From the Care Team
Dear Church friends,
The First Unitarian Care Team is reaching out to all members to be sure that everyone is aware of resources available for assistance if needed. If you and your family are experiencing food insecurity, or if you’re concerned about not being able to pay your rent or utility bills, some options for help are listed below.

1. Central Louisville Community Ministries (CLCM) is able to assist with rent and utility bills for those who qualify. Normally CLCM can only assist people who live in their service area, but this requirement does not apply to First Unitarian Church members since we help support CLCM. Their office is located on the second floor of our church. Office hours are Monday – Thursday, 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Call 502-587-1999 to schedule an appointment or to get more information (be sure to tell them that you are a First U member).

2. The CLCM food pantry is located in Calvary Episcopal Church (our parking lot neighbor). The food pantry is open to anyone and no appointment is needed. Their hours are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday mornings from 9:30 – 11:30. You enter the food pantry through the Courtyard at the front of the building (on the right side if you’re standing on 4th Street).

3. Our minister Rev. Liz Weber may be able to provide assistance through the Minister’s Discretionary Fund. You can contact Rev. Liz by email, or by calling the church office at 502-585-5110.

Room in the Inn Louisville
First Unitarian volunteers will once again have the opportunity to participate in the Room in the Inn (RITI) Louisville winter shelter program, January-February 2026. What is RITI? RITI Louisville’s community ministry is modeled after a program initially founded in Nashville in 1985 that has been replicated in nearly 40 other locales, including Washington, D.C., Charlotte, N.C., and the Kentucky cities of Bardstown, Bowling Green and Lexington. Nashville today has more than 100 participating congregations that provide temporary overnight shelter during the winter months for individuals experiencing homelessness.

What’s New This Year? More than 20 First U members and friends volunteered for the pilot winter shelter this past winter, contributing to the success of that launch. This winter, RITI Louisville is expanding to a second overnight shelter, offering life-saving relief from frigid nights on the streets for unhoused neighbors amid a shortage of permanent shelter beds. There will be a women’s (and children) shelter at Christ Church Cathedral, and a men’s shelter at Grace Immanuel United Church of Christ, doubling the program’s capacity, providing approximately 1,000 overnight stays for 30-50 guests. The program is supported by volunteers from at least 17 congregations and organizations.

RITI Louisville is now an independent 501(c)(3) organization, able to accept charitable donations. Feed Louisville will be providing dinners at both sites Mondays through Fridays, while congregation volunteers will provide the meals on Saturdays and Sundays.

• I’d Like to Learn More about Serving People Without Shelter. There will be a training opportunity on Wednesday, December 3, 12:00-1:30 p.m., on Zoom. We will provide the link when we have it.
• How Can I Help? Suzanne is beginning to put together volunteer teams. We hope to cover 5-8 nights during the winter months of January and February, spread across the two months. We will need three volunteers for each evening shift (4:30-10 p.m.), two for each overnight shift (10:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m.), and two for each morning shift (4:45 a.m. – 7:30 a.m.). There are opportunities for men and women to volunteer. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the office.
• Donation If you want to support RITI Louisville but cannot volunteer, consider making a donation. We are especially looking for mattress donors; each mattress costs $350. But every contribution helps, no matter the size! You can donate HERE.

We Have a Very Good Problem in Children’s Religious Exploration!
We are bursting at the seams!
We have so many new wonderful little ones joining us every week that we really need help in the classroom to keep everyone safe. There are two classrooms: The Raccoon Room age 4-7, The Fox Den: grade 3 & up. We have a quickly growing population in the Raccoon Room with many 4 year olds, help is needed there especially. Assistants do not have to plan anything, just sign up and show up that Sunday about 20 minutes early to get the plan. Parents are always welcomed to assist, but parents also really need some time to worship alone, so non-parents are encouraged to step up! Please! It’s a great way to get to know our little ones. And it really is a lot of fun. Here is the sign-up sheet. Find a Sunday and sign up now! Thank you!!

Women’s Alliance to Provide Grants
Women’s Alliance is accepting applications for grants. The grants will be for $250 to $500 and are intended to assist organizations that benefit women and families. Internal grant applications for projects within First Unitarian will also be accepted. Applications must be received by November 30 and the grants will be awarded in early 2026. The grant application may be downloaded thru WA grant application.docx.  A completed copy of the application should be forwarded to the office no later than November 30, 2025.

Social Justice
There’s a wide range of areas where you can connect, help, support or join in – long or short term or even just once! It might be donating something, attending a meeting or protest, volunteering in many ways, or learning more. Scroll on past information about upcoming Sunday services to check it out or click here (but you’ll still want to know about upcoming services!)

Join Us for Thanksgiving – Thursday, November 27

If you would like to attend, click here to sign up or
please leave a message with the church office that includes

• your name, and the number of people in your party
• what you plan to bring
• if you are bringing children, and their ages (so we can have a few toys and what-not)
• if you are not in a position to bring a dish — that’s okay – everybody is welcome.

Information to Share: Please list your name/s as you’d like it to appear in the Vespers bulletin as the “from” person. List the name of the person you’re dedicating it to. Specify if this is in honor of or in memory of the person. It’s acceptable to be in honor of a group also. Contact Barbara in the office if you are uncertain. This will be listed in the Vespers Bulletin – so please write legibly.

Online until December 4. Fill in the links and pay online.

• Respond to the “Poinsettia email” you will receive soon
• Email the Office to place an order or ask a question.
• Click here to pay for your poinsettia online
• Ordering online is a two-step process. Don’t forget to give the information AND pay either online or by sending a check by mail or in person.

In person November 16, 23, or 30
See Kathy or Bev after church this Sunday to complete an order form. Then pay online or by check.

By phone 
Call the office anytime and talk to Barbara. If she’s not there, leave your name and email address and/or phone number with an Office Volunteer. No answer? Leave a message on Voice mail with your name, email address and phone number and that you want to order a poinsettia. The voice mail is delivered directly to Barbara’s email. She’ll email you or return your call when she is in the office. (Email usually gives a faster response.)

Payment: $15 each

• Check: Turn in check to offering or office. Make check payable to First Unitarian $15 per poinsettia. Write flower donation in memo line.
• Online Click here to go directly to the poinsettia payment option.
• Use whatever method you prefer using normally, but designate that it’s for “poinsettia donation.”

Questions? Contact Barbara Creasy

Per the school’s request, we are collecting gift cards to be given to the Family
Resource Center coordinator at Coleridge-Taylor. The Family Resource Center will distribute the gift cards to families, which they can use to purchase food and gifts for their children. Any gift cards in any amount will be gratefully received and utilized; however, $50. VISA gift cards are most versatile and can be used anywhere.
(*If you can’t give $50, any donation is appreciated as multiple gifts all add up. Mary can combine multiple smaller donations to get gift cards.)

If you would like to donate a gift card, please contact the office. Arrangements can also be made for pick up or drop off. You may also:

• drop off your gift card at church— in the office if there’s a volunteer, or slip through the blue door if closed (place it in an envelope or a folded paper “envelope” with your name on it if dropping it off)
• make a donation for a gift card on the church website, or
• write a check for the gift cards, payable to First Unitarian Church, and be sure to write Coleridge-Taylor on the memo line.

We will also be at a table after church on Sunday, December 7 to collect gift cards or monetary donations, but you can give them to her when you see her other times as well.. Contact the office with any questions, and thank you so much for your generosity!

For the zoom link, Click here. The Meeting ID is 4508929882 if you can’t attend in person.  You will not need a password. Contact the volunteer desk if you have trouble getting online.

The Nursery: Tadpoles will be open for babies and pre-k  from 9:30am-12:15pm on Sundays. Registration Forms. are required for each child, including those in the nursery.

Linette Lowe is the Executive Director of Central Louisville Community Ministries, which helps stabilize our neighbors in crisis, and is currently the President of the Association of Community Ministries. She completed her MDiv at LPTS in 2022 and is a UU candidate for ordination. She lives outside of Bloomfield, KY, with husband Jay, son Jaymeson, loyal dog Lucy, 10 hens, and a herd of cats. Baking and eating breads of all kinds is one of her most-loved spiritual practices.

Opportunity to Help in Afterschool Program for Immigrant Children
La Escuelita Learning Hub, located in Beechmont Presbyterian Church (417 W. Ashland Ave. 40214), runs an afterschool program for children between ages 5-16. They provide help with reading comprehension, gym time, and serve dinner before the children go home. Contact Program Assistant, Yai Malave at the La Escuelita Learning Hub by calling 502-797-3298 or email.

Strong Paper and Plastic Bags Needed for the Food Pantry
The food pantry volunteers pack bags and bags of groceries to be given out every week and need a lot of bags. If you shop at a store that uses paper bags, could you double-bag and grab a few extra bags and forward them to the food pantry? If you do food pick up or delivery, those strong plastic bags are also needed. As always, we need and appreciate the non-perishable food items donated every week. Place them in the blue basket. As cuts are made to safety nets, the need for food is growing.

La Casita News: La Casita Center works intentionally to build a thriving community based on mutual support and respect built on the vision of connecting people through solidarity, to be one community. Priority needs; ways to give; jobs, internships, and volunteer opportunities.

• All are Welcome: Members, friends, visitors, curious people, and people lost in the building are all welcome.
• Check-in begins at 9:45. Class meets in the Church Library at 10am.

This Sunday – November 16
The Five Smooth Stones (Part 1 of 6)
On Sunday we will begin a non-consecutive, intermittent six-part series of stand-alone sessions on the Five Smooth Stones of Unitarian Universalism, as spelled out in an historic (and also highly academic and ponderous) sermon (lecture?) by the prominent 20th century UU theologian James Luther Adams whose birthday is November 12 (1901-1994).

(Yes, 6 parts: an overview (this Sunday) plus one session for each of the 5 stones)

Children’s RE  Contact Loren  
This begins in the sanctuary at 11:00 with the Moment for Ages. They leave during the Song for the Children.

The Nursery will be open for babies and pre-k  from 9:30am-12:15pm on Sundays.

• Registration Forms. Registration information is required for each child, including those in the nursery.
• The Nursery: Tadpoles will be open for babies and pre-k  from 9:30am-12:15pm on Sundays.
• The Raccoon Room: Pre-K – Grade 2. Room 212. Teacher: Ms. Loren & guest teachers will begin in the sanctuary with their families and then head upstairs with their teacher after the Moment for All Ages. Class ends at noon, parents will come up and get their children following the service.
• The Fox Hole: Grades 3 and up Room 202. Ms. Christina & guest teachers will begin in the sanctuary with their families and then head upstairs with their teacher after the Moment for All Ages. Class ends at noon, parents will come up and get their children following the service.
• Youth Group: Grades 5 and Up We hope to meet on a regular basis at the church and around town.