Midweek UUpdate 3/4/26

2026 Stewardship Pledge Drive March 1-31 

The Stewardship Committee is welcoming our Friends and Members to the 2026 Pledge Drive starting March 1 and ending March 31. Our theme this year is “Growing the Light”. This is a time of giving and connecting. Our goal is 100% participation in pledging from Members and Friends with a total of $250,000 raised for next year’s  budget. Please see this space in the Midweek Update throughout the month for updates and to see the progress that our community is making. We are so very grateful for every one of you.

Two items of note: NEW INFO 

  • On the form (electronic or printed), there is a spot for “total annual pledge,” please put the total you plan to commit for the year. (Do  not divide into quarterly or monthly amount for this field.)
  • We are off to a strong start with 10 individuals or families pledging before official canvassing started!

Thank you!   P.S. Someone will contact you soon, or visit here to submit your pledge.

Recent Information Shared by Rev. Liz Weber

FYI 

 

Rose Stevens: Service Announcement and Request for Reception Help

A Memorial Service for Rose Stevens will be held this Saturday, March 7 at 3pm. Click here to read her obituary. We are expecting a rather large number of people and in preparation, we’re requesting food donations of finger foods.  Contact the office for more information, and to let us know if you can bring something and if you are willing to serve as a volunteer to assist. Thanks!

First U Book Club will meet on Monday, March 9 at 6 pm

This month’s book is Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. We weren’t able to get the book kit for this one, but it’s well worth the investment. Come join us, even if you haven’t read the book! We meet in the church library. Questions? Contact the church office.

UU the VoteWrite Postcards Sunday

We will be in the Social Hall after the service to write postcards to get out the vote for the Virginia constitutional amendment to adopt a fair congressional district map — a vote that as of this writing is still blocked by yet another court challenge, but should be cleared soon! You can also take cards home to write. Last week we gave out over 100 cards! Come check us out! Questions? Send us an email..

Membership at First U Lou: 3/15 at 12:30 – Sign the Book! 

We’re celebrating membership this season! If you’re new to the congregation and thinking about formally joining, contact the office or Rev. Liz  with questions. This is your chance to formally join First U Lou as a member on March 15. We will gather in the library after service for a time to sign the membership book.

A Fun Way to Support First U: THIS Friday, March 6 

It’s almost time for the St Paddy’s Day Kickoff event featuring local Celtic band Guilderoy Byrne and the McClanahan Irish Dancers.  The proceeds of this event will 100% support First U!  The event is at First U on Friday March 6 – doors open at 6:30pm and the show begins at 7. Irish-theme foods will be sold – this is a family-friendly (alcohol-free) event.

For us to be successful, we need YOUR help. Make plans to attend, and spread the word as widely as you can (to your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and on social media). Sign up to help set-up, clean up, in the kitchen, at the door. Look for posters at church to purchase tickets using the QR code – $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Have questions? Contact the office.

No Other Land Viewing: THIS Sunday, March 8  at 2:30pm at First U

First U Adult RE will be joining the Jewish Louisvillians for Peace (JLP) and the All Peoples Justice Center to host a screening of the film No Other Land. A trailer for the movie can be viewed here.  Sign up for tickets here.
No Other Land won the 2025 Oscar for Best Documentary at Academy Awards – See acceptance speech here.
Made by a Palestinian-Israeli collective, this film shows the destruction of the occupied West Bank’s Masafer Yatta by Israeli soldiers and the alliance which develops between the Palestinian activist Basel and Israeli journalist Yuval.
Suggested donation: $10/person/film

Central Louisville Community Ministries at Noble Funk: March 22

Mark your calendars and make plans to attend CLCM’s exciting Annual Campaign event on Sunday, March 22. Doors open at 2pm at Noble Funk, 922 S 2nd St, and a special live taping of Secrets of Bluegrass Chefs will begin at 3pm.  Limited tasting tickets are available, as well as a silent auction and children’s activities.  All are welcome, and bring a friend!  If you can’t make the event but would like to support our work, donations can be made online or by mailing a check to 809 S 4th St, Louisville KY 40203.

Looking for a Cool UU  Camp Experience for Youth?

Midwest Unitarian Universalist Youth Camp (MUUYC) is affectionately known as Marwood. Marwood is designed to be a 4-year experience for youth aged 12-15 (rising 7th graders – rising 10th graders) and the majority of campers choose to attend for all four of the summers they are eligible. See more below

Lunch with the ROMEOs – Monday, March 9 at 11:30am at Locals

Join the “Retired Old Men Eating Out” at Locals on the southwest corner of East Broadway and Logan Street. They plan to meet on the second Monday of every month. Contact the office for more information.

NEW: How to Request Childcare for Your Church Event

If you need childcare for your meeting, small group, or other First Unitarian Church event, please read the Childcare Request Guide and fill out the form.  Childcare is contingent on the availability of our staff and not guaranteed. If staff are not available, the Director of Religious Exploration will work with you on finding creative solutions, such as enlisting volunteers. Click here to read the guide and access a request form. Questions? Contact Loren Crawford, Director of Religious Exploration. The link to the guide will also be placed at the bottom of the newsletter with the contact information.

Tone-Deaf Volunteers Needed – Thursdays During Choir Practice

As part of the ongoing effort to make First U more family-friendly, we need help on Thursday evenings during choir rehearsals from people willing to spend time with the children of parents, guardians and caregivers who are in our choir. This time goes beyond childcare as it will enhance the UU faith formation for our “choir kids” and lean into our shared UU values as we build community (and choir) together without having to sing. This is a light lift, especially with more people willing to pitch in. For everyone’s safety and peace of mind, we need two folks each time, but you don’t have to commit to doing this every week. There is light training and the programming is taken care of.  To learn more with no obligation, contact the Adult RE ministry.

If you are not tone-deaf, why not join the choir?

Join Us Sunday at 11:00am

 

March 8

From Suffrage to the Living Covenant
by the First U Women’s Alliance

March is Women’s History Month, and we begin it
with an introduction to our own Women’s Alliance
of First Unitarian Church.

 

From its beginnings as the Ladies Sewing Society to its embrace of all persons who identify as female, members will share the ways the Alliance has committed to “our great covenant: to dwell together in peace, to seek the truth in love, and to help one another.”

 

For the zoom linkClick 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: The Tadpoles Room 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: Sundays at 11am

March 15

Songs for the Moment,
Songs from the Movement

Speaker: Rev. Liz Weber

Singing can keep our spirits high when the struggle for justice gets tough. This service will highlight songs from movement and justice circles, from Minneapolis and from around the world. Come for songs of solace, celebration, determination, and strength.
 

       Save the Dates

  • March 22 – Spring Equinox
  • March 29 – CLOUT: Organizing for Justice
    Speaker: Robert Owens

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
 

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

Registration information is required for each child, including those in the nursery. Registration Forms

Adult (RE) Contact: Adult Religious Exploration

  • 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.
  • Click here (or see above) for information about the

Looking for a Cool UU  Camp Experience for Youth?

Midwest Unitarian Universalist Youth Camp (MUUYC) is affectionately known as Marwood. Marwood is designed to be a 4-year experience for youth aged 12-15 (rising 7th graders – rising 10th graders) and the majority of campers choose to attend for all four of the summers they are eligible.

Therefore, a potential camper’s best chance to “get in” is the summer before 7th grade.  For summer 2026 we also have spots for rising 8th or 9th graders!
Camp for 2026 will be located at Pilgrim Park Camp and Conference Center in Princeton, IL. July 19th – July 25th. Please see this brochure for details about Pilgrim Park’s facilities and amenities.

Marwood is created each year as a collaborative effort between the campers, the staff, and the mystery we call the Marwood Spirit. With the UU Principles as our guiding light, we strive to create a welcoming community where the expression of our unique individuality is encouraged and celebrated, where friendship connections are fostered, and where growing ourselves into compassionate explorers of life is expected.

First UU has several Marwood alum from the 80’s and 90’s, and several First UU youth will attend this summer. Does your young person want to join camp? You can learn more and complete the application. You can talk with First U families to hear more as well. Campers do not need to have a UU church affiliation to attend.
Marwood 2026 brochure.pdf

Justice Information

UU the Vote

will rise again in 2026, a very important election year. We will be writing postcards to get out the vote among traditionally under-represented voters in swing states, reminding folx of the important issues and values at stake. We hope that our first postcard campaign will be to get out the vote for the Virginia constitutional amendment to adopt a fair congressional district map — a vote that is currently being blocked by yet another court challenge! Once the Virginia Supreme Court rules (favorably, we expect), we will be writing postcards in the Social Hall after the service. You can also take cards home to write. Come check us out! Questions? Send us an email.

Resources for Resistance

Be sure to view the list of resources above and share with those that need them.

Save the Date: No Kings March : Saturday, March 28

Legislative Monitoring

As you know, the Kentucky Legislature is in Session. To find out what laws and regulations are being considered, to get contact information for your representative, or monitor the process, you can go to this website.