OUUC Weekly Update

Thursday, October 10

5:30 pm

This week's community dinner is a celebration of Superfoods. All are welcome for food and fellowship. Contact Rev. Sara if you could volunteer starting at 3:30 with cooking and set up. Following dinner this week we will have the Kids class "Heart Talk", the Buddhist group, Youth Group (starts this week at 5:45), and Dances of Universal Peace.

Sunday, October 13

11:30 am

Do you enjoy handwriting notes? Come handwrite postcards designed to increase turnout in states with voter suppression.

As a part of UU the Vote’s work with Reclaim Our Vote, this is one way to faithfully protect democracy together. Hope to see you!

Sunday, October 13

11:30 am

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.

This is the last day to get your photo taken.

Saturday, October 12

10 am

Our spiritual theme for October is the Practice of Deep Listening. This 2 hour mini-retreat will explore this theme through a variety of spiritual and creative practices, such as visio divina, taize, meditation, and more. Led by Rev. Sara Lewis.

Register here.

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.

Friday, October 11

12 pm, on Zoom, no cost to attend. Register here.

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)

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.

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.

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.

Wild Grief is a local nonprofit that many OUUC members have volunteered with or participated in, and now you can help them receive grant funding from BECU.

Wild Grief has been selected as a finalist in the BECU People’s Choice Award, and has a decent chance of winning $40,000! This money would be a game-changer for our sweet little grassroots organization. It would help us get a leg up into our next growth phase. 🌲

Cast your vote with this link.
Voters do not have to be BECU members and can live anywhere!
All voters must be 18. Voting ends October 11th.

Saturday, October 26

6-9 pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church

Join us for a transformative screening of “Disturbing the Peace.” This documentary tells the story of Combatants for Peace, an organization of former soldiers from both sides of the conflict within Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Follow their journey of laying down arms, meeting each other, and committing to nonviolently working together for a just, peaceful, and equitable future for all.

Space is limited and registration required. Read more and register here.

The Share the Plate application process is open now through the October 31st deadline. Online applications are available here. While we have emailed approximately 40 non-profit organizations that have applied in the past and are eligible for 2025, there are always other organizations doing meaningful work that OUUC members may be aware of and can direct to the website and application.

Thanks for your help in getting a broader and more diverse applicant pool.

Bob Brennand

Share the Plate Committee

This year Halloween falls on a Thursday, so we will have a Halloween Thursday dinner and party!

Rev. Sara could use some party helpers: folks to decorate, organize a game or activity, or help make the dinner food extra spooky fun. If you would like to plan a party, contact her.

What Other Volunteer Jobs Do We Have?

We have a new page on the OUUC website for simple volunteer opportunities. Do you know of a great simple volunteer role that should be listed there? Let Rev. Sara know.

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.

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.