Volunteer as First UU Outreach at

Stonewall Pride March and Festival

Sign Up for Booth: June 19 4pm – 10pm or June 20, 10:30am – 9pm

Sign up to March: June 20 by 10:30am (50 spots available)

Once again First UU has a spot at the Stonewall Pride March and Community Resource Festival. If you would like to be one of our 50 marchers/riders please reserve your spot! The march is on Saturday 6/20 and all participants are asked to be in place by 10:30. (We usually don’t start moving till noon though so come prepared to wait). We’re usually done around 1:30pm.

Volunteer for the tent to chat with passerby about who we are, bestow glitter blessings, hand out water and candy, and serve as compassionate listeners. We try to have 4 people at the booth each shift so you can do what you’re most comfortable with and everyone can take breaks.

All Soles Dance

Saturday, June 20th

Beginners’ Session 1:30-2:00

Dancing 2:00-4:30

Cost: $10 for adults, $5 ages 12-25.

We will be dancing at All Soles this coming Saturday afternoon, June 20th David Mould will be calling and The Gem City Revelers will provide the music. Please bring your own refillable water bottle.

New to dancing? A beginners’ session, from 1:30 to 2:00 PM, will get you started. You will learn some basic figures that will be repeated in the afternoon’s dances. All dances will be taught and no partner is needed.

Future All Soles Dance upcoming dance dates are: July 25th (Summer Potluck and Dance), No August Dance, September 26th, October 17th, November 21st, December 19th

Atheists-Skeptics-Humanists (ASH)

Monthly Meeting & Program

June 23, 2026, 7 pm

For June’s meeting of the Atheists-Skeptics-Humanists, you the members are the program. We’ll have an open discussion on the rise of Christian Nationalism, ably facilitated by our own David Jon Krohn. A-S-H members on the e-mail list have been sent a few articles for background from recent issues of The Humanist, and other sources. (If you aren’t on the list, contact Tom Baillieul). Also, feel free to find your own resources to share – there’s no shortage of commentary given the antics of the Trump Administration. It certainly won’t be a boring meeting.

As you read, here are a few questions to ponder: What is Christian Nationalism?

How does it relate to Christian doctrine? What role does Project 2025 and its principal authors play in what we are seeing today? What does the 1797 Treaty of Tripoli say about the separation of church and state? What defenses do we have against this movement?

Celebrate the New SYC Playground

& Support Early Learning!

Sunday, June 28 11 am – 1 pm

Please join us for the New SYC Playground Opening Celebration! This joyful event is open to all current and future SYC families, SYC alumni, and our First UU family. Come enjoy a provided lunch, playground fun, face painting, and an ice cream sundae bar!

As we celebrate our new spaces, we are also living our values by fundraising for our Continuous Improvement Fund. In the spirit of community partnership, half of all donations received will be gifted to the “Build a Playground” campaign for the Columbus Early Learning Centers. If you would like to get a head start on supporting this campaign, you can scan the QR code in the flyer or church entryway to donate directly. Please be sure to join us for play, connection, and celebration!

Creative Community

2nd and 4th Mondays, 7-9pm

Crafting Mondays will continue throughout the summer, however, Expressive Collage will be on hiatus until September. Bring your watercolors, knitting, or other creative projects to enjoy in community with others at 7pm on the second and fourth Monday of each month.

Guided Meditation Class

~ be where your feet are ~

Tuesdays From 6-7:15 pm

Now through July 28

Free and Open to All

(RSVP encouraged but not required)

Instructor: Patricia O’Toole, Ph.D., has been a dedicated student of meditation and life’s deeper questions for almost 20 years. A lifelong educator, Patricia currently teaches Mindfulness at Ohio Wesleyan University

Expressive Worship

Thursday, June 25 at 6:30 pm

Expressive Worship grew out of a challenge at GA—to imagine worship in a whole new way. The result was this relaxed, art centered gathering where participants engage with a theme through personal creative exploration. Each service follows a structured flow—opening words, a song, a reading, time to create art while themed music plays, a closing and an optional sharing time at the end.

All ages and artistic inclinations welcome! Bring your own materials or use those provided. In June we will contemplate the theme of “Flourishing Together” as we make paper bouquets together.

Annual Meeting Group Photo

We thank David Merrill for taking this great photo! We thank all who helped make it happen, including everyone in the photo!

Signs of Summer Religious Exploration

Last Sunday our children’s class read Mary Wears What She Wants by Keith Negley – a book inspired by the true story of Dr. Mary Edwards Walker. Mary was tired of the restrictive dresses of her time and chose to wear pants, despite ridicule, inspiring other girls to do the same. It’s a story about self expression, challenging societal expectations, and the courage to be different.

Our First UU kids had a great conversation and made our own signs and statements: for the rights of cats and dogs, against firearms, and for accepting others as they are.

Email Amber to learn more about volunteer opportunities supporting our children and youth – you might be surprised at how much fun you have!

Miles Davis

Legend of Jazz

This week, we want to celebrate Miles Davis, one of the most influential figures in the jazz scene of the 1950s. His style was modern and improvisational, and changed the direction of jazz as a genre. He started playing trumpet in jazz clubs of St. Louis while still in high school and then attended Julliard; though he dropped out to pursue his jazz career in New York City. His most influential time began with his 1957 album ‘Round About Midnight and ended with the best-selling jazz album ever made, Kind of Blue (1959). He invited controversy during the 1970s when he began to incorporate electronic instrumentation and studio effects of rock music, proving that he was capable of changing with the times. Not only did Miles Davis change the trajectory of jazz, but his influence spread to to rock, hip hop, R&B, and other genres. His legacy is a reminder of the impact that innovation and artistic courage can have on both culture and history.

Miles Davis’s story is inspiring, and we encourage you to read more at The Miles Davis website, read How Miles Davis Revolutionised Jazz on Medium or watch Why Miles Davis Inspired Artists of All Genres, In Their Own Words (Youtube, 18:23) to learn more about his life and his legacy.

Thank you, Amber Castle, for submitting this article!

Email Becca for more information about how to contribute!

UU-affiliated organizations advancing diversity

This week, we present three UU-affiliated organizations working to advance diversity in UU communities and in society beyond.

1.   DRUMM (Diverse Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries)

— is the oldest and largest Unitarian Universalist People of Color ministry and anti-racist community organization based in North America. DRUUMM is supported by its members—individuals who self-identify as People of Color and affirm our Unitarian Universalist mission and values.

People who self-identify as White are encouraged to join and organize with UU Allies for Racial Equity, our close partner.

2.   UU Allies for Racial Equity is building an antiracist movement of white Unitarian Universalists working to:

• Understand whiteness and privilege
• Unlearn and challenge white supremacy
• Confront racism in ways that are accountable to communities of color

[Resource page]-

3.   JusticeMovement is a training and educational collective committed to promoting a functional analysis of systemic privilege and oppression. As teachers and practitioners in several fields, we are aware of a strong desire for our organizations and communities to become more inclusive, diverse, and affirming.

We encourage you to follow the links and learn about this work, how it relates to UU values, and the advancement of our own community.

Thank you, Ken Odiorne, for submitting this article!

Stamped from the Beginning

ARA Congregational Read

Next Discussion July 21st, 7pm

Discussion Registration Open

The Anti-Racist Allies invite you to read Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi to participate in the congregational group read this Summer and fall. This important work has several versions appropriate for a variety of ages and reading levels. Monthly Zoom book discussions will begin in June, (7pm on July 21, August 25, Sept 29) and more activities connected with the book will be announced for the Fall. We hope you will be able to join us!

Dinner & Conversation

Sign up by June 24 for

July, August & September

before Wednesday, June 24, Noon

This sign up is for the third quarter of 2026, July, August, September. Please email Marcia if you want to participate.

UU arts: Todd Loe’s

“Far Rider”

On display until August 16

View Todd’s art– Beautiful moody pastel landscapes, your favorite rock stars of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s and fun, abstract compositions.

And don’t forget to Register for the UU Artists and Friends Show “Freedom”! Drop-off August 7 – 9.

IACO’S Main Event: Immigration in Central Ohio

Sunday, June 28, 2026 3- 5:30 PM

Bethel International UMC

1220 Bethel Rd. Columbus, OH 43220

Registration Open until June 22 ($15)

Happening This Sunday, June 21st!

*Sign up for future Coffee & Continental Breakfast shifts on Realm or via email!

9:30am-11:30pm Infant and Toddler Care 3mos-3yrs (101)

No Classes Today Due to the Holiday Weekend (Juneteenth/Father’s Day/Pride)

*Per safety policy, children/youth need to be supervised while on church grounds.

10:00-11:00am Juneteenth Service! Paisha Thomas (sanctuary)

Kiddos w/fam in service: use Busy Bags or quiet toys in Wee Worship/Slowter!

11:00-11:30am Coffee/Tea – Pending Volunteers!* (A/B, Beach Hall)

Coming Soon: Fall Class Registration and Volunteer Teacher Recruitment!