Whether it’s the church’s Labor Day Retreat, a simple nature walk, or a cookout with family and friends, I hope you have something exciting planned for this holiday weekend! Kids are back in school, and First UU is gearing up for another year of fun and deep connection!

Some exciting new programs are coming up – including a bible class with Rev. Marco Belletini (save the dates: 9/17, 9/24, 10/1 and 10/8 – sign-up coming soon)!

Annual class registration for children and youth is also open – for beloved programs such as OWL (Our Whole Live sexuality education), Neighboring Faiths, Navigator scouts, Peace Pals choir, and Youth Group! And we could always use a few new teachers and volunteers!

We’re all looking forward to having everyone back in the building next week for Ingathering, and to working together over the course of the year to make our dreams for our congregation a reality!

Amber Scott

Director of Religious Exploration

Upcoming Events

Fall Worship Schedule Begins

Sunday, September 7!

Beginning September 7, we will resume our Fall schedule with two worship services:

9:15 am: Nouurish worship services, an inclusive and intergenerational format presented by our Alternative Worship Team.

11:00 am: Traditional worship service, with RE Classes and childcare beginning after the story.

Breakfast and coffee will be served from 10:00–10:45am between the services, and Coffee and Fellowship follow the second worship service.

We can’t wait to start the new church year with you! If you have any questions, please email our Worship Team.

This Sunday, August 31*

10:00 Worship:

“Revolution Begins with a Dream.”

(GA summer service recording.)

Join us as we screen the Sunday Morning worship held June 22, 2024 at the General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). Rev. Dr. Nicole C. Kirk presents “Revolution Begins with a Dream.”

Presented by Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley

with Rev. Meg McGuire

*No Children’s Classes This Week!

Holiday Weekend: No Time For All Ages Story, No Bringing in the Light

Families are invited to pick up a busy bag from out in the gallery,

or to use the crafts and games near the kitchen.

Intro to Somatic Movement

Pop-up Class!

Sunday, September 14th 12:30-1:15 pm

This is a free and casual opportunity to ask questions, learn more, and experience a taste of “Intro to Somatic Movement” with Whitney Dawn Pyles. This experience is regularly offered the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month.

Contact Whitney Dawn Pyles with questions.

Calling all Artists!

Registration Open Now

Drop-Off September 21

On Display September 24 to November 2

First UU Artists, submit your artwork to be displayed in our Connections Exhibit! What connects us? To the earth, to each other, to other cultures, to our inner selves? Is it the majesty of a mountain? The food we eat? The songs of Central America or the fabrics of Japan? The love within us, the colors of the sunset, or the vastness of the stars?

Please Submit your work using the link above, and bring it on Sunday Sept 21 ready to hang. Enter 1 or 2 pieces (at least one will get in).

High School students are invited as well as adults in our community – See Deb Baillieul for more information.

Right: Gaelic Thunder by Deb Baillieul

Around The Corner

9/5 & 9/7 RE Teacher / Volunteer Orientation! (RSVP)
9/5 First Friday Picnic in the Breezeway
9/7 Ingathering Service – Services return to 9:15 and 11am
9/7 Hot Breakfast Begins!
9/13, 11/7 See Amber in Ohio Roller Derby Home Games (offsite)
9/14 Pathways to Membership (RSVP)
9/14 Intro to Somatic Movement Pop-Up
9/16–10/21 (Tuesdays) “On Religion” Book Group (RSVP)
9/17-10/8 (Wednesdays) Bible Class w/ Rev. Marco Belletini
9/17 Finance Committee (RSVP)
9/17 Intro to Somatic Movement (Register / Request Childcare)
9/21, 9/27, 9/28 BREAD Listening Session
9/23 Atheists, Skeptics, Humanists
9/24/2025–11/2 Connections Art Exhibit. First UU artists: submit your artwork to be displayed! (Drop-off is Sunday, Sept 21)
9/24 Board of Trustees (RSVP)
9/25 Expressive Worship
9/27 All Soles Contra & Square Dance (more info)

Weekly events:

Tai Chi for Balance (Tuesdays, 10am)
Sacred Song Circle (Wednesdays, 6pm)
Co-Working Space (Fridays, 9:30am)
Choir Rehearsals (Spirit of Life Tuesdays, Chalice Choir Thursdays)

Planning ahead? Check our online calendar for additional events!

From First UU Leadership

Come Sing at First UU!

Spirit of Life: Tuesdays, 6:30-8:00 pm

Chalice Choir: Thursdays, 7:30-9:30 pm

Peace Pals: 2nd & 4th Sundays, 12:30-1:00 pm

First UU’s Choirs have resumed rehearsals this week – but it’s not too late to join!

Please contact Director of Music Dr. Brandon Moss for more information.

Annual RE Teacher Orientation

Friday, 9/5, 6:30-8:30 PM or Sunday, 9/7, 12:30-2:30 PM

All Religious Exploration volunteers and staff are asked to join Amber for this year’s safety briefing, featuring food from Chipotle, and the chance to meet with your fellow teachers! Childcare is available. RSVP here!

Class registration is now open for children and teens, and we need more adult volunteers! Especially Youth Group advisors, scout troop leaders, and OWL (Our Whole Lives) sexuality education facilitators.

Friends of First Friday Needed!

Do you love First Friday dinners, and want to help make them happen each month? These beloved gatherings need more community support in order to continue! We are forming a volunteer team to take on planning and logistics. Email Robin to get involved!

Construction activities

If you’re wondering about all the chain link fencing and construction supplies, They are for our new roof! From now until mid-September roofers will be replacing the oldest roof on the church, over the south half of Beach Hall, Rooms A & B, the kitchen and the office wing. Afterwards contractors will begin installing solar panels on the roof, enabling First UU to get even more electricity from the sun! When all is said and done, over half of our electricity will come from solar!

Here are some other exciting projects recently completed or underway:

Lighting – we completed replacement of ALL the florescent lighting throughout the church (offices, kitchen, SYC classrooms) with high quality, dimmable LED panels.
Kitchen – new refrigerator and freezer are on order, and we are waiting on proposal for remaining appliances.
Worship Center – carpeting replacement is in progress: we have selected the carpet and are waiting on supply scheduling
Parking Lot repairs – repairs, coating, and striping will be scheduled for late September or early October
Gardens – significant maintenance & plantings in Weisheimer rain garden, courtyard garden and others.

We are extremely grateful for generous donations of both time and money that have allowed us to catch up with these much needed upgrades and repairs. If you have any questions, contact Dir. of Administration, Brian Hagemann Brian Hagemann for more information about our projects!

Justice & Volunteering

Connect with our Justice team and other First UU’ers on the Signal App

by joining the First UU Signal Group (app required).

Labor Day Protest: Workers Over Billionaires

Monday, September 1 at 4 PM

McFerson Commons Park, 218 West St

The people of the United States are protesting in record numbers against the billionaire agenda of firing federal workers, dismantling Medicaid, stealing wealth from public services to billionaire tax cuts, and building private ICE armies. This event builds on the momentum from Hands Off, May Day, No Kings, and Good Trouble to insist on a country that fully funds its schools, protects Social Security and Medicaid, keeps families together, and puts workers over billionaires. In Columbus, join unions, workers’ rights organizations, 50501 and others to show up for working people and democracy.

Traveling? Find events nationwide at MayDayStrong.org

Classes & Groups

Pathways to Membership

Sunday, September 14, 2025

8:30 am – 2:00 pm

If you are interested in the next steps to become a member of First Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbus you are cordially invited to register and participate in the next Pathways to Membership class. It is designed for newcomers and is always recommended before deciding to become a Church member. Your participation in the class does not obligate you to join our church.

This class will acquaint you with our church and our faith before you consider a commitment of membership to First UU.

“On Religion” Book Discussion Group

Tuesdays September 16 – October 21, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Join us for our next installment of the UU History Book Group: On Religion: Speeches to its Cultured Despisers, by Friedrich Schleiermacher. Translated by Richard Crouter. We will read: the Introduction to the Richard Crouter Edition, followed by Speech Two, and then Speech Five. Register for more information!

Community News

A Bouquet Full of Thanks

So much of what happens here at First UU is the direct result of our volunteers’ hard work. The beautiful plants in our building are painstakingly cared for by Diana Smith and Su Farnlacher. It is a science as well as an art, as they use moisture and acidity meters, schedule fertilization, mist foliage, and more. If you would like to join our plant team, please reach out to Robin and she will put you in touch with them – Please do not water the plants without joining the team, because over-watering can cause fungus, root rot, or worse.

Family Activities

No Classes This Sunday, August 31st!