Author: Brian Hagemann

UUA News – April 2025

As many of us begin to enjoy seasonal changes associated with this time of year—flowers, new growth, and more sunlight—we continue to be bombarded with fear-based attacks on ourselves, our Shared Values, and our loved ones and communities. It is exhausting and deeply troubling. Yet through it all, Unitarian Universalists continue to care for one … Continue reading UUA News – April 2025

We Gather With Love

A Holiday Message from the UUA   Beloveds, As we enter into our holiday season once again, I am suffused with gratitude for all of the ways that UUs have been living their faith boldly in the past year –in your congregation’s ministries, in worship on Sundays, during our historic Climate Justice Revival last September, … Continue reading We Gather With Love

Cirque Kalabanté

CIRQUE KALABANTÉ   When the large drums started beating, four in total, I could feel the sound in my chest. I instantly looked to see how the kids from ROCS were responding. One, two…five, six…I counted ten (there were probably more) steady with their headphones on, while others who didn’t have them (or forgot to … Continue reading Cirque Kalabanté

Holidays at First UU

Come Celebrate the Holidays With Us!   Donate to Holiday Appeal 2025 Here Special Holiday Services Dec. 10 at 7pm – “Sorrow at this Season” Grief Service Dec. 21 at 11am – [rescheduled] Holiday Cookie Fair (buy a box) Dec. 21 at 11am – Winter Solstice Service Holiday Music Events Dec. 12 at 7pm – … Continue reading Holidays at First UU

SYC Scholarship Auction

November 16, 6:30pm Live Auction At the SYC Scholarship Auction on November 16, enjoy good food, drinks, and time with connections new, old, and in between. Tables of treasures, experiences, services, and gift cards will go to the highest silent auction bidder. As a community planned, funded, and executed event, 100% of the proceeds go … Continue reading SYC Scholarship Auction

Wellspring of Hope and Courage

  To our beloved Unitarian Universalist community: Yesterday morning, we awoke to the undeniable reality that the religious and political right’s decades-long strategy to sow fear and division and pit our communities against one another prevailed on the electoral landscape. While there were victories on important issues in state measures and local races, we cannot … Continue reading Wellspring of Hope and Courage

We Are a Sanctuary People

  Dear UU Congregations, We gather on the morning after, in a time of great fear and devastation and very real risk to ourselves and our Beloveds.  There is so much that we cannot yet know.  Even if we know the shape and fear the character of our next governmental administration, we cannot fully know … Continue reading We Are a Sanctuary People

The Cutest Catfish

  OCTOBER 14, 2024 by Celeste Irving , ROCS mom (original blog link) From biking, to fishing, to Adena mounds, and an over-sized eagle’s nest, Highbanks Metro Park has so much to discover. Recently, the ROCS students and staff spent a beautiful fall day there exploring the play areas at the Big Meadow Picnic Area, … Continue reading The Cutest Catfish