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August 29, 2019 | Vol. 6 No. 35
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"Love the Hell Out of this World"
Worship Leader: Matt Meyer
When the culture around us doesn't encourage us to be our best selves, how do we model the kind of world we want to live in? Guest speaker and musician, Matt Meyer, will reflect on the good and bad of middle school, the time he picked the very best costume for a high-stakes 5th grade costume party, and how we find the skills for beloved community.
Matt is a musician and community organizer who has led hundreds of services for UU congregations across the country. He has a degree in hand drumming and has studied abroad in Cuba, Ghana and Central America. Matt serves as Director of Community Life for
Sanctuary Boston, a contemporary worship community in Boston, and is a founding resident of the
Lucy Stone Cooperative in Roxbury.
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On the Podcast: Backpack Blessing Sunday
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Reflections by Liz Farmer:
Fall is the season of crisp air, a plethora of special latte flavors, and most likely, some new rhythms. Whether you're in the role of student or teacher - or perhaps school is not part of your life - this time of year is undeniably a time of starting or returning to routines. Usually, emotional changes accompany our new beginnings. So if you're feeling excited, nervous, or even scared about what's to come this fall, fill your backpacks/laptop cases/fanny packs/etc. with some invisible items from this community: bravery, support, love, and some helpful stories.
Listen to the podcast, including the backpack blessing ritual, here.
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Sunday, Sept. 8, 9:30 & 11:15 a.m.
Water Communion Sunday
Multigenerational Worship
First Universalist Choir
Sunday, Sept. 15, 9:30 & 11:15 a.m.
Rev. Justin Schroeder
First Day of Religious Education
Sunday, Sept. 22, 9:30 & 11:15 a.m.
Rev. Karen Hutt
Music: First Universalist Choir
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Aug. 25, 2019
Backpack Blessing Sunday
Lauren Wyeth, Rev. Jen Crow
Aug. 11, 2019
"Is Your Breath Happy Here?"
Arif Mamdani
August 4, 2019
"Yes, And: A Theology of Improv"
Rev. Ashley Horan
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Tuesdays, Sept. 3, 10, 17 & 24, 7-8:30 p.m.
Are you new to First Universalist? Whether you are a recent visitor or a new member, you're invited to join a Newcomer Circle. These four-session gatherings of 6-10 newcomers offer a chance to explore core Unitarian Universalist values, reflect on our spiritual journeys, and connect with other folks who are new to church. As with all of our Circles, this group is grounded in attentive listening and open-hearted reflection. Registration is required; sign up by emailing Sandy@FirstUniv.org.
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Water Communion Sunday
Sunday, Sept. 8, 9:30 & 11:15 a.m.
In this service, we'll celebrate the many rivers, eddies and waterways of our life experiences, converging in our sanctuary every Sunday forming a river of faith. We'll bring water from our homes, travels, walks, bike paths - and combine them during the service in a ritual called Water Communion.
Please bring a small jar of water that you've collected from a place that's meaningful to you for this beautiful multi-generational Sunday service.
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Ushers Needed for New Church Year
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 Ushers are needed for 9:30 and 11:15 a.m. services beginning September 8! Sign up for a monthly shift or to be on the call list to volunteer as your schedule allows. Consider volunteering with a family member or two!
The usher team greets people as they arrive at the sanctuary, distributes orders of service, counts attendance and circulates baskets for the offering. It's not a big time commitment and it's a rewarding way to extend hospitality to all who attend Sunday services. Interested? Please contact Karen at karen.tischler.larson@gmail.com or sign up at the Information desk in the Social Hall.
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Habitat for Humanity Fall Build Dates: Sign Up Open
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 First Universalist has three Habitat for Humanity work days coming up this fall, and we'd love to have you on the crew!
Thursday, Oct. 10 - Richfield
Thursday, Nov. 14 - Bloomington
Thursday, Dec. 12 - Minneapolis
Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age, and 16- and 17-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.
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Can You Identify These Three Mystery People?
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Submitted by Hal Schroer
Over the past year, we've been inspired by documentaries of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Fred Rogers, and Ruth Westheimer. On a local scale, powerful stories of our seniors can be found in a binder on a podium in the church library. The following excerpts from just three of these stories are compelling examples.
You're encouraged to stop by the library and read through stories of our seniors!
If you correctly identify the three individuals below and send their names to
halschroer@gmail.com
by Sept. 15, you'll be entered into a drawing for coffee with the person of your choice. Note: the photos at right may not include the individuals featured in these stories.
Person #1:
This woman is the editor of the ground-breaking collection of gay and lesbian short stories, AM I BLUE? COMING OUT FROM THE SILENCE, published in 1992. For much of her early career she needed to hide her sexual identity as the work of children's writers, who were known to be gay or lesbian, was routinely banned. However, she says, "One day, I found myself staring at a startling truth. I had a reputation as a writer for truth telling. I'd taken on topics few other children's writers had touched, alcoholism, mental illness, sexual abuse in the name of Jesus! And yet on a topic so central to my own life, I was staying dishonestly, silently safe. I decided I couldn't live and work that way."
And so, she went to some of the most highly regarded writers for young adults in the field and asked them for a short story with a gay or lesbian character. "I wanted," she says, "to gather a collection so powerful that libraries would feel obligated to put it on their shelves. And it worked!" Beyond editing and contributing to AM I BLUE? she came out in her bio. At the time, her editors weren't happy with her choice, but she has never regretted doing so.
Person #2:
In 1965, a professor from the University of Minnesota arranged for a busload of students to travel and participate in the Civil Rights march from Selma to Montgomery. This professor had a personal connection with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and volunteered this young man to set up the sound system for MLK's speech at the conclusion of the march.
In 2015, this man returned to Selma to participate in the 50-year remembrance of this historical event.
Person #3:
This woman began as a stay-at-home mom and had four young children by the age of 23. Beginning in 1972 while at home with the children, she began working on several political campaigns starting with her brother-in-law's successful campaign for the Minneapolis City Council. After attending a course on Women's Empowerment, "Changing Horizons" at Normandale, taught by our own Mary Djerf; she gained the confidence to pursue a professional career and become the first person in her family to earn a college degree at the age of 41.
Grounded by her experience in managing other's campaigns, she ran for, and won, a seat on the Minneapolis City Council in 1985, where she served for eight years.
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Augsburg Fairview Academy Donations Resume this Fall
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 We're collecting donations of school supplies, backpacks, and new or gently-used, clean, teen-
appropriate clothing for students 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.
Desired items include: backpacks; spiral notebooks, pens, pencils, and pocket folders; men and women's underwear, socks, fall jackets, hoodies, jeans and tops (all sizes including L and XL).
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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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, will be 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
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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
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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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