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September 19, 2019 | Vol. 6 No. 38
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Wishing Our Beloved Sandy DiNanni Best in Retirement
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A note from Rev. Justin Schroeder and Rev. Jen Crow:
This morning, as I (Justin) took my 4 year old to daycare, we listened to Pete Seeger on CD sing "Turn, Turn, Turn:"
To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose, under heaven.
As the season changes to fall, so, too, the seasons change in the lives of our staff members. Our beloved Sandy DiNanni, known for her warm welcome in the Social Hall on Sundays, and big smile at the Front Desk on weeknights, has let us know that it is the season for her to retire. (Really, this is a 2nd retirement: Sandy came out of retirement is 2001 when evening office coverage was needed at the church, and she joyfully stepped in, thinking she'd be helping for a few weeks. Eighteen years later, she's ready to retire again!)
Sandy shared with us how deeply she loves this place and loves the people, and she is ready to step back from her responsibilities here. She will work through September in the office, and then only work on Sundays in October, before she departs. And before she leaves, we will celebrate Sandy! Plans are in the works for a goodbye
Aloha Luau party (honoring Sandy's Hawaiian heritage) on Sunday, Oct. 27, after the 2nd service. Please plan to join us.
To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
Sandy, we have been blessed by the 2nd career you spent with us, the 18 years during which you embodied radical hospitality and welcome in all that you did. Your kindness, warmth, care, and compassion have been incredible gifts that have enriched our lives. The Universalist spirit of love and hope is alive in you. As you turn toward this new chapter in your life, we offer you our thanks and love.
With care,
Justin and Jen
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Sunday, Sept. 22, 9:30 & 11:15 a.m.
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Arif Mamdani
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"Transmogrify(ing) Church"
Arif Mamdani
In the Calvin and Hobbes cartoon, Calvin invents a transmogrifier that transforms anything into anything else at the push of a button or the zap of a transmogrifying gun. Change, in the world of Calvin and Hobbes, is easy.
Octavia Butler added some nuance to this, reminding us that "all that we touch we change, and all that we change, changes us. That the only constant is change, and that God is change."
If these two perspectives represent points on a (non-linear) continuum of transformation, where exactly does church fit in? Is it a vehicle for our own transmogrification? A container for that which changes us? Do we change church as we take our places in this living tradition?
Join us on Sunday at 9:30 or 11:15 a.m. as we continue to explore "Why church?"
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On the Podcast: "Joining Our Wildernesses"
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Sermon reflections by Liz Farmer:
Admit something: Everyone you see, you say to
them, "Love me."
Of course you do not do this out loud, otherwise
someone would call the cops.
Still, though, think about this, this great pull in us
to connect.
Why not become the one who lives with a full
moon in each eye that is always saying,
with that sweet moon language, what every other
eye in this world is dying to hear?
- Hafiz
As I listened to
Rev. Justin's sermon,
this Hafiz poem jostled itself in my memory.
I first found it as an undergraduate transfer student at the U, finding it hard to make connections on a large campus, in big, stadium-like classrooms, and without the typical starting point of student dormitories. I have returned to the poem in difficult times of my life and it has reminded me that the pull to love and be loved is as natural and necessary as the pull of the moon, which moves entire oceans.
We come from the sky: dust, carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen and oxygen, calcium and phosphorus, pressure and light. And to those things we will return one day. So if we know we are dying, and will die, the sense of vulnerability that emerges from that feeling might make it possible for something to happen in the space between us. Some kind of tenderness. When we let those raw, fragile, or perhaps unexplored wildernesses of ours join the wilderness of another, we can find a deep, rich joy that makes our (very impermanent) lives that much sweeter. My sorrow, my pain, my uncertainty, with yours.
As you listen to Rev. Justin's sermon, you might notice parallels between wildernesses and the night sky, vulnerability and the dark, the pulls of the moon and the pulls in us, and the poetry in being made of and returning to stardust. Listen to the Sunday Service podcast
here.
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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
Sunday, Oct. 13, 9:30 & 11:15 a.m.
Rev. Jen Crow
Music: Soul Band
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Sept. 15, 2019
"Joining Our Wildernesses"
Rev. Justin Schroeder
Sept. 8, 2019
"Daring to Be Human Together"
Rev. Justin Schroeder
Sept. 1, 2019
"Love the Hell Out of this World"
Matt Meyer
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Supporting You on Your Spiritual Journey
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Arif Mamdani
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Greetings!
I'm Arif Mamdani, your new Director of Membership and Adult Ministries. I'm thrilled to be joining this church and am excited to get to know you and support you in your religious and spiritual journey. As you might have heard, a few weeks back we released our Fall Program Guide that lists a wide variety of programs we're offering this fall. The programs run the gamut from small group offerings where you can dig into our monthly worship themes and deepen relationships with a small group of people, to larger workshops and gatherings meant to support your exploration of a particular issue or practice like interrupting bias or talking with loved ones who hold different views than yours.
More broadly speaking, one of the great things about a larger church like First Universalist is that we can offer this kind of breadth of programming. I hope that you see something in the program guide that speaks to where you are in your faith journey, and if you don't, let's talk! What's also true is that being in a large church can present some obstacles to getting to know folks and building deeper relationships. This is one of the places where our programs can be particularly helpful because they provide a time, place, and structure through which you can get to know a smaller group of folks - a lot less overwhelming than connecting with everyone after a service!
Arif Mamdani, Director of Membership & Adult Ministries
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It's Housing Sunday this Sunday!
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How will you be involved?
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Join us this Sunday, Sept. 22, in the social hall after both services for housing justice themed activities, including:
- view "Faces of Renting," the art installation about rental housing,
- view slides about the impact of housing policies on racial justice,
- and speak with First Universalist housing enthusiasts, including Team Leads from three of our Faithful Action Partners. They will share personal experiences and information about ways you can help provide shelter, housing, and services through our Faithful Action partners.
First Universalist partners with local organizations with structural, financial, and relational connections to make lasting change possible. Our housing partners are selected through a bi-annual process of the Faithful Action Council. These organizations share a commitment to solving the housing crisis with a Racial Justice lens and have a track record of getting things done. They provide opportunities for us to engage in meaningful housing justice work, curated by our Team Leads to align with our UU values, resources, and mission.
What calls to you?
BUILDING HOMES & SHELTER
Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative: Beacon works with other faith communities across the Twin Cities to build affordable housing and provide supportive wraparound services, including youth, those leaving incarceration, and more. Contact Autumn Huiras:
alhuiras@comcast.net
Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity: Have you been on a build yet? Join us Thursday, Oct. 10 in Richfield, Thursday, Nov. 14 in Bloomington, or Thursday, Dec. 12 in Minneapolis. Sign up
here. Contact Team Lead Ingrid Young at:
ingrina99@yahoo.com
SUPPORTING FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS
Families Moving Forward: Part of Beacon, Families Moving Forward engages over 60 congregations to host families/individuals experiencing homelessness.
This year, we host over the holidays from Dec. 22 to Jan. 4. We need lots of volunteers, and we are especially seeking families who would give full evenings (5-10 p.m.) to eat, play and interact with families. Contact Jess Lyons or Peg Mitchell:
pegmitch16@gmail.com,
jess@jessicaleighlyons.com.
Simpson Housing Services: Hundreds of First U families, kids, and adults have served a meal at Simpson under the leadership of team lead, Geoff Lenox [
glenox2003@yahoo.com]. We buy, prepare, and serve dinner to 120 people eight times a year. To sign up for an upcoming meal, send an email to Geoff and he will put you on the email list. You will receive an email 2 weeks prior to each meal and you can decide if you want to volunteer for that meal.
ADVOCATING FOR SYSTEMIC CHANGE
There are many ways to advocate for affordable housing and to eliminate homelessness. The Homes For All coalition is made up of 240 housing organizations statewide. Each year, they develop a uniform strategy to request funding and housing bonds from the state legislature. First Universalist works closely with
Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity
on advocacy during the legislative season in the spring and with
Beacon Citizens
year-round. Sign up to be on an action alert this Sunday in the social hall. Contacts - Joan Naymark [jnaymark@gmail.com] and Autumn Huiras [alhuiras@comcast.net].
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Wellspring 2019-2020 Info Session
Sunday, Sept. 22, 1:30 p.m., 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 2019-20 Wellspring group will meet twice monthly, 6:30-8:30 p.m. on a weekday evening determined based on participants' availability. To participate, 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" 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 real estate covenants in the early 20th century. This TPT production charts the progression of racist policies and practices from the advent of restrictive covenants to their final elimination in the 1960s. Come learn more about this history and the work of the
Mapping Prejudice project. 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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Peace Site Rededication this Sunday, 10:45 a.m.
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The First Universalist Peace Site and garden will be rededicated on Sunday, Sept. 22 at 10:45 a.m.
Please join us for a 15-minute ceremony in the garden by the Dupont Avenue middle doors, where the Peace Pole declares "May Peace Prevail on Earth" in eight different languages. The Peace Site provides a reminder that Peace is always our goal, regardless how distracted we get or how war-torn our world becomes.
The church choir will lead us in song. We will read together "A Network of Mutuality" by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and affirm our history as a peace church.
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Join Us as We Explore 12-Step Spirituality
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Submitted by Dick Young
My name is Dick Young, a member of First Universalist Church, and I am one of the members of a 12 step spirituality team. We have a team of 8 and we are all open to all people, especially 12-step people who want to go deeper with their spirituality. Our team has people experienced in AA, Al-Anon, ACOA, Coda, OA and more. We focus on the 11th step, (Sought through prayer and meditation ....) of the 12 step program, teach meditation, do meditation, have 2 talks and then break into small groups. These monthly workshops start on the first Saturday of October and they go from 9 a.m. to noon.
We have been doing these workshops for over 8 years now and there is nothing like being in a group in silence to find out who you are. Lives have been totally transformed from practicing Centering Prayer Meditation which is the primary form of meditation that we use. We also have taught Buddhist and Hindu meditation. The workshop explores our higher power and/ or the God of your understanding. The 2 talks are based on our journeys in our respective 12 step programs as we work with the other 11 steps. Visit 12stepspirituality.org for more information and to listen to past talks.
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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 in support of a
historic, youth-led
Global Climate Strike
march to the Minnesota State Capitol. The event 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 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 church by 12:45 p.m.
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. Thank you to all in the First U community who have generously donated!
At present there is almost no money left in the 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.
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.
Please donate to the fund, all of which goes directly to families,
HERE
(the "fund" should read "S & R Immigrant Fund"). Checks can be made out to First Universalist with S & R Fund in the memo line.
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Updated: Augsburg Fairview Academy Donation Needs
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During the school year, we collect donations for the Food and Clothing Closets
at Augsburg Fairview Academy.
Bring items to the Info Center in the Social Hall on Sunday or leave on the shelves for AFA by the 34th St. entrance. Thank you for the donations of school supplies and clothing; we are now focusing on food items, toiletries, and men's underwear.
Desired items include: men's underwear and socks, (all sizes including L and XL); food items including microwavable single serving meals, fruit cups, and granola bars; men's and woman's deodorant; toothpaste and tooth brushes; and regular size shampoo and conditioner.
Augsburg Fairview Academy (AFA) is a public charter high school which serves a diverse student body; most come from low income backgrounds and many have been homeless or marginally housed. AFA is a long-standing First Universalist community partner; we stock the Hope Clothing and Food Closets to provide support to these determined students. AFA is our neighbor, located on 25th and Columbus Ave. South, just two miles from Church.
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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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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. 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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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 9/28.
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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 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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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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