Friday News – August 4, 2023

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It’s August…..the best month of the year! (I may be a little biased seeing as how my anniversary, my start date of working here at First, my ordination, and my birthday are all in August.) But seriously, happy August! I know that this month comes with a lot of change, and therefore a lot of different emotions for different people – the end of summer vacation, kids going back to school, sending kids off to college, and the beginning of new ministries.

Speaking of new ministries….a HUGE welcome to Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley! Rev. Terasa started her work with us on Tuesday, August 1st and has already had a full schedule. Please see her welcome message to the congregation below!

We also want to send a HUGE welcome to our new Office Administrator, Becca Morse! Becca will have steady hours beginning in September, but she is around a couple of hours each week during August. And of course, you can reach her by calling the front office or emailing her at becca@firstuucolumbus.org.

A few reminders:

– If you have not completed your July 1, 2022 – June 30 2023 pledge yet, or if you aren’t sure if you’ve completed it, please reach out to Joe.
– If you are a leader of a group or a class and would like to be in our Engagement Catalog, participate in our Fall Engagement Fair, and would like to be recognized as an official group of the church, please let me know! Andi and I are working on getting all groups set up in the database, and we want to make sure that we don’t miss anyone, and that we can support you fully! Please send me:

  1. the name of your group/class,
  2. the name and contact information for the group contact,
  3. when your group/class meets,
  4. and a brief paragraph describing your group.

Thank you everyone!

Blessings friends,
Rev. Kelli McNeal
Minister of Congregational Life
kelli@firstuucolumbus.org
(614)706-3282

The deadline for Friday News submissions is 8:00pm Wednesdays. To request a submission to the newsletter, email announcements@firstuucolumbus.org
Deadline for Sunday service materials is 11:00am Thursday morning.
REV. TERASA IS HERE!!

 Questions!
 Rev. Terasa Cooley

Hi all, I’ve begun my work with you! I’m sure you have lots of questions about me and how I will be working with you. Here’s a few I can answer: I’ll be conducting my first service next Sunday, the 13th, but I will be in attendance this Sunday, Aug 6.
I will be in the office Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Mondays are my days off and Friday is when I write. I do best when you make an appointment to see me. And I’m happy to meet with anyone who so chooses! My email is up and running: terasa@firstuucolumbus.org (please note the unusual spelling of my name!)

As for the rest, we’ll have plenty of time for both questions and answers. I’ll be introducing myself and my understanding of developmental ministry in my first service. Again, please feel free to reach out!

Terasa

Rev. Dr. Terasa G. Cooley, AIM
Devolopmental Minister
(She / Her / Hers)

(617) 816-7231 – Cell
Announcements at a Glance

* Indicates New or Updated Announcement
CONGREGATIONAL UPDATES
  • Greetings From Your Board of Trustees *
  • Calling All 1st UU Artists for upcoming Exhibit – 1st UU Artist Exhibit submissions 8/27
  • 1st UU Art Exhibit “Being on the Side of Love”  9/1 – 10/9
  • Music News*
  • Summer Read: Transforming Conflict, by Rev. Terasa Cooley
SUNDAY SERVICES
  • This Sunday: 1st UU Poets  8/06 at 10am *
  • Sunday 8/13 – Rev. Terasa Cooley “Our Paths Converge”
  • SUMMARY: Upcoming Services
EVENTS
  • First UU Takes Action for Democracy!*
  • Next AUUction Coming Up!*
  • Join the Coffee Team!
  • Fourth Friday Picnics in the Park! – 8/25, 9/1
  • BREAD:  Juvenile Justice Part 2
  • Upcoming Auction Events
  •  Funeral Consumer Alliance of Central Ohio in Beach Hall
  • Bring Your Friends to Peace Camp!
  • Labor Day Retreat @ Hocking Hills 9/2 – 9/4
  • SUMMARY: Events Calendar
CLASSES AND GROUPS
  • SUMMARY: Classes and Groups
WIDER COMMUNITY
  • SUMMARY: Community Events
FAMILY ACTIVITIES
  • Volunteer to Teach Next Year!
  • SUMMARY: Family Events
CONGREGATIONAL UPDATES
Greetings From Your Board of Trustees

Reverend Terasa Cooley officially started at First UU this week. We are excited she is here! When you see her around the building or town please give her a warm welcome.

Thank you to the congregants who attended the “GA in Under 2 Hours” session on Sunday July 23. Your delegates were able to share the breadth of their GA experience, answer great questions, and hold a good discussion. If you are curious about GA and would like to experience a little bit of GA for yourself, you can watch the three major worship services and all the general sessions at https://www.uua.org/ga/off-site/2023

We are closing out our time with Hope for Us (a wrap-up session is anticipated later in the Fall). We want to thank all of our Hope for Us team members for their work and support of First UU Columbus over this past year. In case you missed the July 7th Friday News with the Hope for Us recordings, you can find the links below.

Get ready to join some of your Board members, fellow congregants, and Rev Terasa Cooley at our Annual Multi-Generational Labor Day Retreat. Unfortunately, costs have increased. And, we will do our best to assist folks who need financial help. There will be hikes, sing-a-longs, campfires, a talent show, worship, happy hour, and PEEK! We’ll gather from Saturday, September 2nd for lunch, until Monday morning after breakfast, at Camp Oty’Okwa in Hocking Hills. You can register here: Register for the Labor Day Retreat

*As a reminder, the Board is switching its meeting date and will now meet on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Our next Board meeting will be Wednesday August 23rd at 7:00pm.

Your First UU Board of Trustees,   Billy Davidson, Su Ann Farnlacher, Sarah Mayabb, Julie Pinsonneault, Chris Sullivan, and Cindy Whicker
Calling all 1st UU Artists!! 
It’s time to get ready for our fall UU Artists exhibit-“Being on the Side of Love.”  Let’s welcome our new minister and congregation with what we love to do, make art, talk with friends, sing together, walk in nature,  share poetry, read books, solve problems, unite in a cause and more.  Drop off is Sunday August 27th.  Make sure your pieces are ready to be hung.  This exhibit will be Sept 1- Oct 29.  Questons? Contact Deb Baillieul 614-697-6968
Justice & Art
 Take some time to look at the art-  “Pay It Forward,” by Jim Fussell, painter, social justice activist and incarcerated person.  What do you do 40 years in prison?  Jim paints and donates these to people and organizations so that they can find ways to benefit the community.  Sale of Jim’s paintings will benefit the Ohio Justice and Policy Center.  Take time to read his story—in the Gallery and Worship Center.
Q’s? contact Deb Baillieul debbsyc@yahoo.com
MUSIC NEWS! 
Do you enjoy singing? Maybe you’ve thought many times about being a part of one of our choirs? There are several opportunities coming up just for you!

Our last Summer Pick-Up Choir will be THIS Sunday, August 6. Michaela Brown, director of Spirit of Life Choir, will be teaching and directing “Will There Really Be a Morning?” starting at 9 am in the Worship Center. Everyone will be learning it together for the first time, and then we will sing it during the 10 am worship service. I hope to see you there!

Our choirs will begin their regular seasons in late August, and while it’s never too late to join, this is a great time to do so (or to return if you’ve taken a break for awhile!). Spirit of Life Choir rehearses on Tuesdays, 6:30-8:00 pm in the Worship Center. Their first rehearsal is Tuesday, August 29. This rehearsal will actually begin with a potluck at 6:00 pm: a chance for returning members to catch up and new and interested members to meet and greet others. Chalice Choir rehearses on Thursdays, 7:30-9:30 pm in the Worship Center. Their first rehearsal is Thursday, August 31 and will also begin with a potluck in Beach Hall at 6:30 pm. EVERYONE is welcome in both of these choirs, regardless of your experience or ability to read music. Just come with an open mind and a willing voice and heart!

There will be a very exciting special opportunity for our youth to sing in our first-ever Youth Pop-Up Choir. This will be held on Sunday, Oct. 15 and will be similar to a Summer Pick-Up Choir experience: youth should show up at 9:00 am to the Worship Center and will learn on the spot a song to sing during the 10 am service. I sincerely hope you will come be a part of this inaugural event!

Finally, we will be announcing our First UU Concert Series dates in the coming weeks, so check this news for updates. Concerts will include performances by the Carpe Diem String Quartet, the Jake Reed Jazz Trio, singer-songwriter Katy Oberle, and even our own fabulous pianist Nathan Hamm! Dates will be announced soon.

If you have any questions about our musical offerings, please do not hesitate to reach out to our Director of Music, Brandon Moss (bra…@firstuucolumbus.org).

Congregational Summer Read
This summer, many folks in our congregation are reading Transforming Conflict as part of our preparation to do developmental work alongside Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley.If you have not yet purchased a copy of Rev. Cooley’s book, Transforming Conflict, copies ($22 each) will be available in Beach Hall after Sunday services. Rev. Terasa has suggested that we add this to our Summer reading lists.
SUNDAY SERVICES
8/06: 1st UU Poets’ Service
Join us for our Sunday service at 10am on August 6th. Our Poetry service includes original works by Steve Abbott, Tom Barlow, Barb Fredin Fiorini, Pat Snyder & Bill Hurley.  The service will discuss how the art of poetry satisfies humankind’s need to explore human experience.
Upcoming Services Summary
  • 8/6 -“From Homer to Hip Hop:”  Poetry Service:  Steve Abbott, Tom Barlow, Barb Fredin Fiorini, Pat Snyder
  • 8/13 – Service “Our Paths Converge” Led by Rev Terasa Cooley

Monthly Themes

  • Summer: Delight
  • September: Welcome
UPCOMING EVENTS
First UU Takes Action for Democracy!
Write letters to help Ohioans Vote on Sunday, July 30, after the service!
Ohio has a new Voter ID law, and many voters may not be aware of that. Our Democracy Team is partnering with VoterRiders to get the word out. We’re writing to Ohioans who have voted in the past with forms of ID that are no longer accepted (like utility bills), and sending them information on the new ID requirements and how to contact VoterRiders for help in getting the needed ID. So far we’ve sent more than our initial goal of 300 letters to voters. Thank you to everyone who has helped. This will be our final Sunday writing letters before the election; we hope to hit 500 letters. Join us in Beach Hall after the service.

August 8 Special Election: Make a Plan to Vote
Ohio has a special election on August 8. There is only one question on the ballot, Issue 1, a constitutional amendment that would:

  • Make it harder to pass future amendments: amendments would need 60% of the vote to pass instead of a simple majority
  • Make it harder to get future amendments on the ballot: campaigns would need to gather signatures from all 88 counties instead of just 44, and the cure period would be eliminated

Issue 1 is specifically aimed at making it harder to pass the abortion rights amendment that’s expected to be on the November ballot. However, it would affect all future amendments, such as the anti-gerrymandering ballot campaign planned for next year. Many voter rights organizations from the League of Women Voters to the ACLU have come out against Issue 1. As UUs, our fifth principle describes our commitment to the use of the democratic process in our society. We hope you’ll consider how Issue 1 will affect democracy in Ohio, and turn out the polls to make your voice heard.

Make a plan to vote! You have three options:

• Vote by mail: You can no longer request a mail-in ballot. Return your absentee ballot soon. Ballots must be postmarked by Monday, August 7. You can also drop off your ballot at the dropbox at your county Board of Elections until 7:30 PM on Tuesday, August 8.

• Vote early in person at your county Board of Elections. (For Franklin County, that is 1700 Morse Rd.) You will need a valid photo ID to vote in person. Hours:

Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Sunday, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Closed on Monday.

• Vote in person on Tuesday, August 8. Check your polling location; it may be different than usual for this election. You will need a valid photo ID to vote in person

Questions? Ask at the JAM table or email
contact-democracyandhumanrights@firstuucolumbus.org.
Next AUUCTION Coming Up! 
HaUUnted First UU Fall Festival and Auction will start in just two months. Do you own a business or patronize a business that would like some new customers? We are busy soliciting donations from local Clintonville businesses, but we UUs live everywhere. Local merchants have donated gift cards, meals, services, and goods. If you would like to make a business donation or can secure one, please send us the details at auction@firstuucolumbus.org. In the meantime, start again thinking which of your summer activities would make an interesting excursion, tasty dinner, or other offering for the 2023 Auction.  Look for more information coming soon in the mail.
Join the Coffee Team!
Do you like coffee? How about people? Would you appreciate a low commitment way to get more involved at church? Come be a part of our coffee ministry on Sunday mornings!

Sign up at this link! There are detailed instructions in the kitchen cabinet, or you can shadow on a morning if you prefer an in-person how-to. Want to know more about what the job entails? Email Christine!
Fourth Friday Picnics at the Park!
Over the summer months our regular spaghetti dinner shifts to a BYO picnic. Meet us at the lower playground picnic area in Whetstone park from 5:30-8pm for some laid back socializing. Bring food for yourself, maybe a lawn chair or two, or even a game, and enjoy the (almost) summer evening with First UU friends!

TWO MORE Upcoming summer picnic dates:  8/25 and 9/1. Rain Location: Beach Hall. In the event of rain, a notice will be put on the Facebook group, and we’ll fall back to Beach Hall.
Juvenile Justice Part 2

Columbus City Schools
Problem: 
  •  In the Columbus City Schools, our research shows that kids receive varying degrees of discipline when they are disruptive, insubordinate, and/or bully other kids. The discipline is inconsistent and likely ineffective in reducing future incidents. It punishes kids rather than restores them to the community.
  • Suspensions are one example of this response. Suspensions punish children without any real attempt to understand the root of the problem and may actually make the problem worse.
  • According to the Ohio Department of Education, during the 2015-16 school year, Columbus City Schools had 26,473 out of school suspensions. Strictly by the numbers, that is more than one suspension for every two students. Some schools had more suspensions than students!
The vast majority of these suspensions are for disruptive behavior; a category that is very broad and ambiguous.  
  • Children and teens that get suspended are more likely to fail, drop out, end up in prison or on welfare.
  • Studies have shown that zero tolerance discipline policies often push students out of classrooms and toward the destructive school-to-prison pipeline, even for minor misbehaviors (Kirwan Institute).
  • Using national longitudinal data that tracked a cohort of 10th graders, the researchers estimated that 10th grade school suspensions result in more than 67,000 additional high school dropouts nationally. Cumulatively, the total cost of the 67,000 additional dropouts caused by school suspensions nationally exceeds $35 billion (UCLA Center for Civil Rights Remedies).
  • Students can enter the juvenile justice system from the schools. In the 2015-16 school year, all but 4 of the high schools had school resource officers (that is police officers) present. If a student commits a crime, the officer can arrest them or issue a summons to appear in court. They said they don’t have any alternatives.
Solution:
➢      Restorative Practices is an alternative to suspensions. Restorative practices “reduce crime, violence and bullying, improve human behavior, strengthen civil society, provide effective leadership, restore relationships, and repair harm” (International Institute for Restorative Practices).
  • In 2016, BREAD worked with the School District to set up a plan to reduce suspensions and improve school climate.
  • At our 2017 Nehemiah Action, former Superintendent Dan Good agreed to send representatives with BREAD leaders to Pittsburgh Public Schools to see Restorative Practices in action.
  • On November 1st, BREAD Leaders, Members of the Columbus School Board, Columbus City Schools Administration including the interim Superintendent, and members of the Columbus Education Association toured 5 different schools in Pittsburgh.
  • After seeing the success in Pittsburgh, Columbus City Schools Administration agreed with BREAD that the best way to achieve fidelity was with training by the International Institute for Restorative Practices.
  • In April 2018, they presented a proposal to use Federal funds for training by the IIRP and the Columbus School Board voted yes!  That summer, over 100 staff received training and 36 of those staff went on to be certified by the IIRP to train others.
  • In 2018, BREAD also co-hosted a Community Summit “Breaking the School to Prison Pipeline and Restoring Our City”with CCS to educate the wider community in Restorative Practices and create more buy-in from teachers and staff in the district as well as families and community members.
  • In March 2020, the spread of COVID-19 caused schools to move to remote learning so training and monitoring of RP was paused.  However, once schools opened back up, BREAD met with the School Board and Superintendent to plan ahead for getting Restorative Practices back on track.
  • Thanks to BREAD’s persistence, in 2022, the School Board officially added Restorative Practices professional development and coaching to the Board’s Goals and Guardrails.
  • At our Nehemiah Action May 2022, we celebrated the written goal in the District’s 5 Year plan to implement Restorative Practices in every school by 2026
  • As an extension of that commitment, the Board added that progress on this goal will now be included in the Superintendent’s annual evaluation, a request BREAD had pushed for back in 2019
  • 4 high schools are part of a pilot program with a special focus on Student-Led Restorative Practices
  • Their goal is to have 10% of the students in those schools trained so they can shift the culture and set an example of the behavior change that other students could follow.
  • BREAD plans on continuing to work with the Columbus City Schools Administration and the School Board to ensure a strong implementation and integration of Restorative Practices into our schools

BREAD Rises!
Below are the final unsold items for this Friday’s news email under Auction and Fall Festival.  Many spots are still available, and hopefully we can sell a few of these spots.
To read a full description of the remaining auction items STILL FOR SALE, please go to the auction website. If you would like to purchase a spot or spots, please contact the Auction Team.

C1:  Swim & Light Dinner                                            Fri., Aug. 4 at 5 pm
1 spots – $30, offered by Karen Torvik

E10:  Annual Summer Fossil Hike                          Sat., Aug. 12 at 8:30 am
16 spots – $20 per spot, offered by Steve Molk

MM24:  Cajun/Creole Feast                                       Sat., Aug. 12 at 5 pm
14 spots – $35 per spot, offered by Jake Huber & Georgeann Neuzil

MM17:  True Comfort Food                                         Fri., Aug. 25 at 6 pm
1 spot – $45, offered by Pat Snyder & Jane Tessier

C5:  Lake House Retreat for UU Women (Long Weekend)     Sept. 14 – 17
2 spots – $55 per spot, offered by Stewart & Nancy Rafert

E15:  Clintonville Stroll                                         Sun., Sept. 17 at 1:30 pm
12 spots – $15 per spot, offered by Heather Pierson

E5:  Fall Outdoor Labyrinth Walk                               Sat., Sept. 23 at 1 pm
32 spots – $15 per spot, offered by the Saveson-Otten Family

C8:  Bike Ride & Caprese Dinner                                Fri., Sept. 29 at 6 pm
3 spots – $25 per spot, offered by Amanda Hays

MM31:  Afternoon Tea at Mozart’s Cafe                     Fri., Oct. 13 at 1 pm
2 spots – $25 per spot, offered by Stuart & Lynda Smith
Funeral Consumer Alliance of Central Ohio
Funeral Consumers Alliance table before and after the service Sunday August 6 in Beach Hall.
Bring Your Friends to Peace Camp!
Ask your buddies to sign up now – by filling out our 2023-2024 permission and interest form! We still have space for both weeks! Children on the cusp age wise are welcome to attend either session. Cost: $100 suggested per child.  We still have space for both weeks! Children on the cusp age wise are welcome to
attend either session. Cost: $100 suggested per child.

Session B: for 9-11years (9am-12noon, Monday 8/7 – Friday 8/11)
Annual 1st UU Labor Day Retreat Time! 
Labor Day Retreat: Sat Sept 2 – Mon Sep 4 at camp Oty’Okwa in beautiful Hocking Hills. Enjoy hiking, group activities, star gazing, campfires, and community for all generations. Plan your talent show act and warm up your voice for the campfire sing-a-long! Sign up now or  Learn more on our website
Event Calendar Summary
  • Ongoing: Youth Group Banned Book Library
  • 8/25, 9/1 Fourth Friday Picnics, Whetstone Playground
  • 9/2-9/4 – 1st UU Labor Day Retreat
CLASSES AND MEETUPS
Join the Coffee Team!
Do you like coffee? How about people? Would you appreciate a low commitment way to get more involved at church?  Come be a part of our coffee ministry on Sunday mornings!
Sign up at the link. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805094dacae2ba0f58-coffee1#/. There are detailed instructions in the kitchen cabinet or you can shadow on a morning if you prefer an in-person how-to.
Want to know more about what the job entails? email chri…@firstuucolumbus.org
Groups Summary
Click to Email the Group Leader!

Mondays

Tuesdays

Wednesdays

Thursdays

Fridays

  • UU Walkers, Highbanks Metro Park, 9:30am
  • Fourth Fridays Picnics in the Park (Whetstone) for summer

Sundays
WIDER COMMUNITY
Community Events Summary
General
FAMILY ACTIVITIES
Family Activities This Sunday

Summer RE (Religious Exploration) is happening! Early childhood and elementary aged kiddos are invited to enjoy stories, crafts, and collaborative games focused on play with Jen and Cara. Rising middle and high school aged youth are invited to enjoy self serve board games and art activities in A and B during the service. Reminder that parents / caregivers always need to know the whereabouts of children not being formally supervised in a class.

  • 10-11:30am Toddler Care (rm 101)
  • 10am Worship Service, MS / HS Games and Art in A/B
  • Early / Elementary Summer Class, rm 201-2
  • Coffee Hour, Snack after the service ends

Register for Next Year, and Fill Out Annual Emergency Paperwork Here!

Volunteer to Teach Next Year!

Join the dream team – hanging out with our young people is the most fun you can have on a Sunday morning, and changes lives! We need classroom assistants, leads, and subs for all age groups! Sign up here!

Family Event Summary
  • 8/25, 9/1 Fourth Friday Picnics, Whetstone Playground
  • Peace Camp, “B” –  8/7-8/11
  • Potential Blessing of the Backpacks (Back to School), 8/13
  • Animal Blessing. 8/27
  • Labor Day Retreat, 9/2-9/4
  • Holiday Break: No RE (Labor Day Weekend), 9/4
  • Ingathering / Water Ceremony (All Ages, No RE), 9/10
  • Fall RE begins, 9/17