OUUC Weekly Update
June 25, 2024
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who submitted a card or gift to Rev. Mary during her June 16 send off ritual. Pictured here are but a few of the cards submitted by OUUC members and friends. Many more came in on the final day and Rosie received more cards by mail afterward. Rest assured, all cards have made their way to Rev. Mary's possession. For more information about our Ministerial Sabbatical, visit our kiosk in the Commons, our webpage here or email us.
OlyWA Pride!
Saturday, June 28, 9 am
Sunday June 29, 11 am
OUUC is going to have a booth for Pride and to march in the Pride Parade this year. Rev Sara is organizing this effort, but needs help.
Please sign up here.
Article II is approved at General Assembly
"This was the first time that I have attended the UU General Assembly. I would highly recommend this experience to others, either on Zoom or in person in Baltimore in June of 2025. I learned a lot about our Faith. Many talented people participated to bring us this GA. The speakers were diverse, and they showed much compassion and desire to actively care about others. The presentations were rich in ideas, music and poetry, and most of the speakers' comments were constructive, respectful and articulate.
When participants expressed pain after discussions of difficult issues in the amendments, actions of immediate witness or responsive resolutions, the co-moderators and the Care Team expressed apologies and set up special online help groups for people to attend if they needed support and comfort.
I am pleased that the proposed changes to Article 2 of the Bylaws were adopted this year, so that now we can focus on putting our values centered in love into action as the new flower symbol represents."
Pat McLachlan
Registration for Kids Summer Camps
OUUC Chalice Camp “Building a New Way” for ages 5-10
July 15th to 19th, 9 am-3 pm. Register here.
Our Whole Lives (OWL) Camp for Ages 5-7
July 8th to 12th, 9 am-noon each day. OWL is a developmentally appropriate and much praised sexuality education program. Register here.
Camps are open to all, with a pay what you can sliding scale, feel free to spread the word!
Seeking Facilitators for Soul Matters Groups next church year
Bicycle Commuter Contest report from Environmental Action Team
Congratulations to the 13 riders who joined the OUUCyclists Team for the May Bicycle Challenge sponsored by Intercity Transit. The riders were: Darlene Sarkela, John Cox, Ann Kolbry, Josie Solseng, Susan Southwick, Joe Joy, Wim Verhoef, Joyce Biethan, John Eliasson, Maggie Post, J. Kelly, Frank Turner and Rev. Sara Lewis!
Together they rode 110 days and covered 1167 miles in May, keeping hundreds of pounds of CO2 out of the atmosphere had they driven in a car.
We hope you can join us next May - get healthy, help the planet, and maybe get some prizes for your efforts!
Election Year Guidance for Congregations
Like all congregations, OUUC is tax-exempt according to the IRS. This designation has freedoms and limitations. One limitation is especially important during this election year. OUUC cannot "participate in or intervene in (including the publishing and distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.” A violation of this may cause OUUC to lose its tax-exempt status.
What we can do is articulate our values and encourage voting. Unitarian Universalism calls us to support our shared values inside and outside of our walls. For more information, check out this guidance from the UCC denomination.
Thanks for helping OUUC be values-based in the political arena.