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August 1, 2019 | Vol. 6 No. 31
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Sunday, Aug. 4, 10 a.m.
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Rev. Ashley Horan |
"Yes, And: A Theology of Improv"
Worship Leader: Rev. Ashley Horan
What do improvisational comedy and religious community have to do with each other? With guest preacher Rev. Ashley Horan this week, we'll explore the lessons improv can teach us about mutual support, shaping reality together, and being open to the possibilities of collaboration that are greater than anything we can do alone.
Please join us for worship at 10 a.m.!
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Sunday, Aug. 11, 10 a.m.
Worship Leader: Arif Mamdani, Director of Membership & Adult Ministries
Sunday, Aug. 18, 10 a.m.
Lake Harriet Bandshell Worship & Potluck
Sunday, Aug. 25, 10 a.m.
Backpack Blessing Sunday
Sunday, Sept. 1, 10 a.m.
Labor Day Weekend
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July 28, 2019
"Where is the Lost and Found?"
Rev. Karen Hutt
July 21, 2019
"Squirming with Jesus"
Rev. Karen Hutt
July 14, 2019
"The Congregation Is the Curriculum"
Lauren Wyeth
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On the Podcast: Rev. Karen Hutt's July 28 Sermon
"Where Is the Lost and Found?" |
Sermon reflections by Liz Farmer:
On the surface, Luke 15 appears to be about a son who foolishly leaves his family, spends all his money, is getting pretty hungry, and returns home like a dog with his tail between his legs, proclaiming his alleged worthlessness. When his father welcomes him home with a party, his older brother is furious, exclaiming, "that's not fair because I never broke any of the rules and I never got a party, dad!"
The lesson of this parable, however, is not on how to "get found" - passive voice - when you stray from the path of Jesus. It is about how to "find" - active verb. When the wayward son realizes his mistakes and is in a real pickle, the verse says that he "came to himself." While his brother wants an apology, wants things to be "fair," the younger son may never offer it. And the older brother shouldn't wait for it. For as Rev. Karen tells us, "the spirituality of love is more important than repentance." What is spirituality, though? It is forever coming to yourself - over and over again. Trying - over and over again. Finding - actively - grace for yourself and others - over and over again.
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We are delighted to welcome Arif Mamdani as our new Director of Membership and Adult Ministries. He has officially started in this position as of today, August 1. As Revs. Jen and Justin wrote when they announced Arif's hire, "We believe that Arif is the perfect person to build on the already strong foundation that Rev. Elaine Aron Tenbrink built in her tenure with First Universalist." They continued: "In our interview, we were impressed by Arif's thoughtfulness, his insightful questions, his deep curiosity, his open heart, and his obvious love of Unitarian Universalism."
Arif brings over a decade of experience in non-profits, social justice organizations, and faith communities. He is a gifted facilitator, curriculum developer, organizer, preacher, and strategic thinker.
Arif graduated from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in May 2019. He has until recently served as a ministerial consultant at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Minnetonka. Prior to that, he served as a full time intern at Unity Unitarian Church in St. Paul, where he participated in the full breadth and depth of large church ministry. During his internship, he coached and supported the Men's Retreat Planning Team as they led their largest retreat to date, and he served on the Beloved Community Staff Team, supporting the racial justice programming in the church. Prior to his internship, Arif served as the Associate Director of the Kaleo Center for Faith, Justice and Social Transformation.
Arif will be preaching on Sunday, Aug. 11, and he'll be facilitating the upcoming
Pathway to Membership class on Aug. 13 and 20. Arif will be reaching out to lay-leaders for fall and year-long programming in the coming days.
He can be reached at
arif@firstuniv.org
and 612-825-1701 x124.
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Worship on Sunday, Aug. 18 is at Lake Harriet!
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Join us for an energizing intergenerational worship service and potluck picnic at the Lake Harriet Bandshell on Sunday, Aug. 18 at 10 a.m.!
We'll enjoy music, inspiring messages and stories, and a delicious potluck picnic together afterwards.
We've also invited the congregation from Shir Tikvah to join us for this service and the potluck picnic afterwards, so this will be a good opportunity for members of both of our congregations to meet and get to know a bit about each other!
For the potluck picnic, 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.
Please note: this will be our only worship service on Sunday, Aug. 18 (no worship at 3400 Dupont).
We are also still looking for about 10 one-gallon ice cream buckets to use for collecting the offering at this service. If you have one you can contribute, we'd be very appreciative! You can drop off ice cream buckets in the office during the week or with Sandy in the social hall before or after Sunday services.
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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.
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. Meet at 8 p.m. at Dunn Brothers at 329 W. 15th St, Minneapolis, and walk together to Loring Park to enjoy the film. Contact Gordon Loery at
gloery945@gmail.com
with questions.
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The Pathway to Membership Class
Tuesdays, Aug. 13 & 20, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Are Feeling like First Universalist could be your spiritual home? We'd love to welcome you as a new member! Join us for The Pathway to Membership, a class exploring Unitarian Universalism, the history & mission of this congregation, and the experience of membership. The next class will be led by Arif Mamdani, our new Director of Membership and Adult Ministries. To register, contact Sandy DiNanni at sandy@firstuniv.org or call 612-825-1701.
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Sunday, Aug. 25, 10 a.m.
Our annual Backpack Blessing service offers 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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"Talking Black in America" Film Screening
Sunday, Aug. 25, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Join the Racial Justice Education Team for a screening of "Talking Black in America." This drop-in screening will include facilitated discussion and light snacks.
About the film: The creativity and resilience of people living through oppression, segregation and the fight for equality, and the powerful identity forged by a shared heritage, are all expressed in the ways African Americans communicate. This film chronicles the incredible impact of African American English on American language and culture.
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New Exhibit: Faces of Renting
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The exhibit "Faces of Renting," is now on view in the First Universalist Social Hall through Sept. 29, 2019. Consisting of a detailed, watercolor portrait series by Cori Lyn alongside photos by Nancy Musinguzi, the exhibit provides a peek into just four of the many renter households in the Greater Powderhorn* area. These renters welcome us into their homes, share their joys, discuss their struggles, and call us to rally behind them in South Minneapolis.
"Faces of Renting" is a personal response to a public problem. When discussing housing issues, residents are often reduced to statistics that share the story of the neighborhood, but not their own. We know that 60% of Greater Powderhorn residents are renters, and half of those renters are spending more than 30% of their income on housing. We know that being a cost-burdened renter leaves little to pay for other necessities like food, clothing, transportation and medical care. "Faces of Renting" is an exercise in feeling: to sense the experience of living somewhere you don't own, to struggle with forces beyond your control, and to make a home for yourself regardless.
This work is made in partnership with
Inquilinxs Unidxs por Justicia, Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association, Heidi Romanish, and CURA's Artist Neighborhood Partnership Initiative Grant.
* Greater Powderhorn is Powderhorn Park, Corcoran, Bryant, Whittier, Central, Bancroft, Lyndale & Standish Ericsson
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First Universalist Meditation Circle
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The first Sunday of each month, a small group of congregants who hold the intention of daily Mindfulness practice meet to sit for 15 minutes and share details of their spiritual practice. In the summer, the group meets from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Meditation Room. There is limited space in the Meditation Room, so please contact Chuck LeGros at Chuck@LeGrosScientific.com or 612-670-3507 if you are new to this drop in Circle in order to make sure there is a chair for you. The group will meet this Sunday, Aug. 4.
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North Entrance Equipped with Automatic Door Opener
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 An automatic door opener has just been installed at the 34th Street (north) entrance, adding a second ADA accessible entrance to the church building.
This entrance is unlocked and available for use on Sunday mornings. The automatic door opener will function only when this entrance is in use on Sundays.
In anticipation of this improvement, last fall a handicapped transfer zone was added along the curb in front of this entrance (transfer only - no parking any time), and a handicapped parking zone (Sundays only) was added along 34th Street behind the transfer zone.
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Registration for 2019-2020 Religious Education is 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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Office hours on Mondays and Thursdays are temporarily shortened through the end of August. The office is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays, and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Building doors and phones are not monitored outside of office hours - please schedule group meetings and plan your visits to church 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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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
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The Weekly Liberal
here.
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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
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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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