Budgeting for Abundance, Generosity, and Justice

Dear Ones,

Many of us are familiar with the biblical story of Jesus feeding a crowd of 5000 people with only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes. And, I suspect, most of us UUs do not believe that a literal miracle occurred to feed that multitude with such scarce resources. Yet I wonder if we sometimes assume that some form of miracle occurs to allow First Universalist to carry out its many ministries without paying much attention to where the resources come from. Just like Jesus and his disciples probably preferred to think about healing the sick and comforting the afflicted rather than food logistics, modern churchgoers often find the topic of money peripheral at best or even distasteful.

The Board is hoping to change that. All of us have a role in stewarding the financial resources of our church. As treasurer of First Universalist, one thing I’d like to do is equip all of us to do that by providing regular information and updates about church finances in the newsletter. This is the first of the regular financial updates you can expect to find in our newsletter.

Let’s start with a few basics. The church has an unusual fiscal year, starting on 1 July and ending on 30 June. The fiscal year is the period of time that defines our financial and budgetary cycle. So we are now almost 3 months into the current fiscal year, which I will call FY23-24. Each year the staff develops, with Board input, a budget which is approved at the annual meeting just before the start of the fiscal year. For FY23-24, the approved budget anticipated a deficit of approximately $100,000, meaning we planned to spend that much more than we get from contributions, rent, and other income. Of course, it’s unsustainable to spend more than we bring in year after year. The current budget anticipates making up the difference by spending some of our reserves (essentially, our savings). Thanks to additional pledges after the budget was approved, we are currently trending toward a balanced budget for FY23-24 rather than the planned deficit. However, that depends on being able to collect all of the pledges made, and keeping our expenses on track. The staff, Board, and soon-to-be-resurrected finance committee will be monitoring that carefully.

Speaking of collecting all the pledges made… In order to create a budget, the team needs to have a sense of how much money it is going to have to work with. Each year we ask for pledges during one fiscal year, to support the work of the following fiscal year. This year, we will be starting the pledge drive for the fiscal year beginning in July 2024 earlier than usual, probably this October. The reason is, waiting until winter/spring means we don’t have a firm sense of the following year’s income until very shortly before the budget needs to be finalized. This makes rational planning difficult, and when there’s a shortfall it can force us to make difficult choices about what we can and can’t afford with less time for input and discernment than we’d like. However, moving the drive up means we will be asking for next year’s pledges before many people will have paid this year’s pledge. Hopefully this heads up will prevent confusion.

I tend to believe that Jesus and his disciples fed the crowd not with magic, but with the practices of abundance, generosity, and justice. They invited the gathered community to examine what each of us have in our pockets— the protein bar, the dried fruit we brought for later, whatever we are tempted to hoard for ourselves and instead trust that if we each share what is ours to share, we will really have enough. This is the miracle. The faith in each other to share our abundance. And to start with what's in our own pockets.

See you in Church, 

Marc Gorelick

Board Treasurer

Intro

Budgeting for Abundance

Sunday Worship

This Sunday, Sep. 24, 9 & 11 a.m.

Sunday, Sep. 17 Recording

Cycle of Life

"All In Sundays"

Fall Programs

Soup Cookoff Dinner

Young Adults

Seniors Brainstorm

Kate Tucker Circles

News

Drivers Needed

Sept. Board Meeting

Faithful Action

AFA Clothing Drive

Env. Justice Team

Habitat for Humanity

Community Events & Affiliated Organizations:

Women's Ritual Circle, AUW, 12-Step Spirituality

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Sunday, September 24

In-person at 9 a.m.; In-person & Online at 11 a.m.



"Tough Love"

The experience of being welcomed with open arms can change us, rooting us in communities of care that transform individuals and society. Practicing this kind of love requires a tough mind and a tender heart, Dr. Martin Luther King once wrote, urging us to develop the characteristics that can ground us in transformative love. Join us for worship this Sunday, Sept. 24, in person at 9 and in person and livestreamed at 11 a.m.

IN PERSON AT 9 & 11 A.M.

This Sunday, we worship in person at 9 & 11 a.m. Masks are welcome but not required in the sanctuary; please review our Covid-19 Gathering Guidelines. 

ONLINE AT 11 A.M.

This service is live-streamed at 11 a.m. Watch the livestream here. 

CHILDREN & YOUTH

Childcare is available in the nursery starting at 8:45 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. respectively for children ages 6 months through preschool. 8th grade OWL students will also begin in their classrooms at 9 and 11 a.m.

All other children and youth in grades 1-9 begin in the Sanctuary with their families before being dismissed to their Religious Education classes approximately halfway through the service.

Senior High Youth Group (grades 10-12) will gather from 10:30-11:30 a.m. in room 209 for the first few weeks of the church year. The room will open at 10 a.m. with snacks and drinks for senior high youth. Please reach out to Allison for more information at allison@firstuniv.org.

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.

"Every Last Drop: Welcoming All People"

• Watch the Sept. 17 service on YouTube
• Sept. 17 service podcast
• Rev. Jen's Sept. 17 sermon only

Podcast Archive | Recording Archive | Sermon Archive

Our hearts are with Ginny McAninch, her daughter Kris and grandson Jack, and their friends and family. On Monday morning, Sasha, their sweet, funny, spirited, joyful, strong, kind, creative and loving granddaughter, daughter, and sister passed away. Unexpected but peaceful, she died in her sleep at age 18. Friends and family have surrounded them. Even in their shock and sadness the family feels the love and support and are grateful. May our care and love hold them in their grief and sadness.

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.

For Your Calendar: "All In" Sundays at 10 a.m.

Welcome Back, Welcome In!

Get connected as we begin the new church year! In this early fall season, we remember and reweave our connections with this congregation and each other. There are a myriad of entry points for all ages. Find registration forms and more details on our website.

Soup Cook Off & Community Dinner

Wednesday, October 11th

Family pre-party 5-6 p.m: We’ll host space for play and socializing for families with babies to 1st graders on the playground (or indoors, if weather requires) and families with 2nd-5th graders in the Cummins Room. At 6 p.m. we’ll move the party to the Social Hall and eat soup together!

Soup Cook-off Dinner 6-7:30pm

RSVP Requested

You might be familiar with the bumper sticker that says: Love people. Cook them tasty food. Now is your chance to do both at church! Our first annual soup cook-off will take place at Community Dinner on October 11! All ages are encouraged to sign up to compete as a soup chef or be a soup judge for five special categories. Those registered to cook and compete will bring servings of their favorite soup to share. Dinner participants will vote for their favorites. Come be a part of nourishing each other and our community! Bring home new recipes! Win the Golden Ladle!  

Time for Further Connection 7:30-8:15 p.m. includes a puzzle table, question prompts for deeper conversation and storytelling, and a place to share joys and concerns.

Program Brainstorm for Seniors

Tuesday, Sept. 26, 9:30-11 a.m. at church

Join Rev. Jen, Rev. Ashley, and Dr. Glen Thomas for a conversation to ask: What are the unique spiritual needs, tasks and joys of life over age 60? How are we as a community meeting those needs already and what is missing? Bring your ideas, hopes and dreams to share over bagels. Registration Requested.

Young Adults Board Games Afternoon

Sunday, Oct. 8; 12:45-2:45 at church

Young adults are invited to gather for an afternoon of games and friendly competition after church. We’ll provide some lunch and games to get us started. Bring a favorite game to teach if you’d like, and a lunch item or snack to share.

Hosted by Maria Heath, First U community member

RSVP Requested

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 about twice a month for structured and unstructured conversation, spiritual practice, and activities.

Kate Tucker Sermons Circles

You are invited to five sessions to dive deeply into five Kate Tucker sermons, usually meeting every other week. Before each session, the audio file and the discussion questions for the session's chosen sermon will be provided. Participants listen ahead of time and come prepared to relate the sermon to their own lives. This circle is open to ages twenty-somethings to seniors, whether or not you have personally experienced our beloved Minister Emerita’s sermons before. Rev. Tucker’s sermons have aged well because they delve into timeless yearnings and wisdom. Please join us in a commitment to personal and communal spiritual growth.

Thursdays, Sept. 28, Oct. 19, Nov. 2, 16, 30; 7-8:45 p.m. on zoom

faciliated by Marion Dane Bauer and Ray Dillon

-OR-

Sundays, Oct. 1, 15, 29, Nov. 12, 26; 7-8:45 p.m. on zoom

facilitated by Kim Kammeier and Ray Dillon

When you register, you will be asked whether you prefer the Sunday evenings, the Thursday evenings, or are open to either. Enrollment in each section is limited to ten. Register here.

Parent Nourishment on September 30

Join a two-hour event for parents modeling ways that small creative practices can cultivate joyful resilience. Nationally acclaimed Black and queer playwright, Sharon Bridgforth, will lead this unique experience, joined by Twin Cities artist, Miré Regulus, actor and teaching artist, Aimee Bryant, and parent facilitator (and First U RE parent), Erin Walsh. The event, titled “dem Blessings for Parents: A Morning of Creative Nourishment,” will take place on September 30, 2023, starting at 10:00 AM at our own First Universalist Church of Minneapolis. This event is free for First U parents! Enter the code "FIRSTU" when you register here.

Put the HUMAN in HR

Did you know that the church's employee handbook was written *years* before online/remote work became a normal part of how we do things? It's true. And as we all know, *a lot* has changed since then!

We're looking for some help updating our staff policies to be aligned with who the church is and how we are working today. If you're someone who puts the human in HR and you're up for helping with this project, please reach out to Rev. Arif Mamdani - arif@firstuniv.org.

September Board Meeting

The Board of Trustees meets generally on the third Thursday of each month, next on Sept. 21 at 6:30 p.m., in person and online. Meeting materials can be found here.

Bring Some Basics

for Augsburg Fairview Academy

Clothing is needed for all sizes and genders for AFA Students. Please new socks, underwear, and leggings, as well as new or gently used t-shirts to the Social Hall on Sundays Sept. 24, Oct. 1, and Oct. 8.

AFA is a public charter high school serving students in the Phillips neighborhood; many experience housing and food insecurity. AFA is a long standing Faithful Action Community Partner and First Universalist congregants have generously supported a Food and Clothing Closet for AFA students for over 10 years. Contact Cindy Marsh with questions.

First U Water Protectors:

Pipeline Updates and What's Next

Sunday, Oct. 1, 12:45 p.m. in person at church 

or Thursday, Oct. 5, 5-6 p.m. on zoom



Line 3 may be complete and oil may now be flowing, but the environmental construction damage continues to be documented. Join EJ team’s Keep it in the Ground working group to hear first hand from our indigenous allies about ongoing aquifer breaches along Line 3 in Northern Minnesota. Video will be shared from the MNIPL Indigenous Gathering at the Headwaters this past June.

EJ’s working group will also share updates on Line 5 in Wisconsin and Michigan, as well as the Willow Project in Alaska and the Mountain Valley Pipeline in West Virginia and Virginia. What do these pipelines all have in common? 

Join us to explore this question and actions we can take to promote “keeping it in the ground.” For more information contact Roberta Haskin, lead for Keep it in the Ground Working Group. Register here to receive the zoom link for Thursday, Oct 5, 5 p.m. session.

Habitat for Humanity Build Day

October 11, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. in SE Minneapolis

Come join our crew! All you need is a willingness to work – no experience necessary. We will be working on a new home doing whatever the site supervisor asks of us; putting up siding, hanging sheetrock, painting…whatever needs doing with on-the-job training. Lunch will be provided. Registration required.

Book Launch and Conversation

with Rev. Karen Van Foassan

Tuesday, Oct. 3, 6:30-8 p.m. CST on zoom

Join the Minnesota Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Alliance (MUUSJA) in conversation with Rev. Karen Van Fossan, an abolitionist, minister, professional counselor, street chaplain, and former defendant in the Line 3 pipeline resistance. This special program will celebrate the release of her new book, A Fire at the Center: Solidarity, Whiteness, & Becoming a Water Protector. The book takes readers from behind the scenes of the Dakota Access Pipeline conflict, to penitentiaries where prisoners of war have carried the movement onward, to the jail cell where Karen was held for protesting Line 3, to a reimagining of decolonized family constellations, and to moments of collective hope and strength. For more info about MUUSJA, visit www.muusja.org.

Under Northern Skies Women's Ritual Circle

Under Northern Skies Women's Ritual Circle is a spiritual practice group in which

self-identified women with many different life experiences, backgrounds, and belief systems come together to change, grow, and celebrate the Divine in each other through earth centered ritual. The gathering dates are every new and full moon. There is not a permanent group leader. Volunteers take turns to design, guide, and direct the new and full moon rituals. The date's astrological aspects may guide the topics and themes rituals explore. Rituals also draw inspiration and meaning found in many other earth centered practices and beliefs. One does not have to espouse any particular religion or philosophy or believe in any particular deity or deities to participate in the group and derive meaning from its activities. All one needs is a desire to live in a way that acknowledges the cycles of life and nature, and to grow spiritually and personally alongside a mutually supportive group of other self-identified women. Contact Ann Hobbs with questions.

Attend one or more of the open group gatherings to learn if this experience is for you.

Gathering time 7:00 p.m. Ritual begins at 7:30p.m. in Room 209.

• Fri, Sept. 29 Full Moon in Aries
• Sat, Oct. 14 New Moon in Libra
• Sat, Oct. 28 Full Moon in Taurus

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

Save the Date! Saturday, Nov. 18 is the annual AUW Fall Retreat!

Our focus is health resilience- how to plan for it and how to achieve it when you need it the most. Lunch and our speaker will lead us off, followed by a set of breakout sessions on health resilience topics, including resources for now and in the future. Late morning registration with mid-afternoon wrap-up. Hope to see you there!

Hiking Group: Meets most Saturdays at a park or trail head at 10 a.m. For questions or to get on the hiking group mailing list, contact Marie Sorensen, 612-419-3620 or Lynn Richardson, 612-323-2776.

Sept. 23 at Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden. 1 Theodore Wirth Parkway. Led by Marie.

Oct. 1 TBD

Oct. 7 Nine Mile Creek. Morgan Avenue South and 104th Street. Moir Park, Bloomington , MN. Stairs beginning and end of trail. Beautiful creek walk. Asphalt then crushed rock. Meet at Park Building.

Oct. 14 Wood Lake Nature Center. 6710 Lake Shore Drive, Richfield, MN. No

designated leader for this hike. Let Marie know by Friday morning if you are going so she can cancel if no one wants to go.

Oct. 21 Richardson Nature Center. 8737 East Bush Lake Road, Bloomington, MN. Meet by Trailhead sign on parking lot. Nice asphalt trail, some easy hills. Colors by then?

Oct. 28 Wood Lake Nature Center. 6710 Lake Shore Drive, Richfield, MN. No

designated leader for this hike. Let Marie know by Friday morning if you are going so she can cancel if no one wants to go.

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 October 10. 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.

Weekly Happy Hour: This online Zoom gathering is a way to stay connected with AUW friends. We meet at 7 pm every Thursday. Hosts are Liz and Carol. Here is the Zoom link to tune in.

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, September 25 when we will be discussing Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan. Location of the in-person meeting is available to those on the mailing list. The Zoom version of the meeting convenes online at 7 p.m.

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. If interested, pick a book to take home. To help make connections, please put a post-it note on the book with your name and the reason you liked the book. Leftover books will be donated to a Free Little Library. Any questions or ideas contact Nora Whiteman at 612-250–1661.

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

12 step spirituality meetings will gather in the church on the 1st Saturday of each month beginning Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023 and ending on May 4, 2024. The meetings are for people who are actively working any 12 step program. It is focused on the 11th step and the practice of Centering Prayer Meditation. Meeting details are available at 12stepspirituality.org.



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.