Newsletter

Email from First Unitarian Church of Toledo

UU-FYI – OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

FOR SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 2025

9:45 AM -SPIRITUAL FORUM

Join us for Spiritual Forum on Easter Sunday when our guest will be Toledo City Counselman Nick Komives. Nick will lead a discussion about sustainability and the city’s role in stewardship of our environment. Hope to see you there!

11:00 AM SERVICE

Did Jesus have a Funeral?

Rev. TK Barger

After Jesus was put to death, what became of the crowds that followed Jesus? Did they have a funeral for Jesus? The crowds are important—the rabbi they followed was taken from them, and before the news of resurrection didn’t reach them instantly. There are the stories we have and what we still want to know. So let’s ask.

CLICK TO WATCH ON OUR CHANNEL:

KIDS’ ACTIVITIES: On April 20, our class will continue our CartUUns curriculum with the short “Red’s Dream.” Red is a unicycle who wants to be a circus star. We will discuss hopes we’ve had, and whether they came true. After class, we will have our annual Easter egg hunt! Kids will go outside, weather permitting, to search for empty Easter eggs, then they will come inside and trade the eggs for the candies of their choice. Hope to see lots of small faces there!

YOUTH GROUP: The regularly scheduled April youth group meeting has been postponed to May 4 because of scheduling conflicts. For the same reason, We’ll see you then!

RE COMMITTEE MEETING: The regularly scheduled April RE meeting has been cancelled. The next RE meeting will be on May 25.

THIS WEEK’S CALENDAR

Saturday April 19 – Film Club (Venue Change)*

Saturday April 19 – Walking Group – First Outing*

Sunday, April 20:

· 9:30 AM – Choir Practice

· 9:45 AM – Spiritual Forum

· 11:00 AM – Service In Person + on the YouTube Channel

· 12:00 PM – Coffee and Conversation

Monday, April 21, 6:00 PM – Together Women Rise (NEW TIME)*

Tuesday, April 22, 11:00 AM – Sunday Service Committee – ZOOM*

Tuesday, April 22, 6:30 PM – Meditation group via ZOOM*

Tuesday, April 22, 7:00 PM – Board Meeting

Thursday, April 24 – World Dining Group visits Ciao. RSVP req’d

UPCOMING EVENTS (see articles below for more info)

Saturday, April 26, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM – Social Action Saturday

Sunday, April 27 – Potluck Sunday Luau! after service

Sunday, May 18 – First Unitarian Annual Meeting after service

*see groups and monthly meeting document for more details

LEADERSHIP AND STEWARDSHIP

LEAD A SUNDAY SERVICE

Would you like to lead a Sunday service in June, July, or August?

Maybe you’ve been thinking for a while about what you might say in front of your fellow Toledo Unitarians—or an idea has just come to you, and you want to share while you’re enthused.

Do you and fellow church members talk about topics and all of you might share a Sunday to preach your conversations? Or, while a committee, group, or team you’re on is preparing its annual report, maybe your circle would consider proposing a summer Sunday service centered on the focus of your committee, group, or team.

One aspect of our saying that all Unitarian Universalists share in ministry is that you have the opportunity to lead, too. Here’s a chance—this is your invitation to give a Sunday service, including the sermon, sometime this summer. It can be solo, with friends, or as a committee, group, or team. See or email Rev. Tim (minister@uutoledo.org) and propose a topic and date.

NEWS FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Please add this important date to your calendar…

Sunday, May 18, 2025

First Unitarian Annual Meeting

After church

See you there!

CARING AND SHARING

Please send healing thoughts to Susan Smith and Carol Keierleber as they continue to recover from their recent knee replacement surgeries. Cards, calls, emails, and even short visits are welcomed. We hope for a speedy and complete recovery for both of them.

We are also sending healing thoughts to Walter McGhee, who is in Flower Hospital with an infection in his prosthetic knee. Cards and cheerful messages would be appreciated.

“UUs care! Please continue to communicate your concerns or celebrations with any member of the Caring Circle: Carla Logan-Mercer, Karen Christie, Phil Zepp, Suzanne Hoffman, Joanne Hartough, Becky Hrabovsky, Karen Porter, Terry Acocks, Kathy Crowther, Marsha Gamble, Susan Smith. Please contact Joanne Hartough with any concerns or joys that you wish to share in this FYI column.

INVITATIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES

Volunteers Needed for Easter Egg Hunt

Who can pitch in with our annual Easter egg hunt? We particularly need people who can hide empty eggs and who can help the kids exchange the eggs they find for candy or treats of their choosing. If you happen to have an Easter basket or bag of candy lying around, we can use those too! Please contact Gini at DLL@uutoledo.org if you can help. Thank you!

TOGETHER WOMEN RISE

Meeting and Potluck Dinner

Monday, April 21, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.

First Unitarian Church, 3205 Glendale Avenue, Toledo, Ohio

Grantee: Asia Initiatives (India). The purpose of this grant is to enable 450 women in remote villages to achieve financial and nutritional independence through organic vegetable gardening, teaching them the skills to maintain and market produce, and improving the nutrition and income of them, their families, and their communities.

Bring a dish to share and your own table service and serving utensils. For more information on Together Women Rise, please visit togetherwomenrise.org, or contact Susan Spiegel at or Marcia Klunk. All are welcome!

Bring a friend to share in good food and conversation while learning more about the world around us.

CALL FOR GARDENERS

We still have space for more gardeners to take a plot or half a plot. It’s time to start planning and working the areas and planting cold weather crops. We have seeds from Toledo Grows and will be picking up plants from them in May. All we need is a few more people that enjoy working outside, “playing in the dirt”, and harvesting healthy organic produce to eat. Contact Karen Porter or Dave Murray if you are interested or would like more information.

SECOND AND FOURTH SATURDAYS OF EACH MONTH

NEXT MEETING: Sat April 26

11 AM – 2 PM

We meet from 11 AM until 2 PM in the Alcott room at church. We continue to assemble care packages along with stickers and pin-badges with messages supporting social justice. This month we will focus on climate justice in conjunction with the upcoming Multifaith Council Earth Day Celebration. There is some interest in making of “seed bombs” to share. Pins and stickers have been very popular and supplies are running low. Please check the wish list for ideas to donate on Amazon under “Melanie Christiansen, Social Action Saturdays.”.

PROTEST UPDATE: SATURDAY APRIL 19

On April 19th there will be an anti-administration protest from 4 PM – 5PM at the Lucas County Courthouse.

This is a National Day of Action! 50501 is a grassroots political organization made up of many groups, including labor unions and civil rights groups. This is a day of protest against a hostile government overseen by the current administration.

Key issues include upholding the constitution, ending executive overreach, and liberty and justice for all.

· When: Saturday, April 19, 2025 **4 PM -5 PM — note time change Where: Lucas County Courthouse, 700 Adams Street. Use public sidewalks near courthouse for a “honk-and-wave” type of protest

· Parking: Free parking on streets on weekends. Numerous pay car lots near the courthouse

· Bring: Water, Chair, Sunscreen

· Optional: Equality Toledo Food Pantry will be collecting canned goods and hygiene products—let’s Stuff the Truck!!

Rally heard ‘round the world!!!

WORLD DINING Travels to Italy…

On the fourth Thursday, April 24, 2025, interested congregants can join community dining at Ciao! 6064 Monroe Street, Sylvania, Ohio.

See https://ciaorestaurant.com/

PLEASE NOTE: WE ARE MEETING AT 5:15 PM per the restaurant’s request. We are also limited to 20 diners. RSVP to: Stasia Hanson by Sunday, April 20, 2025. Ciao has everything from pizza and salads to four course meals. Join us for some dining fun. Buon Appetito!

FIRST UNITARIAN WALKING GROUP – FIRST OUTING!

We are starting a walking group for members and friends of First Unitarian.

The first outing will be Saturday, April 19 at 1:00 PM. We will meet at the Swan Creek MetroPark (Glendale Ave entrance) and then walk the trails for about 1 hour. At least one of the trails at Swan Creek is wheelchair accessible. Please consider joining us for your physical and spiritual health. Future walks will take place at other MetroParks or at historic cemeteries (Woodlawn, Forest, Calvary).

If Saturday is not a good day for you, we could start a second monthly walk on a weekday evening. Contact David Strickler (567-202-3955) with any questions.

FILM CLUB:

Important! Venue change.

Because of an outside group’s film series held at the church, for this month only, on April 19 at 1:00 PM, we will be meeting at the home of Judy & Dave Murray.

Our film is the 1988 film Grave of the Fireflies. We will share a potluck lunch, view the film, and have a short discussion led by Paul Kemner. No RSVP is required. Contact Dave or Judy if you need directions to their home.

Grave of the Fireflies is an animated film set near the end of World War II, telling the story of two children from the port city of Kobe, made homeless by the bombs. Seita is a young teenager, and his sister Setsuko is about 5. Their father is serving in the Japanese Navy, and their mother is a bomb victim. In a review by Roger Ebert, he said, this film “is an emotional experience so powerful that it forces a rethinking of animation…Grave of the Fireflies is a powerful dramatic film that happens to be animated, and I know what the critic Ernest Rister means when he compares it to Schindler’s List.”

For the full review, access https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-grave-of-the-fireflies-1988

Leading Families Home 2025 Charity Golf Tournament

On May 29th, there will be a fundraising golf tournament benefiting Leading Families Home (LFH). This will be held at Valleywood Golf Club at 13502 Airport Hwy in Swanton. Registration begins at 9:00 AM with shotgun start at 10:00. Teams are foursomes at $100.00 per golfer which includes 18 holes, cash bar, 50/50 raffle, prizes, food and snacks. Sponsorships are available at $100.00 and up. In addition, donations of raffle prizes are needed: gift cards, gift baskets, sporting event tickets, etc. To donate, contact Stephanie Reighard. Event registration is through Stephanie or at http://bidpal.net/ilinkcaresgolf2025. Questions? Contact Sue Childers.

FOURTH SUNDAY LUAU COMING UP!

Potluck April 27 will have the theme of a luau. If you can, think of luau type food that would be nice, but, if not, bring any dish. Drinks are provided. There will be sign-up sheets on metal shelf in Fellowship Hall. Please sign up if you are coming so we can have a approximate count of people and know the dish you are bringing. Thanks!

Weekly and Monthly Meetings

and Activities

Click THIS DOCUMENT for a fuller, printable description of the 2025 activities, location, meeting dates and contact person for each group:

Every Tuesday ….Sunday Service Committtee ZOOM call at 11:00 AM

Every Tuesday….Meditation @ 6:30 PM

Weekly AA meetings – see document link for times

1^st Friday……….Book Club @ 2:00 PM

1^st Saturday…….Knit Wits @ 11:30 AM

2nd Saturday……Social Action Saturday @ 11AM-1PM

2^ndSunday……..Meditation @ 5:30 PM until December

3^rd Saturday…….Film Club @ 1:00 PM

3rd Saturday ……Walking Group @ 1:00 PM

3^rd Sunday………Men’s Group @ 5:30 PM

3^rd Monday……..Together Women Rise Seasonal time change to 6 PM

4^th Tuesday …….LGBTQ Online Support Group @ 8:00 PM

4th Tuesday……..Board of Trustees @ 7:00 PM

4th Wednesday …Blanket Making @ 10:30 AM

2nd Saturday……Social Action Saturday @ 11AM-1PM

4^thSunday………Meditation @ 5:30 PM

4th (or last) Sunday…. Potluck after Service

Is your meeting not listed? Submit your meeting details at

https://uutoledo.wufoo.com/forms/first-unitarian-communications-request-form

GREEN SANCTUARY

(From Earth911)

PERSONAL WATER USAGE

With looming droughts around the country, we should all probably take a few steps to reduce our consumption, even here, where we are lucky enough to live by the Great Lakes.

· In the bathroom: One five-minute shower could use more than 25 gallons if you’re using a conventional showerhead. Install a low-flow showerhead. Turn the water off when soaping up. Keep the showers short.

· When brushing teeth: Wet the brush, then turn off the faucet while brushing. When replacing the toilet, purchase a high-efficiency model that uses much less water.

· In the kitchen: Run the dishwasher only when full. Limit pre-rinsing. For items that can’t go in the dishwasher, limit running the water for long periods.

· In the laundry room: Wash only full loads. (Use wool dryer balls to shorten drying time and avoid wasteful dryer sheets.)

· Outside: Replace some or all lawn with natives that need much less water with their deep roots. Harvest rain water. If many households save a few gallons a day, it can add up.

NOTES AND NEWS

OFFICE HOURS:

Office hours are normally Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10:30-2:30 PM. Otherwise, please reach us by phone or email, which will be frequently checked. Thank you.

Phone: 419-381-6999

Office email: office.manager@uutoledo.org,

2025 SCHEDULE

FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH OF TOLEDO BOARD OF TRUSTEES

The Board meets monthly on 4th Tuesdays at 7:00 PM

Board meetings are open to all Members of the Church.

Members who are not board members may speak at the board meetings, but may not make motions or vote at board meetings. Members intending to speak at a board meeting shall notify the board president prior to the meeting.

Board meetings are generally held each month with the Bylaws requiring a minimum of meetings six times per year. The board may meet in executive session only to discuss personnel matters, to receive legal advice, or to discuss matters requiring confidentiality. Board Minutes once board approved are available to the Members upon written request.

2025 schedule: Apr 22, May 27, Jun 24, Jul 22, Aug 26, Sep 23