OUUC Weekly Update 12-11-19
News from the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Worship Services December 15, services at 9:15 and 11:00 am
We Have Come a Long Way Together: Seven OUUC travelers return from visiting our partner church in Kissolymos, Transylvania and share stories of faith and community.
For over 25 years our congregation has benefited from the relationship and generosity of the Unitarians in Kissolymos, Romania. Through mutual support and learning, we have built a bridge between our faiths, traditions, and people. From mid-September to mid-October 2019, 7 UU members and friends from Olympia traveled to Transylvania and spent a week in Kissolymos. We will share stories of our journey, what we learned and how this enduring partnership together has broadened our sense of community and maintained a connection across the continents.
Listen to recent sermons here.
Holiday Happenings
Christmas Eve services are at 5:30 and 9:00 pm on Tuesday, December 24. Our annual choir concert is at 2:00 pm on Saturday, December 21 and at 7:00 pm on Sunday, December 22.
See our full holiday schedule here.
From Rev. Mary - I'm Listening
This past Sunday was an awesome day! (Yes, it's a nod to our monthly spiritual theme.)
Over these past months, several of you have requested that I post the text of my sermons on the web so that you can read them and gather information about the people and things that I reference. With many thanks to Riley McLaughlin, the recordings are already posted regularly, unless there are copyright concerns.
I've consulted with Darlene, our Congregational Administrator and we've decided to give this a try. I'll do my best to get the sermon text and some additional information to Darlene in a timely manner, and she'll do her best to get it posted on the web. Access pdfs of sermons here or here.
I am so gratified that the services get such a reaction—they move you, inspire you, challenge you, stir something in you. Thank you for asking and please let me know if posting the text is useful. Read more....
The Giving Tree
The Giving Tree still has LOTS of gift tags to be claimed! Some of the children at Olympia Regional Learning Academy (ORLA) who might otherwise have a bleak holiday, will receive gifts from OUUC Santas this year. Each tag has the age, gender, and a suggested gift for that child. We need all gifts WRAPPED AND LABELED in the box in the Commons by December 18 for delivery to the school. Not a shopper? You may donate any amount in the office; please specify it is for the Giving Tree. Let’s make this holiday season a happy one for the children on our gift list.
Care Packages
The OUUC Teen Faith in Action Leadership Council will be collecting necessities for our local unhoused community. These items will then be used to create care packages that will be delivered this winter. Following is a list of suggested items we will be needing for this project. Look for the donation box in the Religious Education entryway all of the month of December to drop off items. Requested Donation Items: socks, hats, gloves, scarves, hand warmers, AA or AAA batteries, granola bars or other individually packaged snacks, wet wipes, tissues, napkins, bandaids, foot care items, and chapstick.
Join the Kitchen Crew
Do You Have the Need to Feed? The OUUC Community Kitchen crew is looking for more volunteers to prepare and serve nutritious meals to our hungry and homeless neighbors. This is a once a month commitment, third Friday of each month, between 3:30 – 6:30 pm. Dinners are prepared at the Salvation Army building on 4th & Plum. For more information please contact Karmel Shields, Crew leader.
Do you need help exploring and processing grief? The Bereavement Grief Group meets Thursday, December 12 at 5:30 pm.
Soul Matters Drop-In Circle - Sunday, December 15 at 12:30 pm.*
*More information available in this Weekly Update.
Soul Matters
All are welcome at the Drop-In Soul Matters Circle this Sunday, reflecting upon the December theme of "Awe". Marcia Killum-Nunn is facilitating this month, and lunch will be provided beforehand. Participants are invited to bring food to contribute also if they can. If you would like to receive a theme packet by email before the meeting, contact Sara Lewis.
Our Whole Lives
Our Whole Lives is a comprehensive, holistic, values-based sexuality education program offered at developmentally appropriate levels for various ages. Our 4th-5th Grade program begins January 26 and runs for 10 weeks, Sundays 12:45-2:45 pm. There is a mandatory Parent Orientation on January 12, 12:45-3:45 pm. To register or for questions, contact Sara Lewis or click here.
Adult Education Catalog Available
The class catalog for our Winter and Spring Adult Education offerings is out! There are many wonderful classes, some early ones you shouldn't miss: Instant Pot cooking - January 21,
Plant-Based Meal Planning - January 25, Stories for the Age of Climate Change - January 27, UUA Common Read - January 29, Movement Action Plans - January 31. For a full catalog list and to register, click here.
Quick Notes
Save the Date for the OUUC Choir annual holiday concert. Saturday, December 21 at 2:00 pm and Sunday, December 22 at 7:00 pm.
Holiday Food Super Sort – Join the Teen Faith In Action Leadership Council, volunteering at the Thurston County Food Bank on December 14, 1:00 – 3:00 pm. To sign up, email Sara Lewis.
Return your Guest at Your Table boxes or donation envelopes to the youth in the Commons on December 22. If you make your donation directly to the UUSC, please let Sara know so she can count it toward our total OUUC generosity. Questions, contact Sara Lewis.
Read This Week in Religious Education here.
Holiday Shopping? Support OUUC - Please buy local products whenever possible. However, if you do shop at Amazon.com, please start your purchase by clicking on the Amazon button here (and check out within 24 hours), so OUUC can receive a commission on your purchase.
Immigration Justice
In July, OUUC sponsored an Immigration Justice event at the church, and collected contributions to benefit two groups working with immigrants and refugees at the southern border. This week, Faith in Action Ministry received this message from Olympia volunteers in Tijuana: ”We gave the UU check to Hugo Castro at Border Angels and he was so pleased. We keep hearing from a deported vet that the UUs are doing great work here in Tijuana.” Learn more about the work of Border Angels here. A letter from No More Deaths/No Mas Muertes, based in the UU Church of Tucson, expressed its gratitude for our contribution to support its work helping families driven to cross Arizona’s dangerous west desert.
Blue Aprons
Big thanks to our loyal Blue Apron team cooks, who have provided meals to over 1000 shelter guests this year! For December 18, we are looking for volunteers to bring the usual 4 main dishes, 4 sides and 2 servers. The 4th Wednesday this year falls on December 25, and we are planning a celebration for shelter guests but with store-bought or take-out--pizza --so that no cooks need to spend Christmas in the kitchen. We hope you will consider donating a few dollars to the Faith in Action Fund. You can put cash or check donations in the special box at the shelter table in the Commons on December 15 or 22 - or drop off a check in the church office. Make your check out to OUUC, with the notation: Faith in Action Fund. For information, contact Billie Williams (food or cash donations), Jo Ann Young (serving or cash donations).
Great News for UUs and OUUC
Just in time for your holiday shopping, locally-owned “Browsers Bookshop” at 107 Capital Way N has made a huge order of hundreds of titles from Skinner House and Beacon Press, the two UUA publishing lines and will set up a special shelf/display for these books in the store. Even better, Browsers is further supporting OUUC in two ways: First, with a few authors excepted, whenever any of these Beacon/Skinner House books sell at the store (to anyone), Browsers will donate 30% of the cover price to OUUC. Second, whenever an OUUC member or friend asks at checkout, 10% of that person’s entire purchase (of anything from the store except gift cards) will be donated to OUUC (including the Beacon authors excluded from the 30% donation).
Social Groups
PUGs (Powerful Unitarian Universalist Gals) - All women are welcome to join us for fellowship and conversation. Wednesdays 10:30 - Noon, PUGs at OUUC meets in the Youth Room. You may bring a beverage in your own container. - Contact Pat Sonnenstuhl.
Ladies Unitarian Social – All who identify as women and who are affiliated with OUUC, and their guests, are welcome at Lady Unitarian Social Hour. We meet weekly on Tuesday afternoons from 4:30 to 6:00 pm to share conversation and refreshments. Please feel free to drop in at any of our weekly gatherings. December 17 - Doubletree Inn, 415 Capitol Way North. - Contact Meliz Maatta or Emily Ray.
Guy’s TGIT meets on Thursdays at 4:30 pm. December 12 - TBA. - Contact Bernie Brady.
MUGs (Mighty Unitarian Guys) meets for eclectic discussions every Thursday morning from 10:00 to 11:00 am at Traditions Cafe in downtown Olympia. Men of all ages are welcome. - Contact Otto Buls.
In the Larger Community
Have you ever dreamed of visiting Alaska? If so, WhaleCoast Alaska 2020 is for you! 4 Alaska UU congregations invite you to experience our unique environmental/ cultural/spiritual program this summer. See Alaska through the eyes of local UUs, with friendly homestays and unique tour activities. See wildlife, including moose, bears, caribou, whales, bald eagles, sea lions, etc. Visit Denali National Park. Experience Native Alaskan culture. Forget the cruise ships -- our program is truly the best way to visit Alaska! Tours led by Dave Frey, member of the Fairbanks UU congregation and Alaska travel expert. Find out more about this Alaskan trip of a lifetime. Complete info available here or email. Discount for groups of 8 or more. We would love to share our Alaska with you!
About Us
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