Please see below for upcoming event information. Zoom links can be found in the Weekly Announce email or by emailing office@uuithaca.org. Events are at the church located at 306 N. Aurora St unless otherwise noted.

Also, check out our Social Justice Events and our Religious Exploration Events (for children and youth)

Queer Cafe
April 11 from 11 am – 12 pm in the Youth Room
Come hang out, build community, and enjoy a cozy space for snacks, conversation, and parallel play. Bring a craft, a book, a game, or just yourself. Whether you’re chatting with friends or quietly doing your own thing alongside others, this is a space to relax and connect. Family-friendly, but designed with adults in mind. Everyone is welcome, especially if you’re looking for a low-pressure community space. Tea, coffee, snacks, good vibes, and queer joy provided.

Newcomers Inspired, Connected, and Engaged” (NICE)
Sundays, April 12, 19 and 26 at Noon in the Youth Room
Do you want to learn more about UUism as a newcomer or returning member looking for connection? Are you interested in discussing the history of UUism, questions about getting involved with FUSIT, and what it means to be a member? NICE may be the place for you! We will be running a session this spring after Sunday services, meeting on April 12, April 19, and April 26 at 12 pm in the Youth Room (upstairs in the Annex). Please RSVP if you would like to request to join. If you’re considering becoming a member, this is strongly encouraged as a step in the process.
We hope to see you there!

Board of Trustees Meeting
Wednesday April 15 at 6:30 pm
The Board meets on the third Wednesday of the month, Board meetings are a hybrid format, taking place in the Arch Room and through Zoom. All FUSIT members are invited to attend these meetings. Ten minutes are set aside at the beginning of the meeting for congregation feedback.

Spiritual Yoga at Yoga Farm Ithaca
Saturday, April 18
129 W. Falls Street, Ithaca, 10:30 am-11:30 pm
Join Madeline on the 3rd Saturday of each month for this free Spiritual yoga series. Each gentle and accessible class will include Mantra, Meditation, Asana (pose), and Pranayama (breath). Yoga mats and other props are provided. Tweens and teens are welcome.

Open Doors English Presentation
Sunday, April 19 at noon in the Annex
Please join us for a presentation about Open Doors English (ODE), a nonprofit English as a Second Language (ESL) school serving immigrants and refugees in Tompkins County. Mary Loehr, ESL Instructor will be joined by ODE students for the presentation.

As the only ESL program in Tompkins County open to all adults regardless of visa or work status, ODE ensures that everyone wishing to learn English has access to high-quality instruction and a welcoming environment. At present, more than 50% of their students are fleeing nations experiencing conflict, political instability, or humanitarian crisis. 

The current political climate means our students face added stress and uncertainty. We are committed to serving everyone who comes through the door, regardless of their ability to pay or their immigration status.  Come learn about this community organization that makes a real difference, not only in the lives of the students, but in the lives of their families and personal communities. https://opendoorsenglish.org/

Care Cafe
Sunday, April 19
12 – 1:30 pm in the FUSIT Library
The Care Café, led by Rev Peaches Gillette is held every other Sunday during the church year. The conversations we share during Care Café are rich, honest, and designed to offer meaningful insights about our journey through life together. The diverse personalities and perspectives we bring only deepen our understanding of how each of us navigates the challenges and joys we encounter. (no meeting on April 5).

Spring Plant Sale Fundraiser
Sunday, April 26th
12 pm-4 pm in the Parlor
Support our UU community with our Spring Plant Sale Fundraiser! Just in time for Earth Day, Beltane, and Mother’s Day. Donate and purchase plants from annuals to perennials, from flowers to vegetables, from plants for your gardens to plants for your kitchens. Sign up below to donate plants, help with set up and/or clean, and to work the sale itself. Your contributions will help to nurture this community and the earth that we share. Sign up HERE to volunteer!

Tabletop Games Connection Circle
April 26 at 2 pm, Room 213
Drop in to play a table top roleplaying game with fellow UU’s. Drop in to participate in micro campaigns and other fun tabletop games. Questions? Reach out to office@uuithaca.org to receive a door code.

Women’s Circle
Monday, April 27 at 7 pm over Zoom
Women’s Circle usually meets via Zoom on the 4th Monday of the month from 7-8:30 pm. All who identify as women are welcome. This is a drop-in group, so no need to sign up; just come. Anyone is welcome to bring a poem or a reading. For information or questions contact office@uuithaca.org.

Pub Theology
Tuesday, April 28
6:30 pm, Liquid State Brewing, 620 W. Green Street, Ithaca
Join us at Liquid State Brewing for an evening of good fellowship and conversation at our favorite local brewery (owned by FUSIT members!). We will gather at 6:30 pm and reflect together on our monthly theme. Non-beer and nonalcoholic drinks options available! 21 and over please. Bring your friends! Hope to see you there!

Bible as History and Literature – led by Anne Winters
Wednesdays March 25 – May 13
7 – 8:30 pm over Zoom

Beginning with Hebrew scripture, the focus of this course will be on the historical and literary qualities of the Bible’s actual words, with reference as well to the 3 great monotheisms of which it is the origin. In our discussions— core of the course—we’ll consider some Bronze & Iron Age 
Bible texts and historical backgrounds. Slow, careful consideration of Biblical chapters can make previously overlooked passages visible and sometimes surprising. Our text could be a college edition of the Bible, such as the Oxford Annotated Bible or HarperCollins Study Bible, available second-hand online, any edition—or any Bible, after first-day handouts, and do join at any time. The instructor, who knows ancient Greek and works hard at her Hebrew, has taught this for years at the U of Illinois. 
E-mail awinters@uic.edu to ask any questions. This eight- week course will meet Wednesdays 7-8:30 pm online, starting Wednesday March 18th, to be joined any time.