What’s UUp 3/15/26

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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. Our theme this year is “Growing the Light.” 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!

The progress towards our goal is updated here each week:
  • 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 amounts for this field.)
  • So far, we have $91,441 towards our $250,00 goal!  There are 21 Family/individual pledges out of our 154 “member/friend known givers count.”

Please consider pledging as an additional way to connect with First U. When we go over the budget portion of the annual meeting, you’ll be able to put your finger on something meaningful to you and think, “I’m in there!”

Membership at First U Lou: Sign the Book March 15!

We’re celebrating membership this season! If you’re new to the congregation and thinking about formally joining, here is an opportunity. Contact Brian Daly or Rev. Liz with questions. On March 15, at 12:30, you can sign the book! This is your chance to formally join First U Lou as a member. We will gather  in the library after the service for a time to sign the membership book.

UU the Vote

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. You can also take cards home to write. Come check us out! Questions? Send us an email.

Celebration of Life – 11:00am 
 

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.
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           Kathy Thackeray

Prelude          Ethan

Lighting the Chalice and the Black Lives Matter Candle   Donna Corbett

Opening Words            Rev. Liz Weber

Hymn #108         Ethan
My Life Flows on in Endless Song
Words: Early Quaker song; Music: American gospel tune

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)          Donna
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.

Stewardship Testimonial

Reflection        Why Music Matters              Rev. Liz

Hymns              Ethan
          Keep on Moving Forward  by Pat Humphries
Hold On  by Heidi Wilson

Joys and Sorrows          Rev. Liz

Musical Response         Ethan
 Hold On  by Heidi Wilson

Meditation and Common Prayer          Rev. Liz

Musical Response        Ethan

Invitation to Generosity            Rev. Liz

Offertory             Ethan

Reflection        Stories from Minneapolis         Rev. Liz

Hymns       Ethan
          This is for Our Neighbors  by  Lu Aya
          It’s Okay to Change Your Mind by Annie Schlaefer
          No One is Getting Left Behind by Joshua Blaine
          We Are Here by Sarina Partridge
Siyahamba (#1030)  Words and music: South Africa

Extinguishing the Chalice              Donna
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         Ethan
          This Joy by Shirley Caesar

Invitations       Rev. Liz