OUUC Weekly Update 4-5-22
News from the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Worship Service April 10 at 10:00 am - online and in-person
“How Jesus and the Universalists Got It Right” - Rev. Dr. Jay Atkinson
This service will highlight the Christian roots of Unitarians and Universalists, asking “What does this history teach us today as we look back at our UU journey within, and then away from, Christianity on this Palm Sunday?”
The Rev. Dr. Jay Atkinson retired in 2011 from 32 years of full-time service in Unitarian Universalist parish ministry. During that ministry, he also served at various times on the adjunct faculties of our UU seminaries in Chicago (Meadville Lombard Theological School) and Berkeley (Starr King School for the Ministry). Before turning to professional ministry, he did research in nuclear physics for eleven years. Currently, he is a Research Scholar at Starr King with a focus on UU history.
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.
No RSVP is required.
Thursday Evening Spiritual Practice - online and in-person
This Thursday evening's spiritual practice focuses on the April spiritual theme of "wonder" from the OUUC mission. Join Rev. Mary and Troy Fisher for a time of music, words, and silence when you can catch up with yourself mid-week. Thursday, April 7 at 7:00 pm on Zoom or in-person in the sanctuary.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82994463887?pwd=TkRaOTNWekdTaEx4VENiL0VoVjRPdz09
Meeting ID: 829 9446 3887
Passcode: 548890
Forum with Rev. Atkinson
Following the Sunday service at noon, Rev. Dr. Atkinson will offer a forum on "Trying Once Again to Say Who We Are." He’ll review the work of the Article II Commission that is revisiting the purposes and principles of the Unitarian Universalist Association (which is Article II of the UUA Bylaws.) Rev. Dr. Atkinson will offer a historical look at our principles and raise some questions about what’s transient and what’s permanent in the identity of our UU tradition.
Ordination of Sara Lewis
The Chaplaincy Institute Ordination Ceremony
Saturday, April 9 at 1:00 pm. Find out more here.
Attend on Zoom. Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEpdu-rqzkpGtf_VPhvrZf-LIenuPq8ZZun
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Or watch it on YouTube: youtube.com/c/ChaplaincyInstitute
There will be a gathering in the OUUC Sanctuary to watch the event.
COVID Phases
Auction Website Open for Donations
It’s a not-so-secret secret that many OUUCers plan their social calendars around auction events. This is one way that we raise money for OUUC and build community. From May 7-15 you’ll be able to bid on all kinds of events, things, and services that will delight and inspire you. But who provides these auction items? YOU! It’s time to add your donations to the auction website. Need some ideas? Dinners bring in a significant portion of the total proceeds each year. Here are proven winners from UU auctions: Beer, Bocce & BBQ; Backyard Bash (cookout and lawn games); Picnic in the Park; Mexican Fiesta; Pool Party; or Game Night. You could also consider donating services like painting a room; yard work; planting a flower bed; art lessons or present wrapping. Do you have talents to offer? Perhaps a guided canoe or kayak trip, a hiking trip, or a scenic drive; a ride to and from the airport; a fishing trip; a poker night; cakes, pies, or holiday cookies. Add your item(s) here. Need help? We can brainstorm with you and enter items for you into the system. Contact Melanie Ransom.
A Community Inquiry - Sign Up
On Saturday, June 4, 2022, the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation will gather together with members and supporters of our larger community to celebrate the 70th anniversary of OUUC and the Installation of our Settled Minister, Reverend Mary Gear. In the month of April, we are asking gatherings of the OUUC to consider what it means to have a Covenanted relationship with our installed minister.
Read the reflection questions, see the meeting schedule, and RSVP here.
The Sewing Ministry Wants You!
Our Sewing Ministry is looking for creative people who enjoy sewing. We have a couple of projects coming up that we could use some help with. OUUC is ready for a new banner to represent us at the upcoming General Assembly in June. We also want to create a new backdrop quilt for the Sanctuary. Can you help? Karen Jackson needs a co-chair to work with during the next year, after which Karen will step away from being team lead. Please contact Karen.
Are You a Cookie Baker?
Contribute to OUUC’s 70th Anniversary Time Capsule on May 1!
What would you like to say to 2032 OUUC? Join us on May 1, between 2:00-4:00 pm, for a party in the church parking lot and help assemble the 70th OUUC Anniversary Time Capsule. Bring your mementos from home--a favorite poem, quotation, picture, or writing, or use materials we’ll have there, to express your hopes for the future and how best to make them come true for OUUC. There will even be a “video booth” for recording your messages for posterity. All these items will become part of a display at the 70th Anniversary/Rev. Mary’s Installation celebration on June 4 and then will be included in the ten-year OUUC time capsule, marked “Don’t Open Until 2032.” Join your friends for live music, cookies and lemonade, and fun to be had by all! (The event will be moved indoors in case of inclement weather.) Contact Tim Ransom, Lee Doyle, or Emily Ray if you have any questions.
Easter is coming up fast. We plan to have an Egg Hunt down the street from OUUC, at Burri Park, noon-1 on Sunday, April 17. Our tradition is to have empty eggs to search for and let the kids choose some prizes after they collect their fill of eggs. We are in need of some items to present at the Easter Prize table. If you would like to donate some prizes, you can reach out to Anissa, or you can drop items off on the table in Spiritplay room. Thanks!
Welcome to Earth Month!
• join a work party to remove invasive plants or to plant and restore native habitat - for example, look up Stream Team, Native Plant Salvage, Capitol Land Trust, Nisqually Land Trust, and local parks departments for dates
• pick up litter in your neighborhood or at a local park
Read more....
Challenges After Jail – Services in Thurston County
Politics as Religion Class
Tuesdays, April 26 and May 3 at 7:00 pm on Zoom. Have you ever wondered how our prior president won the support of many Christians who appear to have taken a U-turn on their tenets? We will explore how politics have become the new religion. In the first class, we will study religion and the far-right movement in America. In the second class, we will look at the global far-right religious movement indicating fascism is on the rise. We will discuss what is happening in our country and the world. Kristen Howard spent over two years studying politics, religion, and politics as religion and wrote several academic papers on the topics. She has a Master of Education and is working on a Ph.D. in Leadership and Change. Sign up.
Quick Notes
Church Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm.
Save the Dates:
*Ordination of Sara Lewis on Saturday, April 9 at 1:00 pm, on Zoom and YouTube.
* Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday, April 17 at noon.
* Celebration of life for Evelyn Greenberg – Friday, April 29 at 1:00 pm, online and in-person. We will inter both Ruth Weber’s and Evelyn Greenberg’s ashes immediately after. Reception to follow.
*In-person dinner and auction on Saturday, May 14 at the Indian Summer Golf and Country Club.
*OUUC 70th Anniversary and Installation of Rev. Mary Gear on Saturday, June 4 at 2:00 pm at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd.
*Family Fun Picnic at Millersylvania on August 27.
In the Larger Community
Learn more about the following events and others here.
Register for UUA General Assembly, June 22-26.
From Unitarian Universalist Mental Health Network: If you have lived through trauma or emotional distress (or care about someone who has) we REALLY need you to be Voices for our newly growing 'Recovery Community'.
If you are trans/non-binary, join Side with Love’s UPLIFT Trans/Non-Binary Monthly Gathering Space - 4th Tuesdays @ 5:00 pm-6:30 pm.
Sunday, April 24, 1:00-3:00 pm, Learning Right Relations presents "We Are the Middle of Forever: Indigenous Voices from Turtle Island on the Changing Earth."
Interfaith Earth Day Service - April 23 at 1:00 at Woodruff Park, 1500 Harrison Ave NW. Please join this community event that will feature voices from various spiritual and religious traditions reflecting on the theme of listening to our relationship with Earth.
Tumwater United Methodist Church is proud to announce the first community garden in Tumwater.
Chalice Lighters News - Help our neighbor congregations grow - Spring Call.
UU the Vote2022 Launch Party - April 10.
Pursuing Justice: The Roles of Reparations and Reconciliation - Join Vashon Island Unitarian Fellowship (VIUF) for this 6-week exploration of reparations - the bridge between truth and reconciliation.
Thurston’s Hunger Walk 2022. keep our hungry neighbors fed: The Thurston County Food Bank and The Community Kitchen. I encourage you - starting today, to go to our donation page to easily/safely donate online www.thurstonhungerwalk.com then scroll down to OUUC. Last year OUUC raised $2,520 for The Hunger Walk. Let’s see if we can match that or even reach $2,800 this year.
Read more....
About Us
Sara Lewis, Director of Community and Faith Development
Darlene Sarkela, Congregational Administrator
Marie Arensmeyer, Facilities Manager
Anissa Bentlemsani, Religious Education Assistant
Office Hours
Tuesday and 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