Friday News – September 19, 2025

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As we say goodbye to summer and hello to fall, we have our own First UU hellos and goodbyes. This past Sunday we had a wonderful Pathways to Membership class, and will be welcoming in four new members soon!

We also officially say goodbye to Rev. Amanda Hays next Sunday, the 28th. Join us as we celebrate her years of ministry with us! If you are able, please bring brownies, cookies, or a salty snack of your choice to share with each other to give her a heartfelt goodbye!

As we prepare to celebrate the autumn equinox, I hope we all find opportunities to hold space for your own moments of hello and goodbye.
Rev. Kelli McNeal (she/her)

Congregational Life Minister

Upcoming Events

This Sunday, September 21

9:15 Nouurish Service

Featuring

The Lost (and found) Balloon

written by Celeste Jenkins,

illustrated by Maria Bogade

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

11:00 “What is Humanism”

One of the core lenses through which Unitarian Universalists see the world is the theoology of humanism. What might humanism mean today?

Presented by Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley

Join us for coffee, tea, and conversation after both services!

Hot breakfast is available at 10am ($3 suggested donation).

Anti-Racist Allies Lunch at B&K Smoke House

Sunday, September 21, 12:30 pm

If you’re looking for some good old-fashioned barbecue, look no further than B&K Smoke House. Although the restaurant may be small, they make it up with huge proportions and the intense flavor of their smoked meats. Please meet at the church kiosk in the gallery for car pooling at 12:30 pm or meet us at the restaurant, at 1114 East Main Street, Columbus, OH 43205.

Last Call for Entries to the Connections Art Exhibit!

Registration Open Now

Drop-Off September 21

On Display September 24 to November 2
Above: “Walking the Dogs,” botanical printing by Deb Baillieul
First UU Artists, submit your artwork to be displayed in our Connections Exhibit! If you have already registered, don’t forget to drop it off this Sunday in Beach Hall by the windows!

What connects us? To the earth, to each other, to other cultures, to our inner selves? Is it the majesty of a mountain? The food we eat? The songs of Central America or the fabrics of Japan? The love within us, the colors of the sunset, or the vastness of the stars?

Fall Frolic & Family Fun Night

Saturday, October 11, 6 pm

Save the date! Join us for our First UU Fall Frolic and Family Fun Night! Then stick around for our Youth Group Halloween Dance. Stay tuned for more details!

Register for the RE Jump-Start!

Building Our Multigenerational Dreams for the Future

Saturday, 10/18, 9:30am-3:30pm
Everyone is invited to join this retreat, reimagining the role of multigenerational community and family programming within our congregation! Whether you raised your kids at First UU or SYC decades ago, are a current participating family or teacher, are thinking of joining the RE Team, or are simply interested in learning more, this workshop is for you!

First UU’s Board of Trustees picked multigenerational community as one of their focus areas for this year! The program includes continental breakfast and catered lunch, and childcare is available. Please RSVP so we can plan for enough food and sitters! Featuring facilitators Cassandra Montenegro and Beth Casebolt, members of our regional UUA staff team, Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley, and Amber Scott, Director of Religious Exploration.

Around The Corner

  • 9/24,10/1,10/8 The Bible Beyond Belief and Unbelief (Register)
  • 10/1, 10/15 Intro to Somatic Movement (Register / Request Childcare)
  • 9/21, 9/27, 9/28 BREAD Listening Session (Register)
  • 9/21 RE Teacher / Volunteer Orientation! (RSVP)
  • 9/23 Atheists, Skeptics, Humanists (feat. Jason Chen, OSU post doctoral Student on the topic of Bioethics)
  • 9/24/2025–11/2 Connections Art Exhibit. First UU artists: submit your artwork to be displayed! (Drop-off is Sunday, Sept 21)
  • 9/24 Board of Trustees (RSVP)
  • 9/25 Expressive Worship
  • 9/27 All Soles Contra & Square Dance (more info)
  • 10/3 First Friday Spaghetti Dinner
  • 10/3 Youth Group Late Night
  • 10/5,10/11,10/12,10/14,10/19 BREAD Listening Sessions (Register)
  • 10/11 Pathways to Membership
  • 10/11 Fall Fun & Frolic Weiner Roast and Family Fun Night
  • 10/15 Finance Committee (RSVP)
  • 10/16 Senior Gathering (RSVP)
  • 10/18 RE Jump-Start: Our MultiGen Dreams for the Future (RSVP)
  • 10/21 (Tuesdays) “On Religion” Book Group (RSVP)
  • 10/23 Expressive Worship
  • 10/26 Concert Series Event: Columbus Guitar Society Concert
  • 11/7 See Amber in Ohio Roller Derby Home Games (offsite)

Weekly events:

  • Tai Chi for Balance (Tuesdays, 10am)
  • Sacred Song Circle (Wednesdays, 6pm)
  • Co-Working Space (Fridays, 10am)
  • Choir Rehearsals (Spirit of Life Tuesdays, Chalice Choir Thursdays)

Planning ahead? Check our online calendar for additional events!

From First UU Leadership

Congratulations to Two Living Faith

Award Winners from First UU

The Spirituality Network, The Spiritual Life and Learning Center and the Interfaith Association of Central Ohio are hosting the 2025 Living Faith Awards, and have recognized two members of our community. Tickets for the 2025 Living Faith Awards are available for purchase.
Rev. Amanda Hays is receiving a Alvin R. Hadley Social Justice Award, which recognizes exemplary work in the field of social justice; giving voice to voiceless, and/or seeking access to basic civil and human rights for all, and/or working toward changing unjust laws and practices.

Please join us next week for the Farewell Celebration that we will hold for Rev. Amanda after Sunday Services on September 28 to wish her the best in all her journeys!
Su Ann Farnlacher, a member of First U.U. for 52 years who has served in multiple capacities, is receiving a Living Faith Award which recognizes those who create a more hopeful, peaceful and faithful world. Laypersons who exemplify dynamic faith in their lives, those whose faith is both lived and alive in ways that inspire, challenge and serve. These recipients embody peacemaking, tending to the “least of these,” caring for creating and/or loving neighbor and self.

Look Who We Found!

This beautiful Sun Conure was found and rescued in the Red Oak Forest by one of their teachers who has pet birds. She was brave and got bit by a very scared parrot! He/she was taken to the Charlie Brown Bird Rescue where they will work hard to reunite this feathered friend with his/her owner. The bird has a band which will be used to prove ownership. The Team Work was outstanding from the school and our staff member who fosters/volunteers with the parrot rescue and the rescue taking in the bird without hesitation. Great Job!

PS, if you recognize him, reach out – we would love to get him back to his owner!

Justice & Volunteering

Connect with our Justice team and other First UU’ers on the Signal App

by joining the First UU Signal Group (app required).

Fund for Immigration Legal Assistance (FILA)

First UU’s Fund for Immigration Legal Assistance (FILA) is in need of your help. FILA provides assistance in funding legal and/or medical expenses related to a person’s immigration case. The committee is receiving many applications, such that we are extremely low on funds. Several applications have recently come in from members of the Haitian community who have lost their Temporary Protection Status (TPS) and now must apply for asylum. Donations of any amount will help. First UU is gaining increased recognition in the community for our justice work in supporting our immigrant community. Donations may be made via check, with FILA in the memo line, or via the online Donate button and the dropdown FILA tab.

BREAD Listening Sessions

Register Now

Sessions available between 9/21 – 10/19

BREAD (Building Responsibility Equality and Dignity) is a community organization consisting of over 40 Central Ohio congregations that uses the power of organized people to hold officials accountable for addressing problems in our community.
Every fall, each BREAD congregation holds small group listening sessions in which people discuss the problems they see around them in the community. In a listening session you’ll get to know your fellow First UUers on a deeper level and learn how BREAD works; the stories you share will also help BREAD choose the next problem we work on.

At First UU, we have 8 listening sessions scheduled – Sign up for one or email bread@firstuucolumbus.org to learn more about how you can get involved.

Save the Date:

NO KINGS National Day of Mobilization

Saturday October 18, 2025

The Unitarian Universalist Association has signed on as an official partner of the No Kings National Day of Mobilization on Saturday, October 18.

 

Building on the momentum from the first No Kings protests in June, we are mobilizing for another mass day of resistance, resilience, and action. Our commitment to building a multiracial democracy shows up in how we resist the abduction and deportation of our immigrant community members; how we resist voter suppression in the legislature and at the ballot box; how we celebrate our LGBTQ+ kin and communities – and on October 18, shows up in how we collectively cry out No Kings!  Find an action near you on October 18 using this map.

Eco-Tip: Plant a Free Tree In Your Yard This Fall

Looking to add a tree to your yard? Green Columbus is offering free trees this fall, with black cherry, sycamore, red maple, tulip poplar and red oak available. Trees can be picked up at three locations: the Franklinton nursery on Sept. 28, Barack Community Center on Oct. 5 and the Linden nursery on Oct. 12. Register today to reserve your tree, and help grow Columbus’ canopy.

Classes & Groups

A-S-H Meeting Program

Tuesday, Sept 23rd, 7 pm

Our September program will feature Jason Chen, OSU post doc on the topic of Bioethics. Lots to think about, given the rapid developments in the Biosciences.

Expressive Worship

Thursday, September 25, 6:30pm
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.

September’s Theme: Building Belonging
Below, photos from August’s theme: Wings

Senior Gathering

October 16, 2025, 10:30am

Attention Senior Members!!! Please plan to attend the Senior Gathering on Thursday, October 16, 2025. Muffins, quick breads and fruit will be served in Beach Hall starting at 10:30am, followed by a program in Beach Hall until 12:00pm. RSVP by October 12, 2025. Hope to see you there!

The Bible Beyond Belief and Unbelief

Wednesdays, September 17 – October 8, 7:00 – 8:30pm

Rev. Dr. Marco Belletini, Minister Emeritus
First Week – Beginnings and Endings: Creations and Destructions and Redemption

Second Week – Are the stories true? Are the people real? Were they making things up?

Third Week – Prophets and Economics; Class Struggles; Parables and Promises

Fourth Week – Poetries and metaphors; Layers vs Certainties; Realities and Fictions
Register

Dinner & Conversation Groups:

Signups open!

Deadline to RSVP: September 27 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 6-8 people: 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 fourth quarter of 2025: October, November, & December. Please email Marcia Canter to participate.

Community News

Northeast India Heritage Festival

September 19 – 20

Tickets available online or at the door
The first Northeast India Heritage Festival (NEIHF) will be held here at First UU on September 19 and 20, 2025. The festival will showcase the history, culture, handloom and handicrafts, food, and musical instruments of Northeast India. Photo exhibitions, panel discussions and presentations on tourism, commerce and the sustainable development of this unique and vibrant region will serve to create new connections and opportunities in Northeast India and the United States.

Active Hope: Work That Reconnects (with Jo delAmor)

Saturday, November 1, 10am-2pm

Unity Church of Delaware

4277 Columbus Pike, Delaware, Ohio

In this day and age, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the daily news and try to shut it all out just to stay sane. But in times like these, the world needs us to stay connected and engaged.

Active Hope is the antidote to overwhelm

It awakens our natural creativity and responsibility so we can effectively co-create with God and lovingly care for the sacred world with which we’ve been blessed. Rooted in gratitude and interdependence, this work activates our innate ability to act on behalf of life and contribute to a livable future for our grandchildren and the ones-yet-to-be of all species.

This work emerges from the legacy of the late Joanna Macy – scholar of Buddhism, General Systems Theory, and Deep Ecology, author of many books and the root teacher of the Work That Reconnects.

Learn More and Register on the Radiant Balance Website

Family Activities

Classes Have Begun! Please Register Now!

Sign up to participate if you haven’t yet! More info, reg links, and activity descriptions: https://firstuucolumbus.org/learning/sunday-school/

Annual RE Teacher Orientation

This Sunday, 9/21, 12:30-2:30 PM, in room 302

RSVP here! Featuring lunch from Chipotle, and the chance to meet with fellow teachers! All Religious Exploration volunteers and staff are asked to attend this year’s safety briefing. Childcare is available!

Happening This Sunday, 9/21!
9:15-10am Nouurish Multigenerational Worship Service (sanctuary)

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 14+yrs: HS Spirituality and Big Q’s (library)

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 7-11yrs: 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!

11am-12noon Snack! + Coffee, Tea, & Conversation, after the service (Beach)

12:30-2:30 Annual RE Teacher Orientation Luncheon! (302)

1:15-3:00pm Navigators Scouting Hike 5-12yrs (offsite)