Happy Friday!

I write this note from Baltimore where I am attending our General Assembly – the gathering of Unitarian Universalists from around the world that happens yearly. It now happens in person only every other year (virtually the other year) so it’s wonderful to see people we haven’t seen for several years. I relish this time to reconnect with dear friends and colleagues. But I also love seeing the ways in which our communities have changed over time. As I mentioned in my sermon a few Sundays ago, our diversity has increased dramatically in the last few years — racially, culturally, as well as gender fluidity.

Every year for centuries we have celebrated a Service of the Living Tradition which used to be confined to recognizing ministers – new ministers, ministers receiving final fellowship, retiring ministers, minister have died. In the last decade this service has expanded to include all religious professionals. In fact, our Director of Religious Exploration, Amber Scott, walked across the stage in recognition of her newly earned credentialed status! It is always a moving service to me given that I’ve been around for so long and involved in so many different ways, but now I find it even more moving as a living example of how our “body” has changed. And hallelujah!

Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley

Developmental Minister

All Soles Dance

June 21st, 7:30–10:30 PM

Beginners’ Session at 7:30

Dancing 8:00 to 10:30 PM

David Mould, from Charleston, West Virginia, will be calling and The Timbre Wolves will provide the music. The Timbre Wolves consists of John Sherman (fiddle), Mike Barrie (mandolin), Carl Yaffey (banjo), Andy Verhoff and Wilson Burrows (guitar), and Bill Miller (bass).

Cost is $10 for adults, $5 for ages 12-25.

Upcoming dates: July 19th (Summer Potluck & Dance), September 20th, October 18th, November 22nd, December 20th

For more information, visit: https://firstuucolumbus.org/connection/all-soles/

Monthly A-S-H meeting

Tuesday, June 24, 7pm

Our speaker will be Debbie Schaffner, with Rank the Vote Ohio. We’ll learn about the Ranked Choice Voting method. Its overall goal is to reduce extremism and move people away from a single issue focus. It does that by encouraging more candidates to run and by generating more primary voters. An increase in primary voters will result in much better general election candidates.

Expressive Worship

Thursday, June 26 6:30pm

Expressive Worship is Moving to the Fourth Thursday of the month! June’s theme is living love through the practice of freedom. If you have suggestions for the playlist email them to Christine by the 16th. The provided project this month is breaking free sculpture.

Expressive Worship grew out of a challenge at GA—to imagine worship in a whole new way. The result was this relaxed, art centered gathering where participants engage with a theme through personal creative exploration. Each service follows a structured flow—opening words, a song, a reading, time to create art while themed music plays, a closing and an optional sharing time at the end. Save the date!

Book Group – Children of the Same God:

The Historical Relationship Between Unitarianism, Judaism, & Islam

Chapter 4 discussion June 24, 7pm

Author Talk on July 1, 7pm

Rev. Susan Ritchie is coming to give an author talk for the final meeting of this book group. Anyone is welcome to attend, whether they have attended the discussion meetings or not. In her book, she makes the groundbreaking historical argument that long before Unitarianism and Universalism merged in the United States, Unitarianism itself was inherently multi-religious.

Message from NomCom:

First UU Election Results

Thanks to everyone in the congregation for voting in the election last week after the Annual Meeting. We feel that we had a great slate of candidates and know that it was a difficult choice.

We are pleased to announce our newly elected governance teams:

Board of trustees:

• Bill Fiorini – 3 year term
• Kristen Hartmann – 3 year term
• Tara Mullins-Cosme – 2 year term

Moderator:

• Chas Williams

Nominating Committee:

• Mark Krueger
• Gabby McDonald
• Victoria Yanovich
• Denise Riffle – one year term

Joan Matyskella has decided to step down from the committee after serving 2 years on Nominating, beginning as a mid-term replacement followed by being elected for an additional 2 year term. So to fill Joan’s term, Denise Riffle has agreed to fill the unexpired year.

Messages from your Board:

Budget Results

We are pleased to announce that the operating budget for FY26 passed, while at the same time noting that 14% of voters either voted no (10%) or abstained (4%).

We hear you, and we understand the concerns that have been expressed to us about the operating budget. If you feel your concerns have not been heard we are always listening on Sunday mornings after service or by email at board@firstuucolumbus.org. We also welcome fresh ideas (and fresh volunteers) for fundraising efforts to help us in our work toward a more sustainable budget.

Closed Board Meeting in June

Each year in June, the Board has a meeting to thank Board members who have completed their terms and welcome those who have recently been elected.  No business is conducted: this provides an opportunity for relationship and team building to best enable us to respond to the needs of the church in the coming year. (This meeting will not be open to the congregation.) If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email us!

See Amber Skate: Roller Derby Tickets Going Fast!

There are less than 30 tickets left for Ohio Roller Derby’s next home game, on Saturday, June 21st, at Heatwave Arena (on the edge of Dublin / Plain City). Get yours now, or join us Saturday, August 2nd, and September 13th!

Chalice Challenge

Get ready for a summer of fun, growth, and connection with the Chalice Challenge! Inspired by the spirit of summer reading programs, this all-ages adventure invites you to complete meaningful, joyful, and justice-centered activities to fill lines on your very own bingo card. Attending events, explore nature, create art, engage in acts of kindness and more! Each square offers a new way to live your values and celebrate our vibrant community.

Pick a card up in the Gallery before or after service, turn it in to a board member on Sunday to collect your prizes.

Juneteenth Anti-Racism Worship Service at Northwest UMC

Sunday, June 22 at 4pm

All are welcome for a Juneteenth Anti-Racism worship service at Northwest United Methodist Church, 5200 Riverside Drive, Columbus, OH 43220, at 4 pm on Sunday, June 22. Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, resident Bishop of the Ohio Episcopal Area of the United Methodist Church, will be our guest preacher. Hosted by The Interfaith Coalition for Racial Reconciliation.

Petition to Repeal SB1

This spring the governor signed Senate Bill 1 into law. SB1 is a major attack on higher education in Ohio that bans diversity programs, restricts the teaching of “controversial subjects”, undermines collective bargaining and tenure, and more. There is a grassroots effort to put SB1 repeal on the November ballot, but we still need a lot more signatures in the final two weeks.

Sign a petition in Beach Hall after the service on Sunday, or go to ohsb1petition.com to find other places to sign and how to volunteer with the campaign.

Feed and Read Ohio Collection

First UU’s June collection for Feed and Read Ohio is cleaning supplies, coloring books, feminine hygiene products, and socks. Pick up a green bag outside the Worship center and return it next week with items you have purchased.

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

“Beat the Heat” Fan Donation Drive

LifeCare Alliance

Eco-Tip: How to Recycle those Hard-to-Recycle Plastics

Franklin and Delaware Counties are participants in the Hefty ReNew program. Participants collect accepted materials in a Hefty®  ReNew® Orange Bag and simply place them in their curbside recycle bin or take them to a recycle drop-off point. You can get a free starter kit through the Hefty web page, or it is available for purchase at local outlets such as Kroger.

According to Hefty, “Together, we can help bring new life to hard-to-recycle plastics—like plastic forks, candy wrappers, pet food bags, and foam to-go boxes—that usually end up in the trash. The Program is an easy addition to existing recycling services in your area, such as curbside or drop-off programs.”

Dinner & Conversation Groups

Deadline to RSVP: June 29 at Noon

Dinner & Conversation is a quarterly pot luck group that meets in participants’ homes. Commitment is for one quarter at a time with one meeting per month as agreed upon by the entire group. The group size is between 6-8. The host organizes the dinner and picks a topic for conversation. The goal is to have a good time while getting to know each other.

This sign up is for the third quarter of 2025: July, August, & September. Please email Marcia Canter to participate.

Funeral Consumers Alliance of Central Ohio Book Club

Saturday June 28, 2pm on Google Meet

“Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End”

Joan Matyskella, of FCACO, will be hosting this book club for members of First UU, FCACO, and anyone interested. The first book we will be discussing is called Being Mortal- Medicine and What Matters in the End by Dr. Atul Gawande. Released in 2014, it was praised for its masterful exploration of aging, care at the end of life, and the medical profession’s need to deal with the wishes people might have beyond mere survival. If you’d like to participate, email Joan for the link.

Body Wisdom Wednesdays:

Meditative Movement + Dance

1st & 3rd Wednesdays

Next Class: July 2, 6:45–8:15pm

Peter Paul & Mary Tribute Concert to Aid the CRC

Sunday June 29 at 4 pm

 Columbus Mennonite Church, 35 Oakland Park Avenue

From the 1960’s into this New Millenium, Peter Paul and Mary used music to entertain, educate, inspire, and energize Americans to work for a better world. Now, some veteran Columbus musicians will pay tribute to PP & M’s legacy with songs, memories, and quips.

Bill Cohen, Joanne Blum, and Joe Lambert will sing and strum the most beloved songs that PP & M seared into the hearts and minds of so many people for decades. Heidi White will enhance the music with her stand-up bass, the kind that PP & M often used in the background of their songs in concerts and on albums. The musicians will also recall key parts of the trio’s history and will pose some fun trivia questions.

$15 donations per person are suggested at the door. The musicians and sound crew will split the proceeds, with half going to the Clintonville Community Resource Center, which helps low-income, youth, and older neighborhood residents.

“Unconventional Nature” in the Gallery

Deb presents works in watercolor and pen, abstracting nature. “My work is influenced by the mid century modern era … atomic abstracts, pop art, hippie psychedelic and tiki prints.”

This Sunday, June 22nd!

*Families, Teens, & Children Are Asked to Start in Service Before Class.

Class Ends, & Children Should Be Picked Up Shortly After Service Lets Out*

9:15-9:45am Continental Breakfast and Community Activities (A/B, Beach Hall)

9:30-11:30am Infant and Toddler Care (101)

10-11am Nouurish Service (sanctuary) kiddos can stay w/ family -or- go to class

After the Story, Until Service Ends

10:15-11:15ish Early Childhood / Elementary Summer Class (202)*

10:15-11:15ish MS / HS Summer Games Group (A/B, by the kitchen)*

Help needed: seeking volunteers to work w/ kiddos & teens starting in September!