Tuesday Talk 12/3/2019

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Cookies!
Cookies!!
COOKIES!!!
(and a coupon!)

Cookie Fair is Sunday!

A hugely popular event is happening again this year. Here’s the info:

1. BAKE 2–4 dozen of your favorite holiday treat and…
– bring them to the church kitchen Saturday 3–5pm
– bring them to Beach Hall on Sunday before service
2. VISIT the Cookie Fair tables to mix-and-match to fulfill all of your holiday needs. Yummy!
3. THANK Cookie Elves (aka Cookie Fair Managers): Donna Greenman, Donna Adassa, Marylou MacDonald.

COUPON!
Get a $5 cookie coupon for a $50 or higher donation to the Holiday Appeal. (see Patricia at the Holiday Appeal table on Sunday.)

Tuesday Talk with Allie

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! My 2 little boys spent some time with their grandparents and I got some much needed quiet time–resting up for a very busy month at work and the many activities of the season.

Several members of the Board met at my house in mid-November for a potluck dinner. We had good food and conversation. We met for our monthly meeting on November 20th. At the meeting we approved Gretchen Faulstich as a member of the Personnel Committee. Thank you Gretchen!

We had a special visit from our new Congregational Life Coordinator, Kelli McNeal. Kelli shared her progress over the last several months and some plans for the future. I’m particularly excited that we’ll be revamping our Path to Membership process. Be on the look-out for more from her next year.

Laura Hartman, our Church Treasurer, gave an update from the Finance Committee. Our Church finances are where we expect them to be this time of year. We are starting to discuss some major expenses associated with the roof above Slowter Lounge. As more information is available on this, I’ll let you know. Budget discussion for the 2020-2021 church year will be starting in a few months.

Rev. Marian asked for the Board to support a sustainable Ministerial Internprogram. Our last Intern, Amanda Hayes, had a tremendous impact on the Church. It’s exciting to be a teaching Congregation. We are supportive, but also aware that our current operating budget cannot support an Intern. If you are able to financially support this program, please reach out to Rev. Marian.

The Board is discussing a few larger topics regarding Church policy and culture. I’ll be sharing more about these conversations in the coming months.

A reminder–The December Board meeting has been changed to 12/19 due to Christmas. Meetings are open to all.

Mark your calendars for the mid-year meeting on 1/19/2020 at 12:30pm.

As always, we want to hear from you! Reach out at board@firstuucolumbus.orgwith any questions or concerns.

Allie

In Roller Derby news… First UU Rainbow Connexion cheered our RE Coordinator Amber Scott (aka “Peach”) last weekend at Skatemare. Team Christmas beat Team Halloween by a reindeer’s nose.
WARNING!

Last Sunday during service, a wallet was taken from a coat pocket. The coat was hanging in the main coat closet just off the lobby.

PLEASE DO NOT leave valuables anywhere that is outside of your control.

We are a welcoming congregation and our doors are open. That means we are a public space. Help us help you (and your things) be safe. 🙂

SHOUT OUTS!
Opportunities and Reminders

Thanksgiving at First UU
Thank you Jennie Ray!
Rumor has it that somewhere between 75 and 100 folks enjoyed  turkey and all the fixings in Beach Hall for Thanksgiving dinner. Good company along with a talent show made the day all the more enjoyable. Much gratitude for all who organized and participated.

Sermon Follow-up and resources…
Thank you Kelli!
Our Congregational Life Coordinator, Kelli McNeal – a recent seminary graduate, gave her first First UU Columbus sermon last Sunday. She did a great job helping us to more fully understand our first UU principle and that EVERY person has inherent worth and dignity.

From Kelli:
On Sunday, I spoke about the White Ally Toolkit, which was written by David Campt. This toolkit aims to “shift the work of changing hearts and minds of racism skeptics away from people of color and onto white allies.” In this toolkit, Campt argues that the Backfire Effect, one’s instinct to double down on their beliefs when presented with facts counter to their understanding, makes it quite difficult to have a conversation when you know facts won’t work. To help us start to have conversations, Campt recommends five steps to help reframe the conversation:
1. Discuss, don’t attack
2. Listen carefully and try to articulate the other position accurately,
3. Show respect
4. Acknowledge that you understand why someone might hold that opinion, and
5. Try to show how changing facts does not necessarily mean changing worldviews.

***Middle Hour…Middle Hour…Middle Hour***
and after second service too!
HOLIDAY FAIR
COOKIES • CoA Service Project • Bookstore • Fair Trade
Cookie Elves Donna Greenman and Donna Addasa having fun at last year’s cookie Fair.

THIS WEEK

For additional churchwide activities and events, please see First UU News (emailed on Fridays and in the Sunday Order of Service).

For information about family and child-focused events and classes, see the RE News (emailed to families and in the Sunday Order of Service).

Wednesday, December 4th, 7pm, Sanctuary
Sorrows of the Season service
Rev. Kathleen Fowler
If facing the upcoming holiday season causes distress for you because of sadness, grief, or fear, First UU invites you to attend the sixth annual Sorrow at this Season service. For some of us, the idealized holiday season only seeks to reinforce the heartache, loneliness, and isolation we may feel, and attempting to “put on a happy face” only serves to distance us from ourselves. Please join us as we acknowledge our difficulties while creating a sense of welcome, trust, and understanding in what can be a very painful time of the year. Rev. Kathleen Fowler.

Thursday, December 5th, Sanctuary & Beach Hall
Senior Gathering
10:45 – Listen along with Karen Thimmes on piano
11:00 – Program
12:00 – Lunch
Rev. Marian and Rev. Eric will welcome you and the Rev. Alison Wohler, First UU member and Minister Emerita, UU Society of Amherst, MA, will give the program, “The Roads I’ve Lived on in My UU Life: A Show and Tell Story”.

Friday, December 6th, 6:30pm, Beach Hall
First Friday 
Leave the Cooking to Us!
Join us for a pasta dinner in Beach Hall, followed by a communal art project for everyone or board games at 7:30. Gluten free and vegan options provided; if you’d like to bring something to share you’re more than welcome to but the important thing to bring is you. See you at First Friday!

Sunday, December 8th, 9 & 11am, Sanctuary
“One Step, Candle, Smile at a Time”
Rev. Eric
As nights are at their longest, we don’t look only to candles to light our spirits, we look to the compasson of others as well. One step and smile at a time.

Sunday, December 8th, Beach Hall after each service
Holiday Fair for all your holiday needs
Cookie Fair, CoA Service Project: Food boxes, Bookstore, Fair Trade

SAVE THE DATE…
Holiday Appeal
December
Get a $5 Cookie Fair Coupon for a $50 or higher donation!
Consider a holiday gift to support all the great things we do…caring, services, programs, justice, engagement, community involvement, and so much more. Your special gift this season helps us be a stronger congregation and live our values more fully. Give online or see Patricia at the Holiday Appeal table on Sundays.

HOLIDAY FAIR
Sunday, December 8th, after both services, Beach Hall

• Cookie Fair
Bake 2–4 dozen of your favorite holiday treat and bring them to Beach Hall on Sunday morning. Then, visit the Cookie Fair tables to mix-and-match to fulfill all of your holiday needs. Proceeds support the Holiday Appeal. Cookie Monsters (aka Cookie Managers): Donna Greenman, Donna Adassa, Marylou MacDonald.

• Coming of Age (CoA) Project Fundraiser
Money raised will be used to fill food boxes to be given to Columbus families who live in a food desert. Each food box costs $20.

• Bookstore and Fair Trade
Complete your holiday shopping with books and environmentally friendly items, including coffee.

4th Annual Interfaith Prayer Gathering & Potluck
Sunday, December 8th, 4:30-7:30pm
Peace Lutheran Church, 455 Clark State Rd., Gahanna.
IACO Liaison: Karen Dawson
Join us as we look at our planet from the perspective of nine different faiths. Bring a dish to share. RSVP to office@iaco.org.

Labyrinth
December 26–January 1
Coordinator: Cath Saveson
We will be hosting the “Chartres Cathedral Labyrinth” again this holiday season in the Worship Center. The schedule for its availability is:
– Thursday – Monday, December 26-30: 3–7pm
– Tuesday, December 31: 7pm–midnight
– Wednesday, January 1: 10am–3pm
Volunteers are needed! Sign up to host or help with labyrinth set up/takedown.
Musicians are invited to perform contemplative music to provide a meditative environment for labyrinth walkers. Sign up to provide music

First UU Auction: Come Fly with Me! 
Saturday, February 22, 2020
To really take off, we’ll need many donations to zoom in and take the bidding sky high! You can donate from the auction website or email.  We’ll have a table in Beach Hall starting near the end of November, then on January 5 and February 9 we will have Auction 101 sessions during Middle Hour to share auction information and answer questions.

Save your stuff!
Rummage Sale
May 22, 2020 weekend
We will also need volunteers. Please contact Seth Kraut (614-477-0099) or Rachel Kraut (614-774-2362). We need household items (kitchen decor, small appliances, baskets, lamps), jewelry and accessories, working toys/games/puzzles, garden, travel and camping items. More information will follow.

JUSTICE UPDATES
THIS MOMENT IN UU HISTORY
Sponsored by the First UU Archives Group
Dedember 2, 1645
John Biddle was imprisoned by the Parliamentary Commission on Gloucester, England, betrayed by a false friend for his Unitarianism. Archbishop James Ussher visited Biddle, who was sick with fever, in prison and tried in vain to persuade him of his error.