Are you interested in kayaking with the South Sound Co-op? The next opportunity to spend time with members of the other churches in the community is on Sat, July 18th at Owen Teach in Tacoma. All trips will begin at 9am. This location has rentals available and are typically about $30.

Contact Deb Williams (dijit65@gmail.com) to RSVP.

This month, we’ll be screening Dance Me Outside (1994).

Described on it’s DVD box art as “Bill And Ted on the reservation,” Dance Me Outside (1994) is a teen buddy comedy with a tragic twist. Silas and his best friend Frank are applying for Mechanics school in the city… but first they need to write an essay about their lives on a First Nations reserve in Canada. Silas’s story gets more and more complicated when his sister brings home her white husband, an old friend returns from prison, and a peer is murdered after a community dance. Through a series of short vignettes, we see the boys react to their community’s outrage when the legal systems fails them.

We'll be showing the movie upstairs at First Olympia UMC in The Redwood Room THIS Sunday, July 19th @12:30pm. There will be a light lunch provided before/during the screening.

The discussion will be held the next day Monday, July 20th at 7pm in a hybrid-style. This means you’re welcome to join us in-person at First Olympia UMC or on our normal Zoom link. However you’d prefer to connect, we hope to have you there!

If you're interested in either the screening and/or the discussion, please RSVP here:
https://fumcoly.breezechms.com/form/ARFCDanceOutside.

If you purchased Baseball tickets for the July 19th game, they will be available for pickup this Sunday July 12 after worship at the church office. If you did not purchase tickets, but would like to attend, we have a few extra tickets available. Contact Kristin at ministrysupport@fumcoly.org for more info.

The baseball game will be @1:30pm on Sun, July 19th at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma. Please let Miss Bea know if you plan to sing the national anthem with our kids choir.

Join Interfaith Works for a screening of the film Fish War on Thursday, July 9th @6:30pm. The screening will be held at The United Churches of Olympia (110 11th Ave SE, Olympia, WA 98501). Stay after the screening for a special Q&A with Hanford McCloud—a traditional fisherman and cultural leader from the Nisqually Indian Tribe.

When the state of Washington started arresting Indigenous tribal fishers, it was a declaration of war. Scores of legal battles culminated in a landmark Supreme Court case that was meant to put an end to the violent Fish Wars. Fifty years later, the fight for salmon continues.  

Camp Indianola is looking for one more male volunteer to be a cabin/small group leader for their Elementary Camp session from August 3-7.

If you or anyone you know might be interested, please reach out to Pastor Alexa (pastoralexa@fumcoly.org) and she’ll get you connected to the Camp Director at Indianola.

The Thurston Count Food Bank is asking for paper, plastic, or cloth grocery bags (preferably with handles) for client shopping. If you have any extra to donate, please place them in the Food Bank box at the top of the staircase down to the Great Hall on Sunday.

It has been an honor to serve as your Church Council Chair for the past 3 years.
Over that time your council has led many projects and ministries serving God, each other, and our wider community. I am grateful for their leadership and have been blessed to grow spiritually alongside them.

On July 5, we will have a Leader Appreciation and Blessing during worship to thank the following lay people who have given their time and talents in a Church Council role this past year:

Dave Foyle, Vice Chair
Sue Raymond, Co-Lay Leader
Toni Miklich, Co-Lay Leader
Marcy LaViollette, Lay Member to Annual Conference Position 1
Jim Odiorne, Lay Member to Annual Conference Position 2
Brina Garrett, Lay Member to Annual Conference Position 3
Jim Larson, Trustees Chair
Myra Barker, Staff Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) Chair
Eric Murphy, Co-Finance Chair
Larry Sugarbaker, Co-Finance Chair
Donna Gaddy, United Women in Faith (UWIF) President
Bob Adams, Endowment Chair
Judy Mason, Interfaith Works Program Council Representative
Erica Parsons, Accessibility Team Co-Lead
Brittany Hocutt, Accessibility Team Co-Lead


I also have deep appreciation for the dedicated staff members who serve on your Church Council in the following roles.

Rev. Heather  Sparkman, Pastor
Rev. Alexa Eisenbarth, Associate Pastor
Daryl Yager, Church Treasurer
Cathy Bennett, Financial Secretary
Bea Gilleland, Director of Children's Ministry
Kari Simmons, Youth Ministry Leader

As I end my term as your Church Council Chair, I encourage you to find a role serving this congregation. Where might you increase your impact on our community?

I have been blessed to serve on several committees over the past 20 years from Children’s Ministries to Trustees to SPRC. Where might you serve this coming year? Share your areas of interest with the pastors or ask them where’s the greatest need. As you ponder the possibilities, join me on Sunday and throughout the week giving thanks for these beloved leaders among us.

Come join us at the Capital City Pride festival!

On Saturday, 6/27 from 10am-6pm, First Olympia will have a booth at Percival Landing/Port of Olympia. Find us on the boardwalk (near Water St or the restaurant: Row).

And, if your boots are made for walking, we're marching in the Pride Parade on Sunday June 28th at 10am! You're invited! We are still holding a service so 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 the front office (fumco@fumcoly.org) asap to let us know you're coming.

On June 21-22, eighteen Texas 4000 bicycle riders came through Olympia on their epic, 10-week journey from Austin to Anchorage in an effort to raise funds and awareness towards cancer research.

This hosting-collaboration with the congregation of St. Johns | San Juan Episcopal Church has been a blessing beyond measure. Heartfelt gratitude to all involved: the host families, potluck providers & attendees; clean-up crew, the FUMCO staff, and most importantly the riders themselves. What an inspiration!

Keep them in your prayers as they continue their journey to Anchorage, arriving on July 24.

To continue supporting this journey, you can donate directly to Texas4000 right here: https://www.texas4000.org/donate/

Are you interested in kayaking with the South Sound Co-op? The next opportunity to spend time with members of the other churches in the community is on Sat, June 20th. All trips will begin at 9am on a Saturday morning. This location has rentals available and are typically about $30.

Contact Deb Williams (dijit65@gmail.com) to RSVP.

In just over a week, nineteen Texas 4000 bicycle riders will be coming through Olympia on their epic, 10-week journey from Austin to Anchorage. On Sunday, June 21, we at FUMCO in collaboration with St. John | San Juan Episcopal will host the riders for a potluck dinner, brief program, and overnight home stays in support of their fundraising for cancer research, awareness and support.

Fun updates & more:

• Riders began their journey from Austin on May 16 and will arrive in Anchorage on July 24!
• Riders will cross over into Oregon this week
• We have finalized our host families! Thank you!
• Consider coming & contributing to the potluck on 6/21 at 6pm.
  • Please sign up here to bring something delicious (or help with clean up)

Please reach out to Peggy with any questions about Texas 4000: pegrule@comcast.net

Return your green bags THIS Sunday, June 7th when you arrive at worship!

The Food Bank is getting ready for the summer lunch program so is asking for 10 inch flour tortillas and Sun butter in particular. The Other Bank is also in need of Deodorant.  

Questions? Reach out to Toni (tonimik@comcast.net).

Please plan to join United Women in Faith  for lunch on Wednesday, June 10., in the Great Hall. Gathering on Wednesday begins at 11:30, with lunch at noon. An informal program will explore solutions for "too much stuff" with the Rummage Sale still months away (on the first Friday and Saturday of March, 2027, to be precise).

"Taste the Rainbow" is the theme for June, Pride Month.  Those who wish are welcome to bring a salad or dessert, otherwise the suggested donation is $3 for lunch. This is UWiF"s last lunch meeting of the program year, although a BBQ is planned in August and Craft-y Ladies will continue to gather.  For questions or further information please contact Donna Gaddy at donnagaddy210@gmail.com.

Volunteers are needed for the Paddle Nisqually Medicine Creek Potlatch on July 31-August 6, 2026. The Nisqually Tribe is hosting this event that will bring thousands of people to the Thurston County area. Volunteers are needed for: Medical, Security, Kitchen, Food Prep, Parking, Green Team, and More.

To volunteer visit their website here. For more information, please contact: Sommer Sanchez or Betty Pacheo at (360)456-5221

On a related note, if you were planning to help with gift-making in preparation for the event, the Billy Frank Jr. Gymnasium, where the Nisqually Tribe was originally hosting gift-making sessions for the Canoe Journey, is being renovated after a major water leak. They will be resuming a gift making schedule at two new locations (the Longhouse in Dupont and at Ranch Lake) starting next week. More information about the exact addresses and how to find these locations will be posted then.

Come join us at the Capital City Pride festival!

On Saturday, 6/27 from 10am-6pm, First Olympia will have a booth at Percival Landing/Port of Olympia. Stop by to say hello or fill out the form below to sign up as a volunteer at the booth for 1-2 hours. We'd love to see you there!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0D4EA8A82EAA8-64214235-pride#/

And, if your boots are made for walking, we're marching in the Pride Parade on Sunday June 28th at 10am! You're invited! We are still holding a service so 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 the front office (fumco@fumcoly.org) asap to let us know you're coming.

The South Sound Co-Op wants to take YOU out to the ballgame this Summer!

The Tacoma Rainiers are playing on Sunday, July 19th at 1:30pm, 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). The peanuts and crackerjacks you'll have to buy yourselves! The deadline to reserve your ticket is June 7th.

You can buy your tickets in the church office (on Sundays or during normal office hours) or by filling out this online form: https://fumcoly.breezechms.com/form/Rainiers2026.

Each year, FUMCO has a tradition of celebrating the graduates in our Congregation around this time of year. On Sunday, June 7th, we’ll take time during worship to recognize the names of all those finishing high school, college, and beyond!

If you have someone in your life you’d like recognized, please send a photo and the following information to Lauren (multimedia@fumcoly.org) as soon as possible: The graduate’s name, school, degree, and, if they’re continuing their education, where they’re headed next!

And, for elementary milestones, please email Lauren the names of your children who’ve completed Pre-school, Kindergarten, and 5th grade this month. We’ll recognize them too!

This Sunday, we’re excited to host the ENTIRE South Sound Cooperative in our sanctuary for a collaborative Pentecost worship service. And as hosts, it is our job to help make our neighbors feel comfortable in our space. Here’s a few things you can do!

• Madison Elementary has agreed to let us use their parking lot for overflow parking this week. So, if you can, please consider parking across the street in the school lot to clear up some more room in the normal FUMCO spots.
• Wear your nametag! Hopefully we’ll all be meeting a few new friends this week.
• When you sit down in the sanctuary, scoot as far as you can towards the center of your pew. It’ll be a tighter fit this week to squeeze everyone in. And remember that we also have additional seating upstairs in the balcony. Use either stairwell in the back of the sanctuary.

Thank you for helping us make FUMCO a more welcoming place!

The last gathering of our spring Compassionate Meditation series will be at Temple Beth Hatfiloh on Tuesday evening, May 26th from 7:15 - 8:30pm.

Host location: Temple Beth Hatfiloh, 201 8th Ave SE, Olympia, WA 98501. You can find more information about this series on the IW website at https://www.interfaith-works.org/events.

Please save the evening of Thursday, June 11 for supper and a presentation from Missionary to Nepal Katherine Parker right here at First Olympia UMC.

All are welcome to share a meal and hear of Ms. Parker's many years serving the church in Nepal. United Women in Faith will provide the meal, and a love offering will be taken to support Katherine's ministry. More details coming soon!

Many people think that the classes offered through Lay Servant Ministries (LSM) are just for people seeking certification as Lay Servant, Lay Speakers, or Certified Lay Ministers. This, however, is not true. Lay Servant Ministry classes are open to anyone seeking to deepen their faith journey to become committed disciples of Jesus. In addition to LSM classes offered through our GNW Conferences, a variety of classes are available online through BeADisciple.com.

Dr. Shawna Beese, a member of Spokane Valley United Methodist Church shares how one of her BeADisciple classes has given her hope during these challenging times. You can read her article: “Hope In Uncertain Times,” on the GNW News website.

The Olympia Marathon is THIS weekend, so here’s your friendly reminder to give yourself some extra time to get to church on Sunday, 5/17. Eastside St, State St, and 4th Ave will all be heavily impacted by the event. Runners are estimated to start hitting Eastside Street around 8 am with the heaviest crowds arriving between 9 – 11 am. (times are best estimates).

We ask drivers to be patient as the city tries to safely get them through between runners.

This month, we’ll be screening Minari (2020).

When Jacob Yi uproots his young family from California to the middle-of-no-where Arkansas, not everyone is excited about it. As first and second generation Korean immigrants, the Yi family struggles to make this new place a real home. Minari is an intergenerational exploration of one family's immigrant experience in America. It weighs the needs of each family member against one another in a delicate balance of culture, assimilation, and the hard work it takes to "plant seeds" in hostile soil.  

Click here to watch a full trailer.

We'll be showing the movie upstairs at First Olympia UMC in The Redwood Room THIS Sunday, May 17th @12:30pm. There will be a light lunch provided before/during the screening.

The discussion will be held the next day Monday, May 18th at 7pm in a hybrid-style. This means you’re welcome to join us in-person at First Olympia UMC or on our normal Zoom link. However you’d prefer to connect, we hope to have you there!

If you're interested in either the screening and/or the discussion, please RSVP here:
https://fumcoly.breezechms.com/form/ARFCMinari.

As part of our healing in recognition of our colonizing ancestors failure to honor the 1854 Medicine Creek Treaty that stole the land on which we live from the Salish Sea indigenous people Interfaith Works seeks to support our local tribes in reclaiming their culture.

You are invited to help our Nisqually Tribe neighbors make 2000 to 3000 gifts for the pullers (canoe paddlers) and guests who come from as far away as Tahola and Nanaimo for this year’s Canoe Journey which the Nisqually are hosting. All are welcome and the supplies needed for sewing, jewelry and basket making will be provided. Just show up at the Billy Frank Jr. Gym (down the road past the tall building across the street from their casino in Yelm).

• Monday, Tuesday & Wednesdays 10am-3pm & 5pm-7pm.
• Thursdays 10am-3pm & 4pm-6pm Song and Dance at the Youth Center.
• Fridays 4pm-6pm Drum Circle at the Youth Center.
  
  

Our friends in the South Sound Cooperative, over at St Andrews, are gathering on May 19 and May 26 to help make gifts. If you’re interested in joining the group, meet at St. Andrew's UMC (540 School St SE, Lacey, WA 98503) at 9:30 to carpool or meet us directly at the Billy Frank Jr. Gym.

And please consider volunteering for the event itself! With an estimated 2,000–3,000 people attending at peak viewing, the volunteer needs are vast. Organizers are requesting volunteers across many roles, including prep cooks, security, parking attendants, elder support, first-aid/medical volunteers, transportation/shuttle drivers, vendor support, and general day-of helpers. You can volunteer for a day, a few hours, or the entire week—any amount of time is helpful!

Sign up here: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/54f6cc07912f4782a3aa80223f5bb888?portalUrl=https://nit.maps.arcgis.com

We have seen an increase in phishing emails being sent out impersonating Pastor Heather. Often, these emails start by asking for some kind of urgent favor. If you reply, the email author will eventually ask for money or gift cards. When receiving an email from First Olympia UMC, always double check the address. Our emails always come from an @fumcoly address.  

Please verify any request like this with a staff member BEFORE sending money or purchasing gift cards. We will NEVER approach you for monetary donations in this manner. No request from a staff member will ever be so urgent that it can't wait for a personal verification (phone call, in-person conversation, etc...) Please let us know if you’re experiencing these scams.