First Universalist members have the chance to join with other faith-based Minnesotans and lead together throughout 2018 to transform our politics and our state.

 

ISAIAH leaders and their partner organization, Faith in Minnesota, have come together to develop a 2018 Faith Agenda. This Faith Agenda represents shared social justice values and proposed policy priorities for the next Governor of Minnesota. The ISAIAH-led coalition is committed to lead through 2018 to ensure that our elected leaders are accountable to our agenda for Minnesota.

 

The first step to Claim Our Voices around our vision for a just Minnesota is faithful participation in our civic life through caucusing on February 6, 2018 and beyond. ISAIAH is leading to recruit more than 500 Faith Delegates who will lead our path to bring more than 3,000 people of faith to caucuses with our faith agenda on February 6.

 

Faith Delegates are leaders who are committed to put racial and economic justice at the heart of our politics through 2018 by committing to bring our faith agenda into the center of public decisions through caucuses all the way to party conventions in June of 2018.

 

Faith Delegate/ Caucus Training

Location: First Universalist Church

Date: Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018       

Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

 

ISAIAH's path through caucuses and party conventions is how we will build insurgent political power through 2018. ISAIAH is uniquely positioned for a power breakthrough around this path because it has the biggest base of committed and disciplined leaders across the state. ISAIAH is a non-partisan organization and does not believe that one person or one party is our path to freedom and liberation. They believe the path to freedom and liberation lies in us. ISAIAH is using the caucus and convention process to ensure that its Faith Agenda - the issues it has identified that matter most - are at the center of our politics in 2018 and beyond. You are invited to this training to get grounded in this strategic path from the caucuses through conventions and to prepare you to powerfully participate in the February 6 caucuses.

 

For more information about this event, please contact First Universalist member Jeanne Guignon at 952-270-1931 (text or call) or by email at jeanneg195@gmail.com.

 

Many of the paintings which will be on display at our church are from Leslie's Loving series. These paintings have gained wide recognition. In 2017, Leslie received a Foundation Award in the Minnesota State Fair Juried Exhibition for a large oil painting from this series. She has appeared in TPT's Minnesota Original, on the Minnesota Monthly Magazine's list of "Best New Art 2016," and was selected as "Artist of the Year" for 2016 in City Pages. In 2016 she was commissioned by the Vikings team to create 6 portrait paintings of iconic Vikings players. 

Leslie will be available to talk about her work after both services on Sunday, January 14.

Thank you for your generous support of Augsburg Fairview Academy (AFA) on Sunday, Nov. 19. AFA is a public charter high school offering a welcoming and supportive environment for students who have faced educational, economic, and racial barriers to achieve in the past. AFA is one of our six Faithful Action Community Partners; this is our 6th year for partnership with AFA. Our offerings are used to support the Hope Food and Clothing Closets at AFA, and funds permitting, other projects like field trips. With gratitude, AFA staff and students made the following slideshow which tells about the school, its students and what our contributions mean to them. View the slideshow here.

 

	"I don't have food at home, but I can get some before I leave school from the Hope Closet." - AFA student

First Universalist is the primary support for the Hope and Food Closets; donations are needed throughout the school year.

Donations for Hope Clothing Closet: men's and women's winter jackets (black or dark colors preferred, size M, L, X-L); winter hats, scarves, and gloves; hoodies; jeans for men and women; men's and women's underwear and socks. Clothing should be clean, teen appropriate, and in good repair. 

 

Donations for Hope Food Closet: single serving microwavable soups, mac & cheese, stews; fruit cups (mandarins are favorite); granola bars; trail mix; nuts. Toiletries: toothpaste and toothbrushes; men's and women's deodorant, shampoo, and conditioner; lotions; chapstick; condoms; sanitary products. Ethnic hair products highly desired. 

Bring items to the information desk in the social hall on Sundays or leave them on the shelves labeled AFA by 34th St. entrance.

Calendar year 2017 is quickly coming to an end. If you would like to make a financial gift prior to the end of the year, donations must be transferred, postmarked, made online at My First U or dropped off at the church office no later than Sunday, Dec. 31. Please be aware that the church office is now closed until Jan. 2, but contributions can be dropped off with a staff member at the information desk in the social hall before or after this Sunday's service. 

 

If you have questions, contact Andrea Love at the church office by phone at 612-825-1701 ext. 100 or send an email to andrea@firstuniv.org .

 

Thank you to all for your ongoing support and generosity to First Universalist Church. 

The church office will be closed from Friday, Dec. 22 through Monday, Jan. 1. 

When the office reopens in the new year, we will have slightly different hours. The new office hours for 2018 are as follows:

10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Mondays

8:30 a.m. - 8 p.m. Tuesdays

10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Wednesdays

10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Thursdays

Closed Fridays and Saturdays

8 a.m. - 1 p.m. Sundays