Midweek UUpdate 11/5/25

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FYI 
 

Join Us for Lunch November 9
First time visitors, are invited to be our guest! Otherwise, suggested lunch donation is $5. The menu this Sunday: Texas Straw Hats (like a taco) and Mexican Hot Chocolate snickerdoodles for dessert.
 

First U Book Club: Monday, November 10 from 7:00-8:00pm
Are you Book Club curious? Our next meeting is in the church library (the room behind the sanctuary). We’ll be discussing Autocracy, Inc. by Anne Applebaum. You’re welcome to join us, even if you haven’t read the book (and we really mean that!). Come for good conversation and fellowship. Questions? Contact the office. See you there!
 

Don’t Forget the Big Blue Basket! click here for a reminder
 

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.
 

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!!
 

Religious Book Collection
Phil Young’s granddaughter has contacted the office. Her grandfather was a member of First U before he passed two years ago. She has possession of his  large collection of new and lightly used books, almost all pertaining to the study of various religions. She is offering them before disposing of them. There are probably close to 300 books of various sizes. She is willing to help deliver. Contact the office for her information.
 

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!)

Holiday Happenings at First U
 

Women’s Alliance Annual Fall Pie Sale – Sunday November 23 – $15
As has been the practice of the Women’s Alliance, we are again a Pie Sale fundraiser. This year it will take place on Sunday, November 23rd, after the service in the Social Hall. We will be selling both sweet and savory pies for $15 each to raise money for our programs and projects that support our members as well as organizations that provide services to women and their families.
This is a wonderful way to “bake a home-made pie” for your Thanksgiving Day gatherings.
 

Join Us for Thanksgiving – Thursday, November 27
First U will be having its annual “open table” Thanksgiving at church. Jane and Tim will cook a turkey, roast sweet potatoes and have some plain green beans. We’re hoping others will join us and, hopefully, bring side dishes.

Doors open at noon (for visiting) with meal planned for 2pm. If you would like to attend, 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.

We can eat and visit. And if you’re able, remember – many hands make light work when it comes to cleaning up.

If we don’t have a clear idea of number of people coming — our turkey will be small and sad.  We like BIG turkeys!
 

Information Coming Soon

  • Helping Provide Christmas Gifts for Children in Need
  • Ordering Poinsettias for Christmas Eve Vespers

Join Us Sunday, November 9, at 11:00am
 
The
Mrs. Ada Doss Campbell Story
Out of the Void:
Community Conversation
Speaker:
Dr. Renee Maltinaa Ann Campbell
Join us for a presentation exploring one family’s truth-seeking journey to uncover the medical neglect experienced by Mrs. Ada Doss Campbell, a former patient at Lakeland Lunatic Asylum (now Central State Hospital). Through research funded by the Kentucky Foundation for Women, this presentation examines the historical injustices and inequities surrounding her wrongful death while sharing the project’s overview and future plans. This community conversation sheds light on a painful chapter of institutional medical history and honors Mrs. Campbell’s story.

About the Speaker:
For more than 40 years, Dr. Renee Campbells’ work has been immersed in her multifaceted identity as an award-winning international speaker and leader with Kentucky native roots hailing from Adairville, Kentucky. Her lifelong journey has been within the intersections of education, social work, and humanitarianism. She has received numerous accolades and achievements that illuminate her humble core of intentional giving.

The Kentucky Foundation for Women funded research that provided a clear path to investigate the inequities associated with her grandmother’s wrongful death. Dr. Campbell established the Mrs. Ada Doss Campbell Memorial Scholarship Fund in 2021 to pay college fees for undergraduate students pursuing degrees in social work at Kentucky State University. For more information, click here.
 

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.

Upcoming Services
 
  November 16

Gratitude
in an Authoritarian EraSpeaker: Rev. Liz Weber
This month’s spiritual theme is gratitude. So many of our political norms and social safety nets are being dismantled. So much fear and hatred are being spread. In this context, where can we find or foster gratitude?
 
November 23
Word Challenge Sermon
Stump the Chump:
Speaker: Rev. Liz Weber

For this year’s auction, five people won the right to choose a Challenge Word that Rev. Liz must incorporate into this week’s sermon. What are the words? Can she do it? Come find out!

Justice Information
 

Guns to Gardens Event Sunday, November 9 (2:00-4:00pm)
at Lynnhurst United Church of Christ; 4401 Taylor Blvd. 40215 Click here for more information and a flyer.
CLCM: Central Louisville Community Ministries
The Big Blue Basket
Have you noticed the big blue basket on the raised platform at church?  That basket is for collecting donations of non-perishable food for CLCM’s affiliate food pantry next door at Calvary Episcopal Church.  Food insecurity in our neighborhood is growing due to the funding cuts to the SNAP program, to Medicaid, and to USDA food. It’s also worsened by the government shutdown. As you do your shopping this week, please consider picking up a few extra shelf-stable items and bringing them any/every Sunday. Items especially needed are peanut butter, pasta and sauce, canned meat/fish, soups, breakfast cereal….but all items are gratefully accepted. Let’s fill that Big Blue Basket.

 

Food Pantry needs your donations
The CLCM-affiliate food pantry at Calvary Episcopal Church is seeing unprecedented numbers of our neighbors seeking food.  Your donations of shelf-stable food is most welcome – drop off on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30am-noon at Calvary side-rear door, 821 S 4th St. Monetary donations can be mailed to CLCM (“food pantry” in memo line) 809 S 4th St  Lou KY 40203, or made online.

You can Sponsor a Turkey/Hams for a Holiday Meal
CLCM gives away 300+ hams and turkeys at the annual Great Turkey Giveaway in late November, and YOU can sponsor a turkey for $25. See donation options in the food pantry item – mark any checks on the memo line with “turkey”.

Carols for a Cause – a Benefit Concert for CLCM  December 3
Start the holidays at this family-friendly event that benefits Central Louisville Community Ministries. On Tuesday Dec 3, come join the River Cities Concert Band for festive music and a sing-along.  Location: First Unitarian Church at 809 S 4th St – plenty of parking available.  Time: 7-8pm. Cost: $20 suggested donation, more if you can, less if you can’t. Refreshments will be for sale, and even Santa may stop by!

Central Louisville Community Ministries: Bikes for Kids
Got kid bikes?  Cochran Elementary and Pedal Power are joining forces in a Bikes for Kids Christmas Drive.  They have a goal to collect 150 bikes for elementary-age children (age 5-11).  Do you have any no-longer used bikes for these children? Your donations can be dropped off at Cochran (500 W Gaulbert Ave) or at Pedal Power (4100 Shelbyville Rd – drop outside the garage). Pedal Power will refurbish the bikes and make them available in time for the holidays to the families who have children attending Cochran.
 

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. The program runs Mondays-Thursdays from 3pm to 7pm and they are in need of volunteers. A 2-hour training is provided and they ask that volunteers be willing to participate at least one day per week. Jobs include choices of reading with children, watching over the kids in the gym, watching over the kids while they have their snack when they first arrive, waiting outside for school buses to drop off kids, and helping where needed. There’s no such thing as too old, and volunteers as young as 16 are accepted. 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.

RE: Religious Exploration
Contact Loren Crawford, Director of Religious Exploration (DRE)
Learn About More Upcoming RE Opportunities Here
Families Welcome / Childcare Available beginning at 9:30
 

Adult (RE) Adult Religious Exploration – contact Alexis, Jim, or Matt

  • 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.

November 9: Cues for Gratitude
We’re going to share stories of gratitude, taking our prompts and cues from Mary Oliver’s questions posed in Gratitude and from the knit hat thought experiment proposed by Robin Wall Kimmerer. What happens when we take the internal sense of gratitude and voice it? How does it feel to be a witness to gratitude? We’re going to find out on Sunday!
 

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.