OUUC Weekly Update
January 23, 2024
2nd Annual Chili Cook Off!
Thursday, January 25, 5:30 pm, we will hold our 2nd annual chili cook off. Dust off your favorite chili recipe and submit a pot of chili to be voted on at the community dinner! There will be prizes to be won.
Let Rev Sara know if you plan to bring a pot of chili, and if it will be veggie or meat based.
Did you miss this week’s Safety Training at OUUC?
This is important information for all of us, so if you missed it “live” on Sunday, please take some time to review the recording, which can be found on this resource padlet.
Action Hour
Each Thursday at 6:30 pm, January 11 through February. Do you find yourself overwhelmed by all the petitions to sign and the bills to comment on during the legislative session? Do you mean to get to it but find your email inbox just too choked up and/or you forget? Well, set a time and do it with us! All are invited to join us at OUUC for this weekly opportunity to engage with faithful advocacy actions in the company of others. Bring your own device if you can: laptop, phone, tablet. We’ll have a menu of actions to take, all experience levels are welcome.
30 Days of Love
Through February 15, all UU’s are invited to engage with resources and themes of intersectional love and justice gifted to us by the Side with Love project.
You can find those resources here: 30 Days of Love 2024 — Side With Love
Anti Racist Screen Filming and Community Conversation
Sunday, February 11 at noon - Sponsored by our Anti Racism Team, we will be screening the documentary film "Since I Been Down", followed by a community conversation with the director. All are welcome, both on zoom and in person. The Anti-Racism Team will be serving a light lunch at 11:30 am for those who are staying between worship and the film. The team is small and would welcome help with that if anyone is interested in helping out, you can sign up here to bring food. This is a powerful film, and we hope you will join us for this! All are welcome, spread the word.
Workshop and Concert with Carrie Newcomer with pianist Gary Walters
We've enjoyed much of award-winning musician, poet, educator, and activist Carrie Newcomer's soulful and spirited work for years at OUUC. And on February 10, we'll welcome both Carrie and her pianist, Gary Walters (a fabulous musician in his own right), into our space for a daytime workshop and an evening concert. They'll also be part of our worship service the following day.
Find more information and tickets are available on Eventbrite. Both the workshop and concert may sell out, so consider purchasing your tickets sooner rather than later. If you have questions, or if you want to attend but the cost is a barrier, OUUC member Liz Clement can help. Contact Liz.
Adult Faith Development
This winter and spring you’ll find an intriguing mix of classes offered by the Adult Faith Development team. Perhaps you’re interested in meditation or wondered how to think about “loaded” words such as transcendent truth, mystical and prayer? Are you eager to figure out how to bring more love and justice into the world? Sign up for one of our classes and join a like-minded group of voluntary, self-directed learners who will travel with you on your individual journey as we explore how to live in this world. Faith development enables people who share similar religious values, sense of spirituality, or a similar faith stance to work together for spiritual awakening and faith development—religious growth. Adult learners come with experience. We ask questions. Some Unitarian Universalists are skeptical and challenging; others are goal-oriented. We may be looking for spiritual growth and a sense of connection, not only with other people, but with the mystery of being alive. Are you interested in leading a class? Contact any one of the Adult Faith Committee members. We’d love to hear your ideas. We’re here to collaborate and facilitate with you.
Seeking Candidates for the OUUC Board and LDC
Are you interested in serving on the OUUC Board of Trustees or the Leadership Development Committee (LDC)? Or can you suggest a member of the congregation who should be considered for these positions?
The Board of Trustees is responsible to the will of the OUUC membership in setting church policies and overseeing the business, property, and other affairs of the congregation. Members with finance, accounting, data management, or community outreach experience would be especially helpful, though these skills are not essential.
One of the LDC’s main duties is identifying members with the desirable skills and experience for both the Board and the LDC. A vote to confirm the proposed slate of candidates will then take place at the OUUC annual meeting in May-June.
We welcome your aid! Please contact a current LDC member with candidate suggestions: Alice Curtis, Jason Martinelli, Gail Wrede, Anne Kohlbry, and Gary Worthington.
Skills and Interests Survey
OUUC has amazingly skilled and talented members. In past years, we have collected information from our members regarding their skills and interests in order to provide opportunities that meet their needs and interests. We have not updated this list since 2021, so we are asking you to update your profile in Realm, or if you are a newer member, to create a profile for yourself. We are focusing on collecting this information in January. To update or create a new profile, log in to your Realm account. Onrealm.org/OUUC Choose the Serving tab, then click Select Skills & Interests. Or stop by the church office to fill out a paper form.
New UU/Seekers Class
All who are new to UU or to OUUC are welcome at these classes (one or all of the series). For those interested in becoming members of OUUC this class is required.
Upcoming classes:
February 3: Q&A with minister
This will conclude this series and those who have been attending will be welcomed into membership if they choose to join. The series will then restart in a hybrid Zoom/in person format still on Saturdays.
For questions or more information contact Rev Sara.
Prayers from the Heart
Prayers from the Heart, 4th Thursdays 6:45 pm. Our next meeting is Thursday, January 25. Join Rev Sara for this practice of praying together. Bring all that is on your heart, light candles, drop stones, and speak and share. Not sure about prayer? That’s fine! This is an interspiritual and open hearted approach to prayer, all are welcome.
Darkening the Doorways Class
Led by Rev Sara Lewis
6 sessions, February 7-March 13 on Zoom, 6:30-8:00 pm.
While the history of Unitarian Universalism is mostly white, African Americans have always been part of our faith traditions as well. Come explore questions of race in this denomination as we read and discuss Darkening the Doorways, a history written by Mark Morrison Reed.
Volunteer to Provide Food
Donate a main dish for the January 24 OUUC dinner at Interfaith Work’s Unity Commons Adult Shelter, and/or bring shelf stable foods for the weekend backpacks for local kids and teens in need. New volunteers are always welcome, Please contact Jo Ann Young if you would like more information.