The Weekly Courier

January 30, 2025

"We seek to connect people to God, each other, and the wider community and to welcome and affirm all people"

Sunday at First Olympia

Worship this Sunday, February 2, will be

in-person at 10am, as well as live-streamed at this YouTube Link.


This week, we will continue our new Epiphany series "Beloved and Gifted." Through this season, we hope to discover our own spiritual gifts and celebrate the gifts of others! This week, Pastor Heather will preach on 1 Corinthians 12: 12-31a & Luke 4:14-21, Connie will lead our music, and we'll all partake in Holy Communion together.


Be sure to complete a Digital Connect Card each Sunday you attend online worship. You may also give online, using our online giving platform.

Prepare Your Heart...


Before you hear Connie lead our Song Team in singing "The Servant Song" by Richard Gillard, check out this wonderful cover from Chris Brunelle.


Click on the picture --> 

This Week's Calls to Action!


  • Fill up your Green Bags and bring them back to church this Sunday, 2/2
  • Buy a ticket to our kids' Valentine's Day Dinner Fundraiser on Saturday 2/15
  • Write a short devotion for a new co-op Lenten project (instructions below)
  • Sign up to cook a meal for one of our FUMCO families


For more information about all of these events and opportunities, read on below...

Happenings At & Around First Olympia

Green Bag Sunday


Bring your Green bags back this Sunday, February 2!


Items for the bags are any nonperishable food and/or items for the children's Winter activity bags; peanut free snacks, small packs of sidewalk chalk (4-6 pieces) and 4 oz. bubble wands. Fill them up in the next few days and bring them to worship on Sunday!


Toni still needs one helper to transport the donations to the warehouse on Saturday, February 8th. Please let her know if you can help at tonimik@comcast.net.

Affinity Nights Return to FUMCO


Wednesday Affinity Nights are back! After a fun month over at Tumwater UMC, we are once again hosting Affinity Nights every Wednesday evening from 6-8pm. Dinner will be served at 6pm and we'll break into activities at 7pm.


Kaleidoscope Kids will also be running alongside Affinity Nights 

activities—providing food and fellowship options for all ages. Childcare is available for those who need it during dinner/activity time.


This week's Activities (2/5):

Spiritual Gifts Assessment, Food Prep w/ Pastor Alexa, Youth Group, Kaleidoscope Kids

Valentine's Day Dinner Fundraiser!


On Saturday, February 15th, come support our family ministry program with a special dinner event. From 5-9pm, enjoy a delicious pasta dinner, dessert, and sparkling cider with chocolates and flowers available for purchase at the door.


Reservations are required; seating for couples and groups are available. You can RSVP right here: https://fumcoly.breezechms.com/form/a3e742. Child care will be provided for those who need it. Ticket prices are $25 per person.

FOWIA Valentines Day Card Sale


Beautiful, handmade Valentines will be on sale in the Narthex on Sunday, Feb 2nd and Feb 9th. Valentines are $5 each or 5 for $20. We also have sale Valentines that are $3 each. 


All the funds raised from the sale go to Church World Service for the purchase of emergency blankets that are sent throughout the U.S. and the world. Please support this great cause!

Upcoming Interfaith Works Dates


Join Interfaith Works for their Winter Compassion Meditation Series events. Together, we'll spend time offering compassion to all who suffer. We'll be at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church (1515 Harrison Ave NW) from 7:15* - 8:30pm on the following dates:

  • Thursday, January 30, 2025
  • Thursday, February 27, 2025
  • Thursday, March 27, 2025

*please arrive at 7:15pm, meditations will begin at 7:30

This Compassion Meditation Series is currently offered to members of Interfaith Works affiliated communities and organizations. We are not yet open to the public.

Learn to Crochet!


Calling all crocheters and wannabe crocheters! On February 19th at Affinity Nights, we want to bring together folks who crochet with folks who want to learn to crochet. If you already crochet, bring a hook and your favorite leftover yarn and come help someone learn the basics.


If you want to learn to crochet, just come! We’ll have yarn and a hook for you. Our goal is to teach a new skill, have some fun, and plant seeds for continuing our Scarf Bombing Ministry. It’s easy, it’s fun, and it’s ministry. See you there!

Jan-Feb Upper Rooms


January-February issues of the Upper Room are ready for pick-up for $1.00!


You may get yours on a Sunday morning, before or after worship. Or swing by the church Monday-Thursday, 10am-2pm.

Come Join a Choir


Our Common Ground Choir meets on Thursdays @6:45pm in the Gathering Place.


And the Jeffords Memorial Handbell Choir 

meets on Wednesdays @5:30 in the Choir Room. Please come join us!

Want a Health Check?


The Health Team will do blood pressure checks every first Sunday after worship. Stop by each month for this important wellness check!

Help Us Write a Devotional


This year, we are putting together a book of devotions for the season of Lent. Lent is a season for reflection, repentance, renewal, and repair in preparation for the Easter season. As a tool for our reflection, and utilizing the gifts we have been given to nurture the body of Christ, we want to hear your voice, and your reflections on faith.


Pastor Alexa has a list of scriptures to choose from, or if you have a scripture passage that means a lot to you, that would be great too! Devotions should be 350-500 words, and include a short prayer at the end. Sharing your own stories of life and faith are always really appreciated, and bind us together more deeply. If you have any questions, or would like some support in writing a devotion, reach out to Pastor Alexa at pastoralexa@fumcoly.org

Help Support One of Our Families


Dani and Kyle Arvila will be welcoming a new baby in February! Baby Ria is due February 18th. Would you be willing to sign up to provide a meal.


Here is a link to their meal train: 

https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/56d2my.

Thank You For Your Pledges


Thank you! A huge thank you to everyone who turned in a Pledge Card for 2025! Our pledging is up this year which is a huge blessing and will help us fund our growing children's ministry, support of Madison School, education for students around the world, staff salaries, building maintenance, and more! None of this is possible without you!  


It is not too late to turn in a pledge card. You can follow the link below to fill it out electronically or stop by the church office to get a paper copy. Again, thank you!

https://fumcoly.breezechms.com/form/pledge2025.


Cathy Bennett, who processes all your payments, would also like to make one small request: If you give through checks, please write "Pledge 2025" in the memo line of your check. If you give online, go into your account and change your Fund to "Pledge 2025." She would be ever so grateful for that time-saving action! If you need help with this, just give her a call at church during office hours. Thank you!

Missing Any Jewelry?


Are you missing an earing? How about a favorite bracelet?


Check with the lost and found in the front office. Just describe it and we may have it! Stop by on a Sunday morning or during any normal office hours.

Do You Have the FUMCO App?


Did you even know our church has our own app... well, never fear! It's the easiest place to stay connected with our announcements and upcoming events. You can also listen to our pastors' sermons and give right from your phone.


Available on both Apple and Android phones, you can download the free app at this link:

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/first-umc-olympia/id1590363494.

Life of the Church


Our gleaners were back outdoors this weekend! Together, we helped to harvest 15 bins of cabbage and 5 bins of collard greens at the westside Food Bank Garden last Friday. Our next work day will be Thursday February 20. If you have questions, please contact Rob Harper at rbh25@comcast.net.


And last weekend, a group of volunteers headed up to Camp Indianola to help get the camp ready for Summer campers. We were a small but mighty crew getting this house painted so the director and his family can move in, creating more room for camp staff and volunteers in other buildings! Many of the buildings at this United Methodist Camp need serious repair. We were grateful for the opportunity to be a small part of the great work that they are doing!


You can find more photos from this event (and many more) on our Facebook page: 

https://www.facebook.com/FUMCOLY.

Our Welcoming Statement

First United Methodist Church of Olympia welcomes people of all ages, all abilities,

all sexual orientations and gender identities, all nationalities and ethnicities,

the poor and the rich, single people and the many forms of family.

See our Church Calendar.

Visit our webpage!

Watch our latest worship service

Read the latest Joys & Concerns

Like us on Facebook!

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Contact us ...

by phone: 360-943-2661 by email: fumco@fumcoly.org

OFFICE HOURS: Sunday 9am-noon | Monday-Thursday 10am-2pm

The Weekly Courier editor: Lauren Fontanilla