Friday News – April 11, 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 and exhausted. For me, participating in the “Hands Off” march gave me a spark of energy, but then we’re back to the grind.

This means that it is easy for this edginess to spill over into our relationships. I know that is the case for me. Small irritations can easily get inflated into outright conflicts in this inflammatory place. It helps for me to pull back in a deliberate way and to remember that the people I sometimes direct my irritation to are not really the problem. Deliberately thinking about what is making us feel like we feel can be a good spiritual practice. To paraphrase an old saying, “to the brokenhearted and anxious, a little grace.” We all need to give and receive a little grace right now.

Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley

Developmental Minister

P. S. Don’t forget to bring your Flowers for this our Flower Ceremony this Sunday! In this fun and beautiful spring ritual is we bring a flower to the service, gather them together and bless them, and our children give everyone a flower to take home. (If you can’t bring a flower it’s ok! Somehow there is always enough for everyone to participate.)

Upcoming Events

2025 Community Passover Seder Potluck

Tonight! April 11 at 6:30pm

Kehilat Sukkat Shalom, a small but mighty Columbus based Reconstructionist-Renewal Jewish community, gratefully meets at the UU church. We would love to invite UU members to join us for our annual, in-person Passover seder!

While Passover is traditionally celebrated in the home, this event provides an opportunity to come together as a community for the ritual feast. Our service and meal will highlight the intersections of old traditions and new interpretations, helping all who attend draw connections to stories of old and contemporary issues that plague us today. Passover is generally a celebration of liberation and freedom from political and religious oppression.
Now in this time, it is more important than ever to come together and remember that another way is possible!

 
RSVP on SignUp Genius

Pathways to Membership Class
Register Now
Saturday, April 12, 9am–1pm

(Light Breakfast at 8:30)

It’s not too late to join the next Pathways to Membership class! We will explore various paths to involvement at First UU and connect you with groups and other members who share similar interests.

There is no obligation to become a member. We invite everyone who has questions or is looking to find points of connection.

Annual Pledge Campaign

This is the final Sunday to pick up your pledge packets in person after worship. Sharing your planned contributions enables First UU’s Staff and Board to responsibly budget the missions of the congregation for the upcoming fiscal year. We appreciate all the ways you contribute to our congregation – Thank you!

This Sunday, April 13

9:15am:

Nouurish Service

Featuring:

The Book With No Pictures

by BJ Novak

Presented by members of the Alternative Worship Team with members of our First UU Community.

Enjoy hot breakfast at 10am! Coffee, tea, & conversation following both services.

11am:

“Hopeful Stories of Earth’s Famous Polluters”

As we near Earth Day, we will playfully reflect on the history of our one earth. What can we learn from times when our interdependent web has been out of balance in the past – and present? This all ages service will include our yearly Flower Ceremony and Child Dedication

Presented by Rev. Amanda Hays

Justice Minister

with Amber Scott, Director

of Religious Exploration and

the First UU Eco-Justice Group

How did we get here?

UU History Workshop

“The 90’s!”

Sunday, April 13, 12:30pm

Where were you May 24, 1997? At a UU Revival? 5 local UU congregations joined together for a day of fun and celebration- a day to renew and re-energize our lives with LOVE for one another!

Find out more about the ’90’s (or share your memories!) on Sunday, April 12, at 12:30-1:30 in the Sanctuary.

Building Beloved Community Beyond the Binary

Saturday, April 26th, from 9:00am-4:30pm!

This is an online UU conference where transgender people, allies, advocates, and accomplices can bravely (and with more safety than usual) explore, learn and grow, bear witness, and be witnessed. There are also workshops for the trans community only, as well as additional workshops for cisgender people who are ready to learn more about how to be an ally.

We are really excited about this year’s keynote: Spencer Bergstedt, who is a trans man, a lawyer, a trans activist, and a parent. You can find him on his Trans Dad channel on Instagram. Register here! Sliding scale, $0-$50.
First UU invites folks to gather at the church to experience the conference together, and we need volunteers to make it happen! We’ll be screening segments in our worship center, and using other spaces for breakouts. Bring a sack lunch, or plan to visit a local restaurant – there are several within walking distance, or a short drive away!

2025 IACO Annual Main Event

Sunday, April 27 from 4:30–7:30 pm

Please RSVP by April 20

Please join IACO for our Annual Main Event at First UU Church. Jeanne Lewis, CEO of Faith in Public Life, will speak on Sacred Solidarity: The Role of Interfaith Leaders in Defending Democracy. There will be a vegetarian potluck to follow. The cost is free, but IACO would greatly appreciate a donation of $15 to underwrite the event costs.

Around The Corner

  • 4/13 History Workshop
  • 4/16 Finance Committee (RSVP)
  • 4/19 Religious Exploration Startup, 10am-4pm
  • 4/23 Board of Trustees (RSVP)
  • 4/26 All Soles Contra & Square Dance (more)
  • 4/27 Anti-Racist Allies Monthly Lunch Outing (Nile Vegan)
  • 4/27 Carpe Diem String Quartet Concert Series Event
  • 4/27 History Workshop
  • 4/27 IACO Interfaith Potluck Event: Sacred Solidarity: The Role of Interfaith Leaders in Defending Democracy (RSVP by April 20)
  • 5/2 First Friday Spaghetti dinner (and Coffee House Talent Show!)
  • 5/4 Pathways to Membership (RSVP to Become a Member)
  • 5/8 Senior Gathering (RSVP)
  • 5/9 Sidewalk Talk Listener Training and Potluck at First UU
  • 5/13 Nehemiah Action at the Celeste Center (Bus from First UU).

Weekly events:

  • Tai Chi for Balance (Tuesdays, 10am)
  • Sacred Song Circle (Wednesdays, 6pm)
  • Co-Working Space (Fridays, 9:30am)

From First UU Leadership

We Need Easter Candy & Swag!
Sunday, April 20th, is our annual Spring Festival! We will be hosting an egg hunt during the 11am service, and throwing color in the style of Holi after the service ends, at 12:30pm! This means we need your donations of Nut-Free, Peanut-Free Easter candy, and other toys / party favors!

To keep the neighborhood squirrels from chewing on our plastic eggs, children will turn in the empty eggs they find in order to pick out prizes – which means that items do not have to be small enough to fit inside an Easter egg! Leave labeled donations in the copy room anytime you are at church. Thank you in advance for your generosity!

Poll of the Week
What makes you Smile?  (Photo or text)
Each week we will have a different poll – please respond by 9am Wednesday. Answer this week’s question on our website to see previous questions & answers.

Oops! We had an error on our form last week – you have one more week to submit a photo or tell us what makes you smile.

Justice & Volunteering

Sow & Tell: DIY Plant Labels with a Sustainable Twist

April 13 after worship in Beach Hall

Bring your empty clean yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese, or other plastic tubs (16 oz size only) and transform them into plant labels for the Sunny Glen Garden Native Plant Sale FUNdraiser for the CCC for PPP to help us be more eco-friendly by recycling old plastic so we don’t need to buy new plastic or wood labels from trees.

Garden Workday: Volunteers needed

Saturday, April 26 9am-Noon

Come help tidy the gardens at First UU and then enjoy lunch afterwards. Volunteers needed even if just for an hour. Helpful to bring garden gloves and a few favorite tools. But all welcome. Questions? Ask Brian Hageman, Dave Richter, or Patricia Boughton

Ohio Feed and Read

This week we are again taking up collections for the Feed and Read program — hygiene items which are so necessary but so often unaffordable for those with few resources. Pick up a green bag and shopping list in the Gallery and return it next week with your donations.

If you’re not able to shop but would like to contribute your time, we would love your help in packing and loading on this Sunday at 12:45.

For more information, See Jacques Angelino on Sundays in Beach Hall during Breakfast and Coffee hour.

Rummage Volunteers Needed!

Drop-off Dates: June 3–5, 2025

Sale Date: June 6–7, 2025

We need YOU to help get us rolling! We need volunteers now to organize and make First UU RUUmage sale great. We need team leaders to recruit and manage volunteers for the big day. Thank you Karen Thimmes for leading our book team! We also need leaders for our remaining Ruumage Teams!

Please schedule your “Spring Cleaning” to coincide with our Drop-off Dates of June 3 – June 5. We will be accepting any Furniture, Electronics, music, sporting goods, tools, gardening supplies, housewares and more! (No clothing please).

Friday June 6th will be Double Dollar Day, and Saturday the 7th will be Ruumage Extravaganza!

Contact Myra Hartmann  to throw your name in the helper hat.

Petitions for a Community Crisis Response System

The Columbus Safety Collective is gathering signatures for a ballot initiative for a comprehensive non-police crisis response system in the city of Columbus. Community Crisis Response Amendment would create a system to respond to non-violent situations, including mental health crises and wellness checks, with social workers, EMTs, and other appropriate responders. If you’re a Columbus resident, you can can sign a petition at the JAM table in Beach Hall after service.

Classes & Groups

Learn more in our Engagement Catalog, and reach out to join!

Garden-Friendly Tip

from the Eco-Justice Team

It’s spring, the perfect time to plant a pollinator garden to help the bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. There are a number of web sites like gardenia.net that can help you get started – whether its a sunny patch in your front or back yard, or in pots on balcony or patio. Also, did you know that swallowtail butterflies lay their eggs on parsley and dill? Create an herb garden to share!

White Fragility Book Group

Tuesdays in May:

May 6, 20 & 27 from 7–8:30pm

Join us in discussing White Fragility: Why it’s so hard for white people to talk about racism by Robin Diangelo. Many copies are available through the Columbus Metropolitan Library. Read the book in April and join us to discuss it in May. We can talk about racism even if it is hard!

Facilitators are Linda Loesch and Rev. Kathleen Fowler. Register online or by signing up at coffee hour. Please join us!

Save the Date

for Nehemiah Action!

Tuesday, May 13, 6:40pm

Your First UU BREAD Team is gearing up for the annual Nehemiah Action!

We invite all to attend this important assembly and join thousands of other justice seekers as we push to Protect Renters & Protect Tree Canopy.

We will have a bus to provide transportation to and from the Celeste Center, departing First UU at 5:45 pm. Get your tickets for $5 per person or $10/family. Please see your Team Leader or stop by the JAM Table after Sunday Service for your ticket. BREAD RISES!

Second Wednesday Book Club

Next Meeting May 14, 7pm

Choose your own Science Book

Photo by Braňo on Unsplash
If you love to read and talk about books and are looking for something to do on the second Wednesday of the month, we’ve got ya covered! You are cordially invited to join the Second Wednesday Book Club, which meets at 7 PM on the second Wednesday of each month, in the library at First UU until October. Participants bring a book to share on a particular genre chosen by the group– we chose Science as our subject for May. Questions? Contact Susan Carr (sept.girl52@gmail.com)

Contact Susan Carr for more information.

Community News

Earth Day at the King Arts Complex

Saturday, April 19, 2025, 10am-3pm

835 Mount Vernon Avenue

Earth Day is a chance to highlight environmental justice, raise awareness about issues affecting marginalized neighborhoods, and celebrate the rich cultural connection many communities have to the land. Programs will focus on sustainability, urban gardening, green spaces, waste reduction, and advocating for policies that protect the environment while addressing racial and economic disparities. The goal is to inspire community action and ensure a healthier future for all, especially in areas that have been historically neglected or impacted by environmental harm.

Art Exhibit Final Week

On display until April 20

Be sure to view our latest exhibit by First UU artsts during its’s final week here at First UU. Enjoy works from “Natured Distilled” by UU Katherine Lawson (in India Ink, Water media and collage) and by Helen Yee (paintings on east wall of worship center).

Family Activities

RSVP for the RE Start-Up 4/19!

Everyone is invited to join us from 10am-4pm, on Saturday, April 19th – to help reimagine multigenerational and family programming within our congregation! Whether you raised your kids at First UU or SYC decades ago, are a current participating family or teacher, are thinking of joining the RE Team, or are new and simply interested in learning more, this event is for you! Please RSVP for lunch and childcare! Featuring facilitator Cassandra Montenegro, a member of our regional UUA staff team.

This Sunday, April 13th!

Don’t forget to bring flowers to share with our community, at the 11am service!

As we near Earth Day, we will playfully reflect on the history of our one earth. What can we learn from times when our interdependent web has been out of balance in the past – and present? This All Ages service includes two beautiful First UU traditions, the Flower Ceremony and a ritual of Child Dedication! (No classes during service).

9:15am-10am Nouurish Multigenerational Service (sanctuary)

10-10:30am Breakfast, and Coffee until 11am (A/B, Beach Hall)

10:30am-12:30pm Infant and Toddler Care (101)

No Classes Today: Families Are Asked to Attend Service Together

11am-12noon Flower Ceremony & Child Dedication Service (sanctuary)

12noon-1:00pm Snack and Coffee (Beach Hall, A/B)

12:30-2:30pm Youth Group, 12yrs-HS senior (402)

12:30-2:30pm Rising Young Adults, 18-26yrs (302)

1:00-2:30pm Navigators Scouting Hike (offsite)

Help Needed: seeking scout troop & Youth Group volunteers! Email Amber, or fill out this interest form! Families: please register here.

Register Now for Peace Camp in August!

We can’t wait to see you this summer! More info, and registration here!

  • Session A: for 6-8 years, Monday 7/28 – Friday 8/1, 9am-12noon
  • Session B: for 8-11 years, Monday 8/4 – Friday 8/8, 9am-12noon

Bring flowers for the 11am service!

Time for All Ages story this week!

9:15am Nouurish:

The Book With No Pictures