Dear Jenn,

Today we share the news that two First Universalist program staff members who've worked with children, youth and families for over a decade will be leaving their positions at the end of the church year.

Emma Paskewitz, Youth Programs Coordinator, and Lauren Wyeth, Director of Spiritual Growth for All Ages, have both announced that they are leaving, effective June 30, 2023.

Read their personal messages—which were sent to Religious Education families earlier today—to learn what they'll be up to after they leave, and what they hope for in the weeks ahead, as well as Rev. Jen Crow's message to the congregation, below.

A message from Emma

I started working at First Universalist Church in 2012 as a temporary administrative assistant at a time when I was experiencing difficult transitions and recovering from chronic illness. A year or so later, after I had begun working with the youth program, Rev. Justin asked me and a few others to reflect on this question: “what is saving you right now?” My answer was, “this church.” I knew that I was where I was supposed to be and I felt immense gratitude towards this church community for embracing my transition from a lifelong congregant to a staff member. I am so blessed to have had the opportunity over the last 10 years to deepen my connection to the community that raised me through my work as the Senior High Youth Group Coordinator, the COA Program Assistant, and then as the Youth Programs Coordinator.  

And now, I am entering new times of transition, ones that are both joyous and tender. I am leaving my role at First Universalist Church to care for my son Jack and my father. I love my job and all of the youth and families at First Universalist AND as we say at church, I’m listening to where love is calling me next. 

I am so grateful to all of the youth and families that I have had the privilege of working with. I have learned so much from you and I have so many wonderful memories of youth overnights, retreats, YouthCONs, pilgrimages to Boston, Youth Sundays, and Coming of Age ceremonies. While I can say with utmost confidence that I CAN wait until Jack is in 7th grade Neighboring Faiths to chaperone another overnight, I will deeply miss all of you. I am so excited to hear about what the future holds for the Youth Program. I have no doubt that our ministers and the entire staff team are committed to supporting our young people. 

In order to give space and time for future youth program staff members to build connections at First Universalist Church, I will be disconnected from any staff or volunteer roles for at least the next church year. As this is still my spiritual home, you might see me on Sunday mornings dropping Jack off in the nursery or attending worship with my dad.

I look forward to connecting with you in the coming weeks. Please reach out to me if you would like to chat or take a walk in June. After we celebrate our graduating seniors during the 10 a.m. Youth Sunday service on May 21, please join me in the Social Hall for a chance to connect and share memories. I am told there will be treats!   

With love and gratitude,

Emma

A message from Lauren

We talk about milestones with our children regularly at church—how they grow into being ready to try out being in childcare, then join Chalice Children in Kindergarten, then their first OWL class and so on up through 6th grade Rites of Passage, 9th grade Coming of Age, and 12th grade Bridging. We acknowledge that these milestones can be hard, but assure them that they need not be faced alone or without help, and that each is worthy of celebration.

Our UU faith teaches us that constant change isn't just the reality of childhood. Letting go of what was and welcoming what's next is a lifelong project. Along with you and your kids, I've learned to trust change a little more, and to expect it rather than resist.

I'm leaving First Universalist because another job opportunity crossed my path and I could not let it go by. It offers opportunities for me to take what I've learned here and share it in new ways with more people. It's the next step in my personal and career development, and I must say yes. I expect I'll be able to share the news of exactly where I'm going in a few days.

It has been a great joy, education, and honor to love and serve you and your families since 2012. I carry tender memories of times we've shared, delighting in your children's creativity and curiosity, facing tragedy and hardship together, telling the truth about our struggles and our growing edges, celebrating healing and milestones and transitions.

This congregation has changed over the time I've known you, in ways that have challenged and shaped me into someone with more courage, humility and hope than I had before. Words cannot express my gratitude for all you've taught me.

As Emma and I go, it's time for our children, youth and family ministries to enter a new phase, and that can bring renewed, revitalizing energy. The professional demands of my role require that I completely release my connections with you and First Universalist for the next couple of years, but I will be following what you're up to and cheering you on from a distance. I know you will continue to be a leader in Unitarian Universalist faith development, exploring what is possible when we put the needs of children, youth and families at the center of the church.

I hope you will celebrate the transition of my leaving with me, even as I—and perhaps you—also feel the sadness of parting ways. If you'd like to connect 1:1, please reach out so we can set a time to talk by phone or in person in the coming weeks. In community, following Flower Communion on Sunday, June 4 at 10 a.m., join me in the Social Hall to honor the journey we've shared. I want to seal it all into my heart as I go, and to thank you.

With love,

Lauren

Dear ones,

I know that the news of Lauren and Emma’s departure from our church staff is hard news to receive. Both Emma and Lauren have brought so much skill, dedication, and care to our children, youth, and family ministries for over a decade, and we have come to count on their wisdom and guidance not only for our youngest ones, but for ourselves, as well. For many of us, they have helped raise our children, and accompaniment through such a significant phase of life creates a deep bond. While we celebrate their discernment and the listening they’ve done to where love is calling them next, their departure leaves a two-person shaped hole in our community. 

Ministry with Children, Youth, and Families has been at the heart of this congregation for as long as anyone can remember. Deep care and spiritual growth for our young ones and their families will continue to be a primary focus for our congregation. This will not change. Together with Lauren and Emma, Rev. Arif and I will create a transition plan that continues this commitment.

We’ve been through a whole lot of change together these past few years. Sometimes the pace of these changes can feel like too much too fast, naturally bringing up grief and anger, sadness and disappointment. We don’t always get to control the pace or the content of the changes we go through, but we can control how we move through it. Will we allow our feelings to flow when the waves come, tending our hearts and bodies and spirits with loving companions? Will we care for each other as we care for ourselves, tending our grief so that it does not come out sideways in ways that are harmful to others? Will we share our resources, time, and wisdom as we make room for and create something new?

Change is ever-present in our living. Together, we can navigate change with tenderness, care, compassion, and creativity. Rev. Arif, Rev. Ashley, and I and all of your staff and lay leadership are here to accompany and care for you and our community as we move through this change together—practicing what we’ve learned of how to say goodbye and thank you, and when we are ready, to build anew.

Yours in grief and gratitude,

Rev. Jen

Rev. Jen Crow

Senior Minister

First Universalist Church of Minneapolis

Intro

Staff Transition News

Sunday Worship

Sunday, May 14, 9 & 11 a.m.: "Generation to Generation"

After Worship this Sunday

Sunday, May 7 Recording & Podcast: "A Flame that Burns"

Cycle of Life

News & Features

Soup Cook-Off Judges Needed

Updated COVID Care Policies

Right Relations Workshop

Congregational Care Team

Calendar

Coming of Age Ceremony

Daytime Connections

Community Dinner

LGBT Spirituality

Grief Group

Community Events & Affiliated Organizations:

AUW, 12-Step Spirituality

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Sunday, May 14 — 9 & 11 a.m.

"Generation to Generation"

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry wrote that “Love, like a carefully loaded ship, crosses the gulf between the generations.” This Sunday, love will make its way across the generations as we dedicate our children, welcome the wisdom of our Coming of Age youth, and care for each other in times of celebration and grief. 

Worship leaders: Rev. Jen Crow, Lauren Wyeth, Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Lóre Stevens, and Franco Holder



ORDER OF SERVICE

IN PERSON AT 9 & 11 A.M. (masks required in sanctuary)

This Sunday, we worship in person at 9 and 11 a.m. Masks are required in the sanctuary for ages 2 and up; please review our Covid-19 Gathering Guidelines (effective through May 20; update is below). Can you usher or greet? Sign up here!.

ONLINE AT 11 A.M.

This service is live-streamed at 11 a.m. Join the Zoom livestream here (Webinar ID: 861 805 984) or watch on YouTube. The recording will be available here after worship.

CHILDREN & YOUTH

Childcare for Nursery through Pre-K starts at 8:45/10:45 a.m. Registered children and youth in K through 12th grade begin their morning in the sanctuary with their families before being dismissed to Religious Education Classes. All ages are always welcome in the sanctuary! Learn more here.

Artist Reception

10 a.m. & noon in the Sanctuary

First Universalist member Martha Bird created the sanctuary exhibit A World Beyond with nine of her willow sculptures. This Sunday, she will be available at the front of the sanctuary after both services to receive your reactions to her work and answer any questions you may have.  

Sunday, May 7: "A Flame that Burns"

Universalism calls us to become flame carriers in apocalyptic times. In community, with souls on fire, we reconstitute the world. This past Sunday, May 7, we welcomed guest preacher Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt, candidate for president of the UUA.

Watch the May 7 service here

Listen to the May 7 podcast here

Podcast Archive | Recording Archive 

If you are experiencing a crisis or transition, celebrating a joy­ or marking a sorrow, please let us know. To be included in our Cycle of Life on Sunday in worship, or if you would like support, contact Rev. Arif Mamdani at arif@firstuniv.org or 612-825-1701.

This past fall, many of you participated in a survey to help us decide how we might continue to make our spaces as inclusive and accessible as the COVID-19 pandemic shifted to an endemic stage. Your Leadership Team combed through your responses, listening and learning as we went. We decided at that time to continue requiring masking in the Sanctuary on Sunday mornings to make it as inclusive a space as possible, and to move to masking optional in the rest of our spaces. We also promised that we would revisit this decision in the spring, and even though the weather often doesn’t feel like it—spring is here. 

After careful consideration of local and national health guidelines, which have continued to evolve over the past year, and ongoing monitoring of COVID levels in Hennepin County, we have decided to update our COVID Community Care Policies, effective Sunday, May 21:

• Masking will be welcome, but not required, inside the church building—including the sanctuary—when Covid community levels in Hennepin County are Low or Medium. Masks will be required inside the building when Covid levels are High.
• High quality KN95/N95 masks will be available free of charge for anyone who wishes to use one when in the building.
• Creating an intentionally inclusive space where masking is respected and welcomed without question is all of our responsibility.
• We continue to encourage all who can be vaccinated against Covid-19 to receive the initial vaccination and subsequent boosters to reduce the impact of Covid 19 for each person individually and for our wider community, collectively.
• We continue to ask people to stay home if they are feeling sick. 
• We will continue to offer online and multi-platform opportunities for spiritual growth, and will continue to focus resources on further strengthening our online and multi-platform community. 
• We will work with congregants and families on an individual basis to address health and accessibility concerns, and to find creative ways to care for each other and connect. Please reach out to Rev. Ashley Harness to brainstorm together. 

We welcome your feedback as we continue to navigate new times and circumstances together, committed, as always, to caring for each other and our larger community with love.

In gratitude,

Rev. Jen, Rev. Arif, Lauren Wyeth, and Jenn Stromberg

You are invited to attend an upcoming workshop led by Rev. David Pyle and Rev. Sharon Dittmar of the Mid-America Regional Staff. This workshop is part of our efforts to build the congregation’s skill in engaging conflict in more generative ways. It is also one of the recommendations from Rev. David Pyle’s report to our congregation.

This workshop—scheduled for Saturday, June 3 from 9:30 a.m.–2 p.m. at Unity Church - Unitarian in St. Paul—is held in collaboration with Unity Church - Unitarian and White Bear UU Church. It is a step in the longer process of developing congregational teams that can help our churches engage conflict in productive ways. Because space is limited, we’re asking members to apply to join this workshop and will respond to applicants by May 24.

Each church can bring up to 30 participants. As a participant in this workshop, you are not committing to be part of the team that is created and trained to help to hold conflict productively. You are saying that you want to be part of larger efforts to change the culture of conflict in our congregations here at First Universalist, and beyond. 

As Rev. Pyle notes: This is something we need because “Unitarian Universalist Congregations have a higher expectation for how to engage with, support, and care for one another than does much of society. Practicing Right Relationship is in many ways counter-cultural, and it takes some support, especially during times of conflict and change. Right Relationship Teams help provide that support to congregations and their members during times where it can be difficult to remember our commitments to one another.” 

Applications will be reviewed by members of the Commitment to Beloved Community Team and Rev. Arif Mamdani. 

Questions? Contact Rev. Arif: arif@firstuniv.org. Fill out the application here.

The Congregational Care Team is accepting applications to join the many caring ministries at church. Congregational Care includes everything from sending cards to folks at church who could use some words of support, to making meals, to being a listening and compassionate companion for congregants when life gets "lifey"—and so much more. 

Apply here to be part of the team that extends the care of the church to those who need it —and remember, we all need care. 

Saturday, May 13, 3 p.m. in the Sanctuary & online

Join on Zoom

What do you think is the nature of being human? What do you think happens when we die? How has First Universalist Church shaped you as a person of faith? What do you think God is or is not?

These are some of the questions that our 9th graders have grappled with throughout the year in Coming of Age class. Coming of Age is a beloved tradition in Unitarian Universalism. Instead of asking our youth to sign on to a particular creed or dogma, we charge them with discerning for themselves what they hold dear, using our UU principles and values as a guide. To round out the Coming of Age experience, each youth is asked to distill their core beliefs about life, God, and humanity into a personal statement of belief.

The yearlong Coming of Age journey will culminate in a Coming of Age ceremony on Saturday, May 13 at 3 p.m. During the ceremony, each youth will share their spiritual statement with family, friends, and community members. Coming of Age youth have put a great deal of time and thought into their statements. On May 13, our congregation has an opportunity to honor and celebrate the thoughtfulness of an incredible group of young people. All are welcome and warmly invited to attend.

Thursday, May 18, 10 a.m. program in the Social Hall / on Zoom

Salad & Soup Lunch follows at noon

REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Daytime Connections programs begin at 10 a.m. on the third Thursday of each month, from October through May. They include fabulous presenters about fascinating topics, a delicious lunch, and an opportunity to meet new people and rekindle old friendships. On Thursday, May 18, we’ll explore the topic of charitable giving.

Ross Levin and Dan Berg will help us understand why we should consider giving away what we can while we are still alive. Participants will consider how giving impacts other things we want to do in our lives, and learn how to:

• Create a charitable mission statement
• Vet charities
• Be tax effective
• Determine how much to give

Ross and Dan are both well-known in the First Universalist Community. Ross is the founder of Accredited Investors Wealth Management, is a past chair of the University of Minnesota Foundation, and also writes a regular column in the Business section of the StarTribune. Dan was for 18 years Philanthropic Advisor at the Minneapolis Foundation and has made many contributions to congregational life.

Sign in and coffee at 9:45 a.m. Soup & salad lunch follows program at 12 p.m.: $5-15 sliding scale (more if you can; less if you can’t; no one will be turned away for lack of funds). Registration is requested a minimum of four days in advance.

Wednesday, May 24, 6 p.m. (5 p.m. Family Pre-Party)

RSVP Requested

The weather is warm and we're back outdoors! Swing by church for a delicious home-cooked meal under the tent in the parking lot at 6 p.m. All are welcome and there is no charge. Menu will be available on our website one week in advance. We always offer vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, nut free, and kid-friendly options. All church events are alcohol-free.

Come early for a Family Pre-Party on the playground from 5–6 p.m. Chalk, bubbles, and general merriment for kids from babies through elementary school and their grown ups.

Following dinner, you're welcome to continue to socialize under the tent or join a smaller breakout group from 6:45–8 p.m.



BREAKOUT GROUPS:

• What's Article II Anyway? For nearly three years, First U young adult Satya Mamdani has been a member of the Article II Study Commission, charged with considering updates to the section of the UUA Bylaws that describe our association's covenant, principles and sources. Come hear the fascinating feedback they gathered from thousands of UUs across the country, and take a look at the recommendations they'll bring for a vote at our annual General Assembly, next month in Pittsburgh.
• Young Adults Conversation with a Minister What’s on your heart and mind as you navigate your 20s and 30s as spiritual beings having a human experience? Bring your burning questions and let’s “geek out” on religion, spirituality, and theology with Rev. Ashley Harness and ministerial intern Lóre Stevens.

Sunday, May 14, 3–4:30 p.m. on Zoom

REGISTRATION REQUIRED

This group meets on the second Sunday of each month to support us on our journeys through and with LGBT-specific theology. Any and all LGBT folks interested in LGBT theology are welcome. New members are always welcome.

Facilitated by Kaden Colton, First U member

Sundays, May 14 & 28, 4–5:30 p.m. on Zoom 

REGISTER HERE 

A gathering for those who are grappling with the web of feelings associated with loss. A group of souls who share, listen and care. A community interested in exploring new life invitations. Come as you are, when you feel moved to attend. We will be here for you. 

Facilitator: Rev. Karen Hutt, Community Minister

Saturday, May 13

Coming of Age Ceremony

Sunday, May 14

Grief Group

LGBT Spirituality

Thursday, May 18

Daytime Connections

Sunday, May 21

Youth Sunday; switch to one service at 10 a.m. for the summer

A Place to Start

Caregivers Group

Afternoon with the Environmental Justice Team

Wednesday, May 24

Community Dinner

Thursday, May 25

Board of Trustees Meeting

Sunday, May 28

Grief Group

Wednesday, May 31

BIPOC Dinner Church

AUW sponsors activities for people who identify as women, non-binary and/or gender fluid.

Hiking Group:  Meets most Saturdays at a park or trailhead. For questions, contact Marie Sorenson. May 13, 10 a.m. (note time change for summer) Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden at Theodore Wirth Park, #1 Theodore Wirth Parkway, Mpls. If you use a Map Finder, you may have to drive to next open driveway to get to official sign and driveway. Pay lot. If you want free parking, you can park at Beach Building. It is several blocks from the main entrance. There are some hills, but other options too. Wildflowers and birds. Marie will not be there. May 20, 10 a.m. Westwood Nature Center, 8300 Franklin Avenue, St Louis Park. Nice walk through the woods. They have a good display inside Nature Center. Marie will be there in red.

Game Group: Meets at the church on the second Thursday of the month to play board games and socialize. Request an invitation to our next meeting and be added to our email list by sending your name and email to Anne Frenchick. Next dates: May 11, 7 p.m., June 8, 7 p.m.

Weekly Happy Hour: This online Zoom gathering is a way to stay connected with AUW friends. We meet at 7 p.m. every Thursday. Hosts are Liz and Carol. Here is the Zoom info to tune in: Evening Happy Hour

Women Who Read: We read books written by women. We host an in-person and a virtual meeting on the fourth Monday of each month. Request an invitation to our next meeting and be added to our email list by sending your name and email address to Abbie Finger.

Saturdays, 9:30–10:45 a.m. online via Zoom

This weekly online meeting focuses on people who are actively working in any of 12 Step programs. It is focused on the 11th step through the practice of Centering Prayer Meditation. Meeting details are available at 12stepspirituality.org.

Church Office & Building Access

The church office is open on Wednesdays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The door bells are not monitored outside of this time. Access to the building at times on other days can be arranged by contacting Jim Poulter, Building & Office Manager, at jim@firstuniv.org.