Announcement deadline: Monday Evening

Sunday Worship on November 30th

“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.

9:00 AM In-Person Only

10:45 AM In-Person & Online

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. Come hear about Harriet's family story and the wisdom and lessons she has to share from this experience.

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

“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.

Watch Service Here

Order of Service

After-Service Forum:

“Who Are All the Ministers at OUUC?”

Watch Forum Here

Forum Slides

Important Community Updates

Office Closures and Staff Away

Office and Facilities Manager Ian Hammond Stephan is out of town from November 21st - 29th.

Member Engagement Specialist Chloe Meyer will be out of town from November 28th - 30th.

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 dinner at 5:30 PM or events at 6:30 PM.

The office will also be closed Friday, November 28th.

Food Drive Success!

Thank you all for your generosity in donations of food to support our immigrant neighbors. The collections have been such a success that the organizing church is all full on storage space, so we are pausing our collection. Thank you again for your generosity.

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

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.

Reflections on Growing Up in Nazi Germany

Please join us for the after worship forum this week to hear from guest Harriet Ammann. Harriet was born in Nazi Germany and then came to America with her family. Come hear about Harriet's family story and the wisdom and lessons she has to share from this experience. In person and on zoom (the same link as the worship service).

This Week's Gatherings

Compassion Meditation Series

Tues, Nov 25th, 7:15 PM

OUUC

More Info Here

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.

Thanksgiving Potluck

Thurs, Nov 27th, 2:00 PM

OUUC

RSVP Here

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.

Death Cafe

Mon, Dec 1st, 4:30 PM

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.

Decorating OUUC for the Winter Holidays

Tues, Dec 2nd, 5:00 PM

OUUC

Let's make OUUC ready for the winter holidays! The Worship Arts Team, with the help of the Buildings & Ground Team, will be decorating the Commons and Sanctuary on Tuesday, Dec. 2. We'll gather for a soup potluck at 5 and decorating after that. All are welcome to come add some holiday beauty to our building.

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.

Faith in Action: The Week of Nov. 23rd

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 Events

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.

New Member Welcome on Dec 7th

Tues, Dec 7th

OUUC

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.

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! 🙂

Holiday Cookie Pre-Orders Are Here!

Sun, Dec 21st, 10:00 AM

OUUC

Pre-Order Here!

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.

Ways To Get Involved

The opportunity of the week is The Pastoral Care Team!

Members of the Pastoral Care team offer a ministry of loving presence and support to the OUUC community. As representatives of Rev. Mary, they extend care to those who are experiencing life transitions such as birth, adoption, divorce, job change, and retirement, as well as those who experience serious illness, hospitalization, death and other losses, and isolation. If you are interested in learning more, please reach out to Rev. Mary. Thank you to the Pastoral Care Team for their compassionate work.

November Faith in Action Digest

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

View November digest

November Volunteer Newsletter

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

Read November 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

Fri, Nov 28th, 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.

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

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