Friday News – December 6, 2024

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On November 27, the Washington Post published an opinion piece by Perry Bacon Jr. making suggestions for what to do instead of getting lost in doom. #2 on the list was to attend a Unitarian Universalist church! I have to wholeheartedly agree! Right now I think our mission is as clear as it ever has been: to make manifest the values of love, justice, equity, interdependence, pluralism, transformation and generosity both within this congregation and in the community beyond. Countering the messages of hate and division is a revolutionary act right now and we invite you to the revolution!

This Sunday we’ll be talking about the last of those values: Generosity. If we are to live out our calling in this moment and into the future we will need to make some commitments to sustain the congregation. Whatever gifts you may offer: time, talent or treasure, we welcome yours in this moment to provide a firm foundation for our work together. Come join us in building a bridge to the future.

Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley

Developmental Minister

First UU Church of Columbus

Upcoming Events

Tonight! 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. Feeling Festive? Help us decorate for the holidays tonight!
Image by HANSUAN FABREGAS from Pixabay
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.

The Youth Group will be Hosting in January. We still need hosts for April, May and June! Please email Becca to learn how easy it is!

This Sunday, December 8

9:15am Nouurish Service

Featuring:

The Lazy Day (Summer)

from Little Witch Hazel: A Year in the Forest

by Phoebe Wahl

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

11am Service:

“The Vision to See”

What does it mean to see into the future these days? Everything seems unpredictable. We want to be a sustainable community but how do we prepare ourselves for the unknown?

Presented by Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley and Rev. Kelli McNeal

Hot breakfast is served at 10am,

Coffee & tea available after both services

From the Caring team: It’s December holiday time, and that means it’s time for annual holiday greetings to our First UU staff. There will be greeting cards on tables in the center of Beach Hall for everyone to sign after worship.

You are invited to BrassFest!

Sunday, December 8, 5–9pm

All are Welcome to Jam or just Enjoy!

Join us as the premiere holiday party arrives at First UU! Now in it’s forty-third year, BrassFest promises to deliver thrills, chills, and holiday cheer to all! Dust off your instrument, pull your dancing shoes out of the closet, and bring a dish or beverage to share this Sunday night!
The party starts at 5 with a bluegrass slow jam followed by a smoldering set from our old friends The Velvet Sirens. After that, the house band (including some familiar faces), will be taking the stage to play the holiday hits. To wrap it up, everyone is invited to play your instrument, sing, or dance in this mass holiday brass choir! All instruments, ages, and abilities invited.

Questions? Email Mark Merchant or Debra Boyd

Sign Up Now to Bake & Donate Holiday Cookies!
Calling All Cookie Bakers & Lovers! Help raise money for Youth Group field trips and our 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, and receive an email reminder! Drop off cookies before the 11am service, along with am ingredient list (dietary needs/allergies).

Everyone is invited to mix and match to purchase a box of holiday cookies after the Music Sunday service on December 15th!

Carpe Diem at First UU!

Sunday, Dec. 8 at 2:00 pm

Come see Carpe Diem String Quartet in concert at First UU this Sunday! Their concert, “Holiday!”, will feature works by Glazunov, Montgomery, and Puccini, as well as holiday favorites. Tickets may be purchased online or at the door, and church members receive a $10 discount.

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 (more)
  • Sun 12/15 Music Sunday & Holiday Cookie Fair (Sign up to Donate!)
  • Sun 12/15 Anti-Racist Allies Monthly Lunch: Modern Southern Table
  • Tues 12/17 Expressive Worship
  • Wed 12/18 Sacred Christmas Carol Song Circle (6:00pm)
  • 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

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

From First UU Leadership

Update from the Sustainability Task Force

Thank you for coming and sharing your questions and thoughts about finances at First UU! You had so much to say. We’re still sifting through everything you shared. And, there are some pieces that we wanted to share right away:

Staff Portfolios

November’s Board Bulletin

First UU Dashboard

P&L and Change in Net Assets

Save the date for the Church Finances 101 class on January 12

As always, we encourage you to talk to us and to attend the Finance Committee and Board meetings. (RSVP to attend)

Happy Holidays!

Sustainability Task Force

Jim, Su, Debra, & Rev. Kelli

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!

NomCom’s “InSight” of the Week

Each Year, the Nominating Committee (NomCom) finds members for First UU to elect as our new church leadership during the Annual meeting. (Board of Trustees, Nominating Committee, and moderator). We are hoping you will be inspired to submit names of people you know who might enjoy joining our intrepid leaders. Self-Nominations encouraged! Email us those Nominations.

This week’s InSight:

If we did all the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astonish ourselves. –Thomas Edison

Justice & Volunteering

Bread Research Kickoff

Monday, December 9, 2024, 7:00–8:30pm

Location: The Church of Christ at Genessee Ave, 1880 Genessee Ave
You are invited to come to BREAD’s annual Research Kickoff to learn how BREAD does its research and what the criteria are for selecting an issue. After the kickoff you may choose to meet with the issue committee of your choice to learn more about the individual issues.

Also, this month is the last month for making your 2024 investment in BREAD’s work. To donate, write a check to BREAD and place it in the BREAD mailbox at church or simply go to breadcolumbus.com and click on INVEST.

Ohio Feed and Read – Food & Holiday Gift Collection

This week we are again taking up collections for the Feed and Read program — Pantry staples, proteins, and Holiday gifts.

Bring your green bag back – or just bring food items in a regular bag!

If you would like to adopt a local child in need to provide Holiday gifts, you can pick up their wishlist by the Tree in Beach Hall after Worship this Sunday.

SYC Scholarship Auction Online Aftersale

Closes December 10!

Thanks so much to everyone who helped make the 2024 SYC Scholarship Auction a success!

Alumni families, past and present teachers, current families, First UU families, and everyone who donated!

And it’s not too late to participate! The online aftersale is LIVE until December 10th!

We are with You: Open Letter to the LGBTQ+ Community
Last Friday the Buckeye Flame posted an article highlighting the open letter to Ohio’s LGBTQ community as a message of solidarity, affirmation and commitment to action which had been signed by 50+ Ohio organizations and leaders in support.

On Tuesday your Board and staff voted unanimously to sign the letter as an organization in support and solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community. You can read the letter and see the many organizations who signed it on Buckeye Flame’s Website.

Classes & Groups

Learn more about groups in our current

Engagement Catalog and reach out to group leaders to join!

Pathways to Membership
Interested in becoming a member? You are cordially invited to register and participate in the next Pathways to Membership class. This class is designed for newcomers and all who are interested in the next steps to become a member of First Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbus.
Register Now

Dinner & Conversation

Signups open!

Sign up by December 22 at Noon

for the First Quarter of 2025
Sign up to enjoy Dinner & Conversation with fellow First UUers! Quarterly potluck groups of 6–8 members meet in participants’ homes once per month to have a good time and get to know each other. Attendees commit for one quarter at a time and negotiate the meeting dates and times among themselves. The host organizes the dinner and picks a topic for conversation!

Sign-ups for the first quarter of 2025 (January, February, and March) are open until December 22 at noon – Email Marcia Canter to participate!

Image by jessica45 from Pixabay

Calling all Lawyers and Law Students!

We are seeking to establish a network of First UU attorneys for consultation about legal issues affecting our membership’s interests. If you’d like to join us, please contact Cara Seidt, First UU Columbus’s general counsel, for more information.

RYA Holiday Celebration

December 8, 12:30-2:30pm
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!
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Senior Gathering Thanks

Our sincere thanks go to the many volunteers who provided their time and energy to make the December 5 Senior Gathering a success : Donna Adassa, Marilyn Beerman, John Boyd, Sandy Coen, Dick Dawson, Paula Egbert, Barb Fiorini, Bill Fiorini, Fluff Fiscus, Pat Hoffman, Jack Holdford, Katie Holdford, Florence Jain, Karen Keenan, Maureen Keyhani, John McCrystal, Suzan McCrystal, Frank Phillips, Dave Richter, Karla Rinto, Debbie Shaw, Andrea Smith, Chris Sullivan, Karen Thimmes, Judy Vazquez. A special thanks to the numerous attendees who spontaneously helped with delivering plated meals to the attendees and clearing the tables for cleanup. A special thank you to the CPH Trio for providing entertainment in Beach Hall.

Community News & Events

Anti-Racist Allies Lunch at the Modern Southern Table Restaurant

Sunday, December 15

Gather at the kiosk in the church gallery at 12:30

Our Anti-Racist Allies team would like you join us for lunch at the Modern Southern Table restaurant located in the Budd Dairy Food Hall on 1086 N. Fourth St. in Italian Village. We will meet at the kiosk in the church gallery at 12:30 after the service.

This lunch is a continuation of our monthly excursions to BIPOC-owned area restaurants, All are welcome!

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 Today to attend.

Dine and Donate to SYC

Thursday December 12, 10:30am–9:30pm

BIBIBOP Clintonville

5037 N. High Street Columbus, OH 43214

20% of sales fund the SYC Scholarship Fund

Ordering Online? Use code BIBIFUNDRAISER

Family Activities

This Sunday, December 8th

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

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

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

10:30am-12:15pm 13-14yr OWL (302)

10:45-12:15pm 6-7yr / K-1st OWL (402)

10:55am-12:15pm 10-11yr OWL (404)

11am-12:15pm Coming of Age (401)

11am-12:15pm Building Your World MS/HS (301)

11am-12noon Worship Service (sanctuary)

11:15am-12:15pm (starts after story) 3-6yr Spirit Play (102)

11:15am-12:15pm (starts after story) 7-10yr Spirit Play (201)

12noon-1pm Snack and Coffee (Beach Hall, A/B)

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

12:30-2:30pm Youth Group, 12yrs-HS Senior (402)

12:30-2:30pm Rising Young Adults Christmas party, 18-28yrs (302)

1-2:30pm Navigators Scouting hike, 5-12yrs (offsite)

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