Worship
Sunday, June 26, 10 a.m.
Recordings & Podcasts
June 19 Cycle of Life
Summer Worship Theme
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News & Features
Ushers & Greeters Needed
Pastoral Care in July
COVID Updates
UUs at Twin Cities Pride
Joyce Food Shelf
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Happenings
Summer 2022 at Church
Chalice & Adventure Camps
Ongoing Gatherings
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Sunday, June 26 — 10 a.m.
"The World Was Made to Be Free In"
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This summer, as we explore the theme of The Bigger Story, we reflect on how we live in stories and also how stories live in us. Spiritual growth can mean giving up stories that have become too small.
This Sunday, join us for a message from Minister Emerita Rev. Kate Tucker, who will lead worship alongside Rev. Arif Mamdani, vocalist Aimee K. Bryant, and guest pianist Tim Kraack.
Rev Kate Tucker (she/her) served First Universalist Church as Associate Minister from 1997 until her retirement in 2012. Post-retirement she maintains a spiritual direction practice, a writing practice, and various involvements with Unity Church-Unitarian (St. Paul) and Twin Cities Friends Meeting (Quaker). She has recently joined us for a couple of months to coordinate summer worship.
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Worship leaders: Rev. Kate Tucker, Rev. Arif Mamdani, Aimee K. Bryant, and Tim Kraack
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IN PERSON AT 10 A.M.
In person worship over the summer months is offered as a single service at 10 a.m. Please review our current COVID-19 policies for gathering.
ONLINE AT 10 A.M.
CHILDREN & YOUTH
You can find information about Summer Sundays for children and youth ages 6 months through 12 years here. |
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6/19: "BOGO Worth & Dignity"
In this service, we welcome guest preacher Nico Van Ostrand, who leads worship along with Rev. Kate Tucker, Lauren Wyeth, Aimee K. Bryant, and Franco Holder. Nico shares: “The equation for calculating price per unit is a simple one, handy for finding the best value at a store. Yet trying to fit our values and Principles into that equation complicates it quite a bit. In this time of rainbow capitalism, performative activism, and faltering progress, let us double check our trajectory. Are we on our way to the heaven on earth Universalists dreamed of, or do we need a new equation?” Watch the recording here.
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A note about technical issues with this past Sunday's livestream: on Sunday, June 19, we experienced technical difficulties which meant that only dial-in attendees were able to access the Zoom livestream. Many of you found your way to the YouTube livestream instead, but not everyone. We apologize for the difficulty accessing the live stream via Zoom, and hope you will connect with this past Sunday's message by watching the recording! |
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Sunday, June 19 Cycle of Life |
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We hold David Feldmann in our care this morning. His grandmother, Doris Baechle, has been moved into memory care. May our love surround David and his family in this tender time.
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.
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Summer Worship Theme: A Bigger Story |
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People tell stories. We tell stories about the day ahead of us as we wake in the morning; we tell stories about our lives, what they mean, and how we relate to and meet the ups and downs of our days. We tell stories as groups, too—things like mission statements of organizations we support and belong to, stories about meaning and purpose in our lives. Sometimes, these shared stories become culture. They tell us what’s good or bad, right or wrong, what it means to be human, how to love, what’s “inside the box” and what’s beyond the pale. In a very real way, we live inside these stories, and as these stories change, so do our lives.
This summer, our theme invites us into the stories we tell about ourselves, about each other, and about the wider world, asking us if the stories we tell are “big enough” to hold us? Does our story of gender make room for what’s true in our minds, bodies, and spirits? Does our story of the land have space for the earth to love us? Does our story of courage have room for our truth? And if and when they’re not big enough, what happens when we tell bigger stories together?
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Sign Up to Greet and/or Usher on Sunday! |
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Please consider taking a turn ushering and/or greeting this Sunday or another Sunday soon! We're still in need of more folks to help out; you can sign up here.
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Rev. Arif and Rev. Jen will both be out on vacation and study leave for much of the month of July. During their absence, Rev. Andrea Johnson will be covering pastoral care for the month of July. This means that if you are in need of pastoral care, please reach out to Rev. Andrea. She can be reached at 612-825-1701 ext 113 or andrea@firstuniv.org.
Rev. Andrea heard her call to ministry here at First Universalist. Prior to seminary, she served the church as a lay-leader in a variety of capacities including as a member of Rev. Justin’s search team, in support of congregational care with Rev. Jen, as a leader in small groups and with UU Wellspring, and as a volunteer in religious education. She recently left her position at the MN Valley UU Fellowship, and is currently working on her Doctorate of Ministry.
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COVID Status Update & Church Policies |
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As of today—Thursday, June 23—the community level of COVID in Hennepin County has dropped to LOW as shown on the CDC’s COVID Act Now website.
This does not yet change our masking practices on Sundays indoors or in larger groups, but it does mean that we are returning to allowing masks to be optional in small group settings at church with the consent of everyone in the group.
You can read our most current COVID policies on our website here.
As a reminder about where we are headed, last week we shared, in part: "Once those vaccines [for ages 6 months to 5 years] are available and a sufficient period of time has passed for households with young children to have had their kids fully vaccinated, we believe we’ll be in a different place with respect to COVID. At that point, and when the CDC COVID Act Now website says that community risk levels are low in Hennepin County, our intent is to have masks be optional in church on Sundays in the sanctuary and for programming during the week. When rates rise to medium or above, we’ll return to requiring masks indoors." You can read that full update in last week’s Liberal.
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Submitted by Karen Wills, MUUSJA Executive Director and First U member
June 25-26: See you at Twin Cities Pride! Everyone waits till now to sign up with the Side With Love brigade here.
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Collecting Items for Joyce Food Shelf |
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We are retuning to the ministry of donating food to Joyce Food Shelf. They are right here in Uptown, and their mission is: to distribute food to those in need, with respect and dignity. We stand with everyone seeking to root out the injustices within our current systems and support full equity for all people.
Please bring nonperishable food and household supplies to the shelves in the church lobby near the large Dupont doors. The greatest need right now is for diapers, wipes and ramen.
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Programs, Classes, Events, and Meetings |
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Get Connected at Church this Summer |
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There are so many ways to connect at church this summer! We've compiled all the opportunities and details here on our Summer 2022 web page. From Sunday community gatherings like our upcoming Blessing of the Animals in July to pastoral and community care groups, faithful action opportunities, and more - there's something beyond Sunday morning worship for everyone at church this summer! |
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Chalice Camp & Adventure Camp |
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Tuesday, July 5–Friday, July 8, 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. at church.
Chalice Campers (1st–5th graders) have a full morning, with active games, a children’s chapel with stories and singing, and small group activities. After lunch, Chalice Campers play outside or head to a local park, then return for a closing meeting and choice activities at church.
Adventure Campers (6th–8th graders) spend the morning in team building activities including games and cooking. They might share lunch at church or out in the world. Their week will include three fun field trips, such as heading to a lake, water park, or movie for the afternoon.
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Grief Group
Every other Sunday, 4–5:30 p.m. on Zoom (July 10, July 24...)
Participants are invited to bring their whole selves and whatever grief they may be carrying. Through sharing, silence, ritual, and reflection, we offer each other support and companionship.
UUs in 12-Step Recovery
Sundays at 7 p.m.
Weekly confidential drop-in group for UUs in 12-step based recovery from all kinds of addiction & family dysfunction. Join via Zoom. (Meeting ID: 922 6965 4151 Passcode: 839388)
12 Step Spirituality - Zoom
Saturdays, 9:30 a.m.
Designed for those actively working a 12-Step program and who want to explore and deepen their spirituality through Centering Prayer. Meeting details: 12stepspirituality.org
Weekly Meditation Group (multi-platform)
Tuesdays, 9–10:15 a.m. on Zoom and in Room 209 at church
Association of Universalist Women Happy Hour
Thursdays at 7 p.m.
Join the 7 p.m. Happy Hour here (Meeting ID: 817 4022 5684; Password: 675052).
Parents & Caregivers of Babies and Preschoolers
Third Thursdays, 8:30–9:30 p.m.
Parents/guardians of little ones gather for mutual support and spiritual sustenance. Register here.
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Church Office Open Hours
The church office is open on Wednesdays, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. and by appointment on other days of the week.
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Weekly Liberal Submissions
We encourage you to submit news!
To do so, fill out our online submission form. Edits for length and/or content may occur. The deadline for submissions is noon on Wednesday the week of publication. The Weekly Liberal is compiled and edited by Communications Manager Jenn Stromberg. Past issues and policies can be found on our website.
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Contact Us
First Universalist Church of Minneapolis
3400 Dupont Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55408
612-825 1701
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