OUUC Weekly Update 9-28-21
News from the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Worship Service October 3 - online and in-person by RSVP
“Tending Our Souls”- Rev. Mary Gear
We begin our exploration of the spiritual theme of “loving” from the OUUC vision and launch our Stewardship Drive. What does it mean to tend our individual souls? The soul of our community? The soul of our institution, OUUC?
Join us for Online Worship.
RSVP for in-person worship here.
See recordings of online services here.
Thursday Evening Spiritual Practice
Sara Lewis offers a guided meditation for awareness and connection. Zoom only.
Join us on Thursday evenings to nourish your soul and build community.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82994463887?pwd=TkRaOTNWekdTaEx4VENiL0VoVjRPdz09
Meeting ID: 829 9446 3887
Passcode: 548890
Do You Have Big Questions?
Do you have big questions you'd like Rev. Mary to speak about? This is your opportunity!
I plan to offer a Question Box service on October 10, which will be crafted by you. I invite you to send me your theological questions, your big questions, your burning questions. I'll answer some of them in the service and use others to create services in the months to come.
You can send your questions to minister@ouuc.org
Thank you in advance! - Rev. Mary
P.S. We will hold our monthly Q&A session after the service on October 17, so please plan to bring your non-theological question to that forum.
Membership Class
Saturday October 23, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm. Taught by Rev. Mary Gear, Sara Lewis, and congregational leaders. Not a member yet? For those who are new to Unitarian Universalism, completing the following three classes is required for membership. Already a member? You may refresh or deepen your understanding of what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist. Classes will offer ample opportunity for discussion and reflection. Together, we will explore UU and OUUC basics such as our theology or beliefs, how we are organized, and what we do together as a faith community. It’s the basics, but with plenty of time for going deep in your understanding of those core elements of being a member here. Register Here
October 3 Worship Service Outside at OUUC and on Zoom!
Sunday looks to be a nice Fall day in Olympia, so we’ll offer an outdoor service again. The details are below.
In-person Registration: We’ll offer registration for about 40 people outside at OUUC. Please feel free to register and attend in person, especially if you have not felt comfortable on Zoom. You can register here.
Weather: Right now, it looks like Sunday will be partly sunny and cool. Please dress for the weather. We will make a final decision about the outdoor service on Saturday morning. If we decide to go all online, we’ll send an email to anyone who registered, so please check your email. We’ll also post updates on the OUUC website.
Safety: We’ll continue our care for each other with masks and distancing for those onsite. Plan to self-screen and sign in when you arrive in person.
Other October services:
We’ll decide each week whether the service will be in-person and online or online only based on the weather prediction. We are committed to outdoor services as long as the weather holds. We’ll move to the sanctuary when the HVAC work is completed, which is expected at the end of October.
Please know that we plan to continue offering services online in the future. Streaming services was a goal when I arrived at OUUC more than two years ago, and the pandemic helped us realize this goal. We know that many are joining us and will continue to do so indefinitely.
Thank you for your understanding and grace as we seek to be inclusive to everyone.
COVID Phases
Share the Plate Applications
Since 2004, the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation has shared its weekly offerings with community nonprofits that embody UU principles. Through OUUC’s Share the Plate program each year, members contribute financially and learn about the work of 6 non-profits. In 2021, each organization received approximately $2,000-$3,000 after the two-month period it was featured. Please share with interested organizations: Share the Plate. Applications for 2022 funding are due on November 1. Help is available to assist applicants to prepare for the submission of their application. We are looking for organizations that embody the UU seven principles and are always focused on engaging a more diversified set of recipients. Thank you – Share the Plate Committee
Website Launch Date
Great news: we now have a launch date for our brand new OUUC website! We will start transitioning content over to the new site on November 1, and you will be able to see it live on November 3 or 4. Several members have already seen the new design, and most have remarked on what a vast improvement it is, both aesthetically and functionally, over our current OUUC website. I am so excited for you all to see it and use it starting in November. Throughout October, I will be providing some resources like previews, tours, and tutorials of the new site so you all can get a glimpse of what we’ll be working with. You can find these materials in the Weekly Update. Read more....
7th-9th Grade Our Whole Lives
Our Whole Lives (OWL) is our very well-regarded sexuality education program. This year we will offer it for 7th-9th graders on Thursday evenings from 6:30-8:30 pm, beginning October 21.
The class will be limited to 12 participants, and parents need to attend a mandatory orientation. We will offer two dates for orientation, October 13 and 14, 6:30-8:30 pm. Registration for the orientation is required, and the capacity for each orientation is capped at 15 people.
Register here for October 13.
Register here for October 14.
Quick Notes
Rev Mary continues offering a weekly tea for up to 8 people through the end of October. Meetings are outside if the weather permits and inside as needed. Safety precautions help protect all of us. Please use this link to register for tea.
Covenant Circles are Starting! There is still room in the Friday morning circle that begins this Friday, 10:30 am. Register now! Small Group Ministry: Covenant Circles « OUUC
See a list of online meetings that you might attend here.
Ways to Give - Did you know you can donate to OUUC by text message? Just text "OUUC" and "amount" to 73256. You can also donate online by visiting our secure online giving page.
Art Journaling
The Art Journaling workshop on Saturday morning, October 16, led by Linda Selsor, still has a couple of spaces available. Art journaling can be an engaging form of spiritual practice that blends more traditional journaling and intuitive painting or collage. You’ll learn the basics and ways to adapt the practice to make it your own. For more information and to register, see the Adult Education page on the church website.
OUUC Feeds People!
Three ways to help feed our homeless neighbors:
1. Provide a main or side dish for each third or fourth Wednesday for the evening meal at the Interfaith Works Adult Shelter.
2. Donate shelf-stable foods for the families and homeless teens who come to the Lacey Family Resource Center.
3. Volunteer to bring a dish for dinner at Hope Village on the second Sunday of the month.
For more information, please contact Jo Ann Young.
October Challenge
We’re coming to the end of September and our “Reduce Your Fossil Fuel Footprint” Challenge! We hope you have downloaded the spreadsheet and kept track of home and transportation energy use. If you haven’t, there’s still time to send in your scores by October 8!
Our October Challenge is: Reduce Food Waste!
Consider the following:
• Globally, about 8% of greenhouse gases are from the food that is wasted.
• In the US, food waste creates more greenhouse gases than the airline industry.
Read more....
In the Larger Community
You are invited to join First Unitarian in Portland for Anti-Racism Learning Circles, which begin in early to mid-October. Since it’s on Zoom, you can join from anywhere! Read more....
March for Reproductive Right - Saturday, October 2 at 2:00 pm. Details and to RSVP.
Join Green Faith Olympia and the OUUC Environmental Action Team on October 18, 5:00 pm at Olympia's Peace and Healing Park (formerly Fertile Grounds) for prayer and action around climate change.
CIELO invites you to Celebrate with them! CIELO is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year... with a virtual gala! On the evening of October 16, 2021, at 7:00 pm, MOSAIC premieres online. Follow the link to CIELO's website and click on the event logo to learn how to attend and participate. ¡Festejemos!
Join Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice in advocating for Voter Rights:
Please write your Senators now using the Write Here! Write Now (WHWH) materials, and ask them to support both the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Read more....
Social Witness Convening Session 1 - October 6, at 7:00 pm ET, Online. At the UUA General Assembly this past June, the delegates voted to affirm three bold statements for healing action. The delegates also adopted a formal UUA Statement of Conscience on Undoing Systemic White Supremacy. Join these two meetings to find out what UU leaders around the country are doing, what you can do, and who you can partner with to carry forward these bold actions full of inspiring possibilities. Read more and register.
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: 3607866383
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OlympiaUUC/
Twitter: @OlyUUC