Future Special Events and Current News

For more news, check out our newsletter, Steepletalk.

Dawn has a blog! Check it out here.

HELP MINISTRIES The youth groups will continue collecting your canned and non-perishable food donations during the Celebration of Life each Sunday. The focus in March is beef stew, but any food item is greatly appreciated, and delivered to the food pantry operated by Calvary Episcopal Church in conjunction with the HELP office. Toiletry items, including toothbrush and paste, deodorant, feminine hygiene products, shampoo, razors and toilet paper, are also collected.

Spring For A Day Campaign
We are grateful for those who "purchased" days during the Spring For A Day campaign. The March dedications are as follows: 9-Lisa Willner's birthday, 10-Linda Reynolds, 14-Pi Day, 15-Anita Eickmann's birthday, 16-John Findling birthday, 17-Mike Watkins and Virginia Bube's birthday, 18-Edict of Torda, 19-marriage of parents Beulah Melick and Harold Reed, 25-Star Wars-New Hope released, 26- Dawn Cooley.

New Church Windows - New leaded glass window inserts have been installed on each side of the glass doors at the Library Lane entrance to church. Funded by memorial contributions in Harry Ulinski's honor, the project was overseen by Ann Ulinski. Louisville artist David Ferry collaborated with Ann to incorporate color and design elements similar to the sanctuary windows. Harry, who died in 2008, often made this comment on arriving at this entrance, "It doesn't look like a church". That comment won't be heard much once you stop to admire light coming in through these beautiful new windows.

FAMOUS POLYS
Polyamorous relationships have been the daily reality for a remarkable number of people both in modern times and throughout history. Who are some of these polyamorists whose relationships were publicly known and whose names we might recognize? Participants may purchase take out from a nearby restaurant, or bring a sack lunch. Co-sponsored meeting. Sun., Feb. 28, 12:30-2:30pm, library.

ROMEOS...ROMEOS...WHEREFORTH ART THOU? If you enjoy excellent conversation and "pretty good" food, consider joining us for a session of R.O.M.E.O. (Retired Old Men Eating Out). We meet on the first Wednesday of every month at the Piccadilly Cafeteria at the corner of Taylorsville Rd. and Hurstbourne Parkway at 12:45 PM - call Bob Reed at 899-3071 if you have any questions or just show up!

The Women's Alliance will celebrate Women's History Month by offering the Cakes for the Queen of Heaven Program to all Women of First Unitarian and Junior and Senior High Women during Chalice Night in March. The first session will be on March 3, 2010. There are five sessions and they will be held every other Wednesday (3/3, 3/17, 3/31, 4/14, and 4/28.) Jane Buckley, Bev Daly and Deb Gilbert will be leading these sessions. The Women's Alliance has the recently revised edition of this very popular Unitarian Universalist program. Even though this program is for women, the program is open to all.

Blood Drive
The Red Cross is holding a blood drive in First U's social hall on Thursday, March 4, 2 - 6 pm. Louisville's blood supply remains low after the holidays, and your donation of blood is truly a gift of life. By coincidence, March 4 is National Poundcake Day, so all donors will be served delicious poundcake. Appointments available but not necessary. Contact Kathy Gapsis.

UU Christian Fellowship The next UU Christian Fellowship activity at the monthly meeting on Saturday, March 6 at 6:30pm location to be announced. For questions contact UUCF Chair Geneva Fry at grfry@flash.net at (812)-948-1367.

Canvass Sunday, March 7
You are cordially invited to the Celebration of Life on Canvass Sunday, March 7. Capture the Wonder of Tomorrow will be Rev. Dawn Cooley’s topic for this multigenerational service. A light lunch will be served after the Celebration of Life. Join your First U church family as we consider together the reasons that we give and the joy we receive from our generosity. Enjoy entertainment from our own talented musicians! Make your pledge during the service, or choose to wait until later when a canvasser calls on you. Childcare and lunch will be available for children 5 and under. Other children and youth are invited and encouraged to attend the service and luncheon.

Calling all Readers!
The First U Book Club, with a strong showing of 13 members, gathered Monday evening, January 11th, to discuss our reading selections. Twenty six titles were suggested as candidates to be read in the next six months, six were chosen. Following is a list of those books and the date when they will be discussed.
March 8th - Makes Me Wanna Holler: A Young Black Man in America by Nathan McCall
April 12th - Watermark by local author Joseph Brodsky
May 10th - The Woman Behind the New Deal: The Life and Legacy of Frances Perkins, Social Security, Unemployment Insurance by Kirstin Downey
June 14th - Plainsong by Kent Haruf
July 12th - Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman
We meet in the Parlor on the second Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. Please join us.

Canvasser Training Reminder! Sunday, March 14, 12:30 p.m., back of the sanctuary – lunch provided —OR— Monday, March 15, 7:00 p.m., church library – dessert and coffee

Famous Lesbians, Sun., March 14, 12:30-2:30pm, library. In honor of Women’s History month, bring a story to share about a famous lesbian. Participants may purchase take out from a nearby restaurant, or bring a sack lunch. All members and friends are welcome. Remember to set your clocks forward one hour on Saturday night, March 13, for Daylight Savings Time!!

Brownbaggers - Deep Thoughts is the topic. Join the Brownbaggers in the Church Library at 12:00pm on Monday, March 15. Last month's Brownbag meeting was cancelled due to bad weather. The intended program entitled "Deep Thoughts" will be presented at our next meeting, March 15, at noon in the church library. It consists of thought-stirring ideas from a lay member of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Southern Delaware. Invite a friend, bring a brownbag lunch, and enjoy!

Spring Returns! First Unitarian Choir & Coterie Concert - Please join us to share an afternoon together in song. On March 21st, the First Unitarian Church Choir will present a concert of choral music with the vocal ensemble Coterie, as well as Phillip Morgan and other instrumentalist from 3 to 4pm in the sanctuary. All are invited, and admission is free.

CUUPS - Ostara or the spring equinox is the festival of spring. In ancient days, this was a time of sowing and planting. Today, in the earth based traditions, Ostara is a time for us to put plans into motion, sowing the seeds of ideas that may not reach fruition for many months. CUUPs would like to invite everyone to our Ostara Circle on March 21. Come join us as we welcome the Goddess back from her place of rest and ask Her blessings for new growth in the coming year. A potluck dinner will begin at 6pm and circle will begin at 7pm. For childcare, please contact the church office for more information. Learn more about Ostara on Chalice night on Wednesday March 10.

During Women's History Month, March, the Women's Alliance will present the Celebration of Life on Sunday March 21st. The team that is busy researching and creating this Service are Deanna Hopper, Nancy MacPherson, Rita Sasse, and Kathy Thackeray along with our Worship Associate Kathie Johnson. Kathy Gapsis will participate as well as the Junior High Youth.

Visitor Information Session If you’re not yet a member and want to know more about First Unitarian Church, please join us on Sunday, March 28 about ten minutes after the service in the Church Parlor. Bring your questions and your story. We’ll cover the history of First Unitarian Church and get a tour, discuss the activities and groups here and how to get involved, and you’ll get to know other visitors, friends and members in the process. We look forward to getting to know you!

Facets of Polyamory, part 2 Co-sponsored meeting. Sun., March 28, 12:30-2:30pm, library. Does polyamory refer to a person or to a relationship? Is it a behavior or an identity? A temporary status or an orientation? Is it something entirely different? Participants may purchase take out from a nearby restaurant, or bring a sack lunch. All members and friends are welcome.

The Berea College Concert Choir will be giving a concert in the early evening on Sunday, March 28th (time TBA) as a part of their tour. They are asking in return only that lodging for the choir members and dinner be provided. William Plummer is an alumnus of this group, and he will be coordinating the effort to get the choir here. If you are able to provide lodging for one or more students overnight on the 28th, or are willing to assist with dinner in the social hall before the concert, please contact him to help make this event possible. There are about 60 students in the choir. Members of the First Unitarian Church Choir have already volunteered to house 15 of the students.

Jewelry Sale, Jewelry Sale!!! Save Sunday, April 4, 2010 right after church for our annual jewelry sale. Also, there will be a box in the volunteer area for your older or unwanted jewelry. We hope to earn more money for the church by opening the sale to the public, so please publicize it wide and far. Contact Carol Findling or Kay Woodworth if you have questions, suggestions.

The next general meeting of the Women's Alliance will be a Tea on Saturday, April 10, 2010, at 2:30 pm. All Women of First Unitarian are invited.

Save the Date! The installation of our minister, Rev. Cooley is April 25th.

For more news, check out our newsletter, Steepletalk.

2008 News to be Remembered!
Concert for Appalachian mountaintops - The Sr. High Youth Group is getting some well-deserved national attention – see the article here.

Excerpts from A HISTORY OF THE FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY 1830-2005* (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader):
Chapter 1: Beginnings in Boston and Louisville and Chapter 9: Fire, Rebirth, and New Challenges, 1985-2006
* To purchase a copy of the book, please call Betty Vernon at First Unitarian Church, phone 502-585-5110.