Last Friday we hosted a wonderful public listening project Sidewalk Talk. The founder led us in a two hour training about effective listening. As a minister and someone who specializes in healthy communication, you would think I would know all there is to know about listening! But I still learned some new techniques. We are … Continue reading Friday News – May 16, 2025

One of the things I admire so much about this congregation is the ongoing commitment to social change through the BREAD organization. Working with other congregations across the city to understand the changes that are most needed for our community, and then to meet as a powerful group with city leaders to demand change is … Continue reading Friday News – May 9, 2025

Spring has finally sprung, and summer is just around the corner! I am excited to see everyone again this Sunday. Our church’s Youth Group will be presenting the 11am service, and together we are celebrating our congregation’s graduating high school seniors! There will be no classes during the service – both so that younger siblings … Continue reading Friday News – May 2, 2025

From Monday Noon to Wednesday evening, I attended, via Zoom, a conference of retired UU ministers, well over 200 of us from all parts of the US and Canada. I served with several local ministers on the Worship Planning Team, including our own Rev. Kathleen Fowler. We worked up at our congregation in Lewis Center, using their … Continue reading Friday News – April 25, 2025

When I first began my work with you as Developmental Minister it was a rather rushed decision due to the transitional matching process. My contract stipulated that each year we would revisit the contract and renew for up to seven years. At that time I thought it unlikely I would stay that long. I have … Continue reading Friday News – April 18, 2025

Whenever I write those chirpy words I wonder how happy we really are! I’m sure there is a lot that we are grateful for and even happy about, but my sense is that many of us are “extra crispy” right now. The wearing down of our spirits by the daily assaults can leave us brittle … Continue reading Friday News – April 11, 2025

    I am so excited to announce that we have hired Robin Lawson as our new Congregational Life and Bookkeeping Assistant! Robin is a life-long Unitarian Universalist who has been incredibly active in our congregation and a vital part of so many areas of Congregational Life. Robin is excited to serve the congregation in … Continue reading Friday News – April 4, 2025

Happy Friday! I’ve just learned that for the first time in history, Columbus ranks among the 200 happiest cities in the world! It may be hard to think “happy” is the word for how we feel right now, with the world seeming to be on fire. But I do recognize that we have advantages in … Continue reading Friday News – March 28, 2025

Happy Friday! I have been grateful to see the plants starting to poke up from the ground and grow again around the church building, and to enjoy some sunshine these past few weeks (even though it’s been on and off again with the cold weather)! I am looking forward to things being lush and verdant, … Continue reading Friday News – March 21, 2025

At the mid-year meeting a few weeks ago, we created the above mentimeter above from 277 responses to the Question “What would you like to see more of in the future at First UU?” It was a fun process to watch, and even more interesting for me is to compare it to the one we … Continue reading Friday News – March 14, 2025