Dear Jenn,

Did you know that a not insignificant number of Protestant churches around the country are canceling services on Sunday, Dec. 25, Christmas Day, citing the fact that amongst other things, they are expecting attendance to be low and that it is an official holiday? Given that UUs pride ourselves on our practicality, you might be wondering then, why are we holding a service this Sunday morning at 10 a.m.? 

We are for two reasons, one simple, one somewhat more complicated. The simple reason: there are people in the congregation and the wider community who need us to be open. Their time in the sanctuary on a Sunday is one of the few times in a week they’ll be greeted warmly, or experience the feeling of sharing space with others, experience a hug, or get to share a cup of hot coffee with another person. There are others for whom the drumbeat of Sunday services is an important anchor that helps them to order their lives and know that in a world that can feel chaotic, church remains a consistent presence. For those people—and sometimes all of us are those people—we are holding church this coming Sunday morning.

But there’s another reason too. If church is where we come to consider those things that are of worth, then the invitation to “do church” on Christmas Sunday is an opportunity that we should not let pass. Plus, with our investment in online technology, there’s no reason why you can’t join us from wherever you happen to find yourself on Sunday morning, and hey, we might be in our pajamas too.

This coming Sunday, Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Cummins Ministerial Intern Lóre Stevens, and I invite you to come to church for Christmas morning. The three of us will gather by the fire and have our own version of Christmas morning, opening presents together that we are gifting to ourselves and to the church as we work to bring the spirit of these winter holidays into the day-to-day of our lives, not just between December 1st and 31st, but all throughout the year. So, this Sunday morning, come to church at 10 a.m., online or in-person, feel free to wear your (church appropriate) jammies, and join us as we open our presents together and share the gifts we’ve given, received, and how we hope to grow together in the year to come.

In faith,

Rev. Arif

Rev. Arif Mamdani

Associate Minister

First Universalist Church of Minneapolis

Sunday Worship

Sunday, Dec. 25, 10 a.m.: Christmas Day at Church

Dec. 18 Recording: "Dreaming in the Dark"

Dec. 18 Cycle of Life

News & Features

Remembering Loved Ones Lost this Year

Registration Open for "Return Again" Church Retreat

Christmas Pageant & Solstice Ritual Recordings

Year End Giving & Holiday Office Hours

Calendar

12/24 Candlelight Service

Community Dinner

Habitat for Humanity Builds

Affiliated Organizations

Association of Universalist Women (AUW)

12-Step Spirituality

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Sunday, Dec. 25 — 10 a.m.

"Christmas Day at Church"

Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Cummins Ministerial Intern Lóre Stevens, and Rev. Arif Mamdani invite you to Christmas morning at church, where our worship leaders will be gathered by the fire opening presents together—presents we are gifting to ourselves and to the church as we work to bring the spirit of these winter holidays into the day-to-day of our lives all throughout the year. On the morning of December 25, come to church at 10 a.m. online or in-person, feel free to wear your (church appropriate) jammies, and join us as we open our presents together and share the gifts we’ve given, received, and how we hope to grow together in the year to come.

Worship leaders: Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Rev. Arif Mamdani, and Lóre Stevens

ORDER OF SERVICE

IN PERSON AT 10 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 updated Covid-19 Gathering Guidelines. Can you usher or greet? Sign up here!.

ONLINE AT 10 A.M.

This service is live-streamed at 10 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

There is no childcare or Religious Education classes for children & youth this Sunday. All ages are always welcome in the sanctuary! Learn more here.

From Sunday, Dec. 18: "Dreaming in the Dark"

As we approach the longest nights of the year and the beginning of Hanukkah, we explore the wonders that take place in the dark. Perhaps it is in our dreaming, in those times when the limitations that so often diminish our imagination drop away, that we can find healing and hope. In this service we claim our space in this darkest time of the year and trust in the generative power of our dreams.

Watch the Dec. 18 service here

Listen to the podcast here

Podcast Archive | Recording Archive 

We send thoughts for continued healing to Deborah Talen who is recovering well at home following a stroke last Sunday. May her healing and recovery continue and may our love and care surround her.

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 year’s Remembrance Sunday ritual will take place on January 8, 2023, at both services. In this service, we’ll have time to remember those we’ve lost this past year, in the congregation, in our lives, and in the wider community. 

Each year, we also recognize that the first year without a loved one can be particularly hard, and so on Remembrance Sunday we give a poinsettia plant to members of the congregation who have experienced loss. If you’ve lost a loved one this year and would like to be sure you’re included in our Remembrance Sunday recognition and receive a poinsettia, please let Rev. Arif know by sending an email to arif@firstuniv.org or calling or texting 612-405-5482 letting him know your name, and who you lost.

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 (early registration is appreciated and will help our planning).

*Partial day in person option for families with children in childcare runs from breakfast through lunch.

Christmas Pageant 2022

watch here

Our annual Christmas Pageant is a beautiful telling of an ancient story. It is a tale of hope and hospitality, a reminder that every child is born a redeemer, a story that speaks to us all of what it means to be a seeker, a star, a singer, a wonderer, a wanderer, a wise one.

Livestreamed on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022.

Winter Solstice Ritual 2022

watch here

Celebrate the longest night of the year and rejoice in the returning of the sun at our annual Winter Solstice Ritual. The celebration is one we build together as a community with earth-honoring traditions, music, shared moments in the darkness, and the bringing of warmth and firelight.

Livestreamed on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022.

Calendar year 2022 is quickly coming to an end. If you would like to make a financial gift prior to the end of the year, donations must be transferred, postmarked, made online or dropped off at the church office no later than Saturday, Dec. 31. 

Please be aware that the church office will be closed the week between Christmas and New Year's, and will reopen on Monday, Jan. 2 (and note that drop-in office hours are still limited to Wednesdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; visits/access to the office outside these times must be scheduled with a minister or staff member). Contributions can be dropped off in person with a minister or staff member before or after services on Saturday, Dec. 24 (9:30 p.m. candlelight service) or Sunday, Dec. 25 (one service at 10 a.m. only).

If you have questions about year-end giving, contact Brad Schmidt at brad@firstuniv.org. Thank you to all for your ongoing support and generosity to First Universalist Church! 



Saturday, Dec. 24, 9:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary

RSVP & Share on Facebook

Watch on Zoom here

(Webinar ID: 819 0165 2851, Passcode: 320093)

The Candlelight Service at First Universalist is a time of mindfulness, meaning making and music. This service is a weaving of scripture readings, poems, musical offerings, silence, and lighting our hearts and spirit with the candlelight and hope. The candlelight service will be offered in person and on zoom.

Please note that masks are required in the Sanctuary for our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, just like on Sunday mornings. Masks are optional in the rest of the building as long as we are at a Low or Medium Covid community risk level. Please also note that we will be using real candles (a limited number of electric candles will available) and that at the designated time, attendees will be directed to remove their masks for a brief moment to blow out their candles.

Image: Warren Antiola CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Wednesday, Jan. 11, 6–8 p.m. in the Social Hall

RSVP Requested

Swing by church for a delicious home-cooked meal at 6 p.m. in the Social Hall. All are welcome and there is no charge. Menu available on our website, a week in advance. We always offer vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, nut free and kid-friendly options. All church events are alcohol-free. Following dinner, stick around and join a breakout group to learn more about one of the many opportunities for deeper engagement at church.

This month's dinner includes a family pre-party beginning at 5 p.m., a Dungeons & Dragons breakout group for middle- and high school youth with an early (5 p.m.) start, and post-dinner breakout group options for young adults, ushers and greeters, and more TBA.

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, Jan. 5 at 3330 Oliver Ave N, Mpls
• 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. One volunteer slot remains for the January build day, and registration for February is now open!

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

Hiking Group:  Meets most Saturdays at a park or trailhead. There are no more organized hikes during the month of December; hikes will resume in January. For questions, contact Marie Sorenson.

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. December's book discussion was held on December 19. (Last week's Liberal announcement was in error; apologies!) 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.