OUUC Weekly Update
May 7, 2024
The Sabbatical Committee is pleased to announce that the OUUC Board has hired Rev. Monica Jacobson-Tennessen as our half-time Sabbatical Minister, to serve during Rev. Mary's sabbatical.
Rev. Monica is delighted to join OUUC as the half-time sabbatical minister while Rev. Mary Gear is away. She has been serving as the consulting minister, focusing on offering support in the areas of governance and stewardship, along with preaching every other month. During Rev. Mary’s sabbatical, Rev. Monica will continue to work with the board, will lead worship once per month and otherwise generally support the Worship Arts Team, and will
provide support to OUUC’s staff.
Rev. Monica’s Unitarian Universalist roots are deeply entwined with Pacific Northwestern
UUism, spiced with experiences of UUism in other regions. She became a UU in the Corvallis, Oregon, congregation, and has interned, guest preached, and served in a variety of congregations in Oregon and Washington. Following her ordination, she served a 300-year-old congregation in Massachusetts for three years before returning to the northwest to serve part-time at Community UU Church in Pasco, Washington. Recently she offered sabbatical ministry for her home congregation in Corvallis during their minister’s time away.
Rev. Monica and her family lived in the Olympia area for two years, from 2021-2023, and
became connected with OUUC during that time. They relocated last year to the Vancouver,
Washington, area to raise their daughter near her grandparents but are still fond of Olympia
and OUUC and enjoy visiting.
On behalf of the OUUC Board, Sabbatical Committee and congregation, Welcome, Rev. Monica.
Watch Party for Public Worship of Diverse Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries (DRUUMM)
Wednesday May 8, 5 pm
Rev Sara will host this watch party of the annual public worship offered by DRUUMM.
Description of the service: Our worship is grounded in the theme of Choosing Joy! Living with Intentionality and Purpose. Be with us as we explore sustaining joy amidst adversity, inspired by Proverbs 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Discover how a joyful heart can be your sanctuary, even when spirits are tested. A celebration of resilience, purpose, and the healing power of joy.
Thursday Dinner: Polenta
Thursday May 9, 5:30 pm
For this week's community dinner the menu will be polenta.
Help is needed to cook at 3:30 and set up tables and chairs at 4:30, contact Rev. Sara at if you can help.
All Ages Game Night
Thursday May 9, 6:30-8 pm
All ages are invited to join us for board and card games, following our community night dinner.
Bring a game to share, or try out one someone else has brought.
Join the OUUCyclists Team for the Bicycle Commuter Challenge
Dances of Universal Peace
Thursday May 9, 6:30 pm
Please join us for Dances of Universal Peace, 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. A donation will be accepted at the event.
Active Hope Workshop
Saturday May 11, 9:30am-5:30 pm
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
1601 North St SE, Olympia WA 98501
Lynn Fitz Hugh and Carolyn Treadway facilitate this workshop on the work of Joanna Macy. For more information, contact Lynn Fitz-Hugh.
OlyWA Pride
Save the Dates for OlyWA Pride. OUUC will have a booth on Saturday June 29th and will march in the Pride Parade on Sunday June 30th.
Rev. Sara will need help staffing the booth and all are welcome to walk/roll together in the parade.
A sign up form will be coming soon, for now mark your calendars!
Equity Library is FOR EVERYONE and open whenever OUUC is open!
You will find it located in the RE wing across from Rev. Mary’s office.
This month’s featured books are:
- So You Want to talk about Race (by Ijeome Oluo) An actionable exploration of today’s racial landscape.
- Parent and teen level: I’m Growing! (By Aliki) In simple words and delightful pictures the author explains how we grow both inside and out.
- Preschool level: Peaceful Heroes (by Jonah Winter & Sean Addy) Fourteen people who risked their lives peacefully to make the world a better and peaceful place. (All levels)
Small Group Reflection Circle on BLUU Box
Saturday May 18, 1 pm
Come read together & reflect (on Zoom) on BLUU’s (Black Lives of UU's) expansive spiritual resources on the theme of Labor. If there’s time, we’ll make a collage bookmark/ notecard. If you can’t make it but would like to read the resources on your own, please let us know. Facilitated by Anne Hundley. Register here.
Volunteer Appreciation Game Show
Sunday May 19, 11:30 am
Everyone is invited to come celebrate and appreciate all that volunteers have done at OUUC this year, with a fun game show format hosted by Rev Sara. There will be prizes to be won! You can participate both in person and on zoom. Come to cheer others on even if you don't want to play yourself.
Registration Now Open for Kids Summer Camps:
OUUC Chalice Camp “Building a New Way” for ages 5-10 will be July 15th to 19th.
Our Whole Lives (OWL) Camp for Ages 5-7, July 8th to 12th, 9am-noon each day.
OWL is a developmentally appropriate and much praised sexuality education program.
Camp is open to all, with a pay what you can sliding scale, feel free to spread the word!
Saturday May 18, 2024
The family and friends of Ken Guza will be welcomed for a Celebration of Life service at 1:30 PM, both onsite in the OUUC Sanctuary and on Zoom (link below). A reception will follow for those onsite. Everyone attending in person is invited by Ken's wife, Diana, to wear their favorite hat to bring a bit of joy to the day.
Please check this site for updates – we’ll post the Order of Service before and a link to the YouTube video after the service.
Topic: Ken Guza Celebration of Life
Time: May 18, 2024 01:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 896 1662 6331
Passcode: 799846