Our October worship theme is, "The Whole Story." This month, we endeavor to tell whole stories, the stories that shape us, the stories that stand in our way, the stories that create openings for something new whether in our racial justice journey, our dreams for our collective future, or in our personal lives!

 

Beginning on Sunday, Oct. 9, and running through the end of October, we will hold more than a dozen Focus Groups, laying out some of the urgent needs we face as a church, and sharing a vision for how we might address these needs. You may recall that at our Annual Meeting in June, we spoke about a comprehensive stewardship campaign as a way to move forward, address some of these needs, and truly make 3400 Dupont our home. The Board of Trustees and the Senior Ministry Team agree: now is the time to dream about how we can best achieve the future that our Strategic Plan calls us into!

 

We need you! In these 45 minute long Focus Groups, we hope to hear from every person in the congregation: young and old, new members, friends, long time members, youth, everyone! We want to hear your piece of the story, as you respond to the needs of the church and how we might address those needs, so that together, we can craft a collective story about how best to build our collective future.

 

Please plan to attend at least one of the 16 Focus Groups that we're offering in October - you can find a list of Focus Group dates and times on our website.

 

Don't miss out on these exciting conversations!  

I'll see you in church,

 

Rev. Justin Schroeder

This Sunday, Oct. 2, we are looking forward to featuring the work of Project for Pride in Living, one of our seven Faithful Action Partners.

 

PPL empowers thousands of individuals and families with lower incomes to reach self-reliance through affordable housing, employment readiness and job placement. They work together with participants to create vibrant, equitable, and diverse communities filled with residents who have achieved stability and are contributing to the regional economy. Last year, more than 13,000 people moved into affordable housing, earned higher incomes, improved their academic skills and gained economic independence with the help of PPL.

Together We Support Families & Dreams - Liz's Story

 

"I have this vision," Liz said, "and in it I'm wearing a microphone."  Recent public speaking opportunities have ignited a new passion for Liz. She's been sharing her story with people in recovery groups, helping others along their paths. It's an indication of how far Liz has come, thanks to PPL.

 

Long-time struggles with chemical dependency and mental health issues once left Liz unable to provide for her kids. Family support eventually dried up too, leaving her without a place to go.

 

"My sister said that she was working harder at my life than I was," Liz remembers. "She was right."  Liz entered treatment, motivated to get her life back and give her kids something better. After completing treatment, she came to PPL's New Foundations Program, which provides permanent, supportive housing to families while they address chemical and mental health issues.

 

"I didn't know how supportive PPL would be," Liz said. "There's no place like this!"

 

With the stability of housing and services at PPL, Liz has been able to finish a college degree, build stronger bonds with her children, and develop skills she can use when life gets hard.  "I started speaking at treatment centers and found my voice," Liz said. She hopes one day to be a professional public speaker, wearing a microphone headset to inspire large rooms of people. Until then, she knows she's making an impact today.

 

Learn more about Project for Pride in Living at: www.ppl-inc.org/

Circles are groups of 8-10 committed participants who come together with a trained leader to nurture spiritual growth in community. These groups are grounded in the spiritual practices of deep listening and open-hearted reflection.

Don't miss your chance to sign up! Registration is open through this Sunday, Oct. 2 online at  firstucircles.weebly.com.

 

The next Child Dedication will take place on Sunday, Nov. 6 at both services. During the Child Dedication ritual, the congregation pledges itself to partner with and support parents and families in the religious upbringing of the child. Child Dedications take place during Sunday worship services twice a year, in May and November.

 

Infants and children of members and those on the path to membership at First Universalist Church may be dedicated. If your family would like to participate in a Child Dedication ceremony, please sign up by filling out and submitting the  Child Dedication Form. Forms are due to the church office no later than one week before the service (Oct. 30). Please complete a separate form for each child being dedicated.

 

Questions? Contact Lauren Wyeth, Director of Children, Youth & Family Ministries, at 612-825-1701 x111 or  lauren@firstuniv.org.

The first service of this series, on Sunday, Oct. 16 at 5:30 p.m., is called  Glow. Any physical body, given sufficient energy, will radiate light and heat. We feel the sun's warmth and see its light, but what about the light we can't see - rocks glowing deep within the Earth, or the warmth of the human heart? When we close our eyes to the light without, can we feel the glow of an inner light? This inner light is expressed through the bright, ringing tones of the trumpet and the warm harmonies of the piano, played by Dean Heller and worship leader Jerrod Wendland. The Rev. Ruth MacKenzie will deepen our understanding of the world and ourselves through poems and readings, and lead the audience in silent meditation.

Jerrod Wendland, who has been the pianist and a worship leader at First Universalist for two years, is excited to introduce our audience to contemporary music by Jennifer Higdon, Somei Satoh, and Karen Tanaka (among others), music that is warm and radiant but that also invites contemplation of our lives' journey. Dean Heller is a distinguished performer, serving as principal trumpet in the Civic Orchestra of Minneapolis, and has been a faculty member at St. Joseph's School in St. Paul for over twenty years.

What is Light? Light is Seeing, Light is Feeling, Light is Knowing, Light is Being. A constant in the universe and in our daily lives, this year's series of four contemplative services will guide us through a meditation on these four aspects of light. Join us at dusk for a combination of music, poetry, and silent meditation that feeds the mind, the ear, and the heart. Contemplative Evening Services will be held on Sundays, Oct. 16, Nov. 20, Jan. 29, and Feb. 19 at 5:30 p.m.

There are so many meaningful ways to get involved and find your "community within the community" at church. Check out tinyurl.com/GetInvolved1U to learn about all the opportunities available and indicate your interest.