What’s UUp Sunday 8/31/25?

•

What’s UUp August 31?
See your Midweek Update for This Week’s Announcements
Loren Crawford, Director of Religious Exploration (DRE)
Families Welcome / Childcare Available beginning at 9:30
Click here for Adult RE email and class information.
 

This Week’s Children’s RE at 11am – Water Day!
We will begin in the sanctuary, then children will leave the sanctuary during the Song for the Children after the Moment for All Ages Hymn Sing.
 

August 31 at 10:00am “Adult RE” is the Topic
To kick off the start of the church year, we’re going to consider what we are trying to do in Adult Religious Exploration (RE) at First U. We have some ideas, but you probably have some ideas too! Let’s discuss what we’re doing and hoping to accomplish, and poke at the ways our adult religious exploration experiences are  (hopefully) different from adult education classes.
 

Call for Kids’ Pics

Do you have photos of your kids from Black Lives Matter protests? Loren is collecting them for next week’s Moment for All Ages. Please send them her way!
 

Chalice Circle Registration Deadline August 31
You may complete a paper registration form, available on the counter in the Volunteer Area, online or see your Midweek Update for other options and more information.
 

August Ends With Color (Plus a First Fundraiser!)
Sunday, August 31 at 1:00pm
Kleinhelter Gallery, 701 E. 8th St. New Albany, IN
Join us for a special fundraising event, a “Friends and Family” art reception, on Sunday, August 31th from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm with free food and wine bar. It’s featuring the works of Jerry Wright, Kathy Sams Wariner, Carol Brenner Tobe (current UU member), Cheryl Ulrich-Barnett, Sarah Tobe Andres, and Stanley Bogue (former UU art teacher). There’s no admission fee. For each of Stanley Bogue’s pieces sold, the gallery will donate 70% to First Unitarian Church.  For all other works sold, the gallery will donate 20%.  Music will be provided by Mr. Kris Bachman and other UU artists.

Celebration of Life – 11:00am 
 

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

Chime and Welcome       Jill Sampson

Prelude          Ethan
           “Hornpipe” from Water Music
George Frideric Handel

Lighting the Chalice and the Black Lives Matter Candle 
Peggy Muller

Opening Words       Rev. Liz Weber

Hymn       River of My People      Ethan
Words: Pete Seegar
music: Stenza Razin, Russian folk song

Moment for All Ages         Loren Crawford, DRE

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.

Introduction to Water Ceremony        Rev. Liz

Our Mission and Covenant         Peggy
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.

Joys and Sorrows          Rev. Liz

Musical Response #100  I’ve Got Peace Like a River        Ethan
words and music: Marvin V. Frey

Meditation and Common Prayer         Rev. Liz

Musical Response       Ethan

Invitation to Generosity        Rev. Liz

Offertory            First U Choir
“Raindrop” from Prelude in D-flat major
Frédéric Chopin

Water Communion Ritual    An Empty Cup         Rev. Liz

Homily        Rivers to the Sea        Rev. Liz

Water Communion Ritual    Mingling Our Waters       Rev. Liz

Hymn   #1064      Blue Boat Home      Ethan
Words: Peter Mayer
Music: Roland Hugh Prichard, Peter Mayer

Extinguishing the Chalice     Peggy
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      Orinoco Flow      First U Choir
Words: Roman Ryan, music: Enya, arr: Kirby Shaw)

Benediction           Rev. Liz