Submissions for the OUUC Weekly Update September 2nd 2025 Edition must be submitted by Monday, September 1st at 10:00 am

Sunday Worship August 31st

“We Who Believe in Freedom” with
Rev. Carol McKinley & Troy Fisher

This weekend we celebrate Labor Day, a time to honor workers who provide the goods and services needed to keep society functioning. Many of those who were part of efforts to ensure workers’ rights in the Pacific Northwest became an integral part of the larger struggle to ensure rights and freedom for all.

9:00 AM In-Person Only

10:45 AM In-Person & Online

After-Service Forums will resume September 14th

Join Online at 10:45am

Click here for Zoom

Meeting ID 873 210 124 | Passcode 2306

Dial in: +1 (253) 205-0468

Click here for Youtube

Watch the service live stream on Youtube (or watch the recording later)

Last Sunday's Service

“Golden, Wounded” with Rev. Corey Passons

True healing begins when we honor the complexity in ourselves and others—the wounds we carry and the light we hold. Through story, compassion, and spiritual practice, we’ll explore the transformative power of connection in times of injustice and divisions.

Watch Last Sunday's Service Here

Find Last Week Order of Service Here

Important Community Updates

Staff Away

Rev. Mary will be away from August 29th - September 1st. She will not be checking email until she returns on September 2nd.

Office Assistant Victoria Ridgway is away from the window August 25th - September 4th. She is still available by email and phone, but may take extra time to get back to your requests. In- person Office Hours will remain the same:

Tuesday 10a - 4p, Thursday 10a - 4p, Sunday 8a - 2p

with Ian Stephan Hammond in the window.

Peanut-free facility

One of our young ones has a severe peanut allergy and we are moving to become a peanut-free facility in response. This is one of the ways we take care of each other! Please do not bring any peanuts, peanut butter, or products that contain peanuts (including peanut oil) to OUUC. Thank you for helping keep our community safe for all.

Beware of scams via email and text

Beware of periodic scammers via email and text. You may be contacted by scammers impersonating Rev. Mary or other church staff. Scammers also try to reach people via text. Often, they will ask for you to contact them right away, and they may ask for financial assistance/information or contact information of others at the church. Always double check and make sure the email or text was sent from a source you recognize. Scammers will create new addresses that appear like a known email address. When in doubt, check in with the person in your life who appears to be trying to contact you, using a known contact method.

This Week

Quick Faith in Actions for the week of August 25

Put your faith into action! Check out these quick impactful actions you can take from home to make change in our community, updated every week.

Click here for this week's quick actions!

Upcoming Events

Thursday Dinner Returns!

Thu Sept 4, 5:30 pm

OUUC

Our Community dinners on Thursdays return in September. If you can help cook or set up on September 4th, please contact Rev. Sara at dcfd@ouuc.org

Blessing of the Backpacks

Sun Sept 7, 9 am & 10:45 am

OUUC

In the worship service on September 7th, we will have our annual Blessing of the Backpacks. If you are a student of any kind, please bring your backpack, briefcase, or bookbag to be blessed.

Water Communion

In-gathering

Sun Sept 7, 9 am & 10:45 am

OUUC

Remember to gather a bit of water over the summer for our Water Communion In-gathering service!

Love at the Center Discussion Group

Wed Sept 10, 7:00 pm

Online

All are welcome to join us for a discussion group around the book “Love at the Center”

UUs regularly re-examine our covenant and values, we do this work to live into the Unitarian Universalism of the future. Following Article II's adoption, it is clear that the value most describe as central to their faith, to their living, and to the mission of their congregations is love itself. Our pressing task now is to ask how this understanding calls us forward, individually and collectively.

In these pages, you’ll find personal testimony to love’s power, reminders of the centrality of love throughout the long histories of Universalism and Unitarianism, and theologies of love drawn from many different expressions of Unitarian Universalism—from the natural world to the justice rally, to a loved one’s deathbed, to the quiet moment before a worship service begins.

Monthly meetings will discuss 3 essays each session.

Click Here to Register

OUUC Book Group

Thu Sept 11, 6:30 pm

OUUC

The group will be meeting on the 2nd Thursday at OUUC at 6:30 (following the community dinner) beginning in September (skipping December). The meeting will also be multiplatform on zoom.

Our first book will be The Ravaged Forest by Sandra Crowell which tells the story of Helen Mitchell Sanders of the Chehalis tribe and her fight for justice for Native Americans who had been cheated out of receiving the full value of their forest land from the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The author will be meeting with us in September to answer any questions you have.

Please share any book recommendations you have for October or November with Frances Tanaka.

Copies of The Ravaged Forest will be available to borrow or for purchase for $20, contact Frances to get a copy.

Click Here to Register

Annual OUUC Picnic

Sat Sept 13, 12 pm

Squaxin Park, Rose Garden

Join us for the OUUC Picnic at the Rose Garden shelter at Squaxin Park. It's a potluck (no peanuts please), and the 2nd Annual Zucchini Bread competition will return! Bring your best bread treat made with those late summer squashes for a chance to win a prize. Parking is limited, so carpooling is encouraged. What else to bring: reusable plates and cups, maybe a table cloth, lawn chairs, serving utensils, a card with the ingredients of your dish. Questions? Contact Rev. Sara

Death Cafe returns Oct. 6th

and 1st Monday of each month thereafter

4:30 pm - 6:00 pm

OUUC

A group-led, open conversation about all things death and dying in a safe, confidential, and judgment-free space. Come share your thoughts, feelings, and experiences around death. All are welcome. Death Cafes are intended to be discussion groups rather than grief support/counseling.

Facilitated by:

Jenée Wolfram, End of Life Doula

@LETITBEQUIETUS

Ways To Get Invoved

Help Wanted for Gregory Robinson's Celebration of Life

On Friday, Sept 26th, from 7-9 pm, we will celebrate the life of Gregory Robinson with stories, wine, and music. We are expecting about 100 people to fill The Commons, so lots of volunteers are needed. Set-up will start at 6 pm. Food should be delivered to the kitchen by 6:30 pm. Karmel has requested gluten-free cookies using recipes from http://www.glutenfreepalate.com. Gregory’s favorite cookies were snickerdoodles, chocolate chunk, and ginger. Clean-up will start at approximately 9 pm. See below for the link to sign up to help. Contact Melanie Ransom with questions.

September Volunteer Newsletter

This year we will be creating a monthly newsletter for all volunteers at OUUC

Check out the September edition by clicking here!

Coffee Hour Volunteers Needed

Our coffee hours are only possible through the help of volunteers who make the coffee, set everything up, and wash the dishes after.

Books, Brownies & Beans Entertainment

Do you have a talent that you would like to show off in a low-key non-threatening environment? Do you sing, play a musical instrument, write poetry, tell funny jokes? We are looking for OUUC members and friends who would like to perform at the Books, Brownies & Beans sale on Saturday October 25 between 10 AM and 4 PM. Soloists and small combos are encouraged. Lots of time to prepare something if you want to. We anticipate having time slots ranging from ten to thirty minutes, depending on what you want to do and how much time you need to do it. We are just starting to put together a roster of interested participants and will try to accommodate everyone who is interested. Will be finalizing a roster and schedule around the end of September or beginning of October. If you are interested, please email Karl Johnson. Let them know what you plan to do, how much time you want, your preferred time of day, and how to reach you.

OUUC Book Nook

Book Nook, OUUC's new online used book store for all Olympia-area shoppers is now open 24/7 365 days a year! Shop/pay online and pick up in Olympia! All proceeds will be lovingly passed on to the Thurston County Food Bank, where our support is needed to keep the shelves stocked and the lights on! New items are added to Book Nook frequently, as community book donations are received. Visit Book Nook often for great reading, viewing, gift ideas, AND help feed families!

Shop Now Here

Learn More Here

August Faith in Action Digest

There are so many ways to show up, speak out, or lend support for our values in the world this month, find many of them organized here:

Faith In Action Digest August 2025

OUUC Side with Love Shirt

Get ready to represent OUUC and Side with Love at gatherings and justice events by ordering your yellow T-Shirt ahead of time!

Click Here to order your shirt

Community Connections

Fellowship of Reconciliation Vigil for Peace

Fri Aug 29, 4:30 pm

4th & Water Street, downtown Olympia

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

The Woodlands: A Virtual Pastoral Care Program For Trans People Of All Ages

Sun Sept 7

Online

The Woodlands is a new monthly virtual pastoral care program for trans people and their families, launching September 7, 2025. Open to all ages, each gathering includes a shared grounding ritual, identity-affirming breakout rooms, and a closing reflection. With spaces for trans adults, youth, and caregivers, The Woodlands offers a sacred, supportive environment to process grief, share joy, and build resilient community. Sessions are chaplain-led and will take place on the first Sunday of each month through May 2026.

Learn more here

UU Ministry for Earth Common Read

Thurs Sept 11

Online

The UU Ministry for Earth 2025-26 Common Read begins in September! We will be reading "What if We Get it Right?" by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson. We can't wait to look toward an imaginative future for climate justice with you!

We will be sending general reminders in our monthly newsletter and opportunities to connect with each other as we read along.

Fort Worden Camping Trip

Sept 22 - 25

Fort Worden Historical State Park

Let's go camping! Make connections in the congregation by sharing our love of nature, engaging in meaningful conversations, walking the trails and sitting around the campfire. Bring your tent, car, or RV- all are welcome! Sometimes we even rent cabins or yurts. Hike, bike, play board games, roast marshmallows, engage in other outdoor activities, or just hang-out. Join us on our next trip to Fort Worden on September 22nd. Sites are limited, so make your reservations soon!

Contact Rich Kalman for more information.