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March 15, 2018 | Vol. 5 No. 11
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Authentic Community: Shared Accountability and Equal Generosity, Not Equal Gifts
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Rev. Justin Schroeder |
We're nearly three weeks into our Annual Giving Campaign, and as you've noticed, we're running a different kind of campaign.
This year, we're not asking for a specific annual gift amount, or a percentage of income. Instead, our goal is 100% participation. Right now, we're at 14% participation. We want to hear from
everyone
who considers First Universalist Church their spiritual home. Whether you're a member or not, whether you're here every Sunday or just once a month, we're asking the entire community to be "
All In!
" Here's what that means:
A
ll of us are needed! All gifts matter. Our goal is 100% participation in this campaign and we're asking for equal generosity, not equal gifts.
L
everage your relationships! When we launched this campaign, we asked you to invite two other people you know to be "All In" with you. In this way, as a community, we are mutually accountable for a successful Annual Giving Campaign.
L
eave the procrastination behind! Respond now! You can pick up your Annual Giving Packet on Sunday, March 18, or any time at church during the follow week. Your prompt response saves the church time and money. If you've already responded, thank you!
I
nvest in your faith community. Your gift, of whatever amount, helps our ministry thrive, as we offer worship that inspires and motivates us, partner with community organizations to create positive social change, and tend to the spiritual needs of our children, youth, adults, and elders. We do all of these things as a faith community committed to racial justice, and your gifts help make this possible.
N
othing can stop us, when we're "All In," together! Together, in our "Not For Ourselves Alone: Building an Inclusive Future" Capital Campaign, we raised over $5.5 million. Together, we closed the budget gap we faced this year. Together, "All In" in our Annual Giving, we'll be an ongoing beacon of justice and love in our community.
I'll see you in church,
Justin
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Annual Giving: Are You All In?
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Your Annual Giving Team: Jeanne Guignon, Jane Baudelaire, and Tim Gluszak |
It's that time of year - March 4 to April 18 - when we commit to financially support First Universalist Church for our 2018-2019 annual operating budget - to keep the lights on, the music playing, and sharing our faith in action!
GIVE:
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Pick up your packet this Sunday or in the office weekdays through March 22.
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Set up your giving online
OR c
omplete and return the Blue Card.
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PLEASE RESPOND! Even if you're unable to give financially at this time, returning the card with your response saves time and money following up!
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RECEIVE:
GROW:
Our financial stability will grow even MORE if you:
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Pick up a packet - we save hundreds of dollars if we don't have to mail them.
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Make payments from CHECKING or SAVINGS accounts (not a credit card) - if everyone switched from using a credit card to a bank account, it would save
the church about $14,000 annually in credit card fees.
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Make your gift ONGOING - this will save the church time and money!
THANK YOU for joining us in making this 100% All-In participation!
Your 2018-2019 Annual Giving Team,
Jeanne, Jane and Tim
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| SUNDAY WORSHIP AT FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH |
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| March Worship Theme: Wrestling with Joy |
Worship this Sunday
Sunday, March 18, 9:30 & 11:15 a.m.
Rev. Jen Crow
We all inherit something from those who came before us - some of it is easy to live with, like our brown eyes or our love of music, and some of it is harder to live with, like the wrongs of our ancestors or the wounds our families have inflicted. This Sunday we will wrestle with the angels of our ancestors as individuals and as an institution, refusing to let go until we find our blessing.
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Sunday, March 25, 9:30 & 11:15 a.m.
Rev. Elaine Aron Tenbrink
Recent Sermon Podcasts
March 11, 2018
"Body of Joy"
Rev. Ruth MacKenzie
March 4, 2018
"Finding Joy in Unexpected Places"
Rev. Justin Schroeder
February 25, 2018
Sanctuary and Resistance Sunday
Guest speakers including Steve Kraemer
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Electronics Collection Event with Tech Dump
Saturday, March 17, 9 a.m.-noon
Drop off your unneeded electronics in the church parking lot on Saturday, March 17! We're partnering with Tech Dump, a local nonprofit which provides job training and practical experience for adults facing barriers to employment, for this electronics collection event. Tech Dump reuses and recycles, offering a "green" alternative to throwing away your old electronics. Find details about which items are accepted on our website. A box for you to drop off smaller items is at church through Monday, March 19. This box can hold laptops and smaller electronics.
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Benefit Concert:
Indigenous Youth to the Vatican
Sunday, March 18, 2 p.m. (1 p.m. doors)
Join us for a benefit concert featuring an incredible line-up of performers:
renowned singers Prudence Johnson and Larry Long; Hollywood actor and director Max Gail; and First Nation performers Dorene Day Waubanewquay, Tom LaBlanc, Joe Savage, Keith Secola and Mitch Walking Elk. Proceeds will help fund a trip to the Vatican for 12 First-Nation youth in hopes of meeting with the Pope or a close representative to discuss the trauma resulting from the Doctrine of Discovery.
Doors open at 1 p.m. with refreshments and a silent auction.
Tickets are $20 in advance
(www.youthtothevatican.eventbrite.com) and $25 at the door.
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Rescheduled: Conversation on Racial Justice, Affordable Housing and Homelessness
Tuesday, March 20, 7 p.m. (6:30 supper)
Join us for a round table discussion exploring our perspectives and hopes around the issues of racial justice, affordable housing, and homelessness. The session will be preceded by a complimentary soup & bread supper at 6:30 p.m.
As congregational members of Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative, our ideas will help inform future decisions on the next steps in eliminating homelessness and creating affordable housing in the Twin Cities.
Register here.
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Seniors Hike with Daytime Connections
Thursday, March 22, 10 a.m.
Join us for a hike with fellow seniors from church! Meet at 10 a.m. at Black Dog Cafe in St. Paul (308 Prince Street). The group will hike a loop route east along the urban trail that parallels the Mississippi River and Shepard Road, to the top of the bluff overlooking downtown St. Paul, through Indian Mounds Park,
past CHS Field, returning to Black Dog Cafe for lunch. We will be on an asphalt or concrete for the entire 1.5 - 2 hour hike.
RSVP to Tom Saterstrom:
saterstromtom@yahoo.com
or cell: 952-239-3629.
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Congregational Meeting with the Architects
Sunday, March 25, 12:45 p.m.
After taking additional time to explore a design direction that hadn't previously been thought possible, we are excited to invite you to our rescheduled congregational meeting with the architects to review design ideas for our renovations and construction. Please join us for this meeting in the sanctuary after the second service - the meeting will begin with short presentation by the architects, who will share the preferred design direction and talk about the work they've done thus far. There will be time for Q&A following the presentation.
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Workshop: The Aging Brain and Maintaining a Meaningful Life
Sunday, March 25, 1-2:30 p.m.
Maintaining a meaningful life is a powerful antidote to an aging brain.
This workshop is for anyone who is interested in gaining a better understanding of the cognitive changes that may occur as the brain ages and strategies for continuing a rich and meaningful life even in the midst of this challenge. Presented by Carol Stephens, PsyD. Licensed Psychologist. Read more.
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First Universalist Youth in the News:
Leading the Way on Gun-Control Legislation
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From right, high schoolers Ben Jaeger, Adrian Ali-Caccamo, Eli Curran-Moore and Ryan Lee meeting with state Sen. Ron Latz, left, on Wednesday.
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High school youth from First Universalist Church are taking the lead on gun control legislation in Minnesota and working to build bipartisan support for a student-initiated bill that would mandate criminal background checks for firearm transfers.
"Meet the Minnesota Students Taking the Lead on State Gun-Control Legislation"
By Erin Hinrichs, MinnPost
An excerpt:
Adrian Ali-Caccamo, 16, a junior at Central, encouraged his classmates to continue to "be mobile" and to "put pressure on politicians." He asked them to consider signing a petition he'd created just a few days ago as a way to build momentum behind a piece of gun-control legislation he and other students have been working to advance through the Minnesota Legislature.
Then he invited his childhood friend Ben Jaeger, a 16-year-old junior at Minneapolis' Roosevelt High School who's currently serving as his school board's student representative, to speak about the bill he'd authored and brought to state lawmakers. In keeping with the national school walkout movement demanding stricter gun-control laws, Jaeger and his peer supporters across the state are pushing for expanded background checks.
"I'm very happy to announce that, two days ago, Sen. Matt Little introduced a bill that has everything we asked for," Jaeger said, prompting a round of applause from the crowd. "Now Republicans control the House and Senate in Minnesota, and they're going to take a lot of convincing if we want this to pass. That means that we need to take action and remind them who the future is. We need to call our legislators. We need to go to meetings. We need to send emails."
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All In: Sharing Why We Give
Tim Gluszak, Annual Giving Team Member |
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Tim Gluszak |
First Universalist member
Tim Gluszak, who is on the Annual Giving Team for his first year, writes:
My First Universalist is a place where there is a wonderful sense of community and collective impact to make the world a better place. I give to First Universalist since I think it is important to share my wealth and gifts to facilitate the impact. I am always amazed at the programming at First Universalist, whether a community circle that sparks new insights and connections or the focus on racial justice. I know that it takes resources to make these things happen. I give to share my resources and blessings so that First Universalist can continue to make the world a better place.
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| First Universalist Church Needs You! |
The Nominating Committee is actively recruiting candidates for leadership positions on the Board of Trustees and the Foundation Board for the next church year. Our congregation is full of untapped talent and wisdom. We encourage you to step forward to be part of an exciting and important time as we continue to build on the positive energy and growth of our congregation. You will have unique opportunities to deepen and enrich your personal connection to the church while broadening your circle of relationships within our spiritual community.
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Bryana French |
Leadership Spotlight on Bryana French
When asked what she enjoys about being part of church leadership, Bryana French says: "I'm currently in my first year of the Board of Trustees at First Universalist and am enjoying serving in this role. The Board members all operate from a spirit of care and love in making sure First Universalist is living up to its mission. I'm pleased with how relationships are central to the work of the Board, everyone is treated with respect and that we work towards racial justice. We bring snacks regularly and I truly enjoy the meetings and time to grow together and as a church!"
Apply to be on the Board of Trustees or Foundation Board!
Board of Trustees: Trustees partner with the congregation and professional staff in shaping the vision and long-term goals of the church. They articulate these aspirations through policy and collaborate with the Senior Minister to see they are fulfilled.
Foundation Board:
The Foundation Board supports and awards grants to exciting nonprofit organizations whose values and efforts dovetail with our church's values of racial justice and progressive social change.
Requirements, Application and Information: To qualify for any of these positions, you must be a member in good standing of the church. Elections occur at the Annual Meeting in June. Go
online to view more detailed position descriptions and apply. Applications are due April 2.
Contact the Nominating Committee to learn more:
nomination@firstuniv.org.
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Looking for a way to be involved at church but don't have time for a big commitment? Join the Sunday usher team!
Openings: 1st Sundays of the month (both services), 3rd Sundays (late service), and 4th Sundays (early service).
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Simpson Housing Services Needs Tutors and Mentors
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Simpson Housing, one of our Faithful Action Partners, has a need for mentors for middle school students and reading tutors for elementary school students. These kids are the children of families involved in Simpson Housing's subsidized housing programs. Simpson realizes that routes out of poverty involve stable housing, education and caring adults in children's lives. If you would be interested in volunteering in either of these programs or simply want to learn more about them, Simpson is offering an informational meeting on Wednesday, March 28 from 6:30-8 p.m. RSVP for this meeting and fill out a volunteer application here!
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| Mental Health Connect: Did You Know? |
First Universalist is part of Bethlehem Lutheran's Mental Health Connect (MHC) program, which assists individuals and families in accessing and navigating mental health services. Each member church has Ambassadors dedicated to spreading awareness of the MHC program, starting conversations about mental health, bringing events and resources to the community, and more.
We are happy to continue our "Make It OK" initiative to de-stigmatize mental health conditions and to encourage us all to talk more openly about mental illness. Participate in Make It Ok's short interactive learning experience "Did You Know?" to learn some facts about mental illness. By being better informed we can be better equipped to stop the stigma and misconceptions that affect those who suffer from mental health issues. Together by learning more we can increase our understanding of mental health, open our minds and hearts and take steps to Make it OK.
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Association of Universalist Women Spring Retreat
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he AUW (Association of Universalist Women) Spring Retreat is April 13-15 (Friday 4 p.m. through Sunday noon). It will be held at Koinonia Retreat Center in South Haven, MN. The Retreat theme is "Living Our Values" and keynote speaker is Rev. Kelli Clement! For information about the sessions and to register, visit the AUW website.
You can also register in person at the AUW kiosk in the Social Hall after each service. NEW THIS YEAR at the Retreat - a Talent Show! Those not performing can play a supportive role as an enthusiastic audience member. If you have questions, contact Janet Merrill at 612-354-2743 or janetmerrill@comcast.net.
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| Support Planned Parenthood on Good Friday |
Every year on Good Friday, thousands of anti-Planned Parenthood protesters descend on the Planned Parenthood clinic at Vandalia Street in St. Paul.
They can have their protest. We're going to have a rally! Join Planned Parenthood supporters beginning at 10 a.m. to stand in solidarity and celebration as we proudly show the world that Planned Parenthood is here for good.
The Association of Universalist Women has organized a bus to take people to the rally on Friday, March 30.
The bus will load at 9:15 a.m. at the First Universalist Church parking lot
and take participants to Planned Parenthood in Saint Paul. Parking around the clinic is very limited.
We will reload the bus at 12:30 p.m. to return to First Universalist.
It is FREE to ride the bus and t
here is no sign-up. Just show up to the church parking lot before 9:15 a.m. on March 30!
For questions or more info, contact Val Garber, 651-224-2334, or
valeriejgarber@yahoo.com.
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March Board of Trustees Meeing
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The Board of Trustees generally meets on the third Thursday of every month (except July). The next board meeting takes place this evening, Thursday, March 15, at 6:30 p.m. Upcoming board meetings are scheduled for April 19 and May 24 (fourth Thursday). Board meeting materials can be found on our website.
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| Common Ground Meditation Center + First Universalist Connection Meeting |
If you attend both First Universalist and Common Ground Meditation Center please join us for a second informal gathering on Sunday, April 15. Meet in room 202 at 12:30 p.m. (if church goes late, we will adapt). We will start with a 15 minute sit, do introductions and talk about how our meditation practice influences our Unitarian Faith and vice versa. In addition, let's address how we might continue these meetings in the future.
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Rally for Justice
6:30 p.m. on the day or day after Mr. Freeman's announcement
W. 50th Street and Washburn Ave. S. in Minneapolis
The group Justice for Justine is planning a Rally for Justice that will take place either the day of or day after the announcement of the decision by Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman on whether to make charges in the shooting death of Justine Damond. Regardless of the outcome, Justice For Justine MPLS will host a rally in support of Justine and all police violence victims and their families in response to Mike Freeman's decision. Join the Facebook event for updates.
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Skylark Opera Theater Presents: "As One"
Performances March 16 - March 25, North Garden Theater in St. Paul
Skylark Opera Theatre presents the Regional Premiere of the new chamber opera, AS ONE. This groundbreaking piece depicts the experience of its transgender protagonist, who endeavors to resolve discord between self and the outside world. Performed in an intimate setting with a string quartet, the opera is sung in two voices, Hannah after (mezzo-soprano) and Hannah before (baritone). Fifteen songs comprise the three-part narrative: With empathy and humor, they trace Hannah's experiences from her youth in a small town to her college years on the West Coast, and finally to Norway where she is surprised at what she learns about herself.
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Musician Lynn O'Brien Launches Empowering Album Project
Lynn O'Brien, singer/songwriter who has performed at First Universalist, has written a new album called "RISING" - Songs about believing you are enough, giving to your community, and rising into your power. She has created a Kickstarter campaign to help fund the recording process, which ends March 29. To learn more about her music, preorder her album and check out her creative rewards on Kickstarter, visit her website at www.lynnobrienmusic.com.
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| RESOURCES & CONTACT INFORMATION |
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Congregational Care: Caring Corner
Write a note to a congregant who could use support! There are cards available in the library, which is located off of the Social Hall. You are welcome to stop by and write a card at any time. Just leave it in the basket and the church will mail it for you. Learn more about congregational care on our website.
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Planned Giving & the Heritage Circle
Please let us know
when you designate First Universalist Church as a beneficiary in your will or estate plan so we can thank you for your generous commitment and welcome you to the Heritage Circle. The church office and the Planned Giving Committee can help you. Learn more on our website.
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Cycle of Life and Pastoral Care
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Let Us Keep You in Our Thoughts and Prayers
If you are experiencing a crisis or transition, or celebrating a joy, please let us know. To be included in our Cycle of Life each Sunday in worship, contact Sandy DiNanni at
sandy@firstuniv.org or 612-825-1701. If you would like support, call the office at 612-825-1701 or contact any member of our
Pastoral Visitors Team.
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Join Our Mailing List
Subscribe to
The Weekly Liberal
here.
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here.
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Church Office Hours
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Sundays
8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Mondays-Thursdays
8:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
Closed Fridays and Saturdays
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Weekly Liberal Submissions
We encourage you to submit news!
Do you have an announcement that you'd like published in
The Weekly Liberal? Fill out our
online submission form. Edits for length and/or content may occur.
The Weekly Liberal
is compiled and edited by Communications Manager Jenn Stromberg. Past issues, deadlines, and policies can be found on our
website
.
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Contact Us
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First Universalist Church of Minneapolis
3400 Dupont Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55408
612-825-1701
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First Universalist Church of Minneapolis
3400 Dupont Avenue S.
Minneapolis, MN 55408
612-825-1701
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