Announcement deadline: Monday Evening | | | | |
Sunday Worship on November 23rd | |
“Forming and Unforming Together: Lessons Learned Along Spiritual Journeys” with Rev. Sara Lewis
Rev. Sara has practiced as a religious educator and spiritual director, and reflects on lessons learned about how the spiritual journey is relational and shared.
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After-Service Forum: “Who Are All the Ministers at OUUC?”
| | Last Week's Sunday Worship | | | | |
Important Community Updates | | Office Closures and Staff Away | |
Office and Facilities Manager Ian Hammond Stephan will be out of town from November 21st - 29th.
On Thursday, November 27th the office will be closed. The building will be open for our Thanksgiving Potluck at 2:00 PM. There will be no Thursday night dinner at 5:30 PM or after dinner events at 6:30 PM.
The office will also be closed Friday, November 28th.
| | | Tree Planting Complete–Thank You! | A shoutout of gratitude to all who helped with the tree planting last Saturday. Not pictured, but an MVP of the effort, is Eric Ness. This completes the repairs for the fire damage from last year. Thanks for your work on a wet Saturday, all! | | | OUUC Personal Record Forms | |
Reverend Mary and the Pastoral Care Team (PCT) would like to remind congregants that a Personal Care and Support Record form is available on the OUUC website (Click Here).
The information you provide us on the form will allow us to better assist you in times of need, your emergency contact, and will also let us know your end of life wishes.
To find the form on Realm/Connect, log into OUUC and locate Connect at the top of the home page. Scroll down to Congregational Care where the Personal Care and Support Record will be an option on the right. Finally, click Personal Care and Support Record fillable. Once complete you can send it to the OUUC Office Assistant who will place the info into your Realm profile.
Hard copies of this form are also available in the Commons and may be turned into the office when completed.
PCT members will be available after services to answer questions. Look for the green stoles and smiling faces.
Forms will be added to the member’s Realm personal profile, which is private; only ministers and lead staff will have access to them.
| | | Food Drive For Immigrant Neighbors | |
For the whole month of November, members of OUUC will collect culturally appropriate foods, showing our commitment to our neighbors. Many immigrant families have fear about leaving their homes, afraid they may be detained unexpectedly. In solidarity and support, we are working with local churches to collect food that we will then deliver to homes when the risk of grocery shopping feels too great. Please bring donations to the OUUC lobby where there will be collection boxes.
Here is what is needed:
Maseca (Corn masa flour); beans; lentils; rice; oil; staple vegetables such as potatoes, onions, and chilies; canned vegetables; Pozole (hominy); canned chili; canned meat (especially chicken)
Questions? Talk with Steve Tilly, Nancy Reid-McKee, Naki Stevens, Jenee Wolfram, or Leah Kosik
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Beginning November 1st, OUUC is participating in the NexTrex Challenge. We will be collecting plastic film in the large box in the back hallway. Plastic films allowed are grocery, bread, dry cleaning, ice, cereal, ziplock and produce bags. Also included are bubble wrap, plastic shipping envelopes, overwraps from paper towels, and newspaper sleeves. Volunteers will be transporting the plastic collected to the Food Bank Warehouse where they will be sorted and continue on to the Trex Company who will use them in their composite decking. Thank you for helping us get plastic out of the waste stream and turning it into useful products.
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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.
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In this week's Tiny Little News we have gratitude to the B&G team, more about the Tech Team, and the events of this week. | | | | |
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Active Hope Reflection Group
Tues, Nov 18th*, 6:30 PM
OUUC
| *New date in November!
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. | | | |
Community Dinner: The Great Potato
Thurs, Nov 20th, 5:30 PM
OUUC
| This week's dinner theme will be a celebration of potatoes. 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. | | | |
Family Fun "Chopped" style Dessert Competition
Thurs, Nov 20th, 6:30 PM
OUUC
| Chefs of all ages are invited to join Rev Sara and Anissa for a "Chopped" style dessert making competition following the dinner this week. You will be given a set of mystery ingredients and have to make your best sweet treat from them. Who will be crowned top chef? | | | | |
Drop In Soul Matters Group
Thurs, Nov 20th, 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 November is Nurturing Gratitude. | | | | |
Nature Group at Kennedy Creek
Sat, Nov 22nd, 10:00 AM
Kennedy Creek Salmon Trail
| All ages are welcome to join Rev. Sara and Anissa for our monthly nature group outing, this time to Kennedy Creek to view the salmon. RSVP to Rev. Sara at dcfd@ouuc.org | | | |
Gen XYZ Friendsgiving
Sat, Nov 22nd, 4:00 PM
OUUC
| All between the ages of 18-50ish are invited to Gen XYZ's Friendsgiving this Saturday! Friendsgiving will be a potluck coordinated by Kedo Baye and Rebecca Jewell. Click the button above to sign up to bring an item or help with set up, tear down, and/or dishes. If this is a barrier for you, please just show up to enjoy food and fellowship, no questions asked. If you need help signing up or have questions, contact Kedo Baye. | | | |
Resetting Our Sacred Table
Sun, Nov 23rd, 2:00 PM
Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd
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Interfaith Works invites you to our free and family friendly annual autumnal celebration of community, culture, and music featuring the OUUC choir! This gathering continues to grow and evolve as we celebrate community through music, food, and storytelling, deepening our awareness, connection, and engagement with regional Tribal history and culture.
This year invites us into a new experience centered on connection and conversation rather than presentations. Together, we will explore our guiding values and how they can help us meet the challenges of our time. In a moment when deep listening is itself a form of peace-building, this evening offers space to practice that art. Through two interactive sessions, participants will share, listen, and learn from one another in a spirit of respect and genuine encounter.
A community potluck will follow. Seating is limited, so please RSVP to reserve your place at the table.
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Faith in Action This Week (Nov. 9th)
Quick ways to make a difference: petitions to sign, calls to make, comments to submit.
Do one or do them all—every action counts.
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Compassion Meditation Series
Tues, Nov 25th, 7:15 PM
OUUC
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Your are warmly invited to partake in Interfaith Works' Fall Meditation Series which will take place at OUUC the last Tuesdays of October and November. The Compassion Meditation practice is offered to members of Interfaith Works-affiliated faith communities and organizations; it was developed in response to the City of Olympia’s ceasefire statement in support of ending the violence in Palestine and Israel. While we continue to focus on compassion for the Middle East, we also recognize the many places in the world where there is hardship and adversity.
Compassion is a core human value around which we hold the struggles in the world. In this practice, we focus on receiving compassion for ourselves and extending compassion to all who suffer in the world—the oppressed and the oppressors, to all beings, and to our Mother Earth—as each participant is so moved, by sitting together in sacred silence.
The gatherings will occur at 7:15 PM - 8:30 PM on November 25th, with meditation beginning at 7:30 PM.
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Thanksgiving Potluck
Thurs, Nov 27th, 2:00 PM
OUUC
| All are invited to join us for our annual Thanksgiving Potluck on November 27th at 2:00 PM. Please RSVP with the button above! This will be in lieu of our regularly scheduled Thursday community dinner and evening activities for the fourth week of November. | | | |
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. | | | | |
Resistance Lab: Strengthening Democracy Together
Mon, Dec 8th, 6:15 PM
OUUC
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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.
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The opportunity of the week is The Tech Team!
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The OUUC Tech Team is made up of our tech staff and volunteers who work to make all the movie magic happen. It is their mission to empower our worship leaders, foster connection in the community, and make our congregation as accessible as possible. Together with the worship arts and memorial services teams, they work to create our weekly worship services and other community events. They connect the online and on-site members of our community by providing the weekly Zoom and YouTube versions of our events. By providing subtitles, hearing assistance devices, ensuring microphones are as clear as possible, and other efforts, they work to create an accessible congregation for all.
The Tech Team's main opportunities are Sunday mornings and Memorial Services/Celebrations of Life. For Sundays, volunteers are needed for the second service, arriving around 10:30 and finishing up as soon as Troy starts the postlude. For other events, scheduling is more variable and planned out in advance. Scheduling of volunteers is done on a week-to-week basis, so those with any amount of availability can sign up for as many or as few events as desired.
While the Tech Team works both with audio and visuals, each person generally focuses on one or the other for a given service. So if you feel attracted to one and not the other, you can specialize. The Tech Team also trains their members, so don't feel that you don't know enough to help out. All experience levels are welcome.
Have you ever wondered what Carbon, Teresa, and all the wonderful volunteers are up to behind the desk on Sunday mornings? If you're curious, ask Carbon about shadowing a service for a low-stakes, low-commitment way to see first-hand. First, second, or both services are available. You can reach him at techspecialist@ouuc.org or behind the tech desk most Sundays. Or, if you'd like to hear about events like the Tech Team retreat, which offers opportunities for existing and new members alike, makes all the magic happen that you see each Sunday. They always need more volunteers, of all experience and availability levels. If you're curious about volunteering on the tech team, you can ask to be put on the Tech Team mailing list or ask about shadowing a service. You can come and talk to Carbon at the tech desk or email him at techspecialist@ouuc.org.
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November Faith in Action Digest
This month's trainings, resources, and action opportunities--everything you need to show up for our community.
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November Volunteer Newsletter
All volunteers are encouraged to check out the latest resources and news for volunteers in our November Volunteer Newsletter.
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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.
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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!
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UPLIFT: Trans Day of Remembrance Services (for trans & non-binary kin only)
Thurs, Nov 20th, 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM
Zoom
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Join the UUA on November 20th for our Transgender Day of Remembrance service. This year has been especially difficult for our trans and nonbinary communities. We’re holding this observance for trans people, by trans people—a sacred space for remembrance, grief, and connection within our own community. In recognition of the deep need for care and sanctuary this year, the service will remain open for trans and non-binary kin. Opportunities for allies to honor Trans Day of Remembrance will be offered through other UUA departments.
Two service times are available: 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM PST. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link for your chosen time.
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Together We Remember: Honoring Trans Live Lost
Thurs, Nov 20th, 7:00 PM
1601 North Street SE, Olympia
| Join us at The Lutheran Church of The Good Shepherd in honoring the lives lost to violence against our transgender community members. Together we can create resiliency and promote understanding by creating a safer world for all individuals regardless of their gender identity. Rev. Mary will be speaking. Facilitated by Concerned Clergy of Olympia, The Olympia Free Clinic, League of Women Voters of Thurston County, and PFLAG Olympia. | | | |
Olympia Peace Vigil
Fri, Nov 21st, 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.
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Active Hope Interactive Workshop
Sat, Nov 22nd, 1:00 PM
Olympia, WA (exact location available upon registration)
The interactive group process developed by Joanna Macy--Work That Reconnects--teaches us to move from gratitude to honoring our pain, to seeing with new perspectives, and then going forth into action. This experiential workshop will use exercises and ritual--in community--to share and honor our feelings about what is happening and our ideas of what we need to do. This will be an emotional and spiritual interactive workshop. What helps us face the mess we’re in is the knowledge that each of us has something significant to offer. We are growing a community together that acts from our hearts. To register or for more info, email Lynn Fitz-Hugh at LYNN@FITZ-HUGH.ORG
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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 | | | |
WhaleCoast Alaska: A More Authentic Travel Experience
Summer 2026
| 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 | | | | |
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Sunday Worship:
9:00 am (in-person only)
10:45 am (in-person and online)
Office Hours:
Mondays 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Tuesdays 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Wednesdays 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Thursdays 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Sundays 8:00 am - 2:00 pm
Phone: (360) 634-2005
Address:
2306 East End St NW
Olympia, WA 98502
Find us on the web:
Website: OUUC.org
Facebook: @OlyUUC
Instagram: @OlyUUC
YouTube: @OlyUUC
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Rev. Mary Gear,
Minister
minister@ouuc.org | ext. 101
Rev. Sara Lewis,
Director of Community
and Faith Development
DCFD@ouuc.org | ext. 102
Troy Fisher,
Music Director
musicdirector@ouuc.org
Ian Stephan,
Office and Facilities Manager
OfficeManager@ouuc.org | ext. 103
Victoria Ridgway,
Office Assistant
Office@ouuc.org | ext. 100
Chloe Meyer,
Member Engagement Specialist
MemberEngagement@ouuc.org | ext.104
Marie Arensmeyer,
Sexton
Sexton@ouuc.org | ext. 105
Anissa Bentlemsani,
Religious Education Assistant
REassistant@ouuc.org
Teresa Madsen,
Tech Coordinator
TechCoordinator@ouuc.org | ext. 106
Carbon Marshall,
Tech Specialist
TechSpecialist@ouuc.org
Isaac Ezra Jennings,
Finance Manager
FinanceManager@ouuc.org
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