When the COVID-19 pandemic began in the spring of 2020, one of the many changes my family made took root right in our front yard. After years of dreaming about it, we tore out the grass on part of the lawn and started a garden with pollinator friendly plants on the boulevard and vegetables on the rest. At this point in the season, the garden is a seriously mixed bag. The tomatoes and beans and greens are producing more than we can keep up with, and the window boxes and squash are past their prime and looking rough. Some things are flourishing and some things are dying back, and I’m doing my best to notice and tend to it all, trusting that to everything there is a season, and that each turn in the cycle of life has gifts to bring. 

As we turn into fall and the not-quite-but-almost-there reality of a fully renovated building and a physical home base to return to in-person if we choose, I wanted to share what we are noticing about our building with you. 

The religious education wing is buzzing with activity during the week. Grace Neighborhood Nursery School (our new tenant) is here, and enthusiastic voices fill the classrooms, hallways, and playground. It is a joy to have them with us. Staff are working in the office more and more, and we are gratefully adjusting to moving out of our home work spaces and into being together. On Sundays, our older youth are in the building learning and creating community together. Family members are joining us in the sanctuary and the social hall for worship, and before and after the service I’m watching families connect for walks in the neighborhood. 

Our sanctuary and social hall are almost complete. The accessible chancel and hearing assistance loop are in place, new electrical wiring and heating and cooling controls have been installed, and fresh paint, carpet, and lighting throughout create a beautiful and welcoming ambiance. The re-opened stairs into the social hall and the recovered and refinished original terrazzo floors throughout the building are stunning. 

Outside, work on our main entrance is underway. The accessible ramp is complete, retaining walls and plantings are going in, the main glass door is being replaced, and the final touches of beauty and functionality and security are all going in over the next two weeks. 

While most pieces of our capital project are complete and are allowing us to thrive, other pieces of the project still remain to be finished and are not so beautiful in the transition. 

For instance, 

While so many things are beautiful and flourishing in this physical garden of ours, other things are in that sometimes unwieldy phase of growth and change. Together, we’re here for it all: the obviously and easily beautiful, the unwieldy and uncomfortable experiences of change and transition, the joy of our collective strength, and the care of our community. I hope you, too, are noticing it all.

Join us for a midweek worship experience for adults and older youth. This 30-minute service is a brief time of connection, centering, and reflection to help us find and keep our balance.

Connect to the live stream on Wednesday, Oct. 13 between 6:55 and 7 p.m.: Enter the Wednesday Zoom webinar here. (webinar ID: 117-312-320). To join by phone (audio only), dial 1-312-626-6799 and enter the webinar ID.

Post-service Care Companions space (7:30 p.m.): Join the Zoom gathering here.

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, or if you would like support, contact Rev. Arif Mamdani at arif@firstuniv.org or 612-825-1701.

"I will gladly follow a few necessary laws if it means I can enjoy the comforts of civilized society," writes Walter Arnold regarding his 1899 speeding ticket, one of the first on record in England or the United States. The parallel between speed limits and Coronavirus precautions may be obvious: the limiting of the individual for the safety of the collective. To put our present moment in context, Arif asks (and answers) this question: when were speed limits instated in relation to the mass production of cars? Listen to the podcast or watch the worship recording to find out the answer and to gain a new self awareness of the moment we’re in now. 

Last week, Julica shared with us the first of many reflections on and invitations to adopt an Ethic of Risk. This Sunday, Rev. Arif builds on her homily with a question: how can we adopt an Ethic of Risk, which requires creativity and community, when our reptilian brains have been in a “moment” of stress for the last eighteen months? The Coronavirus will likely be with us for the rest of our lives. Together — and that’s a key word — we ask: what safety measures can we put in place for ourselves now, so that we may be creative as we live into an undefined future ahead?

Listen to the service on Spotify or Podbean, or watch the recording on YouTube. Questions for reflection and action, as well as many opportunities to connect in the next weeks and months, are available to you in this week's Order of Service. 

Minneapolis voters have a chance this Fall to create a new Department of Public Safety by voting Yes on 2 to amend our city's charter. The current provisions in the Minneapolis charter were written in 1961 by the Police Federation to protect their interests. These provisions limit the choices for those in emergency situations to two: to call for a potentially armed and violent response by the police—or managing the crisis themselves. Creating a new Department of Public Safety would create space for qualified professionals — like mental health responders, social workers, domestic violence and sexual violence advocates, as well as police — to work in collaboration to make all our communities safer.

Many of us have heard about Question 2 but have been flooded with confusing information in our mailboxes and in the media. Join us for a virtual chat and Q&A on Zoom on Thursday, Oct. 21 from 7–8:30 p.m. with Yes4Minneapolis Campaign Director Carina Smith, Reclaim the Block's Lex Horan, and Community Abolitionist and Professor at Hamline University Jason Sole to learn more about:

This conversation will be moderated by Rev. Kelli Clement, and is sponsored by the Minnesota Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Alliance (MUUSJA). Join the Zoom gathering here.

See below for more details.

Image description: a flyer for the MUUSJA Yes on 2 Public Safety Forum. At the top of the document are logos for Yes on 2, MUUSJA, and Reclaim the Block. Text in red, gold, and white reads: Yes on 2 Towards Real Community Safety. Join Minneapolis Unitarian Universalists for a virtual chat and Q&A about the Minneapolis Department of Public Safety amendment with Carina Smith, campaign director of Yes 4 Minneapolis, Lex Horan from Reclaim the Block, & Jason Sole, Community Abolitionist and Professor at Hamline University. Sponsored by MUUSJA. Moderated by Rev. Kelli Clement. Thursday, October 21 7pm-8:30pm on Zoom. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85474995778?

Every child brings new life and new hope into the world. During the Child Dedication ritual, the congregation pledges itself to partner with and support parents and families in the religious upbringing of the child.

With great joy, we look forward to celebrating your child, your family, and the connections we share. Learn more and sign up to participate here.

We are saying farewell to our Communications Assistant, Allison, as she transitions out of her time as a staff member at First U. Allison is leaving to join Lyndale UCC and the Center for Sustainable Justice as a faith organizer, where she will be working with predominantly white congregations around issues of racial justice, reparations, and abolition. During her time on staff Allison has supported the communications and worship tech efforts of First U by working on The Weekly Liberal, the Faithful Action newsletter, the website, and by providing technical support in preparation for and during virtual worship. Allison has brought a warmth to our staff, and a dedication to embodying our justice commitments by increasing our efforts towards disability inclusion and access. We will miss Allison and wish her all the best in her new role! If you had been communicating with Allison about communications content or support, please reach out to First U Communications Manager Jenn Stromberg at JennS@firstuniv.org and she will be happy to assist you.

Find ways to get involved with our Faithful Action Community Partners in our October Faithful Action Newsletter. This newsletter contains opportunities to connect through volunteering, donating, advocating, and learning. Our Faithful Action Community Partners are community organizations that share our vision of love and justice. We work through Faithful Action Community Partnerships in order to leverage our energy, commitment and expertise. You can find more information about our Faithful Action Community Partnerships on our website.

Knitters and crocheters of any ability are invited to join other knitters for this drop-in group on the third Tuesday of each month, starting on Tuesday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. Bring your current project to work on! If you’re in between projects, directions for charitable projects like Hats for the Homeless (hats) and the Mother Bear Project (teddy bears) are available. We hope to start off with meeting in person and then gather on Zoom for the icy winter months. Contact Valerie Garber at 651-295-7611 with any questions and for the upcoming meeting information.

Women (cis and trans) as well as non-binary folks who find their home in women-centric spaces who are interested in earth-based and pagan spirituality are invited to an upcoming open ritual of the Under Northern Skies Women’s Ritual Circle. The circle is open to newcomers one more time this year, on Wednesday, Oct. 20. For people who choose to join the circle, there will be a commitment ritual on Thursday, Nov. 4, after which the circle will close to new members until fall of 2022. The circle currently holds rituals via Zoom, beginning promptly at 7:30 p.m. and meeting for about an hour. Contact Beth at belovedporcupine@gmail.com for Zoom information if you would like to attend.

Registration is now open for our upcoming round of Newcomers Circles. Newcomers Circles are four-session gatherings of 6-8 participants who are new-ish to First Universalist. If you’ve been joining us for worship or participating in small groups or other teams for a few months, and intend to deepen your connection with the church over time, we invite you to consider signing up for the Newcomers Circle that starts on Monday, Oct. 25. This Circle will meet on Mondays, Oct. 25‒Nov. 15, from 7–8:30 p.m. on Zoom. This Circle will be facilitated by longtime members, George and Philipp. Membership is not required, and it is a great way to meet others who are also early in exploring their committed journey with the congregation. Those registered will receive the Zoom information and additional updates via email within a week of the first session. Register for our upcoming Newcomers Circles here.

First U members interested in joining the October Senior Hike are invited to gather on Thursday, Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. outside of the Longfellow Grill, at the corner of East Lake Street and West River Parkway. Parking should be available on nearby streets. The group will hike for about two hours, starting on the Minneapolis side of the Mississippi River. The group will head south along the Winchell Trail to the Ford Parkway river crossing. On the Saint Paul side of the river, the group will turn north, passing along several riverside scenic highlights including The Monument and Shadow Falls Park. The group will cross back to Minneapolis on Marshall Ave. and stop for an optional lunch at the Longfellow Grill. This hike is designed with Seniors in mind but all at First Universalist are welcome to participate.

The route is partly paved, partly wooded and about two hours in length. Senior Hike organizers look forward to beautiful autumn weather and congenial companions. Masks will be required for lunch at the Longfellow Grill, but optional for trail walking. Please bring your own drinking water.

Any questions? Please call Ward Lyndall at 612-823-2385.

The Association of Universalist Women (AUW) invites all women, gender-fluid, and non-binary people to join us for our combined Kick-Off event and Fall Retreat on October 30 from 9 a.m.–1:30 p.m. at First Universalist Church.

We will open with a song by Ellis. A panel of five gender expansive/fluid folks will each tell their personal story. Break-out sessions after the panel include:

Lunch will be provided. After lunch, the break-out sessions will be repeated. We will conclude at 1:30 with a premiere of a short video promoting AUW.

Masks are required.

The event is free to AUW members and $15 for non-members. For more information about this event go to the AUW website.

Learn more and find registration information on our website.

Thinking your next vehicle needs to be electric, or possibly a plugin-hybrid? Not sure where to start? Your First U Environmental Justice Team has identified the perfect opportunity to find answers to your questions!

Electric Vehicle Expo 2021

Saturday, Oct. 9, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

Oak Grove Presbyterian Church in Bloomington

Over 20 electric car owners will have their vehicles on hand and answers to many of your questions. Short presentations on charging networks, which electric vehicle (EV) fits your lifestyle, why buy electric now, utility programs and rebates. Come see other e-transport options: electric bikes, e-scooters, and an EV transit van. Test drives available for some of the latest EV models.

The First U environmental justice team is planning our very own Spring 2022 EV symposium and wants to know who in our congregation owns, or is planning to purchase, an electric vehicle. Please share information in this form.

Don Southworth cared for his father Harry during Harry's final year of life as he slowly declined due to stage 4 prostate cancer. When Harry decided enough was enough, he requested medical aid in dying through California's End-of-Life Option Act.

Don, a semi-retired Unitarian Universalist minister and former chaplain, will share the details of the experience and reflect on his father's passing in a conversation with Rev. Harlan Limpert, founding member of Minnesota's Interfaith Clergy for End-of-Life Options. Panelists include Rev. Harlan Limpert, Rev. Don Southworth, and Dr. Rebecca Thoman. Register here for this event.

As communities, we can support all kids by understanding them a little better. Here are some amazing resources to pass on and share:

Join a one-hour session to learn what's involved to be a Trauma Informed Community. We'll be discussing how the church can be a safe place to talk about our experiences, find healing and care.These sessions are taught by experts on Trauma, ACEs and mental health: Ann Ellison, Fairview/MHealth; Rev. Dr. Rachel Keefe, Living Table Church and author; and Sherri Stella, Pastoral Ministries Director at St. Joan of Arc.

Register here.

Awakening Faith Communities to Address Addiction — A Hybrid Event

Learn more and find registration information here.

Learn more and find registration information here.

Weekly drop-in group for UUs in 12-step based recovery from all kinds of addiction and family dysfunction. Participation is confidential. Join us via Zoom here. (Meeting ID: 922 6965 4151 Passcode: 839388) For more info contact Dick Young at 952-893-1188.

Join this monthly congregant-led group for silent meditation on Zoom. After 20 minutes of sitting together in silence, we will share experiences from our practices. We will begin our gathering at 11:30 to provide time to share our lives with one another. Join the Zoom gathering here (Meeting ID: 979 8580 6356; Passcode: 494993).

The Weekly Meditation Group is meeting on Tuesday mornings from 9–10:15 a.m. by Zoom. This group plans to begin a multi-platform gathering model when the church reopens. Contact Sara McMullen at saramcminneapolis@gmail.com for Zoom and in-person meeting information. 

Tangled Blessings is a monthly grief group led by Rev. Karen Hutt in which participants are invited to bring their whole selves and whatever grief they may be carrying. You are welcome to attend one or all of the sessions. To receive the Zoom information, please RSVP to Rev. Karen Hutt at revkarenhutt@gmail.com. Future dates for Tangled Blessings gatherings are Sundays, Nov. 21, Dec. 19, Jan. 16, Feb. 20, March 20, April 17, and May 15 from 4–5:30 p.m. on Zoom.

Parents/guardians who are single and/or co-parenting gather for mutual support and spiritual sustenance. Email church member Rev. Sara Smalley (smalley.sara@gmail.com) to be connected to the group.

This group is designed for people with all types of physical disabilities, hearing disabilities, and visual disabilities. Ages 13 and older are welcome. For Zoom information please contact BOTH Lauren Wyeth at lauren@firstuniv.org and Birch Cappetta at birch.cappetta@gmail.com.

Pat,Gottschalk, who was trained by Master Chunyi Linn, has been leading this practice at First U for over 20 years. Pat leads gentle movements with a focus on harmonizing our personal energies — internal development and peace of mind, not martial arts. We welcome all. Creaky joints, stiff muscles and anxious minds are all welcome. We meet via Zoom until we can meet in-person. Contact Judy Broad at jab679@gmail.com for Zoom information. 

Reacquaint yourself with poets you love and discover other poets who are new to you while connecting with fellow Poetry Lovers at church. More information.

Every Thursday at 5 and 7 p.m. Come to one or both! Zoom information is the same every week. The two gatherings have different Zoom information. Join the 5 p.m. Happy Hour here (Meeting ID: 834 7301 7986; Password: 557571). Join the 7 p.m. Happy Hour here (Meeting ID: 817 4022 5684; Password: 675052).

Parents of Babies and Preschoolers (ages 0-4 years)

Parents/guardians of little ones gather with Lauren for mutual support and spiritual sustenance. Email Lauren at lauren@firstuniv.org to be connected to the group.

All people in or interested in 12 steps are welcome - Al-Anon, Adult Children of Alcoholics, CODA, etc. The workshop includes meditation, Centering Prayer meditation instructions, a short talk and small groups. Meeting details available at 12stepspirituality.org

The care team at First Universalist is here to help in a whole lot of ways—from phone calls to say we’re thinking about you to a listening ear when you need someone to accompany you through whatever’s happening in your life. COVID-19 has changed some of the ways we provide care, but there is a lot we’re still doing. Here is one of the ways we’re here to provide support:

We Care Meal Trains

Sick? Surgery? Caring for a family member or welcoming a new child? Something else? Sometimes, what helps more than anything is having church members bring healthy nourishing meals to your home. As one of our members recently said “it was such a gift to receive meals when my mom was sick. I could focus on taking care of her and when I wasn’t, I could just be with my family without worrying about getting dinner on the table.” To access a ride or any of our other caring resources, contact Rev. Arif Mamdani at arif@firstuniv.org 

Spiritual Care - Your ministers and program staff are here for one-on-one confidential conversations of support. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to any of us to connect. 

Love Kits - Are you or someone you love ill? Is your family struggling? Do you live alone or feel isolated? Do you know someone else from church who might be? If so, please let Rev. Karen (revkarenhutt@gmail.com) know so that a package full of love and support can be delivered to your home.

Meal Trains - If you or someone you know at church would welcome a meal to help them through a difficult time, loss, illness or injury — and having someone else do the cooking for a bit would help —please let us know. Contact Rev. Arif Mamdani at arif@firstuniv.org.

Minister’s Emergency Fund - For many of us, these are difficult financial times. If you need help with a car repair bill, making rent, a doctor’s bill, groceries, gas, a mortgage payment, affording your medication, a bus card, or any other financial situation - please be in touch. We have financial resources available. Please contact a minister/staff member. 

Mental Health Connect - www.mhconnect.org - Need help finding a therapist? Want to learn more about particular mental health conditions and resources? Check out Mental Health Connect, a local organization supported by congregations like ours, that provides community-based resources, support and education to improve access to mental health services and connect individuals and families with the services they need. 

Counseling - The Walk In Counseling Center offers free counseling by phone or computer. Find out how to “walk in” on their website.