"Making Better Mistakes"

Dear Ones,

This week brought me to the intersection of the Mississippi, Missouri, and Illinois Rivers, where I met with a group of colleagues to study the topic of reparations, repentance and repair. I was given the task of offering the opening worship service, and I’ll share a bit of my sermon here. 

I arrive here like all of you, exhausted, heartbroken, and yet heart faithful to who we can be as humans—heart faithful to this hope of decreasing the harm we do to each other and the earth, to the hope of increasing the possibilities for transformation, for creativity, for connection and care and wonder and joy. 

For me the why of this work is simple. Despite our aspirations and our dreams, I don’t believe there is a world where humans don’t hurt each other, no set of conditions that keeps us from causing harm, no actualized permanent way of being from which we become perfect to one and all. As religious leaders, I believe that our job is to normalize this reality of imperfection, to help decrease the harm that we do to each other, to help ourselves and our congregations and communities to work with the harm that has already been done so that we can transform it. After all, what’s the alternative? To keep adding more and more pain and harm to the world? To keep on hurting each other out of the trauma of the past and present? To miss out on the unfathomable transformations that are possible—the wonder of healing, of connection and care? There is so much at stake.

As Unitarian Universalists, we come from particular faith traditions: from Unitarianism that tells us that self-culture and education will lead us onward and upward forever and ever, that perfection is possible. But history, and the present moment show us otherwise. There is no world in which we don’t hurt each other, where we don’t make mistakes. I don’t believe that we are perfectable.

We come from Universalism—which did away with punishment in the afterlife, but in its abolition of hell never did put into place the systems and structures, the containers and practices that would lead to the flourishing of all beings in the here and now. 

As people who come out of these traditions, we have work to do. And we are trying. Trying to put love at the center of our faith. Building beloved community—communities ordered in love. And we have a lot of work to do.

If we are going to be alive in this world, and certainly if we are going to be in community together across difference, we are going to hurt each other. There are going to be misunderstandings, different priorities, assumptions, harms done with and without malicious intent. I believe this is just how it is. We can do better at not causing harm, absolutely, but we will never be free from it—from causing it or from being hurt.

I believe that we are going to have to get good at understanding ourselves as people who will make mistakes and hurt each other and others too—and to give each other room and love ourselves and each other through it. We’re going to have to get good at the feelings that come with that: with feeling dismissed or dismissive, feeling defensive, hurt, angry, and ashamed. We're going to have to learn how to be uncomfortable: how to let those feelings ride through us like waves until we can get to curious again. 

When we normalize the fact that we all harm each other it doesn’t let us off the hook, instead it keeps us on the hook—to learn the practices of repair—to own when we’ve done things that hurt—realizing that we can let in the the impact of the harm we’ve done without dying. Understanding the hurt we’ve caused won’t kill us, it will allow us to learn and grow and do better next time. We cannot make no mistakes, but we can make better mistakes. 

In gratitude,

Rev. Jen

P.S. Speaking of learning and growing, help us do that with our digital spaces by filling out this survey.

Intro

"Making Better Mistakes"

Sunday Worship

This Sunday, Nov. 19, 9 & 11 a.m.

Sunday, Nov. 12 Recording

Cycle of Life

Fall Programs

Young Adults

Community Dinner

Meditation Group

Save The Dates

Pastoral & Community Care

Grief & Caregiver Groups

Faithful Action

AFA Clothing Drive

News

Board Meeting

Survey

Buy A Journal

Community Events & Affiliated Orgs:

MUUSJA, Hats for Unhoused People, AUW, 12-Step Spirituality

Some email programs truncate long emails; watch for "message clipped; view entire message" or similar at the bottom of this email if you don't see all contents listed.

Sunday, November 19

In-person at 9 a.m.; In-person & Online at 11 a.m.



"Staying at the Table: Starts with Grace"

This Sunday's 'Staying at the Table: Starts with Grace' celebrates the joy of embracing new members, showcasing the grace that defines our community spirit across our whole lives long. As Thanksgiving approaches, bringing its complex weave of anticipation and anxiety around encounters with all kinds, we invite you to a service that rekindles the essence of connection through the simple, yet profound act of sharing grace. 

This week’s service will explore the significance of grace not only as an expression of love and kindness but as an initiating embrace that precedes all our encounters. Discover how approaching every moment with graciousness, warmth, and gratitude can redefine our interactions and offer us a new lens through which to engage our membership and view ourselves and others.

In worshipful community, we’ll embrace a service dedicated to unclenching defenses, our unique traditions lifted up and joyfully shared together, and trying on other ways to engage that may just turn a years-long drudgery to delight (props to First U Worship Associate Meleah for that one!). Transform your fears into wellsprings of hope and opportunities for deep connection.

Whether you come with an open heart or a seeking spirit, let this service arm you with the spiritual nourishment needed to face the complexities of the season with a renewed sense of thankfulness. Take from our gathering the gifts of perspective and fellowship you can carry beyond our doors to all your holiday engagements.

Let's begin with grace, together.

Join us in cultivating gratitude and graciousness for all life's encounters. Don't miss this moment to strengthen your spirit and enrich your practice of thanks.

Peace,

Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, for the Worship Team at First Universalist 

Join us for worship this Sunday, Nov. 19, in person at 9 and in person and livestreamed at 11 a.m.

Announcing: Low-sensory Space Starting This Sunday

In response to requests from First U families, we are happy to announce that we are piloting a low-sensory space for children on Sunday mornings. This space is for children in K-5 who are overstimulated or overwhelmed by the sensory input of the sanctuary, including noise, light, and movement. This space will include soft lighting, quiet toys and fidgets, and low sound. We will stream the worship service with captions on the TV in the room but will not play the audio of worship. All children who are in the low-sensory space must be accompanied by one of their grown-ups at all times. 

The entrance to this space is through room 104 on the lower level of the education wing close to the parking lot. There is a small room inside of the 104 classroom which is where we are trying out the low-sensory space. This space will be open from just before worship begins until the children are dismissed from Religious Education, at which time the low-sensory space will close and all children will go to their classrooms and their adults will be invited to return to the sanctuary for the remainder of worship. 

This is an experiment, and we appreciate your grace as we learn together along the way. We are relying on your feedback to let us know how it is working for you and so we can improve. We hope this space meets a need for our First U children and families, and are grateful for all the ways we show up for each other in community.

Worship Info

IN PERSON AT 9 & 11 A.M.

This Sunday, we worship in person at 9 & 11 a.m. Masks are welcome but not required in the sanctuary; please review our Covid-19 Gathering Guidelines. 

ONLINE AT 11 A.M.

This service is live-streamed at 11 a.m. Watch the livestream here. 

CHILDREN & YOUTH

If you have not yet registered your family for this year of Religious Education, please register your family today. All families — new and returning, with babies through high schoolers — must register each church year.

AFTER WORSHIP

Coffee Hour in the Social Hall

Visit with old friends and meet new ones over coffee and cookies in our social hall.

A Place to Start

Immediately after each worship service

Join via Zoom at the session after the second service

Are you new or new-ish to First Universalist and wondering where to begin? Here’s “A Place to Start!” Whether you're simply curious or are considering making this your spiritual home, in this casual, 45-minute class, you'll learn some of the basics of Unitarian Universalism, as well as how to get connected to what you’re seeking here at church. Meet at the front of the sanctuary immediately after the service on a 1st or 3rd Sunday.

No RSVP necessary.

Facilitated by First U members

"Scooching Over"

• Watch the Nov. 12 service on YouTube
• Nov. 12 full service podcast
• Nov. 12 Rev Jen's sermon

Podcast Archive | Recording Archive | Sermon Archive

There will be a memorial service for Linda McNary December 2nd at 2 pm at church. Rev. Jen welcomes your memories and stories about Linda via email as she crafts the service with Linda's family.



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.

Young Adults

Young Adults Program Brainstorm

Sunday, Dec. 3

12:45-2:45 at church

RSVP Requested

What are the unique spiritual needs, tasks, and joys of life in your 20s and 30s? How are we as a community meeting those needs already and what is missing? Liz Farmer and Rev. Ashley Harness invite you to bring your ideas, hopes, and dreams to share over lunch.

Young Adults are folks in their 20s and 30s in varying social/cultural life stages. We are in school, job-searching and working, single, married, partnered and dating, with kids and without, newly moved to the area and longtime residents. We gather about twice a month for structured and unstructured conversation, spiritual practice, and activities.

Community Dinner + Carols

December 6

Family pre-party 5-6 p.m.: We'll host space for play, crafting, and socializing for families with babies to 5th graders in the Cummins Room. At 6 p.m. we'll share dinner together.

Dinner 6-6:30 p.m. Swing by church for a delicious home-cooked meal at 6 p.m. in the Social Hall. All are welcome and there is no charge. Menu available on our website, a week in advance. We always offer vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, nut free and kid-friendly options. All church events are alcohol-free.

Following dinner, let’s join our voices in a multigenerational carol shout led by Dr. Glen Thomas! Come suggest your favorites and maybe even learn some new ones! All ages and vocal abilities- perceived or otherwise- are most welcome.



Christmas Pageant Rehearsal 7-8 p.m. Kids and youth with speaking parts in the pageant will practice after dinner.

Tuesday Meditation Group

Weekly Practice: 8:45-10:15 a.m. online and in-person

Monthly learning session on Dec. 12

You are invited to meditate with our lay-led practice group. None of us are experts. Our practices come out of our own experiences, and we share inspiration from many sources including Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, Pema Chodron, Thich Nhat Hanh, Tara Brach, Tai Chi, Loving Kindness, poetry and more. We don't follow one method or another, but we do share what we learn with each other. After meditation we practice deep listening to hear from each person, if they choose. No registration required. Email Sara McMullen for Zoom details.

Save The Dates!

Blue Holidays

December 16 at 7 p.m.

at church and virtual

If you're seeking a sanctuary to share and embrace your sorrow during this holiday period, we graciously invite you to our "Blue Holidays" service. Honoring the interplay of joy and sadness that characterizes this season, our service offers an empathetic space to witness your grief in community.

Share the event on Facebook

Winter Solstice Ritual

December 21 at 7 p.m.

at church and virtual

Celebrate the longest night of the year and rejoice in the returning of the sun at our annual Winter Solstice Ritual. The celebration is one we build together as a community with earth-honoring traditions, music, shared moments in the darkness, and the bringing of warmth and firelight.

Share the event on Facebook

Christmas Pageant

December 23 at 4 p.m.

at church and virtual

Our annual Christmas Pageant is a beautiful telling of an ancient story. It is a tale of hope and hospitality, a reminder that every child is born a redeemer, a story that speaks to us all of what it means to be a seeker, a star, a singer, a wonderer, a wanderer, a wise one. Our Christmas pageant this year will be performed by our kids and youth on Saturday, Dec. 23 at 4 p.m. There will be a light reception with hot cocoa and cookies following the performance.

Youth K-12 who wish to participate should be signed up by Nov. 26 here.

Share the event on Facebook.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

December 24 at 7 p.m.

at church and virtual

The annual Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at First Universalist is a time of meaning-making and music. This service is a weaving of ancient scripture readings, modern poetry, carols, silence, and lighting our hearts and spirit anew with the candlelight of Love.

Share the event on Facebook.

Grief Group (online)

Sundays, Nov 19, Dec 3, Dec 17, 4-5:30 p.m. on Zoom

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 on any or all dates. We will be here for you. Facilitated by Mark Caswell (he/him/they/them), a member of First Universalist Unitarian Church of Minneapolis and an aspirant on ordination track within the UUA. He attends United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities and lives in Minneapolis. He finds grounding in meditation, poetry, watercolor painting, and practicing deep listening. He also holds a BFA in Theater Design from Rutgers University in New Jersey.

Email Rev. Arif Mamdani for Zoom details.

Caregivers Group (online)

Sunday Dec. 10 1-2:30 p.m. on Zoom

Caring for a family member who needs special care is a demanding and often unseen or unacknowledged role. Whether you’re caring for an aging parent or a child with a chronic health condition, join the Caregivers group for mutual support, connection, and community building. When we gather, we’ll light a chalice, have time for introductions, and share a reading, then move into deeper sharing, support, and reflection. Come as you are, when you feel moved to attend on any or all dates. 

Facilitated by Rev. Arif Mamdani.

Email Rev. Arif Mamdani for Zoom details.

AFA Winter Clothing Drive

Thanks to all who brought underwear for our October drive! Now we are seeking new gloves, gloves for texting, leggings, and warm socks, as well as new or gently used t-shirts and hoodies. Please bring items to the First U Social Hall on Sunday, November 19.

AFA is a public charter high school serving students in the Phillips neighborhood; many experience housing and food insecurity. AFA is a long standing Faithful Action Community Partner and First Universalist congregants have generously supported a Food and Clothing Closet for AFA students for over 10 years. Contact Cindy Marsh with questions.

Board Meeting

The Board of Trustees meets generally on the third Thursday of each month, next on Thursday, November 16 at 6:30 p.m., in person and online. Meeting materials can be found here.

Survey on Digital Spaces

We just went through a renovation to our building to bring it into alignment with who we are as a community now and who we strive to be. Now is the time to do the same for our digital building, aka our website and all its accompanying online architecture of communication. We are building a team to do this work with Rev. Ashely and our board member Emily Bijnagte at the helm. 

As a first move towards redesign, we need you to take a few minutes to fill out this survey about your current experience with our website and online communications. We would love your response by Sunday, November 19.

Superheroes Art Exhibit

Artist Barbara Porwit was on the list of friends who received a daily post about music playing on the radio as Jill was receiving her breast cancer radiation treatments. Jill asked her friends for suggestions of superpowers she would get based on the songs. Jill’s imagination and good humor in the face of her diagnosis amazed Barbara and helped instigate the Breast Cancer Superhero Portrait Project.

Jill was Barbara’s first portrait subject. A seasoned performer, Jill wanted to be pictured with her feathered fans. She suggested transforming her hospital bracelets into Wonder Woman bracelets and decided she would deflect breast cancer bullets with her disco-ball inspired bra. Most of all, the painting was to be about the look in her eyes. It needed to say: You can't get me. I got this.

Support Our Youth by Buying A Journal

Our 10th graders recently returned from their pilgrimage to Boston to learn more about their UU ancestors.

As you heard on Sundaay in worship, this is a formative trip for our youth that connected them deeply to the people, the history and the possible future of our shared tradition.

We invite you to purchase a journal with art from one of our high-school youth, illustrating our worship theme for the year. They are available on a sliding scale and all proceeds will benefit the Boston Pilgrimage Fund.

Buy a Journal

MUUSJA Organizing Workshop

Join this multigenerational workshop to learn effective strategies and techniques for engaging folks of all ages and stages in your justice work. We’ll hear from Minnesota UU youth activists as well as community elders on creative, joyful, and meaningful ways to organize and connect across the generations. Click here to register.

Hats for Unhoused People

Think big, warm, and wooly! Are you a fiber artist who knits/crochets/weaves/felts? Donate your handmade hats at First Universalist, October through January. Donated hats will be distributed to local schools, shelters, and community service agencies that serve people in need. Sizes requested: Large and XL,

Time frame: October - January, Drop-off site: Basket by the elevator (see photo), Contact: Barb Melom • More Info

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

Registration Now Open for AUW Fall Mini Retreat

November 18, 2023 11 a.m.-4:15 p.m.

"Enhancing Wellbeing and Resilience, Mindfully"

AUW invites those who identify as women to a November 18th afternoon at First Universalist Church, filled with resilience strategies to help manage health and wellbeing challenges, be they major or every day. Luncheon is followed by Keynote speaker, Mariann Johnson (pictured here), a wellbeing and mindfulness instructor at the Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing at the University of Minnesota, who will discuss the Bakken Center’s six-dimensional wellbeing model and explore mindfulness as an innate capacity that can be strengthened to promote wellbeing and resilience. Mariann has studied and practiced mindfulness meditation for over 25 years and is a certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction instructor through Brown University’s Mindfulness Center. Before dedicating her professional life to teaching mindfulness, Mariann served as an organization development consultant and mediator, working with leaders of Fortune 500 companies, government agencies and nonprofit organizations. Her writings on mindful leadership have appeared in the Huffington Post and Mindful Magazine.



Three breakout sessions, following the keynote, will offer different strategies with solid ways to enhance resilience. Our closing session provides an opportunity to connect with others and reflect on opportunities for progress.

Join us to nurture deep-rooted friendships and begin new ones!

Registration: AUW Members $10, Non-members $20 - Another great reason to join AUW!

For further details and to register, click here. Note: Ticket quantities are limited. Online ticket sales end on November 17 at noon, but a very limited number of tickets will be available at the door on Saturday.

Hiking Group: Meets most Saturdays at a park or trail head. For questions or to get on the hiking group mailing list, contact: Marie Sorensen, phone / email, or Lynn Richardson phone / email.

November 18 - no hike. AUW Mini-Retreat at First U. Come to the event. 

November 25, 2 pm - Lake Harriet, Minneapolis. Meet at the bandshell. Marie will be out of town. Unsure if will be a leader. Thanksgiving weekend.

December 2 - Westwood Nature Center. 8300 West Franklin, St Louis Park - Woods, boardwalk, nice nature center. Meet inside.

December 9 - Normandale Lake. West 84th Avenue and Chalet Road, Bloonington

Go South on Chalet Road. Big parking lot one your right. Cross Chalet Road and meet by Normandale Lake sign, lakeside. 1.9 mile loop, small waterfall even in winter.

December 16 - Roseville Central Park. 2540 Lexington Avenue North, Roseville. Be sure to use Lexington Avenue north Entrance. Meet in parking lot.

December 23 - Richardson Nature Center. 8737 East Bush Lake Road, Bloomington. Meet by Trailhead sign in Parking lot. Asphalt trail is easier in winter. Some easy hills. Nature Center has bathrooms.

Game Group: Meets at the church on the second Thursday of each month to play board games and socialize. You are welcome to bring snacks to share and a game you would enjoy teaching others. To receive email updates, contact Anne Frenchick. The next game night is December 14. Neither Lisa nor Anne will be available to host that night, but the room is reserved and anyone is welcome to show up!

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 email invitation to our next meeting and be added to our email list by sending your name and email address to Abbie Finger. The next meeting will be November 27. We will be discussing Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Gamus. Location of the in-person meeting is available to those on the mailing list. The Zoom version of the meeting convenes online at 7:00 pm.

Give or Take a Book!

To share books we love and build more literary connections, we are going to start a new project. If interested please bring 1-2 books (no more!) to share with someone at the monthly book club. Pick a book to take home. To help make connections pls put a post-it note on the book with your name and the reason you liked the book. (Post-it notes will be available). If a book you brought is left over please take it home or it will be donated to a Free Little Library. Any questions or ideas contact Nora Whiteman.

These meetings are intended for people who are actively working any 12-step program. The program is focused on the 11th step and the practice of Centering Prayer Meditation. 

Weekly on Zoom

and

First Saturdays of each month, 9:30 a.m. to noon, in person at First Universalist

In-person 12-step spirituality meetings gather in the church on the 1st Saturday of each month, ending on May 4, 2024.

In-person and Zoom meeting details are available here.



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.

Based on ongoing monitoring of COVID levels in Hennepin County, masking is welcome, but not required, inside the building—including the sanctuary. Learn more about our Covid and Community safety policies on our website.