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August 23, 2018 | Vol. 5 No. 34
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| Welcome to Rev. Karen Hutt, Our Adjunct Minister! |
By Rev. Justin Schroeder
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Rev. Karen Hutt |
Over the past few years, it's been such a gift to have Rev. Karen Hutt come and preach at First Universalist. Her preaching has been tender and provocative, insightful and stirring. In addition to her preaching, Rev. Hutt and I (Justin), have led a class together, exploring the content in the book,
Centering: Navigating Race, Authenticity and Power in Ministry
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Rev. Hutt has also worked closely with Lauren Wyeth and others in the church to develop curriculum and content for our youth of color. Several months ago, when I met with Rev. Hutt, she shared, "You know, if I was going to work at a church, I think it'd be this one."
It's been several months since this conversation and I'm delighted that Rev. Karen Hutt has joined us on staff in a quarter time position. She brings a wealth of experience with her, as an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister, a credentialed Clinical Pastoral Educator, and a Board Certified Chaplain. She was a co-founder and co-pastor of Church of the Open Door, a dual-affiliated United Church of Christ/Unitarian Universalist congregation that served Chicago's Black LGBTQ population from 1997-2005. After serving this church, Rev. Hutt went on to serve as a chaplain and Clinical Pastoral Educator in several large hospital systems in both Chicago and Minneapolis. She is widely regarded as one of the most innovative educators in the Clinical Pastoral Education field. She is the editor of
The Call to Care: Essays by Unitarian Universalist Chaplains
(Skinner House Books, 2016). Currently, she is the Vice President of Student Experience and Culture at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities.
Over the course of the year, Rev. Hutt will preach and teach, connecting with our youth and adults. We are thrilled to have her be a part of our ministry and programming team. Please join us in welcoming Rev. Hutt to First Universalist Church!
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| SUNDAY WORSHIP AT FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH |
Worship this Sunday, Aug. 26 at 10 a.m.
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Every year, Rev. Jen and Lauren have a surprise for the Backpack Blessing ritual - last year it was feathers. What will it be this year?
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Sunday, Aug. 26 at 10 a.m.
"Finding Sanctuary"
Backpack Blessing Sunday
Rev. Jen Crow and Lauren Wyeth
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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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, Sept. 2, 10 a.m.
Rev. Justin Schroeder
Rolf Lowenberg-Deboer
Recent Sermon Podcasts
August 19, 2018
"Emerging Gracefully"
Andrea Johnson
August 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, Sept. 9, 10:30 a.m.
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 an information session between church services on Sept. 9.
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Backpack Blessing Sunday
Sunday, Sept. 9, 9:30 & 11:15 a.m.
Water is a gift. It replenishes and sustains our lives. Sunday, Sept. 9 is Water Communion Sunday. This is a day on which we celebrate the many rivers, eddies and waterways of our life experiences, converging in our sanctuary every Sunday forming a river of faith. We embody this truth by bringing water from our homes, our travels, our walks, and our bike paths-and combine them during the service in a ritual called Water Communion.
Please bring a small jar of water on to either service (9:30 or 11:15 a.m.) on Sunday, Sept. 9 for the beginning of our church year, in this beautiful multi-generational Sunday service.
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A Peace Movement for Our Times
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By Alan Sroufe, Member, First Universalist Peace Circle
I was a peace activist in the late 1960s. There were countless demonstrations in San Francisco where I was living. At a large gathering on the Berkeley campus, we all sang along with Country Joe and the Fish (One two three four, what are we fightin' for). After coming to Minnesota I wore a peace medallion teaching my classes at the University and joined Gene McCarthy and a throng of students in shutting down Washington Avenue. They were activist times, and no doubt protests had a lot to do with ending the Viet Nam war.
Lately, like others in the First Universalist Peace Circle, I've been seeking a new peace movement, one that would be effective now - one that would be devoted to achieving peace rather than only protesting war. And we have found it in the program led by Paul K. Chappell. Paul is a tri-racial West Point grad, ex-army captain who has drawn from his history in a violent family and the war in Iraq to formulate a dynamic program for resolving conflict and promoting peace. He argues that if we put as much energy into developing strategies for peace (become "peace literate") it is fully possible that peace can be achieved. We are pleased to bring him from California to First Universalist for two free programs the evenings of Sept. 27 and 30. Come join us and be inspired. For more information see:
Waging Peace: Building Blocks in the Foundation for Peace with Paul K. Chappell
Thursday, Sept. 27, 7-9 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 30, 7-9 p.m.
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Families Moving Forward:
Families Arrive Sunday; 11 More Volunteers Needed
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Friends, we are a few days out from hosting Families Moving Forward and we are so excited to see so many individuals and families volunteering with Families Moving Forward this year!
For our two weeks,
Sunday, Aug. 26 through Sunday, Sept. 9, we have over 100 volunteers on board. However, we still need 11
volunteers for the following:
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Meal preparation
-- Prep and serve meal and eat with families
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Overnight hosts
-- Stay from 8:45 pm - 6:45 am (mostly sleeping) and set out morning breakfast
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Breakdown
-- converting bedrooms back to RE classrooms at the end of the stay
Please join us us in this Faithful Action. You can go directly to SignUp Genius to register!
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First Major Repair Work Funded by
Capital Campaign Begins Next Week
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On Monday, Aug. 27, 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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Choir Members Share Why They Love Choir!
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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.
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. New members are welcome!
Here's what choir members have to say about why they sing in the choir:
"First U presents a rare opportunity to sing in a top-notch choir where all talents are enthusiastically welcome." -
Kelsey Speaks
"I sing in the choir because: It's thrilling to make music in community; Randy is a brilliant teacher and director; it is both an act of love and humbling to share the results with our congregation." -
Karen Parson
"Choir offers me a community of people all working towards a common interest, the best music we can make. Randy has the ability to instill a desire for excellence and does so with a sense of humor that is infectious. I look forward to Wednesday night rehearsals." -
Geoff Lenox
"Singing with the choir is such an affirming and joyful experience. It really lifts my spirits!" -
Sarah Sheehan
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Women's Prison Book Project
is Offering Recipient this Sunday
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| "I don't care what you send me," she wrote. "I just want to hear my name at mail call." She was in prison, writing her first letter to the Women's Prison Book Project (WPBP), which since 1994 has provided women and transgender persons in prison with free reading materials covering a wide range of topics. The books are important, but so is the contact that WPBP makes with each woman. WPBP is a grassroots organization that seeks to build connections with incarcerated women and to educate people on the outside about the realities of prison and our criminal justice system.
Women in prison have specific needs for particular kinds of information: material on families, children, women ' s self-help, women ' s health, and legal aid. Many lesbian, bisexual, and transgender prisoners often have trouble obtaining information that is relevant to their lives. As new prisons are built to warehouse the growing number of incarcerated people in the U.S., the meager resources previously available to prisoners are increasingly cut or limited. WPBP is one place where incarcerated women/transgender persons can obtain information that is unavailable from other sources and where women like the letter writer above know somebody knows and cares that she exists.
First Universalist is donating two Sunday offerings to WPBP this summer and creating a space in the social hall for congregants to donate books. Pick up a flyer in the social hall describing frequently requested topics and donate your books! More info:
wpbp.org.
Submitted by Kathy Coskran and Marjorie Herdes
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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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| A memorial service for David Hussman, who passed away on August 18, will be held at First Universalist Church on Saturday, Aug. 25 at 2 p.m. |
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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