Happy Friday!

I was deeply touched when Rev. Terasa suggested that I write the message for this week’s Friday News. As I shared at the Annual Meeting, I am taking a church sabbatical this year. I love you all deeply. And, after serving as Treasurer for 12 of the past 22 years of membership, I need to to engage in rejuvenation and lean into self-differentiation. I have confidence that Chris Sullivan will do an amazing job as Treasurer, and Marc Pinsonneault will continue his steady and insightful work as Finance Chair. Our dedicated staff is cooking up some new approaches that will propel us into future with a growing congregation and the balanced budget that we dreamed about when we “Built the Bridge” together last fall.

Before I go, I want to invite you to come to worship on Sunday! I will co-lead worship with Whitney Pyle: “Building Community at the Intersection of Freedom and Interdependence.” Please join us for this engaging, embodied, and song-filled look at living whole and authentic lives while holding space for people with different needs and approaches to thrive together. There will be many new songs, including a hymn from the new virtual hymnal (released at General Assembly last week)! Please come early for breakfast or summer choir rehearsal or the 9:15 Movement Meditation.

I can’t wait to have one last hug before taking off on my year of sabbatical. You never know what experiments I might find as I engage with other UU and non-UU faith communities, that I’ll want to share upon my return.

With deep and abiding love and gratitude,

Debra Gray Boyd

First UU Member & Former Treasurer / Ex-Officio Board Member

Question Box Sermon Next Sunday

Submit your question today!

Come sing with us THIS Sunday!

Please join us for the first Summer Choir, this Sunday, June 29! No choir membership or experience is necessary; all are welcome! Simply show up at 9:00 am to learn the music for the 10:00 am service! We are excited to be singing a new song from the brand-new virtual hymnal released at General Assembly last week. We hope to see you then! The next Summer Choir session will be July 6.

Funeral Consumers Alliance of Central Ohio Book Club

Saturday June 28, 2pm on Google Meet

“Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End”

Joan Matyskella, of FCACO, will be hosting this book club for members of First UU, FCACO, and anyone interested. The first book we will be discussing is called Being Mortal- Medicine and What Matters in the End by Dr. Atul Gawande. Released in 2014, it was praised for its masterful exploration of aging, care at the end of life, and the medical profession’s need to deal with the wishes people might have beyond mere survival. If you’d like to participate, email Joan for the link.

Dinner & Conversation Groups

Deadline to RSVP: June 29 at Noon

Dinner & Conversation is a quarterly pot luck group that meets in participants’ homes. Commitment is for one quarter at a time with one meeting per month as agreed upon by the entire group. The group size is between 6-8. The host organizes the dinner and picks a topic for conversation. The goal is to have a good time while getting to know each other.

This sign up is for the third quarter of 2025: July, August, & September. Please email Marcia Canter to participate.

Book Group – Children of the Same God:

The Historical Relationship Between Unitarianism, Judaism, & Islam

Author Talk w/ Rev. Susan Ritchie! Tuesday, July 1, at 7pm

Anyone who has read the book is welcome to attend! Please RSVP to Robin – so that we can ensure we have enough chairs set up for this event, in room 301.

Interfaith Association of Central Ohio (IACO)

and partners Present:

The Sacred and the Sustainable:

Where Religion Meets Ecology

Sunday, July 6 at 2 pm

Here at First UU

Justice Action Ministry Survey

Please take a moment to fill out a quick survey about Share the Plate Partners for 2025 and beyond. Each month, our congregation divides our offering plate between the congregation and one of our partners. Here’s a little info on how Share the Plate Partners are chosen:

Our JAM Council, made up of at least one leader from each JAM Team chooses partners in collaboration with staff for the congregation to approve, based on several factors:

• Congregational Survey – we select partners working on the issues that First UUers care most about
• Collaboration – we select partners that we can collaborate with in ways beyond giving money
• Depth – if a partnership is going well, we often stick with a partner for many years. This allows us to develop a deeper working relationship with a partner, developing familiarity with each other and learning how we can best work together.

In the fall, we will put out a second survey about what issues are important to you and activities you would like to participate in. Learn more about our JAM Teams using our handy Guide!

Facilities Update

A big thank you to Chris Jones, who completed a landscaping project using antique Ohio paver bricks from Nelsonville and Logan Ohio!

The history of these pavers is fascinating. Chris collected these bricks from fellow collectors who have gathered them from the Nelsonville Brick Company and the Hocking Brick Company. The bricks are 10 lbs each (800 lbs total), salt-glazed and practically indestructible. Southeast Ohio was the paver brick capital of the world from 1880–1930 due to the availability of clay, coal and train lines. A lot of labor rights were developed in those companies through strikes and labor actions.

If you’ve been to Athens, Ohio (Ohio University) you’ve seen the numerous brick-lined streets, and they also are found throughout historic Columbus neighborhoods. They were used to pave the world and now they edge the tree beds in our front yard!

Brian Hagemann

Director of Administration

P.S. One of the wonderful things about being on staff is witnessing first-hand how our many community members work to share their passions and create our physical and spiritual space together! What passions do you want to share with us? Let me know!

Petitions for a Community Crisis Response System

The Columbus Safety Collective is gathering signatures for a ballot initiative for a comprehensive non-police crisis response system in the city of Columbus. Community Crisis Response Amendment would create a system to respond to non-violent situations, including mental health crises and wellness checks, with social workers, EMTs, and other appropriate responders. If you’re a Columbus resident, you can can sign a petition at the JAM table in Beach Hall after service.

“Beat the Heat” Fan Donation Drive

LifeCare Alliance

Eco-Tip: How to Recycle those Hard-to-Recycle Plastics

Franklin and Delaware Counties are participants in the Hefty ReNew program. Participants collect accepted materials in a Hefty®  ReNew® Orange Bag and simply place them in their curbside recycle bin or take them to a recycle drop-off point. You can get a free starter kit through the Hefty web page, or it is available for purchase at local outlets such as Kroger.

According to Hefty, “Together, we can help bring new life to hard-to-recycle plastics—like plastic forks, candy wrappers, pet food bags, and foam to-go boxes—that usually end up in the trash. The Program is an easy addition to existing recycling services in your area, such as curbside or drop-off programs.”

Body Wisdom Wednesdays:

Meditative Movement + Dance

1st & 3rd Wednesdays

Next Class: July 2, 6:45–8:15pm

Peter Paul & Mary Tribute Concert to Aid the CRC

Sunday June 29 at 4 pm

 Columbus Mennonite Church, 35 Oakland Park Avenue

From the 1960’s into this New Millenium, Peter Paul and Mary used music to entertain, educate, inspire, and energize Americans to work for a better world. Now, some veteran Columbus musicians will pay tribute to PP & M’s legacy with songs, memories, and quips.

Bill Cohen, Joanne Blum, & Joe Lambert will sing and strum the most beloved songs that PP & M seared into the hearts and minds of so many. Heidi White will enhance the music with her stand-up bass. The musicians will recall key parts of the trio’s history and pose some fun trivia questions.

$15 donations per person are suggested at the door. The musicians and sound crew will split the proceeds, with half going to the Clintonville Community Resource Center, which helps low-income, youth, and older neighborhood residents.

“Unconventional Nature” in the Gallery

Deb presents works in watercolor and pen, abstracting nature. “My work is influenced by the mid century modern era … atomic abstracts, pop art, hippie psychedelic and tiki prints.”

This Sunday, June 29th!

*Children start in the service before class. Dress for the weather / outdoor play. Bring your water bottle (labeled w/ name), if that will help you stay cool!

9:15-9:45am Continental Breakfast and Community Activities (A/B, Beach Hall)

9:30-11:30am Infant and Toddler Care (101)

10-11am Worship Service (sanctuary)

After the Story, Until Service Ends

10:15-11:15ish Early Childhood / Elementary Summer Class (202)*

10:15-11:15ish MS / HS Summer Games Group (A/B, by the kitchen)*

Help needed: seeking volunteers to work w/ kiddos & teens starting in September!