Earth Ball Concert Oct. 3, 2015
UUCT will host the first Earth Ball Concert on October 3, 2015 in the main sanctuary with jazz-funk-fusion band Quahlity Vibes. Admission will be $10 or $5 if you bring a dish. All ages welcome. Contact Kelly Anquoe or Dana Waters by texting 918-506-2320.

UUCT Responded to fire victims

August 14th Apartment Fire Response Floods UUCT Abundant donations change Sunday service to a day of service Tahlequah, OK.

Donor generosity in response to the Pleasant View Apartment fire nearly overflowed UUCT’s sanctuary, meeting hall, and classrooms, leading to an abrupt change in the meaning of “Sunday service”. Rev. Susan Hamilton gathered the worshippers among tables of donated food, shampoo, and kitchen appliances for a few hymns and a meditation, then all adjourned to the basement for the afternoon to sort clothing for fire victims. UUCT was a collection point for donations in the aftermath of Thursday’s apartment blaze.

“The generosity of this community is astounding”, said Rev. Hamilton. “By Friday afternoon, we had no more room for clothing donations.”

The congregation’s response began when UUCT members Nikki Payton and Judith Anderson of Help in Crisis called Rev. Hamilton to ask for the congregation’s assistance. Coordination with HIC, the Red Cross, Tahlequah Cares, and the management of Pleasant View Apartments, the congregation will distribute donated items to fire victims who have a voucher from HIC confirming their identities.

“I know that larger churches in Tahlequah were also responding, but it was a special honor to have this opportunity for our small congregation to play such an important role in this effort,” said Rev. Hamilton.

UUCT accepted donations of small appliances, housewares, toiletries, and non-perishable food items. Distribution took place the week of August 18-22 Monday through Friday 10-5, and Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7-9 PM.

On Saturday, August 23, 8AM – 2 PM, a benefit rummage sale was held at UUCT to move out the remaining items. Shoppers filled a bag with items for only $5. All proceeds and additional monetary donations were deposited in the Pleasant View Tenants recovery fund at the Bank of Cherokee County for victim’s future needs.

Labyrinth open 2nd Friday each  month
Friday, September 12, 2014   7:00 – 8:30pm
 FREE and open to the community
(Donations gladly accepted)

In colloquial English, labyrinth is generally synonymous with maze, but many contemporary scholars observe a distinction between the two: maze refers to a complex branching (multicursal) puzzle with choices of path and direction; while a single-path (unicursal) labyrinth has only a single, non-branching path, which leads to the center.

One can think of labyrinths as symbolic of pilgrimage; people can walk the path, ascending toward salvation or enlightenment. Many people could not afford to travel to holy sites and lands, so labyrinths and prayer substituted for such travel. Later, the religious significance of labyrinths faded, and they served primarily for entertainment, Many newly-made labyrinths exist today, in churches and parks. They have been used historically both in group ritual and for private meditation.

Modern mystics use labyrinths to help them achieve a contemplative state. Walking among the turnings, one loses track of direction and of the outside world, and thus quiets the mind.  In addition, the labyrinth can serve as a metaphor for situations that are difficult to be extricated from.  In ancient Greek mythology, a beast (minotaur) lay waiting at the center of the labyrinth. When we walk the labyrinth in meditation we may confront the ‘beast’ in the center of our own being and learn how to conquer it.