A Vigil For Nex

Dear Ones,

A few months back, Rev. Arif wrote a piece for the newsletter offering encouragement, understanding, and practical tips for how you too can get back into the habit of coming to church. In that piece, he invited you to let him know what helps you come to church on a Sunday morning and several of you took him up on that offer!

You shared that giving people rides helps you come to church because it isn’t just you that’s coming. You shared that knowing you’ll see people you love and care about, and who care about you helps you come to church. You shared that putting church on your calendar helps you come to church. 

Each of these operates on a different part of our brains. They speak to our sense of responsibility to others, our relationships, care, and love, and they speak to our relationship to time and how we fill it.

Your presence at church makes a difference. We want you here. Being together on Sundays is a way of deepening our relationships together and building our spiritual muscles together to do the work that the world needs us to do.

It also matters that we show up, together, outside of church as First U folks–bringing the wholeness of our faith tradition and our ability to witness and hold our wider community in times of grief and fear. You may have heard about the brutal killing of Nex Benedict, an Indigenous non-binary teenager in Oklahoma. Transgender, non-binary, and other folks who exist outside the gender binary are being targeted in a systemic way. While Nex and their family and friends may not be our neighbors, we are called into the Beloved Community to witness their grief, pray for their comfort, and work like hell for the living. We are called to show up with and for our trans and non-binary beloveds at First U and in Minneapolis, who know that they are targets of the same cruel, dehumanizing mindset that made Nex a target.

As we say every Sunday, “You are not alone. We are holding it together.”

Showing up matters. Showing up as members of First U, on the side of love and in shared covenantal commitment as Unitarian Universalists, says to trans and non-binary people that people of faith care about you, we bear witness to what is happening, and we won’t move aside and let it happen.

First U member Amelia Danielle Marquez, whom we all blessed together in church last Sunday, is organizing a local vigil for Nex on Friday, February 23, along with the Thomas Edison High School Gender and Sexuality Alliance. Rev. Ashley will be there and we hope that many of you will join her in solidarity–bring a candle and maybe an extra to give to a friend. 

If it’s been a challenge for you to recreate the habit of church, you aren’t alone. The pandemic, the ways that community can be hard and heartbreaking even as it holds us, are things we have all wrestled with. 

What we do together on Sundays is sacred work that needs you. Because the world needs us, and it needs us at our spiritually fittest selves–loving one another and the world, courageous together, willing to be present to deepest grief and loss. Because you, whoever you are, friend, neighbor or stranger to us, you are not alone. We are holding it together.

In Grief & Gratitude,

Rev. Arif, Ref. Ashley, and Rachel Rott

Vigil Details:

Friday, February 23, 8-9 p.m.

Minnesota Federation of Teachers Parking Lot

67 8th Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413

Intro

A Vigil for Nex

Sunday Worship

The Presence Awakening: Unshackling the Chains of Numbness

This Sunday, Feb. 25,

9 & 11 a.m.

Janet Merrill's Testimonial

Low Sensory Space

Service Recordings

Cycle of Life

Programs Calendar

Winter / Spring Programs

Intergenerational Dance

#Joyspotting

Cultivating Joy

Meditation

How to Talk to People

Young Adults

Art Making

Sage-Ing Wisdom Circle

Knitting

Quilting

Community Dinner

Newcomers Circle

Neurodivergent Adults

Meditation Group

Fifth Grade OWL

Pastoral & Community Care

Grief Group

Caregivers Group

Faithful Action

Immigrant Justice

Atomic Hope

EJ Gathering

First Fridays: Film

UU Wellspring

Snowshoeing at Bdote

Spiritual Centering

Habitat for Humanity

News

Gun Safety

Foundation Board

General Assembly

Peace Garden

Church Directory

Community Events & Affiliated Orgs:

AUW, 12-Step Spirituality

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The Presence Awakening: Unshackling the Chains of Numbness

This Sunday at First Universalist, we invite you to a special service, "Awakening Presence: A Journey From Numbness to Engagement," as we explore the transformative power of reconnecting with our emotions and each other. Dive deep into the essence of presence, overcoming the barriers of emotional numbness that hinder our personal growth and communal vitality. Engage in a meaningful exploration of how mindfulness and empathy can not only enrich our personal journeys but also empower our collective commitment to justice and compassion.



As we continue our stewardship campaign, remember that your support breathes life into the heart of our community, helping to revive the emotional nerve endings of our congregation. Join us in fostering a vibrant, engaged, and empathetic community, ready to embrace the full spectrum of life’s experiences together. Your presence and contribution are the keys to unlocking a more present, connected, and lively congregation.

Join us this Sunday, February 25 at 9 & 11 a.m., as we explore our February theme, "Being Present."

From last Sunday: Watch Janet Merrill's stewardship testimonial

Worship Info

IN PERSON AND ONLINE

In person and livestreamed at 9 a.m

In person and livestreamed at 11 a.m. Watch the livestream here. 

Masks are welcome but not required in the sanctuary; please review our Covid-19 Gathering Guidelines. 

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.

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 where we are trying out the low-sensory space.

AFTER WORSHIP

Coffee Hour in the Social Hall

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

Pledge Packet • Online Pledge Form

Podcast Archive | Recording Archive | Sermon Archive

The Caring Corner in the library has cards for those who want to send well wishes to people suffering or celebrating. Stop by the library to share a message of love and care.

Our love and care is with our frequent guest pianist, Paolo Dubuque. Paolo was not with us last Sunday because his grandmother, Adelina Kung, died. We send wishes of care and peace to Paolo, his mom, and her siblings.

Save the date: A memorial service for Rita Franchett will be held at church on Saturday, May 25 at 2:00.

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.

Intergenerational Partner Dance Class

Sunday, Feb. 25; Lunch at 1 p.m., Dance class 1:30-2:30 p.m. RSVP for Lunch Requested; Dance Lessons Drop In 

Partner dancing is a social tradition that, for generations, has brought people of all ages and backgrounds together to mingle, move, and enjoy some music. Come join the Senior High RE group for lunch and an intergenerational dance lesson in waltz or tango (depending on the mood that strikes us). This event will be a great way to meet new people in a structured social environment, as well as to brush up your dance skills to impress your friends!

Deep Winter #Joyspotting

Join/participate as you’re able, February-April

Registration Recommended to receive email prompts

This is an online practice that will include weekly email prompts. Joy is not just a feeling, but a spiritual practice. Join a group of us seeking and spotting joy as a spiritual practice in the depths of winter. We'll offer weekly email and social media prompts to help you cultivate joy and we invite you to share your "joyspotting" via social media with each other and our wider community with the hashtags #deepwinterjoyspotting and #FirstUnivPractice

Cultivating Joy

Mondays, Feb. 26, March 25, April 29, 7-8:30 p.m. Room 209 at church

Registration Required

Facilitated by Bee Harrison 

"May you have joy and peace in the temple of your senses," writes John O'Donohue. Through a variety of heart-centered practices like storytelling, (gentle) movement, meditation, music, mindfulness, and more, we will explore how we might invite, reveal, and experience greater joy in our lives by connecting deeply to our inner worlds. In these monthly meetings, we'll share our own practices and support one another in cultivating joy.

Meditation

Sundays, March 24, April 28; 1-2:30 p.m. in person at church

Registration Required

Facilitated by Nancy Nyquist Potter

The meditation practices we will explore draw on a variety of resources including Sharon Salzberg, Tara Brach, insight meditation, Thich Nhat Hahn, Christina Feldman, and ourselves. Along the way, we will explore virtues such as lovingkindness, self-compassion, joy, generosity, forgiveness, and other ideas that will move us in our spiritual paths. All levels of experience welcome.

How to Talk to People

Coffee and Conversation Series

Two Saturday mornings; coffee at 9:45, conversation from 10-11:15 a.m. Room 209 at church Registration Requested

Feb. 24 - The Infrastructure of Community; April 27- How to Not Go It Alone 

Feb. 24 - We go urgently from one thing to another, rushing to get things done. White Scandinavian folks especially have a norm of ‘keeping to ourselves.’ But it’s conversation, hanging out together, that slows us down and opens us to what emerges. What are we missing when we rush from one thing to another, keeping to ourselves in order to manage our time and get things done? How can our spiritual and social lives nourish one another? Let’s name and imagine what “infrastructure” we need to make that happen as a spiritual community! These workshops, based on three different episodes from the podcast How to Talk to People, are meant to open us up to possibilities in moving toward deeper relationships through talking and listening, and to brainstorm about ways that church gatherings and infrastructure could facilitate these kinds of interactions and relationships. Register for one, two, or all three. We encourage listening to at least part of the podcast episode (or reading the transcript) before attending. 

Facilitated by member Nancy Nyquist Potter and Membership Coordinator Liz Farmer.

Young Adults

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 on the first Sundays of the month after the 11 a.m. service for lunch at Gigi’s Cafe, conversation on spiritual topics relevant to young adults, and fun activities. Email liz@firstuniv.org to be added to the Young Adults facebook group and email list. Gatherings are added throughout the spring; Check the Sign Up Genius for what’s coming up.

Dinner for the Week

Sunday, Feb. 25; 2-4:30 p.m. 

Sometimes cooking is recharging... but at other times, it's just another thing to do and the thought of food waiting for you at home sounds like the greatest thing ever! If you can relate, Cameron is looking for 3-4 folks to *pilot* a little let's-cook-a-bunch-of-food-together activity where the goal is to leave with your own tupperware(s) filled with food -- all with the help of First U's awesome kitchen. What's the best way to divide up our labor? How cheap can we get the serving cost down to (while trying to stay healthy?) What would this look like with more people? How much will we cry cutting onions? Email Cameron (cam.smither@gmail.com) to sign up and we'll find out together.

Art Making

All Sundays in February and March, 1 p.m.  Room 206 at church

Registration Required

Facilitated by Kate Guin and Denise Konen

Creating art as a spiritual practice is similar to other meditative practices. The goal is not the output, but to bathe the mind and soul. We will support each other in using creativity on a regular basis to increase wellness and spiritual connection. 

Knitting

Sundays, March 3 at 1 p.m. April 7 at noon (March and April dates subject to change). In person at church

Registration Requested

Facilitated by Merinda Brayfield

Knitting can be soothing and meditative. It invites us to slow down and take things one stitch at a time. It teaches us patience as well as trust and faith in your own abilities. 

Quilting

Sundays, March 3, April 7; 3-5 p.m. on zoom Sundays, Feb. 18, March 17, April 21; 3-5 p.m. In person

Registration Required

Facilitated by Chris Chiros 

Chris writes: Quilting is a spiritual practice for me in multiple ways. The creativity fills my cup and thus is an act of self-care. And, it connects me to the greater community. Many of the quilts I make are donated either to the individuals I know (or know of) who are struggling and perhaps don't have a loved one who can make a quilt for them to cocoon into like a warm hug, or to organizations that are asking for quilts. I appreciate that my spiritual practice may bring comfort to another.

Community Dinner

Wednesday, March 6 (no family pre-party) Dinner 6-7 p.m. in the Social Hall; Breakout Groups 7-8:15 p.m.

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.

Newcomers Circle

Tuesdays, March 12, 19, 26, and April 2; Optional informal dinner at 6 p.m. Circle 6:30-8 p.m.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Offered each season, Newcomers Circle creates a rich, supportive environment in which to share and grapple with our emerging UU values, theology, identity, and sense of belonging. This 4-session gathering is a caring and structured group to dig deeper into Unitarian Universalism and further connection at church, sometimes before “taking the leap" to membership. Newcomers Circle is intended for those who are discerning if and/or how they will commit to and continue their spiritual journey at First Universalist. The first session is required to establish group trust and cohesion. Plan to attend at least three of the four sessions.

Facilitated by Jane Jordan and CT Neal-Herman

Adult Neurodivergent Peer Support

Dates TBD. Register to be informed about upcoming gatherings of this currently-forming group.

Being a neurodivergent adult comes with its own unique challenges and experiences. We’re looking to create a support group to help one another navigate and spend time with other adults like us. Hosted by Merinda Brayfield.

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.

Fifth Grade OWL Registration Open

5th grade OWL (Our Whole Lives) 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 is NOW OPEN! Registration can be found HERE. Please email Claire Tralle (claire@firstuniv.org) with any questions. 

Grief Group (online)

Sundays, March 3, 17, April 7, 21, May 5, 19, 4-5:30 p.m. on Zoom

Registration Required

The Grief Group meets second and fourth Sundays on Zoom. It is 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.

Facilitated by Mark Caswell, church member and Ministerial Aspirant

Caregivers group (online)

Sundays, March 10, April 14, May and June TBD by group; 1-2:30 p.m. on Zoom

Registration Required

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. When we gather, we’ll light a chalice, have time for introductions, and share a reading, then move into deeper sharing, support, and reflection. 

Facilitated by Rev. Arif Mamdani, Associate Minister

Immigration Justice

The North Star Act, in Solidarity with MN Immigrants

Register for the zoom link for small group meetings Sundays, Feb. 25, March 24, April 28; 7-8 p.m. on zoom.

In 2024, some folks will use anti-immigrant rhetoric to divide the people and gain power, but we will build solidarity. The North Star Act will stop Minnesota police from detaining or reporting immigrants to the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for minor infractions, such as traffic violations. Join members of First U’s Sanctuary & Resistance Team for small group Zoom meetings for First U (and area UUs), advocating to help inform policy-makers and public awareness. 

Small group facilitated by First U member Karen Wills and Heidi Romanish.

"Atomic Hope"

Environmental Justice Gathering

March 3, 3-4:30 p.m. Cummins Room at church Registration Requested

The EJ Team currently meets quarterly, with primary justice action occurring through the EJ team's working groups (see church website for a listing of working groups). People attending will share environmental concerns and actions in which they have recently been involved. All interested people in the First U community are welcome to attend the gathering.

First Fridays: Democracy on Film

Fridays, March 1, April 5, May 3; 6:30-9 p.m. Online only. Register for the zoom link to join the watch party from home.

Every organizer needs relaxation, and some may enjoy some (virtual) company, community, and inspiration from classic pro-democracy films to help us get through 2024. At First Friday Films, we will light a chalice and check in using Zoom at 6:30, then watch a movie together from our own devices, starting at 7:00pm. As participants watch together online, we build a sense of shared community. We’ll start with Mr. Smith Goes to Washington on Friday, Feb. 2, then choose other films by group vote. Register on the zoom link to be in the loop about the group’s future film showings! Other films could include A Face in the Crowd, Strong Female Lead, All the President's Men, Malcolm X, The Candidate, Election, Lincoln, Primary, Shouting Down Midnight, and Milk. Online gathering hosted by First U member Karen Wills. 

UU Wellspring - Crises of Life

Wednesdays, March 6, 7-8:30; March 20, 6:30-8; April 3, 6:30-8; April 17, 7-8:30; May 1, 6:30-8; May 8, 7-8:30 p.m. Room 211 at church Registration Required

Crises of Life explores how the wisdom and understanding of our chosen faith supports us during the challenges and crises of life. In this program we combine Rev. Crow’s wisdom with the poetry and life experiences of Ross Gay, African American poet, educator and dedicated community gardener, to understand that even in oppressive situations beauty and delight offer us unparalleled joy. During the six sessions we provide spiritual practices and writing exercises that encourage participants to open to their own inner voice, their personal narratives and to connections in our beloved communities. Materials suggested: The Book of Delights by Ross Gay and Take What You Need by Rev. Jen Crow. Take What You Need is available from the church for a suggested $20 donation.

Facilitated by Rev. Jen Crow

Snowshoeing at Bdote

Saturday, March 9; 1-3:30 p.m. Registration Required

Join the Environmental and Climate Justice Team’s Biodiversity Working Group. The group who hiked at our event in October enthusiastically requested another event at this park in the winter–snowshoeing! (If there’s not enough snow, we’ll hike instead.) Whether you attended the October event or not, please join EJ Team member Cathy Geist and a park naturalist as we snowshoe by the Mississippi River at Bdote/Fort Snelling State Park, where the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers converge. Please note that this State Park is not at the same location as Historic Fort Snelling. Snowshoes will be provided by the State Park. Together, in the context of this area’s indigenous history, we’ll learn more about the amazing diversity of life here as winter continues and the plants, animals, and other organisms adjust to winter conditions. We’ll meet in the parking lot near the State Park Visitor Center, where the park road ends. (Please stop at the building at the bottom of the hill near the park entrance to purchase a 1-day park pass if you need one.) Contact Cathy at 612-384-2723 or cathy.geist@minneapolis.edu with any questions. She will also send out driving directions after you register, so please make sure to include your email. Hope to see you there!

Spiritual Centering for Justice Seekers

Sundays, March 10, April 14, May 12; 7-8 p.m. on zoom. Drop In; Register for the zoom link and attend as you’re able.

How do we create sustainable practices in this age of burnout and compassion fatigue? This monthly online group from MUUSJA brings together UU's across Minnesota to nourish the spirit and strengthen solidarity among those committed to social justice work in 2024. It offers spiritual practices to fuel, nurture, and support your justice work, and connects you with supportive colleagues across Minnesota UU congregations, so all are stronger and more effective. Facilitated by MUUSJA's spiritual director, UU Rev. Leslie Mills. Contact First U Member Karen Wills with questions. 

Habitat for Humanity

We have a work day scheduled at

219 James Avenue N, Minneapolis

March 16, 2024

Sign up here

Join other First U members on-site for an exciting local housing project. No experience necessary!

Gun Safety

Read the opinion piece by Marc Gorelick, First U member and current Treasurer, published in the Star Tribune. CALL TO ACTION at the end of the article!

We are not protecting our children. Yes, we buckle them into car seats. We strap seat belts across them and require them to wear bike helmets. We teach them to safely cross the street, take them to the doctor for checkups and get them vaccinated against disease.

We do all that, and then we send them into a society where they could get shot anywhere, at any time. A July 4th parade. Their own classroom.

A trampoline at a birthday party. A Super Bowl celebration.

As pediatricians, we work day in and day out to prevent illness in our community’s children and keep them healthy. Yet, guns are the No. 1 killer of kids in our country, and it is absolutely preventable. When it comes to the largest threat to children’s health, we allow partisanship to defeat safety. The cost is our kids’ lives.

We are not protecting our children.

We as Minnesotans have 90 days to make our state safer for our kids. That’s about how long this year’s legislative session, now underway, will last. It’s the amount of time we have to demand lawmakers pass effective gun safety measures.

We need lawmakers to: 1. Require safe gun storage. We know that unsecured guns pose clear risks, especially to children. Safe storage has been shown to significantly decrease firearm injuries among kids.

2. Require gun owners to more immediately report lost or stolen firearms. Stolen guns pose a risk to our communities as they enter the illegal gun market and fuel more violence.

3. Allow Medicaid to pay for hospital-based violence intervention programs like Next Step that interrupt the cycle of violence and help victims of gun violence heal.

Thankfully, the 11 children shot in Kansas City on Wednesday will likely survive. But they are also likely to bear the physical and emotional trauma of sudden, inexplicable violence for the rest of their lives.

This is not normal. Unlike kids today, most parents didn’t grow up with the fear of being gunned down in a public place, having to perform active shooter drills at school. We cannot allow this to be our normal any longer.

Our children cannot protect themselves.

That is our job. Our most important job. In the next 90 days, in partnership with our Minnesota legislators, let’s do that job to the very best of our ability.

Dr. Marc Gorelick is president and CEO of Children’s Minnesota.

CALL TO ACTION: Call your Minnesota State House and State Senate Representatives. Look up who represents you here. Reach out to both your "MN House" and "MN Senate" reps. Sample Script:

Hi, my name is ______ and I'm a constituent in (your city or zip code). I'm calling today to ask (Legislator's name) to support gun safety legislation this session that does three things:

1. Require safe gun storage.
2. Require gun owners to more immediately report lost or stolen firearms.
3. Allow Medicaid to pay for hospital-based violence intervention programs like Next Step.

Apply for the Foundation Board

The Nominating Committee is very pleased to announce that all current members of the

Board of Trustees and the Nominating Committee are returning to serve our church for the 2024-2025 church year. If you know any of these members, please thank them for their dedication!

As a consequence, we are now recruiting candidates only for positions on the

Foundation Board. We invite and encourage members to nominate themselves to serve in this fulfilling work. Participating on the Foundation Board enables you to collaborate with other lay leaders to advance the church’s mission. Positions are for a three-year term. Below is a brief description of the opportunity:

Member of First Universalist Foundation Board: Board members serve as stewards of the

very substantial Foundation endowment. They solicit grant applications, review applications, and select grantees to be awarded the funding that can make such a difference in the real world. A fuller description of the position can be found here.

Requirements: You must be a member in good standing of the church. Please consider

either nominating yourself or encouraging a fellow church member to apply for this important role.

Applications are due by Friday, March 15, and the application form can be filled out here. All applications will be reviewed by the Nominating Committee and followed up by interviews. Elections will occur at the Annual Meeting on Sunday, June 9.

If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Ray Dillon, the

Nominating Committee chair, at dillonrueter@usinternet.com 612-759-5295, or contact any of the members of the Nominating Committee: Evelyn Browne, Chad Johnson, Katie Fox, David Bach, and Sandy Culpepper.

All Virtual General Assembly

First U folks who are planning to attend this year's *VIRTUAL* General Assembly: Please let us know here.

General Assembly is the annual gathering of Unitarian Universalists, where we conduct business of the Association, explore the theological underpinnings of our faith, and lean fully into our mission and principles. Please join us online Thursday, June 20 through Sunday, June 23, 2024 for this 4-day immersive experience where we participate in inspirational worship services and informative workshops, reconvene with friends and colleagues, and explore our virtual exhibit hall. GA is an unforgettable experience for the thousands of UUs who participate. You’ll leave with renewed energy and innovative ideas to share with your congregation and community-at-large!

From the GA Planning Committee: Reserve your space by registering now. Knowing our audience size and demographics helps us more effectively navigate logistics and curate content. Also, when registration numbers are high, sponsors and exhibitors are encouraged to invest more time and money into the event. Whether you are a seasoned attendee or a first-timer, this is your opportunity to be a part of an extraordinary gathering. Register now through March 15th for the lowest rates and to take advantage of the payment plan.

Register now for General Assembly--rates go up on March 15.

Creating A New Peace Garden

While recent landscape projects have greatly enhanced the front and the parking lot areas of our church, the north side of the building on 34th Street definitely needs to be improved. The hope is that this area will become our new Peace Garden.

Last fall, Cathy Manning, Tom Saterstrom and a few others started work on this area by removing weeds and brush. We now need a landscape plan before we can move ahead with this project. Several congregants are interested in offering ideas, but we now need someone (Maybe you?) to help create a comprehensive landscape design to guide the selection and placement of plants and materials as the work continues in stages, over time. Limited funds are available from the Lynn Elling Memorial Fund to help purchase plants and exterior furniture, but we need an initial plan first.

If you have an interest in creating such a plan, please contact SPIFF (Space Improvement, Facilities & Furnishings) chair Lynne Stanley: lynne.e.stanley@gmail.com   

Church Directory Update

Our church member directory will be temporarily unavailable due to our database vendor’s decision to end support for our database product. This has required a change in our database platform and we are moving through the transition, prioritizing the core aspects of church - tracking pastoral contacts, internal communications, and giving. As we move through this transition, we expect to have our new member directory available for members to access sometime in February. If you need contact info for a member or members in the interim, please contact Liz Farmer. We would greatly appreciate help in the transition and onboarding our congregation to the new directory. If you’re technically skilled and available to help, please contact Liz Farmer.

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

AUW Spring Retreat

April 26-28, 2024

Camp Courage, Annandale, MN

Igniting Change

The Light we Carry in a Barbie World

Are you wondering what types of things you might learn at this retreat? Well, here’s a peak into two of the sessions.

Building your Toolbox 

Come build a toolbox to keep your light shiny, bright, sparkly, and full of color. This will be a time to gather tools you already have and yet may have forgotten--and gain new ones. You can never have too many tools. You never know which one is needed until the time arrives. 

Greta Gerwig

With Barbie, Greta Gerwig becomes the first woman to direct a b-b-billion dollar movie. Did you know - Greta Gerwig is a UU! Let's get to know her better. The workshop will delve into the director and writer's art. And how (and whether) Gerwig's UU and Catholic school upbringing also star in her films.

Register HERE!

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.

February 24 - 2024 2pm Lake Harriet , Meet at Bandshell, pay lot or park on Parkway for free. 4135 Lake Harriet Parkway, Mpls., MN 55410 Marie will lead.

OWL Dinner Volunteer Opportunity: AUW will cater a dinner for OWL (Our Whole Lives) program students on Saturday evening, March 23 as they settle in for their overnight. We are being asked to provide and prepare food for 36 students plus our volunteers. The AUW board has already agreed that we will prepare the meal, now we are seeking eager volunteers to sign up to be part of the team that plans and prepares the meal. To volunteer or sign up online here. We are also seeking donations to help defray the cost of the food. There will be a basket where you can donate cash at the Winter Event. or you can donate through PayPal here.

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 March 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, February 26. We will be discussing

The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray 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.