OUUC Weekly Update 3-14-23
News from the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Worship Service March 19 at 10:00 am - online and in-person
“Ritual of Lamentation for Racism” with Rev. Mary Gear and Rev. Sara Lewis.
In this month of commitment, we mourn those lost to racism and recommit ourselves to
justice for all.
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.
After Service Forum: Proposed OUUC Behavioral Covenant presented by the Covenant Writing Team and Rev. Mary Gear.
Survey About Sundays and Thursdays!
Please take a bit of time to fill out our new survey about the offerings on Sundays and Thursdays. We want to hear from you!
Happening This Week
Thursday Community Dinner is for everyone!
Every Thursday 5:30-6:30 pm
This Thursday the Stewardship Team is taking over the Thursday Night Dinner and bringing us all Irish Sundaes! Come 5:30-6:30 pm for the dinner - it will be a fun time!
Spiritual Practices after, at 7:00 pm, will be led by Frances Tanaka and Anne Kohlbry, with some Irish blessings and movement practice.
Thursday Night Spiritual Practice
Join Frances Tanaka and Anne Kohlbry, with some Irish blessings and movement practice at 7:00 pm, online and in-person.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87438786949?pwd=ZFd4MFJiUGY4eS9KNVpmOVNnMm9BUT09
Meeting ID: 874 3878 6949
Passcode: 297714
Volunteer to Provide Dinner
Spring Equinox Event, Sunday, March 19 at 3:00 pm
All Ages are invited to join us for an outdoors event to celebrate the arrival of Spring with seed starting and intention setting.
March is Stewardship Month!
It’s time for members and friends of OUUC to reflect upon its importance in our lives and pledge financial support. Please watch for your mailed letter explaining this year’s Extending Our Reach pledge drive.
Didn’t receive a letter? You can review pledging details on the OUUC website under “Giving/Extending Our Reach”. You can also stop by the Stewardship table in the commons after Sunday service.
We choose to attend because we value the meaning we find here. As individuals, we need community, inspiration, pastoral care, and the challenge to engage and stretch. As a community, we commit to live out our mission for a healthy and loving world.
Every year we make a pledge both to support the work we do together and ensure OUUC continues to thrive for years to come. Each of us plays an essential role in living out our mission. Make the difference only you can make; participate by making your pledge today! Thank you!
Ministry Programs
Save the Date - Labyrinth comes to OUUC!
As we move into the season of Spring, Easter, and Passover, Mary Ellen Johnson, long-time labyrinth facilitator, will bring her labyrinth to the OUUC sanctuary to help us mark these holy days. All ages are welcome to an open labyrinth walk on Friday, March 31 from 4:00-7:00 pm. Everyone is invited to a workshop titled “Labyrinth 202 – Further Along the Journey” on Saturday, April 1 from 9:30 am to Noon. No experience with a labyrinth is required, everyone is welcome. Register for the workshop here.
Unity Library Open
Please visit OUUC’s new Unity Library of books about Antiracism, Environmental Justice, and Economic Justice. There you will find books for kids of all ages and for adults who wish to learn more. Unity Library is located in the Religious Education wing and across from Reverend Mary’s office. It is open whenever OUUC is open. Checking out and returning books is a simple and well-posted process. In celebration of Women’s History month, books about girls and women will be featured.
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!
Planning Ahead for End-of-Life Decisions
It’s a topic that can be hard to think about, let alone discuss with others. And yet it’s an important one – planning for a time when we might not have the energy to think about or communicate our wishes. OUUC has put together a document - Personal Care and Support Record – to help our members and friends think about a time when they might become ill or incapacitated, as well as what they want for a memorial or funeral. You can find this form on the website. We encourage you to look at this document. You may be ready to fill it out, or you may want to think about it for a while. If you have questions about the document, or if you would like to talk with someone about it or want help in filling it out, you can contact our minister, the Rev. Mary Gear, or a member of the Pastoral Care Team. We would all be glad to help. PCT members: Polly Taylor, Chris Parke, Pam Turner, Susan Southwick Joy, Beth Johnson, Woody Moore.
Quick Notes
Here is a chance to act for Economic Justice: The Thurston Hunger Walk will be on May 7 and will raise money for the food bank and the community kitchen. We’re looking for someone to be the OUUC team captain/cheerleader and help get our folks signed up and walking. This should be a pretty easy task, as we have historically had a good turnout to support this event. Help make it another successful and fun event! Contact Rev Sara if you are interested.
The OUUC Anti Racism Team asks us all who live in the Olympia School District to submit comments on the OSD Equity Survey (open until March 31st)
Equity Policy Development - Olympia School District (wednet.edu)
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.
Safety Reminder: Please lock and remove valuables from your vehicles.
In the Larger Community
Learn more about the following events and others here.
You are invited to join the sacred Totem Pole journey to help defend and protect Oak Flat, Monday, March 13 from 4:00-6:00 pm starting at the Heritage Fountain Park, City of Olympia. Continuing at 5:00 pm at Traditions Fair Trade Cafe, 300 5th Ave SW. Conversation with House of Tears Carvers and Apache Stronghold, Salish Sea tribal members, and Interfaith leaders will share ancestral knowledge and prayer and discuss cross-cultural collaboration with a call to action. https://learningrightrelations.org/oak-flat-tpj
Olympia SURJ General Meeting on Monday, March 27 from 6:00-8:00 pm. REGISTER HERE: bit.ly/3FbfBHh. You must register to get a link to join the meeting. We will be hearing from folks with the Washington Coalition for Police Accountability, Leslie Cushman, and community members directly impacted by police terror.
Chalice Lighters Spring Call: The Spring 2023 Cascadia Chalice Lighters Call will go to the UU Fellowship of Fairbanks (AK) which applied for funds to replace the worn-out boiler in their building.
You are invited to this year’s UU@UN Intergenerational Spring Seminar, with the theme of “Demilitarization & Abolition: Resist Policing and Empire.” The is April 1-3, both online and in-person in Minneapolis, MN. You can find more information about registration options and rates on our website.
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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