OUUC Weekly Update

Inspired by the book Undrowned: Black Feminist Lessons from Marine Mammals by Alexis Pauline Gumbs, Rev. Sara will explore wisdom and practices for thriving as humans we can learn from our marine mammal cousins.

The worship service starts at 10 am.

OUUC Sunday Morning Service

https://zoom.us/j/873210124?pwd=U21qdmwxcTNyaE1LQ0xlU0MwM3VMQT09

Meeting ID: 873 210 124

Password: 995142

Dial +1 253 215 8782

After Service Forum (11:30 am): Volunteer Appreciation Game Show!

Worship Service:

“For All the Mothers" with Rev. Mary Gear.

The recording of this past Sunday's service is in 2 pieces (with a short gap between) due to technical difficulties. Click here to view the beginning of the service, and a link to the other video should show on the screen in the last 20s of this video, or you can find it in the description.

View the Order of Service here.

(No After Service Forum last Sunday)

There’s a lot going on at OUUC these days!

We have many tools to bring you the news about what is happening in our community. We use the Tuesday Weekly Update for events and news. “Events” are things like the upcoming worship service, classes, Faith in Action events, and social events. “News” is things like information about new staff or hiring Rev. Monica as the sabbatical minister.

We use The Spark (which comes out on Thursday) to bring you inspiration and invitations to spiritual practice. We also let you know about the Thursday Community Dinner and any important activities, like the stewardship drive.

We’re interested in making our communications about the goings-on as accessible as possible, so we’re curious about how you get your OUUC news. If you haven't yet, we’d love it if you would complete this OUUC Communications Poll! Thank you!

Rev. Mary’s sabbatical starts on June 16. On that day, we will send her off with a box full of blessings, well wishes and love from our beloved community. The Sabbatical Committee will collect cards for Rev. Mary over the next 4 weeks. Please look for the colorful box and blank cards in the Commons (shown here). We have a selection of lovely cards or you can bring one of your choice and drop it in the box. All are invited to participate. If you have questions, ask a Sabbatical Committee member or email us.

Young Adult Lunch!

Sunday, May 19, 11:30 am

All who are youngish (roughly ages 18-40) are invited for fellowship around lunch following the worship service on the 3rd Sunday of each month. Lunch will be served in a classroom at about 11:30. Look for Kedo Baye or send questions to Rev. Sara.

The family and friends of Ken Guza will be welcomed for a Celebration of Life service at 1:30 PM, both onsite in the OUUC Sanctuary and on Zoom (link below). A reception will follow for those onsite. Everyone attending in person is invited by Ken's wife, Diana, to wear their favorite hat to bring a bit of joy to the day.

Please check this site for updates – we’ll post the Order of Service before and a link to the YouTube video after the service.

Topic: Ken Guza Celebration of Life
Time: May 18, 2024 01:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 896 1662 6331
Passcode: 799846

Calling all OUUC members! In June, we’ll hold the annual congregational meeting when members vote to elect new members of the Board and Leadership Development Committee and vote on a budget for the next program year.

After the service on June 2, join the Board and Rev. Mary for a detailed explanation of the proposed budget for July 2024-June 2025. If you would like to know all the details about the proposed budget, this meeting is for you! Bring your questions and concerns to the meeting so they can be addressed before the annual meeting on June 9.

After the service on June 9, please plan to attend the OUUC annual congregational meeting. This is when members will be asked to vote. The Board will provide finger food after the service so everyone can be fully present for the annual meeting. While only members can vote, everyone is welcome to attend the meeting.

If you are not sure if you are a voting member of OUUC, please contact Rosie in the office.

OUUC will have a booth on Saturday June 29th and will march in the Pride Parade on Sunday June 30th. Rev Sara will need help staffing the booth and all are welcome to walk/roll together in the parade. A sign up form will be coming soon, for now mark your calendars!

Buildings and grounds is missing a gas-powered STIHL leaf blower that has been kept in the basement. If anyone has any information, please let Marie Arensmeyer the facilities manager know. Thank you!

Safety Reminder: Please lock and remove valuables from your vehicles.

Download the flyer below if you would like a list of OUUC events for May. Great for posting on your refrigerator!

Learn more about the following events and others here.

ASHHO Cultural Community Center has been working for several years to help build racial justice in Olympia. Erin Jones has been leading monthly walks for three years toward this effort. On Saturday, May 11, her walk was disrupted by someone shouting hate speech. A racially motivated verbal attack happened in Tumwater just a few days ago. All who were walking with her were impacted. You can see her Erin’s account of this disruption in her 6-minute recording on Tik Tok here.

So, for her June walk, Erin is inviting community members to show up for inclusion. She’s looking for 100 community members to show up in support of racial justice in Olympia. The walk will begin at 11 am on Saturday, June 8 at ASHHO. I’ll be there. Please join me!

For those who attended the recent OUUC auction, you know that ASHHO is a beautiful and spirit-filed place. Let’s show up to support their efforts in yet another way.

Erin’s wisdom: We’re all human. Be kind to everyone.

See you on June 8.

Rev. Mary

The Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice invites you to show your support for Palestine each Friday from 4:30-6:00 p.m. at the Fellowship of Reconciliation Vigil for Peace
Percival Landing in Downtown Olympia, 4th & Water Street.

Dances of Universal Peace

Sunday, May 19, 12:30 pm at Center for Spiritual Living 3437 Libby Rd. NE Olympia

By donation, $5 - 10, no one turned away for lack of funds.

Olympia Dances are held every third Sunday of the month at 12:30 - 2pm, at the Center for Spiritual Living, and on second Thursdays at various locations. Hosted at OUUC starting in September! Second Thursdays 6:30-8pm. Email here for more information.

Healing Code of Forgiveness: Freedom from Shame and Trauma with Ester Nicholson

Sunday, June 9, 1-3:30 pm at Center For Spiritual Living Olympia, 3437 Libby Rd NE Olympia WA 98506

In this workshop, Ester Nicholson, Trauma Healer, Agape International Licensed Practitioner and author of Soul Recovery — 12 Keys to Healing Dependence, will guide you through a powerful process of healing unconscious core wounds that have blocked you from your highest and authentic self.

An Evening With Lifelong Climate Activist Bill McKibben,

Tuesday, July 2 at 7 pm, Hosted by United First Methodist Church in Seattle

Join Third Act Washington members and friends, climate justice activists, faith-based creation caregroups, and concerned citizens for a talk followed by Q & A with the renowned climate activist, author, and founder of Third Act. Read more here.

Staff Contacts

Rev. Mary Gear, Minister

Rev. Sara Lewis, Director of Community and Faith Development

Troy Fisher, Music Director

Isaac Ezra Jennings, Business Manager

Rosie Koppelman, Office Assistant

Teresa Madsen, Communications and Tech Coordinator

Marie Arensmeyer, Facilities Manager

Anissa Bentlemsani, Religious Education Assistant

Carbon Marshall, Tech Specialist

Office Hours

Tuesday - Thursday, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

360-634-2005