I became even more acutely aware of all that I am grateful for: dear friends who I can (usually!) spend time with; family that came from far and wide to celebrate my mother’s 90th birthday earlier in the month; and most especially this community which has been so welcoming of me these last few years and how glad I am to be staying put for the next five and 1/2 years. Feeling at home is a rare thing for me with my usually peripatetic life. Thank you for providing me with this opportunity to settle in and settle down!

Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley

Lead Minister

TONIGHT! First Friday Spaghetti Dinner

& Anti-Racist Ally Reunion

Friday, December 5

6:30 pm Dinner (Beach Hall)

7:30 pm Discussion (Room 301)

Institutional Racism: How to

See It & How to Respond Helpfully

Curious about what is it to be an Anti-Racist Ally? Or just the discussion topic? Attend this discussion facilitated by Lynda Smith & Norm Machner. Please come and find out more!

All ages are welcome. We’ll have salad, pasta, sauces, garlic bread, nuggets, and dessert. Vegan/gluten free/dairy free options available. Dinner is served at 6:30. Your first time is free! Our happy repeat customers are asked for a suggested donation of $3.00 per person to help pay for the food.

Interested in Hosting one month this year? Please email us to hop onto the Host schedule! We need hosts for January and March! We do the shopping, you or your group just show up to follow the schedule!

Sorrow at This Season Grief Service

Wednesday, Dec 10, 2025 at 7pm

The year-end holidays can be especially challenging if your heart is heavy with grief. When so many are celebrating traditional seasonal holidays with joy and feasting, shouldering grief from the loss of a loved one, a loss of dreams, disappointments, fears and many other causes can feel overwhelming. Memories, as helpful as they can be, also serve as constant reminders of loss. Sometimes all we may feel is our aloneness; yet please know you are not alone.

Gift Wrapping Fundraiser for Kaleidoscope

After the 11am service on Sunday, 12/14

Kaleidoscope Youth Center has experienced a catastrophic cut in funding, resulting in serious cutbacks in staff and programming, and the pending closure of their housing program for trans and queer youth in July, 2026. Kaleidoscope needs additional funds so the youth they serve can be appropriately transitioned to other housing before their facility closes.

To fundraise, Rainbow Connexion will be offering holiday gift wrapping after the 11:00 service on 12/14, for a suggested donation of $5-$20. Or donate here! Bring your gifts to room A/B (by the kitchen) and let the Rainbow Connexion elves wrap them for you – all while supporting this vital community program! Helpers, wrapping paper, and curling ribbon wanted! Contact Shirley Lange.

Handmade Holidays

Monday evenings thru 12/22, 6:30-8:30 PM, room 301

Come craft together and build creative community! Make holiday gifts for your loved ones or come work on a project. Bring your own materials or use those provided, we always have items to make cards and wrapping paper on hand and will have additional projects to offer as donations provide such as ornaments, hand crafted books, yarn and bead crafts. For more information or to donate supplies contact Christine.

December Music

December is a busy month for music and concerts at First UU! Please join us for the following dates:

• Friday, Dec. 12 at 7:00 pm Otterbein University Concert Choir with choirs from Big Walnut HS, Hilliard Davidson HS, and Upper Arlington HS (free concert)
• Saturday, Dec. 13 at 7:00 pm The Magpie Consort, “An American Christmas”; American-composed folk, gospel, jazz, and classical music of the season (suggested donation $0-$20, as able)

• Sunday, Dec. 14 at 11:00 am Music Sunday service, “Lessons & Carols”, featuring music by First UU choirs Chalice Choir, Spirit of Life Choir, and Peace Pals
• Saturday, Dec. 20 at 3:00 pmCarpe Diem String Quartet, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”, featuring music by Mendelssohn and other holiday favorites ($35 tickets, $25 for church members)

IACO Annual Prayer Gathering

Sunday, December 7, 3:30 – 6:30 pm

Bharatiya Hindu Temple

3671 Hyatts Rd, Powell, OH 43065

Join us on Sunday, Dec. 7 at Bharatiya Hindu Temple (3671 Hyatts Rd., Powell, OH 43065) as we celebrate IACO’s (the Interfaith Association of Central Ohio) 40th anniversary combined with our annual prayer gathering. We will look back on our 40 years as an organization and celebrate with performances from each of our nine faith traditions.

Tickets are $20 to cover the buffet Indian vegetarian meal and appetizers. Registration is preferred, but walk-ins will be accepted. All are welcome!

Holiday Appeal

During the holiday season, we remember the importance of the spiritual home, supportive community and social justice outreach that are the essence of First UU. What other gifts can make our lives more precious and meaningful, all while helping to affect the world around us?

Candlelit Labyrinth

Sign up to help facilitate this experience for your community! Come host, provide music, or both! Contact Kristen Hartmann.

Please visit the tree in the gallery and take a tag for a child that you would like to provide a present for and deliver it, unwrapped, by THIS Sunday, December 7. Thank you so much for all of the gifts that you provide throughout the year, and for helping make this Christmas special for those in our Central Ohio Community.

Come to the B.R.E.A.D. research kickoff this Monday right here at First UU. Learn how B.R.E.A.D. does its research and the criteria we use to select an issue (solution) for action. Then stay if you are interested in joining the new research committee for a Livable Wage or the ongoing issue committee to Protect Trees on private property. Email BREAD with questions!

Making Waves and Décor!

Auction February 2026

Help fill the Auction collection box in the closet. Drop off: Pool Noodles/Foam Tubes, Polyethylene Packaging Wrap, Bath Puffs, Cardboard Tubes (toilet paper/paper towel,/wrapping paper, etc.) Cardboard Egg Cartons, Blue and White Paint, Cardboard Boxes (12″–24″x 12″–24″).

Loan for centerpieces: Clear glass salad or trifle bowls (may be etched but no color, 8”–10” across). Contact Marylou MacDonald

“Live life, one wave at a time.”

Andrew Pacholyk, Barefoot—A Surfer’s View of the Universe

Name Change: “Keep on Moving”

is now “Keep on Keeping On”

The group is for persons who are experiencing chronic pain or other chronic and/or progressive medical conditions. The group meets once a month on the third Monday, from 7-8:00pm via Zoom. Contact Denise Deschenes for more information.

Embodied Exploration of

Religious & Spiritual Conditioning

December 14, 5-7:30

December 21, 4:30-7:30

Registration Open

How have your religious or spiritual experiences shaped the way you feel, believe, and belong today? How do they continue to shape your sense of self, belonging, or spirituality? How can we explore religious or spiritual conditioning through an embodied lens?

This series offers a gentle, compassionate space for anyone curious about how religious or spiritual conditioning has shaped their beliefs, identities, or sense of belonging. Rather than retelling traumatic stories, we’ll focus on how these experiences live in our bodies now and explore tools for grounding, presence, and reclamation.

Each gathering may include light movement, sensory mindfulness, somatic awareness, creative reflection, and conversation. All are welcome to participate at their own pace.

Please note: This program may feel healing but is not a substitute for therapy and is not led by a licensed clinician. The facilitator, Whitney Pyles, is an accredited somatic coach, and there will be pastoral care support and referrals available during the classes if needed.

Senior Gathering Thanks

Our sincere thanks go to the many volunteers who provided their time and energy to make the December 4 Senior Gathering a success : Donna Adassa, Marilyn Beerman, Patricia Boughton, John Boyd, Eve Catus, Sandy Coen, Joe Del Medico, Su Farnlacher, Barb Fiorini, Bill Fiorini, Fluff Fiscus, Jack Holdford, Katie Holdford, Florence Jain, Karen Keenan, David Krohn, John McCrystal, Suzan McCrystal, Frank Phillips, Chris Sullivan and everyone else who spontaneously helped. This event would never happen without the dedication of our many helpers!

Our deepest appreciation is extended to Dick Dawson and Rev. Terasa Cooley for overseeing our program.  We especially thank SYC directors and kids for kicking off our holiday program with an interactive “Holiday Hokey Pokey”. It was great fun to “put our right mitten in, put our right mitten out, and shake it all about”. 🎶

A huge shout out to Pat Snyder for providing our primary program about “rightsizing” our possessions. Pat encouraged each table to discuss possessions that were meaningful to them. Her direction led to serious discussion and sharing of stories about these possessions. Storytelling is an important part of our legacy.

Dave Richter provided an update on the extensive facility renovations that have been taking place including: new carpet in Worship Center/Slowter Lounge, parking lot repair, solar panels, new/repaired roofing, updated lighting, and, soon to come, kitchen updates with new ovens/range and dishwasher. He noted that we need to work towards replenishing our facility reserve funds so we can continue to maintain our facility.

Jane Tessier represented the Caring Team in requesting information about medical equipment (such as wheelchairs, knee scooters, etc) that people own which can be loaned to other church members. Jack Holdford spoke for the Nominating Committee to ask folks to provide names of individuals they feel could be nominees for the Board of Trustees.

Birthdays were celebrated and holiday songs were sung with the accompaniment of Karen Thimmes. We also took time to remember our friends who have passed since we last gathered.

We look forward to welcoming our seniors again on Thursday, March 12, 2026. This event will begin at 10:30am with a light continental breakfast followed by a program at 11am.

Current Art Exhibit:

Sharonah Laemmle

On Display until January 4

Artist Sharonah Laemmle’s exhibit, “Internal Necessity: 50 years of Creative Expression” will be on display until January 4. Sharonah uses the Hebrew word “Henini” meaning “I am here”. She uses what is at hand, paints, natural and found objects to focus on movement and space. By using her own personal and spiritual life, she hopes to stimulate the viewer emotionally.

Image: Summer Flowers III: Light

Happening This Sunday, 12/7!

10:00-10:45am Hot Breakfast and Coffee, Tea (kitchen, A/B, Beach Hall)

10:30am-12:30pm Infant and Toddler Care 3mos-3yrs (101)

10:30am-12:15pm 13-15year Our Whole Lives  (302)

10:45am-12:15pm Neighboring Faiths 11+yrs (301)

11:00am-12:15pm Roots and Wings 13+yrs: HS Spirituality and Big Q’s (401)

11:00am-12:00pm Worship Service (sanctuary)

11:15ish-12:15 Spirit Play 3-7yrs: Start in Service Until After Story (102)

11:15ish-12:15 Spirit Play 7-12yrs: Start in Service Until After Story (201)

Kiddos staying w/fam during service: grab Busy Bags in the gallery, explore quiet toys in Wee Worship & Slowter Lounge, or crafts/games in cabinets by the kitchen!

12noon-1pm Snack & Coffee, Tea, Conversation (A/B, Beach)

12:30-1:30pm Family / Adult RE Team Interest Meeting (301)

Register Here! 🙂 https://firstuucolumbus.org/learning/sunday-school/