From Rev. Mary
From a Twitter post: When my 4-year-old daughter asked why she couldn’t go outside, she said, “Daddy, is it because of the corona pirates?”
Humor? In a pandemic? Yes, these are serious times and some of us are grieving. And, I have rarely been with a family in grief that did not find sharing funny stories as a helpful release. Humor is one of the ways that we cope with stress and anxiety. And, laughter can be a safe way to blow off steam. So, this April Fool’s Day, be sure to add humor to your day.
Speaking of daily To-Do lists, a congregant shared this list with me that she saw on FaceBook:
What am I grateful for today?
Who am I checking in on or connecting with today?
Read more....
The Board Line
OUUC is staying healthy, too!
We hope you all are staying healthy and grounded in these challenging times. OUUC is staying healthy, too. We continue to work toward our mission to open minds, fill hearts and transform lives. How we do that might be a bit different now, but the mission stays the same. Over these past few weeks, we’ve seen our Sunday worship plus many programs and gatherings move online; Covenant Circles continue to meet, social and support groups gather, some Adult Ed classes are continuing. Many of you are learning new technology or are learning more about what you already use. Our community remains vibrant and connected! Read more....
A Few Words from OUUC’s Parish Nurse
Our Parish Nurse, Ann Yeo, has heard people ask “How do I know if I’m experiencing symptoms of Coronavirus or something else instead?” She’s found a handy article that helps us to tell the difference. With thanks to the author – Sean Drake MD, an internal medicine physician with the Henry Ford Health System in Michigan - Ann has extracted and quoted his essential points below. You can read the entire article here.
Read more....
Spring Cleaning Challenge Too!
Virtual lunch with Rev. Mary on Wednesday at Noon
Grab your lunch and join Rev. Mary on Zoom. How are you doing this week? How are you staying healthy and grounded?
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 653 152 688
dial in by phone +1 669 900 6833
Zoom Practice with Rev. Mary on April 4 at 12:30 pm
Here's your chance to practice Zoom before the Sunday service. Let's continue to exercise our Zoom muscles!
(Same time as last week; different login.)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 664 971 306
dial in by phone +1 669 900 6833
Zoom Dinner Conversation Daily at 6:00 pm
Share dinner - log on to Zoom any evening at 6:00 pm and share a meal and conversation. Questions? Contact Cindy Bowens.
Join Zoom Meeting:
Meeting ID: 427 184 361
Dial in by phone:
+1 669 900 6833
Food bank Needs Your Support!
The Thurston County Food Bank is open and serving the needs of people in our community – with a diminished number of volunteers and staff. You can help in two ways: Donate cash, the greatest need. Volunteer. People are doing a variety of tasks, including distributing emergency food bags. As an essential service, the Food Bank is in compliance with our governor’s self-quarantine order. To help, check for updates and contact information at the Thurston County Food Bank’s website, or Facebook page.
Census
2020 CENSUS. Here’s something you can do at home! If your reminder has been set aside and forgotten go online and complete it today. The census provides critical data used to determine federal funding for many community services: hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads, and other resources.
Now, more than ever.
UUA Side With Love & Love Resists In These Times Webinar,
Thursday, April 2, 3:30 pm. How do we continue to organize for justice during a pandemic? This 1 hour and 15 mins. webinar will offer the interconnectedness of spiritual sustenance and movement organizing as a means to live into the values and principles of Unitarian Universalism and work for justice and transformation. Participants include UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, UUSC President Rev. Mary Katherine Morn, Emma’s Revolution, Side with Love Campaign Manager Everette Thompson, and UUs from across our black, brown, LGBTQ and justice networks. Register here.
Auction Update
Just as the Summer Olympics has been postponed, so has our “Go for the Gold” auction originally scheduled for May 2.
We think we will have an online auction this summer, but we are waiting and watching to see what happens next with the coronavirus. We have the tools to have an online auction, but we don’t know when we will be able to do our usual themed dinners and events that make up the auction items.
We would like to have an auction dinner in the future, but we are waiting for more information about when we can meet in large groups again. This could be a while, and we will be competing for space with many other groups that have had to postpone gatherings. We typically raise about $20,000 through the auction for the OUUC general fund. As you can imagine, this is weighing heavily on our minds right now. If you would like to learn more and are interested in attending a Zoom meeting in mid-April, please email Melanie Ransom.
Buy Local and Support OUUC!
Many if not all of you know that, year-round, Browser's Bookshop donates a huge 10% of the total on every sale made to OUUC members and friends who say “It’s for OUUC” when they buy. Even better, Browsers ups the donation to OUUC by an additional 20% of the sale price of books you buy from the special OUUC collection at the store (hundreds of titles published by the UUA presses, Beacon Press and Skinner House Books). So, during this difficult time, you — any OUUC member or friend — can support OUUC and a local business by ordering books — any book — for your self-isolation reading from Browsers. You can use phone or email. Just be sure to say “It’s for OUUC” when you call in your order to 360-357-7462 or when you send in your order by email to Andrea@BrowsersOlympia.com. Browsers is happy to deliver to your door (in Olympia) or to your mailbox. During this difficult time, your actions will help shape the kind of community we return to when this pandemic stage passes. So please consider supporting Browsers — and OUUC. Thank you!
Nickolas Kristof on Zoom
On April 4, 10:00 am our Olympia RESULTS chapter is hosting a group of high potential people, like you, to join our National Webinar with Nicholas Kristof, a columnist for the NY Times and author. Kristof is a fan of RESULTS and has a deep concern for people experiencing poverty. He will speak about US and global poverty and the importance of grassroots advocacy in driving change. After the webinar, we’ll do some planning for an upcoming Zoom meeting with Representative Denny Heck’s office. Join at https://results.zoom.us/j/994444828. You can also join by phone at (669) 900-6833 or (929) 436-2866, meeting ID: 994 444 828. Closed captioning link. For those new to RESULTS. We're a grassroots movement of passionate, committed everyday people. Together we use our voices to influence political decisions that will bring an end to poverty. As volunteers, we receive training, support, and inspiration to become skilled advocates. In time, we learn to effectively advise policymakers, guiding them towards decisions that improve access to health, education and economic opportunity. Check-in with Helen Henry or Nancy Curtiss.
Chalice Challenge
The #chalicechallenge is now larger than just OUUC! Post a picture of your chalice at home on social media of your choice with the hashtag "chalicechallenge".
Sara has posted directions for creating a chalice at home and for writing your own chalice lighting words on her blog.
And if you don't do social media, you can still email a picture of your chalice to Sara and we'll post it on the OUUC website.
Easter "Egg" Scavenger Hunt
Join us in an Easter “Egg” Scavenger Hunt! Post your pictures with the hashtag #ouuceasterhunt or email them to Sara Lewis. Pictures can be of literal objects or can represent intangible concepts.
How many can you find?
Penpals
Do you like to send and receive an envelope of cheer in your mailbox? This week I sent some kids some silly jokes in the mail and received a wonderful story about a rainbow unicorn with a drawing.
If you would like to exchange mail, email me, Sara Lewis and I'll will match you with another OUUC penpal! All ages encouraged to participate.
About Us
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
