OUUC Weekly Update
April 30, 2024
OUUC Auction this Saturday!
The Online Auction is open and bidding is brisk! With 175 choices there's plenty for every interest and budget. Join the fun!
Go to OUUC Auction and start bidding today! Remember to check back often to be sure your items don’t slip through your fingers—bidding closes Sunday, May 5th, at 5 PM.
Thanks to all who purchased tickets to the Live Auction event on Saturday, May 4th. Go to Live Auction and Dinner to check out the desirable dozen: brunches, weekend getaways, an evening boat trip, downtown dinner and theater tickets, choose your own dessert/Sunday service/anthem, and many more. Come prepared for an evening of entertainment, socializing, and helping OUUC Reach the Sky!
The Sabbatical Committee –- Here for You!
The Reverend Mary Gear will be taking a sabbatical from June 16 to November 1 , 2024. Sabbaticals are a vital and necessary element of healthy long-term ministries. A ministerial sabbatical isn’t solely for the benefit of the person taking time away. It's also an opportunity for our Congregation to live into our mission and vision, as well as examine our processes, separately from our Minister’s direct participation. Ministerial sabbaticals ground both Minister and Congregation, allowing us to look ahead together with a renewed sense of shared purpose and responsibilities.
A Sabbatical Committee was charged by our Board to support Rev. Mary, the Board, staff and the Congregation. Our Committee’s purpose is to plan and prepare the Congregation for the sabbatical period. We’re here to listen to your questions, concerns, and hopes surrounding Rev. Mary’s sabbatical. Upcoming tasks include collaborating with the Worship Arts Team and Rev. Monica on a Service to send Rev. Mary on her way with warm wishes on June 16. We are also working to develop a spot on the OUUC website to post a list of contacts, FAQ’s, and other resources related to the Sabbatical.
Committee members are Dan Donahue, Tiffany Felch, Kirsten Hill, Curtis Tanner, and Polly Taylor. Sabbatical Committee members will be available this week after the Community Dinner on May 2. Look for us in the Commons or join us for an informal discussion session after dinner in the Sanctuary. You may contact the Sabbatical Committee via email HERE.
Thursday Dinner this week: Southwest Rice Bowls
Thursday May 2, 5:30 pm
For this week's community dinner the theme is Southwest Rice Bowls. Help is needed to cook at 3:30 and set up tables and chairs at 4:30, contact Rev. Sara if you can help.
Parent Group
Thursday May 2, 6:45 pm
In-person and on Zoom
Join us for support and community each month on the 1st Thursday of the month. We focus on a different parenting topic each month. May's topic is climate change, environmental loss, and our kids.
UU Pagan Celebration of Beltane
Wednesday May 1, 6:30 pm
All are welcome to celebrate Beltane with a potluck dinner and ritual with the UU Pagan Group.
Questions or to RSVP contact Rev. Sara.
New UU Seekers Class this week!
Saturday May 4, 10 am - in person only
This week's topic is Pastoral Care.
This class is for folks who want to know more about UU, about OUUC, or to become members. You can attend as many of the classes as you can, we know folks won’t be able to attend them all.
Folks are also welcome to join in for just one or two sessions they are interested in. Contact Rev. Sara for questions.
Thurston's Hunger Walk
Sunday May 5, 3 pm
Join the OUUC Team for this year's Hunger Walk. Last year's Hunger Walk raised $45,000 for The Thurston County Food Bank and the Community Kitchen. This year OUUC has set a goal of raising $3000 as a team. Donate HERE.
NEWS From the OUUC Environmental Action Team (EAT)
Yes! May 5th is Cinco de Mayo and the first Sunday of May! Bring in your dead batteries and fluorescent bulbs to the EAT Table in the Commons and we will see that they are properly disposed and recycled.
Join the Intercity Transit Annual May Bicycle Community Challenge! Get on your bike instead of getting into your car if you have short errands, a commute to work, or a visit to a friend. Or bike for the fun of it during the month of May and record your miles. If you want to join a team, the mighty OUUCyclists would be happy to have you join. See the IT website to register.
If you are interested in environmental issues, Join our next EAT meeting Tuesday, May 7 at 5:30 in person in the RE wing at OUUC. We'd be glad to see you!
Dances of Universal Peace
Thursday May 9, 6:30 pm
Please join us for Dances of Universal Peace, an embodied, transformative spiritual practice touching the essence of all traditions around the world. They include simple movements to live music.
All are welcome, no experience necessary, dances are taught to the whole group each time. A donation will be accepted at the event.
Active Hope Workshop
Saturday May 11, 9:30am-5:30 pm
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
1601 North St SE, Olympia WA 98501
Lynn Fitz Hugh and Carolyn Treadway facilitate this workshop on the work of Joanna Macy. For more information, contact Lynn Fitz-Hugh.
OlyWA Pride
Save the Dates for OlyWA Pride. 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!
Upcoming Zoom Event from UU the Vote
Sunday, May 5: 2-4:30 pm on Zoom
Come join UU the Vote’s first phone bank of 2024! Planting Seeds of Democracy with Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights.
Faith Action Network Spring Summit on Zoom
Sunday May 5, 3- 4:30 pm
Celebrate legislative wins and hear about stalled legislation and what is needed to move forward next session, through presentations and small group discussions.
Watch Party for Public Worship of Diverse Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries (DRUUMM)
Wednesday May 8, 5pm
Rev. Sara will host this watch party of the annual public worship offered by DRUUMM.
Read about the service and Minister HERE.
2024 International UU Womens Convocation
On September 5 - 8, 2024, the Fourth International Convocation of Unitarian Universalist Women and People of Progressive Faiths will be held in Cluj-Napoca/Kolozsvár, Romania. The theme is “Weaving a Tapestry of Peace and New Perspectives”. Come join women and supporters of gender equity from around the world in the historic Unitarian region of Transylvania!
The Convo registration, information about keynote speakers and travel options to visit our Unitarian Heritage sites and more are at this link.