Special Performance Sat September 9 – Rev. Dennis McCarty

Don’t forget that Rev. McCarty is coming back to Cincinnati to perform his One Man Musical on Saturday September 9 in our sanctuary @ 7 PM

Servetus: The Radical Reformed Musical

Suggested Donation $10. All proceeds benefit First Unitarian Church.

Dr. Riegel’s Sermon Series Zoom Discussion

For my first three sermons as your developmental minister at First U, I chose to speak on the subject of love, i.e., the transformational process by which we “become the person we want to be before we die,” what the mechanism is for that transformation, and what it looks like to act from love rather than the instincts.  And of course, for those of you who were present, you are well aware that I introduced evolutionary psychology as a significant part of this message.

On Wednesday evening, Sept 6, from 7:30 – 9pm (though we may end sooner), I will be leading a discussion on this sermon series, via Zoom.  Any topic I covered in this sermon series, or any topic you think may also be relevant to this sermon series, will be discussed.  (What we discuss will be based on your interests/questions, rather than another presentation by me.)

If you would like to participate in this discussion, please respond directly to me, via email (alex.riegel@firstuu.com).  I will send out a Zoom link from my own Zoom account, approximately one hour prior to the discussion.

Also, if you know anyone who is not a member of First U but might like to attend, that is fine.  If so, please direct them to YouTube where they can view the sermons ahead of time (or at the very least, this past Sunday’s sermon).

Finally, I am attaching the insert I included in this past Sunday’s order of service, for those of you who may want to revisit the evol. psych. material before we meet. Click Here.

Alex

Recycle Event September 10, 2023

9:30 to 11:30 in the church Parking Lot

• Batteries & Bulbs
• ·     Alkaline
• ·     Household 
• ·     Lithium batteries 

• Latex Paint-for Matthew Ministries
• ·     Latex, Acrylic & Water Soluble only
• ·     Containers at least 1/3 full
• ·     Must be usable & can be stirred
• ·     Free of debris
• ·     In original container

• The Earth Care Team will collect paint on this day only.  If you miss the event, please take your paint to Matthew Ministries.

• Spread the word!

FC IN FRONT OF THE VAN WITH THE FLAMING CHALICE

CARDS OF SYMPATHY, SUPPORT, AND CONGRATULATION

Dear First Congregants:

Many members of the congregation send cards of sympathy, support, and congratulation in response to the Joys and Concerns published in Circle of Friends.  For many years, it has also been the practice of Extended Ministry to send a card on behalf of the church. We also send birthday cards to our 75 Plus members and to our children for their Birthdays. We would like to enlist the help of  several people to rotate the sending of cards from the church on a monthly basis. Each person would take one or two months which would not have to be consecutive.   There is money in the budget to reimburse card senders ($.99 cards plus postage) – just provide me with your reimbursement request. E-cards would also be acceptable (especially for the children) if both sender and recipient have the capability.  

Would you be willing to help us keep the church connected in this important way? Card sending responsibility would begin the first of September 2023 through August 2024. Please indicate to me which month(s) you would like to do.  I want to thank those who volunteer for extending our care of our beloved spiritual community to those who share their joys and concerns with us. Thanks ever so much. 

eJane Kay, for Extended Ministry

Independence Day Potluck July 2nd

Our First Sunday Potluck falls really close to Independence Day this year. Community Builders thought it would be fun to give our potluck an “all American Theme”.

Please join us on Sunday, July 2nd for an Independence Day lunch. Community builders will provide beef and vegetarian hot dogs. We’re hoping some of you can help out by bringing sides and apple pie.

If you’d like to help out by setting up/tearing down or providing food, please follow the link to the Signup Genius: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080D4AA5AC2CA75-independence

We look forward to seeing you there!

Patricia Rohrer

On behalf of Community Builders

Cincinnati Pride: Let’s March and Talk!

Saturday, June 24.

The annual Cincinnati Pride Parade and Festival is Saturday, June 24, 2023. In this era when there are sweeping anti-trans bills in state legislatures and even bills that undermine the rights of some gay, bi, and queer persons, UU Council of Greater Cincinnati is hoping for a huge showing of UUs of all ages. 

The parade starts at 11 a.m. at 7th and Plum Streets downtown. Be there by 10 am to find parking and find the people in the yellow clothes and with the yellow banners in that vicinity. UU Council of Greater Cincinnati’s float will be a minivan with a huge flaming chalice on top. You can view the parade route at the Cincinnati Pride Parade website information page.  Carpool, bicycle, bus, just be there! 

For more information on coordination UU Council of Greater Cincinnati involvement in the parade, contact MJ Pierson by email, or by phone at 513-258-4784. For questions specific to First Church, contact First Church Opening Hearts coordinator Trish Hart by email.

UU Booth at the FESTIVAL

Booth staffed in shifts from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The Pride Festival takes place at Sawyer Point and Yeatman’s Cove, 705 East Pete Rose Way, Cincinnati, OH 45202. It’s once again free for everyone. There are food, drinks, vendors, and entertainment to fill your Saturday afternoon with fun. More information on the festival is on the Cincinnati Pride Festival website. 

Help people learn about Unitarian Universalism by staffing UU Council’s booth. It’s a lot of fun working a shift at the booth, talking with people, handing out information, and watching the crowd. Sign up for setting up, staffing or breaking down the booth at Sign-Up Genius. For more information on working at the UU information booth, contact MJ Pierson via email at MJ Pierson via email, or call her at 513-258-4784. 

If you have questions on the day of the festival—including help in locating the booth—you can text MJ Pierson at the phone number above.

FIRST CHURCH ADOPTS 8^TH PRINCIPLE

First Unitarian Church of Cincinnati became the 249th UU congregation in the nation to adopt the 8th Principle. The congregation on May 21, 2023, unanimously voted, “First Unitarian Church of Cincinnati, as a member congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association, adopts the 8th Principle to covenant to affirm and promote journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community that by our actions accountably dismantles racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.”

All congregations belonging to the Unitarian Universalist Association affirm and promote Seven Principles, which we hold as strong values and moral guides. First Unitarian Church of Cincinnati also adopted an 8^th Principle, specific to our congregation, that affirms our legacy of building a diverse multicultural Beloved Community to dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.

The 8th Principle reads, “

• First-Cincinnati adds 8th Principle to typical Seven Principles
• 1^st Principle: The inherent worth and dignity of every person.
• 2^nd Principle: Justice, equity and compassion in human relations.
• 3^rd Principle: Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations.
• 4^th Principle: A free and responsible search for truth and meaning.
• 5^th Principle: The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large.
• 6^th Principle: The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all.
• 7^th Principle: Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
• 8^th Principle specific to First Unitarian Church of Cincinnati: Build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community that by our actions accountably dismantles racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.

UUA Common Read Discussion in August!

Today, UU congregations are grappling with a charge to dismantle white supremacy in ourselves, our communities, and our world. Co-authors Nancy Palmer Jones and Karin Lin—a white minister and a lay person of color—explored five UU congregations’ journeys toward Beloved Community. In Mistakes and Miracles: Congregations on the Road to Multiculturalism, they shared the joy, disappointment, and growth these congregations found.

Join us for a four-part discussion of this book, starting August 15 at 7 PM via zoom (each discussion is expected to last an hour and a half). Registration is now open: https://tinyurl.com/4f8km8kc

Need a copy of the book?  Pick up a free copy from First Unitarian Church’s library (while supplies last) , order a physical copy through the inSpirit bookstore, purchase a digital copy through Amazon Kindle, or listen to the audio book through your favorite app.

Good evening First Church family,

At the Congregational Meeting on May 21, you will be asked to vote on adopting the 8^th principle.

The Motion

“First Unitarian Church of Cincinnati, as a member congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association, adopts the 8th Principle to covenant to affirm and promote journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community that by our actions accountably dismantles racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.”

The Board hopes you’ve taken advantage of the numerous opportunities First Church provided for you to learn about, discuss, and consider the 8^th principle and what its adoption would mean to First Church and yourself. We encourage you to vote with your heart and mind.

At the same time, we felt it was important to share our feelings about this issue. Our Board of Trustees enthusiastically recommends adoption of the 8^th Principle motion that applies specifically to First Church (unlike Article II that applies to all congregations if it passes at 2024 GA). The Board is saying yes. The Board is also saying it’s your turn, members of this Beloved Community, to decide if we adopt the 8^th Principle or not. AND the Board is reminding everyone we are a Beloved Community and we respect each person and their reasons for their vote.

At the 8^th Principle information sessions, adults and youth alike said that each of us and our congregation-at-large have honest, soul-searching, uncomfortable “inside” work to do if First Church. The 8^th Principle is a commitment to a First Church climate that feels safe to those used to feeling like “outsiders” and wanting to feel like their authentic selves. 

Our youth, our members of color, our members of gender fluidity, our members of various economic and class backgrounds – they tell us the 8^th Principle should not be necessary and yet it is. They are asking – I repeat, they are asking – us to be upstanders and speak out by adopting the 8^th Principle at First Church.

Let’s listen to them, our often-marginalized members, and be the covenantal congregation we say we are.

You charged the Board – at a very rocky time in First Church’s history – with assuring that our congregation would continue to have a vibrant future as a Beloved Community. It is clear that our congregation desires to be vibrant, inclusive, and spiritually alive. This congregation wants to grow – spiritually and in numbers – and we need to create space for that to occur.  We are emerging from the turmoil of the past few years with a new minister and renewed energy. Let’s capitalize on that energy and take-action. I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of talking. I’m ready to do something. Your Board unanimously believes a new additional 8^th Principle will take us to new levels of anti-racism anti-oppression and multiculturalism. We hope you’re on board for the ride.

In covenant,

The 2022-2023 Board of Trustees