Midweek UUpdate 9/16/26

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Proudly Progressive, Boldly Inclusive, Radically Friendly
 

Check These Out!
Chalice Circle Sampler: This Sunday at 10am
CLOUT Listening Session – Share your concerns
First U Urban Campout September 25-26See below for details!

FYI 

A Warning About the Topic September 20

The service on Sunday, September 20  will address mental health and suicide prevention, including regional statistics about suicide loss in Kentucky and Indiana. We share this topic because we believe it deserves to be spoken aloud, in community, with honesty and care. If this subject matter may be difficult for you, we welcome you to prepare accordingly – whether that means bringing a trusted friend to sit with, stepping out for a moment if needed, or choosing to engage with the sermon recording in your own time and space. You belong here, whatever you need. If you or someone you love is struggling, you can call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) at any time, day or night. Rev. Liz is also available for spiritual and emotional support. We hold you.

City-Wide Food Drive September 14-30

The Association of Community Ministries is launching a city-wide food drive Sept 14-30.  Right now the ACM pantries desperately need food – especially shelf stable items like canned meats and proteins, hearty soups, rice and beans.  When you shop this week, please pick up a few extra items if you can and bring them the next 2 Sundays to church, placing them in the Big Blue Basket in the sanctuary.

Mark Your Calendar: Church Auction, Sunday, October 18
12:00pm: Lunch and Silent Auction in the social hall
1:00pm: Live Auction 

(Child care provided; ending time by 3:00pm)
For 20+ years, auctions have raised significant funds to benefit our church’s programs. They’re fun and exciting and offer something for everyone!

For this auction, we’re especially seeking donations of dinners and events hosted by church members and friends. Bidders will buy individual spots at these.
We’re also looking for donations of services!

  • drive someone to the airport?
  • let someone use your cottage or timeshare?
  • donate theater tickets?
  • get or re-gift an unused gift cert from a restaurant, hotel, etc?
  • cook a meal, repair a lamp, paint a portrait, babysit, teach a skill, rake leaves?

For the Silent Auction, we’d like donations of items that are new or in excellent condition. Pass along things you’ve been meaning to regift or that you bought and never used. You can bring any silent auction items to the church parlor beginning 1 week before the auction (October 11).
To donate goods or services, or ask questions, email the office.
 

Earth Walk Saturday, October 24
10am at Seneca Park

We’ve Signed Up, Now It’s Your Turn! Join the Team for the Seventh Principle and multiple other groups and individuals for Earth Walk Louisville 2026!
This year, as we do every year, First U is co-sponsoring the event, and the Team for the Seventh Principle will be staffing a table as we always do. We look forward to being joined by members and friends of First U for the walk itself, browsing the tables and talking with other folks who treasure the earth. Register at Louisville Earth Walk – Join us Saturday, October 24, 2026, 10am at Seneca Park, Louisville KY.

From the 7th Principle Team: Data Center Update & Call to Action

We will be in the social hall each Sunday in September with current information about the status of the data center planning. See more below in the Justice Section.

Time for First U to Sign Up for a CLOUT Listening Session 

Meetings are IN-PERSON  See below for more information.
New Sessions have been added!

Chalice Circles: Sample One Sunday; Learn More Below

Chalice Circles, our intentional small group ministry program, is getting ready to launch into an exciting ’26-’27 season – and the time to register is upon us, if you have not already completed a form by hand or on-line.
On the Fence? Not in the know? Attend the Sampler Chalice Circle meeting this Sunday at our 10am Adult RE session. The topic will be “Love at the Center.”

First Unitarian Urban Campout: September 25-26

Join us at church on Friday, September 25 & Saturday, September 26th for our annual campout with an urban flair.
Starting Friday at 3 pm, we’ll set-up tents or indoor sleeping accommodations, conduct workshops, play sports, storytelling, talent shows, and sing-a-long campfires in the Courtyard.Stay overnight in a tent, in the church, or at home and then participate in all-day Saturday’s events (8am to 10pm) – meals, workshops (tie dying, movie making, acting class, art making (painting & flaming mandala), shoebox parade construction, protest sign-making, crafts, etc.), a Louisville History Hike, more sports, activities, and just plain fun and relaxation.)

Price? – a potluck dish for Friday’s evening meal and/or your help with a workshop or activity during the campout. We will be serving three meals on Saturday.What we need to know
(1) your name & email
(2) how many in your party,
(3) which day(s
(4) will you stay overnight on Friday?

If you are willing to present/help with a workshop, let us know!

Contact us via email.

Susan Wilburn Memorial Service – Sunday, October 4, 2:30 pm

At age 99, Susan was our oldest member, and she was at least the third generation in her family to belong to the First U community. Susan served on the Board, with Women’s Alliance, and in other leadership positions. Here is an oral history interview conducted with her in 2016 that is available through the Kentucky Historical Society. Her obituary is in the Courier-Journal.
Susan’s service will be here at the church and also accessible via zoom. The reception is elsewhere. Rev. Liz regrets that she has commitments out of state on the dates Susan’s family needed. Linette Lowe will officiate. Our gratitude to Linette.

Join Us This Sunday at 11:00am
 

A Warning About the Topic September 20: The service on Sunday, September 20  will address mental health and suicide prevention, including regional statistics about suicide loss in Kentucky and Indiana. We share this topic because we believe it deserves to be spoken aloud, in community, with honesty and care.

If this subject matter may be difficult for you, we welcome you to prepare accordingly – whether that means bringing a trusted friend to sit with, stepping out for a moment if needed, or choosing to engage with the sermon recording in your own time and space. You belong here, whatever you need. If you or someone you love is struggling, you can call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) at any time, day or night. Rev. Liz is also available for spiritual and emotional support. We hold you.

September 20

Selah & Chesed:
Pausing, Staying,
and Choosing Love
Guest Speaker: Laura Roberts
 

Exploring two beautiful Hebrew words: selah, a sacred pause inviting us to stop, breathe, and notice what is real, and chesed, a steadfast love that stays present even in the midst of suffering.

Through the lens of suicide prevention and mental health, we considered what it means to truly be there for one another—not necessarily with answers or solutions, but with presence, compassion, and a willingness to listen.

Drawing on the wisdom of the Psalms, our UU values, and the modern symbol of the semicolon, we were reminded that a difficult moment does not have to be the end of the story. Sometimes the most powerful thing we can offer another person is simply to pause, stay, and say:
You are not alone. Your story is not over.
 

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: 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

September 27

Animal Blessing Sunday
Rev. Liz Weber and Loren Crawford

We will celebrate the animals in our lives! You are invited to bring your pets, favorite stuffed animals, or photos of beloved pets (from today or those who have died) to church. We will bless them together and reflect on their importance in our lives.
This is a “stations” style worship for all ages. Children will stay in the sanctuary the whole hour. Instead of a single sermon, we will split into smaller groups that move from station to station around the sanctuary during our service. Stations include rituals like the blessing, time to share stories and spiritual crafts, and more.

Social Justice

NEW From the 7th Principle Team: Data Center Update & Call to Action
Info and Action:

The 7th Principle team asks that your voice be heard by your councilperson and the mayor on this important topic. Roger will be in the social hall each Sunday in September with current information. Contact your MC representative at, 574-11_ _ + (your district number), and Mayor Greenberg.

Sign Up for a CLOUT Listening Session 

Meetings are IN-PERSON: Locations to be Shared
Autumn marks many beginnings – like school and our church year – and it’s also the beginning of the CLOUT (Citizens of Louisville Organized and United Together) annual justice cycle, where we listen to learn which problems weigh on you and your loved ones. Gathering our stories fosters meaningful connections and it reveals how we are all stakeholders in our justice work, bound up in a spirit of mutuality.

First U is offering three opportunities to participate in this important stage in working with 26 other metro area faith communities to build Beloved Community through holding leaders accountable. Each session will run about 75 minutes.

Remaining Sessions:

  • Sunday, September 20 during RE.
  • Wednesday, September 23 at 6:30 pm
  • NEW Sunday, October 4 at 12:15 in the church library.

Each session has limited space. We can add more sessions, but if you have a preference for any of these times, do not delay. Get in touch with the office to reserve your spot or to learn more about the CLOUT listening process at First U.

UU the Vote:  Please Join Us!

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.

Chalice Circles
Chalice Circles, our intentional small group ministry program, is getting ready to launch into an exciting ’26-’27 season – and the time to register is upon us, if you have not already completed a form by hand or on-line.

After Sunday, September 20, the dates and times for our circles will be set for the year and joining a circle will mean finding one that has space available for additional participants and also happens to meet at a time that works for you. We’re not going to shut you out if you decide to participate later – we hope you feel welcome to join when it suits you – but we need your registration by this coming Sunday if we’re going to build a schedule and complete a roster for a circle that’s built around your availability.

Register Right Now: You can register on-line here.
You’re also invited to fill out a paper form if that’s how you roll. After the service, look for us in the Social Hall with paper forms and a basket to leave them in. These forms and the basket can typically be found at the volunteer desk.

Four Ways to Learn More:

  •  Check out our Participant’s Guide for ’26-’27
  • You can visit our updated web page
  • For those who would like to kick the tires and give Chalice Circles a test drive before registering, we’re offering a one-time “sampler” session this Sunday, September 20 during our 10 am Adult RE session in the First U Library. The topic will be “Love at the Center.”
  • Click here to contact the office or meet us in the Social Hall.

It’s Always Free, Easy, Rewarding, and (Possibly) For You
Remember, being part of the Chalice Circles ministry entails no advance preparation or reading assignment for your meetings. There’s no homework required afterward. Each session is a self-contained ~90 minute commitment. You do not need to have signed the book and be an official, certified, sanctified, and consecrated bona fide member of First U to participate. Chalice Circles is open to all who find connection at First U. If Chalice Circles might be for you, we hope you register to be part of a circle this year.
Chalice Circles ’26-’27 Registration (Sampler Class Sept. 20)
Our small group ministry starts up in late September following the summer break. Everyone must register to participate in a circle of 5 to 10 members and friends of First U who will meet regularly into June 2027. Circles discuss topics on broad themes such as each of our shared values of hope, satisfaction, or belonging. They meet once or twice a month, as decided by the circle’s members. There’s no homework or preparatory reading obligation. Just show up and share your stories and your truth.To learn more, check out the Participant’s Guide or contact the office. If you want to try this out with no obligation, we are offering a one-time sampler circle at 10 am on Sunday, September 20 in the Library. When you’re ready to register, you can do it here or turn in a paper form available at the Volunteer Desk. (Registrations received after Sunday, September 20 will be assigned on a space available basis.)

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

Children’s RE Contact: Loren Crawford

This begins in the sanctuary at 11:00 with the Moment for Ages. They leave during the Song for the Children.

Learn more about Children’s RE here!
Religious Exploration Children’s Classes

  • The Nursery aka The Rabbit Hole: Open for babies and toddlers from 9:30am-12:15pm on Sundays.
  • The Raccoon Room: Pre-K – Grade 2. Room 212. Teacher: Ms. Loren & guest teachers
    Open for Pre-K and up starting at 9:45 so families can attend adult RE.
    At 11:00 a, children 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.

Please complete one registration form for each child you would like to participate in Religious Exploration in the coming year. This includes the nursery.

Questions? Contact Loren, the Director of Religious Exploration

Adult RE: Join Us in Person or Online Sundays at 10am

Learn more about Adult RE here!

We meet each Sunday at 10 am in the Library and via Zoom.
Join us at 9:45 for our check-ins with one another.

Questions? Contact: Adult RE
Meeting ID: 881 3952 8893   Passcode: 809  Meeting chat link:

September 20 CLOUT: A Listening Process for Community Change
Each year, CLOUT (Citizens of Louisville Organized and United Together) – the interfaith, multi-congregational community-based justice organization First U participates in – engages in a community listening process to discern what issues and inequities and injustices are percolating among us. This listening process occurs in homes and in other small group settings across Jefferson County and leads us into the next phase in which everyone votes on the next area of change and redress CLOUT will take on. There are house meetings that will be offered by First U members in September and this Sunday Adult RE session will be an extra session available to you, but the pool of participants will be capped at 10 (with no limit on who can join us as observers) so arrive early or sign up for one of the other house meetings if you want to participate in the listening process!

September 27 A Chalice Circle Sampler: Love at the Center
The Chalice Circles team is wrapping up the open enrollment period for Chalice Circles, the small group ministry program at First U, and this Sunday’s session is definitely one to check out if you’re “on the fence” about joining because we’re going to offer a sneak peek, sampler-sized, one-time Chalice Circle experience so you can “kick the tires” and take a Chalice Circle out for a test drive. We’ll run things kind of/sort of like an actual Chalice Circle and for this session our topic will be “Love at the Center.”