Friday News – June 5, 2026

I hope you all have had an opportunity to get out and enjoy the sunshine this week! I’m looking forward to seeing all of you on Sunday for our annual meeting after the 10:00 service. (I hear a rumor that there may be cake!)

Participating in the business of the congregation allows each of us to actively live our theology and share our hopes and imaginings for the future of this beloved community. Be sure to check out our 2025-26 Annual Report and the 2026 Slate of Candidates. Join us on Sunday and see what we’ve done this past year as we envision a bright and lovely future together!

Rev. Kelli McNeal

Congregational Life Minister

P.S. This Sunday just after service, we will take a photo of our congregation outside the front entrance. Then we will take a quick break for everyone to grab snacks and check in for the meeting. We everyone is able to join us!

Meet Your Nominees!

The Nominating Committee is pleased to present our slate of candidates for election at the Annual Meeting this Sunday, June 7.

 

These members have been selected based on their demonstrated commitment to our congregation and values. Download this PDF to learn more about them and the election process!

Upcoming Events

This Sunday, May 31st

10am “Whose Am I?”

Together we will ponder the words of Douglas Steere, a quaker teacher who pondered the connection between our identity and our relationships.

Presented by Rev. Kelli McNeal,

Congregational Life Minister

No Continental Breakfast this weekdue to lack of volunteers. Sign up to help on Realm or via email! Coffee and tea will be available.

Infant/Toddler Care 9:30am-11:30pm

Early-Childhood/Elementary Class

for 3-11yrs

After the story (start in worship)

Teen/Tween Board Games

for rising 6th grade and up

Before and during service

Welcome Summer First Fridays!

Picnics in the Breezeway

Friday, June 5 at 6:30-8:00 pm

Come out to church to relax and build community together! Bring your own food & beverages and we will eat at the tables in the breezeway. If it rains, we will be inside. What a great way to end the busy days of summer! Join us each First Friday in June, August and September! (No Picnic on July 3).

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.

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.

“Rise Up, Sing Out!” Concert livestream

Watch Party

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

On June 14, join us and Indivisible Central Ohio for Rise Up, Sing Out: A Concert for the First Amendment — an uplifting evening of music, community, and action. Hosted by the Committee for the First Amendment (CFA), this special livestream event will feature an all-star lineup including Jane Fonda, Patti Smith, Bette Midler, Rufus Wainwright, Joy Reid, Wilson Cruz, Broadway Inspirational Voices, and more.
Together, we’ll celebrate the freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment — including the freedoms of speech, religion, press, assembly, and protest — and the people power that protects them. Join us to sing along, help us prep for the Pride Parade with a quick and easy art project, connect with neighbors, and celebrate the power we build when we come together. Whether you’re a longtime organizer or brand new to the movement, you’re invited to an evening of joy, inspiration, and collective action in support of democracy and freedom.

Guided Meditation Class

~ be where your feet are ~

Beginning June 16

Tuesdays From 6-7PM

Free and Open to All

(RSVP encouraged but not required)

This meditation class is designed to calm the mind, improve focus, and support overall well-being through simple guided practices and breath awareness. The class also invites participants to connect with a greater sense of purpose, presence, and connection beyond the distractions of everyday life.

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

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)

Join the Interfaith Association of Central Ohio (IACO) and Bethel International UMC for an engaging and informative community conversation focused on one of the most pressing issues of our time: Immigration in Central Ohio. Learn about immigration trends and issues impacting Central Ohio. Come Hear from experts, advocates, and community leaders, Ask questions and participate in thoughtful discussion, and Discover ways individuals and faith communities can help.

We welcome all who are interested in learning more and being part of constructive community dialogue.

Moderator Julie Carr Smyth, Panelists Vincent Wells (Immigration Attorney),

Dr. Dorothy Hassan, Ph.D (Executive Director of Our Helpers and CORRN), and Anisa Liban (Westerville City School Board Member).

Upcoming Member Memorials

Tomorrow, June 6, 1pm: Bob Letcher

(Attending Guests: Please wear blue jeans

and a hippie t-shirt in his honor)

Planning ahead? Check our online calendar for additional events!

From First UU Leadership

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!

Building and Ground Update:

New Fencing!

A new wooden fence has been installed along the west side of the church property near the main driveway and around the dumpsters to replace an old one which had rotted and partially fallen down. It was entirely built onsite, and the curves in each slat were hand cut by workers prior to installation. Bravo!

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!

Upcoming Governance Meetings

  • 6/7 Congregational Annual Meeting
  • 6/17 Finance Committee (RSVP)
  • 9/23 Board of Trustees (No meeting in June/July, Retreat in August)

On the Journey

Read about the 8th Principle and First UU’s anti-racism efforts on our website.

Stamped from the Beginning

ARA Congregational Read

May to October

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!

Tasty Way to Support Columbus’ Hispanic Community:

Columbus Taco Fest (21+ only)

Saturday, June 6 Noon to 10 pm

Sunday, June 7 Noon to 8 pm

Discover Columbus’ best taco vendors! Two days of tacos, fun, delicious food, drinks, and live music. Immerse yourself in Hispanic culture, support local community, and treat yourself to deliciousness at the Columbus Taco Fest!Fortress Obetz, 2015 Recreation Trail, Obetz, OH 43207. Must bring a government-issued ID and be over 21.

Happening in Columbus

  • June 6-7 Columbus Taco Fest
  • June 19-20 Juneteenth Ohio Celebration
  • June 21 ARA Monthly Lunch: Everest Cuisine

Check out the June/July ARA Calendar for details!

Justice & Volunteering

Join the First UU Columbus Protesters chat on Signal App

or email our Justice Team for more information.

Feed And Read Ohio

As of this week we have delivered 4027 bags of food to Latino families since December 22, 2025, the date I.C.E. began intense presence in Franklin County. Part of our success with Latino families is that we respect families to act as network partners as they pass food on to other family members and neighbors. One woman who provides hair cuts to the neighborhood helps by giving food to client neighbors, extending our impact on the needful community.

Special donation needs for June: Bags of white rice, Pinto beans, cooking oil, Sardines, Tuna, Salmon, Peanut butter, pretty socks, and feminine pads. Get a Green Bag on Sunday for your donations and sign up for weekly updates from the Feed & Read Ohio website

Eco-tip: Consider a natural lawn this summer

Natural lawns are an eco-friendly alternative to traditional turf grass. Instead of relying on a single grass species that requires frequent mowing and watering, natural lawns use a mix of native grasses and low-growing flowering plants that work with nature, not against it. The result? A healthier, more resilient landscape that supports pollinators, uses less water and still looks beautiful. Getting started can be simple. Try mowing less often and overseeding with native grasses. Small changes can make a big difference in creating a more natural, sustainable yard!

Try white clover – The fastest-growing lawn alternative in America. It’s very low maintenance and uses 60–70% less water than traditional grass lawn. Additional pros: Nitrogen-fixing — no fertiliser ever; stays green through mild drought; bees love it; inexpensive to seed.

Community News

Dinner & Conversation

Sign up by June 24 for

July, August & September

before Wednesday, June 24, Noon

Dinner & Conversation is a quarterly pot luck group that meets in participant’s homes. Commitment is only 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 2026, July, August, September. Please email Marcia if you want to participate.

Calling all UU Artists and Friends for “Freedom!”

Registration Open!

Drop off art August 9 – 11

Our annual members and friend Fall Art Show is called “Freedom!” What does this mean to you? Take in is August 7-9. See details and Registerto submit on our website.

Be “Free as a Bird” as you create!

“Hiroshima” by Tom Baillieul

Family Activities

Happening This Sunday, June 7th!

9:15am Continental Breakfast, Coffee – Pending Volunteers!* (A/B, Beach Hall)

*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 Worship Service (sanctuary)

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

11:30am-1:30pm Congregation’s Annual Meeting: Member Quorum Required

Snacks and Cake Served in Worship Center for Attendees! + Childcare

Coming Soon: Fall Class Registration and Volunteer Teacher Recruitment!

We Need Your Help to Make Peace Camp B Happen!

Together we explore what peace means, looks like, and how it connects us. We invite children to be their true selves, and make space for all to be welcomed and valued. Cost: $100 suggested. Invite your friends! bit.ly/peacecamp2026

  • Currently Full: Session A 5-8 years, Monday-Friday 7/27-7/31, 9am-12noon
  • Needs More Sign-Ups! Session B: 8-12yrs, M-F 8/3-8/7, 9-noon