Friday News – September 26, 2025

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This Sunday we will formally bid Rev. Amanda Hays a fond farewell and thank her for her service to the congregation as our Social Justice Minister. We will have a reception following the 11am service and we invite you to bring brownies, cookies, or a savory snack to share! Since she will be following our ministerial guidelines and therefore unable to connect with us for several years, this is your chance to offer your appreciation for her ministry.

I will be out of town the following two Sundays. On October 5th I’ll be preaching at the Installation of my former intern, Rev. Angeline Jackson at the Davis, CA UU congregation. It is a great honor to help guide someone through the process of becoming a minister, and in the case of Angeline, it was a great pleasure as she needed very little guidance! To be asked to preach at this occasion is an even greater honor and it gives me a chance to reflect on the nature of ministry today.

On the 12th I will be in Raleigh, NC, delivering a workshop and preaching on congregational conflict. It is always interesting to me to learn how other congregations integrate this work. I look forward to being back with you for the RE Jumpstart on the 18th! Please join me there!
Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley (she/her)

Lead Minister

Upcoming Events

This Sunday, September 28

9:15 Nouurish Service

Featuring

The Buddy Bench

written by Patty Brozo

illustrated by Mike Deas

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

11:00 “Repair and Restoration”

The Jewish tradition of Yom Kippur asks us to acknowledge our mistakes and try to make repair for them. What might repair and restoration look like?

Presented by Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley & Rev. Kelli McNeal

with Rev. Amanda Hays

Farewell Reception for Rev. Amanda After Worship –

Bring Brownies, Cookies, or a savory snack to share!

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

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

All Soles Dance

Saturday, September 27th, 7:30 to 10:30 pm

(Instruction for Beginners at 7:30)

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

The first Autumn All Soles Dance of the year is here!

Rick Szumski will be calling the dances and The Old Grey Cats will be providing the music. The “Cats” trio consists of Dave Notman on fiddle, Margaret Goodman on flute and clarinet, and Harold Cheyney on piano.
New to dancing? A beginners’ session, from 7:30 to 8:00 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 8:00 to 10:30 PM.

Please bring your own refillable water bottle.

Upcoming dance dates:

October 18th, November 22nd, December 20th.

Learn More on First UU’s Website!

First UU Concert Series Event:
Carpe Diem String Quartet

Sunday, October 5 at 3:00 pm
First UU is please to continue hosting the world-renowned Carpe Diem String Quartet in residency for its 20th year! Carpe Diem’s first concert of the year is Sunday, October 5 at 3:00 pm in the First UU Worship Center. “Beyond the Veil” features works by Wiancko, Wijeratne, and Schubert. Church members get $10 off tickets. Come join us for our first Concert Series event of the year!
Purchase Tickets

Fall Fun Night & Homecoming

Saturday, October 11

5 – 6 pm food

6 – 7:30 pm movie

7 – 10 pm Halloween Dance
On October 11th, join us for our Fall Fun Night & Homecoming! Starting at 5 pm we will be roasting hot dogs and s’mores over the campfire, playing yard games and getting crafty with fall themed decor. At 6, a family friendly movie will begin in the sanctuary. Then from 7-10pm, we will join our First UU Youth Group for their fall fundraiser, a Halloween Dance!

Attendees are encouraged to bring a desert or picnic dish, an outdoor/camping chair, and any yard games they would like to share. All are invited – feel free to come in costume and show off your Halloween best!
(Go to FirstUUColumbus.org/Donateand click “Youth Fundraising” to support youth programming!)

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

  • 9/27 2pm Member Memorial: Larry Drake
  • 9/27, 9/28, 10/5, 10/11&12, 10/14 BREAD Listening Session (Register)
  • 9/27 All Soles Contra & Square Dance (more info)
  • 10/1,10/8 The Bible Beyond Belief and Unbelief (Register)
  • 10/1, 10/15 Intro to Somatic Movement (Register / Request Childcare)
  • 10/3 First Friday Spaghetti Dinner
  • 10/3 Youth Group Late Night
  • 10/11 Pathways to Membership (Register)
  • 10/11 Fall Fun Night & Homecoming Dance
  • 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)
  • 10/22 Board of Trustees (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

Chalice Circle Registration is live!

Learn More & Register Today

If you’ve been looking for a way to connect with other First UUers in a deeper way, look no further than a Chalice Circle (formerly known as Covenant Groups). Registration is open from now until Friday, October 10th at midnight. Circles will begin meeting mid-October and run through the end of May. Email Rev. Kelli.

A personal Note from Rev. Kelli

I am delighted by all of the fun fall events that you see announced through this newsletter. The change of the season and the start of the church year bring so many fun events – the Fall Fun Homecoming event, Chalice Circles, and First Fridays are great ways to enjoy this community. Each year, I enjoy all the changes that fall brings: the turning of the weather, the crisp cool air and colorful leaves, and, of course, the return of football!

I also want to let you know that there are some big changes happening in my personal life – my partner Jennifer and I are separating, so you won’t be seeing her around the building much anymore. We are both doing well and we have all the support that we need. I thank you for your kindness and grace as I navigate this new normal.

Rev. Kelli

Congregational Life Minister

P.S. Come see me – Schedule a meeting sometime this fall!

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 until 10/19

BREAD (Building Responsibility Equality and Dignity), the community organization that First UU and ten multi-faith congregations founded in 1996, now consists of over 40 Central Ohio congregations. BREAD uses the power of organized people to hold public officials accountable for addressing serious community problems.
Every fall, each BREAD congregation holds small group listening sessions in which people discuss the problems they see around them. 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 join us. We Need Your Input!

Save the Date:

NO KINGS National Day of Mobilization

Saturday October 18, 2025 at 4pm

The Unitarian Universalist Association has signed on as an official partner of the No Kings National Day of Mobilization.
The No Kings protest will be at the Statehouse. All are invited and encouraged to attend. This is a peaceful protest. It is an opportunity to exercise our right to free speech, and now is the time to stand up. Car pooling and COTA buses are good options. Connect with other First UU’ers via the First UU Signal Group (Signal Apprequired)!  See Chris Johnson at the social justice table at coffee hour for help signing up!

If you are attending the RE Jumpstart, feel free to leave your car parked at First UU and Hop on the COTA Number 2 Bus to get to the statehouse for the protest!

Classes & Groups

Dinner & Conversation Group

Signups closing TOMORROW!

Deadline to RSVP: September 27 at Noon

Dinner & Conversation is a quarterly pot luck group that meets in participants’ homes – This is a great way to get to know other First UU’ers! Commitment is for one quarter at a time with one meeting per month as agreed upon by the group of 6-8 people. The fourth quarter signup is about to close – Please email Marcia Canter to participate during October, November, & December.

Pathways to Membership

October 11, 2025, 9 am – 1pm

(Light Breakfast at 8:30 am)

Register Online
If you are interested in the next steps to become a member of First Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbus you are cordially invited to register and participate in the next Pathways to Membership class. It is designed for newcomers and is always recommended before deciding to become a Church member. Your participation in the class 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.

Senior Gathering

October 16, 2025, 10:30am

RSVP by October 12, 2025

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

The Bible Beyond Belief and Unbelief

Wednesdays until October 8, 7:00 – 8:30pm

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

Second Week – Are the stories true? Are the people real? Were they making things up? (Recording available next week)

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

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

Community News

Connections Art Exhibit

by First UU Artists

Reception Sunday, October 5, 12:15 – 1:30 pm

On Display September 24 to November 2

Enjoy the NEW art by our own people! Come and see how we connect to ourselves, each other, the world, the stars!

Join us for the artist reception and walk-around talk on Sunday, October 5, 12;15-1:30. Hear the stories behind the art. There will be Food and fun too!

Many thanks to Deb Baillieul for coordinating, and to Karen Torvik, Tom Baillieul and Marcia Canter for helping to hang the exhibit, and to our many talented artists!
“Reaching Out” by Queen Brooks & Helen Yee
“Humanity Reflected in Starlight” by Gabriel McDonald

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/

Happening This Sunday, 9/28!
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)

12:30-1:00pm Peace Pals children’s choir, 5-12yrs (sanctuary)

12:30-2:30 Youth Group! 12yrs-HS senior (402/3)

12:30-2:30 Rising Young Adults! 18-28yrs (302)

1:00-2:30pm Navigators Scouting: Badge Work, 5-12yrs (201/2, playground)