Friday News – Feb 13, 2026

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Last Sunday’s Gospel Service was incredibly moving and inspirational to me. One of the things that struck me was how joy is intrinsic to how the soul can sustain itself in the midst of terrible challenges.

This Sunday I’ll be talking about good news in a similar vein: Even when times are really hard, or even especially when times are really hard, we need to be reminded that some progress has been made and there are always people working toward the betterment of us all. I know many of you are those people! Come to hear stories of inspiration and support.

Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley

Lead Minister

Upcoming Events

This Sunday, February 15th

9:15
Nouurish Service

Featuring

Joy Ride

by Sherri Duskey Rinker

illustrated by Ana Ramírez González

Presented by

the Alternative Worship Team

with Members of this Community

11:00

“Good News”

Amidst all the terrible things happening in the world, there are actually some good things and some progress being made. It might be helpful to explore these for the sake of our spirits

Presented by

Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley

***Most Classes Off Today: Holiday Weekend!***

10:15am Neighboring Faiths meet for New Faith Baptist field trip (arrive 11:15)

1:15pm Navigators Scouting Urban Hike – meet at and return to UU

Register for Tomorrow’s Pathways to Membership Class!

TOMORROW, February 14, 8:30am-1pm (Register)
If you are interested in the next steps to become a member of First UU please participate in the next Pathways to Membership class. This class will acquaint you with our church and our faith before you consider a commitment of membership to First UU. (Participation in the class does not obligate you to join our church.)

First UU Auction –

Bid Like Jaws is After You!

Online Bidding Starts Saturday, February 14!

Celebration & Live Auction Saturday, 2/28

Log into the auction website to bid on physical items only from the morning of Saturday, February until midnight on Friday, February 20.

Buy tickets to the dinner & Live Auction by 2/19! They are available online or at the auction table this Sunday.
Questions? Email the Auction team or go to the auction table in Beach Hall on Sunday for more information.

Week 1: Excellent Stuff! Online bidding February 14-20

Week 2: Food Fun Frolic! Online bidding February 21-27

Celebration & Live Auction Saturday, February 28

Last day to buy tickets Thursday, February 19

“Have you considered that if you don’t make waves,

nobody including yourself will know you are alive?”

–Theodore Isaac Rubin
Attendance at all sessions is preferred, but not required.

Biblical Literacy Class

Beginning February 16, 6:30-8:00pm

First and Third Mondays on Zoom

(Register to receive link)
Join the First UU Christian Fellowship as we dive into an 11-session class which explores the Bible and how we as Unitarian Universalists approach the text. Participants learn about the structure and development of the Bible, explore its stories, and reflect on its connection to their own lives and to Unitarian Universalism historically and in our time.

Planning ahead? Check our online calendar for additional events!

From First UU Leadership

A Message from Your Board

Thank you to everyone who attended the mid-year membership meeting last Sunday after the services. We were happy to connect with so many members about our upcoming plans and goals for our Beloved Community.

We currently have a proposal before the membership to increase the leadership on the Board from 6 to 9 members. You have the opportunity to vote on this proposal until Monday, February 23 at noon (ET). A personalized link to vote online was sent to each member via email. If you haven’t voted already, please be sure to check your messages for an email from OpaVote with a link to your confidential ballot. If you haven’t received the email, please send your name, email address, and phone number to the Voting Team at ballot@firstuucolumbus.org for assistance.

We are so grateful for your presence and active participation in our church community. Always feel free to contact us at board@firstuucolumbus.org with questions.

Upcoming Governance Meetings

  • 2/18 Finance Committee (RSVP)
  • 2/25 Board of Trustees (RSVP)

On the Journey
This section showcases information about anti-racist actions and programs. Read more about the 8th Principle and First UU’s anti-racism journey on our website.

Join Anti-Racist Allies (ARA) and Friends

for Lunch at Creole Kitchen

THIS Sunday, Feb 15 at 12:45pm

795 E. Long Street, Columbus, OH 43203

Everyone is welcome to join us at 12:45 pm at the church for carpooling or 1 pm at Creole Kitchen for our ARA lunch. For over 40 years, Chef Henry Butcher

has cooked for Columbus restaurant-goers, but few people know his name. We hope you join us for this culinary trip to New Orleans!

Next Month: Dosa Kitchen on March 15!

Let’s Celebrate Elizabeth Jennings:

Church Organist and Civil Rights Activist

This week, we want to celebrate Elizabeth Jennings, an early pioneer of desegregation. In 1854, Elizabeth boarded a streetcar labeled “whites only” when she was headed to work at First Colored Congregational Church in Manhattan. She was ordered off and, when she refused to disembark, was forcibly removed by the conductor and a police officer. Her family and church formed a legal rights association and hired young attorney (and future President) Chester A. Arthur to represent Elizabeth in a legal battle that led to the desegregation of New York City’s public transportation, a century before the Montgomery bus boycott in Alabama.

Read about Elizabeth at nyhistory.org, the Zinn Education Project, or the New York Transit Museum or watch this YouTube Video by GooseGooseDuck to learn more about this first recorded legal victory for equal rights on public transportation in the United States.

Want to share a story about an inspiring black author, artist, change-maker, or innovator? Submit 2-3 links using our announcement request form or email us.

Please note: we will publish one article each week, so your article may not be published the same week you submit it.

Anti-Racist Allies Calendar: February

  • Every Tuesday in February, 12-1pm: Free historical performances at the Ohio Statehouse celebrating Black History Month.

See details on this month’s Anti-Racist Allies Calendar!

Justice

Join BREAD at the

Public Hearing for a Rental Registry

Thursday, February 19 at 4:00pm

Columbus City Hall, (90 West Broad Street)
Columbus City Council has announced the 3rd (and hopefully final) public hearing for a proposed rental registry that BREAD has been working for. We expect a lot of unsupportive landlords so we want to show up in large numbers! Let’s show our city council we support them in doing the right and just thing to protect renters!

Wear your yellow ‘Side of Love” t-shirt if you have one, or pick one up in Beach Hall this Sunday. A carpool leaves from First UU’s Weisheimer lot at 3:15pm.

Read the propsed language for the Rental Registry here.

Justice Activity: Making Whistle Kits

Sunday, February 15, 1-3 PM

Join other First UUers to make whistle kits for ICE preparedness after the service this Sunday! Each kit includes a whistle, information on how to use it, and “Know Your Rights” information in multiple languages.

Need kits to distribute? Check the box in the volunteer workroom!

Dates with Justice

  • 3/28: No Kings protest
  • 4/25: 9am-5pm Unitarian Universalist Justice Ohio (UUJO) Spring Gathering here at First UU
  • 5/12: BREAD Nehemiah Action (Email to help)

Connect with First UU’ers on the Signal App

by joining the First UU Columbus Protesters (app required)

or Email our Justice team for more information.

Volunteering

We Need You: Join the Auction Crafting Party!

February 21, 5-8pm

This year’s Auction is going to be a very special night, but we need YOU to help make it happen! Your creative and industrious hands are invited to make waves of excitement for the Auction Celebration. Bring a friend! Skills will involve scissors, glue guns, and painting as well as your creativity.

We also need volunteers to help set up on Thursday (26th), Friday (27th), and Saturday (28th) before the event, and during the auction itself for short time slots. You can sign up by logging into the auction website or emailing the Auction team for more information.

Submit your Nominations!
Interested in joining church leadership? Or do you know someone who would be a great leader? Each year, the Nominating Committee (NomCom) finds members for First UU to elect as leaders (Board of Trustees, Nominating Committee, Board Moderator) during our Annual Meeting. If the current membership vote passes, we will be seeking 5 members to serve on the Board of Trustees for 1-, 2-, or 3-year terms.

Please fill out our Nomination Form online or email us with questions, suggestions, or nominations!

Pie Plates for Plants

If you perchance purchase a pie from a big box grocery store such as Costco, please ponder proffering the packaging to First UU to place under our plants as drip trays. These help us keep our plants healthy! A huge thanks to Diana Smith, Su Farnlacher, and Denise Deschenes for beautifying our building with their plant powers!

Classes & Groups

Atheists-Skeptics-Humanists (ASH)

Monthly Meeting & Program

Tuesday, February 24 at 7pm
For February’s meeting (2/24), our program speaker will be new First UU member Kari Hicks. She says: “For my talk, I will be sharing what I have learned so far on my journey from concerned citizen, to activist, to organizer. We will discuss some of the challenges that organizers face in today’s climate, and reflect on what a powerful coalition rooted in shared liberation might look like.”

For our March meeting (3/24), Danya Furda will show a documentary, “Last Days of Jesus”, recasting Jesus’ death in its historical and political context.

Additional Groups & Classes

  • 2/16 Keep On Keeping On chronic pain support 7pm Zoom (RSVP)
  • Sacred Song Circle 6pm Wednesdays

Community News

Final Week!

Lela Lint: “Dreamscapes of Flight and Form”

On display until February 22

This is the final week for you to enjoy these lovely dreamscapes. If you purchased an artwork, please plan on picking it on February 22 up at 12:15!

Image: “Longing and Singing My Song, 1993”

Save the Dates: Ohio Roller Derby’s Home Season!

2026 home games will be played on Saturdays at the Ohio Expo Center; join us on February 28, March 14, April 4, May 9, and May 23.

See Amber (aka “Peach”) skate in the B games, starting around 7pm!

Family Activities

This Sunday, February 15

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

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

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

***Most Classes Off Today – Enjoy Your Holiday Weekend!***

10:15am Neighboring Faiths meet for New Faith Baptist field trip (arrive 11:15)

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

Kiddos w/fam in service: Use Busy Bags or quiet toys in Wee Worship / Slowter!

12noon-12:30pm Snack, Coffee, and Tea (Gallery, Beach, A/B)

1:15-3pm Navigators Scouting Urban Hike 5-12yrs (meet at, return to UU)

4-6pm Millennial Board Game Night (Beach, A/B)

6-9pm Care and Share Time Bank Board Game Night & Potluck (Beach, A/B)

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

Register Now for Peace Camp!

  • Session A for 6-8 years, Monday-Friday 7/27-7/31 from 9am-12noon
  • Session B for 8-11 years, Monday-Friday 8/3-8/7 from 9am-12noon

First UU Peace Camp is a time for elementary aged children to gather and explore concepts related to peace. We invite children to be their true selves and provide space for all to be welcomed and valued. Come explore what peace means, looks like, and how it connects us! $100 suggested per child.

https://bit.ly/peacecamp2026