OUUC Weekly Update 5-13-20

"Power Retreat" - Joe Rettenmaier

How one novel coronavirus is altering humankind's thresholds of power, ethics, and spirituality.

Join us for Online Worship.

Listen to recent sermons here.

Challenging situations, like we are in now, can bring out the best in us. Some even say that our innate response to challenge is to come together and support each other. I am so grateful that this is what we are experiencing in the OUUC community--coming together and supporting each other. We have adapted quickly to a new reality and none of us has done it alone—it takes all of us.

One recent example of community support is the Congregational COVID Cabaret. With the support of Troy Fisher, our Music Director, many of you sent in your contributions of music and poetry to help us make sense of our current world. Read more....

Play Date for Young Ones - Thursday, May 14 at 2:00 pm. Bring your Legos and share your creations with your friends. Contact Sara Lewis.

NEXT WEEK: ORDER OUT, DINE IN! On Tuesday, May 19, let’s come together to show the OUUC community’s support for our local restaurants! OUUC’s Faith in Action Ministry recognizes that independent businesses and their employees are severely impacted by coronavirus restrictions, so let’s help them out ordering a meal from your favorite local eatery to be delivered or picked up, and enjoyed at home.

Read This Week in Religious Education here.

See a list of online meetings that you might attend here.

Ways to Give - Did you know you can donate to OUUC by text message? Just text "OUUC" and "amount" to 73256. You can also donate online by visiting our secure online giving page.

Now is the time to get rolling with OUUC’s 2020 Online Auction! Our big annual fundraiser is definitely moving ahead while working carefully around the health issues of the time. 2020’s auction will be a virtual auction, run entirely online as the Midsummer Online Auction. The event is timed to Europe’s ancient Midsummer celebrations, around the summer solstice. You may bid online from June 20 to 28.

But first, please donate items to be auctioned. The current plan is to play it safe: Donate with a focus on such things as stay-at-home services, porch deliveries, virtual gatherings, games, staycations, gift cards, online demonstrations, unique handmade items, and more. Some health safety restrictions may lift in the coming months, giving more flexibility to how the donation items are handled.

A variety of enticing items are already listed in the “Catalog.” For example, a crab cake dinner delivered right to your home—or an herb garden in four clay pots also delivered to you. There are gift cards for curbside pick-up of specialty cocktails (now fully legal), for virtual book store shopping, for fancy bouquets, and more. You may also bid for the right to name a sermon topic of your choice, which Reverend Mary will gratefully deliver at an upcoming service. Add your creative donation to those already listed. Simply proceed to the Auction Website, then click on “Auction Website,” then “Donate an Item.”

As unique and challenging as the times are, with your help we can pull off yet another successful auction. Your generosity will help keep OUUC strong. When the bidding period arrives with the solstice, there will also be the opportunity to “raise the paddle” for some of the church’s own needs as well as those of our greater community.

Let’s keep moving ahead—we can do this. Questions? Contact Melanie Ransom.

The Blue Apron Team - For the past 4 1/2 years OUUC members have provided dinner two Wednesdays a month for the guests at the Interfaith Works Adult Shelter located in the basement of the First Christian Church on Franklin Street. This month those dates will be Wednesday, May 20, and Wednesday, May 27 (corrected dates). Please contact Jo Ann Young to volunteer, or for more information to help provide the six main and side dishes that will be needed each night.

UUA General Assembly - June 24-28. General Assembly (GA) is online this year—a 100% virtual event! This year’s GA theme is Rooted, Inspired, & Ready! We are in touch with our theological roots, we are engaged in transforming our faith, and we are fired up to take action in the wider world. Registration is $150 for all events. Some events, like the Service of the Living Tradition, you can attend without registration or a fee. It will never be easier to attend the international gathering of Unitarians and Universalists. You can find more information here. OUUC is eligible for 7 delegates to GA. Read more....

The Sharing Teens & Elder Project (STEP) is on Zoom every Saturday at 11:00 am. Youth and elders are welcome to participate. Meeting number 690 856 451. There’s a STEP program in Victoria, Canada and those folks are on Zoom as well.

Email: liberalfaith@ouuc.org
Website: http://ouuc.org
Location: 2315 Division Street Northwest, Olympia, WA, United States
Phone: 3607866383
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OlympiaUUC/
Twitter: @OlyUUC