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Worship on Sunday, September 18 will be in-person at 10:00 am, as well as live-streamed at this YouTube link. We will conclude our Summer worship series: Faces of Our Faith with the story of Lydia. Pastor Alexa will preach on Acts 16:11-15, 40, and Angi Swan will lead the music. 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 Angi's wonderful medley of the traditional hymn "Blest Be the Tie That Binds" and the contemporary "Blessed Be the Tie" on Sunday, enjoy this beautiful recording of the original artist for the second piece, Sara Groves.
Click on the picture -->
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Happenings At & Around First Olympia | |
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Celebration of Ministries:
Get Connected!
It's all happening this Sunday! Join us after worship at the Celebration of Ministries! We have over 20 active ministries in our church and new ways to be the church together this fall. Everyone will have the opportunity to sign up for an Affinity Group and get connected to others who share a mutual interest. You can also get your picture taken at the photo booth station! See you there!
For our siblings in Christ worshiping at home, the affinity group signup, connection bingo and information about all of the ways to connect in person and online will be available at fumcoly.org on September 18. Or get ahead and click here for our affinity group interest form.
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First Olympia Women In Action
Please join us on Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 6:30 p.m. in the Gathering Place to plan activities for this next year. FOWIA is a First Olympia group that focuses their time on service projects that support the mission and work of the church. Our activities are a time for fellowship, social time and service.
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Quixote Event!
Quixote Communities, an organization our church has supported and partnered with for many years, is having a celebration and fundraising event downtown on September 17th from 6:30-9:30 pm at Hands on Children's Museum (414 Jefferson St NE)
If you're interested in going, get your tickets at this link:
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Update from the Refugee Support Team
It’s been 3 ½ years since we began working with the Congolese family at the request of Lutheran Community Services, since the family was really struggling living isolated in a small apartment in Kent. They are becoming more independent, but slowly.
Janet has been taking English classes right along and can converse in simple sentences and manage at work. Adrianna, the other mother, is enjoying her community gardens. Imani moved to Albuquerque with her boyfriend and his family. She is pregnant and due in December with a girl. Zawadi is studying at SPSCC. Priscilla is a junior at Capital High School. Neremia, also a junior, is in Running Start at SPSCC and active in soccer. Samuel is starting middle school at Marshall and Sifa is in 5th grade at McLane. Janet, Zawadi and Priscilla work at the McDonald’s near their apartment.
They all started attending the Baptist Church on Delphi during Covid, and they are happy there. They really enjoy Olympia and all the support they are receiving. Thanks to all of you who have been drivers, tutors, helping us with banking and soccer and dentists and doctors, etc.
We need to decide if and when we are ready to help another family, since the need is great.
Becca Brandt 360-701-0253
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Our Current Worship Series:
Faces of our Faith
Each week in worship through September 18 we'll be discovering some lesser-known but still important people in the Bible. To support your spiritual growth, we are also offering three ways to go deeper: a study journal for personal use (contact Angelina for a PDF or print version), a pre-worship self-led prayer station from 9:30 to 10:00 in the Gathering Place, and a post-service group devotional practice with prayer and arts & crafts related to the day's message, also in the Gathering Place. We look forward to sharing art and spiritual growth with you this summer.
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Health Ministry: Caregiving
Are you a caregiver or would like information about caregiving? If you are interested, please
join us for an evening featuring Kaleigh Bernal “Community Relations Director” at Olympics
West in Tumwater. Kaleigh will speak about:
· Life and routines at Olympics West.
· Senior living and what options are best for
you and your family
· Caregivers and families.
· Providing care when lives transition.
So, join us in the Gathering Place on September 20, 2022 from 5:30 - 7:00 PM
If you have questions, please contact Jeanne Kirkpatrick: (360) 359-0031 or jeannek2@comcast.net
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Hymnals for Home
Do you worship via our livestream each week? Do you miss holding a hymnal so you can follow along? Do you find yourself humming your favorite hymn, but can't remember the words to the second verse? We have a hymnal for you!
The library has a number of United Methodist Hymnals that can be checked out for use at home. Stop at the library table during our Celebration of Ministries on September 18, or contact the church office to check one out. If you need it delivered to your home, let us know.
"Sing praises to the Lord, O you faithful ones, and give thanks to God's holy name" (Psalm 30: 4).
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Welcome New Staff!
Welcome to our new hires:
Facilities Administrative Assistant Calla Hansen, Office Administrator Susan Killingsworth, and Custodian Chris Huffman! It is wonderful to have you all on board, and we look forward to meeting you and getting to know you over the next few months.
So if you see Calla, Susan, or Chris in the halls on Sunday or around the office, be sure to say hello and give them all a warm welcome from First Olympia!
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Fall UWIF Bazaar
The United Women In Faith (formerly the UMW -- United Methodist Women) Fall Bazaar is coming up soon! ALL MEN and WOMEN are invited to participate and be a part of a wonderful opportunity to raise funds for mission projects. We hope to have an on-line sale and one in Great Hall and adjoining rooms. Our 1st hybrid meeting will be Wednesday,
September 7th on Zoom/in the Gathering Place. We need help with the Christmas wreaths, gift baskets, plates of cookies, breads, candy and other food items, along with wonderful hand-made items. We also will need cashiers, booth organizers, etc.
Please let Carol Gruen (360-352-9703) or Donna Gaddy (360-858-7725) know how you would like to be involved.
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Ringing Out the Good News!
The Jeffords Memorial Handbell Choir of Olympia First United Methodist Church (Whew! “Bell Choir” for short) rehearses weekly on Wednesday evenings from 5:30 - 6:30, and are scheduled to ring for worship service on the third Sunday of each month from September through June.
We also welcome new members! Prior ringing experience is helpful but not required. Director Leah Wilson adds, "Whether you’d like more information, or you want to visit a rehearsal, or you’re ready to jump in right now, I want to hear from you! Give me a “ring” (or text) at 360-491-8508, or email me at lwilson372@aol.com."
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Calling All Singers!
The Chancel Choir is back, and they would love to have you join them! This group sings traditional and blended styles of choral music, and they sing twice a month, on the second and fourth Sundays at our 10 am service. If you have ever sung in a choir, you know the social and spiritual benefits you gain through singing together -- choir is a true family!
Please come join us at our next rehearsal Thursday, September 15th, at 6:45 pm in Room 223 (Choir Room). If you have any questions, call Cathy Bennett, director, at 360-470-8909. "Sing to the Lord a new song!"
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Join the Women’s Book Club!
Our Women’s Book Club starts up again in September, and all women who love to read and discuss a variety of books are invited to attend! We meet the 2nd Friday of each month, from 10 to 11:30 am in a hybrid setting – you can attend in person in the Gathering Place, or online on Zoom. To see our book list for this year, click here.
Contact Cathy Bennett if you have any questions: choirwriter@comcast.net; 360-470-8909.
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Michael Needs Our Help
Michael, our OPOP releasing friend, recently had all of his clothing and personal items stolen from his car. This has been a huge setback for Michael on his road to re-entry.
He asks for prayers for this situation as well as continued prayers for housing.
If you'd like to donate to help Michael with this recent setback, you can select "One Parish One Prisoner (OPOP) - Help Michael" from the dropdown menu on the
giving portal on our website.
If you would like to help Michael with used clothes donations his sizes are: Pants: 32/32; T-shirts - XL; Sweatshirts - XL-2X (he likes them on the larger side); Belt - Medium
Thank you for your on-going prayers and support of Michael!
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Fall Festival is Coming!
We are so excited to be back for in-person Fall Festival & Trunk'N'Treat this autumn! On Saturday October 29 we'll welcome hundreds of children and their families into our building where they can enjoy games, crafts and fun, and we will get to create community with our neighbors! There are lots of ways to get involved:
Before the event: donate candy or prizes (ex: stickers, balloons, playdoh), invite your neighbors, help with setup on the day of the event.
Saturday October 29, 1-4pm: decorate your car's trunk & hand out candy or prizes, lead a game or a craft (supplies provided).
After the event: volunteer at the Kids Church Party on 10/30, 1-2pm to welcome Fall Festival attendees back into the building for fun and faith!
Sign up here to volunteer for any of the Fall Festival opportunities!
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September-October Upper Rooms
The September-October 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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Morning Prayer Team
For prayer opportunities with your church friends, join the Morning Prayer team, Monday-Saturday at 9:00am. Call or email the church office for the Zoom link or phone connection.
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Want an Article in the Courier?
Hi folks! This is your friendly neighborhood Multimedia Coordinator, Lauren speaking... writing? You know what I mean.
With all the transitions our office has gone through this summer, it might be a little confusing as to who you should send articles to if you want them included in this newsletter... But fear not, for the process is as simple as just emailing them to me directly at multimedia@fumcoly.org. If you send all articles to me by TUESDAY, I will ensure they make it into the next Thursday's Courier.
So, feel free to let our community know what's going on — because we certainly look forward to hearing from you!
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Member of First Olympia, Sandi Irwin, passed away on 9/3/22. Her daughter, Debra McBride shared this: "Thank you so much for all of the cards that were sent. Linda and I read them to her, and she really seemed to enjoy them." Her family will have a private memorial service in Tacoma. | |
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We Remember...
We remember Sandi Irwin, who passed away September 3rd.
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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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