Happy Friday!

I’m so excited to see many of you this Sunday and share in our Flower Ceremony with you. The Flower Ceremony comes into our Unitarian Universalist tradition from our Unitarian siblings in Czechoclovakia. This will be a multisensory, multigenerational service celebrating the gift of new life that every spring brings, as well as our interconnection with one another and every living being!

If you are unfamiliar with the Flower Ceremony, the way that it works is that each participant brings a flower to the service to grace our worship center, and at the end, everyone receives one of those flowers, though not the one they brought. You can bring a flower that you grew, found, or bought. It can be a tulip, a lilac, a dandelion, any kind of flower – “weeds” are beautiful too! And don’t worry, if you forget a flower, there will be extra. This year, we encourage you to bring your flower in a white plastic yogurt or cottage cheese container, like this:

After the service, we have a hands-on project in Beach Hall to support our Share the Plate Partner, Connecting Community Corridors for People, Pollinators, and the Planet (CCC for PPP) by folding seed packets and cutting plant labels from the yogurt and cottage cheese containers we brought in. These will be used for CCC for PPP’s Native Plant Sale on May 18.

We also have lots of upcoming opportunities to tune into spring, Earth Day, and Eco-Justice outside of Sunday mornings through service, learning, and advocacy. Whether you’re interested in planting a tree, climate policy, or eating a good meal together, check out the rest of Friday News to learn more!

Amanda Hays (she/her)
Justice Minister
amanda@firstuucolumbus.org

“Woven Into the Web of Life”

Sunday, April 14

Presented by Justice Minister Amanda Hays
and Director of Religious Exploration Amber Scott

Come celebrate the new life that spring brings and explore our interdependence with the web of all existence – with trees and flowers, with squirrels and snakes. This will be a multigenerational, multisensory service woven of story, song, meditation, and ritual. Please bring a flower with you for our Flower Ceremony. If you can, bring your flower in a white plastic yogurt or cottage cheese container for an upcycling project with Connecting Community Corridors for People, Pollinators, and the Planet in Beach Hall after the service.

On Sunday, April 14, Anti-Racist Allies (ARA) will continue monthly visits to black-owned restaurants with a trip to the delectable Can’t Believe It’s Vegan at 584 W. Schrock Rd., Westerville. All are welcome to gather after the service in the foyer and carpool. Vegans, vegetarians and carnivores will not be disappointed by Chef Clayton Freeman’s tasty creations.

Network members and Future Network members—Bring lists of people (including children) committed to attending the Nehemiah Action to get their tickets.

Consider joining our new Worship Associates Program: participate in monthly planning meetings and help craft four worship services per year. We will be gathering to discuss this program on Saturday, May 4 from 1-4pm, and we will formally launch in September. Fill out this form if you are interested!

-Rev. Terasa (she/her)
Developmental Minister
terasa@firstuucolumbus.org

What fills your heart? Feeds your spirit? Challenges you? Connects you? Makes you want to dance or sing?

Do you have a Story?
We all do.
Let’s Share them with each other!
We strengthen our UU Community as we begin our stories…

The Transition team invites you to participate in an interactive Art Project:

Come to Beach Hall and find the Story Tree and the Listening Heart. Write the beginning of your story on a card, sign your name, and swap stories with another person! Place your cards on the Tree or Heart together.

Contact Deb Baillieul or another member of the Transition team with ideas or to share your stories!

Mark your calendar for two important congregational meetings. Following the service on May 19 Rev. Terasa and the Transitions Team will be presenting a Developmental Ministry Report that will offer reflections on the developmental work we’ve been engaging in so far this year, as well as plans for the future. There will be opportunities for questions as well.

On June 9 we will be holding our Annual Meeting following the service, at which we will vote on new officers and the budget. We will be sending out a written Annual Report prior to this meeting including updates from staff and key committees and areas of ministry.

Tuesday May 14 – 15th, 8am-3:30pm 
Fees are covered by the Columbus City Schools

Restorative Practices are not just for schools. They are used in settings of all kinds to build relationships and solve problems as a community. RP training can benefit you in every aspect of your life—work, church, and family.

Columbus City Schools (CCS) is hosting a 2 Day intensive training targeted specifically to BREAD leaders & Community Members. This training is free to community members and focuses on how to use Restorative Practices in everyday scenarios. Help restore our community by learning the model from the International Institute for Restorative Practices.

Register by Wednesday, April 17 using the Online registration form. Please note: The registration form appears to be for CCS staff – Don’t let that deter you!  Simply enter “BREAD” or “Community Member” as your “Job Position” when you sign up.

About the First UU Library

Did you know that First UU has a library, and it’s not just for meetings? It’s true! The library is open whenever the church is open, although it isn’t available if a meeting or other event is using the space.

Plant a tree (or a bush)!
Celebrate Earth Day at Spruce Run Nature Center

April 20, 9am–2pm

Grab your favorite gardening gloves and wear boots, you have the opportunity to help plant trees, shrubs, and water plants at Spruce Run Nature Center April 20th. Coincedentally, Spruce Run is also holding a free, family friendly Earth Day Celebration that same day 9am–2pm. In addition to planting, there are opportunities to creek and create seed art. Planters need not register and may stay and help until dusk. The Nature Conservancy is providing tools and some gloves if you need them. Spruce Run Nature Center is owned by the Columbus City Schools and is located at 4175 Sunbury Road, Galena. See Dana Reynolds for more information.

Sukkat Shalom
Pre-Passover Pilgrimage

April 21, 3–5:00pm
Blendon Woods Metro Park

A-S-H Meeting Program:
Meet the Citizens Climate Lobby

April 23, 7:00pm

The Citizens Climate Lobby – who are they, and what do they do? [Hint: they’re local, national, and global – trying to save the future for our grandkids]. Come join A-S-H at our April meeting to learn more about local efforts to address climate change at the policy level – and where/how we can get involved.

In May: Meet the local ACLU.  Email Tom Baillieul with questions about future ASH programs.

Expressive Worship is Moving!

April 23, 6:30pm

Our monthly art centered worship service is moving to 4th Tuesday’s at 6:30pm starting this month. See you in Beach hall on the 23rd for a service about pluralism; focused specifically on how there can be room for multiple different things within something else. All abilities and ages are welcome, bring your own supplies or use those provided.

2024 is on track to be one of the hottest years on record. This is bad news for those central Ohioans living in houses and apartments that lack air conditioning. For the elderly and the very young the situation can be life-threatening.  The Life Care Alliance annually runs a fan collection and donation program for Franklin County residents to combat this problem.

The First UU Eco-Justice team needs volunteers to help lead a fan donation project for our congregation. We will coordinate with The Life Care Alliance, draft creative communications, host collection events, and coordinate delivery of fans. What a “cool” opportunity to help our community! Interested? Email Tom Baillieul to join the project!

The Interfaith Association of Central Ohio and The Church for All Peopleare hosting this event. Please register by April 21 and join us for as much time as you can spare.  We will meet at The Church for All People, 946 Parsons Avenue, Columbus, OH 43206 at 2:30 pm for a brief overview, then split into work groups to pick up litter, plant trees, work in the garden, or cook the shared meal.  A vegetarian spaghetti dinner, music, and dancing will be from 6 – 8 pm.  Please bring a vegetarian side dish or dessert that serves 8 to share if you are planning to stay for dinner.

• Peace Camp A (6-8yrs) 9am-12noon M-F, 7/29-8/2 Register Now!
• Peace Camp B (9-11yrs) 9am-12noon M-F, 8/5-8/9 Register Now!