OUUC Weekly Update 4-25-23
News from the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Worship Service April 30 at 10:00 am - online and in-person
“Trust: The Lost and Found” with Rev. Vincent Lachina
Few things are more important to a minister than having the trust of others. It would be complicated, if not impossible to have any credibility if there is no trust. Sadly, once trust is lost, there is a vacuum of the belief that has a lasting effect on a hearer. Almost everyone knows how trust is lost, but perhaps a lesson to learn is how to find or build trust. The message prepared for you at OUUC is a focus on how you as individuals and you as a body of churchgoers can establish and build trust in the world in which you live.
OUUC Sunday Morning Service
https://zoom.us/j/873210124?pwd=U21qdmwxcTNyaE1LQ0xlU0MwM3VMQT09
Meeting ID: 873 210 124
Password: 995142
Dial +1 253 215 8782
See recordings of online services here.
April 30 After-Service Forum: Anti-Racist Terminology 101 with Rev. Sara Lewis
Happening This Week
Join us Thursday: Dinner and All-ages Collage-making
Dinner’s theme this week is “Where Have You Bean?”. Come 5:30-6:30 for dinner.
Volunteers wanted! Sign up to volunteer for dinners here: OUUC: Help with Thursday Dinners (signupgenius.com)
After dinner, all ages are invited to stay for collage-making, hosted by Anissa.
AntiRacist 101: A Forum with Rev Sara
Sunday, April 30,11:30 am
What does “antiracist” mean? “Multicultural”? What are we talking about when we say “dismantle white supremacy culture”? We use all these words, let’s unpack what they mean.
Join Rev Sara this Sunday to review some of the vocabulary we use to talk about the work of racial justice.
Online Auction Opens Sunday!
Get ready to bid! The online auction opens on April 30 at 8:00 am and closes on May 7 at 5:00 pm. Peruse the catalog and see which fun items, homemade goods, dinners, classes, or outings you plan to bid on! The live auction and community event is Saturday, May 6, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm, at OUUC. “Come together” for food and drink, music, fellowship, and bidding to support OUUC. Buy your ticket now. Want to add to the great list of auction items? Get your items in by April 28. Don’t be left on Abbey Road. Interested in volunteering? Help with check-in, serve food and drink, clean-up, etc. Contact Maggie Post. Raffle tickets for the Sewing Ministry’s quilt, $5 each or 5 for $20. Get your ticket after the service, at the Thursday night dinner, or at the live auction event. Winner announced on May 6.
Ministry Programs
Engage with the Bards
Article II Idea Submission Form
At General Assembly (GA) 2023, Unitarian Universalists will take an initial vote on proposed changes to Article II of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Bylaws, which includes the current UUA purposes, principles, sources, and clauses on inclusion and freedom of belief. Until April 30 any Unitarian Universalist may submit as many suggestions and ideas as they would like through an online form for ways they recommend modifying the Article II Study Commission proposal (PDF).
Submit ideas here.
SUURF is Coming on June 13
OUUC will now present a Summer UU Reading Fun (SUURF) online community used book sale each June – in addition to our annual Fall Books Brownies & Beans (BBB) in-person sales. Why? So, we can raise even more money for our nonprofit partners working towards a more loving, just and healthy world. And of course, because we love books! Your help is needed! Please start gathering book donations and letting your local friends and family know the SUURF Store will open at 8:00 am on June 13 at books-ouuc.com. Please contact Susan Dodson at books.ouuc@gmail.com if you want to help list books for the sale or pull ‘n-pack book orders after the sale. For more information check out Books! Books! Books!. Both of OUUC’s 2023 community used book sales will benefit the same three local nonprofit organizations – to be selected by OUUC's Faith in Action Team.
Volunteer to Provide Food
Quick Notes
Chalice Camp - Registration is open now for Summer Chalice Camp! July 10-14, 9:00 am-3:00 pm, ages 5-10. Suggested donation up to $175, pay what you can. We will be exploring right relationship: with self, with others, with all beings, and with the earth itself. Lots of fun, open to all! Registration.
Save the Date: End of Year Party for OUUC, Sat June 3,10:00 am-noon. We’ll gather to celebrate all the good work we did this year, with volunteer appreciations, food, games, and raffle prizes. All are invited!
Safety Reminder: Please lock and remove valuables from your vehicles.
In the Larger Community
Learn more about the following events and others here.
OUUC is once again supporting Thurston's Hunger Walk on May 7, an annual fundraiser to help two local agencies: The Community Kitchen & The Thurston County Food Bank. At the end of February, millions of Americans lost the pandemic boost to their food stamps (now known as SNAP.) That translates to dramatically less access to groceries - exactly when inflation and food costs reach near 40-year highs. Your donations to support our neighbors experiencing hunger - are now more important than ever!
AntiRacism “Jubilee 3” Training is open to all in May. Jubilee 3 is a wonderful anti-racism training with UU Paula Cole Jones, and you can register with this link: https://pcolejones.wufoo.com/forms/z5m7kxo1oc8gl7/ This Jubilee 3 training will be on Zoom, on Tuesday, May 23 – Thursday, May 25, from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm.
Olympia’s diversion court has a new program called “Community Circles,” and they are looking for people who are interested in becoming Circle Keepers and Facilitators. This involves making a commitment to work with Olympia’s Community Court, either through your current employer or as an independent volunteer. We will provide free training to those of you who want to get involved. The upcoming virtual training is May 16-19 from 9:30 am-5:00 pm. In Community Circles, people who have caused harm and people who have experienced harm come together to empathize with one another. Circles are also a powerful way to build closeness and community within groups of people working together in any context.
Read more....
About Us
Sara Lewis, Director of Community and Faith Development
Darlene Sarkela, Congregational Administrator
Teresa Madsen, Communications Specialist
Marie Arensmeyer, Facilities Manager
Anissa Bentlemsani, Religious Education Assistant
Carbon Marshall, Tech Specialist
Office Hours
Tuesday - Thursday, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Email: liberalfaith@ouuc.org
Website: http://ouuc.org
Location: 2315 Division Street Northwest, Olympia, WA, United States
Phone: 360-634-2005
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OlympiaUUC/
Twitter: @OlyUUC