Announcement deadline: Monday Evening

Sunday Worship

Sunday, January 11, 2026:
“Looking back, looking forward: Reflections from our Transylvania pilgrimage” with Rev. Mary Gear and the pilgrims

The OUUC pilgrims who traveled to Transylvania share their personal experience of the people and places where unitarian beliefs emerged, offering the opportunity for us to reflect on our own UU pluralistic path.

9:00am Onsite Only

10:45am Onsite & Online

After-Service Forum:

Photos and Stories with the Transylvania pilgrims

12:15pm Onsite & Online

Join Us Online! Worship at 10:45am & 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

“No Extraordinary Power” Rev. Linda Hart

Rev. Linda Hart returned 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 are woven together to offer an answer.

Watch Service Here

Order of Service

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

Send in Your Remembrances of Rev. Arthur Veini

We will be compiling a notebook of stories and memories to share with Arthur’s family from those who remember his ministry at OUUC from Fall 2001 through Spring 2014.

If you have a memory of Arthur in writing or in a photo that you would like to share, please send an email or attachment to Rev. Mary at minister@ouuc.org. You can also put your sharing in the box on Rev. Mary’s OUUC office door.

There will also be paper to write something at the gathering on Friday, January 16 or in the chat if you join online.

We will accept remembrances through January 18.

Thank you.

Thank you, 2022-2025 Capital Campaign!

Our generous thanks and congratulations to the MANY people who contributed to a successful multi-year capital campaign!

By the end of 2022, the age of our building and lack of funds for maintenance and upkeep had reached a tipping point. Three of the four gas heaters had failed, and it became clear to our congregants, bundled and shivering through winter services, that the church needed to raise the necessary funds to get the building properly serviced and updated. The staff and board identified the areas of greatest need and established a Capital Campaign with the goal of raising $544,400 over the next three years.

Member George Lanning and his estate graciously and generously bequeathed over half of the funds needed to reach the goal, and dozens of other members added monthly gifts to the Capital Campaign to their Realm accounts. Congregants created print and digital media to spread the word, held forums to explain the situation, and even put on a Capital Campaign Cabaret to raise funds to fulfill it!

By the end of 2025, the fund collected $521,340–almost 96% of our original goal of $544,500!

With that money—and the assistance of OUUC's dedicated Buildings and Grounds volunteers—OUUC was able to make significant and long-lasting improvements to the building and grounds, including (but not limited to):

-Paying off OUUC's mortgage to free up funds which would otherwise have gone toward interest payments;

-Replenishing the Building Major Maintenance Fund for emergency expenses;

-Replacing four gas furnances--three of which had failed by 2022--with electric heat pumps that are more energy efficient and allow for cooling in the warm summer months;

-Adding an electric heat pump to the Commons area;

-Repairing, resurfacing, and re-striping parts of the parking lot;

-Replacing the old, leaking gutters;

-Repainting the entire exterior of the building;

-Recaulking and resealing the exterior of the building to ensure its long-term resistance to inclement weather;

-Repairing all of and repainting half of OUUC's metal roof;

-Replacing OUUC's antiquated fire alarm panel;

-Trimming trees that posed a risk to OUUC and its congregants;

-Adding mulch to many of the garden beds to reduce weeds.

While there is still a need for capital funds for ongoing and future maintenance and upgrades, the congregation can feel pride in their accomplishments in the 2022-25 Capital Campaign. The OUUC Capital Campaign webpage will remain active into 2026 so that anyone wishing to contribute to the fund can continue to do so through its weblink and people can look back at the materials produced for the campaign (the cabaret is a hoot!) and appreciate that part of OUUC's history.

You can find the webpage here: https://www.ouuc.org/give/capital-campaign/

B&G Shout-Out!

In the final weeks of 2025, members of the Buildings and Grounds team were hard at work keeping OUUC in good shape through the holidays.

Thank you, Jerald Dodson, for putting down a transition strip between the Commons and Sanctuary so we don't trip on the carpet that wants to come up!

Thank you, Peter Teets, Ian Stephan, and Joe Joy for lugging the boxes of heavy Christmas decorations and trees up the stairs and through the building!

Thank you, Joe Joy and John Crutcher, for planting the two seedlings donated to us by Propagation Nation!

Thank you, Jerald Dodson and Sean McCrohan for clearing the upper parking lot of leaves after the worst of the Fall!

Thank you, Dieter Jacobs, Otto Buls, Eric Ness, Jerald Dodson, John Crutcher, and Ian Stephan for moving 5 truckloads of mulch to OUUC and spreading it along the south side of the parking lot around the new arborvitae trees that we recently planted!

If you'd like to join in on all the B&G fun in the new year, just reach out to Ian Hammond Stephan or Marie Arensmeyer so they can add you to the Zoom list for the monthly meeting. We have loads of great projects in store for 2026 that we'd love for you to be a part of! 🙂

Return Guest at Your Table Boxes Now

If you took a box to collect donations for Guest at Your Table in December, please return your boxes to Rev. Sara now. Thank you to everyone who supported the UUSC with a donation! It's not too late, to donate now click here!

Nominations Invited for Board and LDC

We know there are congregation members who would be great candidates to move into leadership positions, eager for the opportunity to work with others who are committed to guiding OUUC into the future.

The 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.

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.

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!

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.

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! 🙂

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.

Tiny Little News Show

The Tiny Little News Show is back with updates about OUUC events of this and next week.

This Week's Gatherings

Sit & Stitch

Tues, Jan 6, 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.

All Ages Crafts Night

Thurs, Jan 8, 6:30pm

OUUC

Folks of all ages, are welcome join us Thursday after the dinner for some fun making watercolor resistance art. In line with the January theme of Practicing Resistance, we will play with many kinds of materials like Glue, Stickers, Crayons and Tape to Resist!

Community Dinner hosted by the Leadership Development Committee

Thurs, Jan 8, 5:30pm

OUUC

This week's community dinner will be prepared by members of our Leadership Development Committee. 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!

Combining Our Book Discussion Groups: Hope & Chaos

Thurs, Jan 8, 6:30pm

OUUC

We're combining our Active Hope and Chaotic Climate book groups into one onsite book group called Hope & Chaos! Join Rev. Mary Gear and Rev. Sara Lewis in-person on the second Thursday of each month at 6:30pm as we reflect on the Work that Reconnects (Active Hope by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone) and the 10 Steps of Good Grief (How to Live in a Chaotic Climate by LaUra Schmidt). All are welcome.

Parent Group

Thurs, Jan 8*, 6:30pm

OUUC and Online

*New date in January!

All who are parenting (in any way) are welcome to join the OUUC Parent Group this Thursday at 6:30pm. Join us for mutual support, community, and exploration of a special topic or concern in parenting each month. We meet in person and on zoom. Email Rev. Sara at dcfd@ouuc.org to get the zoom link.

OUUC Book Group

Thurs, Jan 8, 6:30pm

OUUC & Online

Zoom Link

The group meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month at OUUC at 6:30pm, following the community dinner. At the January meeting, we will discuss The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters. We’ll be choosing the book for April at the January meeting. The meeting will also be available on Zoom.

New UU Class: Who We Are - OUUC

Sun, Jan 11, 2:00pm

Online Only

Curious about OUUC or Unitarian Universalism? Thinking about becoming a member? Join us for our New UU class series starting January 11th!Over nine Sundays from January through March, Rev. Mary Gear and Rev. Sara Lewis will guide you through topics including UU history and values, how we worship, how we care for each other, and how we put our faith into action. You're encouraged to attend as many sessions as possible, though you don't need to attend every one. Learn more here.

Faith in Action: The First Week of January 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.

See this week's actions

Upcoming Gatherings

Cottage Meetings

Twelve dates throughout January and February

Various Homes, OUUC 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.

Love at the Center Discussion Group

Wed, Jan 14, 7:00pm

OUUC

It's not too late to join the Love at the Center Reflection Group! We will be discussing essays 13-15 in January.

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.

Growing Anti-Racist Kids: for ages 5-10

Thurs, Jan 15, 6:30pm

OUUC & 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. 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.

Ways To Get Involved

This week’s opportunity is the FUUN Team!

The FUUN team will be a new team, not in existence yet, that will seek to create and support social and fun events for us. Joy is resistance too. If you are interested in creating fun for OUUC, talk to Rev. Sara.

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

January Volunteer Newsletter

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

Read January 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

Civic Engagement Training

Fri, Jan 9, 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. Session dates will be Jan 9, Jan 23, Feb 13, Feb 25, with a special "Sine Die" celebration on March 13.

Olympia Peace Vigil

Fri, Jan 9, 4:30pm

Fourth & 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.

2026 Legislative Session Begins

Mon, Jan 12, 2026

OUUC

The Washington State Legislative session begins on Monday, January 12. 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!

Advocacy 101 Training from Faith Action Network

Wed, Jan 14, 6:00pm

Online training on how to advocate during the Washington state legislative session.

Join us for this virtual training with other advocates across the state to learn how to advocate during the legislative session. Both new advocates and returning ones seeking to refresh their knowledge are welcome. FAN staff will present some of the tools we use throughout the session, with a chance for Q&A. FAN’s legislative agenda and policies will not be discussed in depth, though we will share with you how to find more information. Please bring your questions!

Once you register, a Zoom link will be sent to you. For additional information and registration, click the button above.

Love At The Center:

Reimagining the World As It Could Be

30 Days of Love

January 19, 2026 - Feb 16, 2026

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!

Point in Time Count

January and early February

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 29th, 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.