the OUUC spark

Due to the inclement weather, the church will be closed today, February 15. Tonight’s Community Dinner and all events are cancelled.

Last weekend, many people gathered at OUUC for music, worship, community and hope. Folk singer and songwriter Carrie Newcomer was onsite for a workshop, concert, and the Sunday service.

We are indebted to Liz Clement for the vision and work needed to bring Carrie Newcomer and Gary Walters to Olympia and OUUC. And many, many hands helped with all kinds of things: set-up and clean-up, rides, snacks for the workshop, ushering, taking tickets, selling CDs and poetry books, and so much more. Thank you, thank you, for making a magical weekend happen.

On Saturday morning, about 50 people gathered in the OUUC sanctuary for a workshop with Carrie titled “The Beautiful Not Yet: Hope at the Growing Edge.” Part of the workshop was community building through sharing, then we went deeper by creating a song together. The lyrics of the song are below, titled "Northwest Wonder." We also sang this new song in the worship service on February 11, which you can watch here. (The song is at minute 55, and this link should jump straight there.)

It was awesome to see this song come into being. Carrie created a container where all voices were heard and considered, all ideas captured then winnowed into a song that captured the wonder that we feel in the Pacific Northwest. We were delighted to teach Carrie about the Salish Sea and what it means that the mountain is out.

Carrie shared wisdom about hope from theologian Parker Palmer:

Hope is holding a creative tension between what is and what could and should be,

each day doing something to narrow the distance between the two.

In this month as we reflect on the spiritual theme of justice, let us remember that justice work is always done in community, and we can’t ever do it all -- we just take one action, together. That’s how we hold hope as we build the Beloved Community we dream about.

Blessings on your week,

Rev. Mary

Minister@ouuc.org

Verse 1

Evergreens, creak and sigh

Hummingbird wings, & blackberry pie

Salmon return, spawn and die

To complete the circle, and the forest thrives

Chorus 1

Wonder is a catch of breath, when the mountain’s out

In the mist in the trees, and an orca spout

It expands my heart, and ignites my soul

Finding wonder, everywhere I go.

Verse 2

In the tidal wash, of the Salish Sea

Jumping in a puddle with a splash of glee

Pulling over for a double rainbow

All the mysteries that help us grow.

Chorus 2

Wonder is a catch of breath, when the mountain’s out

In the mist in the trees, and an orca spout

It expands my heart, and ignites my soul

Finding wonder, everywhere I go.

Chorus 3

Wonder is a catch of breath, when the mountain’s out

In the mist in the trees, and an orca spout

It expands our hearts, and ignites our souls

Finding wonder, everywhere we go.

Everywhere we go.

Everywhere we go.

Everywhere we go.

In this week's Tiny Little News show: thank you's for our big weekend, this week's events, and hear from the coordinator of the Young Adult Group:

Website: https://www.ouuc.org

Email: liberalfaith@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

Staff Contacts

Rev. Mary Gear, Minister

Rev. Sara Lewis, Director of Community and Faith Development

Troy Fisher, Music Director

Darlene Sarkela, Congregational Administrator

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