OUUC Weekly Update 3-15-22
News from the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Worship Service March 20, 2022 at 10:00 am - online and in-person
“The Risk of Becoming” - Rev. Mary Gear
On this Spring Equinox when day and night are in balance, we explore the balance of risk and comfort. What does it mean to take the risk of growth and becoming?
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.
No RSVP required.
Thursday Evening Spiritual Practice
Music and meditation with Troy Fisher, Thursday at 7:00 pm.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82994463887?pwd=TkRaOTNWekdTaEx4VENiL0VoVjRPdz09
Meeting ID: 829 9446 3887
Passcode: 548890
Growing Together Soiree
Join us on Saturday, March 19 at 4:00 pm for “Growing Together Soiree” We will be in the OUUC commons. You are invited to join in person or online. There will be both live performances and pre-recorded performances. The program will last 45 minutes to an hour. It will be a great way to kick off our stewardship campaign. No reservations required.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89861897992?pwd=L2xaV3NFRytLN1NxQVBBbVAvK1ZCQT09
Meeting ID: 898 6189 7992
Passcode: 298501
Re-Opening OUUC
It’s not just the trees and flowers that are opening right now. With COVID levels coming down in Olympia and Thurston County, many places are opening, including OUUC.
Starting this Sunday, March 20, we will welcome whoever chooses to attend worship in the Sanctuary, no reservation is needed. We will continue to require masks inside and suspend coffee for now until the weather is a bit warmer outside. The choir will continue to sing in The Commons for now as we sort out the technical and safety issues. We welcome conversation in the Sanctuary and outside after the service.
We are also deciding about office hours and opening the building at regular times again. Read more....
Stewardship time is NOW
What? Another Stewardship Drive? This spring we will make a full year pledge so our budget can be planned for a whole year, July 1-June 30. This is because we moved the beginning of our fiscal year six months from January 1 to July 1. We hope you will make a pledge NOW to support our shared ministry and our shared values. What can we give to support this beautiful congregation? We give what we can of our time, talent and treasure so we may give of our best selves, who we truly are, or a vision of who we can become. Your giving helps make our shared vision a reality.
There will be a Soiree Choir concert this Saturday, March 19, at 4:00 pm on the theme of Growing Together. Look for an email with a Zoom link or find it above. We hope you will think of your Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation as your spiritual home as you experience this concert.
May we all make generosity a joyful spiritual practice.
Eric Ness, Stewardship Team member
COVID Phases
OUUC Women's Book Group
Calling All Gardeners
We have a limited supply of tools available so bring your favorite garden tools and gloves and a container for the weeds. If you have questions contact Anne Radford.
Membership Class
Quick Notes
Save the Dates:
*In-person dinner and auction on Saturday, May 14 at the Indian Summer Golf and Country Club.
*OUUC 70th Anniversary and Installation of Rev. Mary Gear on Saturday, June 4 at 2:00 pm at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd.
*Family Fun Picnic at Millersylvania on August 27.
Wednesdays, March 16 and 23, OUUC volunteers provide dinner for the guests at the Interfaith Works Equity Commons Adult Shelter and donate shelf-stable food for the children who receive the Food Bank’s Weekend Backpacks. To learn more and join this group of generous volunteers please contact Jo Ann Young.
Services for the Homeless in Thurston County: An Update. Registration is now open! We have secured speakers from 5 different agencies in the county that provide services for the unhoused. Please sign up and join us on March 22 at 7:00 pm via Zoom. Full class description.
Chalice Camp Registration Now Available - It is back! Our Beloved OUUC Chalice camp is scheduled for Monday, July 11- Friday, July 15. The Camp is designed for ages 5-10. What your child can expect from camp each day: arts and crafts, movement and music, snacks, meditation, stories, and outdoor play. Register here.
Joan Forst's obituary is available here.
All-Ages Equinox
Get Ready for the All-Ages Equinox Celebration, Sunday, March 20, noon-2:00 pm. Let’s welcome Spring by getting our hands in the dirt and starting some seeds. Come to the OUUC parking lot anytime between noon and 2:00 pm on Sunday, March 20 to decorate a pot, dig some dirt, and plant mystery seeds. Then take your seedling home and watch it grow. Prepackaged snacks provided. You can RSVP here.
The Sewing Ministry Wants You!
Our Sewing Ministry is looking for creative people who enjoy sewing. We have a couple of projects coming up that we could use some help with. OUUC is ready for a new banner to represent us at the upcoming General Assembly in June. We also want to create a new backdrop quilt for the Sanctuary. Can you help? Karen Jackson needs a co-chair to work with during the next year, after which Karen will step away from being team lead. Please contact Karen.
Behavioral Health Services in the Thurston County Courts and Jail
A Zoom Forum on Wednesday, March 23, 7:00 pm
NAMI Thurston-Mason and Justice not Jails present a Zoom forum to educate the public about behavioral health services available in the Thurston County jail and treatment courts. These services are critical to helping people recover their lives after being involved with the justice system. Read more....
In the Larger Community
Learn more about the following events and others here.
An adult female Ukrainian refugee will be arriving in the Olympia area soon. If you are interested in providing temporary housing, please contact the church office for more information.
Friday's For the Future Climate Rally! Plan to attend a climate change rally on March 25. It's a global event and strike, begun by Greta Thunberg, part of Fridays for Future. The rally will begin at 12 at Heritage Park, then we'll march to the Olympia city hall, where there will be speakers and local musicians.
Combatting Anti-Trans Legislation 101 with The Trevor Project: Political Education Seminar. Tuesday, March 15, 5:00 pm PT. Register here.
JUUstice Washington’s 2022 Environmental Justice Summit is here! Saturday March 19 will have a panel discussion on Rights of Nature. Saturday, March 26 includes an Environmental Legislative Review. Register here.
From Side with Love’s Fun and Nourishment Team: Saying “Yes, and…!” to the Spirit: Bringing Grounding, Creativity, and Joy into Our Justice Work, Sunday, March 20, 1:00-2:30 pm PT Sign Up.
Thurston’s Hunger Walk 2022. keep our hungry neighbors fed: The Thurston County Food Bank and The Community Kitchen. I encourage you - starting today, to go to our donation page to easily/safely donate online www.thurstonhungerwalk.com then scroll down to OUUC. Last year OUUC raised $2,520 for The Hunger Walk. Let’s see if we can match that or even reach $2,800 this year.
March 25-27: Jubilee Three Anti-Racism Training. We will address how racism was constructed in the U.S., how it works systemically in this country, the intersection of racism and classism, the intersection of racism and gender, how we have all been socialized into systems and a culture historically built from white supremacy, a theme that runs through the training.
The Unitarian Universalist Women’s Federation is hiring a full-time grassroots organizer to organize and help manage and implement existing and new justice advocacy programs.
Read more....
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: 360-634-2005
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OlympiaUUC/
Twitter: @OlyUUC