Midweek UUpdate 7/29/26

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FYI 

NEW: A Phone-Formatted Version

Still in the testing and experimental phase, but click here if you’d prefer to read the PHONE VERSION of the Midweek Update instead of the complete version. Only vital details are included, and primarily, only upcoming events.  It’s arranged with the smaller screen size in mind. Comments? If it works, in the future one could subscribe to only this version.

First Sunday Lunch Menu August 2

Gazpacho (a refreshing cool soup from southern Spain), a side of bread, hummus, and ice cream for dessert.

Social Action Shower Invitation: This Saturday, August 1
11am — 1:00pm 

The Women’s Alliance of First Unitarian Church will be holding its annual Social Action Shower beginning at 11:00 and ending at 1:00. A luncheon will be provided by the members of the Women’s Alliance, and we invite all persons who identify as women to join us. The Shower is a great introduction to learn how the Alliance supports women and children while forming friendships within our congregation.

This year our shower gifts are going to support LaCasita Center. Their mission is to enhance “the well-being of Louisville’s Latinx community through education, empowerment, advocacy, and wellness”. A representative from LaCasita will be joining us to tell more about the services they offer. Here is their gift list: Diapers size 4, 5, 6, & 7; Pullups; Wipes; Kroger and Walmart gift cards.  If you are unable to shop or attend, you may email the office to make arrangements to donate cash/check (made out to Women’s Alliance), and it will be used to purchase additional gift cards.

UU the Vote

We’re writing postcards to get out the vote for the November election. Come by the Social Hall after the service, or for more information, click here.

Children in the Service Sunday: Two Choices

  • Children are welcome to stay and attend this service, but will be expected to remain in the sanctuary the entire time.
  • The Children’s Religious Exploration (RE) meets during the entire service, beginning in the Social Hall. This Sunday is Solar Oven Day. We’ll build a pizza box solar oven to make s’mores.
  • See the remaining Summer RE Plans for Children.

CLCM School Supplies Drive has been extended to July 30!

Central Louisville Community Ministries is extending the collection of school supplies to July 30. We want our neighborhood children to start the school year with supplies in hand – and we need your help! Please bring your donations to the CLCM office, 809 S 4th St, Monday-Thursday from 9:30am-noon. We need: pencil 10-packs;  pens; crayons 24-packs; washable markers 8-packs; highlighters 3-packs;  post-it notes; packs of looseleaf paper; glue sticks 3-packs; scissors; spiral notebooks; 2-pocket folders;  primary lined composition notebooks; tissues; disinfecting wipes; and backpacks.

Gail Helinger

Gail’s memorial service will be Saturday, August 15th, at 3 pm here at church. A brief obituary is in the July 9 Courier-Journal. We hold all who cared about Gail in our hearts, minds, and prayers. Read more from Rev. Liz.

Food Requests for Gail Helinger’s Memorial Service Reception
We are requesting food donations of finger foods and small sweets. Contact the office.  Please let Lois know if you can bring something and if you are willing to serve as a volunteer to assist. Thanks!

 

First U Book Club: See You Monday, September 14

The Book Club is taking a break in August. Join us the 2d Monday in September when we’ll be discussing The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George!

Reminder: You can still attend virtual GA Sessions for FREE

Click here for a FREE special opportunity to participate in sessions, workshops and worship services, even though GA is over in person.

Join Us This Sunday at 11:00am

 

August 2
A Lammas Celebration
Guest Speakers: Lady Vanessa and Ron Zorn

 

We will celebrate Lammas, “loaf mass,” (also referred to as Lughnasadh) in circle format as we honor the August holiday. This festival marks the bounty of the grain harvest, which may also manifest as the successes in our own lives. Now as the sun begins journeying to the south, we acknowledge our achievements, and our personal harvest, by coming together in community to symbolically return these blessings to the earth.

About Our Speakers
Lady Vanessa is a High Priestess of the Wica in Louisville where she’ been active since 1981. Transformative and earth-centered practices are the focus of her spell work, tarot readings, rituals, and teachings. As an advocate for Pagan paths, Lady Vanessa has appeared on local media, but more often facilitates public rituals and classes through CUUPs at First Unitarian Church, Louisville Pagan Roots Festival (FKA Louisville Pagan Pride), and Clifton Unitarian Universalist Church.  In addition to being a Unitarian Universalist Church member, she has a M.A.T. and holds ministerial credentials of public record through the New Wiccan Church. For fun, goodwill outreach, and charity, Lady Vanessa regularly dances with Bluegrass Black Hats.

Ron Zorn is a long-time member of First Unitarian Universalist Church and a Co-Facilitator of the Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans (CUUPS) here at First U. He is Co-Chair of the National CUUPS organization on their Board of Directors. He follows an Earth-Centered Spiritual path and enjoys collecting books on a variety of religious paths that are outside of the Abrahamic faiths.

 

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.

Join Us for Upcoming Services

August 9

The Congregation
 is Your Curriculum

Guest Speaker:  Jim Hennigan

 

School will be back in session and so will Adult Religious Exploration (Adult RE), where we’re all learning, we’re all teaching, the subject is always Unitarian Universalism, the congregation is our curriculum, and tuition is free. You will hear about what we have been doing in Adult RE, imagine what’s next on the syllabus, and choose where you fit in.

 

August 16
A Question Box Service

Minister: Rev. Liz Weber

 

August 30

Water Communion Service
Minister: Rev. Liz Weber

 

We celebrate one of our anchor rituals as Unitarian Universalists: water ceremony! All are invited to bring water from a sacred place, a place you love, or a place where you spent time this summer. (If needed, water from the kitchen sink can symbolize water from anywhere.)

Our collective waters will serve as our sacred water for the coming year.

Social Justice

Save the Date! August 14 CLCM Give Back Event

On August 14, Noble Funk Brewery is hosting a give-back event for Central Louisville Community Ministries.  Live bingo starts that evening at 6:30pm, and a portion of all food/drinks sold that evening will benefit CLCM.  This is a family-friendly event, and there’s plenty of free parking in their lot.  Come join the fun while supporting a great cause!

RE: Religious Exploration

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

Adult (RE) Contact: Adult Religious Exploration

Are you curious about Adult RE? Click here
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.

Children’s RE Contact: Loren Crawford

Are you curious about Children’s RE? Click here
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 Forms: Registration information is required for each child, including those in the nursery. They will join the older children in Summer RE as appropriate.

Summer RE for Kids!

AUGUST
  • 2 Solar Oven Day: Build a pizza box solar oven to make s’mores
  • 9 Peace Stone Day: Paint flat rocks with kind words to hide around the neighborhood 
  • 16: Cooking Day II: Create goodies for a donation-based lemonade stand. Proceeds go to CLCM 
  • 23 Jar Day: Decorate jars for Water Communion. Give to the congregation at coffee hour.
  • 30: Water Day III The Last One:  It’s Water Communion Day!
September 6: RE Classes begin