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September 12, 2019 | Vol. 6 No. 37
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Surprising, Inspiring & Faith-Renewing
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Rev. Jen Crow,
Co-Senior Minister |
This community is always surprising me, always renewing my faith in the capacity of human beings to strive for the good, to open their hearts despite the sure pain it can bring right next to the joy, to take on the spiritual challenge of enacting their deepest values in their lives.
Yesterday, I stepped into Room 200 of the State Office Building in St. Paul, ready to show my support for the end of life options bill that was finally getting a hearing in the legislature. The end of life options bill would allow a terminally ill person with less than six months to live to obtain a prescription from their doctor that would allow them to legally and peacefully end their own life. I'd been brought to that hearing room by Rev. Harlan Limpert, a long-time member of our congregation, who also leads the Interfaith Clergy for End of Life Options group. To put it simply, this group, and all of us gathered there in support of the bill yesterday, believe that each human being can and should make their own decisions about how to live and how to die. No one religious perspective should legislate reality for all of us.
For those who live with terminal illness - and really all of us - death is inevitable. With this bill, the degree of suffering each individual faces could be optional - with each terminally ill person deciding for themselves what makes life worth living, and what amount of pain makes life worth ending on their own terms.
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From yesterday's MN House Health and Human Services Policy Committee informational hearing. Photo courtesy of Cindy Marsh. |
When I stepped into Room 200, I expected to see a dozen or so members of our congregation there to support Harlan and this bill. What I saw instead floored me. There were at least three rows of us on one side of the room and by the time the hearing got started, members of First Universalist and other Unitarian Universalists from around the metro area had packed the room, standing in the back and filling in the seats in the overflow room. This issue mattered to many of us, and we were willing to show up and be counted, doing our best to make our voices heard and our values come alive in the world.
This is who we are, and this is the work of the church. We may not all agree on exactly what laws should be enacted all the time. We do agree that each voice matters. We believe, together, that our faith is best known by our actions - or as our early founders said, Unitarian Universalists are known by our deeds, not our creeds. May we continue to surprise and inspire one another with our willingness to align our actions with our values, taking the risks that are right for each of us as we try to right this world.
In gratitude,
Rev. Jen
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Sunday, Sept. 15, 9:30 & 11:15 a.m.
"Joining Our Wildernesses"
Rev. Justin Schroeder
Sharing Sunday*
The English poet John Donne wrote, "No person is an island...we are all a part of the continent, part of the main." Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., wrote, "In a real sense, all life is inter-related. All people are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny." While this may be true, our lived experience is often that we feel terribly alone, separate, isolated. We feel as if there are wild parts of ourselves disconnected from other human beings.
This month, we continue to ask, "Why Church?"
This Sunday, we explore how church might be the place where we join our wilderness (our wild places) to the wilderness and wild places of others - discovering deep joy and connection with one another. Please join us for worship at 9:30 or 11:15 a.m.
*On Sharing Sundays, children in Kindergarten through 6th grade join their families in worship for the first part of the service.
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September Worship Theme: Why Church?
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Is it possible to be religious alone? For many liberal people of faith, the church has come to represent an overreach of power, abuse of communities deemed outside the circle of care, and soul-destroying theological threats. The church is not to be trusted and so many resort to a religion of one. Yet we know that at our core, we are relational creatures, that life is hard, and going it alone is a fallacy. Unitarian Universalist theologian Rebecca Parker asks us to revisit the history of progressive ecclesiology (from the Greek
ekklesia
meaning "called together") in our "quest for liberal and liberating community life." Why Church? Because communities of faith could be communities of resistance, counter-cultural havens where people learn how to thrive and work together to transform oppressive structures. Why Church? Because we need to practice what it is to covenant and commit to one another, to a larger community, and to what is holy and whole. Why Church? Come to church. Find out.
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On the Podcast: "Daring to Be Human Together"
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Sermon reflections by Liz Farmer
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Rev. Justin Schroeder
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When we come to church, we sit in the pew, we hear Franco's piano music, we might notice the lovely morning light in the sanctuary, and we try to orient ourselves to the present moment. Sometimes, we bring energy and optimism: maybe we will have a new insight into our spiritual selves, or meet a fellow congregant with a shared interest! Other times, we bring a heavy heart: work is sorely unfulfilling, or we feel lonely for reasons we can't quite name.
Most of the time, our lives unfold in between these extremes of emotions, thoughts, or circumstances. Throughout the week, as we sit in our sofas, car seats, or desk chairs, how are we oriented? Perhaps one role of religion - and in this case, church - is to help us be more present in the mundane, the average, and the in-between. Perhaps the purpose of church is to practice orienting ourselves, in all moments, to the divine, God, or Spirit of Life that is available to us at all times. So how do we do that? Rev. Justin shares some ideas in his Sept. 8 sermon, here.
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Sunday, Sept. 22, 9:30 & 11:15 a.m.
Arif Mamdani
Music: First Universalist Choir
Sunday, Sept. 29, 9:30 & 11:15 a.m.
Rev. Ruth MacKenzie
Sunday, Oct. 6, 9:30 & 11:15 a.m.
Mental Health Sunday
Rev. Justin Schroeder
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Sept. 8, 2019
"Daring to Be Human Together"
Rev. Justin Schroeder
Sept. 1, 2019
"Love the Hell Out of this World"
Matt Meyer
Aug. 25, 2019
Backpack Blessing Sunday
Lauren Wyeth, Rev. Jen Crow
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Wellspring 2019-2020 Info Session
Sunday, Sept. 22 at 1:30 p.m. in Room 203
It's not too late to participate in Wellspring this church year! Wellspring is a uniquely Unitarian Universalist program of spiritual deepening that offers the opportunity to learn more about ourselves and our faith through a year-long small group experience. The 2019-2020 Wellspring group will meet twice monthly, 6:30-8:30 p.m. on a weekday evening that will be determined based on participants' availability. To participate in Wellspring this year, attendance at a drop-in info session is required. The final info session takes place on Sept. 22.
Questions? Contact Arif Mamdani, Director of Membership and Adult Ministries, at
arif@firstuniv.org
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"Jim Crow of the North" Film Screening
Sunday, Sept. 22, 1-3 p.m.
or Thursday, Sept. 26, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Why does Minnesota suffer some of the worst racial disparities in the nation? One answer is the spread of racist, restrictive real estate covenants in the early 20th century. This TPT production charts the progression of amazingly racist policies and practices from the advent of restrictive covenants after the turn of the last century to their final elimination in the late 1960s. Join us to learn more about this local history and the work of the
Mapping Prejudice project. This is a drop-in screening and discussion facilitated by members of the Racial Justice Education Team. Light snacks provided.
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Seniors Hike with Daytime Connections
Thursday, Sept. 26, 10 a.m.
Meet at Lake Hiawatha Park (
map)
Join fellow seniors for a hike! Meet at 10 a.m. between the playground and basketball courts on 28th Ave., south of 44th St.
The hike, on gentle hills around the lake & golf course and partly on neighborhood streets, is about 2 hours in length.
If weather permits, there is an opportunity for a picnic lunch at tables adjacent to the on-street parking.
In case weather does not cooperate, or if folks prefer a restaurant, please recommend your favorites on nearby 42nd or 38th St.
RSVP to Dick Kern at KernwatchMN@aol.com (with lunch preferences) or call 651-206-6822.
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Saturday, Oct. 5, 9 a.m.-noon
12-Step Spirituality meets one Saturday per month (Oct.-May) in the Social Hall at First Universalist and is designed for those actively working a 12 Step program, as well as those wanting to explore & deepen their spirituality through meditation. Each session includes Centering Prayer meditation instruction, two 20-minute Centering Prayer sessions, reading from 12 Step literature, and presenters sharing personal experiences and on selected topics. No registration necessary.
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Letter from Leadership of First Universalist & Shir Tikvah:
Discontinuing Exploration of Co-Location
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A letter regarding discontinuation of co-location conversations, excerpted below, was mailed to all members and contributing friends on Sept. 3 and was included in its entirety in the Sept. 5 issue of The Weekly Liberal. Read the full article here.
Over the past year, Shir Tikvah and First Universalist have been working closely to explore the possibility of sharing a campus in a renovated space at 3400 Dupont - a vision that stems from relationships and conversations going back a number of years and a hope that co-location could be mutually beneficial to our growing congregations.
We are writing, however, to share that the discernment period around potential co-location has now come to an end. After completing a feasibility study with our architects, which involved a thorough exploration of each congregation's needs and provided us with detailed actual cost estimates, we have reached the conclusion that the cost of renovations and construction to meet both congregations' space needs and priorities at 3400 Dupont would greatly exceed what we are able to spend. While this news was disappointing, it is not unusual for cost estimates to be much larger and more accurate once a contractor is engaged for estimating. We have therefore made the difficult, mutual, decision to discontinue exploration of co-location.
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Fall Circle & Program Registration Open
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Learn, grow, and connect at church when you join a circle and/or sign up for any of a variety of enriching programs offered this fall!
You'll find information about specific programs, along with links to registration where applicable, directly on our website:
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Sept. 22 Housing Sunday: Why Housing?
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September 22 is Housing Sunday at First Universalist! Many of us have engaged in housing-focused Faithful Action work over the years: building homes, serving meals to those in shelter, advocating with elected officials, hosting those experiencing homelessness at our church, donating needed items and critical funding, and learning together. We sponsored and helped build the Habitat "House that Love Built" in 2013, supporting a family in their early years of homeownership.
With so many housing-focused Faithful Action Partners, at times we are asked, "why so much emphasis on housing?" There are two important answers to this:
Home is foundational.
A stable, secure home leads to better outcomes in employment, income stability, education and learning, physical and mental health, safety, neighborhood vibrancy, economic and community development, personal outlook, and growth for people of all ages. It is a basic human right, and the foundation upon which people and families build a better life.
Housing/shelter is a racial justice issue. Housing is a basic human right, but one that has been withheld from communities of color by government policies for decades in the U.S. This history is less well known or understood - it is not ancient history, but has influence on neighborhoods and families across Minnesota and the country today.
Did you know that the GI Bill, WPA (Works Progress Administration), FHA (Federal Housing Administration) loans, Racial Covenants (the "Jim Crow of the North"), and Urban Development all acted together to exclude communities of color from homeownership and wealth accumulation - the results of which are still felt broadly today?
Join us on September 22 in the Social Hall after both services to learn more. View the art installation about rental housing, view slides about the impact of housing policies on racial justice, and speak with First Universalist housing justice enthusiasts. They will have information about ways you can help provide shelter, housing, and services, partnering with other congregants and our Faithful Action partners. There are a range of ways you can help - from one time or occasional help to ongoing hands-on actions: serve a meal, build a home, host guests at First Universalist in December. Or show up at the Capitol in St. Paul for housing advocacy or engage elected officials to support permitting and funding for new projects. In next week's Liberal, we will share more information about our individual housing partners at First Universalist.
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Join the Climate Strike on Sept. 20!
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On Friday, Sept. 20, inspired and led by the youth of the world, people of all ages will walk out of their workplaces, homes, and schools across the U.S. and the world to spend at least part of the day demanding action on climate change. This movement will occur three days in advance of the UN Climate Summit in NYC.
The First Universalist Environmental Justice Team
invites you to participate with us as allies in support of a
historic, youth-led
Global Climate Strike
march to the Minnesota State Capitol. The event itself begins at 11:30 a.m. in the Western Sculpture Park on Marion Street, but we will depart First Universalist in carpools earlier to avoid traffic congestion. Send an email to sattin501@gmail.com for details.
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Bus to "Walk for Planet Peace" March on Sept. 21
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The Peace Circle has arranged a bus to the upcoming peace march on Saturday, Sept. 21 in St. Paul.
The bus is handicap accessible (2 sets of wheelchair anchors) and carries 36 passengers.
Gather at 8:30 a.m. in the parking lot at First Universalist for an 8:45 a.m. departure. The bus will
take the group to St. Paul Cathedral, where marchers will assemble at 9:30 and begin marching to the Capitol at 10 a.m. After the march, the bus will pick us up at the Capitol at noon to return to the church parking lot by 12:45 p.m.
You are welcome to carry signs of your choice - sanctuary, immigration justice, racial justice, gun control, Green New Deal, LGBTQ, fair housing, climate crisis...
These issues are all part of the justice that can make peace possible.
This march celebrates the 150th birthday of Gandhi and includes Rev. James Morris Lawson, a colleague of MLK Jr during the Civil Rights movement.
Learn more here.
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Sanctuary & Resistance Immigrant Fund:
Support Families in Need
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The Sanctuary and Resistance Immigrant Fund directly aids people who are going through the hardships of the detention and deportation immigration system. Since its inception in June 2018, more than $10,000 has been distributed to 16 families, and at present there is almost no money left in the fund. Thank you to all in the First U community who have generously donated to this important fund.
The need for access to this kind of emergency assistance continues to grow given the continued attacks on immigrant families. Legal fees, housing costs, and commissary accounts to be able to communicate with detained family members are all ways these funds are used.
Most recently, we have provided support to a woman whose husband (the family's income earner) was detained, helping her provide for her three U.S. citizen children. Their needs continue as they seek new housing.
We also worked as a network to help get a 7 year old boy released from a child detention center in Texas, where he lived separated from his mother for three months after fleeing domestic violence and death threats in Guatemala. The Sanctuary and Resistance team's work together with the school, other faith communities, members of the congregation who provided short term housing to the family, and a trusted immigration lawyer partner, made this young child's reunification with his family possible.
The struggle continues. . .
la lucha sigue. Please donate to the fund - all of which goes directly to families -
HERE.
In your online donation the "fund" should read "S & R Immigrant Fund." Checks should be made out to First Universalist again with S $ R Fund in the subject line.
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2019-2020 Circle Suppers: Kickoff Potluck is Nov. 2
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Welcome to Circle Suppers if you're looking for a way to get to know other folks in our church! These intimate gatherings are a recipe for good food and conversation while enjoying the camaraderie of other First Universalist members. They've been going on for 40 years! We meet in each other's homes for dinner on the first Saturday of each month from December to March. Participants are asked to host one time during those four months. These are adults only gatherings for couples and singles.
Dinners are potluck, hosts provide the main entre.
Kick-Off Potluck/Happy Hour: Saturday, Nov. 2
Circle Suppers: Saturdays, Dec. 7, Jan. 4, Feb. 1 and March 7
To sign up/ask questions, contact church member / Circle Supper coordinator Colleen Cavell at cavell.colleen@gmail.com or 612-323-4486.
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September Board Meeting is Wednesday, Sept. 18
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The September meeting of the First Universalist Board of Trustees will be held on
Wednesday, Sept. 18, 6:30-9 p.m.
This is a schedule change from the usual third Thursday meeting date. Board meeting materials can be found
here
the day prior to the meeting.
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 Looking for friendly folks to usher once a month! Greatest needs are on the First Sundays of the month at the 11:15 a.m. service, Third Sundays of the month at both services, and Fourth Sundays of the month at the 9:30 a.m. service. There are lots of shifts to fill for this church year!
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Association of Universalist Women Fall Kick-Off Event
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 Fall is around the corner and the Association of Universalist Women's (AUW) Fall Kickoff will be on Saturday, Sept. 28 in the Social Hall at First Universalist. The AUW Board has planned a tasty, fun, social, and energizing evening for you.
Gather at 5 p.m. to check in, reconnect, and pay annual membership dues. There will be a catered meal, a preview of fall activities, and dancing led by Kairos Alive! dance organization.
Dinner is complimentary for those who pay AUW membership dues on or before 9/28. Cost for dinner is $10 for non-members. You can pay your membership dues at the Fall Kickoff or online with a credit card on the AUW website after 9/15.
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Women's Ritual Circle: Open Rituals this Fall
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Women (cis, trans, or otherwise) interested in earth-based and pagan spirituality are invited to the upcoming open rituals of the Under Northern Skies Women's Ritual Circle. The circle is open to newcomers on Friday, Sept. 13 (Classroom 202); Saturday, Sept. 28 (Cummins Room); Sunday, Oct.13 (Cummins Room); and Sunday, Oct. 27 (Cummins Room). For women who choose to join, there will be a commitment ritual on Tuesday, Nov. 12 in Classroom 202, after which the circle will close to new members until next fall. Ritual begins promptly at 7:30 p.m. Contact Beth at belovedporcupine@gmail.com for more information.
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Two Exhibits of Work by First U Member Martha Bird
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 Work by First Universalist member Martha Bird, a Minneapolis-based artist and basket maker, is on view in two concurrent exhibitions of new and retrospective work at Kaddatz Galleries ("Listen") and Otter Tail County Historical Society ("The Forest Breathes") in Fergus Falls, MN, from Sept. 11 through Nov. 1, 2019.
On Saturday, Sept. 21, there is a Presentation and Q&A: "Reclaiming Basketry: Working Through Stigma to Reach Creative Potential" at 1 p.m. at OTCHS and an Artist Reception from 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. at Kaddatz Galleries, with an artist talk at 4 p.m. All events are free and open to the public. Learn more.
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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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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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