Dear Ones,

This weekend, in fact, by the time you read this, I will have already commenced a quite literal “stopping in the name of love” as I undertake a metta (loving kindness) retreat led by the Common Ground Meditation Center. It is a ceasing of the daily activities of life that keep most of us busy, and a radical simplifying of life, for the purpose of intensive spiritual practice. On retreat, we will be cultivating states of being and habits of the heart, so that when we are off the meditation cushion, they are more readily available in our everyday lives. It is very much about stopping in the name —or in this case, for the practice— of love. 

You can learn more about metta (or loving kindness) practice at any of these links. And, here are two recordings of metta meditation practice if you’d like to experience it for yourself: metta instruction for children and metta instruction for adults.

So how can we “stop in the name of Love” when we’re not on retreat?

My spouse recommended to our household that we do only one thing at a time. In this electronic device rich world that we live in, it is alarmingly easy to fill every waking moment with a device in our hands. Doing so adds at least one more thing to whatever it is that we were already doing. How many times have I caught myself walking while texting or sitting? In a waiting room somewhere, reading an email, or social media, or a random article about something that I happen to have a passing interest in? How many times have I eaten a meal with my phone in front of me? You get the picture.

You might wonder, “where is the love?” in this practice of stopping and doing only one thing at a time. Here is the love: when we do just one thing, we are opening up to love for the life that we're living. We are saying “I love and I care about this life.” “I'm present for the miracle that my life is.” “I'm present for the wonder of the world that I live in.” And, “I am present to the implausibility that I am here in this moment, able to be aware of it, and so I will savor it.” I will relish in this life by doing one thing at a time and therefore I will be stopping in the name of love. 

See you when I'm back from retreat,

Rev. Arif

Intro

One Thing at a Time

Sunday Worship

Sunday, August 13, 10 a.m.

Sunday, August 6 Recordings

Cycle of Life

News & Features

Special August Sundays

Fall Community Dinners

Programs Calendar

RE Registration

Liberation Book Group

Young Adults

Community Events & Affiliated Organizations:

AUW, 12-Step Spirituality

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Sunday, August 13 — 10 a.m.

Why Stop Now?

We often exclaim church to each other as a place, a sanctuary, a place away from other places. Isn’t it at least as much a moment we make special together? A present-day prophet, the black, science fiction writer Octavia Butler describes “God is change.” How would your relationship with holy things shift if you were looking not for things that have become divine, but instead were on a hunt for the becoming itself in progress? Would that change what goodness you discovered in you?

This week in worship, we explore the ways the divine expresses in units of time. Guided by the ancient Hebrew practice of sabbath-keeping, we reflect on the special moments of life that keep us in motion. And we ask ourselves and each other: What will stop to have time for what’s holy? What gets a no, so you can be present to what’s right in front of you?

IN PERSON AT 10 A.M.

This Sunday, we worship in person at 10 a.m. Masks are welcome but not required in the sanctuary; please review our Covid-19 Gathering Guidelines. 

ONLINE AT 10 A.M.

This service is live-streamed at 10 a.m. Watch the livestream here. 

CHILDREN & YOUTH

Childcare is available in the nursery starting at 9:45 for babies through preeschoolers. Children ages 5-12 attend the first part of worship and are released partway through worship for crafts, games, and playing outside. Learn more here.

AFTER WORSHIP

A Place to Start - 11:15 a.m. or right after worship

Facilitated by one of our members, A Place to Start is a brief, casual orientation to Unitarian Universalism and First Universalist Church. During this 40-minute class, participants will learn about the foundations of our faith tradition and opportunities to get involved. The facilitator will be holding a green “Here is A Place to Start” sign at the front of the sanctuary after the worship services. We look forward to welcoming you!

A Place to Start is next offered on September 3.

August 6 Worship Recap:

Backing into the Big Questions

Shifted schedules, evening sunshine, produce that doesn’t fit anybody’s plan for the week, movies and music and sunsets that take our breath away and demand that we stop and pay attention invite us to ask big questions. What are yours and ours, and how might we respond?



Listen to the entire August 6 worship here

*New* Each week, the "sermon" or "message" recording is posted separately from the podcast of the entire service. Listen to Rev. Jen's sermon here.

Watch the August 6 service on YouTube here

Podcast Archive | Recording Archive | Sermon Archive

For Lauren Wyeth, who had surgery for breast cancer on Wednesday. We hope it was the sum of her treatment needs. Prayers for ease and care, and for the experience of being held and cared for with love as she recovers.

Our hearts are with the family and friends of Ricky Cobb II who was killed by a MN State Trooper in a traffic stop on I-94 last week. We hold his family, his friends, and the wider community of Black folks in MN in our embrace this morning, praying that justice be done, and that justice embrace not just the officers, not just the incident, but the whole system that creates these kinds of senseless killings. 

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.

Coming Up: Special August Sundays

August 20- Lake Harriet Worship at 10 a.m.

Our Lake Harriet Sunday is a summer highlight! It is part of an annual outdoor worship series at the Lake Harriet bandshell with about 15 neighborhood congregations participating. This year we're excited to once again enjoy a potluck picnic together after the service.

Sign up to usher or greet. Arrive at 9:20 to get ourselves organized.

Please note: this will be our only worship service on Sunday, Aug. 20. There will not be a service at 3400 Dupont, and the service will not be live-streamed

August 27- Backpack Blessing

As summer comes to an end, don’t miss our annual Backpack Blessing and worship service this Sunday, Aug. 27 at 10 a.m. The multigenerational service will offer children, youth, and adults of all ages the opportunity to reflect upon how we might carry the love of our church community and the tools of our faith with us wherever we go.

After worship on the 27th, we'll enjoy a community lunch under the tent and an Open Eye Theater Driveway Tour performance of Molly and the Magic Boot.

Fall Community Dinners

We had such fun meeting new folks and reconnecting with old friends, eating yummy homemade meals, and deepening our spirits in breakout groups last year. This year, Community Dinners are back starting Wednesday, September 13! There will be a pre-party for families with young ones from 5-6, dinner from 6-6:50, and breakout groups from 7-8:15. All are welcome and there is no charge. We always offer vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, nut free and kid-friendly options. Mark your calendars and nourish your belly and spirit in community. RSVP and menu available soon. 

2023-24 Religious Education Registration

Religious education runs from Sept. 10, 2023-May 19, 2024. Learn more and register your family today.

In RE, and in all stages of life, we seek to expand our hearts and minds, make a difference in the world, mark important milestones, and explore big questions in the context of a supportive, anti-racist, anti-oppressive, radically welcoming religious community.

We are a church dedicated to racial justice, and we honor all kinds of families, recognizing our interdependence and our common foundation of love.

Dreaming Liberation Book Group

No More Police

Tuesday, August 15, 4-6 p.m. at Church  

Learn from and integrate the wisdom of beloved authors and movement leaders, Mariame Kaba and Andrea Ritchie, with others who are interested in diving into their new book, No More Police, which passionately synthesizes the experiences and expertise necessary for building a new world with less violence. The book is readily available for purchase online or at local libraries. First U can provide a copy upon request.



Co-facilitated by Denise Kohnen and Rev. Ashley Harness

REGISTRATION REQUESTED

Young Adults go to Music in the Parks

Friday, August 18, 6:30 p.m. BYO meal, 7:30- 9 p.m. music

Dine al fresco by Lake Harriet and enjoy live music from Minneapolis-based Nunnabove. Heralded as “the next generation of Minneapolis sound,” the sibling quartet produces danceable, soul-pop grooves. RSVP Requested.

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

Fall Kickoff Event: September 16, noon-2 p.m. This is a time to KICK OFF our AUW mission for our new program year, greet old friends and meet new ones! Please come!

Hiking Group: Meets most Saturdays at a park or trailhead at

10 a.m. Bring sun protection, sunscreen, and bug spray. For questions, contact Marie Sorenson, 612-419-3620 or Lynn Richardson, 612-323-2776.

August 12 MN River Valley Wildlife Center. 3875 American Blvd, Bloomington, MN.

August 19 Wood Lake Nature Center, 6710 Lake Shore Drive , Richfield, MN.  

August 26 Normandale Lake. 84th and Chalet Road. Bloomington, MN.

Game Group: Meets at the church on the second Thursday of each month to play board games and socialize. The next game night is September 14. You are welcome to bring snacks to share and a game you would enjoy teaching others. To receive email updates, contact Anne Frenchick. If no one responds to Anne that they are coming, the Game Night will be canceled early that day. Please let Anne know if you plan to attend.

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 contact info to Abbie Finger. The next meeting will be Monday, Ausust 28 at the home of Debbie Cash (612-363-7794). We will be discussing The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré. In Person Potluckat 6:30 p.m.; discussion at 7:30 p.m.; Zoom Discussion at 7 p.m.

Give and Take a Book! *new!*

To share books we love and build more literary connections, we are starting a new project. If interested, please bring 1 or 2 books (no more!) to give at the monthly book club. If interested, pick a book to take home. To help make connections, put a post-it note on the book with your name and a reason you liked the book. 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 cell 612-250–1661.

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.

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.