Dear Jenn,

What does it mean to ‘grow a beloved community’? Over the past month we have asked all of you to share what actions or behaviors you have noticed about life at First Universalist that leads to the growth of beloved community. Perhaps it was something you did or something you witnessed. With a few words at a time, you are telling us what living into our values and creating a beloved community looks like in action. We are so touched by all the examples of how you are moved by others and by the things you do, large and small, to support and love one another in this community.

We are still collecting your examples and in mid-April we will begin to sift and sort through your observations to find the themes that emerge. For example, from some of the earliest submissions we know that ‘listening’ is an important feature of a beloved community—our community members have shared: listening with presence, listening to understand, listening without judgment or fixing, and more. We’ll identify the themes and share back with the community, Board of Trustees, and leadership for you to consider and reflect on. Together, through this iterative process we will craft the set of behaviors that create and support beloved community. You still can participate! Instructions are at the end of this piece.

While not a ‘covenant’ per se, we imagine that these behaviors will be at the heart of covenants used throughout our community for the multitude of gatherings and their specific purposes and intentions. For a church as large as First Universalist, consensus for a church-wide covenant could be problematic, possibly presumptuous. Our words for lighting the chalice for Sunday services is an example of behaviors held in covenant, appropriate for the setting. Already we encourage groups to develop their unique covenant. These CBC behaviors can be a resource for creating covenants.

‘We’ are a committee of the Board of Trustees. Our charge from the Board is as follows:

The charge of the Commitment to Beloved Community Team (CBC), a Committee of the Board of commitment to being a racially just and a multiracial, multicultural, multigenerational community that honors the interconnected web of all living beings.

This team will lead this work by eliciting examples from our congregation of helpful and healthy behaviors that foster living into our values together by asking the question: What did you do or see that leads to the growth of beloved community? These behaviors will also require our congregation to take action to create a space where multiracial, multicultural, and multigenerational communities and all living beings can thrive. The outcome of this work will be a set of commitments for 2023 and beyond that state how we choose to be together and grow a beloved community. We envision an ongoing role for the CBC team and a yearly renewal process.

Thank you for adding to this effort to grow our beloved community.

Commitment to Beloved Community Team: Velma Wagner, Loré Stevens, Jennifer Schuster-Jaeger, Rev. Meg Riley, Janet Merrill, Ginny McAninch, Rev. Andrea Johnson, Shelley des Islets, Eric Cooperstein

To share your observations and actions that lead to the growth of beloved community, please use this online form.

Intro

Commitment to Beloved Community

Sunday Worship

Sunday, April 9, 9 & 11 a.m.: "Relentless Resurrection"

Sunday, April 2 Recording & Podcast: "Trusting Life"

Cycle of Life

News & Features

A Story About Sun Lamps

Visionary Goals Workshops

Kerstin Beyer Lajuzan on Financial Commitment

Annual Giving 2023–24

Square Dancing,Culture, and History

Cook-Off Voting Finals

Drawdown Challenge

Habitat on the Hill

Chalice Pillow Volunteers

Member Name Tags

Calendar

Young Families Spring Celebration

Climate Resilience & Faith

Barn Dance & Social

Community Dinner

Daytime Connections

April Events

Community Events & Affiliated Organizations:

AUW, 12-Step Spirituality

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Sunday, April 9 — 9 & 11 a.m.

"Relentless Resurrection"

With and without our permission and participation, life is forever seeking resurrection. Relentlessly, life finds a way in the harshest of circumstances, and even out of death comes new life. How might we join with this turning toward life? And how might we rebuild and resurrect ourselves, our relationships, and even this church in the shape of beloved community through our everyday actions? Join us on this multigenerational Sunday as we lean into these questions through story, song, and ritual.

Worship leaders: Rev. Jen Crow, Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Rev. Ashley Harness, Aimee K. Bryant



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. 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

Religious Education classes are on break. Childcare for Nursery through Pre-K starts at 8:45/10:45 a.m. All ages are always welcome in the sanctuary! Learn more here.

Sunday, April 2: "Trusting Life."

As we make the sometimes slow and halting turn toward spring and the emergence of new life, we continue our journey of pausing to pay attention. Together, we pick up the practice of noticing and naming the changes and losses among us and tentatively begin to trust again the turning and motion that life offers. Join us for story and song, and for the collective practice of letting go as we do our part to make room for all that is about to emerge.



Watch the April 2 service here

Listen to the April 2 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.

By Rev. Arif Mamdani

These days when I think about church, and I think about what I hope church could be like, over and over and over again, I find myself thinking about libraries. If you haven't visited a library in a while, you should know that they are astonishingly welcoming to all kinds of people, but they are especially welcoming and hospitable to people who don't have a lot of resources. If you don't know, libraries are one of the most important sites for access to all kinds of resources and services for people who are without homes. For instance, I was at the Merriam Park library in St. Paul the other day and there by the entrance/exit doors was a case with board games that people could check out and use while at the library. And right next to those board games were the sun lamps in the photo that accompanies this piece. All you had to do was go to the desk and they would help you to check them out. 

I was blown away. I knew that libraries were there as a resource for using the internet, getting help filing taxes; I learned a year or so back that libraries in the Twin Cities had social workers on staff and available to work with community members. I knew that they were increasingly a place where community members could access all kinds of resources beyond books. 

But I had no idea that this welcome and hospitality extended to folks like me who suffer from depression and for whom the winter months are especially hard. People for whom these kinds of lights make a significant difference in our everyday wellness and well being. They didn't have a big sign saying “Resources for Anxiety, Depression and Mental Illness” above a bookshelf. They didn't have pamphlets that suggested that people go somewhere else. They had concrete support that you might have trouble accessing if you didn't have a home or you didn't have much disposable income. All you had to do was show up there and have a library card or some kind of photo ID in order to use it. 

To me, this is one example of what it could look like to center the joy and liberation of someone who’s marginalized in our world. 

I share this because I know that many folks are getting hung up on a word in the powerful question that’s part of our visionary goals process: marginalized. That many folks in the congregation see the word marginalized and automatically think of race. This one small example from the library reminded me that marginalization is about so much more than race. It provoked me to expand my understanding of what it meant to experience marginalization in our society. It left me feeling convicted to reach not for words of affirmation for people experiencing marginalization, but to wonder instead about this kind of concrete, tangible, “right when you walk in the door” welcome and support. 

As a church, what is/should be the specific support we offer, to whom, and how? That depends a lot on you and your participation in the Visionary Goals process. Your participation really does make a difference, so please take a minute to sign up for one of the few remaining sessions below.

We are more than halfway to our goal of having approximately 25% of our membership participate in a Visionary Goals workshop. If you haven’t participated yet, we really need you to add your voice to the process. We need to hear from you so that the process can faithfully reflect the vision and horizon of the congregation as it is today.

Additional workshops are being offered:

• Monday, April 10, 6:30–8:30 p.m. on Zoom
• Tuesday, April 11, 6:30–8:30 p.m. at church
• Wednesday, April 19, 6:30–8:30 p.m. at church (after the community dinner)

Free childcare during in-person workshops is available by request when you fill out the request form a minimum of seven days in advance.

Be in touch with Rev. Arif Mamdani with any questions or concerns you might have, and sign up for a workshop here.

"I am honored to be a part of a community that invites all people in, just as they are, to feel loved and belong. I also appreciate being challenged, asked to grow, and expected to join others in transforming our collective spiritual energy into action. For me, making a financial commitment is about reciprocity; by sharing resources we can both provide tangible nourishment and show gratitude for all that we receive."

Kerstin shared her testimony in worship this past Sunday; you can watch/listen here.

This spring during our Annual Giving Campaign, we are asking everyone to make a financial commitment for the fiscal year ahead.

We welcome two different methods of setting up an annual gift at church: you can make a pledge (communicate a commitment) now and fulfill it with your preferred payment method in the 2023–2024 fiscal year (July 1–June 30), or set up (or update) a recurring electronic gift.

If you have a current gift/pledge, or if you’ve recently given to the annual fund, you should have received a packet, either at church or in your mailbox. In your packet, you should find a commitment card and a piece of wildflower seed paper in the shape of a heart or butterfly. We invite you to write on your seed paper a dream you want to plant for our community. Please bring/send your commitment card and seed paper to church on or before April 16, and we’ll bless them in worship on Sunday, April 16. You’ll be given another congregant’s seed paper in exchange for yours so that we can practice planting and tending each other’s dreams. If you are unable to join us in person on April 16, please mail back your commitment card and seed paper; we will send you another seed paper dream to plant and nourish.

If you didn’t receive an annual giving packet and would like one, let us know! Email Jie Wronski-Riley to request a packet and/or with any questions about your annual giving.

You can also set up a new recurring electronic gift here, or download a pledge card to print and fill out here.

By Rev. Arif Mamdani

As we draw nearer to the Barn Dance on April 16, at which our primary activity will be square dancing, I want to take a moment to share some information on the history of square dancing prompted by an invitation from a few members of the church community.

If you do a web search for "square dance history" you'll see amongst the results some links that talk about square dancing's roots in slavery, and you'll likely see reference to an effort by Henry Ford (yes, that Henry Ford) to advance square dancing in the school system as part of his antisemitic and racist cultural agenda. His efforts were gross, disgusting, and horribly wrong headed, and thankfully unsuccessful. And, it points to a bigger reality that we all need to grapple with, which is that in the society we live in, there are few, if any, forms of culture that don't have a complicated history. 

As Unitarian Universalists, we commit to trying to be in right relationship with the history and communities from which spring the art and culture we are engaged with. So, at the urging of our members who wanted to be sure we knew about the complicated history of square dancing, I initiated a conversation with Ann Carter, church member and our square dance caller at the April 16th dance.

Ann was out of town, so she and I swapped emails and are going to talk more when she's back in town. Ann suggested taking a listen to a Radio Lab episode that takes up this topic, and also shared that the history of square dancing is even more complicated than the impact of slavery and Henry Ford. As she shared, she and others in the cities are part of a larger movement in American folk music to uncover history and tell a more complex story of the past and what we've inherited. 

They are part of a movement trying to reclaim square dance from a white washed, heterosexual, patriarchal story, into something that's rooted in the more complex stories of American immigration and Black and Indigenous communities. Ann in particular is committed to making the dance form as inclusive as possible and so doesn't use gendered language when she calls dances, shares what she knows and is learning about the history of the dance form, and works hard to engage groups where they are so that square dance can be the community building experience it's meant to be.

Ann and I are planning to talk more about this history when she's back and we'll try to share that conversation in some form so that you all can benefit from it too. From my email exchange with Ann, I was left with the reminder that culture is incredibly layered and that a faithful engagement with culture means bringing curiosity, humility, courage, and a willingness to learn. We look forward to sharing more with you and hope to see you at the dance. (sign up here!)

A note from Rev. Arif Mamdani

Congregation. I am astonished. I truly did not expect Chili to sweep away the competitors as it has so far. But I also didn't expect that Soup would deliver the smackdown to Bread, and yet it did.

So here we find ourselves, facing not just the gastronomic question: Soup vs. Chili, but an ontological one too: is soup a form of chili? or chili a form of soup? Can we really vote for one vs. the other, if both votes could conceivably result in the same dish? Might this all be an effort by the soup lobby to cast doubt on the whole enterprise? 

I can't answer any of those questions, but I encourage you to vote anyway to determine the winner of the cook-off voting, and the dish that we'll be invited to make and bring to judging before the Annual Meeting in June. Vote here!

Submitted by Todd Pierson

You want to do something that can make a difference for the wellbeing of Mother Earth–but what? How about exploring the Windsource program as a way to shift to renewables? Or participating in tree planting with other UUs in May as part of the Tree Trust program? Or maybe figuring out how to shift to a more plant-based diet with less meat. 

These are just a few of the 40 actions in the First U Drawdown Challenge. The Challenge is a way for each of us to take individual steps, but as a congregation together, to make a difference in the world.    

Stop by the Drawdown Challenge table in the social hall after all services in April



We will be posting weekly progress towards our congregational goal of 500 points/weekly

Join the EJ team and take steps into any of these areas of interest:

• energy at home and on the road, 
• curbing food waste and exploring plant-based foods, 
• centering efforts on healthy soil and biodiversity

Submitted by Joan Naymark

First Universalist’s Faithful Action Community Partner Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity's mission is to eliminate poverty housing from the Twin Cities area and to make decent, affordable shelter for all people a matter of conscience.

Join First Universalist Housing advocates at the Capitol in St. Paul to speak out for affordable housing in Minnesota. We’d like to bring a large group from First Universalist to this annual event. It’s easy, interesting, and full of good community.

When: Tuesday, April 25; check-in will start at 9:30 a.m. and program begins at 10:30 a.m.

Where: Minnesota State Capitol in the L'Etoile du Nord Vault Room, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55155 



What: Our annual advocacy event—come show your support for housing! Includes state of MN housing, advocacy training, and materials. Breakfast and lunch are provided. 

Who: All Habitat Advocates who want to disrupt the systemic racial bias in affordable housing. That’s us!

For more information about the event, to let us know that you'll be part of our church group, and/or to coordinate carpooling options, contact Joan Naymark at jnaymark@gmail.com. Also be sure to register with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity.

This year's Youth Sunday worship service will be on Sunday, May 21. During the service, our graduating seniors receive their beautiful chalice pillows as we send them out into the next phase of their lives with love. If you would like to be on the chalice pillow team, please contact Carolyn Liebler (liebler@umn.edu or 612-716-0665). It is great if you have sewing experience, but it is not required.

You may have noticed that many members are sporting new name tags! If you are a member and would like to order a new name tag with larger text and your pronouns, please order here by Tuesday, April 11. If you’d like to order a name tag, but aren’t sure if you’re a member, contact Membership Coordinator Liz Farmer.

Saturday, April 8, 9–11 a.m. in the Social Hall

RSVP REQUESTED

Families with babies through 1st graders gather to celebrate new life and all things spring with the youngest members of our church community. Join us for egg dying, an egg hunt, games, seasonal crafts, and a chance to connect with other young families. We’ll enjoy bagels, muffins, fruit and boiled eggs for a light brunch. Older siblings are welcome. Hosted by Hirut Hedge, Spiritual Growth Programs Assistant, & Lauren Wyeth, Director of Spiritual Growth for All Ages

Tuesdays, April 11, 18, 25, May 2, 9 & 16, 6:30–8 p.m. at church

REGISTRATION REQUIRED

As Earth has ceased to tolerate the pretense of human mastery over it, how can humanity across national boundaries confront climate change as a collective crisis? What political theology is emerging to affirm the diversity of peoples and move collective action within the current political climate? What approaches are faith leaders taking to move collective attention to the intersections of climate catastrophe? What is the prophetic imperative for ministers, congregations, and interfaith coalitions to respond to help bring about collective commitments for social and ecological justice? Facilitated by Rev. Jen Crow, Senior Minister

Sunday, April 16, 2 to 5:30 p.m. in the Social Hall

RSVP here

Join the First Universalist Community for a Barn Dance & Social at church. No square dancing experience necessary at all—just come have fun! There will be potluck snacks, live music, and a square dance caller—and, a chance to hang out and enjoy the company of old friends and new.

This is a multigenerational event and childcare will be provided (kids are most welcome to join in the fun, but we know sometimes that's not quite what the kids would enjoy; when you RSVP, make sure to also fill out the childcare form). Masks are optional.

Let us know you're coming, and tell your friends to join us. RSVP here.

Wednesday, April 19, 6–8 p.m.

RSVP REQUESTED

Swing by church for a delicious home-cooked meal at 6 p.m. All are welcome and there is no charge. This month, we'll celebrate Earth Day with a delicious vegan dinner prepared by the Environmental Justice Team's Food Solutions group. Following dinner, join a breakout group to connect in smaller groups around a shared interest. Details.

Thursday, April 20, 10 a.m. program in the Social Hall or on Zoom

Salad & Soup Lunch begins at 12 p.m.

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, April 20, we’ll explore the topic of ambiguous loss with Dr. Pauline Boss.



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.

Saturday, April 8

Young Families Spring Celebration

Sunday, April 9

Grief Group CANCELLED; resumes April 23

LGBT Spirituality

Tuesday, April 11

Climate Resilience & Faith Circle Begins

Sunday, April 16

Church Square Dance

Sunday Afternoon with the EJ Team

Wednesday, April 19

Community Dinner

Thursday, April 20

Daytime Connections

April Board Meeting

Sunday, April 23

Grief Group

Caregivers Group

Wednesday, April 26

BIPOC Dinner Church

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

AUW Spring Retreat – April 28-30, 2023

The theme is Badass Women; it will be held at Camp Courage near Annandale. Registration is open and fees are reduced this year! Go here for more info and to register.

Hiking Group:  Meets most Saturdays at a park or trailhead. For questions, contact Marie Sorenson. April 8, 2 p.m. Minnehaha Falls, 5000 West River Parkway, Minneapolis. We will not be going on narrow path down by Minnehaha Creek, or down any steps. Meet at falls or bridge over falls. Marie will be there. April 15, 2 p.m. Lake Harriet, meet at bandshell. There is pay lot (money goes to Park Board). Or park on Lake Harriet Parkway. Lynn will be there.

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 date: April 13, 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. This month's book is "The People We Keep" by Allison Larkin with a meeting on April 24. RSVP to host Susan at 612-578-9655 or Armington007@gmail.com Address: Studio 501 at 2205 California St NE; building is locked so Susan will meet people at 6:30 or 7:15 pm in the Mojo Cafe parking lot at the Parking Lot Door (off of 22nd Ave). In Person Potluck at 6:30 pm, discussion at 7:30 pm. An online discussion will take place at 7 pm on Zoom.

First Saturdays, 9:30 a.m.–noon in person at church

12 Step Spirituality meetings will gather in our church on the 1st Saturday of each month beginning on Oct. 1, 2022 and ending on May 6, 2023. The meeting focuses on people who are actively working a 12 step program. It is focused on the 11 step to the practice of Centering Prayer Meditation. Meeting details are available at 12stepspirituality.org.

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.

Our full updated Covid policies are available here. A summary of updates (as of November 2022) to our masking policy is as follows:

Highlighted Updates: 

• Masks continue to be required in the sanctuary on Sunday mornings and for special services for everyone ages 2 and up 
• Masks are optional in the rest of the building outside of the sanctuary on Sunday mornings/for special services, and at all other times and for all other church activities, when Covid community levels are Low or Medium, with the following exception:
• Masking will be required in classrooms and small groups when a participant reaches out to Lauren Wyeth, Director of Spiritual Growth for All Ages, in advance to make that request. Lauren will hold the name of the person making the request confidential, and will alert the group leader and participants that masks are required for that in person small group or class. 
• When Covid community levels are High, masks are required throughout the whole church building.

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.