There’s a few things that I’ve notice. It’s clear that it is important to offer both onsite and online options for worship and other community-wide events. We can expand our reach and be inclusive. I am committed to do so for as many events as we can; not all, but as many as we can.

The sanctuary is set up with chairs spaced further apart and with space under the TV for anyone who wants and needs more space, comfy chairs and fidget toys. We’ve done these things to make the sanctuary as welcoming as possible for all ages and for different Covid-comfort levels. We seat fewer people in the sanctuary than before Covid as we’ve prioritized welcome and safety.

That means we are planning to go to two services in the new year. This will allow us to welcome more people onsite and expand our reach.

This is the schedule of what we do on Sunday mornings now:

When we offer two services, we’ll also need to expand our many hands that make worship happen. You can help by lending your talents to help make Sunday morning happen. Here’s who you can contact to volunteer:

Ushers and greeters:

Jen Sabel jcsabel@gmail.com

Kitchen:

Julie Rosmond jgrosmond@gmail.com

Child care staff:

Rev. Sara Lewis dre@ouuc.org

Hospitality in general (welcome, engagement):

Rev. Sara Lewis dre@ouuc.org

Tech Team:

tech@ouuc.org

Celebrant/Worship Arts:

Rev. Mary minister@ouuc.org

Choir:

Troy Fisher troyisnever@comcast.net

Let’s help to make sure everyone is welcome. Won’t you join us?

Blessings on your week,

Rev. Mary

Minister@ouuc.org

If you heard my story this last Sunday, you heard me ask what it is we do here at OUUC. Some of the answers shouted out were: committees, singing, and learning together. I also talked about what it is I do here. As Director of Community and Faith Development, I am honored to do some very important work, helping to build community and relationships, help people learn and grow, and take action based on their values and their faith.

Like many religious educators, I appreciate a saying brought to us by Connie Goodbread that “Faith Development is All We Do and ALL we do is Faith Development”. Truly, we learn from everything we do, and everything we do is shaped by what we learn. Learning doesn’t just happen in a classroom, it happens all the time, and everywhere.

Right now there is a project to gather responses and feedback on what our congregations are teaching and learning, and you can participate in that. Visit the form here to answer the question of what we teach and learn here: https://bit.ly/3U57ZeS

What Are Our UU Values?

In our Living Tradition we are also in a time of once again asking ourselves what values we share and what lies at the heart of our UU movement, in the form of Article II of the UUA bylaws. This is another opportunity for you to provide your feedback!

Feedback is open on the new Draft of Article II.

Read the draft here: Microsoft Word - Retreat Full Article2 Draft Language rev .docx (uua.org)

We held a forum on Article II last Sunday, which you can watch here:

Thursday Evening Spiritual Practice is an opportunity to pause and catch up with ourselves mid week. Spiritual practice is the act of connecting to ourselves, to each other, and to something greater.

What to Expect:

The Spiritual Practice session begins at 7 p.m. in the OUUC Commons and on Zoom. Tonight's event is a musical meditation led by Troy Fisher.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87438786949?pwd=ZFd4MFJiUGY4eS9KNVpmOVNnMm9BUT09

Meeting ID: 874 3878 6949
Passcode: 297714

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This week’s dinner is tacos, tamales, and enchiladas. Donations accepted. Volunteers welcome for Community Dinner!

Following this dinner, there will be:

• 6:30pm Children's Anti-Racism Class (Spirit Play)
• 6:30pm Our Whole Lives Class (Classroom 5)
• 6:30pm Building the World We Dream About (Classroom 3)
  
• 7pm Spiritual Practices (Sanctuary)