Friday News – July 3, 2026

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*Happy Fourth of July!*

Happy Friday!

And happy summer! Though the heat has been oppressive, I hope you have been able to find some freedom during these more low-key months.

I am beginning my fourth year of ministry with you (can you believe it?) and I am so happy about that! I do get questions from time to time like “Why don’t you preach about xxxxx?” which can be demoralizing when I realize I have actually preached about xxxxx. Setting my ego aside, I do realize that you don’t remember every word I have preached to you! And some of you are new and haven’t heard some of these topics before. So I am trying something new this summer by preaching “Terasa’s greatest hits!” I’ll be repeating some of the sermons I delivered to you my first year that seemed to have really touched something in many of you. Hopefully those who heard them the first time will get something deeper from them, and those who haven’t heard them before get to be surprised!

And, as mentioned last week, I’ll be preaching a “Question Box” sermon this Sunday during which I’ll attempt to answer your questions on a multitude of subjects. Submit Question or bring them with you on Sunday. I look forward to hearing what’s on your mind.

Terasa

Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley

Lead Minister

Upcoming Events

Sunday Services

This Sunday, July 5th

10am “Question Box Sermon”
On July 5, Join in the UU tradition of “Question Box Service!” Submit questions about this church, Unitarian Universalism, our wider culture, philosophy, dog training (not really!) but generally anything goes. Rev. Terasa will answer as many questions as time allows during the service, and they give her a great idea of what is on your minds as she ponders sermon topics for the coming year. (See submitted questions)

Presented by Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley
Submit Your Questions!

Coffee Hosts Needed!

Email Robin to sign up / volunteer!

Infant / Toddler Care 9:30-11:30am

No Children’s Class This Sunday Due to the Holiday Weekend

Next Sunday, July 12:

“In Sickness and in Health”
We tend to see sickness and health as opposites, but I think they are two ends of a long and complicated spectrum. What does that mean for us?

Columbus Free Press Presents:

Ira Helfand, Two-time Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

Saturday, July 11 2 – 4 pm

Dr. Ira Helfand, Two-time Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, will speak in Columbus on the topic “Back from the Brink: Addressing the growing threat of nuclear war.” The talk begins at 2 pm, followed by a reception.

Monthly ARA Lunch

Flare Restaruarant

Sunday, July 12 at noon

All are welcome! We will be visiting Flare Restaurant, formerly Nile Vegan, for our July Anti-Racist Allies monthly lunch. This ethiopian restaurant is located at 1223 Goodale Blvd., Grandview Heights, 43212. It now offers meat and vegan dishes. Meet at the restaurant at noon, or to carpool, meet at the JAM table in Beach Hall around 11:30 am.

Guided Meditation Class

~ be where your feet are ~

Tuesdays From 6-7:15 pm through July 28

Free and Open to All

(RSVP encouraged but not required)
This meditation class is designed to calm the mind, improve focus, and support overall well-being through simple guided practices and breath awareness. The class also invites participants to connect with a greater sense of purpose, presence, and connection beyond the distractions of everyday life. Instructor: Patricia O’Toole, Ph.D

Neurodivergent Adults Group:

Community, Connection, and Support

1st and 3rd Thursdays, 6:00–7:30 pm

Beginning July16th

Are you an adult who is autistic, ADHD, AuDHD, or otherwise neurodivergent? This peer-led group is for anyone 21+ who identifies as neurodivergent or is exploring the possibility.

Join us for community, conversation, learning, and mutual support in a judgment-free environment. Together, we’ll explore what it means to be neurodivergent, share experiences, discuss challenges and coping strategies, celebrate strengths, and build meaningful connections with people who know what it’s like to be different, not less.

We especially welcome adults who are discovering their neurodivergence later in life, though ND adults in all stages of self-discovery are invited.

Labor Day Retreat

Saturday, September 5 – Monday, September 7

at Camp Oty’Okwa in beautiful Hocking Hills

Registration Open Now

Wonderful for families, couples, singles. Everyone! Scholarships available.

Adults (26+): $135

Teen / Early YA (13–25): $110

Children (5–12): $95

Toddlers (2–4): $25

Children Under 2: Free

New this year! Day Pass: $15 per meal
Register Now – or no later than August 27th. Join us for our traditional Peek, Talent show, hike, hammock hang, and more. You can even host a workshop or activity: contribute your own ‘flavor’ to the retreat! Please contactPatricia Boughton for more information on hosting activities or about scholarship funding.
Register

Planning ahead? Check our online calendar for additional events!

From First UU Leadership

Church Offices Closed July 3 – 10

Our offices will be closed on July 3 in observance of Independence day. The following week, many of our staff will be attending CERSI (Central East Region Summer Institute) and First UU’s Offices will be closed.

Upcoming Parking Lot Resurfacing

The parking lots here at First UU will be resurfaced during the week of

August 10-14. During that week, there will be limited parking, and visitors may need to walk around the sidewalks to enter the building. We will provide more information as it is available to us closer to that date.

Thank you!

I just went through my mailbox for the first time in months, and found a heap of love by way of graduation cards from you all. Thank you so much for your support, gifts, kind words, and love.

Paisha Thomas

Justice & Equity Student Minister

Justice & Volunteering

Join the First UU Columbus Protesters chat on Signal App

or email our Justice Team for more information.

Democracy Action Hour

Sunday, July 5, 11:30 AM

For this week’s Democracy Action Hour, we’re having a voter outreach training/kickoff. Learn how to check voter registrations, get a crash course on registering people to vote, learn about the additional resources available, and get signed up for upcoming outreach opportunities. Nervous about getting started? Come and find a partner to sign up with!

Auction Planning Kickoff Meeting

Wednesday, July 15, 7-9 pm

Are you interested in helping make this dynamic event a success? We hope you will join the auction team. Or maybe you just have some ideas about the auction, but don’t want to join. Either way, please attend our meeting. We want to know what you think! We will discuss next year’s auction theme and learn how everyone would like to contribute.

We have heard some exciting ideas so far about how we might focus on what we do best, and we are ready to hear more and refine our plans. All are welcome!

If you can’t participate in person, but do want to join in, please reply to Danya Furda for a google meet link and to share how you’d like to contribute.

On the Journey

Read about the 8th Principle and First UU’s anti-racism efforts on our website.

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!

We hope you enjoy this “replay” of our first On the Journey Celebration,

originally published February 6. Please consider submitting a mini-bio about an inspiring black author, artist, change-maker, or innovator. Email Becca for submission guidelines or a name.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe

The Godmother of Rock ‘N Roll

This week, we want to celebrate Sister Rosetta Tharpe, who pioneered the guitar techniques and vocal style that inspired many gospel, jazz, and rock artists, shifting the music scene of the world. An NPR Essay dated August 24, 2017 begins

“Rock ‘n’ roll was bred between the church and the nightclubs in the soul of a queer black woman in the 1940s named Sister Rosetta Tharpe. She was there before Elvis, Little Richard and Johnny Cash swiveled their hips and strummed their guitars. It was Tharpe, the godmother of rock ‘n’ roll, who turned this burgeoning musical style into an international sensation.”

 

In 2007, Rosetta was inducted posthumously into the Blues Hall of Fame, and in 2017 she was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as an Early Influence. We encourage you to read the above-referenced NPR Essay, listen to this 2009 episode of All Things Considered, or peruse this YouTube playlist.

Happening in Columbus

Check out the June/July ARA Calendar for details!

Community News

Keeping Cool

Our friends at Columbus.gov and IACO shared this message about resources for keeping cool in the extreme heat, and we want to pass it along.

With extreme heat impacting our region this week, we want to ensure all residents are aware of the available cooling resources across the city:

Art In the Gallery:

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.

“Peace” Todd Loe

Family Activities

Happening This Sunday, July 5th!
9:15am Coffee/Tea (A/B, Beach Hall) *Volunteers Needed! – Email Robin!

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

No Classes Today Due to the Holiday Weekend (Independence Day)

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

10:00-11:00am Worship Service (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!

Seeking More Campers for Peace Camp B!

Week B now open to 7-12yrs! Invite your friends! bit.ly/peacecamp2026

  • Nearly Full! Session A: 5-8 years, Monday-Friday 7/27-7/31, 9am-12noon
  • <10 Spots Left! Session B: 7-12 yrs, M-F 8/3-8/7, 9-noon ($100 suggested)

We invite children to be their true selves, and make space for all to be welcomed and valued. We explore what peace means, looks like, and how it connects us.