OUUC Weekly Update
April 22, 2025
$30K Away! WE. CAN. DO. THIS.
Dear OUUC Community,
Amazing. This year marked the most successful Stewardship Drive ever at OUUC! Yay!
We are just $30,000 away from our ambitious goal to fund our dreams.
How Can We Do This?
Through some program adjustments, we've narrowed the gap between our expectations and our aspirations to just under $30,000. Raising these last funds will enable us to:
- · Provide a cost-of-living adjustment for team
- · Enhance administrative support for our Religious Education Programs, and
- · Establish funding for a new Member Engagement Specialist.
These initiatives are crucial to supporting our thriving community. OUUC is needed now more than ever. Can you increase your pledge or make a new pledge to help us bridge this gap?
What About the Auction Funds?
Great question! While the funds raised through our annual auction are an essential part of our overall financial picture, they are already allocated to support this year’s budget. The $30,000 we’re working to raise now is specifically for next year’s budget — to help us grow, thrive, and sustain our momentum into the future.
We Are So Close
We are within reach of not only a number but a dramatic shift in how we can serve the community and each other. The record number of pledges we received and the outpouring of support is a testament to our thriving congregation and its commitment to the exceptional work we do in the community.
We’re so glad you have connected with the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation. It takes all of us to make OUUC what it is. Please join us to Nurture All We Love by making a pledge today, or adjusting your pledge to help us reach our goal.
Thursday Dinner
Takeover by Environmental Action Team and Buildings and Grounds!
Thursday, April 24, 5:30 pm
This week's dinner is sponsored by the Environmental Action Team and the Buildings and Grounds Team.
All are welcome for food and fellowship.
Film Screening: Eden's Last Chance
Thursday, April 24, 3:15 and 6:30 showings
Join the Environmental Action Team and guest Joshua Wright for a screening of the film "Eden's Last Chance" at OUUC.
View the trailer here.
Protest Song Jam with Ian Stephan
Thursday, April 24, 6:30 pm
In times of trial and tribulation, coming together to play and sing always lifts spirits and provides energy for positive action.
Bring an instrument or your voice (or both!) to jam out and lift each other up. Register here.
The Good Death Series
Tuesdays, weekly from 4/29-5/27, 3-5 pm
OUUC is happy to offer The Good Death Series, presented by Jenee Jenkins-Wolfram, a local end of life doula. A five-part series exploring a wide range of end-of-life planning topics that everyone should consider, no matter their age or health status. Join us to explore proactive steps you can take to ensure a peaceful and meaningful end-of-life experience for both yourself and your loved ones. The format will include a mix of presentations, reflections, and optional sharing for those who wish to participate.
Registration is required. Space is limited. Register here.
Death Cafe at OUUC
Monday, May 5, 4:30 pm
Join us for our monthly Death Cafes at OUUC, supported through Pastoral Care & Adult Faith Development and facilitated by Jenee Wolfram, certified End of Life Doula. Death Cafes are not a grief support group but an informal, death positive, group-led space for conversations about all things death and dying. This is a drop-in program. All are welcome! Let’s normalize conversations around death and dying, bringing this long taboo topic out into the light. And, did I mention THERE WILL BE TEA & CAKE!?!
April Faith in Action Opportunities
DRUUMM Public Worship: There Will Always Be Dancing
Thursday, May 15, 5 pm
Join DRUUMM for our 2025 Public Worship with guest preacher, the Rev. Joan Javier-Duval of Vermont, and Dr. Jolie Rocke, our musical artist based in Texas. Rev. Christina Shu of California is our liturgist. OUUC is one of the many sponsors of this event, which is open to all.
Read more and register here.
Weekly New UU/New Member Class
Every Sunday, 2 pm
This class is for everyone interested in becoming a member of OUUC or simply interested in learning more about OUUC, and will be offered every Sunday 2pm from March to May. April topics: 4/13 Connections and Communications, 4/27 Stewardship and Membership, 5/4 Q&A with the Minister.
National Boycotts In Support of DEI
Join in National boycotts called against companies that have slashed their DEI programs with this new administration.
The boycott schedule is:
April 7-14 Boycott Walmart.
April 18 total boycott: buy nothing, spend nothing.
April 21-28 Boycott General Mills.
OUUC Side with Love Shirt
Get ready to represent OUUC and Side with Love at gatherings and justice events by ordering your yellow T Shirt now!
Click here to order.
Pastoral Care Team
The Pastoral Care Team members serve as an extension of Rev. Mary's care of the congregation, which is especially important and needed as we grow. Rev. Mary invites team members based on their professional and life experience, as well as their caring heart and presence. The team members also continue their learning and growth together as they serve.
Ours is a ministry of loving presence, as we listen to the words that need to be spoken. We provide short or long term social/emotional, one-to-one care to members and friends. We work as a team, with a lead member assigned to each request to ensure consistency.
If you would like support from the Pastoral Care Team, you can identify members on Sunday mornings or at other church events by looking for the green Pastoral Care stoles they wear. If you are not physically at church, you can reach out via email here, and a team member will get back to you shortly to see how they can be of service.
Your Pastoral Care Team members are: Debra Dohrmann, Beth Johnson, Susan Joy, Bobbe Murray, Polly Taylor, and Woody Woodson.
Equity Library: Book Choices for April
Equity Library, open whenever OUUC is open, has books for children, teens, parents, and other adults.
Clamshell Boy: a Makah Legend
Using words, charming art, photos and words author Teri Cohlene tells the story of how Clamshell Boy saved the stolen children from the evil and wicked Basket Woman, and how the first Makah potash came to be.
(This book can be found in the Native American’section of Equity library)
Creech, Sharon: Walk Two Moons (A Newberry Medal winner)
Sharon Creech weaves together two tales, one funny, one bittersweet, to create a heartwarming, compelling, and utterly moving story of love, loss and the complexity of human emotion.
(This book can be found in the middle and teen teen section of Unity Library)
Ijeoma, Oluo: So You Want to talk about Race
Oluo offers a hard-hitting, user-friendly examination of race in America,
(This book can be found in the high school, and adult section of Equity Library)
Chalice Camp: Democracy Kids
Monday, July 14 - Friday, July 18, 9 am - 3 pm
We will explore how we can live in community based on shared values of mutual care, inclusion, and democratic decision-making. Register here.
Each day in camp there will be opportunities for: arts and crafts, movement and music, snacks, meditation, stories and outdoor play.
Pay what you can, Sliding scale, for kids ages 5-11.
Our Whole Lives for 4th-6th Grade: Summer Camp
Monday, July 7- Friday, July 11, 9 am - 3 pm
Our Whole Lives is a holistic and developmentally appropriate sexuality education program. We are offering the program for 4th-6th grade this summer as a week long summer camp.
Pay what you can program, registration is open now. Register here.
Carrie Newcomer Returns in May!
Saturday, May 17, 2025
Workshop at 10 am and Concert at 7 pm. Tickets available here. Carrie will also be with us for the Worship Services on Sunday, May 18.
OUUC Annual Picnic
Saturday, September 13, 12 pm
Save the date for the OUUC annual picnic at the Rose Garden!
Beware of periodic scammers via email and text. You may be contacted by scammers impersonating Rev. Mary or other church staff. Scammers also try to reach people via text. Often, they will ask for you to contact them right away, and they may ask for financial assistance/information or contact information of others at the church. Always double check and make sure the email or text was sent from a source you recognize. Scammers will create new addresses that appear like a known email address. When in doubt, check in with the person in your life who appears to be trying to contact you, using a known contact method.
