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UU-FYI –
OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
FOR SUNDAY, May 18, 2025
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Join us for Spiritual Forum on May 18, when our guest
will be Lucas County Prosecutor Julia Bates! Ms. Bates will discuss
the typical roles and duties of the prosecutor’s office, and dispel
some misconceptions. This is a great chance to speak with one of our
elected officials. Please try to arrive on time at 9:45. Hope to see
you there!
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On May 18,
for the service before the Annual Meeting, when we’ll be moving
forward, Rev. Tim will look back by talking about “Before We
Were First Unitarian,” giving a bit of congregational history
from the times of our institutional ancestors–Church of Our Father,
Unity Church Association, Independent Society of Toledo, Unitarian
Society of Toledo, and Liberal Society.
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CLICK TO
WATCH ON OUR CHANNEL:
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KIDS’ ACTIVITIES
On May 18, the kids will continue with their CartUUns
curriculum! We will re-watch some old favorites and have new ethics-
and morality-based discussion based on the movie. As always, we will
have snacks and talk about our joys and concerns. Hope to see lots of
friends there!
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THIS WEEK’S CALENDAR
Thursday, May 15, 6:00 PM World Dining (SEE BELOW FOR CHANGE OF VENUE TO TANDOOR
RESTAURANT)
Thursday, May 15, 7:00 PM – Budget Meeting in
person and by ZOOM
Saturday, May 17, 1:00 PM – Walking Group*
Saturday, May 17, 1:00 PM – Film Club *
Sunday, May 18:
·
9:30 AM – Choir Practice
·
9:45 AM – Spiritual Forum
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11:00 AM – Service In Person + on the YouTube Channel
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12:00 PM – Annual Meeting
·
5:30 PM – Men’s Group*
Monday, May 19 – 6:00 PM Together Women RISE program*
Tuesday, May 20, 11:00 AM – Sunday Service Committee –
ZOOM*
Tuesday, May 20, 6:30 PM – Meditation group via ZOOM*
UPCOMING EVENTS (see articles below for more info)
Saturday, May 24, 11:00 AM – Social Action Saturday
Sunday, May 25, 12:30 PM – Social Action Committee
Meeting
Monday, May 26, 12 Noon – Memorial Day Picnic
*see
groups and monthly meeting document for more details
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LEADERSHIP
AND STEWARDSHIP
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PLEASE ATTEND THIS SUNDAY
Sunday, May 18, 2025
First Unitarian Annual Meeting
After church in the sanctuary
See
you there!
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BUDGET MEETINGS AND ANNUAL REPORT
As we’ve done for the past few years, there will be two
meetings about the proposed church budget prior to the Annual Meeting
on May 18. The proposed budget is in the Annual Report, which will be
available at this link: ANNUAL
REPORT. The first budget meeting was
on May 10, and the second will be Thursday, May 15 at 7:00 PM. Both
meetings will be held in the Sanctuary, and both will be hybrid—come
in person or tune in using Zoom.
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LEAD A SUNDAY SERVICE
Would you like to lead a Sunday service over the summer?
Slots are filling up—we have all of June covered, but still need
preachers—YOU, or your group—for Sundays in July and 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,
maybe a committee, group, or team you’re on would consider proposing
a summer Sunday service centered on the focus of your committee,
group, or team.
There’s a template to help you design the service—your
primary responsibility will be to choose a couple of readings and
write the sermon, and the rest can be from the template with your
small adjustments for the day.
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.
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Would you like to represent the Toledo Unitarians at the
annual Unitarian Universalist Association General Assembly?
This year, GA will be in Baltimore June 18 through 22,
and attendees can be there in person or participate online from the
comfort of their own homes or vacation hideaways. For information, go
to https://www.uua.org/ga.
There are a few slots for delegates from our
congregation, and if you’re interested, there can be partial
financial assistance whether you’ll go to Baltimore or watch from the
Toledo area. Please contact Rev. Tim (minister@uutoledo.org) and Julia McGhee if you’d like to be considered for appointment as a
delegate.
Rates increase May 16, so act quickly, please.
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Last week we sent healing messages to a few people who
were recovering from knee replacement surgery. This week we’re
hearing about ankle injuries. Judy Trautman is suffering from a badly
sprained left foot. Friend of the church Julianne Rutger has a broken
ankle. We send our best wishes for a speedy recovery to both of them.
Another friend of the church, Julie Shope, has been
recovering from a major surgery and has been watching our services on
YouTube. She and her husband, Chris, are looking forward to becoming
more active in the church.
We continue to hope for a return to good health for
Walter McGhee, our audio-visual engineer, and also a return to
church. We miss you, Walter!
“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 and
Rev. Tim Barger.
Please contact Joanne Hartough with
any concerns or joys that you wish to share in this FYI column.
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INVITATIONS
AND OPPORTUNITIES
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SECOND AND
FOURTH SATURDAYS OF EACH MONTH
NEXT
MEETING: Sat May 24
11 AM – 1
PM
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WORLD DINING CHANGE OF VENUE
Thursday, May 15th at 6:00 PM
Dear First UU Diners–
Venue change due to recent price increases @ Star of
India. We will be dining @ Tandoor @ 2247 S Reynolds Rd, Toledo, OH
43614 instead. Sorry for any inconvenience. We have room for several
other diners if anyone wants to add on.
Thank you, Peggy Zilda.
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FILM CLUB will meet in Fellowship Hall at First Unitarian on May
17 at 1:00 PM. We will have a potluck lunch and view the film The
Old Oak, followed by a short discussion led by Susan Spiegel.
Premiering at Cannes in 2023, The Old Oak is about a pub
landlord named TJ Ballantyne, who lives in a previously thriving
mining community in County Durham. He struggles to hold onto his pub
and keep it as the one remaining public space where people can meet
in the town. Tensions rise when Syrian refugees are placed there, but
Ballantyne strikes up a relationship with one of the refugees. Access
https://zeitgeistfilms.com/film/the-old-oak
for more information about the film. For more
information about the Film Club, contact Judy or Dave Murray.
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THE FIRST UU WALKING GROUP
will meet Saturday, May 17 at 1:00 p.m. We will gather
at Calvary Cemetery (2224 Dorr St, near Parkside Ave) and walk for
about an hour. Please consider joining us for your physical and
spiritual health. Future walks will take place at other MetroParks or
at historic cemeteries. If Saturday is not a good day for you, we
could start a second monthly walk on a weekday evening. Contact David
Strickler with any questions.
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UNITARIAN ACTION MEETS
On Sunday May 25th there will be a Unitarian Action
meeting at 12:30 PM in a room TBD. The purpose is to discuss and plan
UA activities for the fiscal year. The meeting is open to all
congregants. Please come prepared to learn about previous activities
and share your ideas on how we can be the face of Unitarian
Universalist social justice ACTION inside and outside our walls.
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MEMORIAL DAY PICNIC
Pack up your picnic dish and join fellow Unitarians in
the church back yard for a Memorial Day picnic on Monday, May 26, from NOON to 4:00 PM. Grills will be hot, so bring your
favorite meat/vegetarian grilling item. Also bring your drinks and a
dish to pass. Condiments, paper plates and tables provided.
Grillmasters will be available to help cook your item. Anyone
interested in bringing or playing games, let us know.
Any questions, please contact Carla or Marna.
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Save the date! On June 14, 2025, there will be a mass
protest from 1:00-3:00 PM at Promenade Park, 400 Water Street. It is
a “No Kings!” Rally! This is the date of the 250th anniversary of the
American Revolution and also happens to be an anti-birthday protest
rally against our current administration! The event is sponsored by
the Lucas County Democratic Party and Toledo Persists. Bring your
signs, stand up, speak out, push back!
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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
1st Friday……….Book Club @ 2:00 PM
1st Saturday…….Knit Wits @ 11:30 AM
2nd Saturday……Social Action Saturday @ 11AM-1PM
2nd Sunday……..Meditation @ 5:30 PM
until December
3rd Saturday…….Film Club @ 1:00 PM
3rd Saturday ……Walking Group @ 1:00 PM
3rd Sunday………Men’s Group @ 5:30 PM
3rd Monday……..Together Women Rise Seasonal time change to 6 PM
4th Tuesday …….LGBTQ Online Support Group
@ 8:00 PM
4th Tuesday……..Board of Trustees @ 7:00 PM
4th Wednesday …Blanket Making @ 10:30 AM
4th Saturday……Social Action Saturday @ 11AM-1PM
4th Sunday………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
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GREENING OUR CITIES
by
Rebecca Phillips
Most of us are aware that cities tend to be hotter
than rural areas and that parking lots are pretty miserable places to
be on hot days. Concrete both absorbs and releases heat, increasing
temperatures in adjacent areas by as much as 20 degrees, according to
the EPA. With the longer, hotter summers predicted for much of the
world, and with more than half the human population living in
urbanized areas, this is bad news.
The good news is that this problem can be mitigated: a
healthy tree canopy reduces the ambient temperature, and thus the
risk of heat-related illnesses. Even better news is that cities are
responding. Toledo’s RE-TREE program, which began this month, aims to
plant over 10,000 trees in neighborhoods with insufficient tree
canopy by the end of 2028.
And it’s not just trees that have this effect. A
recent study from the UK found that botanical or mixed gardens
lowered the temperature of adjacent streets by as much as 9 degrees
Fahrenheit, more than any other form of planting. Yes, planting the
flowers that so many of us love along with trees and shrubs can
actually make our towns more comfortable places to live, especially
during heat waves.
Greening our towns has benefits beyond temperature
reduction. Planted areas absorb stormwater and filter runoff, keeping
more chemicals out of groundwater and helping to prevent flooding.
Access to green spaces has been shown to improve human mental health,
important to all in these high-stress times. Perhaps even more
important, mixed plantings are highly biodiverse, providing habitat
for a variety of creatures, including the bees, birds, and
butterflies whose populations have been declining in recent decades.
Planting a mix of species, particularly those native to the area, in
yards and lawn strips creates wildlife corridors, allowing other
lives to flourish alongside our own.
Each of us can help to green the places where we live.
That is a piece of good news.
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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: Jun 24, Jul 22, Aug 26, Sep 23
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Did you
receive this FYI from a friend?
Would you like
to receive your own copy? Subscribe here!
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The weekly
FYI is published on Thursdays. The Order of Service is sent on
Saturdays.
To submit
information for the next UU-FYI, fill out THIS
FORM
by Wednesday at noon. Questions about
the form or the FYI? Email fyi@uutoledo.org.
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UU-FYI Volunteers:
Tina Baker, Joanne Hartough, Susan Spiegel, Marna
Slawson
Clergy
Rev. Dr.
TK Barger, Senior Minister
David
Strickler, Commissioned Lay Minister
Melissa
Jeter, Student Minister/Seminarian
Program Staff
Gini
Gottman, Director of Lifelong Learning
Jeffrey
Maxie, Music Director
Support Staff
Jesse
Underhill, Office Manager
Amalya
Hartley, Bookkeeper
Board of Trustees
Julia McGhee, Acting President; Krista Schneider,
Vice President;
Geoff Slawson, Treasurer; Wes Kalbus, Secretary;
Joanne Hartough, Ginny Washing and Phil Zepp, At-Large Members
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See what’s
happening on our social sites:
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