Friday News – November 29, 2024

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Happy Friday Wednesday!

Most of the leaves are off the trees, and there is a wintry chill in the air. Whether you are spending today with loved ones, doing some holiday shopping, or simply enjoying some delicious leftovers, I hope that you are well and getting the rest and respite you need. As a community we are blessed to share many opportunities to honor the sacred moments of both activity and pause in each others’ lives.

This Sunday I hope you will join us here in person for some stone soup! A good recipe may call for many ingredients, and part of what makes this community special is you. Some questions to ponder this week:

What might you need right now?

What do you have to offer to lift up your loved ones and your community?

As we move into winter, the season of resting and nesting, where might there be space for growth?

How do you spark hope during the dark part of the year?

I look forward to hearing your thoughts, and listening to your stories in the cozy months to come!

Cheers,

Amber Scott

Director of Religious Exploration

Upcoming Events

First UU Potluck Thanksgiving Dinner

Thursday 11/28 4:30-7pm

It’s not too late to join! Come gather together with 40 or 50 of your Friends and Chosen family here at First UU on Thanksgiving! Bring a nut-free side to share, or just bring yourself. If you’re able, please RSVP to help us prepare, but come even if you can’t!

This Sunday, December 1

9:15am Nouurish Service

Featuring:

The Only Way To Make Bread

by Quintero and Gonzales

Presented by members of the Alternative Worship Team with members of our First UU Community.

11am Service: “Stone Soup”

Enjoy a multigenerational celebration of gratitude and togetherness, then join us after the service for hot soup! Drop off veggies for the soup in the kitchen before service begins! All Ages: No classes due to the holiday.

Presented by Amber Scott,

Director of Religious Exploration

Bread and soup by Christine Davidson

Hot breakfast is served at 10am,

Coffee & tea available after both services

Sign Language interpretation will not be available this week.

Serenity Flow Yoga

Final Class

November 30,10:30–11:30am

Join Serenity Flow Yoga with Liz Mannon for a trauma-sensitive yoga class designed to cultivate a safe and supportive space for healing. Serenity Flow offers a compassionate approach to restore balance and inner peace.

Suggested $5–$10/Class by Cash or Venmo to instructor

No need to sign up in advance, classes are drop-in!

This drop-in Yoga class will take a break in December and January. Join us for the final class of this season!

Sorrow at this Season Grief Service

Wednesday, December 4 at 7pm
The year-end holidays can be especially challenging if your heart is heavy with grief. When so many are celebrating Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, and the New Year’s holidays with joy and feasting, shouldering grief from the loss of a loved one, a loss of dreams, disappointments, fears and many other causes can feel overwhelming. Memories, as helpful as they can be, also serve as constant reminders of loss. Sometimes all we may feel is our aloneness.
We want you to know you are not alone. We invite you to join us for our 8th Sorrow at this Season Grief Service on Wednesday, December 4 in the Worship Center. We will have meditative music, dimmed lights, candles, time for silence, caring words, opportunities to share your grief (if desired), and simply time to breathe in a sacred space. We would be honored by your attendance.

Please contact Kathleen Fowler with any questions.

First Friday Spaghetti Dinner

December 6, 6:30pm

Hosted by Rev. Terasa and Rev. Marco!

All ages are welcome. We’ll have salad, pasta, sauces, garlic bread and dessert. Vegan/gluten free/dairy free options available. Dinner is served at 6:30 and chatting/games/movies often go till 8:30-9.
Your first time is free! All of our happy repeat customers are asked for a suggested donation of $3.00 per person to help pay for the food. Spread the word and come have a good time and some good eats with friends.

RSVP to help us make plenty of good food for all. Interested in Hosting one month this year? Please email Becca to hop onto our Host schedule!
Image by HANSUAN FABREGAS from Pixabay

Around the Corner

  • Thu 12/12 Bibibop Dine and Donate to support SYC
  • Sat 12/14 Pathways to Membership Class (Register to Attend)
  • Sat 12/14 All Soles Contra & Square Dance
  • Sun 12/15 Music Sunday & Holiday Cookie Fair (Sign up to Donate!)
  • Tues 12/17 Expressive Worship
  • Wed 12/18 Finance Committee (RSVP)
  • Sat 12/21 First UU Concert Series Event – Bill Cohen
  • Tue 12/24 Christmas Eve Services:

5pm Family Celebration, 8pm Candlelight Service

  • 12/26–28, 12/31 and 1/1: Candlelit Labyrinth

Community-wide events in the coming weeks – All are welcome!

From the Staff and Board

Warmest Wishes

The Church office will be closed on Thursday and Friday as our staff take time off with their families. Whether you are celebrating Thanksgiving or honoring the National Day of Mourning, we hope you all get to spend meaningful time with people you love. If you are looking for community, we would love to see you at our First UU Potluck Thanksgiving Dinner!

Fun Opportunities in Family Ministry!

Youth Group Advisors! Make a difference in the lives of our congregation’s teens by joining the advising team today! Youth Group meets on second and fourth Sundays from 12:30-2:30pm, plus one additional special event each month. Background check required, advisors must be age 25+.

Scout Troop Leaders and Helpers! Foster a lifelong love of nature, and civic responsibility for our elementary and middle schoolers! Navigators meets first and third Sundays at First UU from 1:00-2:30pm, completes hikes on second Sundays, and gathers for a few campouts each year. Background check required.

Paid Sitters! Care for toddlers and infants during Sunday services, or school age children during special church events. Competitive hourly wage! Background check required; applicants must be age 14+.

Contact Amber Scott if you are interested in any of these opportunities!

Justice & Volunteering

Sign Up to Bake & Donate Holiday Cookies!
Calling All Cookie Bakers & Lovers!

Help raise money for Youth Group field trips (and our wider congregation!) by donating several dozen homemade Christmas cookies to our Cookie Fair on 12/15!

Last year we sold out fast – and we need many more cookies to make this beloved event a success! Sign up here to receive an email reminder. Drop off cookies before the 11am service begins, along with a list of ingredients (for allergies / dietary needs).

Everyone is invited to come mix and match to get your holiday cookies – after the Music Sunday service on December 15th!

Go green for the holidays

Your Eco-Justice Team has some ideas to help you make your holidays greener.

Preparing that big family meal, or bringing a dish to the gathering? Get your ingredients at the Farmers’ Market; they’re locally sourced and healthier. The Farmers’ Market is also a great place to purchase the components of a gift basket.
Instead of buying “stuff” as presents for family and friends on your holiday list, try these ideas instead:

  • Give a membership to a local museum (Museum of Art, COSI, the Zoo); for out-of-town friends, go on-line to see what great venues exist in their location.
  • Give a season’s ticket to the Symphony, or the Opera, or to First UU’s favorite group – “Carpe Diem”
  • Give an experience – tickets to a play, a concert, or a musical; a morning with hawks at the Ohio School of Falconry
  • A set of potted kitchen herbs for your friend’s windowsill
  • Give a gift certificate for a class at the Cultural Arts Center
  • Buy unique hand crafted items from local crafters – check out the many holiday sales or the Ohio Craft Museum

And regardless of how you celebrate, we hope that you have a wonderful holiday season, warm with friends and family, and festivity.

Classes & Groups

Learn more about groups in our current

Engagement Catalog and reach out to group leaders to join!

RYA Holiday Celebration

December 8, 12:30-2:30pm
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Rising young adults (18-26) will be gathering in the kitchen at First UU for a holiday celebration after worship on December 8! We will be baking together and sharing treats brought from home. (Vegan and gluten free options will be available, please no alcohol). There will be games and other fun! All rising young adults welcome, we hope you will join us!

Trans Youth & Allies groups

The Trans Youth and Allies Groups will not meet this Sunday, December 1, due to the long weekend. We hope you have a great holiday weekend!

Senior Gathering

December 5, 2024, 10:45am–1pm

Attention Senior Members!!! Join us this holiday season by attending the Senior Gathering on Thursday, December 5. Piano music by Karen Thimmes will start in the Worship Center at 10:45, followed by a program with Rev. Terasa and Dick Dawson at 11am.

Lunch will be provided in Beach Hall following the program where we will enjoy the music of the CPH Trio. RSVP by December 1, 2024! Send an email to Marilyn Beerman or leave her a voicemail at 614-282-8440. Hope to see you there!

(Note that Jacques Angelino will be joining us on March 13, 2025 to discuss his work with Feed and Read Ohio.)

Community News & Events

9th Annual Interfaith Prayer Gathering & Potluck

Sunday, December 8 at 4 pm

Indianola Presbyterian Church

1970 Waldeck Ave,

Columbus, OH 43201,

The Interfaith Association of Central Ohio (IACO) invites you to attend the 9th Annual Interfaith Prayer Gathering and Potluck at Indianola Presbyterian Church. This year’s theme is “Expressing Gratitude: With Our Heads, Hearts, and Hands.” Please RSVP to attend.

A Collective Journal

Because we seem to be in a new era, the Archives Group would like to collect your thoughts, feelings, fears, and hopes that have arisen since the November, 2024 election and in the years ahead. We want to document how we see our world unfolding. Your personal statements can shape powerful stories to share with future members of our congregation.

To participate in this project please email your statements to Sylvia Howe or give them to her in person. The Archives Team will preserve these narratives in a special file.

Family Activities

This Sunday, December 1st

9:15am-10am Nouurish Service (sanctuary)

Drop Off Veggies to Kitchen Before 11am Service to Go in the Soup!

10-10:30am Breakfast, and Coffee until 11am (A/B, Beach Hall)

10:30am-12:30pm Infant and Toddler Care (room 101)

No Classes for Children / Teens During the Service Today!

11am-12noon All Ages Stone Soup Worship Service (sanctuary)

12noon-1pm Everyone is Invited to Eat Soup! (Beach Hall, A/B)

12:15-1pm Caregivers of Young Children (101)

12:30-1:00pm Peace Pals children’s choir, 5-12yrs (sanctuary)

1-2:30pm Navigators Scouting meeting, 5-12yrs (201/playground)

Register for classes and activities! Fill out this form to volunteer!