Dear Jenn,

Last Sunday we held our state of the church meeting. This is an annual opportunity for staff to report back to the congregation on progress we’ve had thus far toward our yearly work plan, to share a mid-year budget update, and to look forward to what’s coming as we end the church year. It is also an opportunity to answer questions that are coming up for the congregation. We have a recording that is available to watch here, and in addition are offering this high-level “key points” recap.

• We are still here. The last three years have been challenging in ways we never could have imagined, and despite those challenges, we are still here. The pandemic and racial justice uprisings impacted all of us in different ways and as a church, we showed up and cared for each other and for the wider community. 
• Our progress toward our work plan is proceeding well. Participation in small groups, circles, and community gatherings is strong and continues to grow. The Wednesday night community dinners are a new tradition and have provided a much-needed source of connection and community building. Religious Education continues to be strong, as do the opportunities to connect in identity-based communities.
• Our Visionary Goals process is underway. Training for facilitators will happen this weekend, and you can sign up for sessions that start the week of February 20. You can learn more about this effort on our website.
• The Change Team and Covenant Development Team will both be sharing updates at this month’s board meeting.
• The church has experienced conflict this year, and each time we do, we learn and get better at it. Conflict at church is particularly painful and we wish that it did not occur, but as Rev. Pyle pointed out in his report, it is a normal part of any culture change process. We are heartened by the participation in the different conflict related circles and are grateful for the ongoing opportunities to repair relationships, learn, and grow together. We anticipate a Right Relations Team training with Rev. Pyle later this year in conjunction with teams from Unity Unitarian and White Bear UU Church.
• Regarding our budget, we made substantial progress toward closing the $200K revenue gap that was in the budget the congregation adopted in June 2023. The board and members of the church led an invitation to close the gap and the congregation responded generously, contributing more than $100K. And, based on our projections, we project a deficit of $137K. Closing this gap is far from impossible, and it will require that we come back to the congregation later in the year for additional fundraising.
• Also on the topic of fundraising we shared that in the “peak” pandemic years, we made the decision not to push hard on fundraising because the PPP loan provided some budgetary relief and because we felt we had a responsibility to prioritize caring for people through the pandemic's financial hardships. We believe that was the right move, but it had unknown costs that are now reflected in our current financial status: the choice to be softer on fundraising meant that we did not hold the kind of 1:1, member to member conversations that are traditionally part of a fundraising campaign. This had a direct financial impact, and also meant that we missed out on important community building work that is a natural part of fundraising.
• One more fundraising related item: we talked about the cycles of fundraising for the remainder of the year:

1. In March, we will launch our annual giving campaign asking the congregation to support next fiscal year’s operating budget. We make these asks in March so that we have a good sense of the revenue for the coming year and can then develop a budget for the congregation’s vote at the June annual meeting.
2. In April/May we will engage the congregation in additional “close the gap” fundraising to close our revenue gap
3. In June, we will vote on our annual budget for our next fiscal year.

• Finally, we shared some highlights of the year’s end:

1. Annual meeting in the beginning of June
2. General Assembly at the end of June, where delegates will be invited to vote on a proposal regarding changing how we understand and articulate our Principles and Sources, and vote on a new president for the UUA.

It is an honor to serve this congregation. If I can be of help or support with any questions or concerns you may have, please don’t hesitate to get in touch, and please do take some time to review the recording from the state of the church meeting.

In faith,

Rev. Arif

Rev. Arif Mamdani

Associate Minister

First Universalist Church of Minneapolis

Intro

State of the Church Meeting

Recap

Sunday Worship

Sunday, Feb. 19, 9 & 11 a.m.: "Universal-ish"

Happening After Worship

Sunday, Feb. 12 Recording: "Are We Sleeping Through a Revolution?"

Cycle of Life

News & Features

Visionary Goals Workshops

Nominating Committee Recruiting for Leadership Positions

Mandala Exhibit Closing

Adding Artwork to Our Spaces

Reproductive Justice Invitation

Flower Donations

Coffee Hour Chow

Calendar

February Board Meeting

Sunday with the EJ Team

Dinner Church for BIPOC

Young Adults Lunch & Loop

Families of Babies & Preschoolers Meetup

Caregivers Group

Grief Group

Affiliated Organizations

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Sunday, Feb. 19 — 9 & 11 a.m.

"Universal-ish"

You may or may not know that there have been multiple flavors of Universalism, some with caveats or some that were questionable. We can learn a lot about our own flavors of Universalism through the stories from our spiritual ancestors. As First U decides who we become next, it can be helpful to reflect on who we have been. Join us this Sunday for a taste test of vintage Universalisms.

Worship leaders: Lóre Stevens, Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout

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!. Please note that Winter Parking Restrictions (single sided parking) are currently in place in Minneapolis.

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 this Sunday. There is optional childcare for ages 6 months to 5th grade. All ages are always welcome in the sanctuary! Learn more here.

A Place to Start

10 a.m. & noon in the Chancel Room

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 first or third Sunday.

From Sunday, Feb. 12:

"Are We Sleeping Through a Revolution?"

Who said: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice”? (multiple choice: A) Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; B) Theodore Parker; C) None of the above) Watch our Feb. 12 service to learn both the answer and what these ministers and theologians had to say to Unitarians and Universalists in the past as well as what their words say to us today. How do their words point us toward two essential movements in our spiritual and religious lives and what do they call us to today?



Watch the Feb. 12 service here

Listen to the Feb. 12 podcast here

Podcast Archive | Recording Archive 

We hold Marion Dane Bauer in our hearts this morning. We are grateful to her for sponsoring this morning's flowers, in memory of her son Peter's life. 

We hold Joyce Sutherland in our hearts as she and her family mourn the death of her husband, Jim Sutherland, at 88 years old. Joyce lifted up that Jim's time serving as chair of the Social Action Team during the Vietnam War was a highlight of his life's commitments. We celebrate their great love of more than 60 years and the 50 years that they shared as a part of our community.

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.

The church's Board of Trustees welcomes the whole church community into the important process of Visionary Goals Planning, charting the future of the church for the next five years and beyond, via a series of upcoming workshops.

Visionary Goals Workshops are an invitation to listen together, not only for who we are as a faith community, but who we are becoming. As a congregation we are in a tender place. Envisioning our future is extremely important communal work that asks us to ground ourselves in our values, open our hearts, call upon our wisest selves, and turn our attention to what is moving within, between and beyond us. The Visionary Goals that come out of this process will guide all the work of the church for at least the next five years.

There are fourteen workshops—11 in person and three on zoom—scheduled between Monday, Feb. 20 and Thursday, March 16. Please give us the gift of your time and attention as we do this work together.

Sign up for a workshop here.

Free childcare is available when requested a minimum of one week in advance by filling out the form here.

Learn more and watch an Introduction to the Visionary Goals Process here.

Submitted by Ray Dillon

The Nominating Committee is now recruiting candidates for leadership positions on the Board of Trustees, the Foundation Board, and the Nominating Committee for the 2023-2024 church year. We invite and encourage members to nominate themselves to serve in one of these roles. Serving on one of these bodies enables you to represent other church members to ensure that the church moves forward in alignment with its visionary goals. Members have unique opportunities to collaborate with our ministers and other lay leaders to advance the church’s mission! Positions are for a three-year term. Below are brief descriptions of the different positions:

Member of the Board of Trustees: Trustees partner with the congregation and professional staff in shaping the vision and long-term goals of the church. They articulate these aspirations through policy and collaborate with the Senior Minister to see they are fulfilled. A fuller description of the position can be found here. 

Member of First Universalist Foundation Board: Board members serve as stewards of the Foundation endowment. They solicit grant applications, review applications, and select grantees to be awarded funding. A fuller description of the position can be found here.

Member of Nominating Committee: Committee members screen and recommend candidates to the congregation for vacant positions on the Board of Trustees, the Foundation Board, and the Nominating Committee. A fuller description of the position can be found here.

Requirements: You must be a member in good standing of the church. Elections occur at the Annual Meeting on Sunday, June 4. Please consider either nominating yourself or encouraging a fellow church member to apply for this important work. 

Applications are due by Friday, March 17, and the application form can be filled out here.

If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Ray Dillon, the Nominating Committee chair, at dillonrueter@usinternet.com 612-759-5295, or contact members of the Nominating Committee: Jim Ramnaraine, Valerie Garber, Evelyn Browne, and Chad Anderson.

Submitted by Bette DeMars

This coming Sunday, Feb. 19 will be the final day to view (and perhaps purchase) Fawzia Khan’s mandalas from her Persevere exhibit. Many thanks to Fawzia for sharing her talent with our congregation!

About the exhibit: Titled “Persevere,” the installation was created in response to the profound grief and paralysis Fawzia felt as a result of the pandemic and the murder of George Floyd. As an attempt to revive her creative juices, she challenged herself to draw one mandala a day on her iPad and post it to Instagram. Creating a mandala is a contemplative process, and a meditative way to center and rediscover joy in art making. It was a much needed escapist practice that helped her to refocus.

Submitted by Bette DeMars

SPIFF (Space Planning Improvement Facilities & Furnishings) members Bette DeMars, Kristen Mengelkoch and Lynne Stanley along with Steve Oakley are pleased to be finally hanging artwork which was stored during the building renovation. Gordon Coons’ Woodland Style Indigenous art prints and Denise Konen’s crane painting have been hung in the RE wing.

Colorful panels will soon provide warmth to the hallways and additional artwork will be added to classrooms. The office reception area now has artwork. SPIFF has started adding pieces to the Cummins Room. The first addition is a series of beautiful creation stories needlepointed by congregant Gail Hanson. Minister photos, information about Reverend John and Dru Cummins involvement in providing a chapel, and our UU with flame will also be included there.

The wooden triptych Tree of Life honoring memorial bequests to First Universalist will soon be hanging in our sanctuary and bulletin boards will be available in the Atrium and Social Hall.

Submitted by Sara McMullen

On March 5, our worship service will be all about Advocacy and Persistence. This is the second in a series of Justice Sunday services with significant congregant contributions, and Rev. Ashley Harness-Jimenez is the minister who is helping to ground and inspire us.

How does Reproductive Justice affect you? Your spirituality? Your family? Your life goals and dreams? Have you or your children participated in OWL / Our Whole Lives Sexuality groups?

I have five minutes to share during the service. Will you share your stories with me so I can include them? Will you stand with me? We also need people to greet after the service to offer options of ways to advocate for Reproductive Justice. That's another way to contribute.

Thank you for considering making a commitment of yourself and your time towards this effort. Please reach out to me at Sara McMullen saramcminneapolis@gmail.com and identify yourself in the subject line.

Submitted by Marjie Smith

The Visual Arts Committee would like to help you honor milestones in your life (or loved ones) by arranging flowers and displaying them on the chancel in your/their name. If you are interested in this, please contact Marjie Smith: marjiesmith1@gmail.com or call 612-825-1125. We can work out specifics and what Sunday works for you. Let's celebrate! 

Submitted by David Leppik

Do you think it would be lovely to have a bite to eat during coffee hour? Do you think a little food would encourage people to linger and nourish their soul? Do you want to help make this happen? If so, join us on Zoom at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 23 to discuss ideas for making this happen. Questions? Email David Leppik at david@leppik.net for more information.

Deepen your connections at church through one or more of the wide variety of opportunities we're offering now through May. Get details about all of our Winter/Spring Programs and register today!

Thursday, Feb. 16, 6:30 p.m.

Information about this evening's board meeting is available here.

Sunday, Feb. 19, 3–5 p.m., in the Cummins Room

Join the EJ team, and like-minded congregants, to explore and discuss our new Biodiversity working group and view this inspiring, and eye opening film, The Seeds of Vandana Shiva. Action steps will be shared related to the national Farm Bill due to be renewed this fall.

On the third Sunday of the month the Environmental Justice Team offers environmental justice movies to open a window into the world of the climate crisis and possible solutions and actions you can take now.

Wednesday, Feb. 22, 6–8 p.m. in the Cummins Room

RSVP REQUESTED

What’s Dinner Church? Pretty much what it sounds like-—we’ll have a meal together while creating a worshipful experience with music, words, and opportunities to share what’s on our hearts and minds. You’ll be fed in body and spirit while helping to create and sustain the community we all need. We gather on the last Wednesday of each month. BIPOC members and friends of the church are invited. Kids are welcome and encouraged to attend, and childcare staff will be available to support parents and caregivers.

Hosted by Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Director of Worship Arts Ministries, Lóre Stevens, Cummins Ministerial Intern, and Rev. Arif Mamdani, Associate Minister 

Also offered Wednesdays, March 29, April 26 and May 31

Sunday, Feb. 26, 12:30–2:30 p.m.

RSVP REQUESTED

Meet for one or both: Meet Kelly and David in the social hall after the second service and then head to Gigi’s Cafe together (824 W. 36th St.). After lunch, we’ll go for an outdoor loop (weather dependent) in the neighborhood around church and near Bde Maka Ska.

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 at church and in the community for structured and unstructured conversation, spiritual practice, and activities.

Hosted by Kelly Prosen and David Feldmann, First U members

Sunday, Feb. 26, 12:30–2 p.m. in Room 102

RSVP REQUESTED

Join us for a casual meet up and playdate after church. There will be snacks, a craft, and plenty of opportunities to chat with other parents/caregivers while little ones play. Families with babies through preschoolers are invited; older siblings are welcome.

Hosted by Hirut Hedge, Spiritual Growth Programs Assistant

Sunday, Feb. 26, 1–2:30 p.m. on Zoom 

REGISTRATION REQUIRED 

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. 

Facilitated by Rev. Arif Mamdani, Associate Minister

Sunday, Feb. 26, 4–5:30 p.m. on Zoom

REGISTER HERE

A twice-monthly 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. We will be here for you. Facilitator: Rev. Karen Hutt, Community Minister

Karen Hering’s new book, Trusting Change: Finding Our Way through Personal and Global Change, has been referenced in our summer services and our recent congregational retreat where Karen spoke. For those interested in this book or the topic of living with change, Karen’s online newsletter, Threshold Times, offers an additional resource. Her monthly reflections on threshold living are posted at karenhering.substack.com, or you can sign up to have them delivered to your email inbox. This month’s reflection is posted here.

Submitted by Karen Wills

Be in the know & prepared to cast an informed vote at General Assembly! Paula Cole Jones (originator of the 8th Principle & member of UUA Article II commission) leads a Zoom forum on Saturday, Feb.18 hosted by MUUSJA, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with rest breaks. Saturday participants are invited back on Tuesday, Feb. 21 from 6 to 8 p.m. Central for optional breakouts with your circles (e.g., RE teachers, social justice teams, young adults, youth). Requested donation to offset costs is $50 (or what you can) and can be made here.

Register here

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. February 18, 2pm; Bredesen Park, 5901 Olinger Blvd, Edina. February 25, 2pm; Fort Snelling State Park, 101 Snelling Lake Road, St. Paul. Requires a State Park annual or daily pass.

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 address to Anne Frenchick. Next date: March 9, 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. This month's book is Search by Michelle Huneven with a meeting on Feb. 27 in person and on Zoom. 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.

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.