SYC takes pride in our ability to help families overcome financial barriers to attendance at our school. We are excited to invite you to our Annual Scholarship Auction tomorrow November 15, at 6:30 pm.  Enjoy good food and drinks, while bidding on silent auction items, with connections old and new. As a community planned, funded, and executed event, 100% of the proceeds go directly to the SYC Scholarship Fund!

Director, School for Young Children

First Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbus

Monthly Lunch at Tai’s Asian Bistro & Sushi

Sunday, November 16, 12:45 pm

Founded by Tai and Gail Liu who met while working at the iconic, now-closed, Columbus restaurant, the Kahiki. Tai’s offers a delicious mix of Chinese and Japanese cuisine. Meet us at 12:30 in the church kiosk in the gallery for car pooling, or at 12:45 at Tai’s Asian Bistro 1285 W. Lane Ace., Columbus, OH 43221.

This event, sponsored by ARA (the Anti-Racist Allies), is open to all. Our purpose is to support minority-owned businesses and to diversify our experience.

BREAD Annual Assembly

Monday, November 17, 2025, 7 – 8:30 pm

St. Josephine Bakhita Parish

6077 Sharon Woods Blvd

(Meet at First UU at 6:30pm to Carpool)

Attend BREAD’s Annual Assembly to (1) select the new problem (Housing, Education, or Living Wage) for BREAD to research & address and (2) to ratify the slate of new executive officers presented by BREAD’s Nominating Committee. Anyone may attend, but only network members may vote. To become a network member, email our BREAD Teamor connect with one of our members on Sunday: Alice Rathburn, Chris Johnson, or Marilyn Webster.

All Soles Contra & Square Dance

& Special–Friendsgiving Potluck

Saturday, November 22, 2025

Potluck: 12:30 to 1:30

Beginners’ Session 1:30 to 2:00 PM

Dancing 2:00 to 4:30 PM

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

Roscommon Sessions is Steve Steele (guitar), Jim Lindroth (percussion), Carol Metheny (fiddle) and Sarah Sigmon (fiddle). We hope to see you dancing!

New to dancing? A beginners’ session, from 1:30 to 2:00 PM, will get you started. You will learn some basic figures that will be repeated in the evening’s dances. All dances will be taught and no partner is needed. Dancing is from 2:00 to 4:30 PM.

Please bring your own refillable water bottle.

Upcoming dance dates: December 20th, January 24th, February 21st.

Community Thanksgiving Dinner

Thursday, November 27, 4:30 – 7:30 pm

Gather in community on Thanksgiving here at First UU. Plan to bring a nut-free side dish or contribution to share; you are always welcome regardless. Please fill out the RSVP form to help us prepare the right amount of turkey, vegetarian, and vegan entrees. Everyone is welcome!

Handmade Holidays

Monday evenings through December 22

6:30 to 8:30 pm, Room 301

Come craft together and build creative community! Make holiday gifts for your loved ones or come work on a project. Handmade Holidays is a weekly drop-in group welcoming all who have something crafty they are working on or would like to start.

All people and projects are welcome. Bring your own materials or use those provided, we always have items to make cards and wrapping paper on hand and will have additional projects to offer as donations provide such as ornaments, hand crafted books, yarn and bead crafts.

For more information or to donate supplies contact Christine.

FILA–Fund for Immigration Legal Assistance

Now through November 25th

First UU’s Faithify Campaign is announcing a Match up to $5,000! Donations made between now and November 25th will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $5,000. If you have been planning to donate to this campaign, now is the time to do it.

We thank our generous donors who have stepped up to allow us to offer this match.

Feed and Read Ohio

Christmas Wishes & Food Collection

In addition to our November Collection of food staples and socks, we are collecting presents for the children that we assist with Feed and Read Ohio. Please visit the tree in the gallery and take a tag for a child that you would like to provide a present for and deliver it, unwrapped, by Sunday, December 7. Thank you so much for all of the gifts that you provide throughout the year, and for helping make this Christmas special for those in our Central Ohio Community.

Building & Grounds Update

Good News! You may notice over the next week or more some construction dust in the air (hopefully not literally). Beginning on Monday, November 17 we will be getting the new carpeting installed in the Worship Center. This will take most of the week and the Worship Center will be unavailable for activities for that time. Also next week, the parking lot repairs and area resurfacing will continue. (Seal coating and striping will be done in spring.) Parking may be limited depending on the progress and weather conditions. We appreciate the generous legacy donors who have made these upgrades possible.

BREAD Action: Final Rental Registry Hearing

Tuesday, November 18, 2025, 4 pm

Columbus City Hall

90 W. Broad St.

(Meet at First UU at 3:30pm to Carpool)

Eco-tips:

Pumpkin Disposal

A quick reminder that Pumpkins do not decompose rapidly and shouldn’t be included in “yard waste”. Options include splitting them open so that deer and squirrels can feast; letting them rot in your garden – or dropping them off at the Dublin Service Center, 6555 Shier Rings Road through December 12.

Leave the Leaves!

From the city’s Conservation Team: As the leaves start to fall, skip the bags, and let nature do the work. According to the National Wildlife Federation, Americans throw away more than 35 million tons of yard waste each year. Leaves provide vital habitat for butterflies, fireflies, birds, small mammals and more—and they help return nutrients to the soil.

Spread a light layer over your yard, or place leaves in garden beds and under trees. It’s an easy way to support wildlife and your landscape.

Learn more tips from the National Wildlife Federation.

Trans & Non-Binary Group Gathering

Discussion Topic: The Challenges of the Holidays

Sunday, November 16th at 12:30 PM

If you are transgender non-binary, or anywhere under the LGBTQ+ umbrella, and are 18+, come join the Transgender & Non-Binary Group on 11/16 at 12:30 PM, for a group discussion on the challenges of the holidays. For more information, please email trans@firstuucolumbus.org, but no need to RSVP – Just come as you are!

A-S-H November Program

Tuesday, November 25 at 7pm

For November, author Don Merrill will speak about his book, PLEDGE: The Public Radio Fund Drive, published in 2019. The book was a deep dive into the funding and function of public radio. With the recent defunding of public radio by the current administration, Don will touch on its origin story, historical fights, and possible future.

Reminder: there will be no A-S-H meeting in December.

Senior Gathering — Holiday Edition!

Thursday, December 4, 10:30am – 1pm

Attention Senior Members! Please plan to attend the Senior Gathering on December 4. Self-serve coffee will be available in Beach Hall at 10:30am followed by holiday music (including special guests!) and a program by our own Pat Snyder from 10:45am until 12noon. A lunch prepared by our volunteers will then be served. A vegetarian option is always provided; we are sorry we cannot accommodate other dietary restrictions. Please RSVP by December 1.

IACO Annual Prayer Gathering

Sunday, December 7, 3:30 – 6:30 pm

Bharatiya Hindu Temple

3671 Hyatts Rd, Powell, OH 43065

You are warmly invited to join us for a very special evening as we celebrate IACO’s 40th Anniversary and Annual Prayer Gathering — a time of reflection, gratitude, and interfaith connection.

We hope you’ll be part of this meaningful celebration of four decades of interfaith friendship and shared vision. Please RSVPby November 28.

First UU Art exhibit:
Sharonah Laemmle

On Display until January 4

Come and view our newest exhibit “Internal Necessity: 50 years of Creative Expression.” Meet the artist Sharonah Laemmle at a reception following the service this Sunday. Sharonah uses the Hebrew word “Henini” meaning “I am here”. She uses what is at hand, paints, natural objects, and found objects to focus on movement and space. By using her own personal and spiritual life, she hopes to stimulate the viewer emotionally.

Join the Family (or Adult) RE Team!

Together We Make Multigenerational Community Possible!

Huge thanks to everyone who attended the recent Religious Exploration Jump-Start! We came together to learn about the history of family ministry at First UU, take a look at where we are now, envision our biggest hopes and dreams for the future, and determine the next steps needed to get us there.

As part of this process we are re-convening the Family and Adult Religious Exploration Teams, and we are very excited to get started! To expand program capacity we will be identifying a variety of volunteer opportunities (including bite sized and short term options) and everyone is invited to get involved!

To volunteer in our family ministry or adult education programs, please fill out this form, or email Amber! We are also holding interest meetings after the service this Sunday, 11/16, and on 12/7, from 12:30-1:30pm, in room 301. See you there!

Happening This Sunday, 11/9!

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)

10:45am-12:15pm Neighboring Faiths 11+yrs (301)

10:45am-12:15pm 6-7year Our Whole Lives (402/3)

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 staying w/fam during service: grab Busy Bags in the gallery, explore quiet toys in Wee Worship & Slowter Lounge, or crafts/games in cabinets by the kitchen!

12noon-1pm Snack! + Coffee, Tea, & Conversation, after the service (Beach)

12:30-1:30pm Family & Adult RE Teams Interest Meeting (301)

1:15-3:00pm Navigators Scouting – Hike (off site – Blendon Woods Metro Park)