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November 28, 2019 | Vol. 6 No. 48
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Multigenerational Worship, Sunday, Dec. 1, 9:30 & 11:15 a.m.
"I Will Light a Candle" -
Arif Mamdani
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Arif Mamdani, Director of Membership & Adult Ministries
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Thanksgiving will soon be behind us. December stretches out in front of us. Some of us are entering the season of Advent, looking forward to Christmas. Others in our community look forward to celebrating the Winter Solstice, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa. While our celebrations are diverse and many, home will be a part of all of our celebrations. Whether we're preparing our homes (and hearts) to receive guests, or visiting others, we'll be moving in and between experiences of home. This Sunday, join us at church as we open up December's worship theme of "Home" with a story for all ages, music from the choir, and a family-friendly homily from Arif Mamdani.
Children and youth in Pre-K and up will attend the entire service, which will include music and dramatic storytelling! There is optional childcare for ages 6 months to three years. Join us this Sunday at 9:30 or 11:15 a.m.!
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December Worship Theme: Home
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 Home is more than a house. Home is more than a place. Home is more than family. Home is more than a dream. Home is some kind of alchemical experience of nurturing, warmth, place, and people. A true home is an experience of blessing and belonging, where we remember and are remembered among friends and family we can trust. Home is somewhere where we ease back into our own skin. In this month when home is evoked in advertisements and holiday cards to compel us to buy things, as if we can purchase this feeling of belonging and blessing, we explore the nature of home and how we might find and sustain it in our lives, and in the life of our community.
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On the Podcast: "Radical Welcome" - Rev. Jen Crow
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Sermon summary & reflections by Liz Farmer:
What is your response when you encounter difficult news, people, or emotions? Your initial response might be to deny, ignore, or try to distance yourself from them as quickly as possible. Rev. Jen Crow shares how she is guided by the Rumi poem, The Guesthouse, in which the Sufi poet portrays each and every thing that we encounter as a guest, bidding welcome into our minds, hearts, and energy. With humor, she imagines Rumi as a tinkerbell figure on her shoulder, encouraging her to welcome every unexpected visitor. Her honest responses? A MAGA hat: swat! Onerous family members: shoo! Anxiety about the holidays: nope! Big emotions: not happening. The trick, however, is to catch ourselves thinking we know what to expect from each visitor. It might sound like: "The MAGA hat wearer is my forever enemy." Or, "my anxieties will certainly come true." The idea is not to deny what is true for you in the moment, but to eventually welcome all things as "a guide from beyond." Our preconceived notions and memories about the way things went in the past can be like walls that keep us from connecting with ourselves and each other. The spiritual journey invites us to make room for all - internal and external - so that we, too, may feel a sense of connectedness and belonging. Listen to Rev. Jen's sermon, and Rumi's The Guesthouse, here.
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Sunday, Dec. 8, 9:30 & 11:15 a.m.
Rev. Karen Hutt
Sunday, Dec. 15, 9:30 & 11:15 a.m.
Choir-led Worship
Sunday, Dec. 22, 9:30 & 11:15 a.m.
Rev. Jen Crow
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"Radical Welcome"
- Rev. Jen Crow
"Holiday Giving: Reimagining Joy & Justice "
- Rev. Justin Schroeder, Holiday Giving Team
"Doin' Church"
- Rev. Ruth MacKenzie
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UPCOMING EVENTS & HAPPENINGS
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Alternative Gift Fair
Sunday, Dec. 1, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Join us for our Alternative Gift Fair in the Social Hall this Sunday! Nine vendors will have handmade items for sale, all of which benefit people and communities in need, both locally and globally:
Under on Roof, Mano a Mano, Frybread Love/Project Offstreets, Tibet Arts@the Midtown Global Market, Sanctuary and Resistance Team, Enchanted World Gallery, Books for Bassodawish, Honor the Earth, and
Winter Warm-up for Lovely. Read about each of these vendors
here
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12-Step Spirituality: Centering Prayer Meditation
Saturday, Dec. 7, 9 a.m.-noon
12-Step Spirituality meets one Saturday per month (Oct.-May) in the Social Hall and 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, reading from 12 Step literature, and presenters sharing personal experiences.
Learn more:
www.12stepspirituality.org
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The Ordination of Sara Smalley
Saturday, Dec. 7, 2 p.m.
You are joyfully invited to attend the ordination of Sara Smalley into the Unitarian Universalist ministry.
This is an opportunity to celebrate with Sara the transformative call she has felt most of her life as well as to embrace our UU history and theology. We hope you can join us for this important event in the life of First Universalist. Whether you already know and love Sara or are meeting her for the first time as we ordain her, your presence is a gift and an opportunity.
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Holiday Giving Family Activities & Toy Swap
Sunday, Dec. 8, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Join us for two special opportunities for families after each service!
Explore a variety of stations in the social hall to help your family identify the values you want to put at the center of your seasonal celebrations. Hands-on activities for all ages will spark fruitful family conversations! Parents are also invited to participate in a Toy Swap. Donations of gently-used toys, games, and books can be dropped off in the Chalice Room on Sunday, Dec. 1 or 8 between 8 a.m. and noon; please o
nly donate items that you would feel good about wrapping and giving your own child.
Self-serve "shopping" (parents only) will be open Dec.
8
from 9 a.m.-1:15 p.m. See complete information and guidelines here.
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Better Angels Workshop: Families & Politics
Saturday, Dec. 14, 9 a.m.-noon
Join the First Universalist Peace Circle for a workshop led by Better Angels co-founder Bill Doherty, called: "Families & Politics: How to Talk with Loved Ones on the Other Side." If you want to preserve important family bonds while still being true to your values and political beliefs, this workshop will offer you insight into why family differences over politics are uniquely challenging and strategies and skills for handling family political differences in a constructive way. Register here.
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Sunday, Dec. 15, 9:30 & 11:15 a.m.
On Sunday, Dec. 15, the First Universalist Choir and Orchestra, directed by Dr. Randal Buikema, will lead worship services with a performance of
Fantasia on Christmas Carols by Ralph Vaughan Williams.
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Daytime Connections:
Reimagining the Holidays
Thursday, Dec. 19, 10:45 a.m.
At this month's third Thursday program, we'll talk about how our Holidays have been re-imagined through group discussion and bag skits. Come ready to share and have fun. The second part of the program will be a white elephant exchange with a small item. Please bring a wrapped inexpensive white elephant gift. Arrive at 10:45 a.m.; program begins at 11 a.m. and is followed by lunch ($5-15 donation encouraged) at 1 p.m. Please register here by Monday, Dec. 16.
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Winter Solstice Celebration
Saturday, Dec. 21, 7 p.m. doors, 7:30 p.m. ritual
Celebrate the longest night of the year and rejoice in the returning of the sun at our 39th annual Winter Solstice Celebration. The ritual begins at 7:30 p.m., and the sanctuary doors open at 7 p.m. The ritual celebration includes chants, solstice heritage and wisdom, a call to the directions, time spent in the darkness, music, and celebrating the returning of light.
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Christmas Pageants
Sunday, Dec. 22 & Tuesday, Dec. 24, 4 p.m.
Our annual Christmas Pageant is a beautiful telling of an ancient story. It is a tale of hope and hospitality, a reminder that every child is born a redeemer, a story that speaks to us all of what it means to be a seeker, a star, a wise one, a wanderer.
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Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
Tuesday, Dec. 24, 9:30 p.m.
The Candlelight Service at First Universalist is a time of mindfulness, meaning making and music. This service is a weaving of scripture readings, poems, musical offerings, silence, and lighting our hearts and spirit with the candlelight and hope.
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Remembering Those Who Have Lost Loved Ones
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The holidays can be a time of challenge when you've experienced a significant loss during the year. Every year the church's Congregational Care Team acknowledges the loss of family members with the gift of a poinsettia. This is how we express our care, and spiritual companionship with those in the valley of grief.
If you have lost a loved one this year, please go to the narthex and pick up your poinsettia after services on Sunday, Dec. 8. The Congregational Care Team has been following the mention of losses in the Cycle of Life announcements, so there will be a plant waiting for you.
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An Invitation from Shir Tikvah: The Israel Trip, June 2020
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Shir Tikvah's Rabbi Michael Latz has extended an invitation to members of the First Universalist community to join Shir Tikvah's Spiritual Adventure in Israel trip in June 2020.
There is an information meeting at Shir Tikvah on Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. Those interested in learning more about the trip are welcome to attend!
A detailed itinerary and registration information can be found here.
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Volunteers Needed: Families Moving Forward
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We are honored to be hosting families who are without a home this year over the holidays - Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and the New Year. We are going "all in" to create a sense of "home for the holidays" during a time when stress is high for families whose budgets don't provide for a rent or mortgage payment.
We are filled with gratitude at the generosity of time that has thus far been committed to support our guest families for the two weeks between Dec. 22 and Jan. 4. So many individuals and families have signed up for 1, 2, or 3 days. As our congregation is working toward "Reimagining Joy and Justice" this holiday season, we are witnessing that reimagining in the direct action of many of you.
We still need more help! There are many volunteer spots to fill, with needs ranging from overnight hosts, to meal preparation, to spending time with the families engaging in conversation and fun activities. Please visit our
volunteer sign up page to see if you can fill any of the available needs.
Learn more about Beacon's Families Moving Forward program
here.
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Seeking Christmas Pageant Performers
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Our annual Christmas Pageant is a beautiful telling of an ancient story. It is a tale of hope and hospitality, a reminder that every child is born a redeemer, a story that speaks to us all of what it means to be a seeker, a star, a singer, a wonderer, a wanderer, a wise one.
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Donations Needed for Augsburg Fairview Academy
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 During the school year, we collect donations for the Food and Clothing Closets at Augsburg Fairview Academy, one of our six Faithful Action partners.
Most needed items for Hope Clothing Closet: warm gloves and texting gloves for men and women, warm socks for men and women, teen appropriate winter jackets (dark colors preferred).
Most needed items for Hope Food Closet: winter toiletries such as chapstick and lotion; single serve microwavable meals like chili and stew.
Note: clothing donations should appeal to teens, be appropriate for the season (please, no summer clothes now) and be in good repair: clean, no broken zippers, no tears.
Please bring items to the Info Center in the Social Hall on Sunday or leave on the shelves for AFA by the 34th St. entrance.
Thank you for your generosity!
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Hats for the Homeless: Give the Gift of Warmth
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Now in its 11th year, the The Hats for the Homeless project calls on First Universalist knitters to knit beautiful hats to sustain our tradition of bringing warmth and love to our neighbors experiencing homelessness. We need hats for school aged children, women, and men. Donated hats, scarves, and mittens will be distributed to schools, shelters, and community resources. If you are not a knitter, purchased items are appreciated too.
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Heart to Heart Couples Enrichment Weekend
January 10, 2020
Heart to Heart is a retreat for committed couples, married or unmarried, straight or queer. It is designed to enrich intimacy in your relationship by emphasizing personal reflection and communication.
A team of three experienced Heart to Heart volunteer couples lead the retreat. These couples give a series of presentations describing their own couple's journey, offering insight into long-term committed relationships. Participating couples are offered opportunities for personal reflection and communication with their partner on an array of subjects key to relationships. Participants are not asked to do any sharing with the larger group.
Past participants have praised the Heart to Heart weekend for offering them a deeper understanding that affirmed the value of their relationship and the importance of their love for one another.
The retreat is held at Koinonia Retreat Center in South Haven, Minn. The cost for the weekend, including housing and meals, is $425 per couple. Limited partial scholarships are available.
To register, or for more information on scholarships, meals or accommodations, visit our web site at
hearttoheartmn.org
or contact us by email at
h2hretreat@gmail.com
. Space is limited to 15 couples.
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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 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.
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Space Reservations for Meetings and Events
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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.
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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.
Monday - Thursday
9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Closed Fridays and Saturdays
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Weekly Liberal Submissions
We encourage you to submit news!
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Contact Us
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First Universalist Church of Minneapolis
3400 Dupont Ave. S.,
Minneapolis, MN 55408
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First Universalist Church of Minneapolis
3400 Dupont Avenue S.
Minneapolis, MN 55408
612-825-1701
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