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The Weekly Courier
May 2, 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, May 5, will be
in-person at 10am, as well as live-streamed at this YouTube Link.
This week we will continue our Easter worship series "Rise Up!" where we're learning about the "big deal" concepts of the Christian Faith. This week, Pastor Heather will preach on the theme of Judgment in Acts 17: 22-31 and Connie will lead our music.
Due to some recently reported COVID-19 cases in our congregation, First Olympia is currently in a "YELLOW" COVID protocol for our mask policy. This means that we strongly suggest masking, but will still respect everyone's individual choice.
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 Connie lead our Song Team in singing "Goodness of God," check out this beautiful live recording from Light Church in Encinitas, CA and featuring Chris Quilala.
Click on the picture -->
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This Week's Calls to Action!
- RSVP for our Anti-Racist Film Club discussion tonight, 5/2
- Consider signing up to bring food to Spring Affinity Nights
- Learn more about how to protect yourself against internet scams
- Donate to the Thurston Hunger Walk to support our local food bank
For more information about all of these events and opportunities, read on below...
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How to Avoid Internet Scammers! | |
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As we experienced recently, online hacking is becoming more common. Churches are often the targets of these scams. If you ever get any contact that seems fishy from anyone at the church, please reach out. We welcome questions! And know that we will never ask for secret or surprise donations. Here are a few tips to keep in mind living in the digital age.
- Most scams will create a feeling of urgency and/or secrecy. They will say that it's important to act immediately. Or to keep it secret or a surprise.
- Don't click on pop ups. Often scams will create a sense of urgency and fear with a pop up warning.
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Don't click on links from an email unless you are very sure of the validity of the link. Make sure that the link goes to the right website. If you are at all suspicious, go to a search engine (like google.com) and search for the web page instead of following a link in an email.
- Similar to the previous tip, only open attachments from people you know and only if you were expecting them.
And finally, of you ever have any questions, please reach out to any of us here at the church. We are glad to answer questions, we are here to help.
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Happenings At & Around First Olympia | |
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Anti-Racist Film Club
Hi folks, join us for ARFC discussion TONIGHT, 5/2 @7pm over Zoom. We'll be talking about the Pixar film Turning Red (2022).
Turning Red (2022) is the story of a Chinese-Canadian girl named Meilin Lee who suddenly learns that all the women in her family lineage have the power to turn into giant red pandas at the onset of adolescence. This bewildering discovery throws her family dynamic into chaos as she and her mother clash over what to do about her new powers (and the generational trauma they carry). Click this link to watch a full trailer.
This is an animated PG film suitable for all ages.
If you're interested in discussing this film, please RSVP here:
https://fumcoly.breezechms.com/form/ade986522658977362469063793562.
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And, if you can't make it tonight but are interested in future ARFC events, our regular schedule is CHANGING! Starting in June, we'll be meeting monthly on second Mondays (instead of our previous first Thursday times) @7pm over Zoom. Our screenings will be held the Sunday immediately beforehand.
We hope that this change will allow more folks from all the co-op churches to attend screenings and discussions at a more convenient time (especially our choir folks). In addition, Anti-Racist Film Club is NOT taking a Summer hiatus this year, so we hope to see you next month to watch/discuss the film Bend It Like Beckham (2002).
Our June Schedule looks like this:
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Sunday, 6/9 @12:30pm - Bend It Like Beckham (2002) screening at FUMCO
- Monday, 6/10 @ 7:00PM - Zoom film discussion
Hope to see you there!
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Spring Affinity Nights
Affinity Nights have started back up at First Olympia! Join us on Wednesday evenings from 6-8pm for a free potluck dinner and chance to explore the many opportunities for fun and fellowship in our community. This round of Affinity nights will run until 6/5.
Activities this week (5/8):
A Spiritual Gifts Assessment, Swing Dancing (a beginners lesson), Painting the Tumwater UMC Mural, Kids Minute to Win It Games, Youth activities.
Affinity Nights requires helping hands to run! Please consider signing up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0D4EA8A82EAA8-48893279-affinity to help
set-up/clean-up, bring a main dish, or provide a side dish. Any help is appreciated!
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Support the Thurston Hunger Walk
The Thurston Hunger Walk benefits both the Community Kitchen and Thurston County Food Bank.
Here is the link for info about the May 5th, 2024 event and how to donate: https://app.99pledges.com/fund/hunger. Funds raised from this event will be split between the Food bank and Community Kitchen services.
FUMCO supplies the evening meal for the Catholic Community Services supported Community Kitchen at the Salvation Army every second Wednesday of the month.
Please give as the spirit moves you. And if you're interested in walking, please reach out to the church office ASAP (fumco@fumcoly.org). We will try our best to get you connected with other interested walkers.
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United Women in Faith Celebration
Join with United Women in Faith on May 8th at 11:30 a.m. for fellowship and a luncheon for the success we had with our 2023 Bazaar and our 2024 Rummage Sale.
Come and see who were able to support with our Mission Giving Funds from these events. RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED. There will be a sign up in the narthex starting on April 14th or you can email Carol Gruen at gruencl1941@gmail.com and sign up that way.
If you would like to find out how you can help with these fund-raising events that benefit those who need extra help, please join us on May 8th. There were over 60 individuals who gave of their talent, time and support to help United Women in Faith be successful.
And, on Monday, May 6th @9am, the UWIF Timely Topics Fellowship Group invites you to visit Iceland, Land of Frost and Fire, a slide presentation by Carla and Diana Hanson of their road trip around the island. No reservations are required for this event.
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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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Come Join a Choir
Our Common Ground Choir meets on Thursdays @6:45pm in the Gathering Place.
The Jeffords Memorial Handbell Choir meets on Wednesdays @5:30 in the Choir Room. Please come join us!
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Want a Health Check?
The Health Team will do blood pressure checks every first Sunday after worship. Stop by for this important wellness check!
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General Conference Update
A Message from Pastor Kellen at Tumwater UMC:
Today is a historic day for the United Methodist Church. 50 years ago, in 1972, the United Methodist Church added language to its governing document that restricted LGBTQ+ individuals from becoming clergy, and from being married by United Methodist clergy and in their churches. This language excluded some of God's beloved community from fully participating in the United Methodist Church or from feeling fully welcome here. This being said, many churches defied our governing documents and did the brave work of accepting all people regardless of their identity.
Today, at General Conference (which is the global gathering of the church) they removed a handful of those harmful clauses from the Book of Discipline. It's the first step in many towards a more inclusive church. With these steps at the General Conference, we are becoming a wider tent. It allows churches with different cultures to do what is best for their spaces while keeping Methodists together for our vital ministries around the world.
I rejoice after decades of hearing about fighting and arguments at General Conference that this new change passed with 92% approval and without discussion. Not only did we overwhelmingly take this step, but we did so without having to debate (a first in 50 years on this topic).
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Life of the Church
Do you like to play chess? Come a little early to church each Sunday (about 9:30am) to face off against one of our awesome kids. Last week, Pastor Heather suffered a mighty loss, but they both had a great deal of fun anyway!
And last night at Affinity Nights, our young adult group had a blast putting together a jigsaw puzzle and chatting after dinner. Join us next Wednesday for a beginner's swing dancing lesson (all ages welcome and encouraged!)
You can find more photos from these event (and many more) on our Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/FUMCOLY.
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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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