What’s UUp 3/1/26

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The Nursery is open for babies and pre-k from 9:30am-12:15pm on Sundays.

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

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”. Reverend Liz is going to kick us off with a sermon on March 1. This is a time of giving and connecting. Our church’s goal is 100% participation in pledging from Members and Friends with a total of $250,000 raised for our budget next year.  We are so very grateful for every one of you!

First Sunday Lunch March 1

Join us for lunch Sunday after the service – it’s a great way to make new friends and enjoy community. Menu: lentil stew, crusty bread and dessert.  Suggested donation is $5, first time visitors are our guests.

Membership at First U Lou

We’re celebrating membership this season! If you’re new to the congregation and thinking about formally joining, here are two opportunities. Contact the office or Rev. Liz  with questions.

  • 3/1 at 12:30 – Membership Quick Q&A
    Brian and Rev. Liz will be available after service for questions about membership and to help you discern whether you’re ready to join.
  • 3/15 at 12:30 – Sign the Book! 
    This is your chance to formally join First U Lou as a member. We will gather in the library after service for a time to sign the membership book.

Celebration of Life – 11:00am 
 
Growing the Light
Speaker: Rev. Liz Weber

What does First U Lou mean to you? You mean a lot to us! On this pledge kickoff Sunday, we’ll celebrate our collective power and our hopes for how we’ll grow our light in the coming year.
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 Order of Service (Bulletin)

Gathering Music           Ethan McCollum

Welcome          Jamie McGloin-King

Prelude     Ethan         

Lighting the Chalice and the Black Lives Matter Candle
  Rev. Ben Burton

Opening Words     Rev. Liz Weber

Hymn #1014     Answering the Call of Love        Ethan
Words and Music: Jason Shelton

Moment for All Ages      Rev. Liz

Song for Our Children      Ethan
Go in love, our hearts go with you.
Go in joy, our hopes go too.
Learn in love and grow in wisdom.
Shine your light in all you do.

Our Mission and Covenant (unison)      Rev. Ben
We are a church of reason and spirit,
that witnesses for progressive faith,
nurtures our community and transforms our world.

Love is the spirit of this church, and service is its law.
This is our great covenant: to dwell together in peace,
to seek the truth in love, and to help one another.

Introducing the Pledge Team

Joys and Sorrows          Rev. Liz

Musical Response #1009        Meditation on Breathing       Ethan
Words and music: Sarah Dan Jones

Meditation and Common Prayer      Rev. Liz

Musical Response         Ethan

Invitation to Generosity         Rev. Liz

Offertory                                              

Sermon       Growing Our Light        Rev. Liz

Hymn #1028       The Fire of Commitment     Ethan
words: Vincent B. Silliman, music: Dede Duson

Extinguishing the Chalice      Rev. Ben
We extinguish these flames, but not the light of truth,
the warmth of community, or the fire of commitment.
These we carry in our hearts until we are together again.

Closing Words          Rev. Liz

Postlude        I’m Gonna Lift My Sister Up      First U Choir
Words and music: Faya Rose Touré
Arr. Mary Alice and Peter Amidon

Invitations           Rev. Liz