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July 26, 2018 | Vol. 5 No. 30
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| Families Moving Forward: Your Presence Matters! |
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Jessica Leigh Lyons
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By Jessica Leigh Lyons
Last year, I found myself with housing instability. Owning a new business and ending a relationship with a partner who owned the house we lived in meant I had to find a new place. I was welcomed by friends and family into their homes with radical hospitality and deep generosity. Knowing that I had safe and stable places to lay my head allowed me to rest for a bit, to heal my heart, and to rebuild my life. That's a remarkably privileged story and speaks nothing to the resilience that folks experiencing homelessness must develop within themselves. Here at First Universalist, in conjunction with Families Moving Forward, we as a congregation welcome 4-8 families experiencing homeless to come and "live" at church for 2 weeks. We need your help as together we live into radical hospitality and sanctuary.
We welcome you, as an individual, a family, or perhaps a new member to our congregation looking to get involved and make a difference. Jump in and lend a heart and a hand as we welcome and support families experiencing homelessness for the fourteen days of
August 26 through September 9.
As a hosting congregation, we provide physical necessities, like comfortable sleeping areas and plentiful food, allowing families to concentrate their energies on finding affordable housing and employment that will sustain them. 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 church around 5:45 p.m. each evening, share a meal with us 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.
This is where your presence matters! We need approximately 60 volunteers each week! Each night we ask for 3 volunteers to prepare 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 transform classrooms into bedrooms and then return them to classrooms at the end of the stay.
In addition, we have a leadership position open. We are seeking an Overnight Coordinator to help recruit folks willing to sleep over at church for the two weeks and to help train volunteers during our Orientation evening on Tuesday, Aug. 21. JOIN US! Send Jess Lyons an email, jess@jessicaleighlyons.com.
This is multi-generational hospitality! Families from our congregation have had wonderful experiences spending the evening, whether it be Meal Prep and/or Evening Activities.
For more information, you can join us in the Social Hall following services on July 29, August 5, and August 12. Volunteers can sign up at:
https://tinyurl.com/fmf2018
Questions and comments can be directed to david.j.caccamo@gmail.com or jess@jessicaleighlyons.com
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| SUNDAY WORSHIP AT FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH |
Worship this Sunday, July 29 at 10 a.m.
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Lauren Wyeth |
Sunday, July 29 at 10 a.m.
"Next Gen: Helping and Hoping"
Lauren Wyeth
We often say that kids give us hope for the future. And clearly that's warranted, with so many youth leading and living in courageous, compassionate and creative ways. If we're placing our hope in them, how are we called to support the young people in our communities? Admiring them from a distance is not enough. This Sunday we'll explore ways we can help ensure our hopes are realized, while still leaving the next generation plenty of room to spread their wings.
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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. 5, 10 a.m.
Arif Mamdani
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
July 22, 2018
"In the Boat Together"
Rev. Ruth MacKenzie
July 15, 2018
"No Going Back"
Rev. Elaine Aron Tenbrink
July 8, 2018
"Awakenings"
Jack Gaede
July 1, 2018
"The 18" Pilgrimage"
Pastor Danny Givens, Jr.
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Soil, Food, and Climate: What's the Connection?
Wednesday, Aug. 8, 6-9 p.m., Social Hall
Can the soil save us? First Universalist's Environmental Justice team invites you to a
panel discussion on regenerative agriculture - a set of enlightened farming and gardening practices that hold promise of not only slowing but also reducing present-day and future atmospheric carbon concentrations.
Co-sponsors include Citizens' Climate Lobby, North Wind Region, and the MN350 Climate Solutions Team. Locally grown food will be available; a donation of $5 is recommended. Registration (free!) and more details are available at: soilfoodclimate.eventbrite.com.
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Lake Harriet Worship Service and Potluck
Lake Harriet Bandshell
Join us for an energizing worship service and potluck picnic at the Lake Harriet Bandshell!
We'll enjoy music, an inspiring message from Rev. Elaine Aron Tenbrink, and a delicious potluck picnic together afterwards. For the picnic, p
lease bring a dish and/or beverage to share, as well as chairs or blankets to sit on, and plates, cups and eating utensils for everyone in your party.
This is part of an annual outdoor worship series at the Lake Harriet bandshell with about 15 neighborhood congregations participating.
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Immigration Court Observer Info Session
Sunday, Aug. 19, 11 a.m., Chancel Room
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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Pathway to Membership
Sundays, Aug. 19 & 26, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
If First Universalist is feeling like your spiritual home, 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. Register for this two-session class with Sandy at sandy@firstuniv.org or 612-825-1701.
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Volunteers Needed: Lake Harriet Worship & Picnic
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Too hot! Let's go to the lake Aug. 12!
We're seeking volunteers to serve as ushers, greeters and picnic helpers as we make final plans to take our First Universalist worshipping community to Lake Harriet, to the band shell and picnic grounds, on Sunday morning,
Aug. 12. Service begins at
10 a.m., but helpers are needed by
9:15 a.m. to greet, usher, and set up the potluck picnic area on the hill across from the band shell.
It's our favorite First U get-together each year. There will be grand camaraderie for adults, and games and fun for the kids. Bring food to share, plus plates, cups, and eating utensils for everyone in your group. Bring chairs for those who have trouble sitting on (and getting up from) the grass....and Everybody Come!
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Lost & Found Winter Items: Last Chance to Claim
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Winter clothing from the church's Lost and Found has been removed from the coat closets. There are adult and children's coats, leggings, shirts, scarves, hats, and gloves.
Items not claimed will be washed and donated after August 12. If you are missing something, please call the church office (612-825-1701 Monday through Thursday) before August 12 and ask to speak with Chelsea, or email Sandy at sandy@firstuniv.org. Provide a description of the item you are missing and we will look for it. |
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Sarah Greer CD Release Party
Sunday, Aug. 6, 6:30 p.m.
Sarah M. Greer is a Minneapolis-based jazz vocalist and composer known for her song inventions, scat singing and improvising. Praised by other musicians for her sense of time and vocal dexterity, audiences appreciate Greer's infectious humor, joy and passion for singing.
First Universalist community members will know Greer from her work with the a cappella improv ensemble Give Get Sistet, our 2017-18 artists in residence.
In 2017, Greer received an Artist Initiative Award from the MN State Arts Board to complete a solo album. Tasked with writing and recording an album in a year, Greer composed "What the Music Says Do" - a collection of songs about her love for family and friends, expressing one's true self, and living as a woman of color.
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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
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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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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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