Announcement deadline: Monday Evening

Sunday Worship on December 7th

"Choosing Hope” with Rev. Mary Gear

We explore the spiritual theme for this month, Choosing Hope. In this dark time of year we mark Advent, Hanukkah, and Christmas—holidays of light and hope. Is hope a choice, and how can we choose it when things seem hopeless? We’ll also welcome new OUUC members.

9:00 AM In-Person Only

10:45 AM In-Person & Online

After-Service Forum: "What Makes a Healthy Congregation?" with the OUUC Board

What do you think makes a church congregation healthy? Join members of the OUUC Board and Healthy Congregations Team to talk about what we can do to ensure that OUUC remains a healthy congregation. All ideas welcome! We look forward to hearing your input.

12:15 PM In-Person & Online

Join Us Online! Worship at 10:45 AM & Forum at 12:15 PM

Click here for Zoom

Meeting ID 873 210 124 | Passcode 2306

Click here for Youtube

Watch today's service live stream on Youtube

Dial in: +1 (253) 205-0468

Last Week's Sunday Worship

“Plant Seeds of Justice” with Rev. Mary Gear and Rev. Sara Lewis

We kick off the annual Guest at Your Table effort in support of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee’s (UUSC) justice work around the world. Join us as we celebrate putting our faith in action historically and now.

Watch Service Here

Order of Service

After-Service Forum:

"Reflections on Growing Up in Nazi Germany" with Harriet Ammann

Harriet was born in Nazi Germany and then came to America with her family. Hear about Harriet's family story and the wisdom and lessons she has to share from this experience.

Watch Forum Here

Harriet's Memoir

Important Community Updates

Office Closures and Staff Away

Tech Coordinator Teresa Madsen will be unavailable from December 5th - 6th.

This month the office will be closed Thursday, December 25th, 2025 - Saturday, January 3rd, 2026. There will be an outdoor service on Sunday, December 28th, 2025 (please dress warm). We will return to our normal schedule on Sunday, January 4th, 2026.

Mail Fraud Concerns

As many of you may remember, the OUUC mailbox was broken into on November 10th, and its contents were stolen. We did not know what mail was taken and encouraged everyone who had sent checks recently to keep a close eye on their accounts as a result. Unfortunately, we have recently learned that the perpetrator(s) did in fact steal at least two congregants' checks. On at least one check, they managed to whitewash and alter the check to the point that the bank could not recognize the fraud. The congregant in question was encouraged by the bank to close the account and start a new one and take various other steps to protect themselves from further fraud. The bank in investigating, but it seems unlikely that the money will be recovered.

We would again ask anyone who sent a check by US mail that week to check to make sure that the amount was posted in Realm—the fact that the victim's check was cashed but NOT posted in Realm is what tipped her off that a crime had been committed.

Since the break-in, we have purchased a better lock for the mailbox, but this episode has demonstrated the increasing sophistication of mail fraud perpetrators, and we would like to encourage any congregant who typically sends checks by mail to set up bank transfers through Realm instead as it significantly decreases the risk that this might happen again. Almost any OUUC staff member can show a congregant how to make such a change in Realm, but one or more of Ian Stephan, Victoria Ridgway, and Chloe Meyer are available during office hours, Thursday dinners, and Sunday mornings to assist if you need it.

2026 Share the Plate Recipients Announced

The Share the Plate Committee has selected six fantastic nonprofit organizations as our 2026 recipients: Homes First (Jan-Feb), POWER (Mar-Apr), Enterprise for Equity (May-Jun), Puget Sound Estuarium (Jul-Aug), Pizza Klatch (Sep-Oct), and Legal Immigration Services of Olympia (Nov-Dec).

With 18 applicants this year, choices were not easy! A record-breaking 15 OUUC congregants reviewed applications and selected our recipients. Thank you to all committee members: Anne Hundley, Annie Cubberly, Bob Brennand, Des McGehern, Gail Wrede, Helen Henry, Jan Johnston, Josie Solseng, Judy Schroeter, Linda Selsor, Scott McBride, Sean McCrohan, Selden Hall, Tom Best, and Wendy Tanner.

Learn more about these organizations at ouuc.org/share-the-plate to visit their websites linked there.

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 16th, 2026.

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.

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!

Holiday Giving

Food Drive Success!

Our food drive for immigrant neighbors has ended after an overwhelming response! Thank you for filling the organizing church's storage space with your generous donations. Your support made a real impact!

Joy and Justice Book and Toy Drive

We are collecting for the Joy and Justice holiday toy and book drive this year. In particular they need hat, glove, and scarf sets for teens and new toys (unwrapped) for ages 9-13, but all new toys and new or gently used childrens books are appreciated.

Collecting Gift Cards for LP Brown Elementary Families

Rev. Sara is collecting gift cards for families in need at our neighborhood elementary school, LP Brown. The school is asking for cards all in $25 to stores where families can get a variety of holiday needs met: grocery stores and big box stores like Target and Walmart. Please bring gift cards to Rev Sara before Dec. 10th

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

Tiny Little News Show

In this week's Tiny Little News learn about holiday collection drives at OUUC and this week's events

This Week's Gatherings

Sit and Stitch

Tues, Dec 2nd, 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.

Community Dinner: Comfort Foods

Thurs, Dec 4th, 5:30 PM

OUUC

This week's dinner theme will be comfort foods. All are welcome for food and fellowship at 5:30pm PM at our weekly community dinner on Thursdays. If you can volunteer to help cook starting at 3:30 PM or set up tables at 4:30 PM, or clean up after at 6:30 PM, we are getting a bit more formal with a Sign-up Genius so we know who is going to be able to help with dinners. If you can help, please sign up!

All Ages: Snowflakes and Cocoa

Thurs, Dec 4th, 6:30 PM

OUUC

All families and kids are invited to our first Sunday morning Family Pancake Breakfast. This is a chance to get to know other families at OUUC by gathering for pancakes at 9am (during the 1st service) and then we encourage you to stay and attend the 2nd service after. We will be hosting the breakfast on the 1st Sunday of each month. Any questions contact our RE Assistant, Anissa Bentlemsani

Parent Group

Thurs, Dec 4th, 6:30 PM

OUUC

All who are parenting (in any way) are welcome to join the OUUC Parent Group on the 1st Thursday of each month at 6:30pm. We meet in person and on zoom. Email Rev Sara at dcfd@ouuc.org to get the zoom link

Adult Our Whole Lives Sexuality Education Fall Workshop Series

Sat, Dec 6th, 11:00 AM

OUUC

The Our Whole Lives program offers age-appropriate, comprehensive, values-based sexuality education and is a beloved program in UU congregations. The second session of our two-day Adult OWL fall workshop series, Our Whole Lives 102, will be held on December 6th from 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Contact Rev. Sara at dcfd@ouuc.org with any questions.

Family Pancake Breakfast

Sun, Dec 7th, 9:00 AM

OUUC RE Wing

Monthly Bulbs & Batteries Collection

Sun, Dec 7th, 9:00 AM

OUUC Commons

Welcome to December! The 7th will be the first Sunday of the month and your OUUC Environmental Action Team will be in the Commons to collect your dead batteries and fluorescent bulbs. They will be properly disposed of or recycled. Drop by our table to see some of the other climate and environmental actions we are working on! Remember, the holidays are especially a time to be aware of how your buying and waste generation effects the health of the planet!

New Member Welcome on Dec 7th

Sun, Dec 7th

OUUC Sanctuary

Have you completed the New Member class but not become a member, and now you feel ready? Our next New Member welcome will be in the worship service on Dec 7th.

Let Chloe (memberengagement@ouuc.org) or Rev. Sara (dcfd@ouuc.org) know that you would like to join on that day.

Resistance Lab: Strengthening Democracy Together

Mon, Dec 8th, 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.

Active Hope Reflection Group

Tues, Dec 9th, 6:30 PM

OUUC

Zoom Link

Active Hope Reflection Group, facilitated by Rev. Mary Gear and Rev. Sara Lewis. This group meets each month to reflect on the Work that Reconnects, based on the book Active Hope by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone.

Faith in Action: The Week of Nov. 30th

Quick ways to make a difference: petitions to sign, calls to make, comments to submit.

Do one or do them all—every action counts.

See this week's actions

Upcoming Gatherings

Love at the Center Discussion Group

Wed, Dec 10th, 7:00 PM

OUUC

It's not too late to join the Love at the Center Reflection Group! We will be discussing essays 10-12 in December.

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. May Love at the Center serve as an invitation to deepen your own understanding and practices of love.

Our group will meet monthly to discuss three essays from the book each month. Please register with the button above.

OUUC Christmas Sing-Along

Thurs, Dec 11th, 6:30 PM

OUUC

Oh, Come All Ye Faithful Christmas Singers—to the Christmas Sing-Along in the Sanctuary after community dinner on December 11th. You know you know the tunes, but we'll have lyrics sheets anyway. John Snyder, Karl Johnson, and Ian Hammond Stephan will bring their guitars and lead the singing. Feel free to bring any percussive instruments (jingle bells, of course!) to make the event merry. We look forward to seeing—and hearing—you there! 🙂

Solstice Spiral

Thurs, Dec 18th, 6:30 PM

OUUC Sanctuary

Join us for a contemplative solstice spiral walk meditation in our sanctuary. This beautiful tradition invites you to walk a candlelit spiral path as we honor the longest night and the return of the light. All are welcome.

OUUC Choir Concert: Tuvayhun-Beatitudes For a Wounded World

Sat, Dec 20th, 2:00 PM & Sun, Dec 21st, 7:00 PM

OUUC Sanctuary

Join us for a moving choral performance by the OUUC Choir, directed by Troy Arnold Fisher. Tuvayhun - Beatitudes For a Wounded World offers a powerful musical reflection for our times. Two performances give you the chance to experience this beautiful work on either Saturday afternoon, December 20th at 2:00 PM, or Sunday evening, December 21st at 7:00 PM. All are welcome.

Holiday Cookie Pre-Orders Are Here!

Sun, Dec 21st, 10:00 AM

OUUC

Pre-Order Now!

The holidays are upon us! The OUUC Cookie Brigade will be at it again this year, bringing love and joy through beribboned boxes of homemade cookies.

Pre-order now or purchase on Sunday, December 21st in the Commons between services. Suggested donation: $25 for 2 dozen delicious homemade cookies.

Want to join the Cookie Brigade? If you love to bake and would like to be part of this beloved OUUC tradition, email Melanie Ransom at melransom@comcast.net.

Silent Night, Holy Night: A Christmas Eve Service

Wed, Dec 24th, 5:30 PM & 9:00 PM

OUUC

Join us for a beautiful candlelight service to celebrate Christmas Eve. All are welcome!

5:30 PM Service: Features our OUUC choir. Available in-person and on Zoom.

9:00 PM Service: Features guest musicians. In-person only

Come gather in the warmth of community and the glow of candlelight as we honor this special evening together.

Ways To Get Involved

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

December Volunteer Newsletter

All volunteers are encouraged to check out the latest resources and news for volunteers in our November Volunteer Newsletter.

Read December Newsletter

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.

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!

Order Your Shirt

Community Connections

Earth Friendly Giving

Thurs, Dec 4th, 6:30 PM

1601 North Street SE, Olympia, WA 98501

The holidays are traditionally celebrated in the United States with a heavy emphasis on gift-giving, which produces unnecessary waste, harming Earth and our relationship to Earth. How can we create Earth Friendly holidays for our families – filled with Love and joy and fun instead of with material things? Come to this 4th event in our Climate Challenge series at Good Shepherd Church in Olympia. Questions? Email lynn@fitz-hugh.org

Olympia Peace Vigil

Fri, Dec 5th, 4:30 PM

4th & Water Street, Downtown Olympia

Join The Rachel Corrie Foundation at their weekly Olympia peace vigil on Friday from 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM at Percival Landing as they 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 23rd, 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.

WhaleCoast Alaska: A More Authentic Travel Experience

Summer 2026

More Info

Two unique, exciting fundraising tours organized by four Alaska UU congregations are being offered again next summer by WhaleCoast Alaska. Experience majestic scenery, wildlife, Denali National Park, Alaska Native culture, glaciers, and UU homestays. For 32 years, WhaleCoast Alaska tours have been the BEST way to visit Alaska. Register now for this amazing experience! Questions: info@whalecoastak.org