"It is not necessary for you to complete the work,

but neither are you excused from undertaking it."  

~ Rabbi Tarphon 

Unitarian Universalism rests on a belief that we human beings belong to each other, and have a responsibility to care for one another. We're called to make the conscious choice to bless the world. We don't have to save the world all by ourselves, but to turn away from the overwhelming task of repair is simply not an option.

At Live Oak, we undertake service and social justice projects knowing that our work won't fulfill our community's every need; we might never witness the ripple effects of our compassion and generosity. But we serve, and repair, the world with compassion because we are compelled to, as members of the human family living interdependently.

Below are a few ways that we choose to bless the world, with joy and without reservation.

Food Offering for Goleta Head Start

Every Sunday, we take a food offering for the children and families served by Goleta Head Start, a federally-funded childcare program that serves low-income working parents. Over 40 Goleta families are served through food, workshops, and family counseling. The Live Oak community is the only source of food, besides the food bank, for take-home food.

You can help by bringing food every week. Please add these items to your shopping list, and leave them in your car so that you don't forget them on Sunday. You will be helping feed families in poverty with your donations of: pinto beans, white rice, legumes, cereal, peanut butter, tomato sauce, fruit, whole wheat bread, masa harina, and pasta. (The program's supervisor graciously asks that we avoid bringing red kidney beans, Nesquik, juce, and shredded wheat.)

You can read comments delivered by Betty Sanchez, Director of Goleta Head Start, at Live Oak on Sunday, Oct. 22nd here.

To Build the Common Good: 3rd Sunday "half-basket giveaway"

In the spring of 2006, our Board decided to make financial giving a regular part of Live Oak's worship life. On the third Sunday of every month, we give away half of the morning's offering to a local or a Unitarian Universalist non-profit. Following is a list of those recipients, with the amounts collected:

April: Transition House, $245.50

May: McKinley Elementary School Creative Arts Program, $178.44

June: UU Service Committee, $212.50

In the 2006-2007 congregational and fiscal year, our congregation gave $2,190.47 to local and Unitarian Universalist organizations!

July: Pacific Pride Foundation, $144.00

August: Goleta Head Start, $156.50

   (money was used to buy food for Head Start, not given as a direct contribution)

September: First Unitarian Universalist Church of New Orleans, $193.50

October: UU Legislative Ministry, $242.30

November: UU Service Committee, $278.50

December: Hospice of Santa Barbara, $200.00

2007:

January: Camp de Benneville Pines, $130.50

February: Health Care for All - California, $276.67

March: Community Counseling and Education Center, $174.00

April: Community Environmental Council, $97.50

May: Habitat for Humanity (Santa Barbara affiliate), $170.50

June and July: Live Oak Buddhist Sangha, $251.05

In the 2007-2008 congregational and fiscal year, our congregation gave $2,752.19 to local and Unitarian Universalist organizations!

August: La Patera PTA, $186  

September: UU Church of Blanchard Valley (Findlay, Ohio) -- flood relief, $140

October: Unitarian Universalist Association's growth initiative, $291

November: Pacific Southwest District (of the UUA) Fire Relief Fund, $234.50.

December: Pacific Pride Foundation, $192.56

AND...our two Christmas Eve offerings resulted in a gift of $840 to the Minister's Discretionary Fund! Thank you!

2008:

January: Hospice of Santa Barbara, $203.00

February: UU Legislative Ministry, $225.41

March: PUEBLO, $328.25

April: Domestic Violence Solutions, $186.50

May: Casa Esperanza

June: Health Care for All

July: Fairview Gardens