OUUC Weekly Update 2-14-23
News from the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Worship Service February 19 at 10:00 am - online and in-person
"On Liberation” with Rev. Mary Gear
We explore the monthly spiritual theme of liberation. Are freedom and liberation the same? What are we as a people of faith called to do for collective liberation?
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.
Plan to attend the Board Listening session at 11:30 am, on Zoom or in-person in the sanctuary.
Happening This Week
Thursday Community Dinner is for everyone! Every Thursday 5:30-6:30 pm
On February 16 dinner is pasta.
This week we could use some help! Volunteer.
After the dinner the program events are:
6:30-7:30 pm Kids Making $ense class
6:30 pm 7-9th grade Our Whole Lives Class
6:30 pm Building the World We Dream About class
7:00 pm Spiritual Practice (Karaoke)
Karaoke Night!
Join us in the sanctuary following community dinner on Thursday, February 16 at 7:00 pm for a fun night of karaoke hosted by OUUC Communications Specialist, Andrea Capere. This family-friendly affair will focus on love songs. Shout your love from the proverbial mountaintops or heal your heartbreak through song among friends. All are welcome!
Please note: Due to copyright and licensing concerns this event will not be on Zoom or YouTube.
Volunteer - Provide Food
Tomorrow night, February 15, and next Wednesday, February 22, are the nights this month that OUUC Volunteers are to provide main and side dishes for the guests at the Interfaith Works Equity Shelter, and shelf-stable food for the Food Bank’s Weekend Backpacks for Kids and Teens.
Still needed both nights at the Shelter are two main dishes. Please contact JoAnn Young if you can join our congregation’s outreach to these adults and children who are in need in our community.
Ministry Programs
Learning Right Relations Gathering: Elizabeth Satiacum
Sunday, February 19, 1:30 - 3:30 pm. Elizabeth Satiacum is an activist and teacher, working on such projects as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Tribal Canoe Journeys, pipeline protests, Indigenous People's Day, Tribal Talk Radio, and more with special attention paid to Native youth. She will join us for a meal following her presentation and conversation. Bring a dish for the potluck if you can make it in person. Please help us plan by registering. You must register here if you want to join via Zoom. Read more and register.....
Youth Climate Teach In
Sunday, February 26 at 11:30 am, at OUUC and on Zoom.
Youth from the Thurston Youth Climate Coalition will be leading a Teach-In about the Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan here at OUUC on February 26, following our worship service. Please join us online or at OUUC to learn more about local climate issues and to support these youth climate activists.
4th-5th Grade Our Whole Lives starting soon!
Learn more about OWL: Our Whole Lives: Lifespan Sexuality Education | UUA.org
March 5, 3:00-5:00 pm Parent Orientation (mandatory, if you cannot make this date you need to make arrangements for a makeup orientation with Rev Sara Lewis.
Classes Sundays 3:30-5:00 pm, March 12-May 21 (no class on April 9).
No fee for this class, suggested donation of $100-$200 or any amount that is right for you RSVP to Rev Sara. Registration forms will be available after attending an orientation.
Capital Campaign Follow Up
Although the “Funding Our Future” Capital Campaign formally ended in January, we have continued to receive commitments. For a full update please visit the Funding Our Future page. We are still $35,835 short of fully funding the projects the Board identified as critical last August. We have enough for the furnace repair project, which is already in progress.
If you missed the campaign, there’s still time! Just go to the Realm Giving Page and add your donation.
The Capital Campaign Committee and the Board would like to thank these recent donors. For the full list of donors, please visit the Funding Our Future page. Names shared only with permission: Shelley and Darryl Kaurin, Alice Curtis, Maggie Post and John Eliasson, Maureen (Mo) Lally, and Ari Hall with loving memory of Evelyn Greenberg and Ruth Weber.
Olly, olly in-come-free! Return your hymnals to OUUC!
When we shut down for Covid almost 3 years ago, we checked out hymnals to those who wanted them so we could all sing together on Zoom. Now, as many return to the OUUC sanctuary, we are running out of hymnals on Sunday mornings. If you have at your home gray or teal hymnals that belong to OUUC and you are no longer using them there, please return them to OUUC. You can drop them off during office hours on Tuesday-Thursday between 10:00 am-2:00 pm, on Thursday evenings, or you can bring them on Sunday morning for our 10:00 am service. Plus, you can receive a book exchange for your hymnals! Once you've returned your hymnal(s), see Rev. Sara for a book from her UU book cart.
Equity Library Open!
“If we are to change the inequity in our country, we must not forget to give our youngest citizens the understanding and knowledge they will need to bring those changes.” (Source unknown)
Equity Library is the new OUUC mini-library book cart that is full of beautiful books about OUUC’s Social Justice areas of study—- Antiracism, Environment Justice, and Economic Justice, and books of Native American stories and religions of the world. Located in the RE wing, and next to the drinking fountains, you find books to read and discuss with kids of all ages - teens, parents, and other adults. On the bulletin board is simple check-out and return information. NEW Library’s hours are ANY TIME THE OUUC BUILDING IS OPEN. This month’s featured book is Born on the Water—the beautifully illustrated story of bringing slavery to the United States.
Membership Class
Are you interested in membership at OUUC, or just looking to learn more about UUism and how the congregation works?
The next Membership Class will be offered on Saturday, March 25, 10:00 am-2:00 pm. All are welcome, including those who are just curious and those who are already members but want a refresher!
In the Larger Community
Learn more about the following events and others here.
Nominations Sought for 2023 Peacemaker Award - The Dispute Resolution Center of Thurston County (DRC) is seeking nominations for the 2023 Evan Ferber Peacemaker Leadership Award. Established in honor of DRC Founding Executive Director Evan Ferber, this annual award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership in strengthening civil discourse and promoting peaceful dispute resolution and civility.
Members of the community are encouraged to submit nominations for this award.
Photo: Jose Gutierrez Jr., a young community activist, and mediator who died as a result of complications from COVID-19 in 2021 was honored with the 2022 Peacemaker Award. His sister, Stella Haioulani accepted the award on behalf of Jose's family.
Read more....
About Us
Sara Lewis, Director of Community and Faith Development
Darlene Sarkela, Congregational Administrator
Andrea Capere, Communications Specialist
Marie Arensmeyer, Facilities Manager
Anissa Bentlemsani, Religious Education Assistant
Carbon Marshall, Tech Specialist
Office Hours
Tuesday - 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