OUUC Weekly Update 5-11-21
News from the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Worship Service May 16 - one online service at 10:00 am
“Pillars of Faith” - Rev. Mary Gear
This week our Muslim siblings celebrate the holiday Eid al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting and prayer. What do Unitarian Universalists have to learn from this spiritual practice?
Join us for Online Worship.
Listen to sermons here. See recordings of online services here.
Thursday Evening Spiritual Practice
Join Sara Lewis for meditation and wisdom stories.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81051325520?pwd=NjdXM25OMThVRytydWtQQ0lJZmtMQT09
Meeting ID: 810 5132 5520
Passcode: 690200
Q&A on Sunday
OUUC Connect (Realm) Training Sessions Available
Would you like to learn more about how to use your account to contact friends, get connected to groups (and communicate with them), see your online giving records, and more? Individual or small group training sessions are available. Darlene Sarkela or Marie Arensmeyer will meet with you via Zoom. Sign up today.
Food Chains Film and Discussion
Full Moon Meditation - May 26
Are you curious about Buddhist meditation or mindfulness? A spiritual practice offering is open to anyone interested in practicing silent meditation in the Plum Village tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh's Engaged Buddhism. Join us for an evening meditation and reading. We'll sit together on the full moon(s) each month. 7:00 – 8:00 pm on Zoom.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83673338076?pwd=eXFJdDRSZi80eFY3bm1hVGluZHkyZz09
Meeting ID: 836 7333 8076
Passcode: 160696
The OUUC Blue Apron Team: Three Ways to Help
For many years, volunteers from this congregation have provided food for those of our community who are experiencing homelessness—-meals twice a month at the Interfaith Works Adult Shelter, each second Sunday for the adult residents at Hope Tiny House Village, and shelf-stable foods for homeless and low-income families who come to the Lacey Family Resource Center. This month food will be needed on the following dates and ways: Hope Tiny House Village - Sunday, May 16: a salad and a vegetable, Interfaith Works Adult Shelter - Wednesdays May 19, and May 26,: main and side dishes, Lacey Family Center - Wednesdays May 19, and May 26, Shelf Stable foods. To donate food and/or information about delivery times and locations, please contact Jo Ann Young.
Attention Knitters!
Yarn Sale - Knitter’s Hoard of Designer Yarns. Saturday, May 15, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. Outside at 1705 Medallion Loop NW, Olympia (Goldcrest in West Olympia). Yarns are bagged, labeled. $20 for 3 bags…each additional bag, $5. Cash only. Please wear masks. Bring your own bags. No shipping. Yarns include Merino wool, ribbon silk yarn (Noro), yarn blends (mohair, metallic, nylon, acrylic cashmere)…Baby Merino, cotton, cashmere, kid mohair. Brands include Noro, Dune, Trendsetter, Rowan, Art Yarns, Karabello (Italian), Zitrin, Prism, Shibui (Japanese) Madelinetosh, Katia Ultrafine Merino Wool Kits (for scarves) variety of colors 9 kits. Most yarns are discontinued. Proceeds go to Minister’s Benevolence Fund. Contact Carol Williams.
Holidays and Holy Days Connection
May 13: Eid al Fitr - Celebrating the end of Ramadan, Eid al Fitr is the celebration of breaking the fast. Learn about Islam, Ramadan, and Eid here.
Books about Ramadan and Eid al Fitr: Children’s Books to Read During Ramadan & Eid-al-Fitr (childrenslibrarylady.com)
May 26: Vesak - Also known as Buddha’s Birthday, this holiday is celebrated in Asia to remember both Buddha’s birth and enlightenment. The Story of the Buddha
Buddhist books for kids. : Books for Buddhist Kids & Parents | The Buddhist Centre
Quick Notes
The Virtual Bulletin Board is a place for members to share information about events in the larger community, ask for recommendations, and share resources. Email to sign up.
Our Sunday worship service will be live on our OUUC YouTube channel as well as on Zoom. You can still participate in Sunday worship through Zoom. Those who would like to try the YouTube option can do so here.
See a list of online meetings that you might attend here.
Ways to Give - Did you know you can donate to OUUC by text message? Just text "OUUC" and "amount" to 73256. You can also donate online by visiting our secure online giving page.
In the Larger Community
GreenFaith invite you to participate in “Give a Sacred Walk for Mother Earth” May 11, noon to 1:00 pm. Two separate walks will be led at Springwood Parcel at 1500 Springwood Ave NE, and at Mission Creek sacred Park at the Fairview entrance near 1513 Fairview NE. Please preregister at zoom Meeting ID: 892 5732 3140. You can walk on your own or with friends and reflecting and sharing thoughts on a Zoom session at 7:00 pm Meeting ID: 849 5647 8044. We ask you to appreciate Mother Earth and your relation to the Earth, and give thanks to Earth, in whatever sacred way resonates with you. Instead of taking a walk, you will be giving a walk- giving of yourself to Mother Earth.
In collaboration with Learning Right Relations and JUUstice Washington, Interfaith Works is proud to welcome the House of Tears Carvers from the Lummi tribe as they embark on a cross-country voyage to deliver a totem pole to President Biden. The totem pole journey, known as the “Red Road to DC’’, will stop at numerous sacred sites, including Bears Ears, Chaco Canyon, Black Hills, Standing Rock. You are invited to a ceremony of offering blessings to this totem and its stewards. Come and hear from the carvers about the totem pole, witness faith leaders offer song and prayers, be a part of touching the totem pole, and participating in this sacred journey to raise awareness of indigenous lands that are threatened. Rev. Gear will be offering a blessing. Saturday, May 15, 4:00 – 6:00 pm. A FREE Very Family-Friendly Event at Percival Landing Park, 217 Thurston Ave NW. More information at Interfaith-Works.org/Events. Download the flyer below.
Justice Innovation and Racial Equity in Thurston County – Community Forum. Thurston County is now home to several innovative justice programs. In this forum, you will hear about these programs' progress, their plans for the future, and how the programs may affect the significant disparity in Thurston County’s minority arrest and incarceration rates. A question-and-answer session will follow the presentations.
Panelists include:
- Tye Menser, Thurston County Commissioner, will talk about the County’s new Justice Resource Center and Criminal Justice Reginal Program Manager position.
- Anne Larsen, Outreach Services Coordinator, Olympia Police Department, will talk about Olympia’s Crisis Response Unit and Familiar Faces programs.
- Mary Ann O’Garro, Senior Epidemiologist, Thurston County Public Health & Social Services Department, will talk about the County’s new Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program.
- Larry Jefferson, Director, Washington State Office of Public Defense, will share his experience with the criminal justice system in Thurston County.
Moderator – Rev. Carol McKinley, Affiliated Community Minister, Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation. Produced by Justice not Jails
Virtual hosting by the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation
When – May 26, 7:00 pm. Please register in advance here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Forum.
Embodied Antiracism: A Mindfulness Practice Space for White Bodied Folx - Saturday, May 15, 10:00 am to 12:30 pm. These classes are offered on gift economy and all experience levels are welcome to participate (beginners to all levels of practitioners of antiracism and/or mindfulness). Our May class will focus on Whiteness as Fear: Dismantling Whiteness through Belonging. We'll have an opportunity to explore this theme through group dialogue, a talk, guided inquiry, and mindfulness meditation. If you are interested in joining, please register here: https://www.hillarydetamore.com/classes
The board of the Pacific Northwest District of the UUA invites you to a rousing annual meeting on Sunday, May 16 at 2:00 pm. Plan to sing and connect and celebrate the resilience and leadership of our fellow UUs during the last challenging year. Find out about the final step in regionalization. You can read more about this process on the PNW District website. Please register for the Annual Meeting and indicate your interest in serving as a delegate, by clicking here.
We hope you'll join us virtually on Tuesday, May 25 at 12:15 pm for the Orting Veterans Village Grand Opening Celebration! Registration is free, so be sure to share the page to your friends and family. Save the link because our live-streamed event will be on the same page. Thank you to everyone that has supported this village. It has been a true community effort, and we are so excited to officially open our doors to 35 homeless veterans of Pierce county!
About Us
Sara Lewis, Director of Community and Faith Development
Darlene Sarkela, Congregational Administrator
Marie Arensmeyer, Facilities Manager
Anissa Bentlemsani, Religious Education Assistant
Email: liberalfaith@ouuc.org
Website: http://ouuc.org
Location: 2315 Division Street Northwest, Olympia, WA, United States
Phone: 3607866383
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OlympiaUUC/
Twitter: @OlyUUC