Greetings! 

What a week of ups and downs it has been. On Sunday, many of us gathered for the first time in person for worship in sixteen months. Our choir lifted us up with How Can I Keep from Singing and Love is Love, and our artist-in-residence, Aimee K. Bryant, ministered to us with her music and her words. Randy Buikema, our Choir Director, and Franco Holder, our pianist, kept us all together and offered their tremendous gifts to us. Jill Braithwaite rocked the story, and I am still buzzing with the joy of being together and feeling the connection and power we share. I know our livestreaming fell short of our hopes, and we hope if you weren’t able to be there with us you’ll watch the service (with excellent quality!) on our First Universalist YouTube channel here.

On Monday, Deona Marie Knajdek Erickson, who was out protesting the police killing of Winston Smith, was killed when a man drove into the crowd. This mother of two young children was about to celebrate her 32nd birthday and one year of sobriety. She was using her voice and her body to make an impact, proclaiming that Black Lives Matter, and in doing so, she lost her life. The rage, grief, and trauma so many of us are experiencing continues to grow as police aggressively clear peaceful protests in Uptown and at George Floyd Square. Many of us are feeling the all too familiar return of the fear and tension of last summer right alongside our ever-growing faith commitment to racial justice. 

In the midst of it all, I want to remind us to take care of ourselves and each other — and to direct our own attention. 

As people of faith, we must direct our own attention: first to our senses, our bodies, and our breath as we settle our nervous systems and allow ourselves to come into the present moment with all of its feelings and facts. Next, we direct our attention to the quiet — allowing ourselves to pause and make room for silence and the space to listen for the stories and experiences that are not being told by mainstream media, which so often focuses on profit over people and reinforces patterns of oppression and omission. Then, we can direct our attention to the fullness of the complex stories that are unfolding in our community and in our lives — adding this perspective and that — until our narrative is rich and nuanced. Together, we can hold it all, and together, we can write a new story of love and justice when we remember our connection and our shared power.

In gratitude,

Join Rev. Karen for a midweek worship experience for adults and older youth. This 30-minute service is a brief time of connection, centering, and reflection to help us find and keep our balance.

Connect to the live stream on Wednesday, June 23 between 6:55 and 7 p.m.: Enter the Wednesday Zoom webinar here. (webinar ID: 117-312-320). To join by phone (audio only), dial 1-312-626-6799 and enter the webinar ID.

Post-service Care Companions space (7:30 p.m.): Join the Zoom gathering here.

Spirit of Life

Spirit of Love

We pause for these moments of reflection and remembering.

We reflect in gratitude for our lives and the countless other beings who help to make our lives possible.

We reflect in compassion for all those suffering right now, whether here in our congregation or in the wider world. We pray that they find a measure of peace and ease.

We hold in our hearts our joys and concerns. As we name them aloud or silently, we add to our heart’s voice these joys and concerns from our congregation.

We share the happy news that Mary Sorenson’s recent shoulder surgery went well and she is recovering at St. Therese’s in Brooklyn Park. She would absolutely welcome your cards and letters. You can mail them to her at:

Mary Sorenson

℅ St. Therese Senior Services

5200 Oak Grove Pkwy

Brooklyn Park, MN 55443

Our hearts are with the family and friends of longtime member, Ruth Heidelberg. Ruth died at the age of 93, and was beloved by many, especially her husband of 70 years, Ken. You can find Ruth's obituary in the Star Tribune here. Your cards and condolences are welcome to:

As we hold all these prayers in our heart, we pray that the grip of addiction be loosened, that the weight of oppression be lightened, that joy break through, and that love make every suffering bearable for us all.

May it be so, amen.

If you are experiencing a crisis or transition, or celebrating a joy­, please let us know. To be included in our Cycle of Life each Sunday in worship, or if you would like support, contact Rev. Arif Mamdani at arif@firstuniv.org or 612-825-1701.

Sunday's service was live-streamed over Zoom like usual, but since it was broadcast from the park the audio and video were not as high quality as our previous Zoom services. However, as mentioned above, a higher quality recording of the service is now available to watch here on our YouTube channel. You can also listen to the the service as a podcast on Podbean or Spotify. Find additional materials for reflection and connection in Sunday's Order of Service.

For nearly a year and a half now, we’ve been in pandemic reality. As we move into the summer, many of us are asking, “When will we be able to hug friends and family again? Sing together again? Return to church? How will we ensure a more fair and just post-pandemic world? What Now? What Next?”

We are living in the tension of these questions. As people of faith, perhaps we can reshape these questions and ask, “What is the spiritual work right now? What spiritual work comes next? How do we hold grief and gratitude, fear and excitement, uncertainty and new found clarity, all at the same time? How can we go slow, and thoughtfully, trusting that the answers will emerge?”

This summer, in worship, we’ll create space to honor and live with these questions, not rushing toward answers, but engaging in spiritual practices and timeless wisdom, as we prepare our hearts for flesh and blood community, for re-engaging with the world, for doing justice work, hand in hand and side by side, with our neighbors and friends. Read more about our summer worship theme, "What Now? What Next?" on our website.

As we announced last week, we are delighted that Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout will be joining First Universalist as our new Director of Worship Arts on August 1, 2021. Glen Thomas comes to us from the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he has served in a variety of leadership roles since 2007, including most recently as Director of Worship and Music. Known for his deeply collaborative creation of worship services for congregations and national gatherings, Glen Thomas teaches worship design at Meadville Lombard Theological School and is the author of the curriculum, De-Centering Whiteness in Worship, with Julica Hermann de la Fuente and Rev. Erika Hewitt. A denominational leader, you may remember Glen Thomas from his appearances in our worship services during the pandemic, when he created and shared stunning works of musical beauty to sustain us during our times of all online worship.

Glen Thomas holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Conducting from the University of Michigan, and prior to the pandemic, traveled internationally to support the choir of his youth in its ensemble tours. Glen Thomas will serve on our Leadership Team and will lead our Worship Team. We look forward to welcoming him to Minneapolis and to our community at First Universalist. Glen Thomas’ first time in worship with us in his new role will be at the Lake Harriet Bandshell Service on August 15 at 10 a.m. Together, we are taking the turn into greater embodiment and even more musical and creative expression in worship.

We invite you to take some time with Glen Thomas' video greeting below, allowing his reflection on what we are about settle in as we prepare ourselves for a new beginning together.

At the Annual Meeting on June 6, members of First Universalist Church approved our 2021–22 Annual Budget, elected members of the congregation to the Board of Trustees, Foundation Board, and Nominating Committee, approved delegates to General Assembly, approved a change to our bylaws to encourage youth participation in leadership, and voted to approve the proposed Racial Justice Resolution (with some amended language, which will be shared later this month). We also honored Rev. Justin Schroeder on his last day with the church and presented him with gifts from the congregation. A recording of the Annual Meeting is available here.

First U EJ team activists share first person accounts of their experience supporting indigenous people as they stand up for treaty rights in opposition to Line 3. Karen Wills describes how empowering it was to meet with scores of Green Faith leaders and UUs from across the US at the Gathering. Included in the newsletter are steps you can take right now to support the ongoing efforts to stop Line 3 and support indigenous treaty rights. Find the First U EJ Team Newsletter here.

First U EJ team activists share their experiences and thoughts on the Treaty People Gathering that took place June 5 – 8. Listen into this 20 minute video as they talk about community at the gathering, personal feelings about civil disobedience, and perspectives on the importance of treaty obligations for indigenous peoples and for white colonizers. Watch the video here.

From the EJ Team: Lane Ayres, one of our congregants and an EJ team member, wrote this letter to editor of the Star Tribune and it was published in the June 8 edition.

"I have been an avid gardener in the Twin Cities for 47 years. Growing vegetables, and eating what I've grown from seed, gives me great pleasure. My "signature" crop is lettuce. I plant seeds in a cold frame as soon as possible in March. This year I grew nine varieties, all with different color and crunch profiles. Our family, and friends and neighbors, start eating it in early May. It lasts until late June or early July, when it starts to bolt and get bitter from the heat. On Friday I picked it all, something I've never had to do before. Lettuce simply can't withstand this way-too-early two weeks of temps from the high 80s to near 100. From melting glaciers to West Coast drought, climate change is happening now, and it's all around us. But we just sit here, watching the catastrophe come closer and closer. Now it's reached my backyard." You can find Lane's letter in the Star Tribune here.

Summer is for fun and building community! There are many groups meeting and programs happening at First U this summer, including gatherings for children, youth, and families, a Newcomers Circle, small groups, racial justice programming, a senior hiking group, and meditation and grief groups. As we navigate a summer of thresholds together, our commitment is to be as widely inclusive as possible! Learn more about our Summer 2021 groups and programs in our Summer 2021 Programs Flyer.

The First Universalist Board of Trustees will meet on Thursday, June 17, at 6:30 p.m. The Board is currently meeting on Zoom. Information about the June Board meeting, including the agenda and Zoom information, is available here on our website.

Deepen your connections in a small group this summer! Sunday Small Groups are a chance to gather with others to share what's stirring for you on a Sunday morning, to listen generously to each others' stories and reflections, and to find ourselves, our questions — and perhaps an invitation — within the sacred texts. No fixing, no saving, no advising, no correcting, just the simple act of offering care when others are speaking, and receiving care when it’s our turn to talk. Most of all, small groups are a chance to create and build together a space where all can be authentic in community.

Sunday Small Groups will meet for FOUR sessions: Sundays, July 11 – August 1 from 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. on Zoom. Your attendance at all four sessions is valued and important, and helps your group generate trust, cohesion, and consistency. The groups will be facilitated by First Universalist members and seminary students who are skilled, experienced facilitators.

Registration for this round of small groups will be open through July 5.  

Find more information, details, FAQs and answers at firstuniversalistchurch.org/small-groups.

What does abolition and "defunding the police" mean in the context of our Unitarian Universalist faith and personal values? What can we learn from Black feminists and others who understand the impact of policing and mass incarceration and are creating and imagining a world of care and transformative justice that brings safety and freedom for everyone? Join us in this five-week circle to reflect on the wisdom of long-time abolitionists and those exploring ways to create communities and institutions that support the welfare and wellbeing of every person.

Interested in learning more about what abolition means? We don’t have to agree to be open to learning together! There are two day-time 5 week sessions starting in July (one specifically inviting AUW Women) and an evening session yet to be determined. We ask participants to agree to attend the first session. Please register here. Contact Denise Konen at dkonen10@gmail.com with any questions.

Silverwood Park is located just north of Minneapolis at the intersection of Silver Lake Rd. and County Road E in St. Anthony Village. Directions to the park can be found on the Silverwood Park website.

Our trail is mostly paved and winds around a small lake with numerous interesting features. Enter the park from County Road E and drive to the large central parking area. We will meet on the front porch of the Visitor Center at 10 a.m.. We'll walk the trail at a leisurely pace, keeping an eye out for many trailside features such as gardens, a fishing pier and outdoor sculpture. Bring your own water.

The trail is less than two miles in length and the terrain is gentle. There are several alternate routes which can shorten the walk. There is a small cafe in the visitor center where those who wish to purchase lunch will find very pleasant outdoor eating areas. Or bring your own lunch. With expected beautiful weather we're looking forward to seeing our great fellow hikers again. For additional information please call Ward at (612) 823-2385.

Submitted by Betsy Allis with the EJ Committee Food Solutions Team:

Join the EJ Committee Food Solutions Team for a Backyard Plant-Based Potluck!

Home of Carol Gilbert and Liz Permar

Find more information in this flier. RSVP by June 27 here. Sponsored by First U Environmental Justice Food Solutions team, part of a fast-growing movement of Americans (now 30 percent) eating less meat and more plant foods.

We also look forward to worshipping with many of you in person, outside at the Lake Harriet Bandshell (4135 W Lake Harriet Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55409) on two more dates this summer:

Read the Liberal on the Thursday before each of these services for details!

Find ways to get involved with our Faithful Action Partners in our June Faithful Action Newsletter. The newsletter contains opportunities to connect through volunteering, donating, advocating, and learning. Our Faithful Action Partners are community organizations that share our vision of love and justice. We work through Faithful Action Partnerships in order to leverage our energy, commitment and expertise. You can find more information about our Faithful Action Partnerships on our website.

Hosted by United Theological Seminary:

As we continue to confront patterns of police brutality and their impact on Black and African immigrant communities in the Twin Cities, what role should faith communities and their leaders play in ongoing efforts to ensure public safety for the most vulnerable?

Join us on Tuesday, June 22 at 7 p.m. for a virtual dialogue with leading voices:

Register here for this event. You can find more information about the event on the United Theological Seminary website.

The care team at First Universalist is here to help in a whole lot of ways—from phone calls to say we’re thinking about you to a listening ear when you need someone to accompany you through whatever’s happening in your life. COVID-19 has changed some of the ways we provide care, but there is a lot we’re still doing. Here is one of the ways we’re here to provide support:

We Care Love Kits

In March 2020, we created Love Kits as a way to provide some resources and support to folks who were isolated, experiencing loss, families having a difficult time with the reality of COVID, and those experiencing hospitalization or illness in this time of enforced distance. To receive a Love Kit or to access any of our other caring resources, contact Rev. Arif Mamdani at arif@firstuniv.org 

Spiritual Care - Your ministers and program staff are here for one-on-one confidential conversations of support. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to any of us to connect. 

Love Kits - Are you or someone you love ill? Is your family struggling? Do you live alone or feel isolated? Do you know someone else from church who might be? If so, please let Rev. Karen (revkarenhutt@gmail.com) know so that a package full of love and support can be delivered to your home.

Meal Trains - If you or someone you know at church would welcome a meal to help them through a difficult time, loss, illness or injury — and having someone else do the cooking for a bit would help —please let us know. Contact Rev. Arif Mamdani at arif@firstuniv.org.

Minister’s Emergency Fund - For many of us, these are difficult financial times. If you need help with a car repair bill, making rent, a doctor’s bill, groceries, gas, a mortgage payment, affording your medication, a bus card, or any other financial situation - please be in touch. We have financial resources available. Please contact a minister/staff member. 

Mental Health Connect - www.mhconnect.org - Need help finding a therapist? Want to learn more about particular mental health conditions and resources? Check out Mental Health Connect, a local organization supported by congregations like ours, that provides community-based resources, support and education to improve access to mental health services and connect individuals and families with the services they need. 

Counseling - The Walk In Counseling Center offers free counseling by phone or computer. Find out how to “walk in” on their website.