The Weekly Courier

March 6, 2025

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

Prepare Your Heart...

Before you hear Pastor Alexa sing "North" by Sleeping At Last this Sunday, check out this beautiful version from the song's original artist.

Click on the picture --> 

This Week's Calls to Action!

• Come shop at the UWIF Rummage Sale this weekend!
• RSVP for Sunday's ARFC Screening of The Six Triple Eight (2024) @12:30pm
• Bring a dish to Affinity Nights this Wednesday and enjoy some fellowship
• Read the letter on sanctified spaces from IFW

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

Great Rummage Sale Treasure Hunt

Finally! Slip on your shopping shoes and head to the Rummage and Estate sale this

week. Spilling out of the Great Hall and lower level classrooms – United Women in Faith

offers a plethora of delightful deals from 9am to 3pm Friday and 9am to 2pm on

Saturday. Name it and you can most likely find it here:

Clothing, tools, household goods, crafts, shoes, books, sports equipment, accessories, small appliances, cd's, holiday décor, jewelry, antiques and toys- whew! The list just goes on.

Please come support UWF as we raise funds for local non-profits, regional charities – and beyond! Questions may be directed to Donna Gaddy, donnagaddy210@gmail.com.

AND! Today is the last day to join us in sorting through the amazing donations to this year's UWF rummage sale and see if you can find the items that are:

Most Beautiful, Most Whimsical, Most Unique and, Most Useful

Just take a quick photo of the item you think fits best in each category while helping

with the Rummage Sale set up (March 2 through 6), send it to our judging team at

multimedia@fumcoly.org by 4pm Thursday, March 6. Please include the category you think your item best represents and contact info such as a phone number or email address. One entry per category please. Semi-valuable prizes will be awarded!

Anti-Racist Film Club This Week

Our March selection is The Six Triple Eight (2024).

Based on the true history of the 6888th Battalion of the Women's Army Corp, The Six Triple Eight (2024) tells the story of how the only all-black women's battalion to serve overseas in WWII managed the task of delivering horrendously backlogged mail to the entire US Army. We follow Major Charity Adams and a small group of new recruits as they fight a war "on two fronts" against the Nazis AND their own government to prove themselves as intelligent, capable soldiers. Watch a full trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Thq-SBtukg&ab_channel=Netflix.

This film is rated PG-13 for language. Parent discretion is advised.

We'll be showing the movie upstairs at First Olympia UMC in Room 222 this Sunday, 3/9 @12:30pm. There will be a light lunch provided before/during the screening. Our discussion will be held the next day on Monday, 3/10 @7pm over Zoom.

If you're interested in either of these events, please RSVP here: https://fumcoly.breezechms.com/form/ARFC6888.

Anti-Racist Film Club Podcast

Can't wait for the weekend? Check out this month's episode of the ARFC Podcast!

In this episode of the Anti-Racist Film Club Podcast, Lauren sits down with Pastor Heather from First Olympia UMC to discuss The Six Triple Eight, historical dramas, systematic racism, Major Charity Adams, intersectionality, and the heroism of these forgotten American soldiers. Listen and subscribe here: https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/ot9OwJ3ZuRb.

Affinity Nights Are Back

Wednesday Affinity Nights are back! 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 (3/5):

How to Crochet class, Bible Study, Clean Up Crew, Mom FRIENDS, Youth Group, Kaleidoscope Kids

UWIF Lunch and Learn

“Self Care” is the topic for Jeanne Kirkpatrick's program at United Women in Faith's March luncheon at 11:30am Wednesday, March 12 in the Great Hall. Lunch will be a comfort food buffet followed by birthday cake as we celebrate a new year of service!

UWIF meetings are open to all who welcome the opportunity for fellowship and service!

March-April Upper Rooms

March-April 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!

Easter Chocolate Eggs Fundraiser

It's time again for the UWIF Easter Egg Sale! Orders will be taken starting March 9 th until April 6th for your whole personalized Solid Fudge Easter Egg ($6.00) or half egg ($5.00).

Delivery date is Sunday, April 13th.

You can email Carol Gruen at gruencl1941@gmail.com or call 360-352- 9703 and leave your order on her phone but be sure to spell names and give color choice and size and your name and phone number. Or you can pick up an order form in the office, or on Sunday morning in the narthex.

Anyone interested in helping with this tasty fund raiser—call Carol Gruen at 352-9703 or you can e-mail your request to gruencl1941@gmail.com. All proceeds go for United Women In Faith mission projects.

A Message From Interfaith Works

Last week, Interfaith Works' Program Council voted to endorse a statement on the sanctity of our sacred spaces. They have created a letter for members of IFW-associated communities to sign. The letter begins:

"To whom it may concern: All of us—clergy and congregants, guides and those seeking guidance—have created sacred spaces for worship, prayer, meditation, and the practices that awaken, nurture, and sustain our spiritual lives. These spaces go by many names: church, temple, synagogue, mosque, zendo, monastery, meeting house, spiritual community, and more. For centuries, a hallmark of all but the most brutal societies has been the principle that sacred spaces—and those seeking refuge in them—must remain beyond the coercive presence of civil authorities. Even when not explicitly enshrined in law or regulation, this principle has been widely respected, except in the most dire emergencies where immediate threats to life and public safety exist"

You can read ithe full letter and choose to sign here:

https://www.interfaith-works.org/protect-sacred-spaces.html.

How We Learn To Be Brave

Each time there is an inauguration of a new president, the National Cathedral (Episcopalian Church in DC) holds an interfaith service that the incoming president attends.

This year was no different. The presiding bishop, Rev. Mariann Budde, proclaimed the gospel, and ended her sermon with a direct plea to Donald Trump to be merciful to LGBTQ+ people and migrant communities. In retribution, Bishop Budde was denigrated. Trump called her tone "nasty" and her request for mercy as "ungracious." Hate mail poured into the Episcopal office, and Bishop Budde found herself in the national spotlight, proclaiming her faith convictions with boldness. Many people wrote her letters in support, and many others purchased her book. We celebrate her bravery, and hope to learn from her courage in the days ahead.

Two copies of her book, "How We Learn to be Brave" are now in the church library for checkout! I hope you'll read it. — Pastor Alexa

Life of the Church

Our United Women in Faith have been HARD at work prepping for the Rummage Sale. So swing by this weekend to pick up some fun new items! Fri-Sat, 9am-3pm.

And last night, we held an Ash Wednesday service in our sanctuary for all-ages. It was a beautiful and symbolic "demo day" to begin to the upcoming season of Lent.

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

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

We Remember...

The memorial service for Margaret Neff will be held here at FUMCO on Saturday, 3/15 @pm or livestreamed to our YouTube Channel here: https://youtube.com/live/4SdaXPDPr8U?feature=share.

The family asks that everyone please wear bright colors.

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