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May 31, 2018 | Vol. 5 No. 22
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| A Transition to Senior Co-Ministry |
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Eric Cooperstein,
Board President |
Dear Members and Friends,
It gives me great pleasure to write to inform you of an upcoming change in the ministry of First Universalist Church. At the request of our two called ministers, Senior Minister Justin Schroeder and Executive Minister Jennifer Crow, the Board of Trustees has agreed that Justin and Jen should serve as Senior Co-Ministers, with equal responsibilities and compensation structures. The Board will ask the congregation to ratify this transition at the Annual Meeting on June 3, 2018.
The Board of Trustees enthusiastically supports the move to co-ministry. It is another example of how Justin and Jen provide visionary leadership for our church, seeking to practice equity themselves and model how equity can be lived out in the world. The Board believes that Jen and Justin have demonstrated, and will continue to demonstrate, the honesty, maturity, and compassion that is necessary to succeed as co-ministers.
Your Board of Trustees is excited about this change and Justin's and Jen's joint leadership of the ministry of this church!
Sincerely,
Eric T. Cooperstein
President, 2017-18
First Universalist Church
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2017-2018 Annual Report Available
The 2017-2018 Annual Report is now available online. Read it here or pick up a copy at church at the annual meeting this Sunday, June 3 at 11:30 a.m.
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| SUNDAY WORSHIP AT FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH |
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Sunday, June 3,
10 a.m.
Flower Communion Sunday
Multigenerational Worship
"What Is Lighting Us Up?"
Rev. Justin Schroeder
As we (Jen and Justin), move toward a formal co-ministry, we want to share with you, the congregation, what is lighting us up in terms of our emerging co-ministry, our expanding ministerial team, and our visionary goals.
The First Universalist Choir and Give Get Sistet (our 2017-18 Artists in Residence) will sing in worship. Don't forget to bring a flower for the Flower Communion ritual!
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Sunday, June 10, 10 a.m.
Lena K. Gardner
Summer Sundays at Church
During the summer, we invite everyone to our single 10 a.m. service each Sunday.
Childcare and Religious Education classes are available for children 6 months through entering 6th grade in the fall.
Recent Sermon Podcasts
M
ay 27, 2018
"What Are We Remembering?"
Rev. Justin Schroeder
May 13, 2018
"Laboring for Love"
Rev. Jen Crow
May 6, 2018
"Open to New Life"
Rev. Elaine Aron Tenbrink
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Flower Communion Sunday
Sunday, June 3, single service at 10 a.m.
Flower Communion is an annual ritual that celebrates beauty, human uniqueness, diversity, and community. Please join us on Sunday, June 3 at 10 a.m. for this special worship service. Don't forget to bring a flower!
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Annual Meeting of the Membership
Sunday, June 3, 11:30 a.m.
Please plan to attend our Annual Meeting on Sunday, June 3, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. This year our church business includes approval of the annual budget and the election of members to the Board of Trustees, the Foundation Board, and the Nominating Committee, as well as approving revised bylaws and ratifying a transition to a senior co-ministry model. This is a time when we celebrate a successful year and conduct the business of this church that only members can do.
We need a quorum to conduct the meeting - please give us the gift of your time so we may complete this work! The meeting agenda, proposed budget, FAQs, and more are available
here.
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Art for Action
Saturday, June 9, 1-5 p.m.
Have fun while raising funds for the First U Sanctuary and Resistance Immigrant Fund! Create a painted-looking landscape with unique printed and textured fabrics and fibers at this class on Saturday, June 9, 1-5 p.m. with Rev. Laurie Bushbaum and Denise Konen. Suggested donation: $50. Funds raised will support immigrant families facing detention and deportation. Register with Denise Konen at denise@netgains.net.
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Racial Justice and Our UU Faith Workshop
Tuesdays, June 12 & 19, 6:30-9 p.m.
Join us for an interactive, reflective workshop exploring a framework and tools for understanding race, racism, and whiteness and the spiritual imperative that drives our racial justice work. This is a two-part workshop held on Tuesdays, June 12 & 19, 6:30-9 p.m., led by Clemma Muller and Susan Schultz. To register, contact Sandy at
Sandy@firstuniv.org
or 612-825-1701.
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Wellspring Info Session
Wednesday, June 13, 7:30-8:15 p.m.
Join us for an informational session to learn about Wellspring at First Universalist! UU Wellspring is a program of distinctly Unitarian Universalist spiritual development, offering the opportunity to learn more about ourselves and our faith through a year-long small group experience. The program will begin with a retreat for all participants on Saturday, Aug. 25, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Join us for an upcoming info session to learn more!
Join us for an upcoming info session to learn more! The second of four info sessions will be offered on Wednesday, June 13 at 7:30 p.m. Additional sessions are offered on July 1 and July 8. Attendance at one session is required if you wish to participate in Wellspring in 2018-2019.
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Brave Conversations:
Interrupting Systemic Bias and Racism
Sunday, June 24, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Do you know how to respond when a relative at the dinner table or a neighbor at a block party says something that you think is biased? At this workshop you will learn strategies for approaching people you are in relationship with such as family, neighbors, realtors, friends, coaches, and teachers. You will have an opportunity to learn with others who are facing the challenges of speaking up and knowing what to say. There will be time to practice responding with directness and respect. Register with S
andy at
Sandy@firstuniv.org
or 612-825-1701.
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Save the Date: Lake Harriet Bandshell Worship Service & Potluck
Mark your calendar for Sunday, Aug. 12 at 10 a.m. and join us for our annual outdoor worship service and potluck picnic at the Lake Harriet Bandshell! This will be our only service on this Sunday.
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| The Women's Prison Book Project |
Submitted by Kathy Coskran and Marjorie Herdes
"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
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s self-help, women
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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 information at https://wpbp.org.
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2018 Habitat for Humanity Summer Work Week
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Please join in First Universalist's Habitat for Humanity Summer Work Week, and help a hardworking family in our community achieve the joy and stability of homeownership. The dates are
Monday, July 30 through Friday, August 3
. Our build
site is in North Minneapolis in the Jordan neighborhood.
We need 65 volunteers in all (13 per day). Volunteers must be over sixteen years of age, and sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds must be accompanied by an adult. The work day is from 8:15 a.m. until 4 p.m., and lunch will be provided.
Concerned that you don't know much about building or how to use tools? No worries! Your fellow volunteers and our Habitat site supervisor, Jake, will help you.
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| Summer Ushers Needed - Sign Up Now! |
Summer ushers, you'll have a blast!
Summer services, happen so fast!
Five ushers each Sunday
Four downstairs, one in the balcony
Smile, pass baskets, watch the clock
The service starts at 10:00!
Well-a, well-a, well-a, uh!
Tell you more? tell you more?
email: karentischlerlarson@gmail.com
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Minnesota Poor People's Campaign:
A National Call for Moral Revival |
On May 14
, the Minnesota Poor People's Campaign launched, joining poor people, activists, clergy and moral leaders in more than 30 states and Washington, D.C., for 40 days of moral action to prick the conscious of our nation's leaders to address
to address systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, and the war economy. The campaign seeks nothing less than to reclaim the moral narrative in this nation by building what Dr. King called a "new and unsettling force" committed to collective action to
transform the political, economic, and moral structures of our nation.
Each week, there are opportunities to gather at the State Capitol to call attention to and demand action to address the issues that impact the lives of so many people of every race, sex, age, religion, or sexual orientation.
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| Robin DiAngelo and Resmaa Menakem: Experiencing the Racial Body and Mind |
First Universalist is co-sponsoring a rare opportunity to address both sides of the "dance" of racism: "
Robin DiAngelo and Resmaa Menakem:
Experiencing the Racial Body and Mind" on
Friday, June 15 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday, June 16 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at
Unity Church Unitarian in St Paul. More event details are available here.
 Resmaa Menakem, a social worker specializing in trauma, will explore the inherited trauma of white supremacy that affects all of us.
Dr. DiAngelo will describe the way race shapes the lives of White people, explain what makes racism so hard for White people to see, and identify common White racial patterns that prevent us from moving towards greater racial equity.
Together Resmaa and Robin will connect the mind and the body within the system of white supremacy and offer a map for healing.
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| RESOURCES & CONTACT INFORMATION |
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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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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.
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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
8 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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