As summer gives way to autumn, the Wheel of the Year brings us to Mabon, the Fall Equinox—a time when day and night are in balance and we pause to recognize the abundance that surrounds us.
Join Mystic Grove CUUPS for our Mabon Solar Worship as we gather around the theme of Abundance. Together, we’ll reflect on what has nourished us, celebrate the gifts of the season, and consider how abundance can be something we share rather than something we keep for ourselves.
As part of our celebration, we’ll also hold a food drive. If you are able, please bring a canned or boxed food item to donate to those in our community who are experiencing food insecurity.
Mabon Solar Worship Saturday, September 26, 2026 Gore Hall at First Unitarian Church of Orlando
Following the ritual, we’ll share a potluck meal together. Please label your dish with its ingredients to help guests with food allergies.
Mystic Grove CUUPS’ seasonal solar rituals honor the Wheel of the Year and are open to all. Families are welcome, though childcare is not provided.
A $5–$10 donation is welcome to help replenish worship and potluck supplies, but nobody will be turned away for lack of funds.
Come mark the turning of the season, celebrate what sustains us, and share in the abundance of community. Email mysticgrove@orlandouu.org for more info.
Have you ever wanted to learn to sew, but weren’t sure where to begin? Or perhaps you have a sewing machine sitting at home that you’d love to use—or finally learn how to take care of?
Join us for Craft Circle: Sewing Orientation on Saturday, August 15 at 11:00 AM in Gore Hall at First Unitarian Church of Orlando.
This orientation is designed so you can choose what would be most helpful to you. There are three ways to participate:
1. Learn & Explore — No Machine Needed
Thinking about buying your first sewing machine? Come learn what features really matter when choosing a beginner machine.
You can also try sewing on paper with no thread to get comfortable with the basic movements and controls of a sewing machine. It’s a great, low-pressure way to start learning.
2. Clean & Care — Bring Your Sewing Machine
Already have a machine? Bring it along and learn some basic sewing-machine care, including cleaning and identifying the proper oil points.
Please bring your sewing machine manual. Different machines have different maintenance requirements, and the manual will help us find the correct places to oil your particular machine. We’ll also talk about using sewing-machine oil and a cleaning brush/wand properly.
3. Open Sewing — Bring Your Project
Already know your way around a sewing machine? Bring a current project and enjoy some open sewing time with the Craft Circle.
Work on your project, ask questions, get ideas, or simply enjoy sewing with others. Sometimes the best part of sewing is having good company!
Whether you’re curious about sewing, learning the basics, caring for an old machine, or simply looking for some sewing time, there’s a place for you.
Bring a friend, your curiosity, and your creativity. Let’s learn the basics—then make some magic!
Saturday, August 15 • 11:00 AM Gore Hall • First Unitarian Church of Orlando 1901 E. Robinson St. Orlando, FL 32803
Mystic Grove CUUPs is sewing for charity this fall!
This introductory class is designed for students who have never sewn before, as well as beginners who want to strengthen their straight-line and long-seam sewing skills. Students will build confidence by creating stitch samplers, a pillowcase, and a lap quilt using patterns from Winky Cherry’s My First Quilt.
Students are welcome to keep the projects they make or donate them to children’s charities such as Ryan’s Case for Smiles and Project Linus.
Although the class is designed as a series, drop-in students are welcome! Bring your sewing machine or simply join us at the cutting table with a good pair of fabric scissors. If you plan to drop in, please email the instructors so we can prepare materials for you.
Experienced sewists are also warmly invited to volunteer as classroom helpers.
Dates
Aug 15 (optional) Buying a New Sewing Machine / Cleaning Your Sewing Machine
Sept 5 – Paper Sewing and Stitch Sampler
Oct 3 Finish Sampler, Start Pillowcase
Oct 17 (optional) Three Seam Cloak
Nov 7 Finish Pillow case, Start Quilt
Dec 5 Finish Quilt
Registration and Cost
Sliding Scale Tuition: $60–$90 for the complete series.
Students may also add an optional $5–$10 scholarship donation to help future participants. All class proceeds benefit the RE Playground Fundraiser.
Scholarships Available: One full scholarship and two half scholarships are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Fabric Donations
Would you like to help even if you don’t sew?
We are collecting 100% cotton quilting fabric in the donation box located at the Alliance Thrift Shop.
Easy places to find suitable fabric include Walmart (look for Waverly 1–4 yard cuts in the crafts aisle) and Michaels. The charities ask that donated fabrics not contain glitter, as glitter can rub off on patients.
Children especially enjoy bright, cheerful prints that help make a hospital stay a little less scary and a little more comforting.
Questions?
Please email mysticgrove@orlandouu.org for registration, scholarship information, volunteering, or questions about fabric donations.
Our church is home to Mystic Grove CUUPS, a local chapter of the Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans. This fall, Mystic Grove CUUPS celebrates 25 years of building community, exploring Earth-centered spirituality, and creating opportunities for connection, learning, and celebration.
As CUUPS chapters around the country honor 40 years of the wider national organization, we invite you to read this article from The Wild Hunt reflecting on CUUPS’ history and its ongoing role in the Unitarian Universalist movement.
All are welcome to participate in Mystic Grove CUUPS activities and gatherings as we continue this journey together.
The Spring Equinox is a moment to pause and notice the changes happening around us—the longer days, the warmth returning to the soil, and the small signs of life pushing up through the earth. By gathering together to share food and reflection, we celebrate not only the season but also the community that grows alongside it.
Join Mystic Grove CUUPs as we celebrate on March 21, 2026. Meet and Greet at 5:30 PM, Ritual at 6 PM, and potluck to follow at 7 PM in Gore Hall at First Unitarian Church of Orlando.
Our ritual theme this year is “Bunnies and Balance.” If you’ve never attended an Ostara celebration before, you’re warmly welcome. No prior experience is needed—just bring your curiosity and a spirit of community! While we do not provide childcare, families are welcome.
On the spring equinox, day and night stand in perfect balance, reminding us of the harmony between light and dark, rest and growth, endings and beginnings. From this moment forward, the days grow longer and the energy of the earth shifts toward renewal, fertility, and life returning to the land.
In many earth-honoring traditions, Ostara celebrates the awakening of nature after the quiet months of winter. Buds appear on trees, animals become active again, and seeds begin their journey toward growth. Symbols often associated with this season include eggs, seeds, flowers, fresh greens, and honey—all reminders of the new life stirring all around us.
While Ostara has roots in pagan and nature-centered traditions, the themes of renewal, hope, and balance are universal. Our gathering welcomes both longtime practitioners and those who are simply curious about seasonal celebrations and connecting with nature’s rhythms.
Spring Potluck Feast
Food is a joyful way to celebrate the return of spring, and Ostara tables often feature seasonal ingredients that symbolize renewal and abundance. Typical Ostara foods include:
Charcuterie (pronounced shar-KOO-tuh-ree) is a French culinary term that traditionally refers to prepared or preserved meats. Today, the word often describes a “grazing” board—an abundant spread that goes well beyond meat alone.
Thank you to the nine participants who joined our January 17, 2026 Craft Circle for a potluck charcuterie gathering! We divided into two groups and got creative, designing a snowman board and a log cabin board in the center of our cookie sheets. Around the edges, we added everyone’s potluck contributions, transforming them into two beautiful grazing boards.
Our spreads included regular and gluten-free crackers, jams, soft and hard cheeses, a variety of meats, grapes, figs, carrots, mints, chocolates, and hazelnuts. As we snacked, we enjoyed relaxed conversation about low-stress New Year’s resolutions and explored food-themed prompts—comfort foods, sweet vs. savory preferences, celebration foods, favorite snacks, and dishes that remind us of home.
In our final hour together, we brainstormed ideas for future Craft Circles and created one last snack board to donate to Sunday coffee hour.
Join us for the next Craft Circle on February 21, 2026, from 11:00 AM–1:00 PM. Topic to be announced.
Our “Intro to Sewing” class is officially full, and registration is now closed—what a joyful start! We welcomed 14 enthusiastic students and were thrilled to offer one full scholarship and two half scholarships.
At orientation, students dove right in by exploring different sewing machine models through paper sewing (no thread), getting hands-on with the tools in a basic sewing kit, and creating sample pages of sewing papers and fabrics we’ll be studying together. We’re excited to learn new sewing skills and grow creatively as a community!
If you have extra sewing notions, fabric, bedding, or clothing, please consider donating them at the Alliance Thrift Store collection bin so students can explore a wide variety of fabric textures in their sewing exercises. For more information, contact Cat R. at mysticgrove@orlandouu.org.
Young adults at sewing class making fabric sample pages for their sewing binders.
If you’ve been curious about the magical world of herbs, now’s your chance to join us! Our popular “Exploring Herbs” series continues this spring, and even if you missed the earlier sessions, you can still attend the final set of six classes.
In this hands-on series, you’ll learn about the energetics and uses of culinary herbs, enjoy cooking and tasting activities, and connect with fellow herb enthusiasts. Each class runs from 11 AM to 1 PM, offering a delightful mid-morning escape into the world of herbal wisdom.
BOOK
Our course is based on The Alchemy of Herbs by Rosalee de la Forêt.
We also have 1 full scholarship and two half scholarships available on a first-come, first-served basis. Registered students are prioritized for materials and activities. “Drop In” students welcome with the understanding that supplies may run out if we did not know you were coming.
PAYMENT OPTIONS
You can pay online, by check, or in person.
Visit http://www.orlandouu.org, click DONATE, and note “Mystic Grove Herb Class” in the memo line.
Mail checks to: First Unitarian Church of Orlando 1901 E. Robinson St Orlando, FL 32803 Include “Mystic Grove Herb Class” in the memo line.
Front Office: Checks can also be dropped off at the church office (Mon–Fri, 7:30 AM – 1:00 PM) or brought to the first class. Call 407-898-3621 for details.
Whether you’re a seasoned herbalist or just beginning your journey, this series is a chance to explore, taste, and celebrate the magic of herbs. Don’t wait—register today and join the adventure!
11 AM – 1 PM in Assembly Room at First Unitarian Church of Orlando
A new year is a great time to begin again. Whether you’re new, returning, curious, or simply tired after the holidays, you’re warmly invited to gather with us. This event is for pagans and pagan-curious folks who are looking for simple, hands-on practices—especially crafts—as an easy, meaningful way to reconnect spiritually in real life.
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Potluck Charcuterie Board Build
We’ll begin by creating a shared charcuterie experience. Cookie sheets and centerpieces will be provided—please bring one item to share, such as soft or hard cheeses, meats, nuts, candies or chocolates, spreads, jams, fresh/pickled vegetables, or fresh/dried fruits. We’ll be assembling one regular board and one gluten-free board, and you’re welcome to contribute to either or both.
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Craft Circle Planning for the Year During the second hour, we’ll snack and plan our craft circle topics for the coming year using “Witchcraft on a Shoestring” by Deborah Blake as a guiding resource, with an emphasis on accessible, low-cost practices that fit into busy lives. You’re also welcome to bring other craft books or craft ideas you’d like to explore.Read more: Jan 17, 2025 – Charcuterie Potluck & Craft Circle Planning Party
Our 2026 craft circle will be a team-teach model. Participants will have the option to sign up to host and/or teach a craft for a month, and partnering is encouraged.
Donations & Giving Back A suggested donation of $2 with a potluck item or $5 without is appreciated. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. All donations and any leftover food will be donated to Sunday Coffee Hour the following day.
Start the year with good food, shared creativity, and a supportive circle! Come as you are, and help shape a year of simple, meaningful practice together.
The Mystic Grove 