"Generosity, Finances, & Living into Our Hopes"

Dear Ones,

Hanukkah is nearing its end, we’re in the midst of Advent. The solstice draws near, then Christmas, then Kwanzaa. All of it capped off by our marking of the new year. With all of these holidays marking the turning of the year and the coming of warmer days, eventually, many of us are both taking stock of the year coming to a close, and looking ahead to what 2024 will bring. That’s true of us working with the church finances as well – monitoring the financial health of the church in the current year, and starting to contemplate next year’s budget that kicks off on July 1, 2024. 

Regarding the current year, at this point we still have a modest surplus, primarily thanks to an anonymous “close the gap” donation earlier in the year. However, our projection is that we will end with a deficit that is somewhat larger even than we had budgeted - $219,000 vs. $100,000. Why? Mainly because, while expenses are pretty close to budget, pledge income is behind plan. More specifically, it means that folks who made pledges toward this year’s budget either haven’t made payments or are behind in them.

We are doing a few things to address the projected shortfall. First, a reminder that if you made a pledge last spring for the 2023-24 church year, and you have not yet made your payment, please do so as soon as you can. Receiving those pledged payments earlier in the fiscal year helps us make better projections about where we will end the year, so we can plan accordingly. We are working on strengthening our system of sending statements and reminders, but in the meantime let this column serve as a gentle nudge. And we know that sometimes life happens and we can’t fulfill our pledge commitments. If this is what’s happening for you, please let us know so we can adjust the budget’s receivables line accordingly.

In addition, the Board has created a new committee - the Stewardship Committee - that is responsible for leading the pledge drive and other fundraising efforts. The co-chairs are Emily Wallace and Will Hegeman. They have plans for additional fundraising over the course of the year, including some special appeals and a fundraising event (watch for more information soon). As one example, participation in November’s Give to the Max Day exceeded our goal and raised just over $6,000! It was a wonderful example of our church community coming together to support the work we all value so much. 

For some context on our revenue for the rest of this fiscal year (ending June 30), if each of you people or households (all 505 of you!) who made a financial commitment to church for this fiscal year made an additional gift to the church of $277 (about $10 per week for the seven months remaining in our fiscal year), we would completely close the gap. Of course, not everyone can do that. Some could do more. But we urge you to start thinking about what you can do to help us bridge the current year shortfall and help us build a Beloved Community. 

Looking ahead to next year, we are contemplating the need for a significant increase in the budget - about 10% higher revenue, or $1.6 million. This fiscal year’s budget reflects some substantial reductions, including position cuts, from last year. You might see that in fewer programs, and our staff seem like they’re always really busy - that’s the impact that budget gaps have. Looking to the future, we need to focus on ensuring critical church functions are adequately resourced, while also ensuring compensation for our staff is fair and competitive. How well we do in our pledge collection and fundraising efforts this year will inform our ability to craft a budget for next year that allows us to live our hopes and aspirations for our congregation and our wider community.

Marc Gorelick and Emily Wallace

Finance Team and Stewardship Team

Holiday Services

There will only be no Sunday morning service on December 24, Christmas Eve. Please plan to attend the candlelight service that evening at 7 p.m. (see below for details).

Also, please note that the times for our holiday services may not be the same as in previous years.

Blue Holidays

December 16 at 7 p.m.

Building will open at 6:15, seating will open at 6:30

at church and virtual

Zoom link

If you're seeking a sanctuary to share and embrace your sorrow during this holiday period, we graciously invite you to our "Blue Holidays" service. Honoring the interplay of joy and sadness that characterizes this season, our service offers an empathetic space to witness your grief in community.

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Winter Solstice Ritual

December 21 at 7 p.m.

Building will open at 6:15, seating will open at 6:30

at church and virtual

Zoom link

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.

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Christmas Pageant

December 23 at 4 p.m.

Building will open around 3:15, seating will open around 3:30

at church and virtual

Zoom link

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. Our Christmas pageant this year will be performed by our kids and youth on Saturday, Dec. 23 at 4 p.m. There will be a light reception with hot cocoa and cookies following the performance.

Share the event on Facebook.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

December 24 at 7 p.m.

Building will open at 6:15, seating will open at 6:30

at church and virtual

Zoom link

The annual Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at First Universalist is a time of meaning-making and music. This service is a weaving of ancient scripture readings, modern poetry, carols, silence, and lighting our hearts and spirit anew with the candlelight of Love.

NOTE: There will be no Sunday morning worship service on December 24.

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Intro

"Generosity, Finances & Living into Our Hopes"

Holiday Services

Sunday Worship

This Sunday, Dec. 17,

10 a.m. ONLY

Low-sensory space

Worship Brainstorm

Sunday, Dec. 10 Recording

Cycle of Life

Winter Programs

January Programs

Meditation Group

Family Holiday Potluck

OWL Program

Pastoral & Community Care

Grief Group

Faithful Action

Habitat for Humanity

News

Dec. 28 Liberal Deadline

Apron Amnesty!

January 7 Service

Visionary Goals

Board Mtg Update

Community Events & Affiliated Orgs:

Ceasefire Carols, Hats for Unhoused People, AUW, 12-Step Spirituality

Some email programs truncate long emails; watch for "message clipped; view entire message" or similar at the bottom of this email if you don't see all contents listed.

Sunday, December 17

In-person & Online at 10 a.m. ONLY



"Listening Deeply: Inside Voices!"

Our minds are often full of thoughts, like a busy hive all abuzz? Have you ever wondered–Is meditation for me? What is meditation really? What if I am not doing it right? Here's a revelation - meditation isn’t about making those thoughts disappear. In fact, it's quite the opposite.

Our minds, much like our ears, are always receptive, picking up on myriad stimuli even when we aren’t consciously aware. Imagine if we didn't fight against these thoughts but just listened to them and learned to live amidst them. That's the real beauty of meditation.

Join us this All-In Sunday at 10 AM. Together, we will delve into different techniques for meditation. This journey, like an enlightening expedition, leads us towards understanding ourselves better.

Remember, the realm of meditation is akin to a vast open field rather than a narrow path. It's about exploring this expansive landscape of our minds. Experience the serenity and beauty of calm and community with us this Sunday. All are welcome in this exploration - it's truly a journey for us all.

Join us for worship this Sunday, Dec. 17, one service: in-person and livestreamed at 10 a.m.

Low-sensory Space

This space is for children in K-5 who are overstimulated or overwhelmed by the sensory input of the sanctuary, including noise, light, and movement. All children who are in the low-sensory space must be accompanied by one of their grown-ups at all times. 

The entrance to this space is through room 104 on the lower level of the education wing close to the parking lot. There is a small room inside of the 104 classroom which is where we are trying out the low-sensory space.

This is an experiment, and we appreciate your grace as we learn together along the way. We are relying on your feedback to let us know how it is working for you and so we can improve. We hope this space meets a need for our First U children and families, and are grateful for all the ways we show up for each other in community.

Worship Info

IN PERSON AND ONLINE AT 10 A.M.

This Sunday, we worship in person at 10 a.m. Masks are welcome but not required in the sanctuary; please review our Covid-19 Gathering Guidelines. 

This service is also live-streamed. Watch the livestream here. 

CHILDREN & YOUTH

If you have not yet registered your family for this year of Religious Education, please register your family today. All families — new and returning, with babies through high schoolers — must register each church year.

AFTER WORSHIP

Coffee Hour in the Social Hall

Visit with old friends and meet new ones over coffee and cookies in our social hall.

Community Worship Brainstorm

What are the questions that keep you up at night? What curiosities beckon you toward exploration? Share them with us by January 10, 2023, and let your voice become a building block for our collective exploration.

Join us in this sacred exchange. Share your thoughts, and help shape the future of our worship.

Read more from Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout.

Podcast Archive | Recording Archive | Sermon Archive

Our love and care is with Mary Sorensen who is currently in rehab awaiting the ok to go home after a long hospitalization. She appreciates our care, well wishes, and prayers for a speedy return to her home.



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.

Tuesday Meditation Group

Weekly Practice: 8:45-10:15 a.m. online and in-person

You are invited to meditate with our lay-led practice group. None of us are experts. Our practices come out of our own experiences, and we share inspiration from many sources including Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, Pema Chodron, Thich Nhat Hanh, Tara Brach, Tai Chi, Loving Kindness, poetry and more. We don't follow one method or another, but we do share what we learn with each other. After meditation we practice deep listening to hear from each person, if they choose. No registration required. Email Sara McMullen for Zoom details.

Family Holiday Potluck

Wednesday, Dec. 20 at 6 p.m.

RSVP REQUESTED

Half holiday dinner, half Friendsgiving, please join us for a First Universalist Family Holiday Potluck. You are invited to bring a favorite holiday dish to share if you are able - yes, our meal might be primarily Midwest “salads” and hotdish! - or just bring yourself and your family. All parents, caregivers, children, youth, and chosen family are warmly welcome. Come, build community and share a meal with us.

For participating children and youth, there is a pageant rehearsal after dinner.

OWL Program Registration

Hello First Universalist families!

It is Our Whole Lives (OWL) season at First Universalist! We have 1st, 5th, and 12th grade OWL starting soon. Please view below for information about each session. If you have any questions, concerns, or would like more information about our OWL programming at First Universalist, please reach out to Claire Tralle, OWL Program Coordinator.

First Grade OWL

1st grade OWL at First Universalist is an opt-in class. If you choose not to opt in and specifically register your child, they will continue to attend their regular RE programming. There is a mandatory parent/caregiver registration for 1st grade OWL on Saturday, February 3, 2024. 1st grade OWL classes will begin Sunday, February 4, 2024, and conclude Sunday, March 24, 2024. There are no RE classes on Sunday, February 18, 2024. A calendar of classes will be shared at the parent/caregiver orientation. Registration for 1st grade OWL can be found HERE. Please email Claire Tralle with any questions.

Fifth Grade OWL

5th grade OWL at First Universalist is an opt-in class. If you choose not to opt in and specifically register your child, they will continue to attend their regular RE programming. There is a mandatory parent/caregiver registration for 5th grade OWL on Saturday, March 2, 2024. 5th grade OWL classes will begin Sunday, March 3, 2024, and conclude Sunday, May 12, 2024. There are no RE classes on Sunday, March 31, 2024 nor on Sunday, April 7, 2024. A calendar of classes will be shared at the parent/caregiver orientation. Registration for 5th grade OWL will be shared with families in early January. Please email Claire Tralle with any questions.  

Twelfth Grade OWL

12th grade OWL at First Universalist is an opt in class. 11th graders are also welcome to register, with priority given to 12th graders. If you choose not to opt-in and specifically register for this small group, they will continue to attend their regular RE programming. There is a mandatory parent/caregiver registration for 12th grade OWL on Saturday, January 20, 2024. 12th grade OWL classes will begin Sunday, January 21, 2024, and conclude Sunday, March 10, 2024. There are no RE classes on Sunday, February 18, 2024. A calendar of classes will be shared at the parent/caregiver orientation. Classes will occur on Sundays from 1-3 pm. Registration for 12th grade OWL can be found HERE. Please email Claire Tralle with any questions. 

Grief Group (online)

Sunday Dec 17, 4-5:30 p.m. on Zoom

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 on any or all dates. We will be here for you. Facilitated by Mark Caswell (he/him/they/them), a member of First Universalist Unitarian Church of Minneapolis and an aspirant on ordination track within the UUA. He attends United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities and lives in Minneapolis. He finds grounding in meditation, poetry, watercolor painting, and practicing deep listening. He also holds a BFA in Theater Design from Rutgers University in New Jersey.

Email Rev. Arif Mamdani for Zoom details.

Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity

We have three work days scheduled, all at

219 James Avenue N, Minneapolis

January 27, 2024

February 10, 2024

March 16, 2024

Sign up here.

Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity was the first thing I did after joining First Universalist. Being part of the crew helped me get connected at church, and it was on build sites that I made my first church friends. As the years have gone by I've picked up valuable skills in a safe and supportive setting, had the opportunity to work for racial equity in housing in our community and, lastly, I've had so much fun.

Hope you'll join us!

Ingrid Young

The Liberal Deadline for Dec. 28 Edition

Church staff will be on a break during the week after Christmas. For announcements to be added to the edition of The Liberal that comes out on December 28, please submit them by Thursday, December 21. You may email them directly to our Communications Assistant, Rachel Rott, or use our Submission Form.

Apron Amnesty!

If you happen to have taken home a black apron from the First Universalist Kitchen, in this time of giving and receiving, we're inviting you to bring them back to the kitchen, no questions asked. 

Or - if you're cleaning out your kitchen at home and found a few extra aprons, we'd happily take them! We especially could use some waterproof aprons for the clean-up crew.

Donations? contact Jim Poulter.

Amnesty? leave the apron in the kitchen. 

One 10 a.m. Service on January 7

IMPORTANT: On Sunday, January 7, we will have one worship service at 10 a.m.

Families in Religious Education, please note:

Due to curriculum needs, some Religious Education classes will meet and most will not. Please read carefully to ensure that you have the information you need for your family to participate in worship and Religious Education on January 7. 

We will have childcare for children in Pre-K and younger for the duration of the 10 a.m. service. 

We will not have Religious Education for children and youth in grades K-6 or Senior High. Those children and youth are enthusiastically encouraged to attend our all-ages worship service. 

Youth in our 7th grade Neighboring Faiths program will attend a site visit. Parents and caregivers of 7th graders should look for more information from Program Specialist Hirut Hedge about timing coming in an email prior to the site visit.

Youth in 8th grade OWL (both the 9 & 11 a.m. sections) and in 9th grade Coming of Age will meet during our 10 a.m. service. Both sections of OWL will meet in the Cummins Room and Coming of Age will meet in room 209 as usual. Both OWL and Coming of Age will begin in their classrooms right at 10 a.m. (whereas Coming of Age usually begins in the service). 

Visionary Goals Update from The Board

Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts and feedback on the Draft Visionary Goals, either through an in-person session or in the online Google survey! We appreciate your participation and will continue to ask for your input as well as share updates.

These are stretch Goals, not easily attainable tasks you can simply check off a list when they are complete. They are designed to push us to see how our lives might change if we thoroughly lived this way. Instead of SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound), think of these as a list of ideas that all start with "How might we..." or "What would happen if we..." or "What is the outcome if we..."

The Goals will be voted on by the congregation and there will be more information to come on that. Throughout the next five years, we hope to live into these goals and see where that takes us!

From The Board

No December Board Meeting

The Board will not have a regular meeting in December. The next meeting will be on January 18.

Ceasefire Carols Invite

We’ve received several invitations over the last week from congregants to join in a Ceasefire Carols gathering on Sunday, December 17th starting at 1pm, and we’re inviting you to join in. The invitation for this event asks Christian and Christian-adjacent folks to participate and we are most certainly Christian-adjacent as UUs, and some of us identify as Christian. This matters right now because solidarity matters. The war between the nation of Israel and Hamas is not only of concern to citizens of Israel and Palestine. Any war, any armed conflict impacts our whole world, all the more so when the scale of devastation is as vast as what has been and is happening in Gaza right now. And so showing up and making our voices heard matters. Here is where you can learn more about the event’s background from the organizers. 

If you’d like to participate, here are the important dates to be aware of:

- Friday 12/15 5 -7 pm: Rehearsal @ Walker Church (3104 16th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55407) - all are welcome, no RSVP needed, masks required

- Friday 12/15 7-9 pm: Art Build @ Spill Paint Not Oil Studio (2500 University Ave W, Saint Paul) 

- Sunday Dec. 17th between 1-4pm - Caroling Action at location that’s to be announced. 

You don’t need to attend the rehearsal to attend the caroling event! This event is family friendly! RSVP here and we’ll make sure you get location information as soon as it’s available for Sunday. Please also email ashley@firstuniv.org if you are interested in helping facilitate conversation at First U about this topic, with resources from our partner organization in the UUA, Side with Love.

Hats for Unhoused People

Think big, warm, and wooly! Are you a fiber artist who knits/crochets/weaves/felts? Donate your handmade hats at First Universalist, October through January. Donated hats will be distributed to local schools, shelters, and community service agencies that serve people in need. Sizes requested: Large and XL,

Time frame: October - January, Drop-off site: Basket by the elevator (see photo), Contact: Barb Melom • More Info

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

Early Bird Registration Opens December 1 for the AUW Spring Retreat

April 26-28, 2024, Camp Courage in Annandale, MN

Our theme this year is Igniting Change: The Light We Carry in a Barbie World

Register Now

The AUW Spring Retreat provides a thoughtful, safe, fun & joyful space for exploring workshop ideas such as self-hate and self-love, our childhoods, artistry and our power to make change. All the while we build community and deepen connections with each other.

Perhaps you are looking for a deeper connection with awesome & diverse women. Maybe you would like to sleep in, have a massage, walk the labyrinth, swim in a heated indoor pool, take a nap (or two!), listen to loons, go for nature hikes, be served delicious meals.

It may interest you to consider ideas related to self-love/self hate, artistry, becoming a change-maker, or to discuss Michelle Obama’s “pandemic book” and/or filmmaker Greta Gerwig’s exploration of being female. You might just want to play with Barbies!

All this is possible at our AUW Spring Retreat, April 26 – 28, 2024, at Camp Courage in Annandale MN, with our theme of “Igniting Change: The Light We Carry in a Barbie World”

Suggested pre read: The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama

Suggested pre-watch: The Barbie movie

Early Bird discount registration available December 1 to January 15 1 pm. We offer two ways to attend: 

Stay onsite for two nights, 6 meals included

$235 for AUW members (will cost $250 after January 15)

$275 for non AUW members (will cost $295 after January 15) 

Attend just for the day on Saturday, April 27, 2 meals included

 $100 for AUW members(will cost $135 after January 15)

 $135 for non AUW members (will cost $170 after January 15)

It pays to be a member of AUW. Visit our membership page to join!​

AUW offers scholarships to cover up to half the cost of retreat registration. If you need scholarship assistance, contact Sydney Dunitz.

Hiking Group: Meets most Saturdays at a park or trail head. Hikes begin at 2 p.m. For questions or to get on the hiking group mailing list, contact: Marie Sorensen, phone / email, or Lynn Richardson phone / email. Note: Hikes begin at 2 pm.

December 16 - Roseville Central Park. 2540 Lexington Avenue North, Roseville. Be sure to use Lexington Avenue north Entrance. Meet in parking lot.

December 23 - Richardson Nature Center. 8737 East Bush Lake Road, Bloomington. Meet by Trailhead sign in Parking lot. Asphalt trail is easier in winter. Some easy hills. Nature Center has bathrooms.

Game Group: Meets at the church on the second Thursday of each month to play board games and socialize. You are welcome to bring snacks to share and a game you would enjoy teaching others. To receive email updates, contact Anne Frenchick. The next game night is December 14. If no one responds to Anne that they are coming, the Game Night will be canceled early that day. Please let Anne know if you plan to attend.

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 next meeting will be Monday, December 18. We will be discussing The Sentence, by Louise Erdrich. Location of the in-person meeting is available to those on the mailing list. The Zoom version of the meeting convenes online at 7:00 pm.

Give or Take a Book!

To share books we love and build more literary connections, we are going to start a new project. If interested please bring 1-2 books (no more!) to share with someone at the monthly book club. Pick a book to take home. To help make connections pls put a post-it note on the book with your name and the reason you liked the book. (Post-it notes will be available). If a book you brought is left over please take it home or it will be donated to a Free Little Library. Any questions or ideas contact Nora Whiteman.

These meetings are intended for people who are actively working any 12-step program. The program is focused on the 11th step and the practice of Centering Prayer Meditation. 

Weekly on Zoom

and

First Saturdays of each month, 9:30 a.m. to noon, in person at First Universalist

In-person 12-step spirituality meetings gather in the church on the 1st Saturday of each month, ending on May 4, 2024.

In-person and Zoom meeting details are available here.



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.

Based on ongoing monitoring of COVID levels in Hennepin County, masking is welcome, but not required, inside the building—including the sanctuary. Learn more about our Covid and Community safety policies on our website.