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August 16, 2018 | Vol. 5 No. 33
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| Families Moving Forward: Your Help Is Needed |
We are each other's keeper.
"The first question I pondered as we committed to volunteering with Families Moving Forward was "How were we supposed to provide authentic compassion and assistance for a family we didn't know and had never met?" And yet, very quickly, we all were reminded of a very simple but very profound reality: we are each other's keeper. It was not hard to let the kids we met through FMF talk, be heard, and play. Neither was it hard to let their parents take a break from trying to hold all the moving parts of a transitional housing experience. I think there's a strong social sentiment that families without stable housing are vastly different from "those of us" with homes and stability, but this myth came wonderfully crashing down with our experiences with Families Moving Forward. Every mom, dad, and child we've met is just like us, with a few particular circumstances drastically altering their reality. This experience has allowed my family a deepening of our empathy and our understanding of our fellow human beings and quite simply we might have gotten more out of this experience than the families we helped for one evening."
- Colin Slaby, First U member and FMF volunteer
For two weeks from Sunday, Aug. 26 to Sept. 9, First Universalist Church, in partnership with Families Moving Forward, opens our doors as a home for 4-8 families experiencing homelessness. We provide physical necessities, like warm beds and nourishing food, and playful connection. The set-up team transforms the Religious Education rooms from classrooms to bedrooms, complete with matching sheets, toiletry items, soft lighting and flowers on the table. Families of all configurations arrive at our congregation around 5:45 each evening, share a meal prepared by volunteers, and engage in activities ranging from family games to age-specific activities for children. As our guests prepare to depart at 6:30 a.m. each day, they are greeted by our overnight hosts and offered breakfast.
Each night we ask for 3 volunteers to prepare and share the dinner meal, 3 volunteers to engage in evening activities, and 2 volunteers to spend the night (comfortable beds and the opportunity to sleep are provided). We need 12 volunteers to engage in transforming the classrooms to bedrooms and a similar number to then return them to classrooms on September 9.
In addition, please know that you can be creative in your service. Volunteers have offered to wash sheets from "accidents" mid-week, organize adult bingo (complete with prizes), or scramble to rearrange a bedroom as one family transitions out and another comes in mid-week.
You can go directly to SignUp Genius to register. Questions and comments can be directed to your site coordinators, david.j.caccamo@gmail.com or jess@jessicaleighlyons.com.
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| SUNDAY WORSHIP AT FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH |
Worship this Sunday, Aug. 19 at 10 a.m.
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Sunday, Aug. 19 at 10 a.m.
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Andrea Johnson |
"Emerging Gracefully"
Andrea Johnson
The poet, John O'Donohue, suggests that our inner teacher emerges: "In the out-of-the-way places of the heart, where your thoughts never think to wander, this beginning has been quietly forming, waiting until you were ready to emerge. For a long time it has watched your desire, feeling the emptiness growing inside you, noticing how you willed yourself on, still unable to leave what you had outgrown."
This Sunday with guest speaker Andrea Johnson, we will explore how we might listen to our longings and learn to slow down and dance with life in a new way - not as an obstacle course to get through, but as a host of holy voices calling us to greater loving and living.
Andrea Johnson is a long-time member of this congregation who after 15 years working as a training and development consultant, joyfully enrolled at United Theological Seminary and graduated with her M.Div in May of 2017. She completed her ministerial internship at Unity Church in St. Paul this past June and in August began as the Director of Congregational Programming at Minnesota Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Bloomington, MN. Andrea is passionate about theology, facilitating theme-based small groups and faith formation across the lifespan. She is dedicated to dismantling white supremacy and has been inspired by working on the Poor People's Campaign this past Spring. Andrea lives in Minneapolis with her husband and three children.
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Summer Worship Theme: Emergence
We humans look at a flock of birds flying overhead, sketching awe-inspiring designs in the sky, and think the birds must be following a leader. But leadership alone has never been the full measure of history nor the full inspiration of the beauty and patterns that emerge from a community of birds in flight. In fact, the patterns we see in the sky are made by each individual bird bringing to the group its own creativity and reacting to the movement of two or three of its neighbors. It is a dance between freedom and faithful followship. Our work in community, our efforts in justice making, and patterns of right relationship emerge in the same dance between freedom (our own creativity) and faithful following (our commitment to our neighbors, community). Together we create patterns of love and justice. This summer we ask: what makes something emerge? How and when do we lead? How and when do we follow? Where and how do we place our attention? What is emerging?
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Sunday, Aug. 26, 10 a.m.
Rev. Jen Crow and Lauren Wyeth
Summer Sundays at Church
During the summer, we invite everyone to our single 10 a.m. service each Sunday.
Childcare and Religious Education classes are available for children 6 months through entering 6th grade in the fall.
Recent Sermon Podcasts
Aug. 5, 2018
"Centering De-centering"
Arif Mamdani
July 29, 2018
"Next Gen: Helping and Hoping"
Lauren Wyeth
July 22, 2018
"In the Boat Together"
Rev. Ruth MacKenzie
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Immigration Court Observer Info Session
Sunday, Aug. 19, 11 a.m., Sanctuary
The Advocates for Human Rights and the Immigrant Law Center at the University of Minnesota are seeking volunteers. Their Immigration Court Observer program adds transparency and tracks trends of those detained by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). The detainees sit before Immigration Judges at the Whipple Federal Building four days a week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Join us as we grow the First Universalist Court Observers program. There are four "shifts" each court date lasting 1.5 hours, with two observers at each shift. You can volunteer to attend once, or weekly, or on a flexible basis. No immigration or legal experience is required. To learn more, join us for one of two information sessions following church services on Aug. 19 and Sept. 9.
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As summer comes to an end, don't miss our fifth annual Backpack Blessing and worship service on Sunday, Aug. 26 at 10 a.m. The multigenerational service will offer children, youth, and adults of all ages the opportunity to reflect upon how we might carry the love of our church community and the tools of our faith with us wherever we go. In this season of returning and restarting, we affirm the boundless worth of each and every person, and encourage one another to consciously seek a path of integrity and compassion. Children and youth are encouraged to wear their school backpacks to church so that we can include them in the Backpack Blessing ritual.
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First Major Repair Work Funded by
Capital Campaign Begins Next Week
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On Monday, Aug. 20, masonry repair work on the Sanctuary side of the building is scheduled to begin. This is the first major repair/renovation project that we're undertaking with funds raised during our recent capital campaign.
What Is Tuckpointing and Why Is it Necessary?
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Damage to the masonry of the original 1926 building (the Sanctuary side) will be repaired over the next 10 weeks.
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As brick buildings get older, bricks start to crack and the mortar between them can begin to wear away, leaving holes that allow water into the building. There are some substantial areas of damage to the masonry of our building and several leaks that need to be addressed as soon as possible. This tuckpointing work is a critical first step in our overall renovation and construction project - we need to make sure that the building exterior is repaired and sealed before we invest in improvements to the interior spaces!
What to Expect
Work will begin on the North side and move East, South and finally West over the next ten weeks, with construction happening ten hours a day Monday through Thursday. You can expect to see signs of the work happening when you're here for Sunday services, but no entrances will be blocked. There will be scaffolding on each side as they reach it, supplies stored near the building as well as in a trailer that will be parked on 34th Street, and a dumpster that will be in one spot in our parking lot.
Contractor
Innovative Masonry Restoration is the contractor that has been selected to do the work on this project. Our building team, in collaboration with our architects, oversaw the contractor selection process earlier this summer. Innovative Masonry came in not only with the lowest bid, but also the most thorough response to our Vendor Policy, which asks potential vendors to respond to questions regarding hiring and business practices in relation to racial justice.
Questions
Any questions about this project can be directed to Rev. Jen Crow at jen@firstuniv.org.
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Summer Choir this Sunday; Choir Year Begins Soon
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The Summer Choir will be singing one last time in worship again this Sunday, Aug. 19 at 10 a.m. If you like to sing but can't make an extended commitment to choir, this is a perfect opportunity for you! There is just one 45-minute rehearsal at 9 a.m. on the day of the service. All are welcome! If you have any questions, contact Dr. Randal Buikema at randy@firstuniv.org.
Interested in joining the choir this year?
The First Universalist Choir is now gearing up for the start of the church year! The choir is open to anyone who has a love for singing and wishes to participate in this ensemble during worship services. Prior experience and ability to read music are helpful but not necessary. The choir rehearses Wednesday evenings from 7-9 p.m. beginning Wednesday, Aug. 29 and sings in worship two times a month. Email randy@firstuniv.org for more information.
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August Board Meeting is Tonight
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Kristin Siegesmund |
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Keven Ambrus |
The August meeting of the Board of Trustees takes place this evening, Aug. 16, at 6:30 p.m. Board meeting materials can be found on our website here.
In this new church year, we welcome Keven Ambrus and Kristin Siegesmund to the board!
Learn about Keven and Kristin and the other members of our 2018-2019 Board of Trustees here. |
Circle Suppers Kickoff Potluck Scheduled for Nov. 10
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Looking for a way to meet new people in our congregation? Circle Suppers might just be the answer! We meet in a different person's home for an evening of good conversation and good food on the first Saturday of the month from December to March. These gatherings are for adults only - singles and couples. The kick-off potluck will be in the social hall at church on Saturday, Nov. 10 (please note that this is a change of date from what was previously announced). Join us! Watch the Liberal for more details. Contact Colleen Cavell - 612-323-4486 or cavell.colleen@gmail.com for further information.
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Poor People's Campaign: "Intersecting Perspectives"
Friday, August 24, 2018 7:00 to 9:30 pm
Central Presbyterian Church, 500 Cedar Street, St. Paul MN 55101
Facebook Event
The Poor People's Campaign Minnesota and Veterans for Peace invite you to Intersecting Perspectives, a free public event.
PPC's powerful 40-day campaign has united tens of thousands of people across the country to challenge the evils of systemic racism, poverty and inequality, ecological devastation, the war economy and militarism,
and the nation's distorted morality
. Please join us as we hear from people most impacted by these issues.
Moderated by Michael McPhearson, Veterans for Peace executive director, speakers include Monique Cullers-Doty, Black Lives Matter;
Austin Berger,
Students Demand Action Minnesota, working for gun control; Rose Whipple, Youth Climate intervener,
Honor the Earth; and Rev. Daniel Romero, advocate for immigrant rights. Distinguished Native poet T
homas LaBlanc, Tatanka Ohitika (Strong Buffalo) will read, accompanied by celebrated cellist Jacqueline Ultan.
Inspiring music by Twin City musicians extraordinaire: Uplifting
singing artist and healer
Jayanthi Kyle; diverse and electrifying vocalist Tonia Hughes;
and singer-songwriter and troubadour Larry Long,
who has made his life work the celebration of everyday heroes.
Also of interest: on
Thursday August 23 at the
Veterans for Peace 2018 Annual Convention, there will be a Plenary dealing with the "Doctrine of Discovery" led by Chris Mato Nunpa and featuring the Native Youth group which First Universalist and others helped send to the Vatican this past year. The s
ession will be at the InterContinental Hotel at
11 E. Kellogg Blvd
in downtown St. Paul, beginning at
10:30 a.m.
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| RESOURCES & CONTACT INFORMATION |
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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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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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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 9
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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