Announcement deadline: Monday Evening

Worship Services

Wednesday, December 24, 2025:

“Silent Night, Holy Night: A Candlelight Christmas Eve Service” with Rev. Mary Gear, Rev. Sara Lewis, Troy Fisher (5:30 PM & 9:00 PM)

All are welcome to our beautiful candlelight service to celebrate Christmas Eve. We offer two services: 5:30 PM featuring the OUUC Choir (available in-person and online) and 9:00 PM featuring guest musicians (in-person only). Come gather in the warmth of community and the glow of candlelight as we honor this special evening together.

5:30 PM Onsite & Online

9:00 PM Onsite Only

Sunday, December 28, 2025:

“Fire Communion For The New Year” with Rev. Sara Lewis (Outdoor Service, Onsite Only 10:00 AM)

Please join us for a very different kind of worship experience as we hold outdoor worship stations to pause, release what we want to release from 2025, and enter 2026 with new intentions. There will be no nursery care, and this service will not be streamed online.

Please join us onsite outside and dress for the weather!

10:00 AM Onsite Only

Sunday, January 4, 2026:

“No Extraordinary Power” with Rev. Linda Hart

Rev. Linda Hart returns to our pulpit to explore what draws us together in community and why it’s so essential to a good life. What role does a religious community play in creating that life? Poetry and stories will be woven together to offer an answer.

9:00 AM Onsite Only

10:45 AM Onsite & Online

There will be no more After-Service Forums until January 11^th 2026 — Happy Holidays!

Join Us Online!

Join on Zoom

Interact with the community and access live captions.
Meeting ID 873 210 124 | Passcode 2306

Watch on Youtube

View the live stream or watch anytime after.

Join by Phone
Dial +1 (253) 205-0468 to listen to the service audio-only.

Last Week's Worship

“Solstice: Flames of Magic” with Rev. Nancy Reid-McKee

We will celebrate Winter Solstice during this service. As we share the time of the shortest day, we will explore the hope and the stories that light our way forward.

Watch Service Here

Order of Service

After-Service Forum:

There are no more After-Service Forums until January 11^th 2026 — Happy Holidays!

Remembrance for Rev. Arthur Vaeni

Rev. Arthur Vaeni April 8, 1950 — October 24, 2025

On Friday, January 16, 2025, OUUC will host a remembrance for Rev. Arthur Vaeni at 10:00 am, both onsite in the OUUC Sanctuary and on Zoom (Zoom Link Here). A reception will follow for those onsite.

On Sunday, January 18, 2025, there will be a memorial service for Rev. Arthur Vaeni at 11:00 am Pacific (2:00 pm Eastern), both at the Starr King UU Fellowship in Plymouth, New Hampshire and on Zoom. The Zoom link will be posted on Starrkingfellowship.org.

Read his full obituary at: https://obits.csnh.com/arthur-vaeni

Important Community Updates

Staff Away

During the holiday closure, most staff will being taking a break and checking messages only intermittently. In an emergency, contact Rev. Mary through the office phone number (360) 634-2005 ext 101.

Religious Education Assistant Anissa Bentlemsani is out of the office and not checking email from December 15^th - January 2^nd.

Tech Coordinator Teresa Madsen is out of the office from December 18^th - 29^th. She will be sporadically checking emails from from December 18^th - 24^th.

Office and Facilities Manager Ian Hammond Stephan will be out of the office on Christmas Eve, December 24^th, and will not be checking emails that day.

How We Handle Winter Weather

As winter weather approaches, here's what to expect for building closures. On weekdays, if Olympia School District closes, we close too. We may also close when overnight freezing is forecasted, even if schools stay open. Please let church staff know if you notice severe weather developing in your area or in the forecast. For Sunday services, we check the forecast on Saturday and decide. If we close due to weather, we'll hold one online-only service at 10:45 AM via Zoom. Check your email, our website, and social media for closure announcements, and stay safe!

Cookie Brigade Raises $1,800 for the General Fund

The 4^th Annual Holiday Cookie Sale was a buttery and sugary success, raising $1,800 for the General Fund! 29 bakers and volunteers baked approximately 3,000 cookies and then assembled 100 boxes which were tied up with beautiful ribbons and sold to our loving congregation.

Bakers and volunteers included: Judith Anderegg, Sally Brennand, John Gear, Rev. Linda Hart, Nora Hatfield, Karen Jackson, Rebecca Jewell, Rev. Sara Lewis, Sharon Love, Maddy Martinelli, Rev. Carol McKinley, Claudia McNeill, Chloe Meyer, Vanessa Nagel, Holly Porter, Lucas Ransom, Melanie Ransom, Rev. Nancy Reid-McKee, Linda Selsor, Susan Southwick, Ginny Taylor, Mary Ann Thompson, Pandora Touart, Linda Whitcher, Mary Wildenhaus, Carol Williams, Gail Wrede, Fritz Wrede, and Zibby Zickuhr. Special thanks to Martha Guilfoyle for creating our poster, and Victoria Ridgway for creating the online presale form.

Many thanks to all who came together to create and enjoy this holiday fundraiser!

Remember the Memo!

When you choose to financially support OUUC and its community, it is very important to us to make sure that we properly honor your wishes. If you write a check to OUUC, please be sure to write the intended fund on the check's memo line. If there in nothing written on the memo line, OUUC will first assume that money is directed toward the fulfillment of a pledge; if there is no pledge on file, it will be directed toward the General Fund. Thank you for helping to make sure that the money you donate goes where you want it to—by remembering the memo! 🙂

Holiday Giving: Guest At Your Table Collection

This month we are holding Guest At Your Table, our annual fundraiser drive for the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee. Collect a donation envelope in the Commons or use this donation link to make a donation: donate.uusc.org/give/75595

Nominations Invited for Board and LDC

The OUUC Leadership Development Committee (LDC) is looking for candidates to replace Board and LDC members whose terms will expire in June 2026; the Board of Trustees and the LDC each have 3 positions to fill. Candidates must be over 18 years of age and have been a member of OUUC for at least one year.

We know there are congregation members who would be great candidates, eager for the opportunity to work with others who are committed to guiding OUUC into the future. Maybe it's you, or maybe it's someone you know.

If you are intrigued by this form of service to our church home, or know someone who might be interested, please contact LDC members: Nancy Curtiss, Des McGahern, Martha Nicoloff, Josie Solseng, or Cheryl Tafejian. Nominations should be submitted by January 16^th, 2026.

Bags to Benches: Plastics Challenge

Turn your plastic waste into a NexTrex bench! OUUC is participating in the NexTrex Challenge to divert plastic film from landfills and transform it into NexTrex composite decking, and win a NexTrex park bench. Drop your clean plastic bags (grocery, bread, dry cleaning, ice, cereal, ziplock and produce), bubble wrap, plastic shipping envelopes, overwraps from paper towels, and newspaper sleeves in the large collection box in the back hallway. Our volunteers will transport collected plastic to become durable Trex decking. Every bag you bring helps keep plastic out of our water ways!

The Parking Lot is Getting Full!

We have had rising attendance at our Sunday worship services and so we're facing a new challenge with having enough parking spots. It's a good challenge to have! If you are able, please help us remain welcoming with available parking. Carpool, ride the #41 bus, bike, or walk to church if you can! Click here to see more about transit to OUUC.

Gathering Together

Death Cafe

Mon, Jan 5^th, 4:30 PM

OUUC

Join Jenee Wolfram for 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. Cake will be served! Death Cafes are intended to be discussion groups rather than grief support/counseling.

Resistance Lab: Strengthening Democracy Together

Mon, Jan 5^th, 6:15 PM

OUUC

Are you concerned about the direction our country is going? And do you want to work together with other OUUC members to strengthen democracy and identify ways to resist the growing authoritarianism? All are welcome to join members of the Environmental Action and Faith in Action Teams as we learn from Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal's Resistance Lab—a three-session training on how non-violent movements have successfully resisted authoritarianism worldwide. We will meet on the Mondays of December 8th and January 5th.

In these sessions, we'll understand how democracies fall and what makes resistance movements effective. We'll learn tools and tactics used globally to defend democratic principles and then turn anger and fear into concrete action by developing our own resistance strategies. Most importantly, we'll build community with others committed to protecting democracy.

Nia Dance

Tues, Jan 6^th, 9:00 AM

OUUC

Love to dance? Interested in feeling better through fitness based in joy? Join us every Tuesday from 9-10 a.m. this winter in classrooms 3 & 4 for Nia dance. Nia is a blend of the healing arts, dance arts, and martial arts. With choreography based in the anatomy and a strong FreeDance component, it’s a unique mix of science and spirit. Most of all, it’s just fun! Wear comfortable workout clothing, bring a water bottle, and optional yoga mat. You can dance in shoes or barefoot. Cost: Donation. Contact instructor for more at kristy.woodford@proton.me or 360.508.2800

Sit & Stitch

Tues, Jan 6^th, 6:30 PM

OUUC

All are welcome to join members of the sewing ministry for a sewing circle on the first Tuesday of each month. Bring your knitting, sewing, embroidery, or other hand work and join us for time to sit, stitch (and chat) together.

Growing Anti-Racist Kids: for ages 5-10

Thurs, Jan 15^th, 6:30 PM

OUUC and Online

Learn More & Register Here

The important goal of the curriculum is for children to respect and value difference in skin shades while recognizing the need to promote love and justice for all. Winter kids class for ages 5-10. Thursday nights, January 15^th- March 19^th, 6:30-7:30 PM

Cottage Meetings

Twelve dates throughout January & February

Various Homes and Online

Join us at a Cottage Meeting in the new year! The Stewardship Team invites members and friends of OUUC to share stories, build connections, and celebrate our community together. We'll gather mostly in the homes of fellow congregation members, with some meetings at OUUC and on Zoom, for refreshments and meaningful conversations about what OUUC means to each of us and the future we envision for our beloved congregation.

There are many sessions to choose from, with different dates, times, and locations. Each will last approximately 1.5 hours. We would love to see you!

Use the "Sign Up Here" button above to find a cottage meeting that works for you. You can also contact Sharon Love for help signing up.

Ways To Get Involved

This week’s opportunity is the Welcome Team!

The Welcome Team greets members and visitors with warmth and openness, helping everyone feel at home from the moment they arrive. They embody our UU spirit of hospitality by offering guidance, conversation, and connection to the life of the congregation. If this feels like your calling, please reach out to Jason Maritnelli.

December Faith in Action Digest

This month's trainings, resources, and action opportunities--everything you need to show up for our community.

View December digest

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.

Community Connections

Olympia's Weekly Peace Vigil

Fri, Dec 26^th, 4:30 PM

4^th & Water Street, Downtown Olympia

Please join Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) in a friendly Peace Vigil for whatever length of time you can. Olympia FOR’s Friday Vigils have been occurring for decades and are now joined by other groups including The Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice and peaceful individuals who continue to advocate and stand together for peace, a permanent ceasefire, an arms embargo, and justice for Palestine. Peace signs are provided.

Holly Jolly Jingle

Tues, Dec 23^rd, 7:30 PM

1925 Boulevard Rd SE, Olympia

RSVP Here

The Seattle Men’s Chorus rings in everyone’s favorite holiday tradition with seasonal classics, Christmas comedy, costumes, dancing and the gayest sing-along in Seattle. They will premiere the NOTcracker Suite…their very own four-minute rendition of the holiday staple featuring hilarious lyrics, props, and antics you expect from the Men’s Chorus. It’s the holliest, jolliest time of the year! The showing will be free, No Charge! Performance will start at 7:30 PM at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Please RSVP here to give us an idea of how many people are interested in this performance.