UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES:
First Friday  September 6, 6:30pm-8pm, at Whetstone Park by the lower playground. We had such a good time in the park over the summer we’re going to do it one last time. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and food for yourself, and we’ll bring outdoor games. In case of rain, we’ll move to Beach Hall, and the change of location will be put on Facebook page. Kelli McNeal, kelli@firstuucolumbus.org
Summer Sunday School  Children ages 5 to 12 are invited to join Jen Bojanowski, Summer Sunday School teacher, for a series of activities and cooperative games that highlight our interconnection. Classes take place at 10am, during the service. The Toddler Room will also be open.
First UU Bible course  Have you ever thought about how little you know about the history of the Bible, or why the Bible is so foundational to our western culture? Would you like to discuss the Bible with our evangelical friends? Would you like to examine the great stories of the Bible in a UU context? Does the Bible help us live in the world today? Does it argue against the existence of God? Who wrote it, anyway? Does it teach our UU principles and values? We’ll explore these and many other questions as we wind our way through the Old and New Testaments. The course starts on September 10. The class will meet in Room 7 on the second Tuesday of each month through next June, 7:30-9pm. Please join us. All are welcome. Contact facilitators:
Chas Williams, cwilli6711@gmail.com
Ron Payne, ronaldgenepayne@gmail.com
Tom Baillieul, tbaillieul@gmail.com
Labor Day Retreat at Camp Oty’Okwa in the stunning Hocking Hills. Great for everyone—families, singles, couples! Saturday, August 31 – Monday, September 2. Hikes, workshops, nature, group worship, music! Meals included. https://firstuucolumbus.org/labor-day-retreat/
Beth McCreary, beth3ms@gmail.com
First UU Bookstore Volunteers needed  Book lovers, if you can help sell books in Beach Hall one Sunday morning a month, please contact Will Whicker, swwhicker@gmail.com, 614-560-9975. Bookstore proceeds help the church, and volunteers get a 10% discount.
Support BREAD at the County Commissioners meeting for affordable housing. Tuesday, August 20, 9am. Park at at 8:15am at the BREAD office at 404 S. 3rd St.
Alice Rathburn, 614-563-0536
A memorial service for Tony Rice will be held on Sunday, August 25, at 2pm, at First UU. Tony was a long-time member and an active member of the choir. A reception will follow.
Kehilat Sukkat Shalom hosts Kirtan Rabbi for a weekend of vibrant music and learning, September 13-14, at First UU. Sukkat Shalom is affiliated with Jewish Renewal and Reconstructionist movements. This will be the community’s second annual event to open the gates to the Days of Awe (the Jewish holy days). Rabbi Jessica Shimberg serves as spiritual leader for the kehilah (community), which meets at First UU and other locations throughout Columbus. Information about Kirtan Rabbi can be found at kirtanrabbi.comand about Sukkat Shalom at sukkatshalomcolumbus.org.
Jodi Kushins, jodiekushins@gmail.com, 614-499-6176
Men’s Spirituality Meetings on themes tied to the lived experience of the men in the group.
– The Monday group meets every two weeks. Meetings are currently from 7-9pm at the church.
Brian Lohiser, 614-264-3276, lohiserb@gmail.com
– The Wednesday group meets every week. Meetings are currently held from 7-8:30pm at the church.
Dick Dawson, 614-563-4855, dickdawson@hotmail.com
Fall UU members’ art exhibit, Telling Our Stories  Email Deb with your interest, titles, and medium, by August 25. Two works allowed. Take-in: August 25, 11am-12pm. Leave work in the Lobby. Poets, email Deb your poems and she will print and post them. A reception will be held on Sunday, September 8, at 12:30pm.
Deb Baillieul, debbsyc@yahoo.com
Water Communion and Ingathering Service  Sunday, September 8, at the 9am (note the time change)and 11am services, in the Sanctuary. (We start having two Sunday services on this date.) Please bring water – a little bit will do. Be prepared to say what water represents in your life as we pour our waters into a common bowl. The water can be from your travels or from the kitchen tap.
First UU is first in our denomination to become a Fair Food Congregation, thanks to our members’ many years of generous financial support for the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and the Alliance for Fair Food, and for your enthusiastic and committed participation in the Fair Food Campaign. You can “Make All Food Fair Food” by joining the Fair Food Sustainer Program for less than a quarter a day, at https://makeallfoodfairfood.funraise.org/
Feed My Sheep food pantry  This is Sundries Sunday month. Bring toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, bar soap, and shampoo. We need children’s books, diapers (child and adult), dog/cat food, feminine hygiene products, and peanut butter. Bring items to Beach Hall Sunday mornings.
Jacques Angelino, 614-439-0245
Immigration Assistance
– Solidarity with Immigrants table  Second and fourth Wednesdays of the month. We need volunteers to staff the table, and to bake cookies or make trail mix. Sign up at Signup Genius or contact Jan Phillips, jephillips4444@sbcglobal.net, 614-261-3234.
– We need gift cards from Kroger to support Edith Espinal. Lately, contributions of gift cards have decreased. Please bring cards to Jan Phillips at church on Sunday. Your help is very much appreciated.
– Cbus ITA Supplies and Volunteers: Thanks to all for your generous donations of supplies for asylum seekers. We now mainly need pre-packaged tuna or chicken salad, individual packages of nuts or trail mix, and individual packages of applesauce. For cash donations, go tohttps://uujo.wufoo.com/forms/mwylwzs0rmnka5/. More information is available on the Cbus ITA Facebook page.
Karen Thimmes, 614-457-0409
We return to two services at 9am (note the time change) and 11am on Sunday, September 8.
THIS WEEK’S EVENTS:
Monday, August 19
3:00pm Women’s Creative Circle
7:00pm Monday Men’s Spirituality
Tuesday, August 20
6:30pm Nominating Committee
7:00pm Book Bites; Zen Meditation
Wednesday, August 21
1:00pm UU Food Co-op
6:00pm Francophones Bavard(e)s
6:00pm Sacred Song Circle
7:00pm All-Ages YA Book Group; Finance Committee
Thursday, August 22
9:30am Improvisational Dance
6:30pm Housing in Retirement
7:00pm Expressive Collage; BREAD Team
Friday, August 23
11:00am Nia Class
Saturday, August 24
8:30am Zen Meditation
9:00am COA Orientation; Board Retreat
10:45am Hispanohablantes
Sunday, August 25
10:00am Worship Celebration
11:15am Getting to Know UU
2:00pm Memorial Service for Tony Rice