Announcement deadline: Monday Evening

Sunday Worship on December 14th

“Advent, Again” with Rev. Monica Jacobson Tennessen

Each year we have an opportunity to explore the lessons of the liturgical season of Advent from the Christian calendar, a season that resonates with the experience of being human in these times whether or not we hold this theology. Come explore what practices of hope and expectancy offer us in these times.

9:00 AM In-Person Only

10:45 AM In-Person & Online

After-Service Forum:

Skill Builder - Microaggressions & Beloved Community

Come join Rev. Sara and others in learning about microaggressions, intent and impact, and real examples of how we sometimes don’t treat each other as we’d want in a beloved community, as well as how we can do better.

12:15 PM In-Person & Online

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

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

"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.

Watch Service Here

Order of Service

After-Service Forum:

“What Makes a Healthy Congregation” with The OUUC Board and Healthy Congregation Team

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.

Watch Forum Here

Forum Slides

Important Community Updates

Office Closures and Staff Away

This holiday season 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.

Giving Statement Reminder

Last week we sent out giving statements to all of OUUC's donors. Please check that your records match what we have on file in Realm, and contact Ian Stephan (OfficeManager@ouuc.org) or Victoria Ridgway (Office@ouuc.org) if you feel that something is missing.

Holiday Scam Alert

Scammers are especially active during the holiday season. You may be contacted via text or email by scammers impersonating Rev. Mary or other church staff. Often, they'll claim urgency and ask for contact information of others at the church, financial assistance, or gift card purchases. Always double-check that emails and texts come from sources you recognize, scammers create addresses that appear similar to known contacts. When in doubt, verify by contacting the person directly using a trusted method like calling the church office. Stay safe this season!

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.

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 at ouuc.org/share-the-plate or the websites linked above!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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, hear about the Worship Arts Team, holiday events and drives, and what's happening this week.

This Week's Gatherings

Active Hope Reflection Group

Thurs, Dec 9th, 6:30 PM

OUUC and Online

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.

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.

Community Dinner: To the Root of It

Thurs, Dec 11th, 5:30 PM

OUUC

This week's dinner theme will be "To the Root of It". 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!

OUUC Christmas Sing-Along

Thurs, Dec 11th, 6:30 PM

OUUC Sanctuary

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! 🙂

All Ages Game Night

Thurs, Dec 11th, 6:30 PM

OUUC Commons

All ages are invited for our monthly game night following the community dinner on Thursday. We will have some games and cards--bring any games you'd like to share as well.

Drop In Soul Matters Group

Thurs, Dec 11th, 6:30 PM

OUUC

All are welcome to the monthly drop in Soul Matters group, a space for sharing and reflection on the spiritual theme of the month. The theme for December is Choosing Hope. You can pick up a Soul Matters packet in the Commons.

Chaotic Climate Reflection Group

Thurs, Dec 11th, 6:30 PM

OUUC and Online

Zoom Link

Chaotic Climate Reflection Group, facilitated by Rev. Mary Gear and Rev. Sara Lewis. This group meets monthly to reflect on the 10 Steps of Good Grief, based on the book How to Live In a Chaotic Climate by LaUra Schmidt.

Faith in Action: The Third Week of December 2025

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

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 Commons

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.

Cottage Meetings

Ten dates throughout January - February

Various Homes and Online

Please join us in the new year at a Cottage Meeting, along with other members and friends of the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation, to share stories, build connections, and celebrate our community. We will gather, mostly in the homes of fellow congregation members, 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. We are also offering meetings on Zoom and at OUUC. Each will last approximately 1.5 hours. Please sign-up. We would love to see you!

Use the "Sign Up Here" button above to see the different dates and times, and sign up! Or contact Sharon Love and she will help you get signed up.

Ways To Get Involved

Help Needed For Solstice Spiral Set Up

Can you help move chairs and assemble the Solstice Spiral in the sanctuary on December 18th? Set up needs to happen around 4pm, before the community dinner. If you can help, contact Rev. Sara at dcfd@ouuc.org

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

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

Community Connections

Olympia Peace Vigil

Fri, Dec 12th, 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.

A Very Queer Christmas Pageant

Sun, Dec 14th, 4:00 PM

110 11th Ave SE, Olympia, WA 98501

More Info Here

Don your gay apparel! WildWood’s annual Queer Christmas Pageant presents a story of rebellion, love, and queer joy.

With the Angel GAY-briel as our divine narrator for the evening, Christmas Carols (with updated inclusive lyrics!) and candlelit Silent Night, it has become a special part of the holiday season for many. All ages, all orientations, all religious traditions, whether you're a person of faith or have lost all faith. Exactly as you are and exactly as you are becoming, whole & holy. Enter through the main glass doors on Eleventh Ave. The space is accessible for those in wheelchairs.

UU Ministry for the Earth Winter Solstice Ritual

Sun, Dec 21st, 4:00 PM

Online

Blanketed in Beauty: A Winter Solstice Ritual Honoring the Gifts of the Darkness. Winter solstice offers an opportunity to pause at a pinnacle, honoring Earth’s longest night. For many moons leading up to this darkest moment, trees have been baring themselves of their leaves, offering a blanket to the Earth below. How can we as humans enter into the energy of this sacred time, using it as medicine, and aligning with the season’s offering? Join the UU Ministry for Earth and some very special guests on the evening of Sunday, December 21st for our 5th annual winter solstice service that honors the energy and teachings of Earth’s darkest time of year, which encourages us to rest and seek nourishment in the sacred dark. Please click the button above labeled 'Register Here' to learn more and register to attend.

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