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April 30, 2020 | Vol. 7 No. 18
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Rev. Jen Crow
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Some of you know that lately I've been playing this game to steady myself. I ask, "What's the same?" And somehow, the answers settle me down.
When I ask this question about our church, so many things come to mind. What's the same about First Universalist Church?
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Our mission, grounded in racial justice, of a love so big that it will not let anyone go.
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Our commitment to care for each other and our larger community.
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Humor, kindness, innovation, creativity.
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The carpet in the sanctuary - trust me, it's still there.
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Our determination to push ourselves, never settling for having done enough for justice.
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Church helps us remember who we are and what is most important. This is where we go to get grounded and supported as we live into our values.
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We are committed to creating an inclusive church that welcomes and works for everyone.
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We are a church that honors the wisdom and experience of the past and that lives in experimental mode - we are adaptive and responsive to the world we live in.
These truths are helping me live with all of the change that is happening in our world. And a lot is changing. I know you've heard me say before that this is a marathon, not a sprint. That we are in for a long haul. And that church is a part of that changing landscape that we are all living in.
Here's the biggest change I see: We will be gathering online and in small groups for the foreseeable future. Large group gatherings will not be safe for everyone to participate in in-person for a long time. My colleague, Rev. Jake Morrill, explains this new future for our churches this way - it's 4 minutes, and well worth your while.
As we let this new reality settle in - that church will be taking place online and in small groups for more than just a few weeks or months - your church leaders are working hard to take a deep breath and settle ourselves, ground ourselves in our mission, hear all voices, and re-orient how we do church to meet this moment. Our values are clear. We are a church committed to racial justice. We are a church that welcomes everyone - young and old, sick and well, living on the margins and living with privilege sometimes all at the same time - learning and growing together into an inclusive future where all of our identities are valued. We are in this storm together, shoring up each other's boats and holding each other close in solidarity and support.
In gratitude,
Jen
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Sunday, May 3 at 10 a.m.
MULTIGENERATIONAL WORSHIP
With a message by Rev. Karen Hutt, story by Lauren Wyeth, prayer with Rev. Jen Crow, and music by Dean Magraw.
Our worship services are live-streamed via Zoom on Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. You can also call in to listen to the audio of the service. This is a multigenerational service that can be found at the
same place every week
:
To join by phone (audio only), dial 1-312-626-6799 and enter the webinar ID when prompted.
~11 a.m. Virtual Coffee Hour
After Sunday worship, join us for
virtual coffee hour (
Meeting ID: 87860343791)
or dial: 1-312-626-6799 and enter the meeting ID when prompted. Please note: coffee hour is scheduled in a different Zoom room than normal this week.
Wednesday, May 6 at 7 p.m.
WORSHIP
As we continue to move together through this time of pandemic and physical distancing, our Wednesday evening worship offers a brief time of connection, centering, and reflection mid-week. This is a shorter and simpler 20-30 minute service led by one of our worship leaders via Zoom, and geared towards adults and older youth. Same place every week going forward until further notice!
7 p.m. Wednesday Worship geared toward adults & older youth (webinar ID: 117-312-320)
To join by phone (audio only), dial 1-312-626-6799 and enter the webinar ID.
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Watch the Worship Recording from Sunday, April 26
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Watch our Sunday, April 26 worship service here.
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We enjoyed a heartwarming medley of voices from the First Universalist Choir on April 26.
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Reflections by Liz Farmer, Administrative and Adult Ministries Assistant
One of the beautiful things about this time is that there are many new opportunities at First Universalist to gather and practice. Beyond Sunday mornings, there are weekly opportunities for youth and children, a Wednesday evening contemplative service, and a
Tuesday morning spiritual practice (weekly, Tuesdays at 8 a.m., with Rev. Ruth), to name a few. The services this week tie in together seamlessly. On Sunday,
Rev. Jen preached on ways that the systems that have been built, maintained, and on which we are trying to survive, are based on individuality and a naive sense of infallibility. She told stories of astounding courage and creativity amidst suffering. We are connected in ways that current systems keep us from easily perceiving. While we may know intellectually that we are connected, our possessions, status - even mindsets - sometimes keep us from experiencing that web.
This is where lovingkindness meditation comes in. On Tuesday morning, Rev. Ruth led a group in a short lovingkindness meditation during her Tuesday morning spiritual practice group (which is open to all who'd like to participate). It was a sweet and peaceful way to start the day. We took the time to steady our own hearts. We blessed each other with what we truly had to give. We can give lovingkindness to ourselves, our loved ones, and to the web of people we do not know yet, or will never know: May I be filled with lovingkindness, May I be well, May I be peaceful and at ease, May I be happy and whole. May you... May we...
Lovingkindness meditation invites us to say those phrases in our hearts, and let the soft repetition sink into our being. We hold loved ones in our minds as we meditate, and expand our circle of prayer ever outwards. May we settle ourselves on this unsettled planet in this unsettled time. May we steady our hearts so that we may use the gifts that we have been given - spiritual, financial, or otherwise. May we experience true connection.
View all worship recordings from past Sundays on our YouTube channel.
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CYCLE OF LIFE & CONGREGATIONAL CARE
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Cycle of Life from Sunday, April 26
Our thoughts are with
Bill McTeer and Karen Parsons as Bill lives with a recurrence of his leukemia and a new round of treatment.
We mourn the death and celebrate the life of
Bob Benjamin. Bob was a long time member who died on April 15. Our hearts go out to his children and his family. Bob was a beloved man.
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; contact Rev. Ruth MacKenzie at
ruth@firstuniv.org. If you would like support, call the office at 612-825-1701 and follow the prompts for pastoral care on the recording.
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Old School: Congregational Connection
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We know that connection counts, now more than ever. We are in a time when we are all navigating new terrain, exacerbated realities, disproportionate hardships, moments of grace, and moments of heartache. First Universalist Church wants to know how you're faring. We want each and all to know that we are there for one another.
Over the course of the next couple of weeks, everyone who is a member or friend of First Universalist Church will be receiving a phone call. Seventy volunteers have undergone training with Rev. Karen Hutt, and have been given a list of folks to call. If you're weathering the storm well, we want to know. If you're having a hard time making ends meet, we want to know. If you are struggling with living alone, or in the midst of family, we want to know. This is how we care for one another. If you don't receive a call, it may be that the information in our database is incorrect. So if you don't hear from us, and would like a call, please check your contact info in ACS ChurchLife or write
chelsea@firstuniv.org.
We love you. Expect a phone call soon.
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BUILDING RENOVATIONS UPDATE
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On April 23, Rev. Jen Crow announced that a decision has been made on the direction of Phase 1 of our upcoming building renovations, following instruction from the Board of Trustees that the project be broken into phases.
Details are available here.
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Congregational Budget Meetings: May 3 and May 6
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Please join us for an opportunity to hear an overview, ask questions, and provide feedback on the proposed operating budget for the 2020-2021 church year. We're offering two opportunities to join us: we'll gather via zoom this Sunday, May 3, after church at 11:30 a.m., and on Wednesday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m. You can view the proposed budget and access Zoom information for joining both meetings here.
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Coming of Age Ceremony: May 9
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What do you think is the nature of being human?
What do you think happens when we die?
How has First Universalist Church shaped you as a person of faith?
What do you think God is or is not?
These are some of the questions that our 9th graders have grappled with throughout the year in Coming of Age class. Coming of Age is a beloved tradition in Unitarian Universalism. Instead of asking our youth to sign on to a particular creed or dogma, we charge them with discerning for themselves what they hold dear, using the 7 principles as a guide. To round out the Coming of Age experience, each student is asked to distill their core beliefs about life, God, and humanity into a personal statement of belief.
The yearlong Coming of Age journey will culminate at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 9 with a virtual Coming of Age ceremony. During the ceremony, each youth will share their personal credo with family, friends, and community members. Coming of Age youth have put in a great deal of time and thought into their statements. On May 9, our congregation has an opportunity to honor and celebrate the thoughtfulness of an incredible group of young people. All are welcome and warmly invited to attend.
Information about viewing the livestream of the ceremony will be shared next week in the Liberal.
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This Week: Virtual Gatherings for Adults
Tuesday, May 5 at 8 a.m.
Begin your week with spiritual grounding and sustenance with Rev. Ruth, taking time to connect with your breath, your heart, your woundedness and your joy, in this half hour interactive session in which we will check in with others, and engage with a spiritual practice.
Wednesday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m. after Wednesday Worship
After Wednesday worship, you're invited to join a Calming Circle hosted by Rev. Ruth MacKenzie and Pastor Stephanie Vos. In the Calming Circle, we will check in with one another, engage in a somatic experience of spiritual practice (stretching our bodies, and our spirits) and then gather in prayer and spiritual practice, holding one another in compassion and kindness.
Wednesday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m.
The Young Adults group (for those in their 20s and 30s) is now gathering on a weekly basis. Connect with fellow First U young adults after Wednesday worship for conversation and fun.
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Weekly Gatherings for Children, Youth & Families
SUNDAY
11:30 a.m. Sunday Play Date (2nd-7th grade) with Lauren - Half an hour of games and service/social justice activities, expanding on themes from the 10 a.m. worship. Bring paper and crayons or markers. Register in advance
12:30 p.m. Young Family Story Time (Families with babies to 1st grade)
with Seth - Stories, songs and rituals to keep little ones (and their grownups!) connected to familiar rhythms and relationships.
Register in advance
12:30 p.m. BIPOC/Multiracial Youth Group* with Daryn, Sarah and youth leaders, for those who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Color and/or multiracial; email Lauren (lauren@firstuniv.org) to be connected to the group.
TUESDAY
8 p.m.
Single Parents Gathering with Rev. Sara Smalley - Parents/guardians who are single and/or co-parenting gather for mutual support and spiritual sustenance. (Meeting ID:
984 9990 9070;
Password: connection)
WEDNESDAY
8 p.m. Gathering for Grownups parenting kids in K-12th grade, with Lauren - Parents/guardians gather every other Wednesday for mutual support and spiritual sustenance. Meets April 29, May 13 & May 27 (Meeting ID: 235-861-667; Password: 757737)
THURSDAY
8:15 p.m.
Parents of Babies and Preschoolers (ages 0-4 years) with Lauren - Parents/guardians of little ones gather for mutual support and spiritual sustenance. (Meeting ID: 273-644-536
; Password: 446240)
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| Enjoying Young Family Story Time with Seth, Sundays 12:30-1 p.m. |
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| One of the many rainbows created for last week's congregational care project in our Sunday Play Date for 2nd-7th graders - Sundays, 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m. |
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Film Discussion: "Ice on Fire"
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Sunday, May 3, 7-8 p.m.
This is an update to a previously scheduled program that has been changed from a film viewing to a film discussion.
 Please view the film "Ice on Fire" before joining this virtual discussion, facilitated by members of the Environmental Justice Team. The film is available for rent on most digital platforms and free with HBO or Hulu subscriptions.
This eye-opening documentary focuses on many never-before-seen solutions designed to slow down our escalating environmental crisis. The film goes beyond the current climate change narrative and offers hope that we can actually stave off the worst effects of global warming. "Ice on Fire" emphasizes the importance of an immediate, two-pronged approach to reversing the crisis: reducing carbon emissions through traditional renewable energy sources and new ones, like tidal energy, and implementing "drawdown" measures, including direct air capture, sea farms, urban farms, biochar, marine snow, bionic leaves and others.
This is a drop-in event hosted and facilitated by members of the Environmental Justice Team.
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12 Step Spirituality Workshops, which had been hosted at First Universalist one Saturday per month, continue every Saturday (weekly!) on Zoom. The workshop begins at 9:30 a.m. and will run on this weekly basis through May 16, 2020. All people in or interested in the 12 steps are welcome. The workshop includes meditation, centering prayer meditation instructions, short talks, small groups and more. Join here at 9:30 a.m. on Saturdays. The meeting ID number is 392-510-399. Visit www.12stepspirituality.org for more details instructions on how to join. If you have any questions call Dick Y. at 952-893-1188.
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Opportunity to Support Augsburg Fairview Academy
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Augsburg Fairview Academy (AFA) is a First Universalist Church Faithful Action Community Partner that we have supported for the past seven years. AFA is a public charter high school serving low-income and marginally housed youth. AFA staff are delivering meals to AFA students during the public school closure, while providing online learning and other learning opportunities delivered directly to students. Needs include:
- Used laptops or Chromebooks: AFA can get them in working order if they need software upgrades, batteries, or chargers.
- Food items: non-perishable items like pasta and sauce, canned soups, canned veggies, etc. as well as our usual items like single serve microwavable mac and cheese, soups, stews, and chilis; fruit cups; granola bars; nuts and trail mix; crackers and cheese.
Donations can be dropped off at the home (porch or front steps) of Cindy Marsh and Wendell Vandersluis: 2588 Upton Ave. S., Minneapolis, 55405. Or call Cindy at 612.377.6789 to make a connection. Some have ordered food items that were delivered to us through Amazon Prime - just another option when so many of us struggle to safely get our own groceries.
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Sanctuary & Resistance Immigrant Fund
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This is an extremely difficult time for all of us, but it is especially so for immigrants who are affected by the broken U.S. immigration system, and who are ineligible for unemployment benefits and health care insurance as they lose jobs and housing. The detention and deportation machine continues to imprison and separate families, despite the COVID pandemic and the grave health risks to all.
The Sanctuary and Resistance Immigrant Fund is a low gate-keeping fund, which means the $750 stipends are received quickly and without the barriers that many other emergency funds put up. Since the Fund began in June of 2018, 27 families have received stipends in times of crisis. For many recipients, this is a lifeline that alleviates the terrible decisions that families would otherwise be forced to make, allowing them to stay in their homes AND pay rent, buy both groceries AND medicine, pay utilities AND buy clothes for their kids, and so on.
The need is greater than ever right now, and currently we will be able to assist only a few more families until the Fund is empty. We are in relationship with and connected to all families who receive stipends, and giving to the Fund is a direct way to support immigrant families at this crucial time.
If you are able to donate to the Sanctuary and Resistance Immigrant fund,
you can do so here.
Checks can be made out to First Universalist Church, with S & R Fund clearly written in the subject line.
Mail checks to:
First Universalist Church,
3400 Dupont Ave. S,
Minneapolis, MN 55408
In gratitude. . . .the struggle continues.
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Supporting the Church Financially
If you are able, please continue to honor your annual gifts and make your capital campaign contributions. If you are not a sustainer and have not yet let us know your intentions for our 2020-2021 fiscal year, or if you're a sustainer and would like to make a change to your commitment,
please get directly in touch with Finance Assistant Chelsea Bertsch at
chelsea@firstuniv.org
instead of filling out the giving card.
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We offer several options for making donations online, whether it's a contribution toward the offering plate, your annual or capital gift, or for a specific project for which we're raising funds.
Text to Give
To make a donation via credit card, use your smartphone to text "
firstuniv" (without quotes) to the number
73256. You'll receive a link to a secure form where you can enter your information. Select the appropriate fund from the dropdown menu.
Square Cash
Make a contribution using a debit card via the Square Cash app. Download this free app (
iPhone or
Android) and set up your account - you'll need your debit card and a $cashtag (user name). Then:
- Enter the amount you want to donate
- Click "pay"
- In the $cashtag space, enter $FirstUniv
- In the For space, let us know what it's for - the Sunday offering plate? Your annual gift?
- Click "pay"
ACS (our online giving system)
Make a one-time gift using the secure form located on our website
here. Make sure that you've selected the correct fund (such as offering plate) if it's not an annual gift.
It's also okay to mail checks to the church, even though the office is closed. We are still receiving mail, though we are only collecting it once per week. It will likely take us longer than normal to process check payments, but you are welcome to send checks if you prefer!
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A Quick Guide on Where to Direct Commonly Asked Questions:
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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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The church office is closed until further notice.
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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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