The Weekly Courier

October 24, 2024

"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, October 27, will be

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


This week is All Saints Sunday and we will continue our stewardship series "Cultivating a Future of Hope" where we hope to invite you into the planting and tending of the community garden that is our church through your time, service, gifts, presence, and witness. This week, Pastor Heather will preach on Mark 4: 26-29, Kim will lead our music, the CommonGround Choir will bless us with an anthem, and we'll remember the Saints in our community.



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 Kim lead our song team in singing "Open the Eyes of My Heart Lord" by Michael W. Smith, check out this massive live performance from the original artist for Worship Forever 2021.


Click on the picture --> 

This Week's Calls to Action!


  • Bring your family to Trunk or Treat this weekend (Saturday, 10/26)!
  • Consider watching a film hosted by our friends at Interfaith Works
  • Check out the book sale at the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation
  • Pick up your UWIF nuts and prepare for the holiday bazaar


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

Happenings At & Around First Olympia

Trunk or Treat is Here!


Trunk or Treat this year will be held THIS Saturday, Oct 26 from 6-9pm. There will be trucks, food trucks, bounce houses, costumes, games, and more!


This year, First Olympia is partnered with Madison Elementary School to host the biggest Trunk or Treat event in our church's history. Last fall, we estimated over 700 kids come through and we fully anticipate to welcome even more this year.


There's still time to donate candy! In particular, we're asking for peanut-free candy or other treats friendly for kids with allergies (eg. stickers, small toys, glowsticks, etc...) You can drop off candy at the front desk during normal office hours.


In addition, if you're interested in hosting a trunk yourself, please reach out to Brittney (brittney@fumcoly.org) as soon as possible. We'd love to have you out there!

Watch a Film With Interfaith Works


Interfaith Works and The Dispute Resolution Center Are Sponsoring A Viewing of the 2016 Documentary “Disturbing The Peace”


On Saturday October 26th 6:00 to 9:00pm at the Westminster Presbyterian Church Gymnasium Facilitated small group discussion will follow the film. This event seeks to awaken empathy as a catalyst for healing, encouraging participants to better understand the impacts of dehumanization (that occurs during war) and to explore strategies to “rehumanize” each other. To learn more and to register to attend go to: https://www.interfaith-works.org/events.html.


Note: participation is limited to 70 people. Child care will be provided.


If you want to see the film but can’t come on the 26th it is available on You Tube for free at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlKDWnudbIk.

Affinity Nights on Wednesdays


Wednesday Affinity Nights are pausing for Halloween!


We're taking one week off this Fall on Oct 30 so you all can prepare for and celebrate Halloween. Join us next week for more potluck dinners and activities in November.


Next week's Activities (11/6):

Anti-Racist Film Club screening, Mom FRIENDS, Board Games, Youth Devotions, Kaleidoscope Kids.


Hope to see you there!

Huge Used Book Sale


Join our friends at the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation for their used book sale.


On Friday & Saturday (Oct 25-26) from 9am-4pm, come browse through 1000s of gently used books to benefit local non-profits. There will also be coffee, homemade brownies, and live entertainment (Saturday only). Learn more at www.OUUC.org/books.


OUUC is located at 2306 East End St NW, Olympia WA 98502

Nov-Dec Upper Rooms


November-December 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!

Help Us Move In Celebrates 24th Anniversary


In October 2000, as a part of FUMCO’S “Discover the Joy” stewardship campaign we started a small program to demonstrate what the congregation could collectively do to help the homeless community. That program would eventually become Help Us Move In (HUMI), now a 501 (c) 3 charity. That first year we helped 37 children escape homelessness by raising $13,000. In 2016 we engaged the community to join us with their donations. Last year HUMI helped over 800 local children and their families obtain housing, bringing our total to 7,000 Thurston County children and their families escaping homelessness by raising more than $1,700,000, and providing homeless no more matching challenge grants to 6 local service providers.


HUMI’s unique matching model begins with a donation from members of the community. That is matched by HUMI and the total is then matched by donors to our local service providers. It all begins with community members and can provide funding to help 600 Thurston County Children to “Discover the Joy” of being homeless no more every year.


A $75 donation when matched by HUMI provides a home for one Thurston County child, a $150 donation provides a home for 2 children and a $300 donation provides a home for 4 children. You may make a donation to the church to be directed to HUMI or sent to Help Us Move In (2645 Chambers Lake Lane SE, Lacey 98503).

UWIF Nuts Are Here!


Pick up your nuts from the United Women in Faith!


If you enjoy our annual nuts sale, please check out our price list below and contact Carol Gruen (gruencl1941@gmail.com / 360-352-9703) or Ken Bago (360-491-5008) with your order as soon as possible.


Click here to read the 2023 nut price list. These prices will honored through October 31. Nuts orders will be filled until November 10 on a first come basis with the balance being sold at the Bazaar on November 23.


If you have ALREADY ordered your nuts, they have arrived. You can pick them up on Sunday mornings. New orders will be filled on a first come basis from what we have left.

Get Ready for the UWIF Bazaar


The Annual United Women in Faith Holiday Bazaar will be held at First Olympia on Saturday, November 23, 2024. Come shop from 9am - 3pm.


We have: baked goods, candy, cookies, handmade crafts, gift baskets, vintage items, Christmas gifts, quilted items, fresh nuts, Christmas wreaths, hand-knitted, and crocheted items. Sales from this bazaar support children, youth, and women through local and national nonprofit organizations. Questions? Email Carol Gruen (gruenc11941@gmail.com).


If you want to help, we still have a few needs: The snack bar would like muffins, scones, pies, big cookies and we needs lots of home-made cookies for our Cookie Walk. We also need candy, fudge, breads, cakes, snacks, help with set-up on Thursday and Friday from 9 am, help on bazaar day, crock pots of soup for staff for lunch, and help with the Sunday Sale with clean up after 12:30 pm on Sunday. If you can help out, please let Carol know or sign up on Sunday morning at our wonderful Bazaar table. 


Also! If you would like to purchase a pie from the Mennonite Community, they need to be pre-ordered by Nov 10, 2024. Reserve yours at the bazaar table in the Narthex.

Thank You For Your Coats!


Thank you for all your help with the coat drive for our refugee ministry team working with World Relief.


Because of your generosity, many newly arrived refugees to our community will receive warm coats, hats, and gloves. 

Life of the Church


Last Thursday, the FUMCO Gleaners helped harvest chard, carrots, cabbage and bouquet flowers at the Thurston County Food Bank's Calliope Farms in West Olympia. If you have any questions, please contact Rob Harper at rbh25comcast.net.


And on Saturday, our Friendship Hikers enjoyed their final trip of the year up at Lake Isabella State Park. once again it was a great group of folks who enjoyed some lovely fall weather and fun fellowship in the Shelton area. We look forward to starting up again in the spring of 2025. Happy Trails!

You can find more photos from these events (and many more) on our Facebook page: 

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

We Remember


Barbara Wisdom who passed away last month on September 4th.


Arvil Crase who passed away on Oct 11th. His memorial service will be held next Friday, Nov 1 at 11am. The service will also be livestreamed online here: https://youtube.com/live/Y4y16JqIkTs.

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!

Follow us on Instagram!

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