the OUUC spark

Presence is removing judgment, walls and masks
so as to create a true and deep connection with people or experiences.

~Amy Cuddy

In the past month, I’ve observed such presence in our community. In the listening circles after the election, people came to listen and speak and be together, sharing worries, fears, hopes. In after-service forums, people shared their grief, longing, dreams. I saw many of you listen deeply and bear witness to your own feelings and the feelings of others. You were present to and for each other; you saw each other and you allowed yourselves to be seen. Presence and deep connection, the heart of community.

In this month of many holidays and holy days, we will explore the spiritual practice of presence. In the busyness of the holiday season, how are you staying present to your own wellness? How are you staying present to the rhythm of the seasons as we move into the darkness? How are you responding to the call of the darkness to be still, rest, listen?

This month I invite you to turn your attention to presence: how you show up for yourself and others, and how others show up for you. Notice the presence of the holy in this time of celebration, whether it is in the candlelight of a menorah, the light of a Winter Solstice fire, or the candles on Christmas Eve as we sing Silent Night. There is presence all around us if we pause to notice.

Blessings on your week,

Rev. Mary

Minister@ouuc.org

P.S. — OUUC is expanding our presence by adding a second Sunday morning service starting January 12, 2025. Check out the next section for more info.

If you’ve been onsite in the OUUC sanctuary on Sunday morning lately, you know that we are wonderfully full and sometimes overflowing. This is a time when many are seeking a community where they can be welcomed, connected, and of service. What a delight that so many people find OUUC is that place!

To have ample space for everyone to join us on Sunday mornings, we will begin offering two Sunday morning services starting on January 12, 2025. Click here to view a video from Rev. Mary, explaining the information below. (NOTE: this video is also incorporated in the Tiny Little News Show farther down in this newsletter.)

This is the schedule:

9:00 am – 10:00 am Worship (onsite only)

10:00 am – 10:45 am Coffee and reflection onsite (Prelude for second service begins at 10:30)

10:45 am – 11:45 am Worship (online and onsite, Zoom, stream, & record)

11:45 am – 12:15 pm Coffee and reflection onsite and online

12:15 pm – 1:15 pm Practice together/Forum (onsite and online, Zoom, stream, & record)

First service attendees are encouraged to join the Forum via Zoom or return to OUUC.

1:00 pm – 4:30 pm Our Whole Lives (OWL) (Spring 2024 only)

This is an exciting time for OUUC! It was almost five years ago, on March 13, 2020, that the world shut down for Covid and we went to one service. Now, we’re ready to open our doors wide and live our mission to welcome. This schedule is an experiment that we’ll review in June 2025. Then, we’ll ask for feedback from everyone about how it is going. It will be an adjustment, so let’s give it a good trial.

To make this work, we’ll need to add to the many hands that help make Sunday morning happen. If you can help in the kitchen to offer coffee, beverages and snacks, please talk to a member of the kitchen crew or reach out to Rev. Sara. (This hospitality will be even more important after the second service and before the forum!) If you are able to welcome others as a greeter and usher, please contact Jen Sabel or Rev. Sara. There are two easy ways to support the technology of our services: One is online support on Zoom during the second service (can be done remotely!), and the other is the soundboard for either service. If you can help, contact Tech Coordinator Teresa Madsen. And, if you have other ideas on how you can help to make Sunday mornings even more welcoming, please reach out to Rev. Mary.

On November 19, the OUUC Board of Trustees approved adding funds to the current year budget to cover the cost of an additional service through June 30, 2025. Those costs are for additional honoraria for guest speakers, and additional childcare and tech staff for the second service. The cost of two services will be included in the stewardship and budget requests for the 2025-26 congregational year, which begins on July 1, 2025.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Rev. Mary and stay tuned for more information.

Our menu plan tonight will celebrate comfort foods, and we will also have cake and sing to all who have December birthdays. All are welcome for food and fellowship at 5:30 pm. If you can help cook, set up, or clean up please contact Rev. Sara at dcfd@ouuc.org

After-dinner (6:30 pm) options include: All Ages Holiday Films and Snowflake Making, New UU/Seeker's Class, Parent Group, Sit & Stitch, and UU Buddhist Sangha.

In this week's Tiny Little News Show, hear about upcoming changes to our Sunday schedule.

NOTE: if you've already watched the video from Rev. Mary about the increase to 2 services, you can skip ahead to 5:36 to watch the rest of the news about this week.

Website: https://www.ouuc.org

Email: office@ouuc.org

Location: 2306 East End St NW, Olympia, WA, USA
Phone: (360) 634-2005

Office Hours

Tuesday and Thursday, 12:00 – 4:00 pm

Sunday, during services

Staff Contacts

Rev. Mary Gear, Minister

Rev. Sara Lewis, Director of Community & Faith Development

Troy Fisher, Music Director

Isaac Jennings, Business Manager

Rosie Koppelman, Office Assistant

Teresa Madsen, Communications & Tech Coordinator

Marie Arensmeyer, Facilities Manager

Anissa Bentlemsani, Religious Education Assistant

Carbon Marshall, Tech Specialist