OUUC Weekly Update 2-21-23
News from the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Worship Service February 26 at 10:00 am - online and in-person
“Why I Support Updates to Article II” Rev. Mary Gear
Article II of the Unitarian Universalist Association bylaws contain the beloved seven principles and six sources as well as the purposes of the UUA. The Article II Commission has proposed significant updates and changes to the bylaws. Join us to explore these changes and how we are called to respond.
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.
Just what is going on with Article II of the UUA Bylaws? Here is another article explaining why we are reexamining Article II. Why Unitarian Universalists are Reexamining Article II | UU World Magazine. Rev Mary will be exploring Article II in the worship service this Sunday.
Happening This Week
Thursday Community Dinner is for everyone! Every Thursday 5:30-6:30 pm
On February 23, dinner is a Mardi Gras menu of jambalaya, red beans and rice, and gumbo.
Volunteers are always welcome! 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: unhosted quiet meditation space
Thursday Night Spiritual Practice
This Thursday, February 23, we are holding an unhosted quiet meditation space in the sanctuary at OUUC, and we also encourage those at home who would like to keep their Thursday practice routine to revisit this breathing practice we recorded last May.
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.
TREES: Legacy Forests, Carbon Capture & Legislation
Join OUUC’s Environmental Action Team as they welcome Lynn Fitz-Hugh, founder of “Friends of Trees,” as she explains the importance of legacy forests, the role of trees in carbon capture, and legislation at the state and local level. Lynn will speak at 1:00 pm on Sunday, February 26 at OUUC. The talk will be available through Zoom as well as in person. Lynn has spent 16 years in the environmental field with 8 focused on trees. She is the previous founder of 350Seattle.org, Faith Action Climate Team of Seattle and she worked for almost 3 years for TCAT. She now works for Restoring Earth Connection and its action group Friends of Trees. She has helped coordinate the last two Earthday Interfaith services. After this presentation, you will have the tools you need to help protect our forests and trees. For more information, contact Wendy Steffensen.
Trujillo Family Moving to Eugene this Summer
Dear friends,
We are sharing the bittersweet news that our family (James, Brian, Austin and Chloe) are moving to Eugene, Oregon in June of this year. James was offered a position as a senior HR manager for Lane County, Oregon and given his history and family ties in Oregon, the move just makes sense. We have all grown in spirit and community at OUUC. We will miss seeing you on a regular basis but this will not be goodbye -- just farewell for now. We will stay in contact with our OUUC friends at regional conferences and at the occasional zoom bomb from down south. Thank you for all the support and hospitality over these last 7 years.
Wishing you all joy and peace.
James, Brian, Austin, and Chloe Trujillo
Volunteer Opportunities
Lend Us a Hand!
This Saturday, February 25 from 10:00 am to noon.
Join the OUUC Adopt-a-Plot and Building and Grounds Teams as we clean up the parking lot and gardens around the church. Help rake, sweep, pull weeds, haul mulch, and enjoy a little outdoor air in our beautiful natural setting! Many hands make the work light!
Provide Meals
On Wednesday, February 22, 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.
Please contact JoAnn Young if you can join our congregation’s outreach to these adults and children who are in need in our community.
Book Sale Success
Thank you to all the volunteers who worked on the Books, Beans, and Brownies sale this Fall!
This week we sent checks for $4500 to each of the three organizations we had selected as recipients of this year’s sale proceeds: Pizza Klatch, TCAT, and The Food Bank: For Kids program.
Good work all!
Ministry Programs
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.
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.
First Unitarian Church of Portland invites you to join Anti-Racism Learning Circles starting in March. Since it’s on Zoom, you can join from anywhere! LEARNING CIRCLES are small discussion cohorts based on a book or podcast that provide: important learning about white supremacy, racism, and our national history, the opportunity to build trust and go deep in small group discussions over time, a safe place to have difficult discussions and deal with discomfort, creating and strengthening relationships with other UUs, connection, focus, and purpose in a virtual setting.
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