After weeks of being away from church recovering from hip replacement surgery I am so looking forward to seeing people again on Sunday! Over the last year, I have enjoyed taking a deep dive into this congregation’s history, decade by decade, with the archives team. I’ll be sharing some of the themes which have emerged … Continue reading Friday News – August 22, 2025

Dear First UU, If you have not yet heard, I have some big news to share with you: I will soon end my time at First UU as your Justice Minister. I am so grateful for you! I could not have asked for a better community in which to work, grow, and learn during the … Continue reading Friday News – August 15, 2025

Thank you to everyone who helped put together 100 backpacks for local children preparing for the new school year! While families prepare for school, First UU Staff is busy finalizing plans and gearing up for the official start to a new church year. Here is some of what you can look forward to! This Sunday, … Continue reading Friday News – August 8, 2025

I hope you will join me and Jacques Angelino this Sunday for a whole-church justice project and service! We will discuss how our UU values support acts of service before working together to fill 100 backpacks with school supplies for local children in need! See you there! 🙂 Rev. Amanda Hays Justice Minister Upcoming Events … Continue reading Friday News – August 1, 2025

One of the great privileges of being a minister is helping loved ones grieve a loss. Performing memorial services gives me an opportunity to learn about the person who died in greater depth, and to assist their loved ones in remembering stories, capturing the meaning of the life lost. I’m a firm believer that this … Continue reading Friday News – July 18, 2025

Happy Friday The School for Young Children (SYC), an outreach program of the church, has been operating for 55 years, enrolling an average of 150 2-5 year old children. Many may not know that SYC was founded here because another pre-school program in Clintonville refused to allow black children to attend. From its inception, the … Continue reading Friday News – July 11, 2025

Please note: First UU’s Offices will be closed July 4–July 11, as many of our staff are attending the Central East Region Summer Institute (CERSI) next week. Happy Friday, & Happy Independence Day! I’ve been visiting friends and colleagues in Boston this week which has been a lovely reconnection for me, especially with some of my elderly friends whom I … Continue reading Friday News – July 4, 2025

Happy Friday! I was deeply touched when Rev. Terasa suggested that I write the message for this week’s Friday News. As I shared at the Annual Meeting, I am taking a church sabbatical this year. I love you all deeply. And, after serving as Treasurer for 12 of the past 22 years of membership, I … Continue reading Friday News – June 27, 2025

Happy Friday! I write this note from Baltimore where I am attending our General Assembly – the gathering of Unitarian Universalists from around the world that happens yearly. It now happens in person only every other year (virtually the other year) so it’s wonderful to see people we haven’t seen for several years. I relish … Continue reading Friday News – June 20, 2025