What’s Up at First UU

  • Newsletter June 1, 2023
    In this week’s edition of What’s Up: Garage Sale is Friday, June 2 from 9 – 5 and Saturday, June 3 from 9 – 3, t-shirt order forms are live, and this Sunday’s service features Flower Communion.
  • Newsletter May 25, 2023
    In this week’s What’s Up: lots of information about our June 2 – 3 garage sale, Social Action Circle newsletter and a call to march, and gardening volunteer opportunities.
  • Newsletter May 18, 2023
    In this week’s What’s Up: a message from Rev. Michelle, The Second Commandment in practice, and upcoming message, “The Creative Embrace of Differences.”
  • Newsletter May 4, 2023
    In this week’s What’s Up: take action for LGBTQ justice, creativity, and the church blogger on Speak UUp.
  • The Church Blogger: Who’s behind the weekly “Speak UUp” posts?
    by Colleen Appel Most every week you’ll find a piece in the What’s Up online newsletter that summarizes a recent legislative action along with instructions for how we might respond. First UU member Sherry Buchanan is responsible for those posts. I recently spoke to Sherry about her efforts. If you […]
  • Newsletter April 27, 2023
    In this week’s What’s Up: a call to bring gently-used tennis shoes Sunday as the Shoe Drive comes to an end, garage sale drop-off times, and a Capital Fund update.
  • Newsletter April 20, 2023
    In this week’s What’s Up: another opportunity to support an organization that seeks to make mental health services available for all, a shoe drive for the unhoused, and poetry at this week’s Earth Day service.
  • Newsletter April 13, 2023
    In this week’s What’s Up: a bake sale, stories of resistance, resilience, and transformation, Social Action Circle, and Speak UUp comments on restoring presidential primary elections.
  • Newsletter April 6, 2023
    In this week’s What’s Up: Building and Grounds Workday and Easter Egg Hunt this Saturday, Speak UUp discusses guns in church, and an upcoming poetry workshop.
  • Newsletter March 30, 2023
    In this week’s What’s Up: Rev. Michelle on “Breathe, Resist, Repeat: In Pursuit of Nonviolence,” Friendly Feast this Sunday, Transgender Day of Visibility in SGF, and General Circle Meeting April 10.
  • Newsletter March 23, 2023
    In this week’s What’s Up: #thechurchblogger on why a capital fund is needed right now, and Dr. Cathie English on vulnerability in naming.
  • The church blogger: Why is a capital fund so necessary at this time?
    by Colleen Appel and Bob Eckels Every week, you hear from two people with a heart for fundraising. Emily Jamroch and Roberta Weeden have big plans for growing a capital fund. Currently, the envelope wall and the Coins for Change are bringing in money. But why is a fund so […]
  • Newsletter March 16, 2023
    In this week’s What’s Up: Dr. Kyler Sherman-Wilkins is the guest speaker this week, Sew Sew completed Dang It Dolls for their latest project, and the church blogger answers what brings people back to First UU.
  • The church blogger: What’s bringing those familiar faces back to church?
    You may have noticed it, too. One familiar face that you hadn’t seen in such a long time at First UU, and you were curious. Then enough returnees that you’re thinking it might be a trend. And then you saw three people at a service that you were afraid would […]
  • Newsletter March 9, 2023
    In this week’s What’s Up: Speak UUp shares how to combat zombie attacks on our right to petition, and Rev. Michelle speaking this Sunday about the dangers of courage and vulnerability culture.
  • Newsletter March 2, 2023
    In this week’s What’s Up: The Path of Vulnerability, Friendly Feast, YoUUth events this spring, and Speak UUp action for Health and Economic Justice.
  • Newsletter February 23, 2023
    In this week’s What’s Up: Social Action Circle is uplifting Springfield Tenants Unite in this month’s Donate the Plate and Speak UUp focuses on Missouri’s Sunshine Law.
  • The church blogger: Making Room for the OOPS: What I Learned from STUN
    Several of the behavioral covenants currently in use at First UU ask us to “Share the ouch, and make room for the oops.” Most frequently it’s used regarding pronouns. “Ouch” when we hear someone utter pronouns other than those preferred, and “oops” when we recognize and acknowledge our own misuse […]
  • Newsletter February 16, 2023
    In this week’s What’s Up: a call to action regarding anti-LGBTQ bills in Missouri, The Healing Power of Love, and two opportunities to discuss homelessness and affordable housing.
  • The church blogger: Who’s Responsible for First UU’s Message on Battlefield?
    Have you ever driven into the church parking lot and wondered who does the work of maintaining the message board that greets travelers on Battlefield Road? How does it contribute to reinforcing our place in the community? The message board has a name; it’s called a Wayside Pulpit, coming from […]