Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley

Lead Minister

We Need You: Volunteer to Help Auction Happen!

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.

Biblical Literacy Class

for Unitarian Universalists

First and Third Mondays on Zoom, 6:30-8:00pm

through July 20 (Register to receive link)

Atheists-Skeptics-Humanists (ASH)

Monthly Meeting & Program

Tuesday, February 24 at 7pm

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.

Expressive Worship

Thursday, February 26 at 6:30 pm

You are invited to experience a different kind of spiritual practice centered around the personal creative process. There are readings and songs guided by a monthly theme which inspires our individual artwork. At the end of the evening those who wish to share their work and how they were inspired are welcome into a sharing circle. All ages and abilities are enthusiastically welcomed.

February’s theme is “Embodying Resilience” and we will be making wire spider webs with spiders. If you have any Beaded Jewelry you would like to donate, please bring it in and leave it in the cart by the office door. You may choose to do the themed project, or to create anything you wish! Bring your own materials or use what we have on hand!

First UU Auction –

TODAY is the LAST DAY to bid on EXCELLENT STUFF!

Bidding on EXCELLENT STUFF

(physical items only)

CLOSES AT MIDNIGHT tonight!

Bidding on FOOD, FUN & FROLIC!

(Meals, food, excursions, and services)

starts TOMORROW (Saturday) and will be open for bidding until Friday, 2/27.

• Log into the auction website with yourFacebook or Gmail account
• Sign up to bake for Dessert Dash or
• Volunteer to help set up, servce, or clean up.

“Life is like the ocean. Waves will try to knock you down
and push you back to where you started
but once you fight through them, the entire ocean is yours.”

–Karen Jacobs

Carpe Diem at First UU!

Sunday, March 1 at 3:00 pm

Join Carpe Diem String Quartet at First UU on Sunday, March 1 at 3:00 pm, as they play string quartets by Bacwicz and Beethoven, as well as a world premiere commission piece by Columbus composer Michael Rene Torres, “in the never-ending shore of your tomorrows” (preceded by a poem by Jennifer Hambrick). First UU members receive a $10 discount on tickets, which may be purchased at the door or online via Zeffy.com.

A Message from Your Board

Vote Closes Monday, Feb 23 at Noon

You still have time to vote on the governance initiative to expand the Board of Trustees from 6 to 9 members! The vote on this proposal opened Sun., Feb. 8 and will remain open until Mon., Feb. 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 have not received the email, please check your spam folder, and then contact the Voting Team at ballot@firstuucolumbus.org for assistance.

We are so grateful for your presence and active participation in our church community. To this end, we invite you to attend the upcoming monthly Board business meeting on Weds., Feb. 25 at 7 pm (ET). And, always please feel free to contact us at board@firstuucolumbus.org with questions.

Garrett Morgan

Pioneer of Public Safety

This week, we celebrate Garret Morgan, who contributed to safety around the world. Born in Kentucky, Morgan lived in Cincinnati and Cleveland as an adult where he began by sweeping floors in a factory. There he taught himself how to operate and repair sewing machines before starting his own business. In 1912 the Triangle Shirtwaist Co fire that killed 146 garment workers inspired him to invent and patent an early version of the Gas Mask—a “Safety Hood.” In 1916 using his device, he rescued men from a tunnel explosion under Lake Erie. Morgan won first prize at the Second International Exposition of Safety and Sanitation for his hood, and it became the prototype for the gas masks used in World War I. Morgan later improved the rudimentary traffic signals by adding a caution light. He patented the first 3-way traffic signal, which he sold to General Electric in 1923 who

electrified his hand-operated signal.

Garret Morgan’s story is aspirational and inspirational! Learn more at the National Inventors Hall of Fame or watch this Department of Transportation Video(1:55) on youtube to learn more about this early safety pioneer! For a deeper dive, check out this educational video by Fresberg Cartoon or read more at biography.com.

BREAD Quarterly Newsletter

Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 6:40 p.m

Celeste Center Ohio Fairgroundes

We invite you to read the latest BREAD newsletterto learn more about BREAD’s recent activities, featuring First UU’s Tom Tichenor in a “Network Member Spotlight” on page 3! you can also read more about BREAD’s lastest efforts on First UU’s BREAD Focus Group Page.

And Don’t forget to Save the Date of Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 6:40 p.m. on your calendar NOW to attend the BREAD Nehemiah Action!

Pride March Coordinators Needed

Stonewall Pride March June 19 & 20

First UU has a longstanding tradition of participating in Stonewall Pride’s March & Community Festival. We March, set up a Booth at Community Festival where we distribute water, give “glitter blessings”, and provide much-needed outreach to the Columbus’ LGBT+ community. So many of our community members donate their time and supplies to come together in pride. The coordination of this important outreach program has fallen on the hands of a very few volunteers, who are now ready to pass the baton. In order for First UU to be able to continue this fine tradition, we need YOU (and 2 or 3 of your friends) to join a planning / coordination team. If you are interested, please reach out to Becca with the subject “Pride Party Planner” in your email.

Pie Plates for Plants

If you perchance purchase a pie from purveyor like Costco, please ponder proffering the packaging to us for the purpose of placing it under our plants!. ;). 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!

All Soles Dance

Saturday, February 21st

Beginners’ Session 1:30-2:00,

Dance 2:00-4:30

Please note: that this is an afternoon dance! For at least the first 6 months of 2026, All Soles is moving to an afternoon time! And, we are inviting all dancers to join us for dinner at Olive and Lime (in the church’s back parking lot) after the dance

Senior Gathering

Thursday, March 12, 2026; 10:30-Noon

Attention Senior Members! Please plan to attend the Senior Gathering on Thursday, March 12, 2026. Self-serve coffee/tea and light refreshments will be available in Beach Hall at 10:30am. Jane E. Acri, LSW from the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging will join us to discuss Fall Prevention. You should have received an email invitation, please click the link. If you did not get the email, you can email us to RSVP by March 9, 2026.

Creative Community

2nd and 4th Mondays at 6:30 pm

Next Meeting February 23

Bring your projects and craft with us! Knit, crochet, cross stitch, paint, color in coloring books, create cards… the possibilities are endless. Bring your clothes to mend, your scrapbooks to fill, mosaics to make, or anything you like! Exercise your creative spirit and enjoy conversation and community. Limited supplies are available, so we encourage you to bring your own. We hope to see you here!

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”

SYC Child Development Newsletter

Raising young children can be tricky, and it helps to have the support of a community. The School for Young Children’s Child Development Consultant, Alicia DiMarco, publishes a monthly article for parents and those who spend time with young children, covering topics such as the language we use, separation, scary things, and how to talk about difficult things in the news. All of Alicia’s newsletters can be found at https://www.syccolumbus.org/caregivers/newsletters/.

This Sunday, February 22

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

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)

10:55am-12:15pm 10-11year Our Whole Lives (404)

10:45am-12:15pm Neighboring Faiths Field Trip: 11am meet in UU classroom!Depart out the back door by 11:10 to walk to Our Lady of Peace for 11:30 service.

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 w/fam during service: use Busy Bags or quiet toys in Wee Worship / Slowter!

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

12:30-1:00pm Peace Pals Choir 5-12yrs (meet in Gallery, then move to 103)

1:00-2:30pm Navigators Scouting Fun & Games Mtg 5-12yrs (201/playground)

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

12:30-2:30pm Rising Young Adults! 18-28yrs-ish (302)

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