the OUUC spark

I am reading a lovely book about finding the divine in the world and our lives, called An Altar in the World by Barbara Brown Taylor. In the introduction, she tells a story of being asked by a spiritual teacher to share what is saving her life right then. The answer will change with time, and what saves our lives in one set of circumstances may be different than what saves us in another set of circumstances. She writes:

What is saving my life now is the conviction that there is no spiritual treasure to be found apart from the bodily experience of human life on earth. My life depends on engaging the most ordinary physical activities with the most exquisite attention I can give them. My life depends on ignoring all touted distinctions between the secular and the sacred, the physical and the spiritual, the body and the soul. What is saving my life now is becoming more fully human, trusting that there is no way to God apart from real life in the real world.

This inspired me to think about what is saving my life right now, in these stressful and dangerous times when our democracy and social safety nets are under threat. What is saving my life right now?

• Yoga with Adrienne on YouTube

• Birds singing

• Planting onion starts in my garden

• Flowers blooming

• Chopping vegetables

• The way my dog gets excited when I put on my overalls or hiking boots

• The smell of laundry dried outside in the sun

• People laughing and enjoying one another in community

It is in these small things, the simple and foundational bits of life, that I find myself saved from overwhelm, despair, stress, and worry. Yes, there are big threats and injustices and there is much work to do. And yet my life is still also made of these simple things and to pause and notice them keeps me grounded and fueled for the work.

So what is saving your life right now? How would you answer that question? May we all notice the many small ways that we are each saved all the time.

In faith,

Rev. Sara

Here is a recipe from last week’s Community Dinner that many people asked for:

Pasta Primavera (Spring Pasta)

½ lb of pasta (we used bow tie last week)

1 small bunch of broccoli, cut into bite size pieces

1 zucchini, cut into bite size pieces

½ cup snow peas, cut into halves or thirds

2 tomatoes, chopped

12 basil leaves, cut into strips

4 minced garlic cloves

4 Tb butter

1 cup heavy cream

½ cup veggie broth

1 cup grated parmesan cheese

Salt and pepper to taste

1) There are three parts to this recipe that can all be prepared at the same time: the pasta, the veggies, and the sauce, or if you don’t have three burners to work with on your stove top, you can do two and hold them while you finish the third:

• Bring water to a boil in a large pot and cook pasta until al dente, drain and transfer to a mixing bowl. If the sauce is not ready yet, coat pasta in olive oil and toss it so that it will not stick together
• Bring water to a boil in a medium to large pot, ideally one that has a strainer that fits inside such as a blanching pot. Once water is boiling blanch the broccoli, zucchini, and peas for 3 to 4 minutes
• Make the sauce by melting butter in a medium pot and lightly sautéing garlic, then add broth and cream, stir. Add salt and pepper and parmesan cheese, stir until all is melted.

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! And, did I mention THERE WILL BE TEA & CAKE!?!

Stewardship season is almost over! If you haven't pledged yet, please do so here so we can count your contribution as we finalize our budget for next year.

If mailing your pledge, please be sure to use the following address:

OUUC

2306 East End St. NW

Olympia, WA 98502

If you have already mailed in your pledge card and may have used an address other than the one above, or if you'd like to change your pledge, please email or call (360-634-2005, Ext. 100) to let us know.

This week's menu plan will be cooked by the Board and be a celebration of our Stewardship Campaign.

All are welcome for food and fellowship at 5:30 pm.

After-dinner (6:30 pm) options include: All-Ages Fun with Wind (merged with Youth Group), Protest Songs Jam with Ian Stephan, and UU Buddhist Sangha.

More info is available on some of these events in the Weekly Update.

In this week's Tiny Little News Show, learn about Celebrations for Stewardship and other upcoming events:

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

Rosie Koppelman, Office & Communications Specialist

Teresa Madsen, Tech Coordinator

Marie Arensmeyer, Facilities Manager

Anissa Bentlemsani, Religious Education Assistant

Carbon Marshall, Tech Specialist