 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| |
January 30, 2020 | Vol. 7 No. 5
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Be Part of the "We" that Have "Got This"
|
 |
|
|
Arif Mamdani,
Director of Membership & Adult Ministries |
Since Rev. Jen shared earlier this month that she'll be out on medical leave for the next several weeks, a number of folks have asked me if I'm worried, anticipating a bit of a challenge, etc., especially given that Rev. Justin is also currently away on sabbatical. And everyone looks a bit surprised (myself included!) when I say that I'm not worried in the slightest.
It's true. It's true because having served several different congregations through the ministerial formation process, what I know is that First Universalist is one of the strongest congregations I've seen. If you haven't gotten to know the staff team at church, let me tell you that they are one of the best that I've worked with, and a big part of my everyday joy at coming to work. But as great as the staff team is, we are only able to be what we are because of the incredible strength and depth of the lay-leadership of the church; from the board to RE teachers to adult program leaders and the heads of Daytime Connections, Visual Arts, Faithful Action - the list goes on and on.
So, I'm not worried at all, and Rev. Jen wasn't kidding when she said "we've got this." We do.
And, what's also true is that some things will shift. Some things won't happen in quite the same ways, and we may need to put some things on hold. That's just reality. What's also reality is that there *are* some things that we could really use help with, and as we move into full-on prep for our renovation, that list will grow.
So - if you'd like to be part of the "we" that have "got this" here are some ways we'd really love help:
-
Join a welcome team! I cannot emphasize enough the importance of welcome teams. Our welcome team members are the first point of contact for new folks and long time members alike, and they're one of the first and most direct ways we can embody that spirit of namaste that I preached about a few weeks ago. If you're interested, have questions, think you just might be up for a couple of shifts, etc - please email
arif@firstuniv.org
and I'll get you connected.
-
Sign up to be an usher! I think about the usher team as the 2nd layer of our greeting and welcoming ministry on Sunday mornings. Ushers hand out orders of service, help folks find the best places to sit, direct families to the family corner with quiet toys, and help receive our offering. If this sounds like something that would make your heart sing, please let me know -
arif@firstuniv.org
and I'll get you connected to our usher coordinator.
-
Join a team of folks packing up the building! We're going to need a lot of help getting the church packed up and moved out so that construction can start! If this is the kind of work that you'd enjoy, sign up now so we can get started. Jenn Stromberg is coordinating this effort, and she can be reached at
jenns@firstuniv.org
-
Last, but far from least, join one of the many adult programs offered this winter/spring. The stronger our community is, the stronger our relationships with each other are, the more easily we'll be able to roll with the bumps that are part of any renovation process. Small groups and spiritual deepening programs are a key way that we as a community build the relational ties with folks we don't know so that we grow into an ever stronger community. We have groups that meet for the duration of the winter and into the spring, as well as groups that are shorter term. You can check out the whole list here, and if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch with me (
arif@firstuniv.org
) or Liz Farmer (
liz@firstuniv.org)
.
I guarantee that there will be more ways to be of service to the wider community in the days, weeks, and months to come, so please stay tuned for more opportunities, and thank you so much for everything you do to make this church the wonderful place that it is!
Arif Mamdani
Director of Membership & Adult Ministries
|
Planning for renovations, funded by our 2017 capital campaign Not for Ourselves Alone: Building an Inclusive Future is moving forward quickly. As we shared earlier this month, we expect renovations to begin in mid- to late May, and to be finished by mid-September. We will be moving worship, summer RE, and operations offsite during this time (location TBD).
Work to pack, move, and otherwise ready the building for renovations will begin soon, and we'll begin sharing more practical information
about what this all means over the coming weeks. The latest information about the project can always be found
here
. Stay tuned!
|
|
|
Sunday, Feb. 2, 9:30 & 11:15 a.m.
|
|
|
Eric Ward |
"Surviving the Wilderness: In Search for Inclusive Democracy"
Eric Ward
In a society of increasing inequality and cruelty, it can feel overwhelming and beyond our ability to forge communities grounded in fairness and opportunity. How should we understand ourselves in this moment and how might we reflect on our purpose? Eric K. Ward, author of "Skin in the Game: How Antisemitism Animates White Nationalism" and executive director of Western States Center, will explore wrestling with antisemitism, democracy, and identity in our current world. Join us for worship at 9:30 or 11:15 a.m.!
Children from PreK through 4th grade attend the first 15-20 minutes of worship with their families this Sharing Sunday, and are then excused to their Religious Education classes. Please sign them in at their classrooms before heading up to the sanctuary as a family.
|
|
Sunday, Feb. 9, 9:30 & 11:15 a.m.
Arif Mamdani
Sunday, Feb. 16, 9:30 & 11:15 a.m.
Rev. Ruth MacKenzie
Sunday, Feb. 23, 9:30 & 11:15 a.m.
Rev. Kate Tucker, Rev. Meg Riley
|
|
|
|
|
"Living in the Layers"
- Rev. Ruth MacKenzie
"Radical Imagination" -
Rev. Jen Crow
"Reading the Story of Your Life"
- Arif Mamdani
|
|
|
|
|
|
On the 1/26 Sunday Podcast:
"Living in the Layers" - Rev. Ruth MacKenzie
|
Sermon Summary & Reflections by Liz Farmer
If you were to speak about your life for 30 minutes, what would you say? Would you mimic your social media highlight reel? Your resume? Your journal? And if what you said was written down, what stories would be preserved for your ancestors to read? Would your narrative simplify or complexify your life?
When one spends some time sidled up with death or the dying, as Rev. Ruth has and does, it becomes clear that, when one is on the precipice of whatever is next on this journey of impermanence, it is not the money made, vacations taken, or awards received that people care about, but instead the ways in which one's life answers the question: did you show up? Whether the answers are flattering or damaging, our ancestors deserve the truth about the layers - sometimes paradoxes - of our lives. Our ancestors will want to know about the obstacles we overcame, the arenas in which we were non-compliant, and what we risked for the sake of justice. How can we live ancestrally? That is, to live as if we are ancestors - before we die. Listen to Rev. Ruth's sermon on the podcast here.
|
|
|
|
UPCOMING EVENTS & HAPPENINGS
|
|
Eric Ward is a national expert on the relationship between hate, violence, and preserving democratic institutions, governance, and inclusive societies. This Sunday, Feb. 2, we'll welcome him to First Universalist to lead a workshop after worship services that
will focus on the relationship between white supremacy, white nationalism and antisemitism with an emphasis on how the dynamics of antisemitism are likely to play out in the environment of the upcoming presidential election and its aftermath.
We'll look at likely scenarios and how we might respond. We'll also make space for people to build relationships and a shared analysis of the ways that white nationalism and white supremacy use racism and antisemitism as tools to keep our movements divided. Given the rhetoric we have seen and will likely continue to see as the election draws nearer, it's imperative that we increase our capacity to recognize white nationalism and antisemitism when we see it, and learn tools to counter it.
|
|
Young Adults Potluck & Conversation
Topic: "So, how do people make new friends in their 20s and 30s anyway?
Thursday, Feb. 6, 6 p.m., church Library
Most of us have heard it, and maybe you've even said it yourself: after high school or college, it can get more difficult to make new friends and keep them in our lives. Trying to balance friendships with families, relationships, jobs, and other obligations has proven a consistent challenge for many of us - so let's name it and talk about it as we try to get to know each other. Join Rev. Ruth and First U young adults for food, conversations, and games. Bring a dish to share if you can. Sponsored by First Universalist Congregational Care Team.
|
|
|
|
|
Film Screening: "Chasing Coral"
Thursday, Feb. 6, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Room 200
Coral reefs around the world are vanishing at an unprecedented rate. A team of divers, photographers and scientists set out to discover why.
The film makes the point that 93% of the rise in temperatures is absorbed by the oceans, so while climate change deniers debate changes on the earth's surface and atmosphere, the seas are where most damage is being done. J
oin the Environmental Justice Team for pizza and the film followed by a short discussion. (Free will contributions will be accepted for pizza.) Family friendly (ages 10+)
RSVP at
bit.ly/coralshowing
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Caregiver Support Circle
Thursday, Feb. 13, 4-5:30 p.m.
The path of caregiving is a journey in which we learn to love and learn how to be loved and nurtured in order to sustain our spirits and our bodies. It is profoundly spiritual.
Rev. Ruth MacKenzie leads this drop-in group
for caregivers where we can bring the joys, the hurts, the challenges and discoveries of what it is to walk a path of caring for a loved one, and to hold our tears and laughter as we learn to be loved.
|
|
|
|
|
Saturday, Feb. 15, 9 a.m.-noon
12-Step Spirituality is designed for those actively working a 12 Step program, as well as those wanting to explore & deepen their spirituality through meditation. Each session includes Centering Prayer meditation instruction, two 20-minute Centering Prayer sessions, and reading from 12 Step literature.
Learn more:
www.12stepspirituality.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Circle Registration Deadline is This Sunday, Feb. 2
|
Our core adult spiritual deepening curriculum, Soul Matters Circles invite you to come together with a small group once or twice a month to build community and grow spiritually. Beginning soon, there are circles open to all that meet on Wednesday and Thursday evenings - don't miss your chance to join one of these groups starting in February! There are also circles specifically for: parents on Wednesday evenings, for LGBTQ+ individuals on Thursday evenings, and for people of color and indigenous people (POCI) on Sunday afternoons. Sign up here no later than Sunday, Feb. 2.
Spiritual Deepening Circles, Classes & Workshops
Centering Prayer:
Sundays, beginning March 15, 1-2:30 p.m.
This method of silent prayer opens the pathways to a deeper relationship with the God of your understanding, and accelerates the healing of past trauma.
Listening to the Soul Through Poetry:
Sundays, beginning Feb. 16, 1:30-3 p.m.
Engage in the ancient spiritual practice of lectio divina, or sacred reading.
What's Your Story? Mondays, beginning Feb. 24, 6:30-8 p.m.
How does telling and retelling your story help you understand yourself? This writing group will center on self-discovery and expansion through personal non-fiction narrative.
Faith Like a River (Class) Wednesdays, Feb. 12, March 11, April 8, & May 13, 7-8:30 p.m.
This multi-session interactive class covers the history of Unitarianism and Universalism, and is an opportunity to deeply dive into the history of our faith community itself.
Gender: Beyond the Binary (Class) Saturday, Feb. 29, 10 a.m.-noon
Some people fit into their assigned female or male role easily, others don't. This class is an opportunity to learn about gender and discuss ways our birth assignment has impacted us.
Read about all of our winter/spring programming (including a wide variety of opportunities beyond circles)
here.
|
 After two successful and stimulating workshops in the fall, "Better Angels" is returning to present a series of programs February 22, March 19, and April 25. Better Angels is a national non-profit that has pioneered concrete, structured practices for dialogue across political divides. The program is in wide practice, even making inroads with politicians.
The February and March programs are conversation skills workshops that will provide effective tools for talking with those whose views are contrary to one's own, be they friends, family or strangers.
You will "learn skills for having respectful conversations that clarify differences, search for common ground and affirm the importance of maintaining relationships." Both are free and open to all. Come help make our community a leader in civil dialogue.
The April program has a special format, involving an equal number of conservative ("Reds") and liberal ("Blues") attendees. Attendance will be limited to 16 "Reds" and 16 "Blues." Because we have so many "blues" at First Universalist, priority will be given to those who register with a partner from the other group. Such partnering is necessary so all will feel comfortable attending. Whether you are a Red or Blue, this is a unique opportunity to bring a family member or friend of a different persuasion. No one is put on the spot in these programs. Each side will engage in deep listening to the other. They are truly designed to be comfortable and educational for all.
|
|
Need a New Name Tag? Order One Here!
|
We have received numerous inquiries about member name tags lately, and we're happy to share that we now have a new ordering system in place.
All new members receive their first name tag as a gift from from the church as part of the official membership process, which includes attending a Pathway to Membership class and signing the membership book.
Anyone wishing to order a replacement name tag (or an initial name tag for anyone who is not officially a member), may do so by filling out this Name Tag Order Form. There is a requested donation of $7 for a pin-back name tag, and $8 for a magnet-back name tag.
All name tags are white with black ink and the UU chalice logo. For any special name tag requests (heritage circle members, board of trustees members, etc.), please contact Liz Farmer, Admin. and Adult Ministries Assistant, at liz@firstuniv.org
Make a donation for your name tag here. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and use the drop-down menu to choose "donation." Write "name tag" in the memo line. Thank you!
|
|
Handmade Truffles for Valentine's Day
|
Handmade truffles will be available for purchase at church again on Sundays, Feb. 2 and 9! The truffles are made with organic, fair-trade chocolate by the youth of the First Universalist Youth Cultural Exchange (YCE).
Twelve youth from our Church participate in this cultural exchange with twelve youth from Nicaragua. For two weeks, they stay in one another's homes and learn about one another's worlds. Last summer the Nicaraguan youth came to Minnesota, and this summer our youth will go to Nicaragua. All proceeds from the truffle sale (and from the weekly egg roll sales) pay for the Nicaraguan youth travel expenses.
The truffles are three dollars each, $12 for a box of four, and $24 for a box of eight. Flavors include Orange Chocolate, Mint Chocolate, Cappuccino and Sea Salt. Pick some up for yourself or a Valentine!
|
A group of congregants meets for meditation time from 12:40 - 1:30 p.m. every first Sunday.
They invite others to join them for a time of silent meditation on this Sunday, Feb. 2 in the meditation room up the south stairs from the sanctuary. They welcome all forms of practice. For more information, call Carolyn Young at 952-893-0673 or Beth Toso 612-382-2621.
|
|
Discussing Jon Meacham's "The Soul of America"
|
 Congregants Pat Gottschalk, Jim Ramnaraine and Joan Patterson invite others to join them for a discussion of the book
The SOUL of AMERICA
by Jon Meacham on
Tuesday, Feb. 18
at 1 p.m. in the Church Library.
They write: "The three of us recently met to discuss Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari. We enjoyed our time together so much that we wanted to continue an informal discussion of other stimulating books. We have just chosen The Soul of America, and we want to invite others at First Universalist to join us for a discussion of this thoughtful and hopeful historical perspective on some of the challenging times in the past that we have overcome. Maybe this is just what you need right now - something to generate hope amidst so many discouraging events domestically and globally. If you have questions, contact Joan at jasu@umn.edu."
|
|
Flower Arranging Opportunity
|
If you enjoy Sunday flower arrangements, have a bit of creativity, and would like an enjoyable way to contribute to our congregation, consider arranging Sunday flowers.
Visual Arts members will be happy to assist you the first time or two as you select and arrange flowers from places like Trader Joes, Bachman's, Lund's, or Koehler and Dramm (a floral wholesaler.)
If you're interested or would like more information contact Flower Chair
Ruthann Wood at
woodruthann@gmail.com
or 612-759-1793.
|
|
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 Rev. Ruth MacKenzie at
ruth@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. If you call outside of office open hours, follow the prompts for pastoral care on the recording.
|
|
Space Reservations for Meetings and Events
|
Are you responsible for reserving meeting space for a church committee you serve on? Are you a volunteer planning a church-sponsored event?
Spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and requests must be communicated to Events Coordinator Lucia Webb.
|
|
|
Join Our Mailing List
Subscribe to
The Weekly Liberal
here.
Sign up to receive our weekly Children Youth & Family Ministries news
here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Church Office Hours
|
Sundays 9
a.m.-1 p.m.
Monday - Thursday
9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Closed Fridays and Saturdays
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weekly Liberal Submissions
We encourage you to submit news!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contact Us
|
First Universalist Church of Minneapolis
3400 Dupont Ave. S.,
Minneapolis, MN 55408
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Universalist Church of Minneapolis
3400 Dupont Avenue S.
Minneapolis, MN 55408
612-825-1701
|
|
| |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
