Dear Jenn,

As the new year gathers steam and 2022 recedes into the past, it would be easy to miss marking the moment of in-between. On Saturday, Jan. 21, we’ll be at church to make sure that doesn’t happen as we gather for a congregational retreat, named Return Again.

One function of religion is to mark milestones, to help us knit the past to the present and the present to the future. When we pause to notice what we’re leaving behind and prepare for what’s next, we build our capacity to acknowledge the temporal nature of life, and are better able to take responsibility for using the time we have well. A retreat offers “time out of time” for guided reflection and spiritual practices that help our bodies, brains and spirits metabolize and make meaning of the events of our lives. 

The Return Again retreat offers an opportunity to regard our lives as the sacred texts they become when we treat them as worthy of our attention. When we allow the wisdom of the body a place for expression. When we invite the soul’s understanding to surface. When we let our heart’s longing influence our direction.

For those meeting in person: Our morning begins with a light breakfast, then moves into an opening worship service that will introduce us to concepts and practices we’ll explore through the day. We’ll apply a common framework to our own lives – and share our wonderings and wisdom – in breakout groups, meeting before and then again after a delicious lunch. We’ll close our time with ritual and appreciation for one another and what we’ve noticed.

For those who choose the virtual option: Our morning begins with gathering and greeting one another on Zoom before watching the opening worship service together. Afterward, we’ll explore our own stories in Zoom breakout rooms, and end by returning to the whole group for a closing ritual.

The passage of time – the changes that rock our worlds and shape our lives – are foundational to this experience of being human. I do hope you’ll join us in just over a week as we return to who we are again, together.

Warmly,

Lauren

Lauren Wyeth

Director of Spiritual Growth for All Ages

First Universalist Church of Minneapolis

"Return Again" Church Retreat

Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023

8:30 a.m.–3 p.m. in person* OR 9:15 a.m.–12 p.m. online

Every January, we find ourselves on the threshold of another new year. A threshold inviting us to look back on where we have been and to look forward, imagining the year now emerging. A threshold offering us time and space to pause with others and with our own heart’s truth, and in the words of the song, “return to the home of your soul.”

You are invited to “Return Again,” First Universalist’s congregational retreat on Saturday, Jan. 21, offering a day of worship, fellowship and reflection, conversation and music, and of course, good food. We’ll honor the many thresholds we are on, personally and collectively—changes in relationships, identities, abilities, vocations and more—by pausing to consider both the gifts and losses that every change brings. There will be time together as a whole group as well as time in breakout groups with others who share common experiences or identities.



Led by guest speaker Rev. Karen Hering, author of “Trusting Change,” Lauren Wyeth, Director of Spiritual Growth for All Ages, Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Director of Worship Arts Ministries, Rev. Arif Mamdani, Associate Minister, Rev. Ashley Harness, Assistant Minister (facilitating the online experience), and Rev. Jen Crow, Senior Minister.

Retreat Schedule

IN PERSON 8:30 a.m.–3 p.m.* 

8:30 a.m. Check in and light breakfast

9:30 a.m. Opening worship 

10:45 a.m. Breakout groups, part 1

12 p.m. Lunch & fellowship/reflection

1 p.m. Breakout groups, part 2

2:30 p.m. Closing worship

ONLINE 9:15 a.m.–12 p.m.

9:15 a.m. Check in & prepare

9:30 a.m. Opening worship

10:45 a.m. Breakout groups

11:45 a.m. Closing ritual

Registration is free and open to all. Light breakfast, lunch and partial-day* childcare provided. Registration deadline is Saturday, Jan. 14. *Partial day in person option for families with children in childcare runs from breakfast through lunch.

Intro

Return Again Church Retreat

Sunday Worship

Sunday, Jan. 15, 9 & 11 a.m.: Yesterday Teaches Tomorrow

Sunday, Jan. 8 Recording: Remembrance Sunday

Cycle of Life

News & Features

Navigating Racialized Conflict & Removed Exhibit

Covenant Development Team Update

Foundation Accepting Nominations

Shaping the Future of Music Ministries at First U

Help Plan a Square Dance

Calendar

January Board Meeting

Dinner Church for BIPOC

Grief Group

Kate Tucker Sermon Circles

Habitat for Humanity Builds

Affiliated Organizations

Association of Universalist Women (AUW)

12-Step Spirituality

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Sunday, Jan. 15 — 9 & 11 a.m.

"Yesterday Teaches Tomorrow"

Time and time again, in stories and scriptures and songs, ancestors have left lessons for building beloved community. Though they come in all languages and expressions, the wisdom persists: to resist materialism and hold on to what truly matters; to unshackle from habits of needless prejudice; to put down the weapons we store in our hands and hearts and study war no more. How much comfort can we take that we aren’t nearly the first generation to struggle to live into these communal ways? And what’s our part in the progress?

Worship leaders: Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Rev. Jen Crow, Rev. Arif Mamdani, Aimee K. Bryant, 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!.

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 not in session. 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.

A Place to Start

After each worship service (about 10 a.m. & noon) in the Chancel Room

A Place to Start is a brief, casual orientation to Unitarian Universalism and First Universalist Church for those who are new. During this 40-minute class, participants will learn about the foundations of our faith tradition and opportunities to get involved.

From Sunday, Jan. 8: Remembrance Sunday

Remembrance Sunday is a yearly service in which we name and honor those we’ve lost in the congregation and the wider community. Through story, song, and ritual, this service invites us to name and make room for the loss, grief, and sadness in ourselves, within this community, and beyond in the wider world. Join us to be and become the community of love and know that together, love can make every grief and suffering bearable for us all.



Watch the Jan. 8 service here

Listen to the Jan. 8 podcast here

Podcast Archive | Recording Archive 

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.

Dear congregation,

The beloved community we aspire to build isn’t one where conflict doesn’t exist, but rather one where we are spiritually skilled at staying connected through conflict and growing closer in the course of working through it. That’s our commitment as we keep becoming the multicultural, multiracial and multigenerational community of our vision - even as we have experienced conflict in our community this week.

These last few years, we’ve had the chance to practice conflict, and each time we do, we grow a bit more together. Earlier this church year, we began a process of working with the conflict engendered by the termination of our choir director. That conflict has racial dimensions to it, and it is a conflict that we are continuing to navigate. We are learning from that process, and it is with those lessons in mind that we are writing to you today to share as clearly and transparently as we can, information about a conflict that has arisen in our congregation. This conflict also has racialized dimensions to it. 

• Last week, an art exhibit from artist and member Fawzia Khan was installed in the Social Hall. The art exhibit shares stories of strong and diverse Minnesota women through the medium of dish towels and embroidery. Representing traditional women’s work, this medium was intended to serve as an artistic statement and contrast to the talent and accomplishments of the women featured. The display of folded white dish towels with embroidered eyes were arranged in rows along walls in our Social Hall. 
• Several BIPOC staff members happened upon the installation and perceived the installation as looking like Klan hoods. Experiencing the art as Klan hoods evoked deep feelings of visceral fear for some of our BIPOC staff. 
• When this reaction was reported to their supervisors, their supervisors understood that the church had unwittingly exposed our BIPOC staff to racialized harm and trauma, thereby creating an unsafe work environment for some of our staff. We also wanted to avoid engendering a similar trauma response in congregants and visitors. 
• We felt a need to remedy it as quickly as possible.
• As church staff leadership worked through the situation and attempted to seek a way to remedy things, we had conversations with Fawzia Khan, with leadership of the Visual Arts Committee, and with some of our staff members. We also had several conversations with each other trying to understand the many facets of this situation and see what solutions might be possible.
• These conversations ultimately resulted in a decision by the Board Executive Team, in collaboration with staff leadership, to ask Fawzia and the Visual Arts Committee to remove the art exhibit.

The decision we came to was driven by our care for our BIPOC staff members and our commitment to creating a safe work environment for our employees. It was also influenced by our understanding that we are a church that strives to create a building environment in which our congregants can avoid experiencing overt harm through unexpected encounters that may engender trauma responses.

We are aware that there are layers of racialized trauma and conflict present here: This conflict is happening in a predominantly white congregation. The art installation was created by and as an expression of the cultural and racial experience of a brown woman. The art installation most directly negatively impacted our Black staff members. There are power dynamics that exist between church members and a staff team whose job is to serve the congregation. And these are just a few of the layers present in this conflict.

Beloved community is complicated.

We see that our process of trying to care for everyone involved caused harm in many directions. We apologize to our Black staff members and congregants for the harm caused in the slowness of our response and the emotional labor they needed to do to educate us on the impact it had. We apologize to Fawzia for the pain caused by our clumsy communication that exacerbated the harm that was caused. We apologize to other staff and congregants who were harmed by their experience of the artwork, and who were harmed by it being taken down. 

What happens now? We write a new story, together.

The “conditioned tendency” for conflict in the society that we live in says that we, as individuals, need to find a way to make ourselves “right,” and therefore safe. It encourages us to pick sides, and to position ourselves on the “right” one, vilifying and marginalizing the “other side” in the process. Paradoxically, it also invites us to swim in an ocean of relativism, seeking to hear from “all sides” and creating false equivalences where none actually exist. 

We can do better than this. And the only way we do better is together.

Our faith calls us to complexify the narrative. It asks that we humble ourselves, that we personalize abstract notions so that we’re not hanging out in the safety of ideas, but in the more complicated and connected space of real people with real stories, histories, identities, and feelings. We can be people who can grow and change and come to understanding, connection, and a path forward together - even through conflict.

Wherever you are in this church, however you identify yourself as being connected (or not) to these events—and we ourselves writing this letter are in different places—we invite you to come together, to engage with what happened in community—the impact it had, and how we might move forward together. 

As your church leadership, we are seeking to create circles of conversation and relationship where we can share and hear together what happened and how people experienced these events. From those conversations, we hope that harm can be remedied and we can determine a course forward that honors and ministers to our individual identities and shared aspirations. We hope that we can grow closer together through these conversations and find a wholeness with our collective decisions that has eluded us thus far.  

We are first calling together circles of conversation with those most impacted. We hope to sit in circle with Fawzia, members of the Visual Arts Committee, the Board Executive Team, and the church leadership team as early as this weekend. As those conversations happen we will keep the congregation updated and informed both of what’s happening as well as how you can be involved. This is the beginning of a process, and we do not yet know exactly where or how it will end. Right now, if you want to do something, we ask for your patience and your prayers. This is a challenging situation, and we know that we met it imperfectly. Those involved are doing our best to meet this faithfully, with humility and integrity, knowing that even in these efforts, we will likely fall short of our aspirations. May we place our faith not in the possibility that we succeed, but rather that we stay at the table, remain in relationship, and try.

The Board Executive Team: Daryn Woodson, Rebecca Slaby, Matt Keller, and Benjamin Miles

The Staff Leadership Team: Rev. Jen Crow, Rev. Arif Mamdani, Lauren Wyeth, and Jenn Stromberg

A note from the Covenant Development Team:

Initially assembled at the request of Rev. Jen Crow, we are a group of long-time members and elders of the church who are working on an iterative and open process for developing a behavioral covenant, a set of promises that establishes ways of being together in community as we work towards becoming a more multigenerational, multicultural, and multiracial congregation. We wish to note that there have been past efforts to create a covenant of right relations in 2015 and a Healthy Congregations Team was formed in 2020–2021. We see our work as a continuation of these previous efforts. 

This covenant will be aligned with our visionary goals and be maintained by the community with compassionate accountability. We also envision creating a set of spiritual characteristics and practices that will help us hold multiple truths, listen to ideas with an open heart, and be welcoming to multiple cultures and races. Our hope is that this work will inform the congregation on how to proceed when we desire more information, feel uncomfortable, worry, or experience conflict with a member of our community. We are currently working with the Board of Trustees to determine whether this team’s charge should come from the board, the Executive Leadership (Rev. Jen Crow) or both. Currently our members include Andrea Johnson, Velma Wagner, Shelley des Islets, Ginny McAninch, Meg Riley, Jennifer Schuster-Jaeger, and Eric Cooperstein.

If you are interested in joining us in this work, please get in touch with the team by emailing Andrea Johnson at revandreajohnson@gmail.com and let us know the following: a) tell us your unique place in our community and a bit about your lived experiences and the perspectives you’ve gained from them, b) tell us why you're interested in joining this team and what you believe you bring to it, c) share with us any specific perspectives you would bring to the team that you feel are missing or need voicing. The team will review applications as they are received and get back to you as quickly as we are able. We desire to be transparent and commit to communicating regularly about this work. 

We acknowledge the lack of diversity in the current team. Thus, we are seeking team members who are BIPOC and team members who are younger, under 40 ideally. Some gender balance as well. We want to include diverse perspectives and varied lived experiences.

 We look forward to the support of the congregation as we engage in this important work.

The First Universalist Foundation Board is accepting nominations through this form until Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, from First Universalist congregants (regardless of membership status) and senior high youth in the church. One (1) person must submit a nomination backed by two (2) co-signers. Nominee organizations that are selected will then be sent our grant application.

The Foundation is soliciting nominations of organizations that address racial justice, climate justice, and human rights. We are also interested in organizations whose leadership includes Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), women, or individuals from disenfranchised communities. This year we are particularly interested in supporting organizations with smaller budgets and newer organizations or initiatives which are addressing the disparities that recent events have laid bare. Organizations that have not applied for a grant in the past are encouraged. Historically the Foundation has given out grants ranging from $5,000 - $20,000.

Please note our mission statement and giving criteria which heavily inform our decisions, available on the church website.

Questions? Please email: foundation@firstuniv.org

Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout has been working with Shelley des Islets, Ann Kay, Shelley Thron, and Lou Quast to design and launch a community-wide creative brainstorming process about the music ministries here at First Universalist Church, and what they might become in the years to come.  

You're invited to one of multiple opportunities we are offering to gather your input on this important development. Please pick the one that works best for you and weigh in!:



• Thursday, Jan. 19; listening sessions at 9 a.m. prior to Daytime Connections;
• Sunday, Jan. 22: listening sessions at 1 p.m. in person at church;
• Wednesday, Jan. 25: Dr. Glen Thomas will be listening to BIPOC community members at Dinner Church (BIPOC-only space)
• Sunday, Jan. 29: online listening session via Zoom after the church service;
• OR, fill out this Online Survey, which will remain open through January 31.

We will be asking about aspects of music you have enjoyed here or elsewhere. We will be asking about things you would like to see here in the future. We will be asking about elements of our music ministry you would like to participate in, as well as those you would like to experience, both within the Sunday service and more broadly at First Universalist. Plan to provide your input in whichever means works best for you. We need your ideas!

If helping to plan a winter square dance sounds like fun to you, please send Rev. Arif an email and let him know. Members Bill McTeer and Karen Parson are in on the scheming, and you could be too. Current thinking is a Saturday afternoon in February, right about the time of year when we're all fed up with winter and need some energy, good company, and fun. You don't need to know anything about square dancing to help plan this event. Get in touch: arif@firstuniv.org

Thursday, Jan. 19, 6:30–9 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 25, 6–8 p.m.

RSVP Requested

What’s Dinner Church? Pretty much what it sounds like – we’ll have a meal together while creating a worshipful experience together 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 through May (no meeting in December). 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

Sunday, Jan. 22, 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

Sundays, Jan. 29, Feb. 12 & 26, and March 12 & 26, 7–8:45 p.m.

Facilitated by Kim Kammeier and Ray Dillon, First U members

Wednesdays, March 15 & 29, April 12 & 26, and May 10, 10–11:45 a.m. 

Facilitated by Susan Hoffman and Ray Dillon, First U members

Five sessions on Zoom to dive deeply into five sermons by Minister Emerita Rev. Kate Tucker. The audio file and discussion questions for the assigned sermon will be provided before each virtual gathering, so participants come prepared to relate the sermon to their own lives. Enrollment limited to ten participants.

Register here

Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity is a long-standing Faithful Action Partner of First Universalist, and the First U Habitat Crew is excited to have our first three work days scheduled for 2023. They are:

• Thursday, Feb. 2 at 3042 18th Ave S, Mpls
• Saturday, March 4 at 3330 Oliver Ave N, Mpls

The work day typically runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with lunch provided. Each work day is limited to 10 volunteers. There will be heat in the building but it is often uneven. Layered, warm clothes are your best bet.

Sign up to volunteer here. Registration for February is now open!

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

AUW Winter Potluck – February 4

We’ll meet for a meal and socializing in the Social Hall on Saturday, Feb. 4, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bring a dish to share! No need to register, just come. For questions, contact Anne Frenchick.

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! There is a discount for AUW members and an additional early bird discount until January 15. Go here for more information and to register.

Hiking Group:  Meets most Saturdays at a park or trailhead. For questions, contact Marie Sorenson. January 14: Central Park, 2pm; 2540 Lexington Ave N, Roseville. Parking lot off Lexington Ave. Be sure to go to Lexington Parking lot, not the other parking lot. Marie will be there. January 21: Westwood Nature Center, 2pm; 8300 West Franklin Ave, St. Louis Park. Meet by Nature Center door or go inside. You may need a mask inside. Marie will not be there. January 28: Lakewood Cemetery, 2pm; 3600 Hennepin Ave S, Minneapolis. Meet outside by the Chapel. Park on driveway there.

Game Group: Meets at the church on the second Thursday of the month to play board games and socialize. Request an email invitation to our next meeting and be added to our email list by sending your name and email address to Anne Frenchick. Upcoming date: Jan. 12, 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. The group will read Hamnet in January and Search in February.

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.

In our Nov. 17 newsletter, we shared our updated Covid Community Care Policy, which went into effect on Monday, Nov. 21.

Our full updated Covid policies are available here. A summary of updates 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.