Midweek UUpdate 3/19/25

•

FYI 

Investing in a Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Future
Our Annual Pledge Campaign Ends March 23

Turn in your pledge in person, pick up a QR code, or use the online pledge form. Thank you for all your generosity in all the ways you give throughout the year. The funds you pledge now will fund our ministry for the church year 2025 – 2026. This church relies on our yearly pledges and giving to fund this building, our minister and staff, and all of our programs.  Combined, our giving ensures the healthy continuation of a ministry that has been here in Louisville since the 1830’s.
 

Calling All Poets!
We will be honoring verse on May 25 during the service, “Imagination: the Gift of Poetry.” During this service, a handful of poets from our very own congregation will be sharing their poems. So if you, too, have a small poem you have written we encourage you to spread your wings and share it with your welcoming First U community at a Poetry Slam during the coffee hour after the service! If you would rather have someone else do the public speaking, consider asking a friend to read your poem aloud for you. Seriously consider reciting your work, though- poetry comes alive when shared aloud!

If you have a poem already written or can get one ready for the last weekend of May, RSVP for the Poetry Slam! Please time yourself speaking the poem aloud, and send your RSVP and the timed length of the poem to the office manager. We’re looking for pieces that are 3 to 5 minutes long, but please email to ask any questions.
 

A New Book of Interest
One of our members has just joined the ranks of First U authors.  His book, LOONERICKS, published by Butler Books prompts readers to draw cartoons based on his silly limericks.  For more information, contact the office.
 

Earth Fest: March 29
Louisville Metro’s Office of Sustainability will host Earth Fest, a community festival with food, music, performances, arts and environmental activities, community resources, and more on Saturday, March 29, 2025, from 2:00 until 6:00PM at the Alberta O. Jones Park at 744 S 23rd St, Louisville, KY 40211. This event will kick off all the Earth Month events happening in the Louisville area. Music and entertainment provided by AMPED DJs,  Louisville Orchestra, The Real Young Prodigys  and PAKG: Producing A Kind Generation.

First U’s Seventh Principle Team will host an information table there, along with many other organizations. It’s a great way to see how much is happening in our town to protect the environment! See you there!
 

Pagan Spring Fair April 5
The Pagan Spring Fair will be held at the Clifton Unitarian Church, 2231 Payne Street, 40206 on Saturday, April 5, 2025 from noon to 5PM.  Featuring psychics, Tarot readings and other vendors.  For more information, email cliftonpaganfair@gmail.com.
 
The Gathering
We come together across our faith community for spiritual grounding, political analysis, and to build the connections needed to take collective action as we continue to fight for a world where all people can thrive. Join us every at 8pm ET on the Second Monday of the month. Click the March 10 link to hear the meeting.
April 14    May 12   June 9
 

The Gathering is a new free monthly virtual event from Side With Love, part of a collection of excellent resources recently developed by our dedicated UUA Organizing and Strategy Team. It is designed to offer:

  • Spiritual Grounding – Strengthen your heart and spirit for the work ahead.
  • Political Analysis – Understand the threats to democracy and justice.
  • Collective Action – Organize with others to block anti-democratic forces and build a just and loving world.
 
 

Parking Lot Trees
Have you seen our new trees? They’re willow oaks, which are native to Kentucky and well-suited for an urban environment. They look scrawny now, but they’ll grow to provide shade and help remove pollution.

Thanks to our Solar Array Project Team for working to get this accomplished. They planned and financed the project and worked with Trees Louisville and Calvary Episcopal Church to do it.
 

New to UU – Stirring the Hornets’ Nest Continues March 23
Do you want to learn more about our religion?  What does it mean to be a Unitarian Universalist? Find out at our two-part series on Sunday mornings March 16th and March 23  from 9:45 to 10:45 in the church parlor.

  • In session one, we will explore the history of UUism and some of the interesting facts about our activist tradition.
  • In session two we’ll learn more about our Louisville church and explore opportunities for activism . We will also explore where each of us is in our continuing spiritual journey.

Childcare is available on both Sunday mornings and refreshments will be provided.  Sign-up here and contact us at  Connections Ministry if you have any questions.
 
Meet the Man That Helped End Public Segregation in Louisville
… with mention of a First Unitarian Connection

Today, Louisville’s businesses are prohibited from discriminating against customers based on race, color or national origin. Our community owes these protections in part to a teenage boy and his high school friends who led a massive sit-in movement downtown in 1961. Read about it.
 
Coming This Summer: Rev. Liz Weber
Last week, Board President Jill Sherman announced that the Board has signed a contract with Rev. Liz Weber. We will officially start with us on July 1st with her first Sunday in our pulpit later in August. See the letter Jill wrote to the congregation.
 

Jill shared an introductory letter from Rev. Liz Weber to us. It includes a link to a video of her reading the letter also.

Join Us Sunday, March 16 at 11:00am
 
Join Us Sunday, March 16 at 11:00am

March 23

Cultivating Trust:
And Mycelium Mushrooms

Speakers:
The Folks That Get Things Done
at First U
There are many ways to connect within the church.  Learn how you can get more involved from leaders of various groups that help make the church run. Whether you prefer a more behind-the-scenes type of serving, want to try your hand at community advocacy, or want to assist in leading worship, we will help you find your place.
 

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.

Upcoming Services
March 30
Holy Ground:  
On Repairing Broken TrustSpeaker:
Reverend Mary Ann Macklin
We will explore broken trust and broken promises. Spiritual Director Tara Owens states, “Trusting another doesn’t mean believing that they will never hurt or fail you. Instead, it means believing that the other person doesn’t want to hurt or fail you—that they want to best for you, and that they genuinely care for you.” Let’s explore trust, or lack thereof, together.

We will also have a special New Member Recognition Ceremony. Come celebrate and welcome our new members.

RE: Religious Exploration

 

Contact Loren Crawford, Director of Religious Exploration (DRE)

Learn About More Upcoming RE Opportunities Here
10am: Adult Religious Exploration
Families Welcome / Childcare Available beginning at 9:30
Contact the office.
 

Your Input For Adult RE Is Needed
Please share your thoughts about future Adult RE offerings here. All prompts are optional, so answer as many or as few as you wish.
 

March 23 – Calling Viola
It’s the 60th anniversary of the martyrdom of Viola Liuzzo outside of Selma, the only white woman martyred during the modern civil rights movement. Let’s honor what she did (her choices), not how she died (the Klan’s choice).
 

March 30 – Poverty’s Knocking On Our Door (Part 1 of 2)
The entire Compassion Team at First U and our Courtyard Tenders have given deep thought into vexing issues of how First U can be responsibly present as a downtown congregation. We’ll learn about the origin of the team, how it came to develop its protocols, and how all of us can participate in being responsible neighbors.
 

April 6 – Poverty’s Knocking On Our Door (Part 2 of 2)
The Compassion Team and Courtyard Tenders are back for Part 2, where we’ll explore outreach activities involving homelessness around us, we’ll discuss interpersonal skills, and learn how Central Louisville Community Ministries (CLCM) and other interfaith collaborations fit in with First U’s identity as a downtown faith community. (Parts 1 and 2 are independent sessions. Please join us even if you missed Part 1.)

Justice Information

 

Rally for Federal Workers Friday, March 21  Noon-1:30pm
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza – 600 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Pl 40202
 

Louisville Showing Up for Racial Justice
Louisville SURJ needs  YOU!  If you want to help us grow the base of white people showing up for racial justice in partnership with the multiracial struggle for a more just society. We must work collectively to build the people power we need.
If you want to help us grow the base of white people showing up for racial justice in partnership with the multiracial struggle for a more just society come join us! We must work collectively to build the people power we need. We encourage you to consider getting involved in one action this month!

LSURJ monthly meetings are the second Wednesday of each month from 7-8pm. We focus on Political Education, Leadership Development, Action and Base Building. To get our newsletter and email alerts, click here.
 

KUUJANAll Network Gathering March 25, 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm (EST time)
There is a lot coming down on us! Both from the Trump administration and from our own state legislature — this has been a hard spring. This month’s ANG will be an opportunity for us to share how we are doing, and what we are doing in response Here is the zoom link

Take Action: Rally for Trans Joy March 27  in the Capital Rotunda
Join us and other communities of faith as we stand in solidarity with our trans neighbors in Frankfort for the “Rally for Trans Joy” on March 27 (11:15 – 12:15 Eastern time).