Steep. Swift. Valley Fair...

Dear Ones,

Working for a church in September is like the part in the roller coaster ride at the crest of that first hill. Sure, the travel up was leisurely, peaceful even. Then the coaster car slows a bit and rounds to change directions, and you suddenly remember how fast this ride looked from the ground. But it’s the top of the hill–time to accelerate, dive deep, to hear the sounds all around you get louder. Time to be exhilarated and nervous all at once, to throw your hands up and release yourself to the plunge into whatever’s coming next–which, though you’ve studied the track fifty-thousand times from the queue, will still manage to surprise your whole body awake. The church year, the thrill ride–I’ve lost track of which I was describing! 

Your church leadership–member leaders and staff alike–are geared up and prepared to bring our best to the year to come. And it’s going to be a fantastic set of delights and surprises, chances to listen and learn and plunge into the depths of marvel and mystery and compassion and challenge. This is noticeable throughout our  community, including in our Worship Arts Ministries. Over the next months, I’ll spend some time writing to you about our ongoing development as worshipers and artists in ministry. But let’s start like the coaster, with a survey of the riveting ride. Here’s some of what’s right down the track:

• The Chalice Lighters will begin leading in worship soon, after a training and commissioning session at October’s end. Through the church year, this group of young ones will light the chalice flame, setting the light for our Sunday journeys in worship. Look for more details and an invitation to be a part of the program in next week’s Liberal and Weekly Family Enews.

• The worship team is always working to improve the quality of our collaborations and leadership, like any other ensemble of artists. This year, though, I’ve named for the whole team the goal of consistency and excellence in our all-generations worship. You’ll see that in storytelling and interactive engagement, our invitations to embody, and conscious fine-tuning of that first segment of worship where our youngest are in the sanctuary. My colleague Allison Connelly-Vetter and I have also gotten some plans underway to more frequently open the chancel for kids and youth to lead worship in major ways.

• In a move to help the worship team’s many arms to work more cohesively, I’ve organized the monthly themes in four quarterly concepts by which our Visual Arts Committee can organize changes to the decor of the chancel backdrop. Those four quarters form a year in worship titled “A Web of Lives”, deepening our skills and spirits to answer love’s call to tend the connections within and between every heart.  

• Our Commitment to Beloved Community Team has helped us see the ways we already bring this alive in our relationships heart-to-heart and as a living spiritual community. The team leading the project have helped us articulate the ways we see beloved community alive right here at home. The nine statements they’ve drawn from your work will now lead our next nine months of worship.  This week in worship, you’ll be invited to see your words represented graphically in a great big heart (a sound metaphor for our work, if ever there were one). Inside, take a look and find your voice in the lifeblood which courses through, keeps beloved community alive among us, and opens our doors wider still.

• Choir at First Universalist is starting the planning stages. After asking for volunteers in a service this past July, nearly 20 of you responded! We’ll meet together a couple times in the coming months to establish a concrete vision for choral music at First Universalist, and to help me find the resources to power that vision. Allison and  Iare also following up on interest in a children’s choir.

• Instead of a plug-and-play hire, I’m revamping the church pianist position in response to what you told me in last year’s Music Listening Survey (thanks again to Shelley, Shelley, Ann, and Lou for a champion’s effort leading that process). The position will continue to be staffed by a pianist who’ll play in worship. It will also broaden to include working with musicians within our community who want to play music in worship and throughout the community.. Ultimately, I imagine this grows to a lead collaborator for our arts programs and beyond–a role on staff to resource ensembles and organizations alike to work together well. 

We’re at the initial stage of this, and the speed at which we can make this happen fully will likely be limited by our budget and administrative support needs. And still, our dream is by no means stymied, neither is our capacity to start bringing parts of the dream to fruit. More details and a job description coming soon.

Meanwhile, a rotation of guest artists are staffing the piano bench in worship as we enter the interim. Paolo, and Barbara, and Sally, and George will take turns keeping our congregational singing well supported and worship full of beautiful music, along with some of our community’s beloved musical artists (including Ellis Delaney and Dean Magraw) to round out the fall and winter lineup.

I’m also working with our Artist-in-Residence to update and expand the reach of her position and presence in the community. Aimee’s beginning by starting to attend our worship team meetings regularly as a consulting creative voice, and we’re laying the foundation for Aimee to help us strengthen our community building skills in all areas of church life and leadership, using her deep expertise onstage in a project we’ve taken to calling “Congregational Theatre Coach.”

And ten worship associates will begin their year in a journey of spiritual leadership with me at the end of this month. Emberly, Kaden, Katherine, Mark, Deborah, Dallas, Sherry, Meleah, Nancy, and Nanette. They’re joining a worship team that’s growing in number and skill. 

Here we are, at the top of the mounting energy in the planning stages, turning now to round the crest and let the wind (and fastidious engineering and a confidence-inspiring lot of experience and expertise) take us to see what the future holds. And this is just Worship Arts (and only part of it, for that matter)! Our community is finding new opportunities to grow at every turn and corner. Ain’t it good seeing the church’s engines crank up with possibility? Isn’t it just wonderful to… uh-oh, here comes Septembeeeeeeeeeeeeeer!!!!!!! 

Peace, 

Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout

Director of Worship Arts Ministries  

Intro

Worship Arts Roller Coaster

Sunday Worship

This Sunday, Sep. 17, 9 & 11 a.m.

Sunday, Sep. 10 Recording

Cycle of Life

"All In Sundays"

News & Features

Early Fall Programs

RE Volunteers Needed

Programs Calendar

Soup Cook Off

Daytime Connections

Parent Nourishment

Faithful Action

Environmental Justice Team

Habitat for Humanity Build

Community Events & Affiliated Organizations:

Women's Ritual Circle, AUW, 12-Step Spirituality

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Sunday, September 17

in-person at 9 a.m.; in-person & online at 11 a.m.

Every Last Drop: Welcomeing All People

This coming Sunday, Sept. 17 at 9 and 11 a.m: Spiders catch water from thin air and store it in the web. There’s no need to go and find it; they are quenched simply by the water the web holds. Spiders build webs to pull raindrops in toward the center which, in turn, make more room on the edges for new drops to arrive. 

What if entering the beloved community were a continuing cycle of coming out from the rain, closer and closer to each other? And what if welcoming those on the edges were the action at our core? 

Drops of water and wisdom await us on the web. The more we welcome well, the healthier we all are. What would it take to welcome all people? What would we have to lose? What’s not to gain?

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

Religious Education for children in pre-K through 12th grade begins this Sunday, Sept. 17.

Childcare is available in the nursery starting at 8:45 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. respectively for children ages 6 months through preschool. 8th grade OWL students will also begin in their classrooms at 9 and 11 a.m.

All other children and youth in grades 1-9 begin in the Sanctuary with their families before being dismissed to their Religious Education classes approximately halfway through the service.

Senior High Youth Group (grades 10-12) will gather from 10:30-11:30 a.m. in room 209 for the first few weeks of the church year. The room will open at 10 a.m. with snacks and drinks for senior high youth. Please reach out to Allison for more information at allison@firstuniv.org.

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

A Place to Start - 10 a.m. & noon, 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 October 1.

Sept. 10 Worship Recap: Water Communion

• Watch the Sept. 10 service on YouTube
• Sept. 10 service podcast

• Watch the Sept. 3 service on YouTube
• September 3 service podcast
• Matt Meyer's September 3 sermon only

Podcast Archive | Recording Archive | Sermon Archive

Our hearts are with Ginny McAninch, her daughter Kris and grandson Jack, and their friends and family. On Monday morning, Sasha, their sweet, funny, spirited, joyful, strong, kind, creative and loving granddaughter, daughter, and sister passed away. Unexpected but peaceful, she died in her sleep at age 18. Friends and family have surrounded them. Even in their shock and sadness the family feels the love and support and are grateful. May our care and love hold them in their grief and sadness.

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.

For Your Calendar: All In Sundays

Welcome, in this Season of Return,

from UUA President Rev. Sofía Bettancourt

Rev. Bettancourt writes:

It is with a mixture of joy and a heavy heart that I welcome you into this season of return, as Unitarian Universalists celebrate ingatherings in congregations and communities and we come back to each other. With natural disasters looming, violence in our streets and in our institutions, and hate-fueled harm appearing daily in our newsfeeds, this is a difficult time. And yet I know that our communities offer the kind of ministry that responds to the need for connection and solace. 

As congregations return to each other, I, too, am returning to leadership in the Unitarian Universalist Association. I am grateful for the love and support you have shown me during my presidential campaign, and I am moved by this opportunity to serve our faith. We are at the start of our shared ministry together and there is much to do. I want to share the video message below with you to begin to describe this work, and I hope you will share it widely with your congregations and communities.

As we move together into this new time for Unitarian Universalism, I want us to hold on to the lessons we have learned coming out of the pandemic – lessons about how to hold one another in care, how to protect the health of all, and how to center the needs of those most vulnerable among us so that community – writ large – continues. This is the work of communal care, as we steward this faith together. 

Be well, Beloveds.

Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt 

Children, Youth, and Families Volunteers Needed

YOU are invited to spend time with our children, youth, and families at First U this year! Whether you have been a long-time volunteer or are new to helping out with the program, this is a way for you to plug in and build meaningful intergenerational relationships. 

Between now and when Religious Education begins on September 17, we are especially looking for adults to be in our Kindergarten through 6th grade classrooms on Sunday mornings. You will be supporting our youth staff in leading age-appropriate games, arts and crafts, lessons, check-ins, storytime, and playtime for our younger kids. You will be in the sanctuary for the first half of the worship service and then you will join our young folks in the Religious Education wing for the second half of the service. 

We need at least one adult in each classroom for each service each Sunday, for a total of 12 adults every week. That’s a lot of adults! Can you be one of them?

Whether you can volunteer once a semester, once a month, or once a week, we need YOU to make our programming happen. Please email Allison Connelly-Vetter, our Interim Director of Children, Youth, & Families to learn how you can connect with our kids and youth.

September Board Meeting

The Board of Trustees meets generally on the third Thursday of each month, next on Sept. 21 at 6:30 p.m., in person and online. Board materials will be posted here next week.

Welcome Back, Welcome In!

Get connected as we begin the new church year! In this early fall season, we remember and reweave our connections with this congregation and each other. There are a myriad of entry points for all ages. Find registration forms and more details on our website.

Soup Cook Off & Community Dinner

Wednesday, October 11th

Family pre-party 5-6 p.m: We’ll host space for play and socializing for families with babies to 1st graders on the playground (or indoors, if weather requires) and families with 2nd-5th graders in the Cummins Room. At 6 p.m. we’ll move the party to the Social Hall and eat soup together!

Soup Cook-off Dinner 6-7:30pm

RSVP Requested

You might be familiar with the bumper sticker that says: Love people. Cook them tasty food. Now is your chance to do both at church! Our first annual soup cook-off will take place at Community Dinner on October 11! All ages are encouraged to sign up to compete as a soup chef or be a soup judge for five special categories. Those registered to cook and compete will bring servings of their favorite soup to share. Dinner participants will vote for their favorites. Come be a part of nourishing each other and our community! Bring home new recipes! Win the Golden Ladle!  

Time for Further Connection 7:30-8:15 p.m. includes a puzzle table, question prompts for deeper conversation and storytelling, and a place to share joys and concerns.

Young Adults go Birding

Sunday, Sept. 17, 8-11 a.m.

Birds and critters are most active in the mornings! Join for an early-autumn nature experience at Robert’s Bird Sanctuary. This time of year, we’ll learn about warbler migration, butterflies, and wildflowers. Meet at the Peace Garden (4124 Roseway Blvd) just south of church for a 1.5 mile slow stroll, then head to 11 a.m. worship together. Hosted by Michelle Manson, First U community member

RSVP Requested

Daytime Connections:

Reconnecting with Free Lunch!

Thursday, Sept. 21, 10 a.m.

In the Social Hall and on zoom

Have you been waiting for a good opportunity to renew old friendships and maybe start some new ones? Join us as we kick off our “third Thursdays” with a program that’s designed for both purposeful sharing and simple catching up. We’ll also give you a peek ahead at some of the dynamic presenters and interesting topics we are lining up for our October through May programs. Sign-in and coffee at 9:45 a.m. We strongly urge you to register in advance at least by the preceding Monday to let us know if you will be attending in person or virtually. In-person gets you the free lunch!

Parent Nourishment on September 30

Join a two-hour event for parents modeling ways that small creative practices can cultivate joyful resilience. Nationally acclaimed Black and queer playwright, Sharon Bridgforth, will lead this unique experience, joined by Twin Cities artist, Miré Regulus, actor and teaching artist, Aimee Bryant, and parent facilitator (and First U RE parent), Erin Walsh. The event, titled “dem Blessings for Parents: A Morning of Creative Nourishment,” will take place on September 30, 2023, starting at 10:00 AM at our own First Universalist Church of Minneapolis. This event is free for First U parents! Enter the code "FIRSTU" when you register here.

First U Water Protectors:

Pipeline Updates and What's Next

Sunday, Oct. 1, 12:45 p.m. in person at church 

or Thursday, Oct. 5, 5-6 p.m. on zoom



Line 3 may be complete and oil may now be flowing, but the environmental construction damage continues to be documented. Join EJ team’s Keep it in the Ground working group to hear first hand from our indigenous allies about ongoing aquifer breaches along Line 3 in Northern Minnesota. Video will be shared from the MNIPL Indigenous Gathering at the Headwaters this past June.

EJ’s working group will also share updates on Line 5 in Wisconsin and Michigan, as well as the Willow Project in Alaska and the Mountain Valley Pipeline in West Virginia and Virginia. What do these pipelines all have in common? 

Join us to explore this question and actions we can take to promote “keeping it in the ground.” For more information contact Roberta Haskin, lead for Keep it in the Ground Working Group. Register here to receive the zoom link for Thursday, Oct 5, 5 p.m. session.

Habitat for Humanity Build Day

October 11, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. in Phillips neighborhood

Come join our crew! All you need is a willingness to work – no experience necessary. We will be working on a new home doing whatever the site supervisor asks of us; putting up siding, hanging sheetrock, painting…whatever needs doing with on-the-job training. Lunch will be provided. Registration required.

Under Northern Skies Women's Ritual Circle

Under Northern Skies Women's Ritual Circle is a spiritual practice group in which

self-identified women with many different life experiences, backgrounds, and belief systems come together to change, grow, and celebrate the Divine in each other through earth centered ritual. The gathering dates are every new and full moon. There is not a permanent group leader. Volunteers take turns to design, guide, and direct the new and full moon rituals. The date's astrological aspects may guide the topics and themes rituals explore. Rituals also draw inspiration and meaning found in many other earth centered practices and beliefs. One does not have to espouse any particular religion or philosophy or believe in any particular deity or deities to participate in the group and derive meaning from its activities. All one needs is a desire to live in a way that acknowledges the cycles of life and nature, and to grow spiritually and personally alongside a mutually supportive group of other self-identified women. Contact Ann Hobbs with questions.

Attend one or more of the open group gatherings to learn if this experience is for you.

Gathering time 7:00 p.m. Ritual begins at 7:30p.m. in Room 209.

• Thurs, Sept. 14 New Moon in Virgo
• Fri, Sept. 29 Full Moon in Aries
• Sat, Oct. 14 New Moon in Libra
• Sat, Oct. 28 Full Moon in Taurus

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

Hiking Group: Meets most Saturdays at a park or trail head at 10 a.m. For questions or to get on the hiking group mailing list, contact Marie Sorensen, 612-419-3620 or Lynn Richardson, 612-323-2776.

Sept. 16 at Lake Harriet. Meet at Pay Lot or Bandshell. Park in lot or on Parkway. Led by Lynn Richardson.

Sept. 23 at Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden. 1 Theodore Wirth Parkway. Led by Marie.

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 & meet new ones! Please come!  

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 September 14. 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 pm every Thursday. Hosts are Liz and Carol. Here is the Zoom link to tune in.

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 Monday, September 25 when we will be discussing Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan. Location of the in-person meeting is available to those on the mailing list. The Zoom version of the meeting convenes online at 7 p.m.

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. If interested, pick a book to take home. To help make connections, please put a post-it note on the book with your name and the reason you liked the book. Leftover books will be donated to a Free Little Library. Any questions or ideas contact Nora Whiteman at 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.