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The Way It Is
William Stafford
There’s a thread you follow. It goes among
things that change. But it doesn’t change.
People wonder about what you are pursuing.
You have to explain about the thread.
But it is hard for others to see.
While you hold it you can’t get lost.
Tragedies happen; people get hurt
or die; and you suffer and get old.
Nothing you do can stop time’s unfolding.
You don’t ever let go of the thread.
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Sunday, January 7
"Love is at the Center of it All"
Rev. Laura Smidzik
Kathy Burek, Service Leader
Sunday, January 14
"Voices of Liberating Love"
Rev. Laura Smidzik
Kevin Sitter, Service Leader
Sunday, January 21
"The Complexities of Love"
Anna Landes Benz
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Sunday, December 31
“Keeping Time”
Chad Snyder, Commissioned Lay Minister
Amy Luedtke, Service Leader
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Congregational Survey
Due: January 15
MSUS Potluck and Coffee House
January 6
“Conversations in the Commons”
January 9
Protecting Minnesota Waters
January 14, 21, 28
January 28 Congregational Forum with Rev. Laura
What to Do about Space?
January Special Collection
Alexandra House
January Worship Theme
Liberating Love
Women's Book Group
January 6
Sunday Evening Book Group
January 14
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Scroll down for the details on Upcoming Worship Services and
Programs, Events, Announcements.
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"The Call of Love"
By Rev. Laura Smidzik
“Ours is and always has been a heretical faith, a courageous faith, a covenantal faith, and a faith that calls us to work with that all-conquering, liberating love, to make this earth a heaven.” - Rev. Tess Baumberger
This month is all about love. January‘s worship and small group theme is liberating love. I wish I could throw a definition I’ve liberating, love in here, but I do not know of one.
I understand the idea of collective liberation, which stems from the belief that none of us is free until all of us are free. I believe that liberative love is intentionally intersectional and transformative. Liberative love most beyond the personal and into the collective.
Perhaps this kind of love, the kind that Rev., Tess Baumberger describes above, really could create heaven on earth. It is aspirational. It is beyond our grasp in this lifetime, and yet, it is the kind of love that is at the center of our UU values.
I remember when I was the intern at First Universalist Church of Minneapolis and we developed the language of “listening to where love is calling you next.” I love the idea of listening for love’s call and being pulled out of our daily comfort and routine to respond to it.
Where does love call you when you listen? At Michael Servetus Unitarian Society we have identified courageous love as one of our core values. Have you been called to practice courageous love? How has courageous love transformed you and impacted others?
I hope this month with the invitation to reflect on love and that it will inspire you to listen and lean into the call of love.
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MORE ON
UPCOMING WORSHIP SERVICES
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Sunday Service January 7
10:30 am
Fridley Community Center and Zoom
"Love is at the Center of it All"
Rev. Laura Smidzik
Kathy Burek, Service Leader
Richard Rohr writes of love as being the soul of the Christian experience and we have placed love in the center of our faith as well. What kind of love? A liberating love! One that asks much of us as people and faith communities. This is Rev. Laura’s auction sermon which was purchased by Kathy Burek.
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Sunday Service January 14
10:30 am
Fridley Community Center and Zoom
"Voices of Liberating Love"
Rev. Laura Smidzik
Kevin Sitter, Service Leader
There is nothing more powerful than stories! This will be a service of listening to voices of those who have experienced liberating love. We encourage you to think about your own experiences of liberating love and consider sharing your story when we open it up in the service.
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Sunday Service January 21
10:30 am
Fridley Community Center and Zoom
"The Complexities of Love"
Rev. Laura Smidzik and Anna Landes Benz, MSUS Congregant
We’ve all had moments in our lives when it may be easier to walk away, shut down, or try to control what love looks like. What happens when we choose to love even though loving may look and feel different than what we imagined. Join us as we explore what we can learn when we are open to the complexities of love.
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MORE ON
PROGRAMS, EVENTS, and ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Congregational Survey - We Need You - Respond Today!
The board of trustees recently sent out an email requesting you complete a survey regarding the current and future direction of the church. The entire email can be read here. Or you can jump right to the survey at this link: Take the Survey- Instructions Included.
The survey will be distributed from December 17 through January 15. We ask that each individual connected to MSUS take a separate survey. This includes adults and youth.
You are welcome to request a paper survey by contacting Colleen Bemis, communications and office manager at office@msuu.org
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MSUS Potluck and Coffee House
Saturday, January 6
5:30 (Potluck), 6:30 (Coffee House- Hybrid)
In Person: Pilgrim House
Online: Our Zoom Room
Join us for the monthly MSUS at Pilgrim House for the monthly Pot Luck and Coffee House (the coffee house is hybrid too). All are invited to attend and perform. Contact Chad Snyder at chadasnyder@gmail.com if you want to perform.
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“Conversations in the Commons”
Tuesday, January 9
6:30-8pm
Zion Lutheran Church
1697 LaFond Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55104
MSUS congregant David Weiss is hosting “Conversations in the Commons” around his work “writing into the whirlwind” of climate change every second Tuesday of the month from 6:30-8pm at Zion Lutheran Church in St. Paul.
Each month David identifies a short selection to read in advance (if possible). At the Second Tuesday event, he’ll offer a few initial reflections and then host a facilitated conversation.
Tuesday, January 9, 2024: HEATED: The Climate of Politics in a Collapsing World.
In my recent blog post, “Slippery When Wet,” I reflect on my unexpected tears in response to my Nicaraguan son-in-law’s U.S. citizenship ceremony—NOT tears of joy but profound anguish over the tenuous politics of his new country. Still, understanding some of the tectonic plates that shake the political ground beneath our feet might also ground us as we meet this moment. The climate crisis and the prospect of societal collapse are clear (though largely unrecognized) drivers of the current political climate. This month we’ll ask what it means for our politics to be so … HEATED. Read “Slippery When Wet” in advance of Tuesday’s conversation. And look for one more new blog (which will be titled, “HEATED”) that I hope to post in the next couple of days.
Note: This is a change from what I had announced last month. Illness, holidays, and other events conspired to reshape my plans. Next month’s Second Tuesday is on February 13. From now on I’ll announce topics closer to the date.
Click here for the full invitation with all the details. Contact David with any questions: (drw59mn@gmail), call or text (651-492-1776).
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“Protecting Minnesota Waters”
Live Stream Programming
First Unitarian Society is hosting a series of programs to emphasize concerns for the environment, especially on the critical water issues facing Minnesota. All of the presentations are free and open to the public, but will also be live streamed at https://firstunitarian.org/live/
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January 14, Noon
What are the Top Water Issues Facing Minnesota Today?
January 21, Noon
Real Solutions: Environment & Climate in the 2024 Legislative Session
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January 28th, Noon
Litigation and Community Advocacy to Protect Minnesota Waters
Full Details Here
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January 28 Congregational Forum with Rev. Laura
What to Do about Space?
As we imagine the years going forward, what type of space could best serve our mission? Rev. Laura has been exploring sharing buildings for several years. She will bring some examples of shared buildings (with pictures!) and lead a discussion with a congregation on what models you can imagine.
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January Special Collection
Alexandra House
Each month we select a partner or fund to support through an offering. Alexandra House is January's special collection. The mission of Alexandra House is to empower victims of domestic and sexual violence, and inspire social change through education, support, and advocacy. They provide round-the-clock service, advocacy and shelter for all victims of violence.
To donate online, use the drop down tab for January Special Collection. If you mail a check, make it out to MSUS with Alexandra House on the memo line. Mail your check to:
MSUS
5625 N Xerxes Avenue
Suite C, Box 240
Brooklyn Center, MN 55430
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January Worship Theme: Liberating Love
Please contact Rev. Laura at revlaura@msuu.org if you would like to join a monthly small group or if you would like a packet of meditations, readings, and discussion topics around the theme of "Liberating Love."
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MSUS Women's Book Group
January 6, 9:30 am
Online: Our Zoom Room
Book selected: Fiction.
"Once Upon a River: A Novel," by Diane Setterfield
The MSUS Women's Book Group is a gathering of female (identifying as female/feminine, LGBTQ+ inclusive)) members and friends who meet the first Saturday of each month to discuss books written by female identified authors. The group alternates between fiction and non-fiction works recommended by one or more of the group members. Contact Pat Ferrian (ferri004@gmail.com) to be added to the email list.
Meetings are held online via ZOOM, 9:30 am to 11:30 am. Unless otherwise noted, use the “Our Zoom Room” (Yellow Button) on the msuu.org home page.
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Sunday Evening Book Group
January 14, 7 pm
Norma’s
The River We Remember by William Kent Kruger. Published in September 2023. $23 pages. “Historical fiction that resonates with our time makes for a great reading experience—especially when it’s done in the literary style of rich, careful language; realistic evocation of place; and deep exploration into character. William Kent Krueger has delivered just this combination in his latest standalone novel, The River We Remember.” —New York Journal of Books
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