OUUC Weekly Update 12-8-20
News from the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Worship Service December 13, one online service at 10:00 am
“Be Still” - Rev. Mary Gear
During the busy time of the holidays, busy even now if in different ways, we explore the December spiritual theme of “stillness.”
Join us for Online Worship.
Listen to sermons here. See recordings of online services here.
December Thursday Evening Spiritual Practices
This month we’ll continue our practice of offering an opportunity for gathering and spiritual practice on Thursday evenings. Plan to join us.
December 10: Blue Christmas Vespers Service at 7:00 pm
Please join Rev. Mary, Rev. Carol McKinley and Rev. Eric Ness for a “Blue Christmas,” a quiet service of reflection, music, and companionship. All are welcome.
For any number of reasons, we may not find ourselves in the Christmas spirit this holiday season. Christmas is not always merry, but it can always be holy. Let us be together, held in the comforting presence of music, words, candlelight, and silence. We honor the journey of life which sometimes arrives at a place where a joyful holiday season is simply not where your heart lies. You will have an opportunity to light a candle at home to honor of your journey at this time in your life.
December 17: Music and Meditation at 7:00 pm
Join Megan Johnston and her harp, Fiona, as well as Rev. Mary for an evening of music, a reading, and a time of silence. There will be small groups for reflection to follow.
December 24: Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 5:30 pm
Bring your own candle to this gathering to celebrate the darkness and the return of the light.
December 31: New Year’s Eve—no OUUC service.
Happy New Year!
We'll resume the Thursday evening practices on January 7, 2021 at 7:00 pm with a reflection on the monthly spiritual theme of “Imagination.”
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81051325520?pwd=NjdXM25OMThVRytydWtQQ0lJZmtMQT09
Meeting ID: 810 5132 5520
Passcode: 690200
Stop the Spread of COVID-19
There is a new way to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in Washington, using your smartphone
Washington residents now have a new way to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Washington Exposure Notifications — WA Notify — is a completely private feature on smartphones that can inform people if they have been exposed to COVID-19 by another user who later tests positive. You can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by adding WA Notify to your phone today. Studies show that the more people who use it, the more effective it is. Read the full column here.
Sunday Talk Show Guest is Diana Larsen-Mills
The “After Church with Melanie Ransom” talk show continues this Sunday with a special guest, Diana Larsen-Mills. Diana is a long-time member of OUUC and a founder of the Puget Sound Estuarium. This is your chance to discover how your life might overlap with Diana’s. The show starts at 11:30 am after the coffee chats. The tech team will provide instructions on how to join. Many of us come to OUUC for theology, but we stay because of our life-long connections to the people. – Melanie Ransom
Congregational Meeting
Saturday, December 12, 11:30 am - The meeting will cover the annual budget approval, and two proposed bylaw changes - see below. Please remember the meeting requires a quorum of members, and we will be voting on the budget and bylaw changes. Any Congregational members who cannot access the Zoom application on their computer or smartphone, and instead are calling in to listen via telephone should contact Darlene Sarkela at liberalfaith@ouuc.org to get an absentee ballot. She will also assist you in submitting the ballot.
Proposed Bylaws Changes
Section 3, Membership; I, Qualifications, A.
Currently reads: "Completed a prescribed orientation program, or is a member of OUUC;"
Proposed change: "Completed a prescribed orientation program or received a waiver for the orientation from the minister"
Reason for change: current qualification is confusing. If one is a member of OUUC, they don't need to become a member. This addresses people moving from other UU Congregations to OUUC. If they are already a UU member they likely do not need an orientation program. Thus the waiver option is proposed.
Section 5, Board of Trustees; III, Eligibility and Terms.
Add line F to read: "In the event the board grants a leave of absence to a board member, the board may appoint a temporary board member for the duration of the leave of absence."
Reason for change: This ensures the Board is fully staffed in the event of a duly elected member's prolonged absence, as occurred late in 2019.
Brighten the Holidays for Community
OUUC’s Holiday Giving Tree will look quite different this year, but the spirit remains the same! ORLA, the Olympia Regional Learning Academy, has asked OUUC to help make the holidays brighter for 11 hard-pressed families – including 23 children -- at the school, but we want to avoid in-person contact between donors and recipients. Ways to give: Sunday, December 13, 3:00 - 4:00 pm at OUUC’s holiday drive-through, we will collect gift cards or cash donations. Gift cards for stores where families can find a wide range of items – toys, games, clothing, and food – are suggested: Fred Meyer, Target, Walmart. Can’t make the drive-through? You can donate to purchase gift cards at the OUUC website (choose the Faith in Action fund), or by mailing a check to OUUC, 2315 Division St. NW, Olympia WA 98502. Please make sure we receive them before December 16 so they can be distributed. Be sure to indicate your gift is for Holiday Giving. In this season that has brought even greater hardship for low-income families, your generosity will make holidays joyful for many! Questions? Contact Rev. Carol McKinley.
This year, the Blanket Drive will participate with the OUUC Drive-through, scheduled for Sunday, December 13. Check your linen closets for any extra blankets, and bring these laundered items, along with warm jackets, sweaters, caps, gloves, and socks. Give a lift to a grateful neighbor.
Return your Guest at Your Tables (with donation) to OUUC on December 13, 3:00 - 4:00 pm.
If you send a donation directly to UUSC, please contact Sara Lewis with the amount so we can track and celebrate our total giving! Donate to Classy - Guest at Your Table (uusc.org)
Drive-Through Etiquette
We have been offering monthly Drive-Through events in order to support our community and each other. And we want to make sure that everyone stays safe during our events.
Based on the latest guidance from the governor and health department, we will be taking extra precautions on December 13.
For those of us who are there to receive (staff and congregants):
We will keep the number to a minimum, less than 5 households, use distancing and masks, and keep our contact with others outside our household to a minimum.
We will be using drop-off techniques that minimize contact, like baskets and boxes.
For those of us who are there to give:
If you don’t feel well, please stay home.
You do not need to attend the Drive- Through to participate; you can mail a check to OUUC. Please put on the check what you intend the donation to be for.
If you do drive-through, please wear a mask and stay in your car.
Thank you for your generosity in whatever way you choose to share.
Stay safe and stay well.
Rev. Mary
December's Theme
The Theme for December is “Stillness."
Explore the theme at the Spiritual Practices on the First Thursday of each month.
To receive a theme packet, join the Soul Matters group on OUUC Connect or email Sara Lewis.
Hanukkah begins on December 10 this year. Explore this holiday on our Holidays padlet: Holidays and Holy Days
Watch Out for Email Scams
‘Tis the season for email scammers to try to take full advantage of unsuspecting consumers. These activities tend to increase over the holidays when people are in the giving and gifting spirit. One popular email scam making the rounds asks the recipient for help, then instructs them to purchase one or more gift cards. No matter what these messages are claiming or demanding, they are usually looking to steal money, your personal identification information, or your financial information. It is very important that you do all you can to keep yourself, your family, and any sensitive information safe. Rest assured that OUUC will not ask you for any of this information or solicit gifts from you directly. Click here for tips on how to avoid any email scam attempts and keep yourself and your information safe.
BBB Alternative
A group of folks, working with Rev. Carol McKinley and Director of Community and Faith Development, Sara Lewis, have been looking into a new way to host our annual book sale to raise funds for the area’s needy. The current proposed event would take place in mid-summer 2021. It involves a drive-through drop off of pre-sorted books, an online sale, and a drive-through customer pick up day. We are currently looking for many volunteers, including a chair or co-chairs, a tech team, a coordinator for publicity, and a dozen or so category captains. To learn more about this project and to let us know if you are willing to help with this worthy community effort, please contact Maureen Canny (And please start saving books that you would like to donate.)
Quick Notes
Website Survey - We are offering an opportunity to provide input and direction on the OUUC.org website redesign. We want to hear about the difficulties you've experienced using the website so we can make changes and improvements. This short survey asks if you use OUUC.org, and how, and lets us know our areas of greatest priority when designing the updated version of our website. Please take the survey here. Please reach out to Jo Sahlin, OUUC Media Specialist, with any questions.
Save the Date! Craft with the Youth! All Ages are Invited for Crafting Together on Zoom, Sunday, December 20, 12:30 - 2:00 pm. It will be BYO Craft supplies, or you can pick up some craft supplies in the lockbox at OUUC. Please join for community building and fun.
If you would like any end-of-year donations counted as 2020 donations for tax purposes, please make sure any mailed donations are postmarked by December 31. Please note that donations made online on December 31 may not process on that day.
The December read for our ages 13+ multigenerational “Reading for the Revolution” book club will be “This Book is Anti-Racist” by Tiffany Jewell. Register here.
Our Sunday worship service will be live on our OUUC YouTube channel as well as on Zoom. You can still participate in Sunday worship through Zoom. Those who would like to try the YouTube option can do so here.
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
Are your savings in a socially responsible investment (SRI)? Find out about this issue on the UUA's website. Learn about the best way to make sure that you are not making the world a worse place. from articles, videos, and a well-indexed web page. Note that UUA offers a SRI itself.
BLAST (Black Leaders in Action and Solidarity Thurston County), Olympia Black Panthers, Justice 4 Yvonne McDonald, and Olympia SURJ Core Members are gathering gifts, food, gift cards, books, art supplies, and toys to give to BIPOC families in our community that could use a blessing this holiday season. They would love for the items to center around themes such as Black Joy, Indigenous Sovereignty, Intersectionality, Culture, and Inclusion. Celebrate and give to our local BIPOC families! You can reach Kendra Cooley if you have any questions or would like to arrange for pick up of items locally. They are hoping to procure all items by December 20. You can mail any gift cards/items to PO BOX 1552 Olympia, WA 98507.
About Us
Sara Lewis, Director of Faith Development
Darlene Sarkela, Congregational Administrator
Rev. Carol McKinley, Faith in Action
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