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Sunday Worship

Sunday, February 1, 2026:

“Moving on from Walden Pond” with Rev. Sara

Many of us have found inspiration from the teachings of Henry David Thoreau and other Transcendentalists, but how does this sort of individualism answer the needs of today? How can we move on from Walden Pond and toward a radical mutuality that still retains what was good at Walden Pond?

9:00am Onsite Only

10:45am Onsite & Online

After-Service Forum: SkillBuilder- How to respond to hard things with Rev. Mary Gear & Rev. Sara Lewis

Hard things happen in the world and in our lives. How can we respond in ways that are helpful and not adding to the harm? Join Rev Mary and Rev Sara for this skillbuilder which will explore ways we can care for ourselves and do the healing work we need to do in order to become helpers and healers ourselves.

12:15pm Onsite & Online

Join Us Online!

Worship at 10:45am & After-Service Forum at 12:15pm

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

Sunday, January 25, 2026:

“The Heartbreak of Limitations” with Rev. Mary Gear

We explore the monthly spiritual theme of “Practicing Resistance” by reflecting on the limitations in our lives and how we live with them and how we resist them.

Watch Service Here

Order of Service

After-Service Forum:

“Success Stories in Congregational Engagement” with Rev. Sara and Others

How do people find their way into being as engaged as they want to be with our congregation, its programs, and people? At this forum we will hear and share our success stories and talk about how we can help more newcomers find their way in as well.

Watch Forum Here

Forum Slides

Important Community Updates

Staff Away

Reverend Mary Gear is out of the office until Friday, January 20.

Office and Facilities Manager Ian Hammond Stephan will be out of the office from Wednesday, January 28 - Monday, February 2.

Winter Weather Building Closure Procedures

Here's what to expect for building closures in the event of winter weather this season. 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!

Thank you, from the Environmental Action Team!

As this new year begins, the Environmental Action Team wants to thank all of those UUs that have participated in the Plastic Challenge by bringing in your recyclable plastics. We continue collecting plastics and delivering them to the Food Bank warehouse where they’re sorted and transferred to Trex for transformation into building products. Keeping plastics out of the waste stream is our continuing goal and we can’t do it without you. Thanks again for participating. If you have questions, please contact Judy Talley who spearheads this effort.

OUUC Book Nook – Shop to Feed Families!

Thank you for shopping at Book Nook (https://books-ouuc.com/) – OUUC’s new online used bookstore, now open 24/7 on an ongoing basis for Olympia-area shoppers. Our June purchases raised $1,900 that OUUC have been lovingly passed on to the Thurston County Food Bank. You can shop and pay securely online, then pick up your purchases at Susan Dodson’s home or OUUC. Please let your local friends and book groups know about this fun new way to support our local Food Bank. Questions? You’ll find lots of answers here on the Book Nook FAQ page (https://books-ouuc.com/faq/) – or you can email Susan Dodson at books.ouuc@gmail.com to let her know you’d like a ‘tour of the store’.

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.

Pastoral Care Team

The Pastoral Care Team members serve as an extension of Rev. Mary's care of the congregation, which is especially important and needed as we grow. Rev. Mary invites team members based on their professional and life experience, as well as their caring heart and presence. The team members also continue their learning and growth together as they serve.

Ours is a ministry of loving presence, as we listen to the words that need to be spoken. We provide short or long term social/emotional, one-to-one care to members and friends. We work as a team, with a lead member assigned to each request to ensure consistency.

If you would like support from the Pastoral Care Team, you can identify members on Sunday mornings or at other church events by looking for the green Pastoral Care stoles they wear. If you are not physically at church, you can reach out via email at pastoralcare@ouuc.org, and a team member will get back to you shortly to see how they can be of service.

Your Pastoral Care Team members are: Debra Dohrmann, Susan Joy, Bobbe Murray, Polly Taylor, James Forest, and Woodson Moore.

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.

Tiny Little News Show

In this week's Tiny Little News hear about the Emergency Preparedness Team and the many upcoming events of this week.

This Week's Gatherings

Cottage Meetings

Wed, Jan 28, 6:00pm
Fri, Jan 30, 10:00am at OUUC
Mon, Feb 2, 7:00pm on Zoom
& more

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

There are still 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.

Community Dinner: Baked Potato Bar

Thurs, Jan 29, 5:30pm

OUUC

This week's community dinner menu will be Baked Potato Bar. All are welcome for food and fellowship at 5:30pm at our weekly Thursday community dinners. We need volunteers to help cook starting at 3:30pm, set up tables at 4:30pm, or clean up at 6:30pm. 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!

Of Reel Importance: Multigen Documentary and Discussion

Thurs, Jan 29, 6:30pm

OUUC

All are welcome to join Rev Sara this Thursday for a new offering, a documentary and discussion after the community dinner. This Thursday we will be watching "Uncovering Boarding Schools". Read more info about the documentary here.

Growing Anti-Racist Kids: for ages 5-10

Thurs, Jan 29, 6:30pm

OUUC

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. The first lessons proceed from self-awareness, family differences, friendships at school and in neighborhoods, church beliefs around respect and diversity, recognition of one’s community, and of the world. Each lesson connects to UU values, in a language for children’s understanding. Ultimately, we aim to help children to recognize that persons have far more qualities than their appearances, that the possibilities of truly knowing, or knowing about them, far exceeds looking at them or at their pictures.

Monthly Bulbs and Batteries Collection

Sun, Feb 1

OUUC Commons

Next Sunday is the first Sunday of February! Bring in those dead batteries and fluorescent bulbs and the OUUC Environmental Action Team will see that they are recycled or safely disposed. Visit our table in the Commons to become acquainted with other environmental issues, especially as the state legislature is in session! Stay warm! The light is returning!

Reflection Group

Sun, Feb 1, 10:00am

OUUC Youth Room

We have restarted the post Sunday service conversations of sermon reflection and fellowship. Following first service pick up your beverage and join us in the Youth Room for our small group follow up. We hope you will join us!

Questions? Check with Curt Hill, Lee Doyle, Nancy Curtiss or Chloe Meyer

Family Pancake Breakfast: NEW TIME

Sun, Feb 1, 10:15am

OUUC Classroom 3

We are moving our pancake breakfast to a new time, between worship services! 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 in Classroom 3. We will be hosting the breakfast on the 1st Sunday of each month. Any questions contact our RE Assistant, Anissa Bentlemsani.

New UU: How We Care for Each Other

Sun, Feb 1, 2:00pm

Online Only

Learn More & Register Here

This winter our New UU class (the requirement for membership at OUUC) will be on Zoom Sundays 2-3:30pm. The class on 2/1 will be about the many ways we care for one another at OUUC, with Rev Mary.

Death Cafe

Mon, Feb 2, 4:30pm

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, Feb 2, 6:00pm

OUUC

Are you concerned about the direction our country is going and ready to take action? The newly formed Resistance Group invites you to join us as we turn concern into concrete resistance strategies. Building on what we learned from Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal's Resistance Lab, we're now focused on taking action to strengthen democracy and resist growing authoritarianism. Join Environmental Action Team and Faith in Action Team members and other OUUC members committed to protecting democracy. All are welcome.

Upcoming Gatherings

Sit and Stitch

Tues, Feb 3, 6:30pm

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.

Nia Dance

Every Tuesday at 9:00am

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

Adult Our Whole Lives

Sat, Feb 7, 10:00am

OUUC

Join us for the next session in our Adult OWL series! The Our Whole Lives program offers comprehensive, values-based sexuality education and is a beloved program in UU congregations. This workshop will explore attitudes about aging, sexual scripts, and keeping our bodies healthy as we age. All adults are welcome! Register now using the button above.

UU Common Read: Social Change Now Workshop

Sat, March 14, 10:00am

OUUC

Join Rev. Sara for a one day workshop (with lunch provided) to explore the ecosystem of social change makers model and how it can inform our work to change the world.

The UU Common Read for Deepa Iyer’s Social Change Now! offers Unitarian Universalists a path to growing more authentic, connected, and effective as individuals and communities pursuing the social justice missions we share.

Whatever the social justice priorities of your particular congregation, at its core, Unitarian Universalism embodies transformation. All of us who covenant to be together are engaged with making the world a better place. As humanists, we take responsibility as agents of transformation to make it so. This Common Read guides us to apply the teachings and practices of Social Change Now to activate, re-invigorate, and support social justice projects throughout our movement and all our common work for change.

Copies of the book are available at OUUC or you can order one from the UUA bookstore.

Tao of Gender

Thurs, March 26, 6:30pm**

OUUC

**Rescheduled! Now in person & on Thursday nights... We’ll use today’s language of gender to explore Taoist ideas, not as fixed truths, but as symbols that spark reflection in our hearts and minds. While the 2002 book The Tao of Gender serves as an anchor, we recognize it as one Western perspective. To honor the tradition and de-center whiteness, we invite this text into conversation with scholars and practitioners from China and Thailand. There is no homework.

Class instructor: Schyler P. Raad, is a nonbinary educator and lifelong learner with experience facilitating dialogue-based classes. Learn more about the Tao of Gender class by clicking here.

Save the date for OUUC’s Annual Auction!

Sat, May 16, 2026

ASHHO Cultural Community Center

All are invited to participate in our annual in-person and on-line auction! The auction is a terrific way to make meaningful connections, strengthen our community resources, and have fun.

Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 16, 2026 and plan to attend the live auction and dinner. We are thrilled to return to the ASHHO Cultural Community Center in Tumwater for the live auction again this year! The online auction will be the week of the live event.

Want to help with the auction this year? All sorts of roles are needed in the planning process and event—communications, procurement, tech assistance with the auction system, and more. Contact Alicia at aliciasm@gmail.com.

Faith in Action Opportunities & Resources

This week’s opportunity is the Emergency Preparedness Team!

The Emergency Preparedness Team. This team does planning for the most likely emergencies that may happen at church and provides assistance, when needed, to safeguard events at OUUC. Right now, it is a small team of four, Kent Canny, Neil Marsh, Marie Arensmeyer and Jack Jackson. We could use some new members! We have worked on plans for evacuations in the event of fire, earthquake, bomb threat and what to do in the event of a disruptive person threatening harm. Currently we are working on actions to take in the event ICE or Border Patrol Agents show up at the church. No prior experience is required! We don't meet on a regular basis, more on an as needed timeline and typically through Zoom. We would love to have you!

January Faith in Action Digest

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

View January digest

Faith in Action:

Week of Jan 25, 2026

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

Do one or do them all, every action counts.

This week's actions

Click Below to read the January Volunteer 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

Olympia Peace Vigil

Every Friday, 4:30pm

Fourth & Water Street, Downtown Olympia

Please join Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) every Friday 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.

Point in Time Count

Throughout Jan and early Feb

Thurston County

The Point in Time Count is an essential annual effort to survey the unhoused population in Thurston County to better plan for needs and services. United Way of Thurston County is leading this year's count on January 29, with volunteer opportunities throughout January and early February. Ways to volunteer include survey assistance (volunteer training required), hygiene kit assembly, and clothing drive sorting. Find more information by clicking here.

Love At The Center:

Reimagining the World As It Could Be

30 Days of Love

Jan 19, 2026 - Feb 16, 2026

Online

At a time when fear, violence, and extraction dominate our politics and our planet, we practice another way. We believe love is not fragile; it is fierce. It grounds our organizing, fuels our imagination, and sustains our communities.

Over five weeks, we will move through a journey from imagination to action, rooting our freedom dreams in faith and bringing them to life in our world. Each week, we will have a written reflection from Side With Love staff; a conversation with a UU theologian; a multi-generational family activity; reflection questions for journaling; a meditative body practice; and a coloring sheet connected to the weekly theme. Our weekly themes will be Reimagining Thriving, Grounding in Context, Mobilizing Action, Nurturing Community, and Exploring Possibilities. Use the button above to receive an email and/or a text when 30 Days of Love 2026 weekly content is available!

The Woodlands: A Monthly Trans/Nonbinary Monthly Pastoral Care Space

Sun, Feb 1, 1:00pm PST

Online

The Woodlands is a monthly online gathering designed for trans children, youth, and adults—as well as the parents and caregivers of trans people. Each session will begin with a shared message and grounding ritual, followed by breakout rooms tailored to different communities within our circle, and we come back together for a release. Sessions will be about an hour and a half. Find out the details here.

Speak Easier: Bridging the Abortion Divide

Sun, Feb 1, 4:30pm

400 N 35th St, Seattle, WA 98103

Buy Tickets Here

You can support reproductive justice by attending The Pro-Voice Project event called Speak Easier: Bridging the Abortion Divide on Sunday, February 1st at Hidden Hall. This will be an interactive performance exploring the Idaho-Washington connection when it comes to healthcare, focusing on the human stories behind the policy. Speak-Easier will bring together ideologically diverse Idahoans and Washingtonians for an evening of storytelling, candid conversation, and live music. The Pro-Voice Project works to reduce the stigma, silence and shame around abortion through storytelling, cultivating spaces for healing and collective action.

Trees As Climate Solutions

Thurs, Feb 5, 6:30pm

1515 Harrison Ave NW, Olympia

On Feb 5th at 6:30 pm Restoring Earth Connection will be giving the last of their Climate Challenge talks. The talk Trees As Climate Solutions will go over interesting things about the benefits of trees and move into information about Olympia and Tumwater redoing their tree ordinances this year – what the opportunities and dangers are there and with the County. We will also talk about the cutting of legacy Forests in Capitol Forest that continue under Commissioner Upthegrove. This will be followed by an opportunity Saturday morning the 7th at 10 am to help Tumwater plant about a 100 trees! Contact Lynn@fitz-hugh.org for more info on joining the tree planting.

Tumwater Tree Planting

Sat, Feb 7, 10:00am

Tumwater

Tumwater and Friends of Trees are partnering to plant a 100 Western White Pines. Saturday Feb 7th at 10:00 am planting trees! Come for a period of time you designate (like 1 hour) or come till we are done (which will depend upon how many people come.) Register with the button above. Contact Lynn@fitz-hugh.org for more info on joining the tree planting.

February Gathering by Side With Love

Mon, Feb 9, 5:00pm PST

Online

Join The Gathering, a monthly virtual event from Side With Love offering spiritual grounding, political analysis, and collective action—organize with others to block anti-democratic forces and build a just and loving world. Register here for February 9.

One year into this administration, we will lift up stories of resistance and resilience - your own, and those of SF Bay Area court watch vigils and UU presence at Chicago's Broadview Detention Center. Songs for Liberation will grace us with the music they share outside Broadview and at so many other actions.

Interested in the Gathering but haven't attended one yet? Click the "Register Here" button above to see all the dates, a promotion kit, recordings, crisis resources, and links.

2026 Legislative Session

Jan - Mar

Washington State Capitol

The Washington State Legislative session began on Monday, January 12. It is a short session, lasting up to 60-days, with an expected end date of Thursday March 12, 2026. Now is the time to speak up! Call your state legislators and congressional representatives about what matters most to you and your family. Where to start? Visit leg.wa.gov today!

UU Day at the Legislature!

Thurs, Feb 12, 8:30am

110 11th Ave SE, Olympia

Each year the Faith Action Network (FAN) gathers at the Capital to remind political leaders that there are faith communities leading the work for justice and fairness in the world. This year the JUUstice Washington UU State Action Network is working with FAN, urging UUs from across the state to come to demonstrate our commitment to our values.

There will be issue-related information sessions offered via zoom the weeks prior to Feb. 12th, then time together in the morning before we divide up to talk to our district representatives. During your time with your rep. you can talk about the issues you see as most imperative, driven by the work you are doing in your congregation.

We will have a UU table where you can come to meet UUs from around the state over coffee or lunch.

Civic Engagement Training

Fri, Feb 13, 4:00pm

Olympia Timberland Library

What social, political, or environmental issues do you care deeply about? Do you know how our state government is addressing these issues in the 2026 Legislative Session, and how you can add your voice to the conversation? Join the Office of the Secretary of State for Civic Engagement Office Hours, a nonpartisan initiative to support civic participation and demystify the legislative process in WA state. Drop in to the Library every 2nd and 4th Friday during the legislative session to visit with staff who can connect your interests to civic engagement opportunities this session. Learn how to use the state’s numerous digital tools to track the bills being introduced and participate in the public debate on these bills. Upcoming session dates are Feb 13 & Feb 25, with a special "Sine Die" celebration on March 13.