OUUC Weekly Update
December 5, 2023
Thursday Dinner
This week’s Community Dinner is brought to us by the Ladies Unitarian Social Hour (LUSH). All are invited to join us for dinner at 5:30 pm on Thursday.
Following dinner this week: All Ages Ornament Making, Parents Group, and the Buddhist Sangha.
Parents and Caregivers Group
OUUC Parents and Caregivers Group meets Thursday December 7, 6:30-7:30 pm, for mutual support and conversation. December’s topic is how we can find rest and renewal for ourselves while caregiving for children. Join us in person or on Zoom.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85470798310
Meeting ID: 854 7079 8310
Nature Group
OUUC Nature Group at Woodard Bay on December 9, 9:00 am. All ages are invited to enjoy and explore nature together, hosted by Rev Sara and Anissa.
This month’s location is Woodard Bay, a shoreline habitat preserve with a level and paved trail. Parking is limited, carpools encouraged, and a Discover Pass is required. RSVP or ask for a carpool.
Spreading Joy with Butter and Sugar
Sunday, December 10 is the day to pick up your holiday cookie box! Pre-orders will be marked with your name, and there will be extras boxes for sale. After the service, look for the Cookie Brigade table, which will be loaded with beautiful homemade cookies that are regular and gluten-free. Boxes of approximately 2 dozen cookies are $20. All funds raised go to the Kitchen Fund, which provides coffee and hospitality all year long. Cookie boxes will be delivered to homes by request. Happy sugar dreams!
Free U-Cut/U-Dig Douglas Firs for the Holidays
To clear out many of the volunteer Douglas Firs that are growing too close to the lower parking lot, Building and Grounds is offering up free trees for the Holidays! Any of the Douglas Fir that are from 1 to 15 feet tall and within 8 feet of the edges of the lower parking lot are free game with just two catches. First, if you cut a tree, please cut it as close to the ground as possible. Second, if you dig out a tree, please fill in the remaining hole with nearby dirt or debris. Trees may be harvested at any time between now and the end of December. If you have questions please contact Lynne MacDonald.
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 December 2023. To update or create a new profile, log in to your Realm account. Choose the Serving tab, then click Select Skills & Interests. Or stop by the church office to fill out a paper form.
Save the Dates - Holiday Services and Events
Holiday Concert, We Remember Them… “A Requiem” - Saturday, December 16 at 2:00 pm and Sunday, December 17 at 7:00 pm
Winter Solstice Spiral and Fire Ritual - Thursday, December 21 at 7:00 pm
Christmas Eve Services “Silent Night” - Sunday, December 24 at 5:30 pm (live-streamed and in-person) and at 9:00 pm (in-person only)
See the full schedule here.
Upcoming Faith Development Class
Fluent in Faith, Led by Rev Sara Lewis. 3 sessions, Wednesdays, 6:30-8:00 pm, January 10, 17, and 24. Do you love words like Worship, god, and grace, or do you struggle with them? Do you just find the words confusing? Join this class to explore these and more words, to find and make meaning together as we dive into the language of faith. Class will be on Zoom (good for those dark and cold evenings of January!)
Creating Your Own Spoken Spiritual Practice Class
The words we use have power in our lives. If we say things – especially out loud, but even just in our minds, our life will tend to work to make them manifest. The idea behind this class is that we can choose things we say with the intention of creating outcomes we actually intend to make manifest. Woody Moore has a Masters degree in psychology and has devoted considerable time (at least 25 years), energy and focus in using a practice made up of spoken words to achieve more consistency with how he lives his life. Class is offered in two sections with same content: Section One via Zoom: Four Mondays 6:30 – 8:30 pm—January 8, 15, 22 and 29 as needed. Register for Zoom section
Section Two In person at church: Four Tuesdays 1:30-3:00 pm —January 9, 16, 23 and 30 as needed. Register for In Person Section
New UU/Seekers Class
This year we are trying something new in place of our New Member Classes, and offering a gathering twice a month for those interested in knowing more about Unitarian Universalism, OUUC, and membership at OUUC. Gatherings are all on Saturdays, 10:00-11:30 am. For more information, reach out to Rev Sara Lewis.
This Month’s Schedule of Gatherings:
December 16: pastoral care and small group ministry
Register here.
Celebration of Life for Anna Jones
On Friday, December 15, the family and friends of Anna Jones will be welcomed for a Celebration of Life service at 3:30 pm, both onsite in the OUUC Sanctuary or on Zoom. A reception will follow for those onsite.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89722416543?pwd=andVOTZTT2dJbk1KWkk2a1M3aEwzUT09
Meeting ID: 897 2241 6543
Passcode: 362116
It’s Guest at Your Table Time!
This is an annual fundraiser for the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, and we launched it last Sunday in our worship service (if you missed it, you can watch the service on the OUUC youtube channel). Learn more about Guest at Your Table here. And you can still get a box at OUUC, or make your donation directly to UUSC online!
OUUC Food Drive, Sunday, December 10
Please help prevent hunger in our community by contributing to a food drive for our local food bank! We will be collecting non-perishable (and non-expired) food in the Commons on Sunday, December 10.
OUUC Official Gift Card Collection for LP Brown Elementary
We will be collecting gift cards at OUUC, all in $25 amounts, for LP Brown Elementary School’s families in need this holiday season. They especially want gift cards to stores where families can get a variety of holiday needs met, such as major brand grocery or big box stores. Bring cards to Rev Sara before December 8.
Packs of Cheer
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WARMTH AND GOODNESS FOR THE BACKPACKS! I won't be bringing the box back to the Commons for future donations, but we'll be working to fill the packs with all the goodies up until December 25. If you have something that you want to donate, don't hesitate to bring it in. I can take it to the Community Kitchen for distribution. Questions? Call Diana Finch.
A loving, just, and healthy world.