OUUC Weekly Update 2-28-23
News from the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Worship Service March 5 at 10:00 am - online and in-person
“Committed to Generosity” - Rev. Monica Jacobson Tennessen
Many have said, “How we do anything is how we do everything.” This maybe-daunting statement invites us to see opportunities everywhere to commit to and practice the values we want to embody. Today we’ll explore paths toward a life of deepening generosity.
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: Stewardship Committee on generosity, responsibility, and the OUUC budget.
Happening This Week
Thursday Community Dinner is for everyone! Every Thursday 5:30-6:30 pm
On March 2, the dinner is a Sandwich Spectacular.
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 with Rev Mary
Thursday Night Spiritual Practice
Join Rev. Mary Gear for a Vespers service at 7:00 pm, online or in the OUUC sanctuary.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87438786949?pwd=ZFd4MFJiUGY4eS9KNVpmOVNnMm9BUT09
Meeting ID: 874 3878 6949
Passcode: 297714
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.
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. You can review pledging details on the OUUC website under “Giving.” Stay for the Stewardship Q & A in the sanctuary this Sunday, March 5.
OUUC is our OUUC. 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 living out our mission to create a fairer, safer, healthier world. As a strong and growing congregation, we are committed to extending our reach within and beyond our community.
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.
Thank you! We are stronger together.
Ministry Programs
Back by Popular Demand....
If you don’t have a Will or Trust in place (or even if you do) and want to make sure you have the right estate plan that fits your stage of life and protects your family, then you will want to attend the upcoming estate planning class, offered by Susan Kirkpatrick, on Tuesday, March 14, 7:00-8:30 pm via Zoom.
What plan is the best fit for a single person, an unmarried couple, a married couple with a house, or a couple with minor children and/or grandparents? It is not a one-size-fits-all.
Life and Legacy Planning focuses on the plan that fits you at your stage of life and your family. The documents simply put the plan into effect.
Susan Kirkpatrick is a member of OUUC and an estate planning attorney with 30+ years of experience. Register here by Sunday, March 12 at 5:00 pm.
Thank You Gary & Welcome Linda
The Adult Ed team would like to thank Gary Worthington for his leadership over the last four years—ably steering us through COVID times and adapting to our Zoom realities. Gary has handed the leadership reins to Linda Selsor but will stay on the team for a while to aid In a smooth transition and provide the perspective he’s gained after eight years on the team.
The Adult Ed Team could use some new members who are willing to help re-energize the team as we adapt to changes in church structure and the addition of new website capabilities. Team members also help with program development and provide support to class instructors. Interested? Contact Linda Selsor. We’d love to hear from you.
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!
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.
Hot Topic: Revisions to Article II
This past Sunday, Rev. Mary led a worship service about proposed revisions to Article II of the Unitarian Universalist Association Bylaws, which contain the UU 7 Principle and 6 Sources. This is a hot topic right now in UU congregations across the US!
If you’d like to explore this topic more, here are some resources:
Watch Sunday’s service or read the sermon
The Article II Study Commission
The Report of the Article II Study Commission (this has the proposed revisions in it)
Rev. Sara’s collection of Article II Resources
If you’d like to talk further about the proposed revisions or what the service stirred in you, please feel free to reach out to Rev. Mary or Rev. Sara. Please also reach out to them if you are interested in serving as an OUUC delegate (representative) at the General Assembly in June when the first vote on the proposed revisions will take place.
Recycle Sunday
It's the first Sunday of the month, so it's time to bring in your dead batteries and fluorescent bulbs!
The OUUC Environmental Action Team will have a table out in the Commons for collection, and they will see that your batteries and bulbs are properly recycled. Thanks for helping save our precious resources!
Thank You!
Thanks to everyone who braved the cold morning and made it out last Saturday to help clean the parking lot and OUUC gardens! We were able to get a good chunk of the work done. Thanks to Eric Ness, Brian Walsh, Mo and Kent Canny, Alice Curtis, Susan Southwick, and Jerald Dodson! Join us for next month's cleanup event as Spring weather brings out the color in gardens (and the weeds!). - Lynne MacDonald and Joe Joy
Wheels of Fire!
Congratulations to FRANK TURNER!
Frank rode more than 343 miles over 22 days in February for the Intercity Transit Winter Bicycle Challenge! Way to go FRANK! The OUUCyclists Team is in awe of your feat!
Thanks too, to Pam Turner, Susan Southwick, and Joe Joy for participating for the team and racking up over 500 miles.
Stay tuned for the annual May Bike Challenge and join the OUUCyclist Team!
Capital Campaign Still Needs You
We ended the “Funding Our Future” Capital Campaign in January and were a bit over $50,000 short of our goal. In February contributions have continued to trickle in and we are now only $33,160 away from our goal of $554,000. For a full update please visit the Funding Our Future page.
If you missed the campaign, there’s still time! Just go to the Realm Giving Page and add your donation.
The Capital Campaign Committee and the Board would like to thank this recent donor. For the full list of donors, please visit the Funding Our Future page. Names shared only with permission: Lynne MacDonald.
Quick Notes
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.
End of Life Washington - On Thursday, March 9, 10:00 -11:30 am, OUUC’s Caregivers/Grief Group will host a presentation by a representative from End of Life WA, who will speak about this state’s Death with Dignity statute and the support End of Life WA offers, and respond to questions. OUUC members and friends are invited to join this informational meeting; registration is required. Please contact Carol McKinley for the Zoom link to the online meeting.
On behalf of the Alliance of Earth, Sky & Water Protectors, and House of Tears Carvers (Lummi), you are invited to join the latest totem pole journey to help defend and protect Chi’chil Biłdagoteel (also known as Oak Flat), a sacred site for the Apache, as well as the Zuni, Yavapai, O’odham, and Hopi. A public event will be held Wednesday, March 1 from 4:00-6:00 pm at the Port of Olympia Plaza (west of the Farmer’s Market).
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