Announcement deadline: 11:00 am Tuesday mornings | | | | |
Sunday Worship September 7th | |
“River of Life” with Rev. Mary Gear & Rev. Sara Lewis
Water Communion & Blessing the Backpacks
We gather to begin another congregational year with our traditional water communion service. Bring water from a place of importance to you, which could be close or far. We’ll have water for everyone. We also recognize the beginning of a new school year for students of all ages. If you are a student, bring your backpack or briefcase, or whatever you have to carry a token of our love for you.
| | After-Service Forums will resume the following week, September 14th. | |
Last Sunday's Service
“We Who Believe in Freedom” with Rev. Carol McKinley & Troy Fisher
Labor Day: a time to honor workers who provide the goods and services needed to keep society functioning. Many of those who were part of efforts to ensure workers’ rights in the Pacific Northwest became an integral part of the larger struggle to ensure rights and freedom for all.
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Tiny Little News Show is Back!
Find out what is happening as the church year starts again.
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Important Community Updates | |
Bulbs & Battery Collection on September 7th
Welcome to September! The first Sunday of the month will be September 7th and the OUUC Environmental Action Team will be in the Commons eagerly waiting to receive your dead fluorescent light bulbs and batteries.
We will have information about our quarterly speaker, Heather Trim. Heather works with Zero Waste WA and will talk about plastics reduction and the WRAP Act on October 12th.
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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.
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Staff Away
Office Assistant Victoria Ridgway is away from the window through September 4th. She is still available by email and phone, but may take extra time to get back to your requests. In- person Office Hours remain the same with a special appearance by Ian Stephan Hammond in the window.
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Zucchini Bread Bake Off at The Annual Picnic
Calling all bakers or bakers-at-heart! We will be doing a zucchini bread competition this year again at the annual picnic. If you would like to join in on the fun as a baker or as a judge, please reach out to Chloe at memberengagement@ouuc.org to sign up. We look forward to tasting all the yummy-ness!
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B&G Shout out!
The summer work on the building and grounds is almost done! Over July and August we got our entire building and roof re-painted, new skylights installed in the Sanctuary, the water retention pond foliage cut back and cattails removed, and ground bark spread through the garden beds around the building. We hope that you appreciate the increased visibility of the sky, clouds, and rain through the clear skylights and the cleanliness and beauty (not to mention the improved weather resistance!) of the newly refreshed walls and roof. A special thanks to Brian Walsh, Jerald Dodson, Kent Canny and Joe Joy for cleaning out the upper swale that leads to the pond and Brian Walsh and Joe Joy for cleaning out two water catch basins to keep OUUC environmentally compliant for another year. If you would like to help to maintain our buildings and grounds whenever you are able, please reach out to Ian Stephan (officemanager@ouuc.org) or Don Melnick through Realm to be added to the team's email.
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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.
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Water Communion and Ingathering
Sun Sept 7, 9 am & 10:45 am
OUUC
We’ll gather on September 7 to begin another congregational program year together! School begins, the rain begins, the church year begins.
Our spiritual theme for September is “Building Belonging.” As we welcome a new year, we welcome each other and open our doors wide for everyone.
As has been the tradition at OUUC and many UU congregations, we mark our in-gathering with a water communion; we mingle water from our summer activities, and we build community once more.
If you plan to attend in person, remember to bring water from someplace meaningful for you, which might be your home or backyard. We’ll also have water available to symbolize your water.
If you plan to attend on-line or are unable to attend at all, you can drop a sample of your water off at OUUC. I’ve placed a box outside the front door for that purpose. We’ll collect it and add it to the communal bowl on Sunday.
If you attend online, you can also have some water available that you can pour as you share its significance in the chat.
Services are onsite only at 9 am and onsite or online at 10:45 am. We hope to see you on September 7!
Rev. Mary
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Community Dinner: End of Summer
Thu Sept 4, 5:30 pm
OUUC
All are welcome for food and fellowship at 5:30pm at our weekly community dinner on Thursdays. This week's menu theme is "End of Summer". If you can volunteer to help cook starting at 3:30pm or set up tables at 4:30pm, or to clean up after at 7:30pm, please email Rev Sara at dcfd@ouuc.org
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Parent Group
Thu Sept 4, 6:30 pm
OUUC
All who are parenting (in any way) are welcome to join the OUUC Parent Group on the 1st Thursday of each month at 6:30pm. We meet in person and on zoom. Email Rev. Sara at dcfd@ouuc.org to get the zoom link.
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Blessing of the Backpacks
Sun Sept 7, 9 am & 10:45 am
OUUC
In the worship service on September 7th, we will have our annual Blessing of the Backpacks. If you are a student of any kind, please bring your backpack, briefcase, or bookbag to be blessed.
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Quick Faith in Actions for the week of September 1st
Put your faith into action! Check out these quick impactful actions you can take from home to make change in our community, updated every week.
Click here to get started!
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Nia Dance
Tue Sept 9, 9:00am
OUUC
Sense. Notice. Mindful. Movement. Power. Barefoot. Just a handful of words to describe the dance that is Nia. We’re bringing Nia to the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation this fall. OUUC is sponsoring the class and I’ll be teaching.
Join us! Every Tuesday from 9-10 a.m. starting September 9th. Cost: Donation
Bring a yoga mat, water bottle, wear comfortable workout clothing and be prepared to take off your shoes.
Get in. Be moved. Be you.
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Soul Matters registration open now
Soul Matters Groups meet monthly to explore our spiritual theme of the month through deep discussion and listening. We have one drop in group that is open to anyone, and closed groups with the same people meeting together each month. Register now for the closed group facilitated by Claudia McNeill on 3rd Wednesday of each month, 1-2:30pm Register here
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OUUC Picnic
Sat Sept 13, 12 pm
Squaxin Park, Rose Garden
Join us for the OUUC Picnic at the Rose Garden shelter at Squaxin Park. It's a potluck (no peanuts please) and the 2nd Annual Zucchini Bread competition will return! Bring your best bread treat made with those late summer squashes for a chance to win a prize. Parking is limited, so carpooling is encouraged. What else to bring: reusable plates and cups, maybe a table cloth, lawn chairs, serving utensils, a card with the ingredients of your dish. Questions? Contact Rev Sara
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Love at the Center Discussion Group
Wed Sept 10, 7:00pm
Online
All are welcome to join us for a discussion group around the book “Love at the Center”
UUs regularly re-examine our covenant and values, we do this work to live into the Unitarian Universalism of the future. Following Article II's adoption, it is clear that the value most describe as central to their faith, to their living, and to the mission of their congregations is love itself. Our pressing task now is to ask how this understanding calls us forward, individually and collectively.
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.
Monthly meetings will discuss 3 essays each session.
Click Here to Register
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OUUC Book Group
Thu Sept 11, 6:30pm
OUUC
The group will be meeting on the 2nd Thursday at OUUC at 6:30 (following the community dinner) beginning in September (skipping December). The meeting will also be multiplatform on zoom.
Our first book will be The Ravaged Forest by Sandra Crowell which tells the story of Helen Mitchell Sanders of the Chehalis tribe and her fight for justice for Native Americans who had been cheated out of receiving the full value of their forest land from the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
The author will be meeting with us in September to answer any questions you have.
Please share any book recommendations you have for October or November with Frances Tanaka.
Copies of The Ravaged Forest will be available to borrow or for purchase for $20, contact Frances to get a copy.
Click Here to Register
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Transitions: Finding Meaning & Spirit in Aging
Wed Sept 24, 3:00pm
Online
Where do we find meaning as we age? How does what matters to us change, and how does it remain the same? What is the spirit, the life-force that keeps us active and dynamic, that sustains and renews us?
This class will focus on these questions we face as we age. Each of us approaches aging as individual beings and may feel alone; yet we share the condition with everyone – our peers, those who came before us and those yet to come. In this way, we are profoundly connected.
The class format is based on that suggested by Bruce Marshall in his book, In Later Years: Finding Meaning and Spirit in Aging.
Led by Rev. Carol McKinley, Affiliated Community Minister
Via Zoom on Rev. Carol’s account.
Wednesday Sep 24 – Friday Dec 12, 2025, 3-4:30pm Register Here
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Worthy Now: A Harm Reduction program for UU Youth
Sun Sept 28, 1:30 pm
OUUC
Youth will explore the concept of harm reduction as it relates to a variety of possible harms (substance use, mental health needs, violence prevention, and more) and increase their skills around harm reduction and decision making. Register here
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Lessons of Loss
for ages 5-10
Thurs Sept 25, 6:30 pm
OUUC
In this 8 week class children will explore the important subject of death. Lessons will explore how change and loss are part of life, that death is bodies stopping working, that grief and hurt are normal and OK, how important it is to find ways to say goodbye well and to remember the lost, and what sources of resiliency and healing are. This class tackles a big tough topic in an age appropriate way, and is appropriate for children who have experienced loss and for those who have not done so yet.
Suggested Donation of $50-$100.
Register here
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Death Cafe
Mon Oct 6, 4:30 pm
OUUC
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. Death Cafes are intended to be discussion groups rather than grief support/counseling. For more information contact Jenée Wolfram
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22nd annual Books, Brownies & Beans Used Book Sale
Friday and Saturday, October 24th and 25th 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
OUUC
The Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation is preparing for its 22nd annual Books 📚 Brownies 🤎 & Beans ☕ (BBB) used book sale. Several thousand books are being collected and sorted.
The book sale will be both Friday and Saturday, October 24th and 25th. Friday is books only while Saturday will feature the book sale, brownies and beverages and musical 🎵🎶 entertainment.
Our goal is to raise funds for our three partner recipients - Community Youth Services, The Pink Haven Coalition and The Washington Coalition for Police Accountability - as well as to share our love for reading and learning, and to create an opportunity to make community connections.
Book 📚 donations can be dropped off at OUUC, 2306 East End Street or in the boxes located in various places around town. If you have books to donate but cannot get them to the church, please email Pam Davidson to arrange a pickup. Book donations will be accepted through mid-October.
If you do bring book donations to the church, please take them to classroom 4 and put them in the rectangle on the floor marked with tape (please don't leave them in the Commons, hallway or in staff offices). Thank you!
Please help spread the word about the sale and join us! Every Sunday morning there will be one or two people in The Commons between services to sign up volunteers and answer questions about the book sale.
Please mark your calendars: October 24 and 25, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
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Help Wanted for Gregory Robinson's Celebration of Life
Fri Sept 26, 6:00 pm
OUUC
On Friday, Sept 26th, from 7-9 pm, we will celebrate the life of Gregory Robinson with stories, wine, and music. We are expecting about 100 people to fill The Commons, so lots of volunteers are needed. Set-up will start at 6 pm. Food should be delivered to the kitchen by 6:30 pm. Karmel has requested gluten-free cookies using recipes from http://www.glutenfreepalate.com. Gregory’s favorite cookies were snickerdoodles, chocolate chunk, and ginger. Clean-up will start at approximately 9 pm. See below for the link to sign up to help. Contact Melanie Ransom with questions.
Sign up here to volunteer
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Books, Brownies & Beans Entertainment
Do you have a talent that you would like to show off in a low-key non-threatening environment? Do you sing, play a musical instrument, write poetry, tell funny jokes? We are looking for OUUC members and friends who would like to perform at the Books, Brownies & Beans sale on Saturday October 25 between 10 AM and 4 PM. Soloists and small combos are encouraged. Lots of time to prepare something if you want to. We anticipate having time slots ranging from ten to thirty minutes, depending on what you want to do and how much time you need to do it. We are just starting to put together a roster of interested participants and will try to accommodate everyone who is interested. Will be finalizing a roster and schedule around the end of September or beginning of October.
If you are interested, please email Karl Johnson. Let them know what you plan to do, how much time you want, your preferred time of day, and how to reach you.
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OUUC Book Nook
Book Nook, OUUC's new online used book store for all Olympia-area shoppers is now open 24/7 365 days a year! Shop/pay online and pick up in Olympia! All proceeds will be lovingly passed on to the Thurston County Food Bank, where our support is needed to keep the shelves stocked and the lights on! New items are added to Book Nook frequently, as community book donations are received. Visit Book Nook often for great reading, viewing, gift ideas, AND help feed families!
Shop Now Here
Learn More Here
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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!
Click Here to order your shirt
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Fellowship of Reconciliation Vigil for Peace
Fri Sept 5, 4:30
4th & Water Street, downtown Olympia
The Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice invites you to show your support for Palestine at the Fellowship of Reconciliation Vigil for Peace every Friday from 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm at Percival Landing 4th & Water Street, Downtown Olympia
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The Woodlands: A Virtual Pastoral Care Program For Trans People Of All Ages
Sun Sept 7
Online
The Woodlands is a new monthly virtual pastoral care program for trans people and their families, launching September 7, 2025. Open to all ages, each gathering includes a shared grounding ritual, identity-affirming breakout rooms, and a closing reflection. With spaces for trans adults, youth, and caregivers, The Woodlands offers a sacred, supportive environment to process grief, share joy, and build resilient community. Sessions are chaplain-led and will take place on the first Sunday of each month through May 2026. Learn more here
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UU Ministry for Earth Common Read
Thurs Sept 11
Online
The UU Ministry for Earth 2025-26 Common Read begins in September! We will be reading "What if We Get it Right?" by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson. We can't wait to look toward an imaginative future for climate justice with you!
We will be sending general reminders in our monthly newsletter and opportunities to connect with each other as we read along.
Sign up here to join the Common Read group email list.
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Fort Worden Camping Trip
Sep 22 - 25
Fort Worden Historical State Park
Let's go camping! Make connections in the congregation by sharing our love of nature, engaging in meaningful conversations, walking the trails and sitting around the campfire. Bring your tent, car, or RV- all are welcome! Sometimes we even rent cabins or yurts. Hike, bike, play board games, roast marshmallows, engage in other outdoor activities, or just hang-out. Join us on our next trip to Fort Worden on September 22nd. Sites are limited, so make your reservations soon! Contact Rich Kalman for more information,
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Sunday Worship:
9:00 am (in-person only)
10:45 am (in-person and online)
Office Hours:
Tuesdays 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Thursdays 10:00 am - 4:00 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
Isaac Ezra Jennings,
Finance Manager
FinanceManager@ouuc.org
Ian Stephan,
Office and Facilities Manager
OfficeManager@ouuc.org | ext. 103
Chloe Meyer,
Member Engagement Specialist
MemberEngagement@ouuc.org | ext. 104
Marie Arensmeyer,
Sexton
Sexton@ouuc.org | ext. 105
Victoria Ridgway,
Office Assistant
Office@ouuc.org | ext. 100
Anissa Bentlemsani,
Religious Education Assistant
REassistant@ouuc.org
Teresa Madsen,
Tech Coordinator
TechCoordinator@ouuc.org | ext. 106
Carbon Marshall,
Tech Specialist
TechSpecialist@ouuc.org
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