OUUC Weekly Update 2-26-20
News from the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Worship Services March 1, services at 9:15 and 11:00 am
Vespers Service
Please join us for an evening service of music, readings, and contemplation on Thursday, February 27 at 7:30 pm. In these times of division and drama, as we join our voices in song and share silence, may we come to recognize that we are all in this together. All are welcome.
From Rev. Mary - Staff Update
Over these past months, I have learned a lot about the operations of OUUC and how things get done. One of the challenges has been the Community Life Coordinator position that was vacant when I arrived. I have learned over these months that the position grew and changed over time, and now we have the opportunity to re-visit the needs of the congregation so we can clearly define the skills and abilities of the person in the position.
To help us in this work, I have invited Kari Kopnick to join us as the Interim Community Life Coordinator through August of this year. Kari’s work with us will be two-fold: to perform the essential duties of the position and help us define the boundaries of the role, plus the skills, experience and knowledge needed by the person who will fill the position. I am delighted that Kari said “YES!” to this interim work. Read more....
Sunday Lunch
All Young Adults and Middlers (30's, 40's, and 50's) are invited to our group lunches this Sunday, 12:30-2:00 pm. Food will be served in the Religious Education hallway, groups will meet in a classroom. The theme for the food this month is Taco Bar. Contributions of food to share are welcome but are not required.
Feeding a Crowd
We love having lunch together, now we will have the opportunity to work together to cook and prepare for our lunches. Saturday, March 7, 10:00 am - noon, all are invited to come and work together to create delicious and healthy vegetarian dishes for the potluck lunch the next day. Ingredients will be provided, or if you have an idea for a recipe and would like to bring your own just contact Sara Lewis.
Register Now for Chalice Camp
Our summer Chalice Camp program will be expanded this year.
Chalice Children, ages 3-6, June 29 - July 3, 9:00 am to 12:30 pm
Chalice Camp, ages 6-12, July 6-10, 9:00 am to 3:00pm
Teen Worship Arts Camp, July 13-17, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, with a worship service on July 19.
Registration is now open!
All Congregation Pajama Day!
On March 8 we spring forward for Daylight Saving Time, and we'll celebrate that shorter night's sleep with an All congregation Pajama Day. Come to church in your jammies!
The Vagina Monologues - Friday, February 28 at 7:30 pm and Saturday, February 29 at 3:00 pm.*
Young Adults and Middlers Lunches - Sunday, March 1 at 12:30 pm.*
Tim Wise Speaks on Antiracism - February 26, 6:30-9:30 pm, Washington Center. Free.
*More information available in this Weekly Update.
Join the Auction Team!
Our annual auction will take place on Saturday, May 2. And we need lots of volunteers to help make this the best auction ever. James Trujillo and Ryan Baye are our auctioneers this year, and our theme is "Go for the Gold!" with a nod to the 2020 Summer Olympics. Our first planning meeting is on March 16 at 7:00 pm at OUUC. Join us and get in on the early decision-making. Contact Melanie Ransom for questions.
Shop Local and Benefit OUUC
The year-round Browsers Bookshop partnership with OUUC is off to a great start, with several hundred Beacon Press and Skinner House titles now available at the store on a special OUUC shelf, with 30% of the sales price of these books donated to OUUC, along with 10% of the sales price of everything else bought at Browsers when you say “It’s for OUUC” when you check out. Shop local and support OUUC and independent bookstores!
Travel Series Topics Rearranged
A reminder for registrants attending Travel That Changes Hearts and Transforms Lives: the dates remain the same, but topics have been rearranged to accommodate presenters' scheduling conflicts. The first two changes are:
Tuesday, March 3: Margo Curl, "The Home of my Heart in the foothills of the Indian Himalayas." Tuesday, March 10: Kelly and Mary Ann Thompson, "Rolling Through the Northwest."
Quick Notes
First day of March is the 1st Sunday of the month! Bring in those dead batteries and fluorescent light bulbs! Your OUUC Environmental Action Team is ready, willing and able to take them for recycling or safe disposal.
Read This Week in Religious Education here.
LP Brown Hygiene Closet Replenished! Thanks to your generous donations, OUUC's neighboring elementary school, L.P. Brown, has an abundance of hygiene supplies and basic clothing items to share with students whose family budgets are very limited. Your care for our community's children is greatly appreciated.
The Vagina Monologues
It’s been more than twenty years since Eve Ensler’s international sensation The Vagina Monologues gave birth to V-Day, the radical, global grassroots movement to end violence against women and girls. The Vagina Monologues is a landmark in women’s empowerment—as relevant as ever in the age of #MeToo—that honors female sexuality in all its complexity. See it this weekend at OUUC as we raise funds to support SafePlace. Friday, February 28 at 7:30 pm and Saturday, February 29 at 3:00 pm.
All Ages Event!
Support Our Teen Faith in Action Leadership Council and local organizations combating homelessness and food insecurity. Open Mic! Raffle Prizes! Bake Sale! Games! Fun! 2020 Vision Party. The Teen Faith in Action Leadership Council invites you to our splendorous 2020 Vision Party on March 6 at 7:00 pm at OUUC. It’s an open mic fundraiser with a suggested donation that goes to counter food insecurity and homelessness. Bring board games and baked goodies as you see fit. Plenty to do for all ages. Bring your fabulous talent or your enjoyment of watching others do so. We look forward to having you there!
Crisis Response and Peer Navigator
Anne Larsen, Outreach Services Coordinator with the Olympia Police Department will discuss two programs. Crisis Responders provide outreach to those in crisis, identify each individual's circumstances, and help identify individuals with chronic mental health disorders, substance abuse and co-occurring disorders. The Familiar Faces program uses peer navigators to identify and assist individuals with complex health and behavioral problems who have frequent and persistent contact with the Olympia Police Department's Walking Patrol. Anne will talk about their early successes and challenges. All are welcome. 7:00 pm, March 23 at OUUC. Sponsored by Justice not Jails. Contact Steve Tilley.
Talking about Injusice: A Conversation with Dawud Al-Malik
Sunday, March 8, 6:30 – 8:00 pm, OUUC.
Dawud al-Malik spent almost 50 years in Washington state prisons after being sentenced to death in 1966. One of the longest-incarcerated, then freed, prisoners in Washington history, Dawud will talk with us about his experience as a black man in the criminal justice system. He has maintained his innocence throughout, and his case is currently being reviewed by the King County Prosecutor's Office, where he was originally sentenced. The conversation with Dawud will follow the showing of Bryan Stevenson’s TED talk, “We Need to Talk About an Injustice.”
Co-sponsored by OUUC’s Standing up to Racism and Justice Not Jails Contact Rev. Carol McKinley.
New Meditation Group
A new meditation group will be starting on March 17 from noon -1:00 pm and will be meeting on a monthly basis. We will start with a short reading, then 20-30 minute meditation, depending upon what the group is comfortable with. In the nicer weather, we may do this walking around the neighborhood. Then we will have a talk about our experience. The goals of the group are: mindfulness, calming, self-awareness and mutual support. Hope to see you all there! Contact Susan Lobel for more information.
All Ages Game Night
Saturday, March 21, from 5:00 – 9:00 pm, we will have a game night and potluck in the Commons. Please bring a dish to share, and if you have a favorite game, bring it along (board games, charades, go fish, poker - you name it). We’ll eat and then start playing – if you can’t make it to dinner, come join us for the games later. Childcare is available for infants or small children if you let me know by March 14 (contact Sharon Love). There is no charge for childcare. We hope older children will be joining in the party!
New Hope Community
11 people who formerly camped under the 4th Avenue bridge, has established its new home in 1st Christian Church’s parking lot. OUUC is among the congregations supporting New Hope, and opportunities to help are now available. Training required for new volunteers will be held Monday, March 2, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm, at 1st Christian, 701 Franklin St. SE. Feel free to bring your lunch; beverages will be provided. To sign up for the training, contact Rev. Carol McKinley.
Social Groups
PUGs (Powerful Unitarian Universalist Gals) - All women are welcome to join us for fellowship and conversation. Wednesdays 10:00 - 11:30 am. 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. March 3 - TBA. - Contact Meliz Maatta or Emily Ray.
Guy’s TGIT meets on Thursdays at 4:30 pm. February 27 - 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
State Environmental Legislation of interest: These two House Bills have made it into the Senate. Contact your senator to urge passage of HB 1110 (SB 5412): Reducing the greenhouse gas emissions associated with transportation fuels, and HB 2311: Updating the state’s outdated goals to cut global warming pollution to reflect current science and lay groundwork to reach net-zero carbon emissions. Find your Senator here.
Warm Clothing Needed - Donations from AIDNW (Advocates for Immigrants in Detention NW) are running low. If you can donate anything from the following list, please call Miriam Lorch. She can transport donations to the center. Men’s New Warm Coats - S, M, L (slightly worn and updated OK), Men’s New Warm Gloves, Women’s underpants - S, M, L, No X-large clothing, no dry-clean clothing, no women’s clothing (except underpants). Other needs are listed on our Amazon Wish List here. Unisex Duffle Bags and Carry-on Suitcases (TSA requires 22” X 14” X 9” or smaller). Miriam reports: I have happy news to report about an immigrant that I started visiting last summer. He was granted asylum and now is living in Tacoma, working at a nearby hotel, and taking English classes.I’m now working with two other immigrants. If you would like to learn more about the detention center, and ways you can support immigrants please leave me a voice mail message.
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