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July 11, 2019 | Vol. 6 No. 28
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Sunday, July 14, 10 a.m.
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Lauren Wyeth |
"The Congregation Is the Curriculum"
Worship Leader: Lauren Wyeth
"Faith development is all we do. Unitarian Universalism is the faith we teach. The congregation is the curriculum." Connie Goodbread is a credentialed religious educator who consults about healthy congregations and transformation for the Unitarian Universalist Association. Her words remind us that faith development is not just for children; in fact, it is a thread woven through all our activities. What are we teaching and what are we learning at church, on purpose and by accident? How might a focus on faith development help us manifest the sweetest, most dangerous promises of our UU faith?
Lauren Wyeth, First Universalist's Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries, is preaching this Sunday.
Please join us for worship at 10 a.m.!
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Sunday, July 21, 10 a.m.
"Squirming with Jesus"
Worship Leader: Rev. Karen Hutt
Music: First Universalist Summer Choir
Sunday, July 28, 10 a.m.
"Where Is the Lost and Found?"
Worship Leader: Rev. Karen Hutt
Sunday, Aug. 4, 10 a.m.
Worship Leader: Rev. Ashley Horan
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July 7, 2019
"In the Middle of It"
Rev. Justin Schroeder, Asylum Support Team
June 30, 2019
"The Work We Need to Do"
Rev. Ruth MacKenzie and Isha Caldwell
June 23, 2019
"Who Is Afraid of Power?"
Lena K. Gardner
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On the Podcast: "In the Middle of It"
Reflections from Our Asylum Seeker Support Team |
Sermon recap by First U staff member Liz Farmer:
Imagine sitting down at a table to make an origami figurine in the shape of love. Not sure what the figure will look like at the end, and without any step-by-step instructions, you wonder, huh... where to start? You fold the paper in half once, unfold, try out some different angles and match the left edge to the right. An idea. A rush of progress! So many questions.
Luckily, you're not the only one at the table, nor the only one making a life (er, paper...) into the shape of love. The Asylum Support Team is there, too. As Karen Heegaard describes her discernment process, "it was as if there were a tiny origami heart, right here in my chest. It was hard to see it at first. But, as I let it unfold, the next move would emerge." Thus she describes the work of the village of First Universalist members and friends who are hosting a trans asylum seeker from Guatemala in their homes while her asylum claim is pending. When you say "yes, and" to somebody's child sitting in a detention center, you say "yes, and" to the flurry of connection and collaboration that opens your heart to more. What will emerge from this village of hearts next?
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| Summer Worship Theme: "Yes, And" |
We live in a society of either/or, us or them, this or that, winning or losing, success or failure. Yet, what we are beginning to understand in our sciences of living systems, physics, and metaphysics is that this world was created, creates, and recreates in the mysterious dance of relationship. Interactions upon interactions are the creating drivers of this world. Wisdom teachers from Lao Tzu, to adrienne maree brown, to indigenous peoples around the globe have said as much: This world is more "Yes and..." than "either/or." In the months of summer, when creativity and emerging life is hard to miss, we will explore the spiritual imperative of
Yes, and. How do we engender curiosity and listening as our default response? What kind of spiritual practices might buoy our hearts, and create our capacity for joy? How might this community of faith make our shoulders strong, keep our hearts open, and join together as an island of sanity and solidarity? Join us in the
Yes, and...
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Seniors Hike with Daytime Connections
Thursday, July 25, 10 a.m.
Meet at Richardson Nature Center (map)
Join fellow seniors for a hike at Hyland Park Reserve!
Meet at 10 a.m. at Richardson Nature Center, 8737 E. Bush Lake Rd in Bloomington. The nature center is located in the NW section of Hyland. The park reserve
contains a diverse combination of savanna, small lakes, wetlands and hardwood forests that support a wide variety of birds and wildlife including osprey, pileated woodpeckers and humming birds. The group will hike for about 1.5 hours on wood mulch and dirt trails which are moderately hilly. There will be several cutoff options to shorten your hiking distance, if you choose.
Optional post-hike activity is lunch at
Willy McCoy's
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RSVP to Tom Saterstrom at 952-239-3629 (cell) or
saterstromtom@yahoo.com.
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Young Adults Movie Night: "Best in Show"
Monday, Aug. 5, 8 p.m. in Loring Park
Meet at Dunn Brothers, 329 W. 15th St.
On Monday, Aug. 5, join other folks from First Universalist in their 20s and 30s for an outdoor screening of "Best in Show," the 2000 mockumentary about dog shows and the eccentric people who participate. We will meet at 8 p.m. at the Dunn Brothers at 329 W. 15th St, Minneapolis, and walk together to Loring Park to enjoy the film. According to one reviewer, Rev. Elaine Aron Tenbrink, this is "objectively one of the best movies of all time." Contact Gordon Loery at gloery945@gmail.com with questions.
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Tuesdays, Aug. 6, 13, 20 & 27, 6:30-8 p.m.
Are you new to First Universalist? Whether you are a recent visitor or a new member, you're invited to join a Newcomer Circle. These four-session gatherings of 6-10 newcomers offer a chance to get to know Unitarian Universalism, reflect on our spiritual journeys, and connect with other folks who are new to church. To register, contact Sandy DiNanni at sandy@firstuniv.org or call 612-825-1701.
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Pathway to Membership Class
Tuesdays, Aug. 13 & 20, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Is First Universalist feeling like your spiritual home? Join us for The Pathway to Membership, a class exploring Unitarian Universalism, the history & mission of this congregation, and the experience of membership. Participants are invited to share and reflect on their own spiritual journeys and values. We ask that all those who wish to become members take this class (two sessions = one class).
This new member class will be led by Arif Mamdani, who will be joining the First Universalist staff as Director of Membership and Adult Ministries in August.
To register, contact Sandy DiNanni at
sandy@firstuniv.org
or 612-825-1701.
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Worship and Potluck at Lake Harriet:
Sunday, Aug. 18 at 10 a.m.
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Join us for an energizing worship service and potluck picnic at the Lake Harriet Bandshell on Sunday, Aug. 18 at 10 a.m.!
We'll enjoy music, an inspiring message, and a delicious potluck picnic together afterwards.
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.
This is part of an annual outdoor worship series at the Lake Harriet bandshell with about 15 neighborhood congregations participating.
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Work of First Universalist's Environmental Justice Team Recognized in the Southwest Journal
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"Making Space for Environmental Justice"
by Mira Klein, Southwest Journal
Excerpts from the article, published in the
Southwest Journal
on July 3, 2019:
 "If we were to address the racialized wealth gap, what would that mean for resilient communities?"
This is the question that state Rep. Aisha Gomez (District 62B) asked the audience to consider as they sat in the packed pews of
First Universalist Church on May 28. The crowd had gathered for a "Community Conversation on Environmental Justice, " an event co-organized by First Universalist's environmental justice team and U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar's office. The panel discussion was designed to cover climate change and the Green New Deal, but as Gomez's prodding question reminded attendees, cultivating resiliency in a time of climate crisis is about more than isolated climate policy.
Stan Sattinger is team lead of First Universalist's environmental justice team, which was founded in 2015.
While Sattinger's previous organizing experience was primarily outside of church spaces, he views First Universalist as a natural vehicle for building strong environmental movements. "I think spiritual [and] religious organizations are the great hope that I have for the revolution of values that will get the public pulling in the right direction," he said. "It has to be values-driven, and that's where religious organizations come in."
Over the past several years, Sattinger has worked alongside a committed group of congregational EJ team members to strategically leverage their community activism toward addressing environmental justice and the climate crisis. Serving as event hosts is one of those strategies.
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Please Respond to the 2019 Congregational Survey
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How are we doing? How can we do better?
Every few years the First Universalist Church Board of Trustees takes a survey of the congregation to determine how well the church and the ministers are making progress towards our visionary goals.
We sent out our 2019 Congregational Survey on Monday, July 1, and thus far we've received responses from just over 200 people - thank you!
If you have been involved at First Universalist during the past two years and have
not yet filled out the survey, please do. The survey data provides important information that helps church leadership assess and work to improve our progress toward our goals. Thoughtful comments and feedback about your recent experiences are encouraged! Please take a few minutes of your time to
respond to the survey if you haven't yet done so.
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MidWest Mixed Conference Art Exhibit on View
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Work by twelve artists, all of whom identify as people of mixed race and/or are transracial adoptees, is on view in the social hall as part of an exhibit organized for the 2019 MidWest Mixed Conference: Disrupting the Single Story, hosted at First Universalist Church July 12-14. Curated by artist and MidWest Mixed leadership team member Leslie Barlow, the exhibit will remain on view for two weeks following the conference, through July 28.
The exhibit showcases artwork related to themes of race, identity, and personal narratives, and includes pieces by twelve different emerging and mid-career artists from the Midwest.
The purpose of the exhibit is to give conference attendees another way to approach the subject matter. Exhibit curator and conference organizer Leslie Barlow says: "I believe that visual art is another way that people connect to their identity and access the complexity of the conversations we're having at the conference."
MidWest Mixed works to bring thoughtful programming for mixed race people and families to the Twin Cities community, working to expand understanding of race and identity through courageous conversations, arts engagement, educational outreach, and a biennial conference.
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Community Event: Hear About MIRAC's Trip to the Border
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Submitted by Denise Konen
There is so much interest and concern from First U folks about the travesty of injustice happening at the U.S. Mexican border. If you would like to hear first hand from people who were there recently - here's your chance!
Attend a report back from a delegation from MIRAC (Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee) that took a trip there in April.
Date & Time: Monday, July 22, 7-9 p.m.
Location: 4200 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis
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In July and August, office open hours will temporarily be shortened on two days per week. The office will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays, and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. This change will not affect any currently scheduled meetings or events. Building doors and phones will not be monitored outside of office hours, however, so please plan accordingly.
July & August Office Open Hours
Mondays & Thursdays: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Tuesdays & Wednesdays: 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Fridays: CLOSED
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Registration for 2019-2020 Religious Education is Now Open
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Registration for Sunday morning childcare and Religious Education in the 2019-2020 church year is now open. Register online today!
- The church year starts Sept. 8, 2019 and runs through May 17, 2020
- All families - new or returning - with children and youth in Nursery through High School must register
- There is no fee for Religious Education or childcare
- Programs for children, youth and families are an essential ministry of First Universalist, funded by the annual gifts of the members and friends of the congregation
- Our model is a cooperative one, with families learning and growing in religious community together.
- Visit the Class Descriptions page to review curriculum for each age and grade level.
- Childcare and RE class sizes are limited and are filled on a first-come first-served basis - the safety of our kids, the capacity of our volunteer teams, and the quality of the church experience for everyone guide our enrollment policies.
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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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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. If you call outside of office open hours, follow the prompts for pastoral care on the recording.
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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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Summer Church Office Hours
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Sundays 9
a.m.-1 p.m.
Mondays & Thursdays
10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Tuesdays & Wednesdays 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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