Friday News – January 10, 2025

•
It’s a new year, with all sorts of things to be grateful for, excited about, angry about, worried about, and hopeful for! I know some questions that have been on my mind with this new year is this: How can I respond in line with my values to what is happening in the world? How can I keep working for justice resiliently, without becoming too overwhelmed?

One thing that seems to help for me is taking time to dream about my hopes for our community and our world, and doing that with others, hearing their hopes and ideas.

This Sunday, instigated by our Anti-Racist Allies Team, and inspired by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we will be dreaming together. Dreaming about who we want to be in this new year. In particular, dreaming about what it would look like to continue our journey of becoming an antiracist Beloved Community here at First UU. We will also have a workshop after the service for those who want to go deeper.

I hope to see you there!

Rev. Amanda Hays

Justice Minister

Upcoming Events

Magpie Consort in Concert

Saturday, January 11, 2025 at 7pm

The Magpie Consort (Artistic Director Sheena Phillips), known for their delightful and wide-ranging repertoire, will perform “Music for the Turn of the Year” here at First UU on January 11.

The Roman god Janus looked both backwards and forwards, and this concert will include echoes of Christmas as well as traditional new year songs. The program also has a special focus on the crisis in the Middle East. You’ll hear the piano suite Sleeping Angels by Egyptian composer Ramz Sabry Samy, and poetry about Gaza. In Magpie tradition, there will also be songs for everyone to join in. The Magpies will be joined by Phil Brown Dupont (piano), and Sarah Compton and Jessa Ehle (violin).
Suggested donation at the door: $0–$20 for the Magpies and as much as you can for the international charity Doctors Without Borders. If you can’t come to the concert, you can still contribute directly to the Magpies’ collection for Doctors Without Borders.

This Sunday, January 12

9:15am Nouurish Service

Featuring:

The Day You Begin

by Jacqueline Woodson

Presented by members of the Alternative Worship Team with members of our First UU Community.

11am Service:

“Dreams of Beloved Community”

Let’s dream together about what it would look like for First UU to continue our journey of becoming an antiracist beloved community. This is work we committed to by adopting the 8th Principle last May.

Presented by the Anti-Racist Allies

with Rev. Amanda Hays

Hot breakfast is served at 10am,

Coffee, Tea & good conversation

available after both services

Pathways to Membership

Sunday, January 12, 9am–1pm
It’s not too late to sign up for the next Pathways to Membership Class! We will explore various paths to involvement at First UU and connect you with groups and other members who share similar interests. There is no obligation to become a member. We invite everyone who has questions or is looking to find points of connection.
Register Now

White Supremacy Culture Workshop

This Sunday, January 12, 12:30–1:45pm

How do we become a more racially church community? Our membership is predominantly white, and our Anti-Racist Allies Team believes there are dynamics in our church culture which (a) sustain the current majority white membership and (b) don’t meet the needs of Black, indigenous and people of color (BIPOC).

The culture that sustains white dominance in most organizations in the United States is called White Supremacy Culture. This workshop will help each of us in our personal path to understanding racism as well as supporting the developmental work of our congregation. Help us learn more together about our church culture!

Registration is not required but is encouraged. You may click these links to view the workshop handout and the participant guide ahead of time. Register online or email First UU’s Anti-Racist Allies team for more information.

Stewarding Your Gift

Sunday, January 12th, 12:30–2pm

Bring your brown bag lunch and join us for a wide-ranging conversation & learning session about how your gifts of money are transformed into our congregation where we create community, engage diversity, and work for justice. Whatever your experience and level of understanding of our budget, funds, and expenses, we’ll start at the beginning and answer all your questions. Email Debra Boyd for more information.
Image by Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke from Pixabay

Around the Corner

  • Wed 1/15 Sacred Song Circle (every Wednesday at 6pm)
  • Wed 1/15 Finance Committee (RSVP)
  • Sat 1/18 All Soles Contra & Square Dance (more)
  • Sun 1/19 Anti-Racist Allies Monthly Lunch at Hoyo’s Kitchen
  • Mon 1/20 First UU Offices Closed: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  • Wed 1/22 Board of Trustees Meeting (RSVP)
  • Sun 1/26 History Workshop
  • Tue 1/28 Expressive Worship
  • Tue 1/28 Atheists Skeptics Humanists (ASH) Speaker: James Bowling, “Art and Social Messages”
  • Fri 2/7 First Friday Spaghetti Dinner (Hosted by Board of Trustees)
  • Wed 2/12 Vespers at Westerwood (3pm)

Community-wide events in the coming weeks – All are welcome!

RSVP to attend Board and Finance Meetings

or email our Board of Trustees with any concerns.

Community News & Events

Be the Spark – First UU Auction
The countdown for the First UU Auction is on!

Be the spark that lights up this year’s event:

  • Enter your Donations: Submit your items and services by Wednesday, February 13.
  • Need Help? Stop by the auction table in Beach Hall after the Sunday service. We can assist with entering your donations and provide ideas for what to contribute.
Mark Your Calendars:

Online Auction

  • Excellent Stuff: Bidding runs from February 15 to 21.
  • Fun, Food, and Frolic: Bidding continues from February 22 to 28.

Live Auction & Celebration is on Saturday, March 1, 6–9 pm at the church.

Purchase your tickets for $30 at the auction table in Beach Hall after the Sunday service to enjoy our catered dinner and cocktail!

Email our auction team for more information or Sign up to volunteer – let’s join forces to make this year’s auction truly shine!

First UU Art Gallery
“Improvisation #7,” Tracy Steinbrook
Our newest exhibit is by Columbus Artist Tracy Steinbrook, titled “Improvisational Painting.” It will be available for your enjoyment until March 2.

Take a close look and a distant look at these abstract and large acrylic works. What do you see? What do you feel? Enjoy!

For more information about our art exhibits, please contact Deb Baillieul.

Justice & Volunteering

Ohio Feed and Read
This week we are again taking up collections for the Feed and Read program — hygiene items which are so necessary but so often unaffordable for those with few resources. Pick up a green bag outside the Worship center and return it next week with items you have purchased.

If you’re not able to shop but would like to contribute your time, we would love your help in packing and loading on Sundays at 12:45.

For more information, See Jacques Angelino on Sundays in Beach Hall during Breakfast and Coffee hour.

Rummage Sale Drop-Off

Tomorrow, January 11, 11am–2pm

(Rummage Sale June 7)

The Spring rummage sale is fast-approaching! Save the date of June 7 to come to this fabuulous First UU Fundraiser, and bring your donations to 4735 Evanswood Drive Tomorrow, January 11!

Want to volunteer? On January 25 the rummage sale team will have a “Pricing and Organizing” party in the storage unit. Need to schedule a drop-off at a different time? Email Myra!

Calling all Lawyers and Law Students!

We are seeking to establish a network of First UU attorneys for consultation about legal issues affecting our membership’s interest. If you’d like to join us, please contact Cara Seidt, First UU Columbus’s general counsel.

Image by Alexa from Pixabay

Classes & Groups

Learn more about groups in our current

Engagement Catalog and reach out to group leaders to join!

From First UU Leadership

NomCom’s “InSight” of the Week
Spotlight on: Board of Trustees

We are looking for caring and responsible members to join our Board of Trustees. This 3-year role includes helping make important church decisions, managing finances, and keeping communication open with our community. If you’re a member in good standing with leadership skills and a desire to support our church, we encourage you to talk to us for more information about this important role.

Please email your recommendations to our Nominating Committee!
“Leadership is about taking the organization to a place it would not have otherwise gone without you.”

–George M.C. Fisher

Family Activities

This Sunday, January 12th

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

10-10:30am Breakfast, and Coffee until 11am (A/B, Beach Hall)

10:30am-12:30pm Infant and Toddler Care (room 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 (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-1pm Snack and Coffee (Beach Hall, A/B)

12:15-1pm Caregivers of Young Children (101)

12:15-1:45pm White Supremacy Workshop (sanctuary) info

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

12:30-2:30pm Rising Young Adults (302)

1-2:30pm Navigators scouting hike, 5-12yrs (off site)

Help wanted! Volunteer Youth Group advisors & scout troop leaders! Paid dishwashers, sound techs, & sitters! Register here for classes/activities!