Friday News – October 9, 2026

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The future is much on my mind! I’ll be preaching this Sunday about what we might be able to predict about the future and next Sunday our pulpit guest, Rev. Byron Tyler Jones will be preaching about leaning into the unknown. This is all in service of the congregational strategic planning session to be held next Saturday, October 17 from 9am-12pm. I am greatly looking forward to hearing your hopes and dreams for the future of First UU and hope you will join us for what is sure to be a stimulating morning!

Please register here if you plan to come: Strategic Planning Registration.

Rev. Dr. Terasa G. Cooley

Lead Minister

Upcoming Events

9:15 am

Nouurish Service

Featuring: “Someday, Narwhal”

Presented by the

Alternative Worship Team

11:00 am “Braving the Wilderness”

Who knows what the future may hold? How do we face the unknowing?

Hot Breakfast for donation at 10am!

(Enjoy coffee or tea after both services)

2026 Fall Engagement Fair

This Sunday! October 11

10am – 11am & Noon-1pm

Join us Sunday for our annual Engagement Fair! Groups and Teams will have tables with representatives available to share more about what they do and how to get involved. Pick up a First UU Passport and win prizes by getting stamps at each table!

Last Two BREAD Listening Sessions

Sunday, October 11 & 18

1:00 – 3:00 pm

Register Here to join one of our listening sessions or Sign up at the Jam Table!
Get to know each other on a deeper level while providing B.R.E.A.D. with First UU’s input on injustice in your own life or that you see around you. We especially need stories about the negative effects of Columbus’s alarmingly low tree canopy, e.g., respiratory illnesses, flooding, heat stroke, etc. and about teenagers who have little interest in their education. Please come whether or not you have an injustice to share. Light refreshments provided.

Strategic Planning: “What Might the Future Entail?”

Register! Saturday, October 17, 9AM-Noon
You are invited to participate in a weekend of faithful visioning led by by Cassandra Montenegro and Rev. Byron Tyler Coles, staff members of the Unitarian Universalist Association’s Central East Region. In continuation of our ongoing developmental ministry, the weekend will support us in discerning the congregation’s ministry and goals to meet the needs of the future world, identifying the needed skills for shared ministry partnership, and empowering all members of the community to take on their respective roles in shared ministry.

Costume Parade!

Sunday, October 25

Let’s have a parade! Young and old(er!) wear your Halloween costume to show off at church! All are welcome!

From First UU Leadership
We are grateful for all of the support we’ve received in the first week of our Matching Campaign! All New Pledges or Increased Pledges are matched, up to $10,000 thanks to a generous donor! Please consider pledging or increasing your commitment to take advantage of this generosity.

Help shape our congregation’s future!

Join the Ministerial Search Committee!

Apply to join by October 18!

The Board of Trustees is forming a Ministerial Search Committee to identify our new minister. If you’re passionate about our community & wish to serve, or wish to provide feedback about what our congregation needs in a new minister, please visit our Ministerial Search page to learn about the process and volunteer!

… And there is One last online listening session on Wednesday October 14! Fill out the Board RSVP to receive the zoom link.

First UU Wins GreenSpot Award

The City of Columbus recently recognized First UU’s environmental accomplishments with a GreenSpot Award! We show our care for the Earth with solar energy, rain gardens, wildlife habitat, eco-justice, education, partnerships and more.

Stay tuned for a special service and coffee hour on November 15 where we Celebrate America Recycles Day!

Justice and Volunteering

Racial Justice Survey

First UU’s Anti-Racism Allies (ARA) team met with many of the communities that make up our community to gather information that will help us think and learn about further steps we can take towards becoming an anti-racist congregation, and we need your help! We would like to invite you to fill out the Racial Justice in UU Congregations Rubric survey to help inform our next steps in our congregational Anti-Racism Journey.

If you have any questions, feedback and/or interest in learning more please email us!

Dates with Justice

  • 10/10, 10am-2pm: World Day Against the Death Penalty Walk (starts at Bicentennial Park)
  • 10/10, 12pm-7pm: Columbus Community Pride at Mayme Moore Park (240 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd)
  • 10/17, 4:30pm: No Kings Day of Action at the Ohio Statehouse
  • Now! Monday through Friday 8am-5pm Early Voting at your county Board of Elections

Join the First UU Columbus Protesters chat on Signal App

or email our Justice Team for more information.

Youth Reps Needed to Join

the Board of Trustees!

Does your high schooler age 14+ have volunteer service requirements for school, or need governance experience for their academic resume? Teens are invited to serve as representatives to our congregation’s Board of Trustees and attend monthly meetings in pairs, with adult staff support. Get involved all year long, or do a flight of several months if that better fits your schedule. Email Amber to join us!

Seeking Cool Adults to Work w/ Children & Teens!

Our family programs need some extra support! In particular, we are in need of helpers (classroom assistants and subs 1-2 Sundays a month) and teen and tween friendly teachers and advisors (folks comfortable working with middle or high schoolers). Volunteers who can act as a special needs aides are also very helpful! Email Amber to get involved! Background check required.

Democracy Action Hour

Sunday, October 11, 12:30 PM

Each week after the service we take action in community to protect our democracy. This week we’ll be writing postcards to voters to encourage them to make a plan to vote. Learn more about other ways you can get involved with First UU Democracy Team and the national UU the Vote campaign. .

Eco-tip: Plant a Tree for Free This Fall

Final Tree Giveaway October 11 10am – 2pm

Green Columbus’ Linden Nursery, 1142 E. 17th Ave.

Fall is a great time to plant a tree, and Green Columbus is making it easy with three free tree giveaways! Columbus and Franklin County residents can register in advance to select a free tree to plant on their property.
Before digging, call 811 at least 48 hours in advance to have underground utilities marked. Then watch a short video with some great tips on how to plant a tree so you can enjoy the tree for years to come! Planting trees on private property plays an important role in Columbus’ Urban Forestry Master Plan and the City’s goal of reaching 40 percent tree canopy by 2050. Register for your free tree, and help grow Columbus’ canopy — one yard at a time!

Upcoming Classes / Small Groups

Rising Young Adults (RYA)

2nd & 4th Sundays 12:30 – 2:30 pm

Next Meeting October 11

Are you a Young Adult aged 18-24? RYA are a welcoming group of people that can help you through this transitional period of your life while we’re all just trying to figure out how to be adults in this world. Meetings this year will include self care, fundraising plans, and presentations from community members on “How to Adult.”

PS: If you’re NOT Age 18-24, but have specialized knowledge in How to do Taxes, How to change a tire, or Job Hunting tips, please Email us and consider doing a presentation to our group!

Facilitators Needed! Take the Free Training

First UU is making moves to become a more anti-racist community, and we need you to become a trained curriculum facilitator for these programs for all ages! Email Amber to be added to our study cohort for future facilitators (to teach adults, teens, or children). Access the training for free with code mosaic!

Community News

Clintonville Spotlight Covers

Feed & Read Ohio Backpack Event

The October Clintonville Spotlight featured First UU’s August backpack-filling event with Feed & Read Ohio, see page 9. Thank you to everyone who helped prepare backpacks and school supplies for local children and families. Read the Clintonville Spotlight story.

Free Native Cuisine from NAICCO:

Wopila (Thank You) Meal

10/12/2026 4pm – 7pm

67 East Innis Avenue, Columbus, OH 43207
To celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day this year, NAICCO wants to recognize everyone who has lifted them up over the years. In doing so, we want to share a wopila (thank you) meal with as many people as possible to express our gratitude for all the love and support that has been extended our way on countless occasions.

Menu: Mini NDN Tacos, Buffalo Green Chile Stew, Chicken & Wild Rice Soup, and Fry Bread

Parking: Anywhere on the nearby streets

Jewish Writers’ Circle

Wednesday, October 21 7-8:30pm

Back by popular demand, we’re relaunching the Jewish Writers’ Circle with support from the folks at Ritualwell. Participants will explore Jewish wisdom texts, meet new people and deepen relationships, while growing in their writing practice.

Contact Joanie with questions & RSVP

Kind Meetings Conference

Saturday, October 24th 10:00am – 5:00pm

Kindness Conference Looking for More Kind Community? This gathering is for people seeking more community, wanting to make a meaningful difference in our own lives and in the lives of each other, or just hoping to help create something better together.

Let’s Make It! Rather than a traditional conference with speakers and PowerPoint presentations, the Kindness Conference is designed for actually building kind community through guided discussions, shared activities, creative projects, and experiences that help people connect together.

We’ll practice kind skills, make community art, share food, and develop community-based ways to meet needs where existing systems fall short. We hope you can join us and help us spread the word by sharing the conference flyer with anyone who might be interested in building more kind community!

Family Activities

13-15year OWL Begins! This Sunday, 10/11
Register Now: https://firstuucolumbus.org/learning/sunday-school/

9:15am Nouurish Service (sanctuary)

10:00-10:45am Breakfast! 1st come, 1st serve (A/B) Email Robin to help cook!

10:30am-12:30pm Infant/Toddler Care 3mos-3yrs (101) Now Hiring More Sitters!

10:30-12:00pm 13-15yr OWL – First Class! Mandatory Caregiver / Parent Orientation will be after class next week, Sunday, October 18th, at 12:30pm (302)

10:45am-12:15pm 5-7year OWL – closed cohort (402)

10:45am-12:15pm Coming of Age 14yrs-HS senior *cohort closing (301)

11am-12:15pm Justice Seekers 11-14yrs (401)

High Schoolers are invited to attend service, play board / card games in Beach Hall or A/B, work tech team / sitters (age 14+), or volunteer in RE.

11am-12noon Worship Service (sanctuary)

11:15ish-12:15 Spirit Play 3-6yrs: Start in Service Until After Story (102)

11:15ish-12:15 Spirit Play 7-10yrs: Start in Service Until After Story (201)

12:30 Snack! Coffee and Tea (A/B, Beach) Email Robin to help brew and serve!

12:30-2:30 Youth Group! meeting 12yrs-HS senior (401)

12:30-1:00pm Peace Pals Children’s Choir rehearsal 5-12yrs (sanctuary)

1:00-2:30 Navigators Scouting fun and games meeting 5-12yrs (201)