OUUC Weekly Update 10-12-21
News from the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Worship Service October 17 - online only
“Loving Our Earth” - Rev. Mary Gear
The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference will be wrapping up in Glasgow. We expand our spiritual theme of “loving” to explore what it means to love the Earth.
Join us for Online Worship.
See recordings of online services here.
Our HVAC system upgrade should be completed by the end of the month. We hope to offer some in-person worship opportunities in the coming weeks.
Thursday Evening Spiritual Practice
This week’s online Thursday evening spiritual practice will be hosted by Sara Lewis, who will offer a time for quiet contemplation. This is a chance to slow down and catch up with yourself.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82994463887?pwd=TkRaOTNWekdTaEx4VENiL0VoVjRPdz09
Meeting ID: 829 9446 3887
Passcode: 548890
Monthly Q&A
On October 17, please join Sara Lewis, Director of Community and Faith Development, at 11:30 am for a Q&A session about member engagement. Sara wants to hear from you all about how we can be a healthy and vibrant community that welcomes and engages folks both before and after they become members. Bring your experiences, your hopes, and your ideas to this somewhat reversed Q&A where Sara will be asking you the questions and envisioning a new member engagement effort.
New Member Class
Stewardship Drive Update
Autumn has been the traditional time for OUUC to invite its members and friends to pledge their financial support for the coming year. This October we are pledging our support for the first six months of 2022. In spring 2022 our congregation will move to a July to June fiscal year, and make pledges for July 2022 through June 2023.
The theme of our current Stewardship Drive is Thankful to be Together. Last week, the first week of October, the Stewardship committee mailed packets of information about the important activities these pledges will fund. If you have not received your mailing, please contact the Administrator. Pledges can be made online here, but the stewardship packet includes valuable information not yet available on the OUUC website.
During this first week of the Stewardship Drive, fifty pledges were received, equaling about 27% of the $245,573 goal. I hope you will join me in seriously considering how very important our OUUC Community is to our spiritual health and well-being, as we make our pledges.
Sincerely, Leslie Romer, Stewardship Team Member
COVID Phases
Full Moon Meditation - October 20
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
Learn About Social Media
Learn About Social Media in this OUUC Zoom offering! (New dates and times) In three Monday evenings at 6:30 pm beginning November 1, this class led by educator Kristen Howard will cover the favorite platforms used by Millennials and our newest Generation Z: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tick Tock, Snap Chat, and YouTube; and also Pinterest.
Join The Blue Apron Team
Wednesdays, October 20, OUUC Volunteers provide dishes for the dinner at the Interfaith & October 27 Work’s Adult Shelter. Needed: Main & side dishes. OUUC Volunteers bring food to help fill Weekend Backpacks for elementary school children experiencing homelessness. Needed: Shelf Stable foods. Please contact Jo Ann Young to volunteer and for more information.
Quick Notes
The next meeting of the Board of Trustees is October 14 at 7:00 pm. Congregants are invited to join the meeting either to listen to or speak to the Board. Contact Rich Kalman for information. Board of Trustees' minutes are available here.
Save the Date: Singing in the Harvest Cabaret, Saturday, October 30 at 4:30 pm, online.
Share a picture of you in your Halloween costume (this year’s or last year’s) for a fun costume parade slide show during the Cabaret on October 30. Send your pictures to Sara Lewis.
Trunk or Treat, Sunday, October 31 at 3:00 pm! We will once again be parking our decorated cars in the OUUC parking lot to hand out candy to Trick or Treaters. It’s tons of fun, and there will be awards given for best decoration and best costume. Plan to come and join in the fun! RSVP to Sara Lewis.
Skills & Interests Survey - this new survey includes many of the things we do for fun and self-improvement, as well as those skills and interests that can direct us into programs and roles at church. The information you provide will be added to your profile in Realm, where it will be available to other members of the congregation, and periodically reports will be issued that will allow us to more easily find others who share our special interests. Take the survey.
Our Whole Lives (OWL) is our very well-regarded sexuality education program. This year we will offer it for 7th-9th graders on Thursday evenings 6:30-8:30 pm, beginning October 21. The class will be limited to 12 participants, and parents need to attend a mandatory orientation. We will offer two dates for orientation, October 13 and 14 6:30-8:30 pm. Registration for the orientation is required, and the capacity for each orientation is capped at 15 people. Register Here for the 13th --- Register Here for the 14th
Rev Mary continues offering a weekly tea for up to 8 people through the end of October. Meetings are outside if the weather permits and inside as needed. Safety precautions help protect all of us. Please use this link to register for tea.
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.
Our October Challenge is: Reduce Food Waste!
Consider the following:
- Globally, about 8% of greenhouse gases are from food that is wasted.
- In the US, food waste creates more greenhouse gases than the airline industry.
- One-third of the food grown for people in the US is never consumed.
- 37% of the food waste happens in the home – that comes to about $1600/yr for the average household
- Another 28% of food waste happens in grocery stores and restaurants
- Worldwide food waste creates about 6%-8% of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. Much of it is methane generated in landfills
Read more....
In the Larger Community
Join Olympia Green Faith and OUUC's own Environmental Action Team in "Faiths for Climate Action" on Monday, October 18 at 5:00 pm at Fertile Grounds (9th and Adams St). Together we will learn about actions we can take, write postcards to responsible leaders, and take part in a tree prayer. This event is part of an international movement and day of action, sponsored by GreenFaith, a global, multi-faith environmental and climate justice organization. For more information please contact Olympia Green Faith and view the video below.
CIELO invites you to Celebrate with them! CIELO is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year... with a virtual gala! On the evening of October 16, 2021, at 7:00 pm, MOSAIC premieres online. Follow the link to CIELO's website and click on the event logo to learn how to attend and participate. ¡Festejemos!
Join Center for Women & Democracy on Thursday, October 21 at 5:00 pm as they host a panel of formerly incarcerated women to share the challenges they faced rebuilding their lives. These challenges impact how they continue their education, find employment and rebuild relationships with their families and friends. Register.
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