“Christmas Morning Celebration” with Rev. Mary Gear & Troy Fisher. Welcome all who wish to gather Christmas morning for carol singing and words of inspiration. Online and in-person at 10:00 am.

Children are welcome in the worship service. Nursery care is not available on Christmas Day.

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.

These past months we’ve been in observation mode and in conversation as we pondered how to be welcoming and sustainable with a full sanctuary space. It has been great to welcome many visitors and new members!

After a Fall surge in onsite attendance, we’ve seen a decrease in attendance at OUUC and steady or increasing attendance online with weather and rising Covid concerns. We've also looked at the impact of offering two services on volunteers, including the OUUC choir, and staff, as well as the budget.

With fresh information, we’ve decided to wait on offering two services. We’ve re-arranged the sanctuary (again!) and added chairs. We’ll continue to monitor attendance and welcome to see when two services are called for again.

In the meantime, you can help make room for everyone by sitting in the choir chairs when the choir isn’t singing and moving to the center of the aisle to make end seats available for latecomers.

Thank you for your help in welcoming everyone.

Happy Holidays!

Rev. Mary

Minister@ouuc.org

Making charitable contributions (like to OUUC!) before the end of the calendar can have tax advantages, at least for some.

For example, if you are over 72, and you have a traditional Individual Retirement Account (IRA), you may be able to make a “qualified charitable distribution” as part of your “required minimum distribution” from your IRA. This effectively lets you make a donation without paying taxes on that distribution – a win-win. You benefit, as does the church. Contact your tax adviser.

The standard deduction on your tax returns has increased in recent years, making itemizing of deductions less common. However, if you are close to qualifying for itemizing, it may be possible to “double up” your charitable donations in 2022 (combining them with anticipated donations for 2023) enabling you to itemize for 2022. Just make sure that OUUC knows if you are paying future pledge commitments (such as for the capital campaign) early.

The church office will be closed from December 26-30.

Important Year-End Donation Information - We are grateful for your generous donations and want to make sure you know some important information for your year-end gifts. Our church office will be closed between Christmas and New Year’s Day. If you would like your contributions to be included on your 2022 end-of-year statement, please drop off your cash or check donations to the church office by December 25 or be sure they are postmarked before December 31. A good way to be sure your contributions are processed before the end of the year is to consider making an online gift.

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

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

Learn more about the following events and others here.

The UUA’s UPLIFT Trans/Nonbinary Gathering for December 2022 will be held on the THIRD Tuesday (December 20). Info.

The UUA Worship Web is offering a music event via Zoom on Tuesday, January 10. Rev. Erika Hewitt, the UUA's Minister of Worship Arts, and Paul Vasile, Executive Director of Music That Makes Community, invite you to come to play, sing, and learn with them in a live, hour-long webinar. Advance registration is required. Learn more here.

Join The Lutheran Church of The Good Shepherd for a renewing day of building community through congregational singing, learning, and fellowship on Saturday, January 21 from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm. We’ll be led by Paul Vasile and Elizabeth Schroeder of Music that Makes Community, a non-profit organization working to empower and liberate communities through singing. For over 15 years, they have developed and shared transformative leadership practices with musicians, clergy, educators, and lay leaders throughout the United States and Canada.

Winter 2022 Cascadia Chalice Lighters Call - The more than $900,000 the Chalice Lighter community has given since 1990 to help our neighbor congregations grow and thrive is vital. The Winter 2022 Cascadia Chalice Lighters Call will go to two different recipients. Please support these worthy causes with your generous donations.

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