OUUC Weekly Update
October 1, 2024
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.
Community Dinner: It's Pretty Grate!
Thursday, October 3
5:30 pm
All are welcome for food and fellowship. It's also our celebration of October birthdays, so if you have an October birthday please join us to celebrate with cake and song.
Contact Rev. Sara if you could volunteer starting at 3:30 with cooking and set up.
Following dinner this week we will have Parent group, the Kids class, "Heart Talk", the Buddhist group, and the New UU Class.
New UU Class
Starting Thursday, 10/3
Sessions are all on Thursdays from 6:30-7:30 pm
This class is for everyone interested in becoming a member of OUUC or simply interested in learning more about OUUC.
We encourage you to attend as many of the sessions in person as possible, but if you cannot make a session we have online resources to review content similar to what we will explore in that class. Find those resources here.
10/3 UU History, Principles, and Sources
10/17 Campus Tour and Congregational History
DRUMM Vigil for Gaza
Still Here: A UU Vigil for Gaza
Sunday, October 6
8-9 pm Eastern, on Zoom
Join us for Still Here, a virtual vigil to honor the spiritual work toward ending violence. Through a litany of loss, of outrage and resistance, we are still here. We honor the ongoing struggle for justice following the Solidarity with Palestinians Action of Immediate Witness, advocating for a ceasefire, release of hostages, humanitarian aid, and an end to military funding of genocide in Palestine and the world. Our UU Vigils for Gaza, open to all, are part of a series that invites us to grieve, learn, and hold space for one another.
Read more and register here.
View our previous vigils here.
Roy Zimmerman Concert at OUUC
Saturday, October 5
7:30 pm
Sing. Laugh. Defend Democracy.
$25 or pay what you can
Get a New Photo Taken!
Sunday, October 6
11:30 am
2 Sundays left to get your picture taken after church and help us refresh our OUUC directory with fresh pictures! You'll get a digital copy of your picture too, a great chance to have a nice photo taken.
UU Disaster Relief Fund
Dear Unitarian Universalists and those who love us: The UUA Disaster Relief Fund is at its lowest balance, and now, in the wake of Hurricane Helene (and in anticipation of so many more devastating climate disasters), this relief is needed immediately and desperately by those who have lost homes, cars, belongings, livelihoods--and the families of those who have lost their lives. Please give as generously as you can to the UUA Disaster Relief Fund.
The photo gives you a QR code, url, and text number for easy donating. This website tells you more about the fund.
Death Cafe at OUUC
Monday, October 7
4:30 pm
Join us for our monthly Death Cafes at OUUC, supported through Pastoral Care & Adult Faith Development and facilitated by Jenee Wolfram, certified End of Life Doula. Death Cafes are not a grief support group but an informal, death positive, group-led space for conversations about all things death and dying. This is a drop-in program. All are welcome! Let’s normalize conversations around death and dying, bringing this long taboo topic out into the light. And, did I mention THERE WILL BE TEA & CAKE!?!
One Parish One Prisoner Team Forming at OUUC
Did you miss the forum a few weeks ago with One Parish One Prisoner? This is an inspiring relational program that matches a faith community with an incarcerated person to support that person's re-entry to the community. We have a team forming at OUUC now, but there is still room for 3-4 more folks to join if you are moved to do so. Talk to Rev. Sara for more details. The forum can be viewed here.
Dances of Universal Peace
Thursday, October 10
6:30 pm
Dances of Universal Peace is an embodied, transformative spiritual practice touching the essence of all traditions around the world. They include simple movements to live music. All are welcome, no experience necessary, dances are taught to the whole group each time. We hope you will come and lift your voice, your hands, and your spirit as we allow a variety of dances to work in our hearts as yeast works a loaf of bread. A cash donation will be collected for musicians.
Learning About the Impact of Indian Boarding Schools
Friday, October 11
12 pm, on Zoom, no cost to attend
We will be hearing from:
- Jewell James, Lummi Nation, Master Carver, Activist, Elder and boarding school survivor
- Theresa Sheldon, Tulalip Tribes, National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition and Tulalip Tribal Council
- Edward Washines, Yakama Nation, WA State Truth & Reconciliation Advisory Committee (WA Attorney General’s Office)
Register here.
Books Brownies & Beans
Friday and Saturday, October 25 and 26
9am-4pm
OUUC's 21st annual 2-day Books Brownies & Beans sale is just over 3 weeks away. We are closing in on being able to offer at least 10,000 books, but 12,000 books would be even better! We are accepting book donations until Tuesday, October 15th. Please check those dusty bookshelves and bring in your donations.
This book sale will have a category of "Featured Books" which would make excellent gifts so be sure to bring your gift list and load up on amazing book bargains for those gifts you will need in the future.
As always, our book sale benefits three local organizations and this year they are:
OlyEcosystems
Interfaith Works
ASHHO Cultural Community Center
These three organizations provide a plethora of good works for our community. Please help us raise more than ever in order to provide generous donations to each of these organizations.
Transgender Inclusion in Congregations Class
Wednesdays October 16, 23, and 30, November 13, 20, and 27
6:30 pm
Led by Rev Sara Lewis and Tiffany Felch
Over six sessions you will deeply explore the intersection of trans identity, spirituality, and faith community, and gain the grounding, context, and skills to transform yourself and your congregation.
Who should take this course?
This course is designed for people and groups within generally LGBTQ-welcoming congregations. It was developed with Unitarian Universalists in mind, but it is applicable to other faith communities and contexts as well.
Read more and register here.
From your Sabbatical Committee
As we enter the final month of our settled minister's sabbatical, we on the Sabbatical Committee are mindfully preparing for Rev. Mary’s return on Nov 1. We will welcome her back during the Nov 3rd worship service and will host a Thursday Community Dinner in her honor on Nov 7. Rev. Mary’s first Sunday in the pulpit will be Nov 10. More details to come as the time draws near.
This also means we are preparing to bid farewell to our Sabbatical Minister, the Rev Monica Jacobson-Tennesen, whose last Sunday with us will be Oct 27. This month, the Sabbatical Committee will be collecting cards for Rev. Monica. If you are so moved, please take the time to drop a note of thanks or reflection for Rev. Monica. We will have a basket and cards available in the Commons, or, you can mail or email a card or note. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to us at sabbatical@ouuc.org.
Legacy Giving at OUUC
Thank you to all those who attended the after-service presentation by the Legacy Giving Committee on Sunday, September 29. It was great to see the dedication to the long-term financial well-being of our church community.
Please respond to the survey linked in the email from Gail and Fritz Wrede you should have received last week. If you missed it, you can find it HERE.
And please consider including OUUC in your estate plan. You can find information about that on OUUC’s website HERE.
If you have any questions, please contact a member of the Legacy Giving Committee.
Eric Ness, Diana Finch, Pam Toal, Sally Alhadeff, Karmel Shields, Jeff Goltz
Saturday, October 12
2 pm
The family and friends of Lorrie Eaton will be welcomed for a Celebration of Life service, both onsite in the OUUC Sanctuary and on Zoom (link below). A reception will follow for those onsite.
Check this site for updates: the Order of Service will be posted before the service, and a link to the video recording will be embedded here shortly after.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81641837917?pwd=uxRzfzy2xPac0eEDpNzDISAsJkuHf7.1
Meeting ID: 816 4183 7917
Passcode: 445192