OUUC Weekly Update 8-23-22
News from the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Worship Service August 28 at 10:00 am - online and in-person
“The Middle Way is Full of Flowers” – Lucia Wyss
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.
Sunday Talk Show Guest is Dieter Jacobs
The “After Church with Melanie Ransom” talk show continues this Sunday with special guest, Dieter Jacobs. Dieter is the son of long-time members Bob and Bonnie Jacobs, and grew up attending the church in Tumwater. The show starts at 11:30 am on the Zoom link we use for online church services. If you missed some of the previous shows, you can find them on the website. Many of us come to OUUC for the theology or the minister, but we stay because of our life-long connections to the people. –Melanie Ransom
Join Us at the Picnic This Saturday!
We will be at Millersylvania State Park on August 27, 2:00 -7:30 pm.
Remember your Discover or day pass for the State Park.
There will be fun activities like crafts, nature walks, games, a campfire-style sing-along, and more! Potluck dinner will be shared around 5:00 pm.
Things to bring: a Discover Pass for parking or a state park day pass, a potluck dish to share, beverages (no alcohol), your own reusable dishes and cutlery if you have some, and camp chairs if you have them. Questions, contact Rev Sara.
Open Study/Action Circles
You can now register for four new Study/Action Circles that will be facilitated this year by Rev Sara:
A drop-in group on the 1st Tuesdays, 6:30-8:00 pm.
A Parent group on 2nd Tuesdays, 6:30-8:00 pm.
A Leadership group on 3rd Tuesdays, 6:30-8:00 pm.
A “Spirituality and Racial Justice” group on the 4th Tuesdays, 6:30-8:00 pm.
Registration links are here: Study and Action Circles: A Small Group Program (ouuc.org)
For more information, contact Rev Sara.
This Fall at OUUC
Faith in Action Alerts
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. Look for a group called Faith in Action Alerts.
If you need help joining a group or with using Realm, contact the OUUC Office.
Calling All Welcoming and Helpful People!
Being an Usher on Sunday morning is an important way to support our welcoming and inclusive community. Please join us, at OUUC, for an Usher Training, whether you’re an existing usher volunteer or you’re newly interested, on Tuesday, August 30, 6:00-8:00 pm.
We’ll go over the basics, Covid Safety, and more. All are welcome!
OUUC Staffing Update
We are happy to welcome Andrea Capere this week as our Communications Specialist. Andrea comes with a wealth of experience in media and communications in the US and internationally. We're also sad to say goodbye to Kevin Wenger. We came to the realization that his primary job made it hard to meet OUUC's needs, so we are seeking a Tech Specialist again.
Thank you for welcoming our new people and adapting to transitions once again. - Rev. Mary
A Few Words from OUUC’s Parish Nurse
Our Parish Nurse, Ann Yeo, has written previously about gratitude (usually near the Thanksgiving holiday). Thinking again on the subject, just recently, she realized (of course) that gratitude is not limited to a particular time of year. Last fall, she wrote about the results of a Google search that explored the possible benefits of practicing gratitude. Those benefits can impact our physical, mental and emotional, social, and spiritual health. In a grateful mood at this time, Ann decided to re-share that information with YOU. Read more....
Rob Radford Memorial Service
OUUC will host a memorial service for Rob Radford at 10:30 am on September 10. Please consider volunteering to support the event. We need people to help with the following: Set up prior to the event (9:30-10:30 am), Take down and clean up (12:00-1:00 pm), Ushers, Kitchen help - serving drinks and finger food, Provide and set up flowers, Make or bring cookies or finger foods. If you can help, please contact Melanie Ransom with your contact information and how you would like to help.
Water Communion and Ingathering
We’ll gather in all the ways that we can on September 11 to begin another congregational program year together! School begins, the rain begins, and the church year begins, again. Our spiritual theme for September is “welcome.’ As we welcome a new year, we welcome each other. As has been the tradition at OUUC and many UU congregations, we mark our ingathering with a water communion; we mingle water from our summer activities, and we build community once more. If you plan to attend in person, remember to bring water from someplace meaningful for you. We’ll also have water available to symbolize your water. If you plan to attend online, please remember to have some water available that you can pour as you share its significance in the chat.
School Supply Drive
Last Week to Bring Donations! The box is not nearly full enough - help these kids out! OUUC is collecting throughout August for children and teens in Tacoma who need help getting ready for a new school year. There will be a box in the Commons and you can drop things off on Sundays or during office hours Tues and Thurs 10-2pm, or by arrangement with Rev Sara.
Items Needed: backpacks, markers, crayons, multi-colored highlighters, scissors (left and right-handed), colored pencils, earbuds, pens, mechanical pencils, glue sticks, graph paper, and lined paper.
Help the Adopt-a-Plot Team, etc.
Come help the Adopt-a-Plot team at the next work party, Saturday, August 27 at 9:00 am. The grounds need an extra bit of TLC before the opening of the Church year. Bring your favorite tools and strong arms and backs! We hope to get some mulch spread as well as do some general weeding and tidying. There will be treats!
Also, Save the Date! Building and Grounds & EAT will be having an "After Work" work party Friday, September 9 at 6:00 pm to clean up the building area. The Thursday Men's Group will be offering burgers, etc. Please RSVP to Joe Joy so we can plan sufficient refreshments.
OUUC to be Recognized by Quixote Communities
The Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation was one of the founding faith communities for Camp Quixote. Many of you who were at OUUC in the early 2010s helped shelter, feed, and care for vulnerable community members in the church parking lot. Since then, Quixote Villages has provided tiny homes to more than 100 people.
OUUC will be recognized by Quixote Communities at a fundraising event on Saturday, September 17 from 6:30-9:30 pm at Olympia’s Hands on Children’s Museum. Read more....Quick Notes
Church Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm.
Book collection and sorting for OUUC's November 5 Books Brownies & Beans charity book sale kicks off on Sunday, September 18. Contact the church office to find out how you can help.
A message from the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee: "Thank you to all who participated in the OUUC Auction! Thank you for your donation to the UU Service Committee to support their work worldwide!" Download a copy of the letter from the UUSC below.
Water Communion and Ingathering: September 11 at 10:00 am. As has been the tradition at OUUC and many UU congregations, we mark our ingathering with a water communion; we mingle water from our summer activities, and we build community once more. If you plan to attend in person, remember to bring water from someplace meaningful for you. We’ll also have water available to symbolize your water. If you plan to attend online, please remember to have some water available that you can pour as you share its significance in the chat.
Blessing of the Backpacks, Sunday, September 11 at 11:30 am - Students of all ages are invited to attend a Blessing the Backpacks ritual to mark the return to school on September 11 (after the water communion service). Bring your backpack, book bag, briefcase, etc. to be blessed and to receive a bag charm.
COVID Phase: Low. Please see our Phased Reopening Plan for information.
Safety Reminder: Please lock and remove valuables from your vehicles.
Join a Team!
Joining a Team at OUUC is a great way to get connected and give back to the community. Teams are how we get stuff done around here! Teams that are looking for members right now:
Adult Education Team (meets 4th Thurs 2:30 pm on Zoom)
(New!) Anti-Racism Team (meets 2nd Mondays 6:30 pm on Zoom)
(New!) Economic Justice Team (meets 4th Mondays 6:30 pm on Zoom)
Member Engagement Team (meets 3rd Mondays 6:30 pm on Zoom)
If you are interested in any of these teams, contact Rev Sara.
Thursday Night Community Dinners!
Starting September 15, we will be holding weekly community dinners at OUUC every Thursday. All are welcome to join us at 5:30 pm for dinner and then stay for spiritual practices, other programming, or board games in the Commons. Volunteer now to support these dinners. We’ll be cooking and preparing the food together in the kitchen and then putting it out for the dinner line. Or you can bring Cookies. Or help clean up!
Common Read
Join us in reading the UU Common Read: Defund Fear by Zach Norris. This fascinating book explores our current punitive system of safety and what the possibilities are for a more just, loving, and also safe way of being together. There will be a one-session workshop on the book on Thursday, October 6, 6:30 pm, and a Study/Action Circle will form around the book following that workshop. We have ordered 10 copies of the book that can be obtained by talking to Rev Sara, or you can find it at your favorite bookseller or library.
In the Larger Community
Learn more about the following events and others here.
Space still Available: If you have been meaning to divest your personal finances away from funding fossil fuel extraction, production, and distribution - workshops on August 26, 4:00-5:30 pm, and September 9, 5:00-6:30 pm.
Braiding Sweetgrass Study/Action Group - A community friend of OUUC is offering a study/action group around the book Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. This group will meet for 12 weeks starting September 7 at 7:00 pm, with zoom and some outdoor gatherings.
The AARP Tax-Aide Program desperately needs volunteers to provide free income tax preparation and e-filing services to taxpayers of all ages and incomes, with a special emphasis on the elderly and those most in need in our community. Our district provides services at 6 sites throughout Thurston County libraries, community centers, and senior centers.
Some may be aware that at one time many subdivisions and homes had racially restrictive covenants. These live on in needs as property ownership changes, and thousands still exist, though they are illegal. A law was passed last year to allow property owners to remove the covenants free of charge. The Thurston County auditor's office has been working with the University of Washington to identify thousands of deeds that might have these covenants and notify owners of the opportunity to remove them. They are looking for volunteers to read the deeds to confirm whether the covenants do exist. A link if you are interested or would like to pass it along to friends and neighbors.
UU Class Conversations shares a job posting for a caucus coordinator. While for all UUs, this job may be of particular interest to divinity students and community ministers. Our Working Class Caucuses, meeting from January – June 2023 will focus on those who identify as working-class and will generate recommendations for UU congregations and our larger association on ways that their policies and procedures can become more welcoming for people with more limited class advantage.
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
Office Hours
Tuesday and 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