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July 13, 2017 | Vol. 4 No. 28
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| SUNDAY WORSHIP AT FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH |
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Summer Worship Theme: Meeting the Moment
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Worship this Sunday
Sunday, July 16,
10 a.m.
"Getting Comfortable with Grief"
Rev. Ruth MacKenzie
Over and over, in a myriad of ways, we are conditioned to believe that the goal of living is our comfort and happiness. Smiling emojis abound. Experiencing or living with the counterpoints to happiness - the grief, the tragedies, the melancholy - is somehow a failure on our part. But what if the purpose of the religious life is to go towards what hurts, to hold more than the simple binary of happy or sad, and to live in heart-aching wholeness?
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Sunday, July 23, 10 a.m.
Arif Mamdani
Recent Sermon Podcasts
July 9, 2017
"Have Mercy"
Rev. Elaine Aron Tenbrink
July 2, 2017
"Transmogrify, Breathe, Repeat"
Rev. Jim Foti
June 25, 2017
"Truth Makes Love Possible"
Lauren Wyeth
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A Special Note About this Week's Offering Recipient
Each Sunday, First Universalist Church gives the majority of the offering collected
to organizations engaged in community-based work that share our values and are committed to justice and equity.
This Sunday, July 16, the recipient of the offering plate will be Augsburg Fairview Academy (AFA), one of our established Faithful Action Partners. AFA recently experienced a break-in and lost thousands of dollars of equipment, including computers, projectors, and other technology equipment.
Read the news report here. If you can't be at the worship service this Sunday but would still like to contribute to the offering plate for AFA, you can give via SquareCash here.
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Thursday, July 27, 10 a.m., Minnehaha Falls
Join us for our next seniors nature hike with Daytime Connections!
Meet at 10 a.m. at Minnehaha Falls, adjacent to
Sea Salt Eatery
(map). We will descend about 100 steps to the creek and hike about 30 minutes on a somewhat rustic trail along the creek to its mouth at the Mississippi River. The return hike includes an ascent of the ravine to the campus of the Mpls VA home and dramatic views over the bluff. RSVP to Tom Saterstrom: saterstromtom@yahoo.com or 952-239-3629. Get details on our website.
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Young Adults: Let's Reminisce Together!
Movie in the Park: "Top Gun"
Friday, July 28, 7:30 p.m., Lake Harriet Park
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Next Pathway to Membership Class is Aug. 9 & 16
If First Universalist is feeling like your spiritual home, if our mission moves you, then we hope you'll take part in the
Pathway to Membership!
Joining First Universalist is a symbolic, spiritual act of saying "yes" to growing your soul in this place, with these people, within our free faith tradition. This new member class is a great chance to build community, explore Unitarian Universalism and our church's unique history, and learn how to get involved. In the final session, participants are invited to sign the membership book and officially join the congregation.
This class is offered as a two-part series, the next of which is offered on
Wednesdays, Aug. 9 & 16, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
To register, contact Sandy DiNanni at
Sandy@firstuniv.org
or 612-825-1701. Childcare is available free of charge with at least seven days advance notice when you fill out this form.
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Lake Harriet Bandshell Worship Service & Potluck
Join us for our annual outdoor worship service and potluck picnic at the Lake Harriet Bandshell on Sunday, Aug. 20 at 10 a.m.!
We'll enjoy music, an inspiring message from Rev. Justin, and a delicious potluck picnic together afterwards.
Please note: this will be our only worship service on Sunday, Aug. 20.
For the potluck, please bring a dish and/or beverage to share, as well as chairs or blankets to sit on. Bring plates, cups and eating utensils for everyone in your party.
The service will take place rain or shine. Sunglasses and/or hats are recommended for your comfort.
Get complete details, RSVP, and share on Facebook
here
!
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| First Universalist Stories: Dakota Hoska |
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Each week throughout the summer, we're featuring one or two stories submitted by members about what First Universalist means to them. Dakota Hoska
writes:
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Dakota Hoska |
"First Universalist doesn't demand I act or believe a certain way. Instead it encourages me to find and follow my own spiritual path and to appreciate the wisdom we all bring to the human experience. A few short years ago, I reconnected with my Native American family and I have been learning about my Lakhóta lifeways. I finally feel like I found my true spiritual path. I don't see any conflict with being a Native person and attending First Universalist. In fact, I feel supported in my cultural and spiritual heritage because there are a lot of spiritual parallels. For instance both lifeways work to show respect to Mother Earth and for all of the life that comes from her. Both practices recognize that we are all related, and that what befalls one of us befalls all of us. And neither practice demands that we name the spiritual force that moves within us and around us, but recognize it as a great mystery that speaks to each of us in our own way.
I understand now that until I returned to my Native culture, I would be forever searching for the right fit for my spiritual journey, and I also acknowledge that I gain deep and meaningful wisdom from our pastors and my community of fellow First Universalist members who are also searching for truth, wisdom, and kindness on their own journeys. I love First Universalist and I'm glad I'm a member. Here, I feel valued, appreciated, and perhaps most important of all guided toward becoming my best self. "
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Volunteer Opportunity: Mni Ki Wakan
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Are you available during the day on July 31, Aug. 1 or Aug. 2? If you are available for a full day on any of these days for easy tasks, then this volunteer opportunity is for you!
Mni ki wakan means 'water is sacred' in the Dakota language. Having grown out of the community conversations around the spirit of Mde Maka Ska, this is an indigenous-led, youth-oriented conference. It is dedicated to the protection of water and human rights.
Can you help support this?
To volunteer, contact john_saxhaug@yahoo.com. To donate to defray costs for the youth, or to register to attend the summit yourself, go to mnikiwakan.org.
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First U High Schooler Among 13 "Youth Climate Intervenors"
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Sophia Manolis, a junior at Minneapolis South High School and member of the First Universalist community, is one of 13 youth climate intervenors who are legally opposing Enbridge's Line 3 pipeline proposal.
The
Star Tribune
published an op-ed piece by Sophia in yesterday's paper. You can read an excerpt below; the full article is available here.
"Enbridge's Line 3 proposal: Why 13 young Minnesotans launched a legal fight against a pipeline"
By Sophia Manolis
Most people have heard of the Dakota Access pipeline, but many Minnesotans may not know that Enbridge, one of the companies behind DAPL, is proposing an enormous pipeline expansion through our state. Enbridge wants to construct a new pipeline called "Line 3" to carry tar-sands oil from Alberta to Superior, Wis.
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission will hold hearings on the pipeline proposal this fall and will decide whether to permit it in 2018. While citizens may testify at the hearings, some parties have been formally recognized as "intervenors," based on having submitted petitions declaring that the project would directly affect them. Intervenors will participate officially in court proceedings, representing their specific opposition to Line 3.
The Line 3 pipeline would have many harmful effects. High on the list: It would contribute to climate change by expanding fossil-fuel infrastructure and dependency. Therefore, 12 other young people and I petitioned to intervene together in these legal proceedings, because the advancement of climate change would directly, personally and adversely affect our future health, opportunities, livelihoods and well-being. As young people who value clean water and air, and who would like to count on healthy, thriving futures, we feel our voices should be heard in this process. We call ourselves the "youth climate intervenors," and on July 3, a judge affirmed the merits of our argument, officially granting us intervenor status.
Continue Reading
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| Seeking Racial Justice Leaders |
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Exciting changes are underway to create an even more effective leadership structure for our racial justice work. The current Racial Justice Leadership Team (RJLT) will morph into two new teams:
- A Racial Justice Change Team that will serve as a committee of the Board of Trustees. This Change Team will give our racial justice work the structural authority it needs to effectively review institutional racism and white supremacy culture as it lives in the work of our church. The Racial Justice Change Team will develop, implement, and monitor a process to set clear standards and accountability for our commitment to racial justice at all levels of the organization. This will involve reviewing our mission, visionary goals, policies, procedures, budgets, board agreements, and more. It is expected that the membership will be made up of Board members, members from the current RJLT, and other interested congregational members.
- A Racial Justice Education Team made up of congregational members and friends committed to ensuring high quality training, programming and coaching in service to the Church's racial justice education commitment. This team is an expansion of a team already working to offer trainings, guest speakers/panel discussions, and book/movie discussions. The Racial Justice Education Team will work closely with the staff to help ensure all programming and faithful action efforts of the church are done with a racial justice lens.
Church members and friends interested in leading the racial justice work of the church are encouraged to apply to join one of these teams!
Please fill out the application here by Tuesday, Aug. 1.
Thanks to the current members of the RJLT (Brian Eshult, Bryana French, Fawzia Khan, Channing McKinley, Kristen Mengelkoch, Ben Miles, Lillie Pang, Emma Paskewitz, Rev. Justin Schroeder, Richard Spratt and Polly Talen) who worked in partnership with the Board of Trustees on these changes.
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SHEtalks WEtalk 2017 RaceTalks for Women
with Catrice M. Jackson
August 5 & 6 in Minneapolis
During this two-day retreat, take a deep, honest and truthful dive into the issues of race, racism, whiteness, white supremacy and Intersectionality. This workshop will include diverse modes of learning such as presentation, small and large group activities, video, and experiential exercises. You will be actively engaged for two days requiring you to stretch outside of your comfort zone and examine your own beliefs, thoughts and behaviors that perpetuate racism.
Learn more.
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Cycle of Life and Pastoral Care
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 Care Team.
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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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| RESOURCES & CONTACT INFORMATION |
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Join Our Mailing List
Subscribe to
The Weekly Liberal
here.
Sign up to receive our weekly Children Youth & Family Ministries news
here.
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Church Office Hours
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Sundays
8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Monday-Thursday
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? Please 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, publication 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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