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The Weekly Courier
June 13, 2024
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"We seek to connect people to God, each other, and the wider community and to welcome and affirm all people" | |
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Worship this Sunday, June 16, will be
in-person at 10am, as well as live-streamed at this YouTube Link.
This week we will continue our Summer worship series "Treasures in Clay Jars" where we'll be making sense of contradictions in order to understand ourselves as fully human and called to God's eternal work. This week, our director of Children's Ministry, Miss Brittney, will preach on 2 Corinthians 5: 6-17, Kim will lead our music, and the Jeffords Memorial Handbell Choir will bless us with an offertory.
Be sure to complete a Digital Connect Card each Sunday you attend online worship. You may also give online, using our online giving platform.
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Prepare Your Heart...
Before you hear Kim lead our Song Team in singing "All Things New," by David Leonard and Michael Weaver, check out this moving music video from the original band.
Click on the picture -->
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This Week's Calls to Action!
- RSVP for the First Olympia in-person Pilgrimage on Monday, June 17
- Come to a TUMC Softball game (games every Friday night this summer)
- Fill out our discipleship ministry survey
- Pick up your tickets for the Tacoma Rainiers game (deadline: June 23)
- Sign up to march with us in the Capitol City Pride Parade
For more information about all of these events and opportunities, read on below...
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Happenings At & Around First Olympia | |
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Get Ready for "Noisy" Offering
Have you heard about our children’s ministry, Kaleidoscope Kids?! We are growing!! As we continue to grow, expand and physically create more space in our church building for more children, we are in need of more toys and things for children to do when we have free time! That’s where you and your loose change come in!
Starting this Sunday, your loose change will be collected by our young disciples at the end of their time with Miss Brittney! We will be calling this our Noisy Offering!
Pastor Heather and Miss Brittany (and anyone else who wants to join) will be purchasing new toys for our nursery area and our new “Play and Pray” downstairs. So don’t forget to bring some loose change to church on Sunday!
We can’t wait to make a joyful noise with you during our noisy offering!
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Let's Spread Some Bark!
Have you noticed the bark in our parking lot looks a little sad?
In an effort to make our building more welcoming, we're inviting you to a re-barking work party this Saturday, June 15 from 10-2. Bring your own picnic lunch and join Trustees in investing in our home!
If you want to get involved, please contact Savannah (facilities@fumcoly.org) to sign up. Or sign up directly here: https://fumcoly.breezechms.com/form/d06221.
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Join Us In Neighborhood Pilgrimage!
In June, we are taking up the practice of pilgrimage, in order to become better, more connected neighbors in the places we worship! You are invited to walk the Co-Op with us!
The First Olympia pilgrimage (around the neighborhoods surrounding our church) will take place on Monday, June 17 @5:30pm. For more information (or to RSVP), please reach out to Pastor Alexa as soon as possible so we can ensure there is food for you!
Each pilgrimage will be different, focusing on different things. Additionally, the St. Andrews (Lacey) pilgrimage will be a driving pilgrimage, for those unable to walk very far. Each pilgrimage will be an hour (or less!) long, including stops at 'holy sites' in our neighborhoods. Then, we will gather after our pilgrimage to feast together, hear from a community liaison, and gather our observations.
Pastor Alexa is facilitating these pilgrimages as an invitation into a spiritual practice that she finds deeply transformational! The meals and other supports are funded by a grant from the Polaris Young Adult Leadership Network at Princeton Seminary. We hope you'll join us!
Sign up for In-Person Pilgrimages here: https://fumcoly.breezechms.com/form/3e1152.
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And everyone, whether or not you're joining the in-person pilgrimages, is invited to participate (and contribute their steps) to a virtual pilgrimage! Adding up all of our steps together over the course of June, so far we're over 300 miles into our goal of 1000!
Download the app here (you'll want to click this link on your smartphone):
https://www.mypacer.com/organizations/jx105994/invite.
If you do not have a smartphone, which will count your steps for you, or if you have trouble with the technology, please count your steps anyway (with a physical pedometer) and share them with the front office each Sunday! We will manually add your steps to the virtual pilgrimage. If you need a pedometer, we've purchased a few that will be available in the church office starting on Sunday.
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First Olympia at Pride
Come join us at the Capitol City Pride festival! On Saturday, 6/29 from 11am-4pm, First Olympia will have a booth at Percival Landing/Port of Olympia. So come by to say hello and learn how we're committed to creating a welcome space for everyone in our community. We'd love to see you there!
And the next day, this year's Pride Parade is on Sunday June 30th at 10am! We are still holding a service, but we have also signed up to walk in the parade! That means that you can choose to worship in the Sanctuary or on the parade route.
If you would like to march in the parade, please fill out this online waiver and email Savannah at facilities@fumcoly.org to let her know you're coming. We also have hard copies of the waiver in the front office.
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Rainiers Baseball Game Tickets
The South Sound Co-Op wants to take YOU out to the ballgame this Summer! The Tacoma Rainiers are playing against the Reno Aces on Sunday, July 21st at 1:35pm, and we'd love it if you joined in. A $15.50 ticket includes a reserved seat and a ballpark meal (hot dog & bottled water), while a $25.50 ticket includes your seat, ballpark meal, AND a limited edition Rainiers hat. Sorry, the peanuts and crackerjacks you'll have to buy yourselves!
Buy your tickets at the FUMCO front desk. Your LAST day to buy a ticket will be Sunday, June 23. Make sure to note how many seats you need to be handicap accessible, so the stadium can accommodate you. Play ball!
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Caregiver’s Support Group
This is a place where caregivers can be themselves, share experiences and insights and have the positive input of their peers. If you are a caregiver, consider coming to our group and meet other caregivers.
Our next meeting is on Tuesday, June 18 from 5:30-7pm.
Contact Jeanne Kirkpatrick for more info: Jeannek2@comcast.net or (360) 359-0031
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Help Build Refugee Welcome Kits
World Relief in Olympia is bringing refugee families to the Olympia/Lacey/Tumwater area. They provide Welcome Kits (kitchen, bed/bath, and cleaning) to the new refugees. First Olympia Women in Action (FOWIA) and First Olympia’s Refugee Committee are collecting new items to build these kits.
Please join us in making these kits by bringing specific items that will be listed on tags. You can learn more about this opportunity and pick up the tags with the needed items at a table in the Narthex. Please bring purchased items to the church by June 20th.
Contact: Mary Mahaffy (grettmaha@msn.com)
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May-June Upper Rooms
May-June issues of the Upper Room are ready for pick-up for $1.00!
You may get yours on a Sunday morning, before or after worship. Or swing by the church Monday-Thursday, 10am-2pm.
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Interested in Lay Ministry?
Are you interested in learning more about the United Methodist Church? Do you want to serve the church as a Lay Speaker or Lay Minister? Our Conference is offering training in September in Lay Servant Ministries. If you are interested, please come talk to Pastor Heather or Pastor Alexa and we can have a discernment conversation about your call!
This course will be offered over five two-hour sessions on Zoom on August 20 & 27, September 10, 17 & 24, 2024, from 6:30-8:30 pm PT.
| The “Introduction to Lay Servant Ministry: The BASIC Course” is the foundational course for Lay Servant Ministries. This is the gateway course for those who are called to be Certified Lay Servants, Lay Speakers, and Lay Ministers. And can also be part of a person’s discipleship plan to acquaint you with their gifts, calling, and responsibilities as followers of Christ. Click here for more information and to register today! | |
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Summer Breakfast Club: Call For Volunteers
FUMCO is hosting a Summer Breakfast Club for Madison School families! During the summer months families might not have access to resources that are provided during the schoolyear, so we are offering breakfast to these families in the Great Hall on Sunday mornings from 8:30-9:30am, June 23-August 25.
Kim Fuchs and Peggy Rule are co-facilitating the program, and they are looking for volunteers to help with set-up, serving, meal prep, and clean-up. Please visit their Sign-Up page for more details about how you can be part of an Anchor Team or a Crew Team this summer: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0F4FABA628A4F49-49824167-summer#/
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Interfaith Works Needs Interviewers
Are you curious about the past and what motivated people to do good works? Interfaith Works is looking for volunteers who would be willing to be trained to interview others in order to ascertain their in-depth stories.
Hearing from folks who were directly involved in what Interfaith Works has accomplished over the years will be a key part of the organization’s 50th Anniversary Party celebration on September 21, 2024 from 4:00 to 6:00pm at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd. If you would like to become an interviewer please contact IFW’ board member Mary Wharton at marywharton@mac.com.
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Anti-Racist Film Club Podcast
Miss last week's meeting? Check out the ARFC podcast! This month, Lauren sat down with Pastor Heather to discuss themes of intersectionality in Bend It LIke Beckham (2002), family dynamics, and multiculturalism in this film. Also a fair bit of soccer.
Listen and subscribe here: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/nLAAisCUbKb
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Fill Out Our Discipleship Survey
As this program year comes to a close, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks for your participation in the many discipleship offerings this year! We are proud of each person's growing love of God and neighbor, made visible in service, care, and devotion.
Please offer your feedback in reflection on the past year (since September 2023), and what we might offer in the future in the survey below:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfv_FFyWFqRleWne2qpDzuKPlEDUM3h7CRXVkoSkyaAcErMgw/viewform?usp=sf_link
Hard copies will also be available in a plastic display box next to the front office window.
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Life of the Church
Last Friday, the Tumwater United Methodist Softball team (filled with players from all around the co-op) had their first game of the season!
To support the awesome softball players in our community, come check out any of their Friday night games this Summer. Join us at the RAC in Lacey—and at Dairy Queen for some post-game revelry...
You can find more photos from these event (and many more) on our Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/FUMCOLY.
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We Remember...
A memorial service for Dana Garson will be held at First Olympia on Friday, June 21 @2pm. If you'd prefer to attend online, the service will be livestreamed to the First Olympia YouTube Channel at this link: https://youtube.com/live/_GIMRCmUezE.
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Our Welcoming Statement
First United Methodist Church of Olympia welcomes people of all ages, all abilities,
all sexual orientations and gender identities, all nationalities and ethnicities,
the poor and the rich, single people and the many forms of family.
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Contact us ...
by phone: 360-943-2661 by email: fumco@fumcoly.org
OFFICE HOURS: Sunday 9am-noon | Monday-Thursday 10am-2pm
The Weekly Courier editor: Lauren Fontanilla
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