06/04/2026
Flourishing Together
This is what my desk looked like on Saturday.
It was a riot of colorful things ready to tend to the people of OUUC.
When Rev. Sara saw this array, she noted that I had the lifespan of OUUC displayed across my desk:
❤️️ A baby quilt from the Sewing Ministry ready to be delivered to an expectant mom
❤️ Flowers for our three staff members graduating from college
❤️ Soft and warm throws for the Youth Room
❤️ A quilt from the Sewing Ministry for someone who is struggling and needs care
What a wonderful picture of the generations at OUUC and how we care for each other!
Our spiritual theme for the month of June is “Flourishing Together.”
One of the indicators of a flourishing congregation is a multigenerational community with a strong presence of children, youth, and families. This was one of four indicators identified by the Meet the Moment Wave Cohort for UUA’s Congregational Life Work in the Fall of 2025.
This is from the Executive Summary written by Rev. Dr. Megan L. Foley:
This study gathered insights from Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregational leaders, Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) staff, and external partners to understand what helps UU communities flourish—and what role the UUA can play in that flourishing.
Across all groups, people could easily imagine thriving communities.
Shared themes included:
• Vibrant energy and engagement—a sense of “buzz,” momentum, and ways for everyone to participate.
• A multigenerational community with a strong presence of children, youth, and families.
• Congregations as community hubs—active in justice, partnership, and public presence.
• Healthy relationships and clarity of mission—named more often by UUA staff, who see the need for these underlying dynamics daily.
Leaders long for joyful leadership, stability, and a congregational culture that feels connected, energized, and grounded in purpose.
I see that we are experiencing many of these themes of flourishing at OUUC!
Check out the whole Spark at the link here: https://conta.cc/4g6XAx4
Email from Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation June 4th, 2026 "Flourishing Together" Rev. Mary Gear This is what my desk looked like on Saturday. It was a riot of colorful things ready to ten