pre-eminent capitalist nation,
American historians have produced remarkably few studies of capitalism in the United States. This new work portrays capitalism not as a given but as a system that
developed over time, has been constantly evolving, and
penetrates all aspects of society.
It is good that we give to help others, yet there is often corruption along the path from donor to recipient, sometimes
so bad that the given resource doesn’t reach those in need.
Our charitable institutions can grow until the bureaucratic
vested interests of the operation consume unreasonably
high percentages of the charitable resources. Charity comes
with strings attached, especially foreign aid. Packaged interventions fail to work as well as they did when the pilot program was managed by committed program designers; or
they fail because the intervention is ill-conceived and totally
inappropriate for the local circumstances. In some instances,
packaged interventions can’t work because they rely on
infrastructure both social and material that doesn’t exist.
In keeping with the approach of the new historians of capitalism, the book covers a great deal of ground — not only,
economic enterprise but religion, ideas of masculinity and
gender, and national and Southern politics. Baptist’s work
is a valuable addition to the growing literature on slavery
and American development.
May 2016
Compassion in Action:
Setting Out on the Path of Service
by Ram Dass and Mirabai Bush
In the first section, Ram Dass reflects on the path which has
taken him from teaching psychology in the 1950s to the
study of meditation in India to working with a variety of
organizations dedicated to relieving suffering in the world.
Mirabai Bush outlines compassionate service to others. In
order to set out on this road, it is necessary to do what you
love, to learn the art of listening, to start small right where
you are, to do your homework, to reflect on your motives,
and to look for a close match between your talents and the
needs of others. Compassion in Action is a wise companion
for those on the path of service.
Oklahoman Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz is an American historian, writer, and feminist. She is the Professor Emerita of
Ethnic Studies at California State University, Hayward.
ALL SOULS READS 2015-2016
All Souls Reads meets the second Sunday each month at 1:30
p.m. in Thoreau Lounge through May 2016. Facilitated by
Rev. Gerald Davis
Continued next page...
Love Music? Movies?
Theater?Books?
MARCH: An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United
States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
APRIL: The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the
Making of American Capitalism by Edward E. Baptist
MAY: Compassion in Action: Setting Out on the Path of
Service by Ram Dass & Mirabai Bush
20
SimpleGifts
Technological Amplifiers
In his book Geek Heresy: Rescuing Social Change from the
Cult of Technology (Public Affairs, 2015), Kentaro Toyama
explores the problems with packaged interventions and the
delusion of quick technological fixes. He discovers that technology doesn’t fix; what it does is act as an amplifier for existing conditions, a force multiplier. Technology is agnostic; it
amplifies dysfunctional processes as well as it amplifies efficient, effective operations. Having reached this conclusion,
Toyama investigates the root causes of successful interventions, discovering the Three Pillars of Wisdom, the magic
that makes things work.
Rev. Gerald Davis,
Affiliate Minister at All Souls
also serves as the minister
of Church of the Restoration
Unitarian Universalist in
Tulsa,Oklahoma.
Tell us why your cultural passion reflects All Souls
values and expresses your spiritual self with a
review for the new Beyond Belief.
Send us your thoughts at
communications@allsoulschurch.org
March/April/May 2016
21
REVIEWS
Transitions
December 2015 - February 2016
Continued from previous page...
Three Pillars of Wisdom
Heart, or Intention.
Mind, or Discernment.
Will, or Self-control.
The Three Pillars of Wisdom apply to persons, groups, and
organizations.
Heart
Changing intention is hard to do, but it’s the heart of social
progress. The world’s most meaningful social shifts—from
slavery toward emancipation, from racism toward equality,
from routine warfare toward routine peace, and from women-as-property toward gender parity—reflect ongoing mass
changes in human intention.
Mind
Knowledge is one requirement for discernment…. But discernment also requires the ability to make shrewd judgements about people and opportunities that go beyond
bookish erudition…. Discernment—or prudence, judgement, practical wisdom, Greek phronesis—is not easy to
teach or specify, yet we all know people who are sagacious
decision-makers.
Will
Self-control allows us to follow through on what we intend or
what we discern to be the best course of action. It’s one thing
to yearn for the security of savings; it’s another matter to
muster the will to save. It’s one thing to recognize the need
for a vocational skill; it’s another to expend time and effort to
obtain it. It’s one thing to know that collective action can
overcome repression; it’s another thing to risk imprisonment
to organize. Will-power becomes stronger the more it is exercised successfully.
Instead, the Three Pillars of Wisdom underpin the intrinsic
growth of the individual, group, or society.
Intrinsic Growth
Intrinsic growth [is] about improving intention, discernment, and self-control of the individual, groups, and ultimately society. For example, no amount of educational
technology makes up for a lack of focused students, caring
parents, good teachers, and capable administrators. So what
is it among the latter that matters? Focused students have
the intention to learn; the discernment to listen (selectively)
22
SimpleGifts
New Members
to supervising adults; and the self-control to study. Caring
parents intend to nurture self-sufficient children, recognize
good schooling, and intervene just enough to hold educators accountable. Good teachers have their students’ best
interests at heart, make hundreds of small judgements every
day to enhance learning, and do all this without losing their
cool in a potentially adversarial classroom. And capable
principals intend, discern, and act to manage schools well.
Hard Work
Nurturing intrinsic growth is hard work. ...for anyone wanting balanced progress, for anyone with self-transcendent
motivations, for anyone genuinely seeking social change,
the most meaningful efforts are those not boosted by technocratic values. Packaged interventions are relatively easy.
Nurturing individual and collective heart, mind, and will is
hard.
The hard work is mentoring with patience and engagement, be it one-to-one between mentor and mentee or as a
team mentoring a group of people to become self-sustaining agents of their own destiny.
Conclusion
Kentaro Toyama has written a page-turner of a book that
identifies the root causes of successful intervention amply
supported by research, data, and example programs that
accomplish what they set out to do. Reading Geek Heresy
will fill in the background behind this short summary.
BIRTHS:
Congratulations to these All Souls parents on the birth of their
children.
Emily and Solal Hecker on the birth of their daughhter, Zelie
Eloise Hecker, on January 20, 2016.
Amanda and Sean Connolly on the birth of their son, Hunter
Connolly ,on February 11, 2016.
A. J. and Katy Jacobs on the birth of their son, Orion John
Jacobs, on February 18, 2016.
Share your expertise,
participate in a rational debate,
or shed light on your favorite cause...
Send us story pitches, or better yet,
show off your literary skills and
pen an article for the coming
new Beyond Belief .
Contact us at
communications@allsoulschurch.org
Stephanie Brennan
Allison Edwards & Laura Willis
Jeremy Johnson
Nicole Ray
Ron & Sarah Duncan
Liz Hood
Kenneth Creel
DEATHS:
Deepest condolences to these All Souls members on the loss of
their loved ones.
Heather Little on the loss of her father, Richard Bandkau, on
December 24, 2015.
Lori and Steve Sparkman on the loss of Lori’s borther, Frank
Horn, on January 7, 2016.
Melissa Atkinson on the loss of her mother, Bobbye Potter, on
January 10, 2016.
Amanda Stewart on the loss of her mother, Vicki Irene
Carpenter, on January 22, 2016.
The family and friends of Mary Beth Hudson, who passed
away on February 6, 2016.
V. B. and George Prokopich on the loss of their husband and
father, Mike Flanagan on February 9, 2016.
Tiffany and Brian Cross on the loss of Tiffany’s mother, Linda
Barbour, on February 10, 2016.
Heike Feller on the loss of her father, George Feller,
February 21, 2016.
READY TO BARE YOUR
SOUL?
Cameron Alred
on
Condolences to parents Susan Spooner, Eric Spooner and
their son, Colin, on the death of their son and brother, Sean
Spooner on March 2.
NEW MEMBERS:
Join us in welcoming our new members
Cameron Alred, Destiny Barker, Stepahnie Brennan, Ron
Duncan, Sarah Duncan, Allison Edwards, Carla Gregory, Lola
Haight, Jeremy Johnson, Jenny Lizama, Nicole Ray, Zach Will,
Laura Willis
If know of a transition in the life of an All Souls member,
please let us know by emailing, nogundare@allsoulschurch.org
March/April/May 2016
23
2952 S Peoria Ave
Tulsa, Ok 74114
Time sensitive information.
Pease deliver promptly.
Recently at All Souls
The Ordination of David Ruffin
Sing for Our Schools
24
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MLK Parade
Soul Christmas