OUUC Weekly Update
November 28, 2023
Thursday Dinner
This week’s Community Dinner is brought to us by our Environmental Action Team. Come share seasonal soups, salad, and bread with the EAT team and learn about environmental social governance investing and fossil fuel divestment.
All are invited to join us for dinner at 5:30 pm on Thursday, November 30. Following dinner this week: All Ages Fun, Prayers from the Heart, and the Buddhist Sangha.
Revisiting OUUC’s Covenant
After-service Forum, December 3 at 11:30 am. About a year ago, we began the process of revisiting OUUC’s covenant, making some revisions to the current covenant and adding a behavioral covenant. Based on your feedback during congregational forums last Spring, the writing team made some revisions, and the Board of Trustees has made some decisions. It’s time to continue that discussion, which we’ll do this coming Sunday after the service at about 11:30 am. Our focus will move away from wordsmithing toward discussions about how we are together in covenant. Read more here.
Recycle Sunday
It's the first Sunday of the Month and the last Month of the Year! Bring in those dead batteries and fluorescent bulbs and your friendly OUUC Environmental Action Team will make sure they are recycled or disposed of properly!
You can even bring them in to this Thursday Night Dinner because it will be hosted by the Environmental Action Team! Come and enjoy locally (mainly) sourced foods prepared by our climate conscious hands! See you there or Sunday.
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 2: social action, community service, racial equity
December 16: pastoral care and small group ministry
Register here.
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.
Upcoming Adult 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!) Register here.
Holiday Cookies! Pre-order by December 2!
What are the Holidays without a beautiful box of cookies from the OUUC Cookie Brigade to share with friends and family? Pre-order your box(es) by December 2nd! Cookie boxes will be available for pick-up and regular sales at church on December 10 after the service. Free delivery is available to homes in Olympia, Lacey, or Tumwater. A box of approximately two dozen assorted cookies is $20. If you would like to pre-order a box (or two) of cookies, email Melanie Ransom. In the email state 1) How many boxes, 2) Regular or Gluten-Free, 3) Pick up at church or delivery. You can pay with cash or check at the time of pick-up or delivery, or by credit card here. Use the drop-down fund list and choose Misc (you can add a memo that it is for cookies). All funds raised will go to the Kitchen Fund, which provides coffee and hospitality all year long. Questions? Contact Melanie Ransom.
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 - 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.
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, Sundays, December 3 and 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 3 and 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.
A loving, just, and healthy world.