Please see below for a list of upcoming events at the First Unitarian Society of Ithaca. Events are held at 306 N. Aurora St unless otherwise specified. For more information, email office@uuithaca.org.

For a list of social justice events, please visit our Social Justice Page.

Congregational Conversation
Sunday, May 4

Join Treasurer, Don Barber for this Congregational Conversation on money, next year’s plans/budget, and annual meeting resolutions. This meeting takes place in the Annex at noon and over Zoom at 7 pm. Check the Weekly Announce email for Zoom link

Spring Cleaning!
Saturday, May 10 from 10 am – 12 pm

Our annual spring work day will be Saturday May 10 from 10 am -12 pm. We’ll be focused on our outside spaces — weeding, washing, sweeping, and some gutter cleaning for anyone willing to climb! 

If you can help for any amount of time, please join us! Great conversations always happen at these work days, and if enough people are interested, we can order lunch at noon.

Any questions? Contact Sara Catterall sara.catterall@gmail.com

Care Cafe
 May 11 and 25 at 12:15 pm
During our time in the ‘cafe,’ we openly express our thoughts, reaching into ourselves and deeply touching upon and sharing what it means to be fully human in a complicated world. Each gathering will focus on a loosely structured theme around spirituality, encouraging participants to freely explore all aspects of their spiritual journeys. Time together in the Care Cafe allows us to meet and know one another more intimately.

Spiritual Yoga Class – Free!
Friday, May 16 from 5:30 – 6:30 pm
Please join our FREE FUSIT exclusive Spiritual Yoga class with Madeline Natale. Yoga will be held at Yoga Farm Ithaca, 509 N. Meadow St., Ithaca, from 5:30-6:30 pm with tea to follow! Bring your own mug, and maybe a snack to share. For further information, contact Madeline at reasst@uuithaca.org. This is the last Spiritual Yoga class for this church year.

Braver Angels Workshop
Sunday, May 18 from noon to 3 pm in the Annex

Braver Angels is a non-profit organization working to bring Americans together to bridge the partisan divide and strengthen our democratic republic. The FUSIT Democracy Circle has invited them to run a free workshop called “Depolarizing Within.”

See their website: https://braverangels.org/

The Depolarizing Within workshop teaches participants to look at their own attitudes towards the political “other,” and develop strategies for engaging in politics without demonizing people. Participants will do a self-assessment exercise, learn to counteract their inner polarizers, and practice communication skills to avoid polarizing conversations.

You need to register in advance through EVENTBRITE.  Use the promotion code BRAVER for the free ticket. Please register by May 4 if possible.
Lunch will be provided.

Beacon on Aurora – An evening with Martyn Joseph
Sunday, May 18
Doors open at 6:30 pm, concert begins at 7 pm

Martyn Joseph is a completely unique and mind-blowing artist. Take everything you think you know about singer songwriters and rip it up. For one man and a guitar he creates a performance with a huge far-reaching sound that is energetic, compelling, and passionate. Be it to two hundred people or twenty thousand, he blows the crowd away night after night. 2025 is Martyn’s 43rd year in the business, and started with him being part of BBC Radio 2’s “21st Century Folk Project”, with his song “Albert’s Place” and included appearances on BBC Breakfast TV, the Jeremy Vine and Ken Bruce shows on BBC Radio along with Radio 4’s World at One. 

Click here for more information and tickets

May Board of Trustees Meeting
Tuesday, May 20 at 6:30 pm

The Board meetings are a hybrid format, taking place in the Parlor 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. Please join us! Email office@uuithaca.org for Zoom link or check the Weekly Announce.

Annual Meeting
Wednesday, May 21
Pizza at 5:30 pm, Meeting at 6pm 

The First Unitarian Society of Ithaca’s Annual Meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 21. Join us at 5:30 pm for pizza with your fellow congregants. The meeting starts at 6 pm in the Sanctuary. Nonmembers are welcome to attend, though you must have been a member for at least 30 days in order to vote.  

Women’s Circle
Monday, May 26 at 7 pm over Zoom

 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.

Pub Theology
Tuesday, May 27 6:30 pm

Join us at Liquid State Brewing for an evening of good fellowship and conversation. We will reflect together on our monthly theme of Living Love Through the Practice of Imagination. Non-beer and non-alcoholic drinks options available! 21 and over please. Hope to see you there! Pub Theology takes place on the 4th Tuesday of every month. 620 W. Green St., Ithaca.

Unirondack 2025
Friday September 5 to Sunday September 6
(or Monday September 7) 

Join us for FUSIT’s wonderful annual intergenerational family camp in the gorgeous Adirondacks. We cook meals together, swim and boat in the lake, sing songs, have campfires, go on hikes, play gaga, make arts and crafts, have discussion groups, and do all sorts of other wonderful things from the deeply philosophical to the wildly silly and fun. 

Click here to register!

Crochet and Knitting Circle
Are you looking to join a tight knit group? Meet us in the Annex Youth Room from 12-1 pm every Sunday to exchange blissful stitches. This is an unstructured crochet and knitting circle. All ages are welcome, children under 12 years old must be accompanied by a designated adult. 

FUSIT Choir
Come sing with us! The FUSIT Choir rehearses on Thursdays, from 7-8:30 pm in the Annex. Join in this wonderful, joyful and important part of our community service. Email Choir Director, Jayne Demakos at choir@uuithaca.org. 

Religious Exploration Events for Children/Parents

Extended RE
May 4 from 12 – 1 pm
Join us in the Arch room for extended community, conversation and crafts. All are welcome! We are creating a collaborative collage chalice to be hung in the building for all to see. 

Music for Little People
Wednesday, May 7 and 21
10 – 10:45 am
Share in the joy of music in this class which is free and open to the public. Children 0-5 and their caregivers are welcome to meet us in the Arch Room each month. Sing, play, dance, explore instruments, and connect through music.

Youth Role Play Game Nights
May 9 and 16 from 5 – 7 pm
Drop off your youth group kids to play in the RPG world they created during Religious Exploration this year. In these sessions they will complete quests, share laughs, and create mischief. We are looking for dinner and snack donations, please reach out to Madeline (REASST@uuithaca.org) if you’re able to help!

Youth Group Picnic in Hazel’s Backyard
May 18 from 2 – 4 pm
Calling all Tweens and Teens, Hazel’s Backyard needs our help! Join us to explore the value of Interdependence by widening and clearing the paths in our very own backyard. This service project will be followed by a picnic and plenty of time to splash in the beautiful stream that runs through this patch of Heaven. Reach out to Madeline or Emily to discuss rides from the church to Hazel’s Backyard located at 12 Twin Glens Rd., Ithaca, NY. Snack donations are greatly appreciated.

Connection Circle for Parents – Childcare Provided
May 18 from 12 – 1 pm
FUSIT Library
A Connection Circle for individuals who are actively parenting. The group will follow the Soul Matters themes with a focus on how they are related to the journey and experience of being a parent. This month’s gathering will take place on the second Sunday instead of the third because of the Easter holiday. Childcare is available. We invite you to join us for an opportunity for connection and community within our larger First UU community, in a safe, confidential and nurturing environment. 

Party in the Park
May 25 from 2 – 4 pm at Stewart Park
Join the RE Team at Stewart Park for our end of the year celebration! Lunch is provided. Food donations are always appreciated. You can find us near the large sandbox.