Proudly Progressive, Boldly Inclusive, Radically Friendly

First Sunday Lunch

Today’s menu is Sloppy Joes or a gluten-free option, 3-bean salad, and Jill’s legendary Red Velvet Cake with cream cheese frosting. The suggested donation is $5, and first-time visitors are welcome to join us as our guests.

NEW 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.

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

Meetings are IN-PERSON! See below for more information.

Religious Exploration classes begin Sunday September 6th! 

• 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

Chalice Circles ’26-’27 Registration Begins

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.)

HELP – Coffee Hour Hosts

We need help with coffee hour on Sundays after service from 11:50 to 12:45. If you are willing. Please help out once a month.  Please sign-up on our online form.  Thanks for any help you can provide.

First U Book Club: See You Monday, September 14

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

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

Speaker Bio: Jill Sampson is a member of First Unitarian.  Jill grew up in central Indiana but has been in Louisville now for 30+ years although you can’t tell it from her accent. She lives with an awesome spouse in dogleg-camelback-shotgun house in Germantown. She has a biochemistry degree from the Ag School at Purdue and an MBA from U of L. For fun she golfs, reads, writes, dabbles with an art journal and doom scrolls on social media. Please don’t ask her to sing.

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.

September 13

Blessed Interdependence:
from Louisville to Springfield and Back
Minister: Rev. Liz Weber

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

After four quick public meetings ending August 10 with thousands of comments against data centers or some sections of the draft ordinance, the OOP (Office of Planning) is preparing to send their final draft to Metro Council for approval in September. The OOP repeatedly says this is the single largest issue they have dealt with.
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.

Time for First U to 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.

• Friday, September 11 at 5 pm
• Tuesday, September 15 at 2 pm
• Wednesday, September 23 at 6:30 pm

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.

Louisville Pride: Save the Date! Sign Up to Help

Louisville Pride is almost here! This event is more locally based with lots of community vendors, our church will be co-hosting a booth with All Peoples September 12th 11am-10pm.  We’re looking for volunteers for the Glitter Booth!
If you’re interested in sharing some sparkletastic joy with us contact the office.

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!

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.

Adult (RE) Contact: Adult Religious Exploration

Adult RE: Join Us in Person or Online Sundays at 10am
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. Contact: Adult RE
Meeting ID: 881 3952 8893   Passcode: 809  Meeting chat link

September 6 Four Engines for a Vibrant First U (Part 2)
An Unabashed Bias Toward Justice
Following up on the final thoughts from the August 9 service spelling out four engines to build a vibrant Adult Religious Exploration program – and, hopefully, from that, a vibrant First U experience – we’re going to explore the second “engine” and how a bias toward justice is inherently connected and a vital part of Adult RE programming, brainstorming ways we can put this second engine into gear. (This is a stand-alone session. You do not need to participate in any other part of this four-part series.)

September 13 Four Engines for a Vibrant First U (Part 3):
A Commitment to Denominational Connection
Following up on the final thoughts from the August 9 service spelling out four engines to build a vibrant Adult Religious Exploration program – and, hopefully, from that, a vibrant First U experience – we’re going to explore the third “engine” and how a robust denominational connection is inherent to our work and a vital part of Adult RE planning, brainstorming ways we can put this third engine into gear. (This is a stand-alone session. You do not need to participate in any other part of this four-part series.)

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.”