"Head, Heart, and Hands: How We Inform, Form, and Transform in Faith Community" - Rev. Sara Lewis

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.

We are delighted to welcome back so many people to the sanctuary at OUUC. For the first time in a long while, we had more people in person than online. And rest assured, we will continue to offer both in the future.

We've put some things in place to offer a comfortable and safe place for everyone, including overflow seating in the classrooms and we are looking at what is needed to offer two services.

We'd like to hear your thoughts. On October 2 after the service, Rev. Mary and Rev. Sara will offer a listening session to present some ideas and hear yours. This will be an opportunity to discuss our Sunday morning worship (online and in-person) other Sunday programs, Covid updates, and more.

Your Health & Safety Task Force has been hard at work this Summer tracking the rapid changes in CDC and state guidance for Covid. There is a new OUUC manual on the website that reflects the latest changes:

1. All users of the building should be fully vaccinated to the extent possible at the time and according to their own medical status.

2. Everyone is expected to wait 10 days before returning to OUUC after the onset of COVID symptoms or a positive COVID test of any kind, whichever happens first. If you are ill with any new symptoms, please stay home until you are well. This statement is in line with new CDC guidance, including the lack of need to test for COVID (before the onset of symptoms) following possible exposure.

3. Following state and federal guidance, we are no longer implementing tracking or social distancing requirements. Signing in by those who enter the building is no longer required, and social distancing is no longer practiced, other than that seating is spaced slightly further apart than pre-COVID set-up standards.

4. OUUC also follows state and county guidelines and mandates and bases its guidance on the understanding that all building occupants will be masked, and that ventilation is adequate throughout the building.

5. All bathrooms are open, and the drinking fountains are turned on.

6. Eating and drinking is allowed in the building with good ventilation. Masks can be removed to eat or drink, then returned.

Thank you for taking care of yourself and each other.

The Health & Safety Task Force: Jerald Dodson, Kerry Dyer, Chris Parke, Tim Ransom, Pat Sonnenstuhl, Polly Taylor, Frank Turner, Marie Arensmeyer and Rev. Mary Gear.

Church Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm.

A Celebration of Life for Carolyn and Charlie Keck will be held Saturday, September 24 from 2:00 – 4:00 pm at the South Puget Sound Community College Minnaert Center for the Arts, 2011 Mottman Rd. SW., Olympia 98512. Read Carolyn's obituary here.

Would you like to volunteer for the Tech Team? The volunteer shifts would be primarily on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. To learn more about this fun team, contact Tech Specialist, Teresa Madsen.

How can you know when there is an action coming up for faith in action? How do we organize in response to emerging justice issues and needs? We’re forming a Faith in Action Alert List in Realm, as an opt-in group for FIA announcements. Join this group if you want to get these alerts. Contact the church office to sign up.

COVID Phase: Low. Please see our Phased Reopening Plan for information.

Safety Reminder: Please lock and remove valuables from your vehicles.

September 25, 1:00 – 3:00 pm (potluck to follow). Roderick Harris, Nooksack Elder, Retired Health IT, will discuss his mother's life as a survivor of Indian Boarding Schools. He would like to write a book about the things his mother was taught about northwest natives and will talk about these teachings. He will share how his mom supported all of her children on their paths on the Red Road. He will speak about the healing the Red Nations are going through and will continue to heal for the next 3 to 7 generations. Roderick will also talk with us about how to assist with the healing process. This Gathering will be a 'hybrid' event held at the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Sunday, September 25 from 1:00-3:00 pm with a Zoom option for those who prefer to stay at home. A healthy snack potluck will close the event from 3:00-3:45 pm. Please bring something to share. To join this Gathering please use this Link to Registration.

The Article II Study Commission has been working through the feedback from General Assembly, and are engaging in our next round of drafting. Once again, we’d like your feedback on different sections to help us as we work. In September 2022, with the assistance of our new Outreach Team, we’re scheduling ten Zoom sessions at various times for people to look at draft language and discuss it. Hopefully, one of them will work with your schedule. We’ll have a link available for feedback. Another round of revision will follow, with more feedback sessions in late October/early November. After we let it simmer over the holidays, we will put together our proposal in early 2023 to send to the board. The proposal will be considered in mini-assemblies before the vote at General Assembly 2023. You’ll need to register to attend a session. When you do, you’ll get the draft via email. We look forward to hearing from you as we help chart the future of our faith together! Zoom session registration here.

Learn more about the following events and others here.

Faith in Action Learning Opportunities in the Larger Community

- Mass Incarceration Forum - September 22, 7:00-8:30 pm

To register and request a zoom link, email WDA@defensenet.org, writing: "Race and Criminal Justice" in the subject line. Here is an article by a sponsor of the Forum.

- Reparations and You Webinar - October 9, 4:00-5:30 pm

Register. Questions? email Janie. A presentation and conversation for white people and anyone else who feels that they've benefited from the consequences of enslavement and systemic racism--and want to do something about it. Presented by Seattle's Civil Reparations

Project.

Did you know that Washington State doesn't have a system of parole? Please join WashingtonCAN and longtime Mass Liberation Community Advocate & Organizer, and founder of Families Shoulder to Shoulder, Ginny Parham on September 22nd via Zoom to learn about the "parole options" our incarcerated loved ones currently have.

Check out the Facebook Event for more details! Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89269196169

Please join Interfaith Works and the Faith Action Network as we celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day with this interactive and educational engagement with author and activist Sarah Augustine. EXPLORE the history and meaning of Indigenous Peoples’ Day and how the Doctrine of Discovery continues to impact Indigenous people today through a case study of the Indian Child Welfare Act. Monday, October 10, 6:30-8:30 pm, United Churches of Olympia, 110 11th Ave SE. This event is also available on Zoom. Register here: Current Events - Interfaith Works (interfaith-works.org)

Khentrul Lodrö Thayé Rinpoche, a Tibetan Buddhist Monk, and esteemed scholar, will be coming to Olympia, WA, as part of an International public talk/book signing tour. I have been a student of Rinpoche’s for twenty years, and he graciously accepted my invitation to come to Olympia. This free event will be held with Browsers Book Shop, an event partner. Saturday, October 1, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at the Olympia Community Center, Room A.

Read more....