the OUUC spark

At a time when democracy is being challenged in our country and around the world, it is alive and well at OUUC. This is the time of year when we see democracy most visible at OUUC---the annual meeting is coming up on June 8.

This meeting happens every Spring and is when the congregation members elect a few new board members, a few new members of the Leadership Development Committee, and passes a budget for the next church year, which starts on July 1. On occasion there will be proposed changes to the OUUC Bylaws, and that is the case this year as the OUUC Board of Trustees is proposing three changes.

You can find all the meeting information and links to everything that requires a vote, on the OUUC website here.

Members of this congregation decide the vision, mission, and goals of the church. These reflect the values that we hold as Unitarian Universalists and as a congregation. Every year when leaders are elected and a budget is passed, the members make real the vision, mission and values.

The OUUC Bylaws help to legally define OUUC. They are one of the core documents that spell out who we are, how decisions are made, and how power is shared. Proposed changes to the Bylaws seek to make as clear as possible how we operate. The proposed Bylaws changes this year are intended to increase transparency.

This year is a bit different in that the congregation will be invited to pass two budgets, not the usual one. The board is proposing an operating budget, which funds the day-to-day working of the church, and a capital budget, which defines what is planned for the maintenance and improvement of the building and grounds. The addition of the capital budget reflects the good work of the Buildings & Grounds Team, the OUUC staff, and the OUUC Board as we seek to plan for the future of the congregation’s physical home.

If you would like to learn more about the details of the operational and capital budgets, please attend the Budget Expo on Sunday, June 1 at 12:15. If you are unable to attend, we will record it to be available on the OUUC YouTube channel.

If you are an OUUC congregational member, please plan to attend the Annual Meeting on Sunday, June 8 at 12:15. This is your chance to weigh in on the future of OUUC. Everyone is welcome to attend; only OUUC members are eligible to vote.

Thank you for your participation in and support of democracy at OUUC.

Rev. Mary

• The Annual Meeting IS the time to come having at least read the budget and gone to the prep meetings if you cared about that (or not if you trust the people in the room).

• The Annual Meeting IS the time to come having read the other material or at least have scanned it.

• The Annual Meeting IS the time to engage thoughtfully and respectfully - even if there is some disagreement.

• The Annual Meeting should be a time of good congregational work and great congregational celebration.

Please do your preparation, and please be kind to one another. It’s been a really long year on top of a series of really long years, and, to quote a ten-year-old I know who chose to not engage in a fight with his older brother, ‘I’m too tired…. it’s just not worth it.’

Spring is my favorite time of year in the Pacific Northwest and this Spring has been especially magnificent with sunny, warm days. The flowers and trees are in full bloom (ah -choo!) and there are colors everywhere. The delight in my neighborhood has been seeing a fox hunting in the daytime, likely to feed a litter of kits in the nearby woods. I am waiting for my sighting of the first fawn of the season.

I am also enjoying the robin's nest outside my office at OUUC. I noticed the nest about 2 weeks ago, perched on top of the light above the RE doors. What caught my eye was a mature robin landing on the edge of the nest with a worm in its beak and a small beak that came up to receive the worm.

Over these past weeks I’ve watched the three chicks grow by leaps & bounds. They now have their eyes open and are well above the lip of the nest. It seems that they will fledge soon, which means they will leave the nest and find shelter on the ground for a few weeks as they learn to fly. If you come across a baby robin, please let them be as their parents are likely tending to them.

The birds seem to roll with our busy Sunday mornings and all the entries through the RE doors and I try to give them space and quiet, so the parents aren’t scared away as they feed the growing chicks.

Enjoy the beauty and new life of Spring.

Rev. Mary

12:15 pm on Sunday, June 1 — Deep Dive into the Budget. Bring your questions! (The draft budgets are posted here.)

12:15 pm on Sunday, June 8 — Annual Congregational Meeting to vote on board members, Leadership Development Committee members, and budgets. (Full details on each of these are available here.)

NOTE: You will be able to participate (including voting) in both of these forums either onsite or on Zoom, as usual. Links and info about other upcoming services and forums can be found on our website, OUUC.org, under Worship -> Upcoming Services.

Tonight's dinner will be "Pretty Corny" with all sorts of corn dishes. We will also have a quick corny joke contest, so bring a joke to share if you like.

All are welcome for food and fellowship at 5:30pm. If you can help cook or set up, starting at 3:30 or 4:30pm, please email Rev. Sara.

After-dinner (6:30 pm) options include: Stories of Intersex and Faith (film screening), Protest Songs Music Jam, UU Buddhist Sangha, and Kids Class: Dharma Kids.

Website: https://www.ouuc.org

Email: office@ouuc.org

Location: 2306 East End St NW, Olympia, WA, USA
Phone: (360) 634-2005

Office Hours

Tuesday and Thursday, 12:00 – 4:00 pm

Sunday, during services

Staff Contacts

Rev. Mary Gear, Minister

Rev. Sara Lewis, Director of Community & Faith Development

Troy Fisher, Music Director

Isaac Jennings, Business Manager

Su Sikora, Interim Office Assistant

Teresa Madsen, Tech Coordinator

Marie Arensmeyer, Facilities Manager

Anissa Bentlemsani, Religious Education Assistant

Carbon Marshall, Tech Specialist