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February 20, 2020 | Vol. 7 No. 8
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Welcoming Revs. Kate Tucker and Meg Riley
As Guest Worship Leaders this Sunday
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We are excited to welcome Revs. Kate Tucker and Meg Riley as guest worship leaders this Sunday for the launch of our 2020-21 Annual Giving campaign. Their messages of memory, resilience, and vision will guide us as we explore how, together, we build hope.
Our annual giving drive - Feb. 23 through March 22 this year - is how we check in with the more than 800 households that support the church as we're planning and budgeting for the upcoming fiscal year beginning July 1.
We are heading into a year of big and exciting changes. The church is healthy and strong, and we are working hard to achieve our dearly held dreams. The effort to become a more multicultural, multiracial, intergenerational congregation continues with strong partners and compelling leadership from our ministers and congregation. Our building renovations, focused on improving welcoming, hospitality and accessibility, will happen this summer, giving us a home that is truly Not for Ourselves Alone. Rev. Ruth will be retiring in May. Change happens, and we know that together we are strong. We've got this!
One change that will have a significant financial impact over the coming year
is that our tenants, The Sioux Chef and Southside Child Development Center, will soon move into their own permanent spaces. We are proud to have served as a temporary home and launch site for both!
While this change is well-timed with our renovations, it will impact our 2020-21 budget. When renovations are complete in September 2020, we plan to spend the first year living into the possibilities of what our spaces can be for us and our broader community. We want to make room to learn how our spaces can best facilitate our mission and reflect our values. To do this, we don't plan on seeking new tenants as we're settling in.
This spring, we are asking our community, including our sustaining givers, to consider an increase to their giving in the coming fiscal year. To fully make up for the loss of rental income, and maintain all that we are currently doing, we will need to increase our overall annual giving revenue by 10%.
Watch for more information in your mailbox in the coming days, and join us this Sunday as we gather in worship with beloved minister emerita Rev. Kate Tucker and with Rev. Meg Riley, who is a former Religious Education director at First Universalist and is now the senior minister of Church of the Larger Fellowship. It's shaping up to be a memorable service!
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Sunday, Feb. 23, 9:30 & 11:15 a.m.
"Building Hope"
Rev. Kate Tucker, Rev. Meg Riley, Keven Ambrus
Every Sunday we come together to remember who we are, revisit and affirm our values, understand our history, and practice the collectivity of building hope. Join us this Sunday at 9:30 or 11:15 as we open our Annual Giving Campaign with messages of resilience, memory, and envisioning from our beloved Minister Emerita, Rev. Kate Tucker; senior minister at the Church of the Larger Fellowship (CLF) Rev. Meg Riley; youth worship associate Monroe Chumklang; and our Board of Trustees Treasurer Keven Ambrus. With a sanctuary full of song and spirit, we join together to say, "We build hope!"
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Sunday, March 1, 9:30 & 11:15 a.m.
Rev. Karen Hutt
Sunday, March 8, 9:30 & 11:15 a.m.
Rev. Jen Crow
Sunday, March 15, 9:30 & 11:15 a.m.
Rev. Rob Eller-Isaacs
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"When Things Fall Apart"
- Rev. Ruth MacKenzie
"Got Idolatry?"
- Arif Mamdani
"Surviving the Wilderness" -
Eric Ward
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UPCOMING EVENTS & HAPPENINGS
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Gender: Beyond the Binary (class)
Saturday, Feb. 29, 10 a.m.-noon
Some people fit into their assigned female or male role easily, others struggle, and a courageous few refuse the assignment. There are two choices at birth, female or male. But could there be more, possibly a constellation of gender options? What might a gender continuum look like?
In this class, led by Forrest Mainville, we'll gather to define gender and discuss ways our birth assignment has impacted us. There will be opportunities to ask questions and share personal stories.
Register here.
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The Condor & The Eagle (film)
Sunday, March 1, 1-2:30 p.m.
Four Indigenous environmental leaders embark on an extraordinary trans-continental adventure from the Boreal forest to deep into the heart of the Amazonian jungle to unite the peoples of North and South America and deepen the meaning of "Climate Justice." "The Condor & The Eagle" offers a glimpse into a developing spiritual renaissance as the four protagonists learn from each other's long legacy of resistance to colonialism and its extractive economy.
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Change Your Kitchen to Help the Climate
Saturday, March 7, 9:30 a.m.-noon
The Environmental Justice Team (EJT) invites you to join them in finding new ways to undertake the spiritual act of protecting the Earth. In this workshop, learn about r
educing your carbon footprint by adopting a plant rich diet and reducing food waste (smart planning to organics recycling).
Leaders:
Suzanne Sorensen (RD, nutrition counselor with training in plant-based diets), Angela Wyatt (climate activist who has lived on a plant-based diet for 14 years), and EJT members Betsy Allis and Susan Keller. Register here.
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Better Angels Skills Workshop
Saturday, March 14, 9 a.m.-noon
In our current polarized political environment, many people avoid or even dread political conversations with friends or family members whose politics differ from their own. In this interactive Better Angels workshop, you will learn skills for having respectful conversations that clarify differences, search for common ground, and affirm the importance of the relationship.
Better Angels
is a national nonprofit that has developed and pioneered concrete, structured practices for dialogue across political divides. Sponsored by the First Universalist Church Peace Circle.
Register here.
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RJET Offers White Privilege Conference Scholarships
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 Several members of RJET, our Racial Justice Education Team, will attend the White Privilege Conference this year in Tempe, Arizona, April 2-4.
WPC is a conference designed to examine issues of privilege beyond skin color. WPC is open to everyone and invites diverse perspectives to provide a comprehensive look at issues of privilege including: race, gender, sexuality, class, disability, etc. - the ways we all experience some form of privilege, and how we're all affected by that privilege. WPC strives to offer solutions and team building strategies to work toward a more equitable world.
Conference attendees come from various backgrounds including students, teachers, education professionals, staff and volunteers at non-profits including churches, community leaders, and other professionals.
The scholarship covers
tuition only. Lodging and transportation are not covered by the scholarships; some food is provided at the conference. Several scholarships are available. To learn more and to apply please contact Eric Richard
erichard_hr@yahoo.com and Jeff Sylvestre at
jeff@bluemoonpro.com from RJET.
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Nominating Committee Recruiting
Candidates for Leadership Positions
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The Nominating Committee is now recruiting candidates for leadership positions on the Board of Trustees, the Foundation Board, and the Nominating Committee for the 2020-2021 church year. It's an exciting and important time to serve as we continue to build on the positive energy of our congregation! Serving on one of these bodies enables you to represent other church members to ensure that the church moves forward in step with congregational wishes. Members have unique opportunities to collaborate with our ministers and other lay leaders to advance the church's mission!
Member of the Board of Trustees: Trustees partner with the congregation and professional staff in shaping the vision and long-term goals of the church. They articulate these aspirations through policy and collaborate with the Senior Co-ministers to see they are fulfilled. A fuller description of the position is
here.
Member of First Universalist Foundation Board: Board members serve as stewards of the Foundation endowment. The solicit grant applications, review applications, and select grantees to be awarded funding. A fuller description of the position is
here.
Member of Nominating Committee: Committee members screen and recommend candidates to the congregation for vacant positions on the Board of Trustees, the Foundation Board, and the Nominating Committee. A fuller description of the position is
here.
Requirements: You must be a member in good standing of the church. Elections occur at the Annual Meeting on May 31.
Please consider either nominating yourself or encouraging a fellow church member to apply for this important work.
Fill out the application form
here.
Applications are due by Tuesday, March 17, 2020.
If you have questions or would like more information, please ema
il
nomination@firstuniv.org or contact any Nominating Committee member: Janet Avery (Chair), Pat Gottschalk, Greg Hoelzer, Cathy Manning, Sharon Ramirez, or Jim Ramnaraine.
Thanks for your attention to this opportunity to serve this congregation!
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New Exhibit: Work by Gordon Coons
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A new exhibit of artwork by Gordon Coons will be on view in the social hall February 23 through March 29. There will be an artist's reception on Sunday, March 8 after both services.
Gordon Coons is a painter and printmaker who is largely self-taught. He paints in the Ojibwa Woodland style and creates fumage (smoke art) by burning cedar which he embellishes with 24-karat gold leaf. Gordon also prints with linoleum block.
Gordon draws inspiration from his Anishinaabe heritage. His bright color palette comes from his natural surrounds in the Great Lakes region. He also enjoys incorporating playfulness in his images, telling stories of relationships between Western and Native cultures, and the connection we have to our shared historical events.
Gordon exhibits nationally and his work is in permanent collections across the country. More of his artwork can be seen online at gordoncoons.com.
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Camp Unistar Registration Opens
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BELONGING at Camp...CHERISHING the Island...INSPIRING ACTION IN THE WORLD
Camp UniStar, in its 59th year, is for UU individuals, families and other like-minded people who would enjoy the magic of a week on an island in a pristine northern Minnesota lake. The lake provides abundant water activities; the forest trails attract wildlife, birds and hikers; sunrises and sunsets invite meditation.
For more info come visit the table in the Social Hall, or visit www.CampUniStar.org to see photos and register online. ALL ARE WELCOME!
There are daily programs for adults; staff led children's programming; healthy and hearty meals included. Whether it be quiet evenings by a fire with a book, jigsaw puzzling or awesome star gazing, a week at Camp UniStar will provide new friendships and lifelong memories. It's time to relax on Star Island.
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YCE Needs Your Old Media and Games
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Youth Cultural Exchange will be hosting a media sale on March 8 & 16. Until then, we will be collecting used books, CDs, DVDs, Blu-Ray discs, vinyl LPs, complete jigsaw puzzles, and board games. We especially like kids' books and games that your family has grown out of. Remember: your trash may be someone else's treasure! To donate items, please bring them to the YCE table in the social hall on upcoming Sundays.
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RJET Members to Attend "The White Card: Here's Looking at You" on Feb. 29
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On Thursday, Feb. 29, members of RJET (Racial Justice Education Team) and other First Universalist members plan to attend a performance of Claudia Rankine's "The White Card: Here's Looking at You" at
Penumbra Theatre.
About the play: Virginia and Charles are wealthy, white arts patrons with a keen interest in racial injustice. Over time they have acquired an impressive collection of contemporary art depicting the violence exacted against black Americans. Tonight, they are excited to host Charlotte, a black photographer on the verge of great renown, at a private dinner in their home. As the conversation ventures into our current political climate from the first champagne toast, it's clear neither artist nor collector is what the other may have expected. With incisive wit, Rankine's play turns the camera from the casualties to the collectors.
If you wish to join the group attending from First U, contact Eric Richard at
erichard_hr@yahoo.com. Tickets will be purchased individually.
Learn more and purchase tickets here.
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Rev. Barbara Kellett Retiring from Ministry
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Rev. Barbara Kellett was ordained by First Universalist Church in 2002 and remained in affiliation throughout her career in ministry. Her community ministry took form in a wide variety of ways. She is grateful for your support of her work. Now at the tender age of 75, Barbara is announcing her full retirement from ministry.
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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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