the OUUC spark

Last Sunday we held the (1st) Annual Faith in Action Report. Members of our wonderful Faith in Action Teams were in the Commons during coffee hour to table and talk to everyone about what is going on in their areas of faith in action, and then we held a forum to report on what we have done this year. If you missed it, you can watch the recording on our YouTube channel.

Collectively, we do more together than we could do alone. Here’s some of the ways we put our faith into action this year:

1. Rev Mary’s Social Justice Book Group read books and held deep discussions. Books were chosen for each of our three justice focus areas: Environmental Justice, Economic Justice, and Anti-Racism/Anti-Oppression

2. Children and youth engaged with learning about justice issues all year long

3. Jo Ann Young organized and offered beautiful books for children, youth, and parents/ caregivers in the Equity Library

4. Faith in Action organized a monthly forum after Sunday services to educate us all further on faith in action topics

5. Hundreds of volunteers came together for the Books, Beans, and Brownies sale and raised over $6000 (combined with the summer online book sale) for each of the recipient organizations: Oly Ecosystems, ASHHO Cultural Community Center, and Interfaith Works. These recipients were chosen to represent our three focus areas

6. The Share the Plate team carefully considered applicants for our share the plate program and chose recipients that represent the range of our faith in action focus areas

7. Through the Faith in Action Alert List, the Action Hours, and other communication platforms we collectively engaged with activism and advocacy. Countless petitions were signed and testimony submitted on bills during the legislative sessions

8. We showed up for community partners and events, including the Poor People’s March 2 Live event

9. We provided three dinners a month to residents at Unity Commons and Hope Village, and collected food for the Kids Backpacks program at the Food Bank every month

10. The Environmental Action Team helped us all properly recycle and dispose of our batteries and lightbulbs and take other actions to live with greater environmental care

And more, of course. Individually and collectively, we put our Faith into Action. We answered the calls of our hearts and how they intersected with the cries of the world.

So what’s next? We asked these questions on Sunday:

• What calls to your heart, where do you feel drawn to put your faith into action next?
• What would you be excited to see at OUUC for Faith in Action next year?
• How would you like to be participating in FIA at OUUC next year?

How would you answer these questions? What is alive in your heart now? What does your faith look like in action? Join us! All the teams welcome new members, and there are many other ways to be involved. Join the Faith in Action Alert List on Realm. And I’m always happy to find a time to chat with you about faith in action, as well.

April’s Volunteer of the Month is Eric Ness, a familiar face around OUUC as he is an active member of the Buildings and Grounds Team and is often at OUUC to fix or tend to things. Eric is also currently on the Board, has been co-leading the Christian Affinity group this year, and has been a long time volunteer for the Books, Beans, and Brownies sale. With his quiet and cheerful presence, Eric shares his time, talent, and his great spirit with us all in countless ways. Thank you, Eric!

Here’s some of what others share about Eric:

Eric has been a dedicated and hard-working member of the Building and Grounds team for several years. He is eager to volunteer for projects such as converting the fluorescent tubes to LED to getting on a ladder to clean gutters. He also takes the initiative when he sees a problem that needs to be dealt with from unclogging a toilet, burning weeds, to replacing missing and broken feet on our tables. His dependability and good sense of humor make him a valuable member of B&G and the various other teams and activities he participate in at OUUC.

• Marie Arensmeyer, Facilities Manager

Eric has been a steadfast member of the OUUC Board and the Building and Grounds Team. In both of these capacities he has been quietly consistent and insightful. His consideration for others is always present and deeply felt.

• Joe Joy, fellow member of B&G and the Board

Eric Ness is an excellent choice for recognition as Volunteer of the Month. Eric is a key member of the Building and Grounds Team. During meetings he makes practical suggestions and is a voice of experience. He is often first to volunteer for a task or offer help to others. At work parties Eric always has a smile and good humor. He often shows up early to get things started and stays till the job is done.

It is not unusual to run into Eric at the church burning weeds, doing a minor repair, or some other task - just because he felt it needed doing and took it on himself.

• Jerald Dodson, Chair of Buildings and Grounds

I appreciate Eric's deep thinking, realistic outlook, and always showing up. It was a pleasure to co-lead the Christian Affinity group with him this year.

• Sally Brennand, Christian Affinity Group co-leader and fellow BBB sale organizer

Do you know of someone else who would be an excellent future Volunteer of the Month? Nominate them here!

The live auction and dinner is May 4, 5 to 8 pm, at ASSHO Cultural Community Center. Help us secure the right number of meals by purchasing your ticket right away and no later than this Saturday. Tickets are $10 to $100 - pay what you can. Everyone is welcome! Tickets are available on the auction website.

Don't miss this fun event, spend time with fellow UUs and friends, and raise funds for OUUC.

Can't make the auction?

You will be missed, and you can still support the auction and OUUC! Consider donating the cost of a ticket (or more) to OUUC or our Raise the Paddle recipients. You can also be an active bidder in the online auction regardless of your attendance at the dinner and live auction.

Check out the auction catalog

We've got about 200 creative, unique, and inviting items in this year's auction catalog. Preview them now before the online auction opens this Saturday, April 27 at 9 am. Then bid often to support our congregation.

Help us reach our goal and Reach the Sky. The countdown before lift-off is imminent!

Questions? Contact auction@ouuc.org

Auction website: https://auctria.events/ouuc

For tonight's community dinner, all who would like to bring a potluck dish to share are invited to do so for our Around the World Potluck. We'll have categories for Europe/the Middle East, Asia, Latin America, and "the rest of the world" — bring a dish inspired by somewhere and place it on the table for that world region. It's also perfectly fine to come and enjoy if you don't have time to cook.

Rev Sara will need help setting up tables and chairs at 4:30, contact her if you can help.

After-dinner options (6:30ish) include: Prayers from the Heart, UU Christian Group, UU Buddhist Sangha, kids' class, and a Discussion of the Governance Manual Revisions.

In this week's Tiny Little News: the final update on stewardship, a fun auction announcement, and this week's dinner plan is Around the World!

Website: https://www.ouuc.org

Email: office@ouuc.org

Location: 2306 East End St NW, Olympia, WA, USA
Phone: (360) 634-2005

Office Hours

Tuesday - Thursday, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Sunday, 8:00 am - 1:00 pm

Staff Contacts

Rev. Mary Gear, Minister

Rev. Sara Lewis, Director of Community & Faith Development

Troy Fisher, Music Director

Isaac Jennings, Business Manager

Rosie Koppelman, Office Assistant

Teresa Madsen, Communications & Tech Coordinator

Marie Arensmeyer, Facilities Manager

Anissa Bentlemsani, Religious Education Assistant

Carbon Marshall, Tech Specialist