OUUC Weekly Update 8-17-21
News from the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Worship Service August 22 - one online service at 10:00 am
“Circle 'Round for Freedom: Reflections on General Assembly” - Rev. Mary and GA delegates: Tiffany Felch, Neil Weinberg, Beth Johnson
Every June for almost 60 years Unitarian Universalists have gathered to worship together, do the business of the Unitarian Universalist Association, explore our theology and do the work of justice. This is the UUA General Assembly. Several OUUC members and Rev. Mary share their experience of GA this past June.
Join us for Online Worship.
Listen to sermons here. See recordings of online services here.
Installation Update
I have written before about the ritual of installation, the covenanting that happens between a congregation and a called or settled minister. Many people have been working to have my installation at OUUC happen on Nov. 6, 2021. This past week, the Board and I agreed to delay the installation until June 2022. I know this is yet another delay and there are good reasons for it.
1. COVID transmission is not where we hoped it would be and it is highly unlikely that we will be able to gather as a large group in-person in November. United Churches, where we planned the large gathering, is not allowing large groups or singing right now. My wish is for a celebration that we can enjoy it together, in person, with all of us singing and listening to the OUUC choir. Read more....
Sunday Service on August 22
While we had hoped to open the sanctuary to more people this coming Sunday, the latest transmission date and guidance about the delta variant make it clear that this is not safe. The Sanctuary is indoors, and we know the ventilation is not what it should be yet. So, this Sunday you will see worship leaders, a few Tech Team members, and a few singers. We are keeping the numbers small in order to be as safe as possible. We know that the Fall and Winter will require us to be flexible and nimble. The Health & Safety Task Force is working with me to develop some guidance about what is safe now and when it will be safe to gather in larger groups again. We are all eager to gather again; let’s so as safely and as inclusively as possible.
Thanks for your understanding. - Rev. Mary
Congregational Picnic Postponed
We know that COVID guidance is changing daily and that many are worried about the delta variant. Taking the federal, state and county guidance into consideration as well as the current high transmission rates, we have decided to postpone the congregational picnic. Thank you to all the volunteers who worked with Gail to plan this event! We had all hoped to be at a hugely different place regarding the pandemic at this point in the Summer. Rev. Mary has heard from many of us anger and frustration, as well as sadness, and we are disappointed. The virus is not done with us yet. Let’s continue to stay connected in all the ways we can to care for ourselves and each other. Read more....
New Videos Available
Recently, a special “After Church with Melanie Ransom: Love Story Edition” took place with a live audience of lucky bidders from our auction. The special guests were Martha Guilfoyle and Des McGahern, and Kelly and Mary Ann Thompson. The recordings of the interviews are available here. You’ll also find some previous interviews there that you may have missed. The regular talk show will return in October with a new line-up of guests. Many of us come to OUUC for the theology, but we stay because of our life-long connections to the people. –Melanie Ransom
Full Moon Meditation - August 22
Are you curious about Buddhist meditation or mindfulness? A spiritual practice offering is open to anyone interested in practicing silent meditation in the Plum Village tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh's Engaged Buddhism. Join us for an evening meditation and reading. We'll sit together on the full moon(s) each month. 7:00 – 8:00 pm on Zoom.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83673338076?pwd=eXFJdDRSZi80eFY3bm1hVGluZHkyZz09
Meeting ID: 836 7333 8076
Passcode: 160696
August’s Environmental Challenge
Water Communion and Ingathering
Although we don’t know yet exactly what the service on September 12 will be like, we do know that we’ll gather in some way to begin a new congregational year. The tradition is a water communion service, where we bring water from our individual lives to share and mingle with the water from others—that's water communion. So, as you travel or stay home, gather water from wherever you are and plan to share it in some way on September 12. We’ll share more information in the Weekly Update as we know more about the Fall.
Quick Notes
Volunteers Needed - Wednesdays, August 18 and 23 are the next dates OUUC volunteers provide dinner at the downtown Interfaith Works Adult Shelter and shelf-stable foods for the Lacey Family and Youth Resource Center. Please contact Jo Ann Young to volunteer.
The Virtual Bulletin Board is a place for members to share information about events in the larger community, ask for recommendations, and share resources. Email to sign up.
OUUC Connect (Realm) Training Sessions Available - Have you activated your OUUC Connect (Realm) account? Would you like to learn more about how to use your account to contact friends, get connected to groups (and communicate with them), see your online giving records, and more? Individual or small group training sessions are available. Darlene Sarkela or Marie Arensmeyer will meet with you via Zoom. Sign up today.
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.
In the Larger Community
For details on the following events, please see the In the Larger Community page on the church website.
Interfaith Works is partnering with the American Muslim Empowerment Network, the Islamic Center of Olympia (Masjid Al Nur), Interfaith Community Sanctuary, Paths to Understanding, the Faith Action Network, and Meaningful Movies to offer a FREE screening of the movie, "American Muslim". There will be a screening window in which to watch the film for FREE between August 15-17. Then on August 18 at 7:00 pm there will be an online panel with American Muslims from regional faith communities discussing their reaction to the film and life as a Muslim in our part of the world.
Find out about the Fall 2021 Chalice Lighters Call for technology grants.
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