The conference was wonderful. Rev. Wendy Fish, another Emerita here was there, and other members of our congregation who are retired ministers. Somehow, the Zoom flow worked perfectly throughout, even with all those people. My ordinary anxiety with all tech things ebbed in a short time, I ended up enjoying wonderful conversations with colleagues in breakout rooms.

The stories! When ministers get together, I am most often best moved by the stories we share,

stories of our anxieties, mistakes, regrets, yes, but stories that illustrate the fortune and great joys of this work, despite the crises and bumps in the road. We heard two full Odysseys, which is our word for an autobiography. This time, a collegial spouse and a ministerial colleague offered Odysseys. Both were profoundly moving and awe-inspiring in different ways. And for those of you who are Doonesbury fans, the character of Rev. Scott Sloan was partially based on one of us, Rev. Scott McClellan, who was Gary Trudeau’s undergrad roommate.

Some retired colleagues are widowed, some are in retirement communities; some, even in their 90’s, are living on farms or in busy city centers. But our experiences over-lap. We all know joy and grief and hurting bodies, and are great companions to each other.

See you Sunday.

Rev. Dr. Marco Belletini

Minister Emeritus

Our Graduating High Schoolers will be Recognized 5/4

Sign up now! This form is due by midnight Wednesday, April 30th! Graduating youth and families are invited to attend in person – but this is not required. Bridging seniors also receive gifts from the congregation!

All Soles Contra Dance

Saturday, April 26 7:30-10:30pm

Happy Springtime! Tomorrow we will dance to the calling of Kim Thompson (from Athens) and the music of The Pegheads. The Pegheads consists of Mike Eberle, Michael Allen, and Karen Mortland (fiddle), Barry Chern (mandolin), Liz Harzoff (banjo), Bonny Shiplet (guitar), Bethany Schellin (piano), and Jody Dorrell (bass).

Cost is $10 for adults, $5 ages 12-25.

New to dancing? A beginners’ session, from 7:30 to 8:00 PM, will get you started. You will learn some basic figures that will be repeated in the evening’s dances. All dances will be taught and no partner is needed. Dancing is from 8:00 to 10:30 PM. Please bring your own refillable water bottle.

Annual Pledge Campaign

All remaining Pledge packets went out in the mail this week! Members can fill out and submit the paper form, enter pledges in Realm, or on First UU’s Website. Thank you for all the ways you contribute to our congregation!

Anti-Racist Allies Lunch at Nile Vegan Restaurant

Sunday, April 27, 12:30 pm

Garden Workday: Volunteers needed

TOMORROW, April 26 9am-Noon

Help tidy the gardens at First UU – ven if just for an hour – then enjoy lunch afterwards! We will provide a variety of tools, and guidance for where to jump in. All are welcome, regardless of outdoor/green thumb skills. Bring garden gloves if you have them. Big thanks to Patricia Boughton for organizing!

Packet with Purpose: Upcycled Seed Envelopes for Growing Together

Sun, Apr 27, 12:30 am – 1:30 pm

Sunny Glen Garden is a local seed hub in partnership with the Cooperative Garden Coalition to distribute free vegetable seeds to underserved areas in Columbus. We are making packets folded from recycled scrap paper and repackaging donated seeds for distribution at CCC for PPP events – you are welcome to join us in creating this possibility!

Carpe Diem String Quartet

Sunday, April 27 at 2:00 pm

Join Carpe Diem String Quartet in their last concert of the 24-25 season, “Toward the Night”. Featuring works by Fujiwara, Satoh, and Haydn, this concert is sure to be a highlight of our First UU Concert Series as it winds its way toward the end of the year. First UU members receive a $10 discount. Buy your tickets online or at the door!

Sidewalk Talk Listening Skills Training

Public conversation project, Sidewalk Talk, is on a nationwide bus tour, and stopping in Columbus May 9. We will be hosting their listening skills training from 12 -2pm and all are welcome to attend. How to get involved:

Share the story of Columbus! / Join the training! / Sign up to listen!

May Day – National Day of Action

Thursday, May 1, 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Come to the Ohio Statehouse this May Day to demand public schools over private profits, healthcare over hedge funds, housing over homelessness. This is part of a national day of action organized by a broad coalition, including teachers’ unions. To coordinate with First UUers at the action, arrange carpooling, and hear about future protest news, ask Amanda how to join the First UU Signal app group.

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 have bus transportation to and from the Celeste Center, departing First UU at 5:45 pm. Bus tickets are $5 per person or $10/family. See your Team Leader or stop by the JAM Table after Sunday Service to get your tickets and yellow shirts. BREAD RISES!

Side With Love T-Shirts Available

Available to purchase for $25 Sundays

The Justice Action Ministry (JAM) team has a fresh supply of Yellow Side with Love T-shirts available for all your protesting / public witness needs. Wear these shirts when you attend protests, the BREAD Nehemiah Action, and other justice events to be able to pick out your fellow UU’s, and to spread the message to Side With Love! We have Adult Small – 5xl available for sale after worship this Sunday for $25. You can also pick them up online through the UUA book store, InSpirit!

Eco-Tip: Opt In to Green Gaming

Video games in the United States each year alone create more greenhouse pollution than 5 million cars. If you play video games, consider switching into eco mode. The studios behind many popular video games have begun offering that option to help shrink gamers’ energy use. Since these modes are optional, you might have to go into your game settings to opt in. Most gamers won’t notice the minor differences in graphics quality — but using power-saving mode can have a noticeable impact on greenhouse emissions.

Rummage Volunteers Needed!

Drop-off: June 3–5 / Sale: 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. Contact Myra Hartmann.

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!

First UU Christian Fellowship

May 5: wrap up current study

1st and 3rd Mondays, 6:30-8:00 on Zoom

Join this Bible study and discussion group that meets twice a month on Zoom. Our current study is “Faith Working Thru Love: Discover Biblical Wisdom about a Christian Ethic of Work” from N.T. Wright. This is a free, online study. All are welcome!

White Fragility Book Group

Tuesdays, 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!

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

Free to Be Community Movement Practice

1st & 3rd Wednesdays, starting 5/7, 6:45–8:30pm

Offered sliding scale, by Whitney Dawn Pyles! Please register if able, suggested donation $15–$40 per class. Free to Be is a welcoming, drop-in movement experience designed to support presence, expression, and connection—through the body, in community. In a world that often pulls us away from ourselves and one another, this series offers a chance to pause, move, and remember that healing, play, and connection are all still available to us. This is an 18+, beginner-friendly space for nervous system support, creative exploration, and meaningful connection. After the session, we’ll hold informal space to gather—feel free to bring a non-alcoholic drink or snack for yourself or to share.

Senior Gathering

May 8, 10:45am–1pm

Attention Senior Members! Please plan to attend the Senior Gathering on Thursday, May 8, 2025. Music and program will begin at 10:45am in the Worship Center, followed by a full lunch in Beach Hall. A vegetarian option is always provided; we are sorry we cannot accommodate other dietary restrictions. Email your RSVP by May 4!

Second Wednesday Book Club

Choose your own Science Book! May 14, 7pm

This Sunday, April 27th!

*Children participating in Spirit Play classes need to remain with their parent or caregiver until after the story. Classroom drop off for Spirit Play begins after we finish the story and exit the service, so that teachers can set up. Thank you!

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)

10:30am-12:15pm 13-14yr OWL (302)

11am-12:15pm Coming of Age (401)

11am-12:15pm Building Your World MS/HS (301)

11am-12noon Worship Service incl. Time For All Ages (sanctuary)

11:15am-12:15pm (starts after story) 3-6yr Spirit Play (102)

11:15am-12:15pm (starts after story)* 7-10yr Spirit Play (201)

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

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

1:00-2:30pm Navigators Scouting meeting, 5-18yrs (201, playground)

Help needed: seeking volunteers to work w/ kiddos and teens, this year and next!

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