the OUUC spark

This month’s spiritual theme at OUUC is Equity, which is one of the core values in the new proposed Article II (see this padlet for more about Article II). Equity is closely related to last month’s theme of Justice (and our Soul Matters packets chose to simply combine the two).

Now, I often find that my clearest thinking about big ideas comes after I’ve had to decide how to talk about them with children, and this was no exception. As Anissa and I were brainstorming how to present these two themes to the kids, and how they related to the theme of Love from January, Anissa sketched out nesting circles:

We had these core questions for the kids in January:

1. What is Love? What is love as a verb — how do we Do love?

2. How do we recognize Love when we see it?

Then we asked these core questions in February:

1. What is Justice? What does Justice look like in action?

2. Is Justice the same as Fairness? How is it different?

3. When people do wrong, what should happen? How can wrong be made right?

So as we drilled down on what to ask about Equity, it occurred to us that we had started with Love as a Big Abstract, and Justice had started to ask questions about scenarios between people, but now Equity really focuses on the unique and the particular. And so these are our core questions for the kids this month:

1. What is Equity? What does Equity look like in action?

2. Is Equity the same as Equal? How is it different?

3. What is your unique identity? What makes you You and what are your particular needs and gifts to share?

4. How can you appreciate and honor the unique gifts and needs of other people?

5. How can each unique person get what they need and give what they can?

With both the kids and the youth this month, we’ll be unpacking some questions of identity and privilege, and of how we can collectively honor and meet other people’s needs, not expecting everyone to be like us. It’s the Platinum Rule: Treat Others As They Wish to Be Treated. We don’t Love all people the same, because people are different. Justice has to consider circumstances, but it it also can’t be applied without considering how people are different. Equity asks us to really witness the uniqueness of each and change our approach accordingly.

There’s more to Equity of course, which I’m sure we’ll find together as we explore this theme this month! Join us!

Did you know that poverty is the 4th leading cause of death? Poverty is a policy choice, which the interfaith coalition of activists taking part in the Poor People’s Campaign sees as a moral crisis and call to action. A couple Saturdays ago, a handful of us from OUUC braved some nasty weather to join the March 2 Stay Alive. This was just the beginning for this year, there will be many more ways to get connected with this work. Watch for more and join us.

This week’s dinner is sponsored by the Board and the Stewardship Team and is a celebration of Pi Day (3.14). Everyone is invited for food and fellowship at 5:30 pm.

We do still need some help with setting up tables and chairs - please show up early if you're willing & able!

Following dinner this week (6:30-ish), we will have the Buddhist and Christian groups, the social justice book group, the children’s class, and the all ages Game Night.

In this week's Tiny Little News, an update and message about our Stewardship Campaign and this week's events:

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 and 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