Dear Jenn,

I am so very glad to be back among you! I returned to church last week after six weeks away and I am so glad to be right here with all of you. The time away was exactly what I needed—time for rest and renewal and intensive care for my body and spirit. I am so grateful to work and lead in an environment where caring for our bodies and spirits is not only talked about, but actively encouraged. Thank you for making this space for me. Thank you for the gift of this time and for creating countercultural spaces here at First Universalist and in the larger community where we can be welcomed and cared for as the whole people we are. I know that not everyone has the opportunity to step away from their work—be it paid work or the essential work of caring for loved ones. I wish—and work—for all of us to have the support and care we need to thrive. I’m grateful to return to you with a greater sense of internal health and balance. 

While I was away, Tricia Hersey’s book, Rest is Resistance, was an everyday companion. Hersey, a Black writer and theologian, grounds her work in Black liberation. “Survival is not the end goal for liberation,” she writes. “We must thrive. We must rest.” 

Coming from a legacy of exhaustion, Hersey tells the story of her grandmother, Ora, who landed in Chicago during the Great Migration, and raised eight children under the intersecting shadows of racism, poverty, and sexism. Hersey often came across her grandmother sitting quietly with her eyes closed. As a child, Tricia would ask her, “are you asleep?” And her grandmother would reply, “Every shut eye ain’t sleep. I am resting my eyes and listening for what God wants to tell me.” Reflecting on these experiences as an adult, Hersey understands her grandmother’s commitment to resting her eyes as a radical practice of resistance—a way to demand space for her own rest, and for listening to the spirit of God.

This image struck me because I, too, often came across my grandmother and then my mother sitting or lying on the couch with their eyes closed. I, too, would ask as only a child does if they were sleeping, and they would respond in the same way: “No, honey, I’m not sleeping, I’m just resting my eyes.” 

Hersey explains that when her life was at its most challenging, she too, took up the practice of resting her eyes. For her, it was often on public transit traveling between school and home and work. A few moments claimed to stare out the window or to close her eyes for rest or daydreaming. Resistance to the constant drum beat of the cultural forces of exhaustion, poverty, capitalism, and white supremacy. A few moments to know herself as her own. A way to claim space and time in the midst of the swirl of life and obligations made heavier by the systems of oppression weighing down on her. 

As I’ve made my return, wading back into the joys and obligations of being with you full-time as your minister amidst the swirl of parenting and caring for loved ones on opposite coasts, I continue to bring Tricia Hersey’s message of liberation rooted in the Black experience to mind. I close my eyes and remember my grandmother and my mother before me. I remember that wherever I am and whatever is happening, there is room to rest my eyes and slow my breathing. There is space amidst it all to remember ourselves and our deep interconnection. To trust that rest is more than an avenue to greater productivity—but is actually a form of resistance and liberation. 

May you, too, find and claim those moments of rest and resistance, and may you trust that when you do, the care and centering you experience can create ripples of change for our world. 

In gratitude,

Rev. Jen

Rev. Jen Crow

Senior Minister

First Universalist Church of Minneapolis

Intro

Rest, Resistance, and Liberation

Sunday Worship

Sunday, March 26, 9 & 11 a.m.: "This isn't a crisis, this is your life."

Sunday, March 19 Recording: "A Covenant with Mystery"

March 19 Cycle of Life

News & Features

Ginny McAninch on What First U Means to Her

Your Input Needed: Beloved Community Behaviors

Call for Chalice Pillow Volunteers

Chili or Hotdish? Cook-Off Voting!

Member Name Tags

Drawdown Challenge

Calendar

2nd-5th Grade RE Overnight

BIPOC Dinner Church

Young Adults Lunch and

"Crafternoon"

Young Families Spring Celebration

Online Membership Classes

Grief Group

Caregivers Group

April Events

Affiliated Organizations:

AUW, 12-Step Spirituality

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Sunday, March 26 — 9 & 11 a.m.

"This isn't a crisis, this is your life."

This isn’t a crisis, this is your life.

These wise words arrived at my mental doorstep a few weeks back, and they stopped me in my tracks, shares Rev. Jen. How might I—and we—make space to breathe and reflect, to name and collectively acknowledge the losses and changes that have impacted us all in different ways over the last three years? This Sunday, through story and song, meditation and prayer, we will engage in the collective spiritual practices of naming what is and what has been, as we prepare our spirits to claim their place in what is emerging.

Worship leaders: Rev. Jen Crow, Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Rev. Ashley Harness, and Franco Holder



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

Childcare is available for Nursery-5th grade; regular Religious Education classes are on break this week. Childcare for Nursery through Pre-K starts at 8:45/10:45 a.m. Registered children and youth in K through 5th grade begin their morning in the sanctuary with their families before being dismissed to optional childcare. All ages are always welcome in the sanctuary! Learn more here.

Sunday, March 19: "A Covenant with Mystery"

As Unitarian Universalists, we make covenants all the time. Our relational faith is built on covenant. We make horizontal and vertical promises to each other and to the oneness of mystery. A relationship with the unknown opens the mind and frees the creative spirit.

Watch the March 19 service here

Listen to the March 19 podcast here

From last week: Listen to the March 12 podcast

Podcast Archive | Recording Archive 

Our thoughts are with Kay Ulrich, who’s mother, Dorothy Louise Ulrich, died on February 22. Dorothy and her husband’s ashes will be interred at Fort Snelling Cemetery later this spring.

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.

“This is a picture from the mid-80s. It is me with a wonderful woman named Grace Wilson. She inspired me then and my memories of her inspire me still. She was a leader, a helper, a community builder. She is one of the hundreds of people from First Universalist who have touched my heart, made me a better person, comforted me and moved me to action. With deep gratitude, I am now a church elder. May I continue to give, receive and grow with all of you for many years to come!”

Ginny shared her testimony in worship this past Sunday; you can watch/listen here.

Our First Universalist vision includes becoming a multiracial, multigenerational and multicultural community. This is the Beloved Community that we want to build together. A Community of many communities—that are multigenerational, multicultural, and multiracial. This beloved community will not be given to us—we have to build it and tend it. We are the people who will create this Beloved Community, through our actions and behaviors. So what we choose to do, what we commit to, really matters!   

Commissioned by the Board, a small group, The Commitment to Beloved Community team, has been meeting to help our community move toward the commitments we want to make for beloved community. Take five minutes to think of one behavior that you or someone you know at church does that builds beloved community. Please document your answer in the survey below.

Thank you on behalf of the Commitment to Beloved Community Staff Team,

Eric Cooperstein, Shelley des Islets, Rev. Andrea Johnson, Ginny McAninch, Janet Merrill, Velma Wagner, Meg Riley, Lóre Stevens with support from Rev. Arif Mamdani and Sara Hedge  

This year's Youth Sunday worship service will be on Sunday, May 21. During the service, our graduating seniors receive their beautiful chalice pillows as we send them out into the next phase of their lives with love. If you would like to be on the chalice pillow team, please contact Carolyn Liebler (liebler@umn.edu or 612-716-0665). It is great if you have sewing experience, but it is not required.

Let the cook-off voting begin!

Remember that form you filled out a while back? The one that invited you to suggest foods that would be judged at a First Universalist Cook-off? Well, the top choices have been identified and the voting has started to determine the final winner. 

The top choices are: soup, bread, pie, chili, and hotdish, and Round 1 voting is open now - vote here (look for chili versus hotdish in the lower left).

Each week, another option will be eliminated and we’ll announce the winner at the April 16 square dance (rsvp here and let us know you’re coming). 

Details on the cook-off will be available as we get closer to June’s Annual Meeting.

Questions? Contact Rev. Arif - arif@firstuniv.org or 612-405-5482.

You may have noticed that many members are sporting new name tags! If you are a member and would like to order a new name tag with larger text and your pronouns, please order here by Tuesday, April 11. If you’d like to order a name tag, but aren’t sure if you’re a member, contact Membership Coordinator Liz Farmer.

Submitted by Todd Pierson

The recent UN climate report makes an alarming notice that the globe is continuing to warm at a rate that will exceed 1.5℃. But the report also states that it is within our power to slow this change, IF WE ACT NOW. 

But what can we as individuals do? That's where our EJ Climate Action team steps in with our 21 day First U Drawdown Carbon Challenge starting April 1. Watch the Liberal for how you will be able to participate and take climate action to help Mother Earth. And plan to attend one of the two launch events:

First U Drawdown Challenge Launch (Sign Up Here)

• Saturday, April 1, 11 a.m. via zoom 
• Sunday, April 2, 1 p.m. at church

Saturday, March 25 at 4 p.m. through Sunday, March 26 at 9 a.m., at church

Registration Required

First Universalist's annual Family Overnight is this weekend! A scavenger hunt, dinner, talent show, ice cream sundaes, and active games make the evening fly by. (Don't let your kid get a single year older without learning how to play that 1st U favorite—sardines!) The thrill of exploring the church by flashlight at night and waking up in a classroom on Sunday morning is something they will never forget. Learn more and sign up online here today.

Wednesday, March 29, 6–8:30 p.m. in the Cummins Room

RSVP REQUESTED

Members and friends who are Black, indigenous, and people of color are invited to First U's monthly BIPOC dinner church! After this dinner, from 6:30–8:30 p.m., we will host a special BIPOC-only Visionary Goals session, because your input is vital to the future of First U! If you have already participated in a Visionary Goals session or don't wish to, not to worry. We will have another space available for spiritual nourishment and social connections.

Sunday, April 2, 12:45–3 p.m. at Sister's Sludge

RSVP REQUESTED

Meet for one or both: a post-worship lunch at Sister’s Sludge (3746 23rd Ave. S.) and an afternoon of crafting and casual conversation. Bring your materials for whatever creative project you’re working on! We’ll have some cross-stitch starter kits available, too!

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 Nick Nier, First U member

Saturday, April 8, 9 a.m.–11 a.m. in the Social Hall

RSVP REQUESTED

Families with babies through 1st graders gather to celebrate new life and all things spring with the youngest members of our church community. Join us for egg dying, an egg hunt, games, seasonal crafts, and a chance to connect with other young families at First Universalist Church. We’ll enjoy bagels, muffins, fruit and boiled eggs for a light brunch. Older siblings are welcome.

Hosted by Hirut Hedge, Spiritual Growth Programs Assistant, & Lauren Wyeth, Director of Spiritual Growth for All Ages

Thursday, March 30* OR Tuesday, April 11, 6:30–9 p.m. on Zoom

REGISTRATION REQUIRED *Registration deadline for March 30 class is Monday, March 27!

Joining First Universalist is a symbolic, spiritual act of saying “yes” to growing your soul in this place, with these people, within our free faith tradition. Our membership class offers a chance to learn about the ministry areas of the church, be in community with other new members, and officially join.

Sundays, March 26, April 23 & May 21, 1–2:30 p.m. on Zoom

REGISTER HERE

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. Facilitator: Rev. Arif Mamdani, Associate Minister

Sundays, March 26, April 9, 23, May 14 & 28, 4–5:30 p.m. on Zoom

REGISTER HERE

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. We will be here for you. Facilitator: Rev. Karen Hutt, Community Minister

Sunday, April 2

BIPOC Book Group

Young Adults Lunch & Crafternoon

Saturday, April 8

Young Families Spring Celebration

Sunday, April 9

Grief Group

LGBT Spirituality

Tuesday, April 11

Climate Resilience & Faith Circle Begins

Membership Class

Sunday, April 16

Church Square Dance

Sunday Afternoon with the EJ Team

Wednesday, April 19

Community Dinner

Thursday, April 20

Daytime Connections

April Board Meeting

Sunday, April 23

Grief Group

Caregivers Group

Wednesday, April 26

BIPOC Dinner Church

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. March 25, 2 p.m. Richard T. Anderson Nature Center, 8737 East Bush Lake Road, Bloomington. Meet at trailhead sign in parking lot. Marie will be there. April 1, 2 p.m. Westwood Nature Center, 8300 West Franklin Avenue South, St Louis Park. Meet in parking lot. Lynn will be there. April 8, 2 p.m. Minnehaha Falls, 5000 West River Parkway, Minneapolis. We will not be going on narrow path down by Minnehaha Creek, or down any steps. Meet at falls or bridge over falls. Marie will be there. April 15, 2 p.m. Lake Harriet, meet at bandshell. There is pay lot (money goes to Park Board). Or park on Lake Harriet Parkway. Lynn will be there.

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 to Anne Frenchick. Next date: April 13, 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. 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. This month's book is The Seed Keeper by Diane Wilson with a meeting on March 27. Sara McMullen will host this month. Please email or call her and let her know if you are able to attend. RSVP at 612-805-5059 or saramcminneapolis@gmail.com

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.