We hope you join us this Sunday as our Minister emeritus Rev. Marco Belletini takes the pulpit with members of our community in this Pride service.

Rev. Kelli McNeal

Congregational Life Minister

Pathways to Membership

Saturday, June 13, 2026 8:30 am

Registration Open on Realm (no login required)

If you are interested in the next steps to become a member of First Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbus we invite you participate in the next Pathways to Membership class. It is designed for newcomers and is always recommended before deciding to become a Church member. (Participation does not obligate you to join our church.) This class will acquaint you with our church and our faith before you consider a commitment of membership to First UU.

UU arts: Todd Loe’s

“Far Rider”

Reception June 14, 11:15 – 1:00 pm

On display until August 16

Come meet the artist! Todd Loe will demonstrate his pastel art. Share in conversation, art and snacks.

View Todd’s art– Beautiful moody pastel landscapes, your favorite rock stars of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s and fun, abstract compositions.

First UU Concert Event:

Tribute Concert to Peter, Paul, & Mary

Sunday June 14 at 4:00 pm

Join Bill Cohen, Joanne Blum, and Joe Lambert in a memory-filled tribute to Peter, Paul, & Mary on Sunday, June 14 at 4:00 pm. This concert will cover many of PP&M’s beloved songs, as well as feature trivia about the famed trio. A suggested $15 donation will be collected at the door, though all contributions are welcome. Half of all proceeds will go to benefit Columbus Food Rescue, which delivers surplus restaurant food to shelters and food pantries throughout the area. Watch this video promo (1m 52s) for more info.

“Rise Up, Sing Out!” Concert livestream

Watch Party

Sunday, June 14 7:00-9:00 pm

Guided Meditation Class

~ be where your feet are ~

Tuesdays From 6-7PM

Beginning June 16

Free and Open to All

(RSVP encouraged but not required)

Instructor: Patricia O’Toole, Ph.D., has been a dedicated student of meditation and life’s deeper questions for almost 20 years. A lifelong educator, Patricia currently teaches Mindfulness at Ohio Wesleyan University

Stamped from the Beginning

ARA Congregational Read

Next Discussion June 16, 7pm

Discussion Registration Open

The Anti-Racist Allies invite you to read Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi to participate in the congregational group read this Summer and fall. This important work has several versions appropriate for a variety of ages and reading levels. Monthly Zoom book discussions will begin in June, (7pm on June 16, July 21, August 25, Sept 29) and more activities connected with the book will be announced for the Fall. We hope you will be able to join us!

Come sing with us THIS Sunday!

Sunday June 14 at 10:00 am

Love to sing? Come be a part of this week’s Summer Choir, led by Nathan Hamm! You will learn Nathan’s arrangement of “This is Me” from The Greatest Showman, which you will then sing during the 10:00am service. Please arrive at 9:00am to rehearse the piece. We hope to see you there!

Volunteer as First UU Outreach at

Stonewall Pride March and Festival

Sign Up for Booth: June 19 4pm – 10pm or June 20, 10:30am – 9pm

Sign up to March: June 20 by 10:30am (50 spots available)

Once again First UU has a spot at the Stonewall Pride March and Community Resource Festival. If you would like to be one of our 50 marchers/riders please reserve your spot! The march is on Saturday 6/20 and all participants are asked to be in place by 10:30. (We usually don’t start moving till noon though so come prepared to wait). We’re usually done around 1:30pm.

Volunteer for the tent to chat with passerby about who we are, bestow glitter blessings, hand out water and candy, and serve as compassionate listeners. We try to have 4 people at the booth each shift so you can do what you’re most comfortable with and everyone can take breaks. Questions? Ask christine@firstuucolumbus.org! If you’d like to do a thing but the slots don’t quite line up with your availability let us know – we can work it out!

Or if you can’t come, help us assemble prizes on Sundays in June or you can donate snacks, 1-3 gallon jugs of water (for refilling water bottles) or money to help offset the cost of the event. Thank you!

Be a Delegate for First UU at General Assembly!

Online June 14-21, 2026

General Assembly 2026 registration is officially open. GA 2026 will be a fully virtual experience that brings Unitarian Universalists together in new and inspiring ways. Join from home, gather with your congregation, connect at a satellite site, or take part in the live audience at our Studio Site in Louisville. See the Full GA Schedule at uua.org. Registration is still open – register to attend! And tell a Board Member if you’d like to be a Delegate!

Celebrating

Lorraine Hansberry

Civil Rights Activist and Playwright

This week, we celebrate Lorraine Hansberry, who was only 26 when she wrote “A Raisin in the Sun,” which led the way for a new generation of African-American actors and writers. Set in Chicago, the play replicated much of Hansberry’s own youth, moving at age 8 from the projects in Chicago to a white neighborhood, where her family encountered racism and a brick-throwing mob. Her father, a real estate broker, challenged the restrictive covenant in his deed, which sought to prohibit African-Americans from moving into the neighborhood.

Though the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated his restrictive covenant, (Hansberry v. Lee), the family still faced anti-racism and hostility from neighbors, and that experience is reflected in the play. Although she only lived to 34, Hansberry continued to write controversial pieces on themes she embraced, such as sexual identity and interracial marriage. She never formally came out as a lesbian during a time homosexuality was illegal in New York City but she wrote for lesbian publications and the liberal publication “Freedom.” Nina Simone’s song “Young, Gifted and Black” was written in her honor.

Thank you, Pat Snyder for submitting this article!

To contribute to this “mini biography” series where we celebrate black innovators, creators, and change-makers, Please Email Becca.

Feed And Read Ohio

We have topped over 4209 bags of food delivered to Latino families since December 22, 2025, when I.C.E. became an intense presence in Franklin County. School is out now, so children will not benefit from school-year breakfast and lunch programs. We are helping to fill that food gap with our Green Bag program.

Special donation needs: cooking oil, bags of white rice, bags of Pinto beans, Tuna, Salmon, Sardines, feminine pads, coloring books and boxes of 16 to 24 Crayons. Remember to get a Green Bag on Sunday for your donations and sign up for weekly updates from the Feed & Read Ohio website!

Dinner & Conversation

Sign up by June 24 for

July, August & September

before Wednesday, June 24, Noon

This sign up is for the third quarter of 2026, July, August, September. Please email Marcia if you want to participate.

IACO’S Main Event: Immigration in Central Ohio

Sunday, June 28, 2026 3- 5:30 PM

Bethel International UMC

1220 Bethel Rd. Columbus, OH 43220

Registration Open until June 22 ($15)

Happening This Sunday, June 14th!

*Sign up for future Coffee & Continental Breakfast shifts on Realm or via email!

9:30am-11:30pm Infant and Toddler Care 3mos-3yrs (101)

*Per safety policy, children/youth need to be supervised while on church grounds.

9:15am-12:15pm Teen/Tween Board Games! Rising 6th Grade & Above (A/B)

10:00-11:00am Pride Service! Rev. Belletini & Rainbow Connexions (sanctuary)

10:15-11:15am (After Story) Early-Ed/Elementary Summer Class for 3-11yrs (201)

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

11:00-11:30am Coffee/Tea – Pending Volunteers!* (A/B, Beach Hall)

Coming Soon: Fall Class Registration and Volunteer Teacher Recruitment!

***No Class Next Week (6/21) Due to Juneteenth / Father’s Day / Pride!***