OUUC Weekly Update

Spring is a time of softer rain, milder temperatures, warming soils, and sprouting seeds. For this week's Earth Day service we will go on a spring time journey together with the seeds. We will explore what it takes to become ready to sprout, to put down roots, and to send up leaves.

Speaker bio: Rylee is a social worker at Community Youth Services. She is also a UU ministry student and remains curious about where her call to ministry will lead her next. Rylee lives in Olympia and is a member of OUUC.

The worship service starts at 10 am.

OUUC Sunday Morning Service

https://zoom.us/j/873210124?pwd=U21qdmwxcTNyaE1LQ0xlU0MwM3VMQT09

Meeting ID: 873 210 124

Password: 995142

Dial +1 253 215 8782

After Service Forum: Faith in Action Annual Review

Service:

“Freedom and Connection” with Rev. Monica Jacobsen Tennesen. Watch the service HERE and view the Order of Service HERE.

After Service Event:

Faith in Action Forum with The Estuarium. Watch the Forum HERE.

Thank you to all who have pledged so far. We are at 222 pledges committed to $470,169.60!!

Jeff Goltz, Susan Moon, and Fritz Wrede

Beginning in fiscal year 2023-24, the OUUC Board has priorities that include reviewing and updating our Governance Manual. Recall that about 10 years ago, we embarked on a new governance structure, termed “Policy Governance.” Essentially, the new model envisioned that the Board, which is charged by the Bylaws with the “business, property, and affairs of the Congregation,” would delegate, with some exceptions, the management authority to the Minister and adopt policies that would further define the scope of that delegation. The Board would then monitor performance based on those policies and the long-range goals (termed “ends”) of the church. (It was more elaborate than this, but you get the picture.)

Our current Governance Manual was adopted in 2016, and, like many new governance structures, it has its imperfections. It was always intended that it would be revised as we gained experience in governance. (Even the United States Constitution, that went into effect in 1789. underwent substantial revision in the early days of our republic.)

For example:

• It assumes a calendar fiscal year, not the July 1-June 30 fiscal year we adopted two years ago.
• It mandates elaborate and time-consuming monitoring that the Board never undertaken and would be overwhelmed if it did.
• It is written using a format and language that has turned out to be imprecise and hard to follow in places.

So, the Board created a task force to review the existing Manual and bring it up-to-date.

The resulting draft revision, linked below, would not change our general governmental structure: there still would be a broad delegation to the Minister as CEO, but with limitations and reservations more clearly stated. The Board would still adopt policies for the management of church operations, and would still engage in monitoring, though on a much more manageable scale. And we think it is more readable, user-friendly, and will be easier to follow and implement.

We have been working on this project since August 2023, and it is time for members of the Congregation to review our work and comment if they so choose.

There will be two listening sessions for that purpose:

Tuesday, April 23, 7:00 p.m., online. The Zoom link is provided below.

Thursday, April 25 6:45 p.m., at the church (after the Thursday evening community dinner).

You can find the existing Governance Manual HERE. And you can find the latest draft revision here:

And please feel free to submit comments or questions in writing to Jeff, Susan or Fritz, or to all three of us. We look forward to hearing from you.

HERE is the Zoom link for the on-line meeting on April 23 at 7:00 p.m.

Meeting ID: 850 5663 0130, Passcode: 139543

Don’t miss OUUC’s LIVE auction and dinner gathering at ASSHO Cultural and Community Center.

Gather and enjoy delicious Indian cuisine at this valuable local resource center creating positive change for BIPOC, under-served, and marginalized folks through trainings, events, and community resources.

You must buy tickets by April 26th so we have an accurate count for dinner planning and cost savings. All UU’s and friends are welcome! Purchase tickets now on a pay-what-you-can basis HERE.

Auction donations are due this Sunday, April 21st—simply complete the form online.
Together we’ll create an evening that is out of this world! Let’s Reach the Sky and support OUUC and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. May the Fourth be with us!

With the Auction in mind, OUUC’s Sewing Ministry has handmade a beautiful king-sized quilt which will offered in a raffle. (It’s on display in the sanctuary!)

Tickets are $5 each, or at a bargain price of 5 for $20. Please bring cash or a check and find the Sewing Ministry table in the Commons to purchase tickets after the service on Sunday mornings starting March 31.

Tickets will also be available both at Thursday Community Dinners and the auction. The lucky winner’s ticket will be drawn at the Auction on May 4th.

Fridays, 6:30-8:30 pm

The travel class is back! Covid 19 ended travel for many and thus canceled our class. Many have been traveling again and have stories and reflections to share with us all. Presentations will be more than a typical “travelog,” and will highlight how the journey expanded presenter’s perspective to enrich understanding of ourselves, the world, and how this and relates to our UU values. Read more, see a full schedule of presentations and REGISTER HERE.

Were you unable to attend the first two weeks of the Travel that Changes Lives class but would love to see the presentations? Recordings are available HERE and HERE.

In this week's Tiny Little News, Rev Sara is away but has quick updates about what's for dinner on Thursday and other weekly updates

SUURF is Coming! Mark Your Calendars & Volunteer

OUUC’s second annual Summer UU Reading Fun (SUURF) online bookstore will be OPEN for Olympia-area shoppers from 7am Tuesday JUNE 11 thru 10pm Sunday JUNE 16. While the virtual bookstore is open, you can shop and pay securely online, then pick up your combined purchases at OUUC the following week. Proceeds will benefit OUUC's non-profit partners working to build a more loving, just, and healthy world for all of us.

SUURF volunteers are needed! Between now and the sale, we need Book Screeners (to occasionally help Susan play with the incoming book donations at her home), a few tech-savvy Bookstore QA folks (Susan will show you how you can do this at your convenience at your own computer), a Volunteer Manager, and help with Advertising the sale.

After the sale, on Tuesday June 18, we need two teams to Pull ‘n Bag the sold books in 3-hour shifts at OUUC. We also need volunteers to help when our customers Pick-Up their purchases at OUUC in two-hour shifts, Friday morning on June 21 and Saturday afternoon on June 22. This year we’re also hoping to offer a local order delivery service option – so let us know if you want to be part of the SUURF Delivery-Driver Brigade, any time between June 19 and June 22.

Please contact Susan to let her know how you’d like to help.

Sunday May 5, 3- 4:30 pm

Celebrate legislative wins and hear about stalled legislation and what is needed to move forward next session. FAN staff will share an update on the three ballot initiatives that will have an impact on everything we do this year. And you will have a chance to meet in issue groups to discuss with others what policy changes you would like to see in the future.

REGISTER HERE.

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. Description of the service: Our worship is grounded in the theme of Choosing Joy! Living with Intentionality and Purpose. Be with us as we explore sustaining joy amidst adversity, inspired by Proverbs 17:2. A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Discover how a joyful heart can be your sanctuary, even when spirits are tested. A celebration of resilience, purpose, and the healing power of joy.

General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association

June 20th to 23rd, ALL Virtual this year!

General Assembly is many things: powerful worship, opportunities to learn together in workshops, and business meetings where delegates vote on important decisions for our association. This year General Assembly will have an important vote about Article II (we’ve explored Article II for a few years now, learn more HERE).

Visit the General Assembly webpage HERE.

If you are interested in being one of OUUC’s voting delegates talk to Rev. Sara.

Registration Now Open for Kids Summer Camps:

OUUC Chalice Camp “Building a New Way” for ages 5-10 will be July 15th to 19th.

REGISTER HERE.

Our Whole Lives (OWL) Camp for Ages 5-7, July 8th to 12th, 9am-noon each day.

OWL is a developmentally appropriate and much praised sexuality education program.

REGISTER HERE.

Camp is open to all, with a pay what you can sliding scale, feel free to spread the word!

Rev. Sara will be out of office this week, April 14-21, for service to the Religious Education Credentialing Committee of the UUA.

The OUUC Office will be closed next Tuesday, April 23, in observance of Pesach.

Phone and email inquiries will receive follow-up on the next day, Wednesday April 24.

Safety Reminder: Please lock and remove valuables from your vehicles.

Download the flyer below if you would like a list of OUUC events for April. Great for posting on your refrigerator!

Learn more about the following events and others here.

Join Interfaith Works and Green Faith in an Earth Day gathering celebrating all of our precious and endangered species. This is an interfaith event with Marshall Middle School kids speaking for Endangered Species and wearing masks of these creatures.

We will celebrate with poetry, song and verbal thanksgiving the unique and precious creatures of this Earth currently under threat.
Sunday April 21, 1-2:15pm at Decatur Woods Park. 1015 Decatur Street SW
Free & family friendly
INCLEMENT WEATHER ALTERNATE LOCATION: Social Hall at Temple Beth Hatfiloh, 201 8th Avenue SE

The Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice invites you to show your support for Palestine each Friday from 4:30-6:00 p.m. at the Fellowship of Reconciliation Vigil for Peace
Percival Landing in Downtown Olympia, 4th & Water Street

Pacific Western Region Assembly - A multi-day conference centered on connecting across individuals, congregations, and regions. Friday, April 19 - Saturday, April 20. More info here.

Join Washington Indivisible Network and Indivisible leaders and members across Washington and Oregon for a series of virtual Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion workshops led by DEI consultants Lillian Hawkins and LaTricia Kinlow.

Understanding & Mitigating the Impact of Implicit Bias and Stereotype Threat
Saturday, April 20 - 10:30am-12:00pm

Intersections of Identity & Racial Privilege
Saturday, April 27 - 10:30am-12:00pm

Racial Microaggressions: What Are They & Why Are They Harmful?
Saturday, May 4 - 10:30am-12:00pm

Read more about the workshops HERE and REGISTER HERE.

Staff Contacts

Rev. Mary Gear, Minister

Rev. Sara Lewis, Director of Community and Faith Development

Troy Fisher, Music Director

Isaac Ezra Jennings, Business Manager

Rosie Koppelman, Office Assistant

Teresa Madsen, Communications and Tech Coordinator

Marie Arensmeyer, Facilities Manager

Anissa Bentlemsani, Religious Education Assistant

Carbon Marshall, Tech Specialist

Office Hours

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

360-634-2005