Dear Ones,

The poet, e.e. cummings, famously wrote:

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart)

i am never without it (anywhere i go you go my dear; 

and whatever is done only by me is your doing, my darling)...

here is the deepest secret that nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which

grows higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

These words say so much about how we might hold one another, and how we might embody spiritual community. This Sunday, we’ll gather for our annual Backpack Blessing - one whole community of children, youth and adults - preparing our whole selves and marking with intention the new beginnings that the end of summer brings. We’ll remember the root of the root and the bud of the bud, the deepest secret we can all know when we stop to remember - i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart). 

Join us in person or on-line at 10 am this Sunday as we:

welcome blessings 

puppets and bagels

beginnings and ends

there’ll be treasures to take home 

stories shared all around

people of all ages leading

stories, songs, and prayer

a 45-minute worship service (we swear!)

bring your backpack or briefcase 

your baggage, yourself

bring children and grandchildren

that heart that hides on a shelf 

bring yourself in a t-shirt

you might start a trend

you’ll bring home my heart

tucked right inside yours

you’ll have all you need 

as you head out the doors

ready again to 

welcome blessings

beginnings and ends

In gratitude,

Rev. Jen

Intro

I carry your heart with me...

Sunday Worship

This Sunday, August 27, 10 a.m.

Sunday, August 20 Recordings

Cycle of Life

News & Features

First U at the State Fair

Sept. 10 Water Communion

Fall Community Dinners

Programs Calendar

RE Begins Sept. 17

Community Events & Affiliated Organizations:

AUW, 12-Step Spirituality

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Sunday, August 27 — 10 a.m.

Backpack Blessing

& Puppet Show Brunch After

As summer comes to an end, don’t miss our annual Backpack Blessing and worship service this Sunday, Aug. 27 at 10 a.m. The multigenerational service will offer children, youth, and adults of all ages the opportunity to reflect upon how we might carry the love of our church community and the tools of our faith with us wherever we go. Backpacks welcome, but not required.

IN PERSON 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. 

ONLINE AT 10 A.M.

This service is live-streamed at 10 a.m. Watch the livestream here. 

CHILDREN & YOUTH

Childcare is available in the nursery starting at 9:45 for babies through preschoolers. Children ages 5-12 attend the first part of worship and are released partway through worship for crafts, games, and playing outside. Learn more here.

AFTER WORSHIP - PUPPET SHOW!

After worship, join us for bagel brunch under the tent at 11:30am and an Open Eye Theater performance of Molly and the Magic Boot.

August 20th Worship Recap:

Lake Harriet Bandshell

Listen to the entire August 20 worship here

Listen to Dr. Glen Thomas' sermon here.

Watch the August 20 service

PS. If you left a serving bowl or lawn chair cover at the Lake Harriet potluck, check the church lost and found at church.

Podcast Archive | Recording Archive | Sermon Archive

We mourn the death and celebrate the incredible life of Carolyn Young who died peacefully this week. Please hold her family in your prayers, including her husband of 67 years Dick Young. Memorial plans forthcoming.

We hold Cathy Strub in prayer as she mourns the death of her father, Dan Strub. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30am on Friday, August 25, at Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church (1938 Stanford Ave.). A visitation will begin an hour earlier at 9:30am.

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.

First U at the State Fair!

First U board member Matt Keller and his band, Misspent Youth, will be playing at the State Fair on Wednesday August 30th, 7:45pm-10pm on the Giggles Stage. Member and artist Martha Bird's creation, "Helm," that lived in our sanctuary earlier this summer will be featured in the State Fair Fine Arts Center. Check them out and cheer them on!

Water Communion Sunday, 9/10 @ 10am

Coming up soon is our annual Water Communion service, a ritual tradition we share with UUs around the world. The Water Ritual was created by leaders in the UU feminist movement more than four decades ago. Lucile Schuck Longview and Carolyn McDade (also the composer of our beloved song Spirit of Life) made this practice with water (an inclusive symbol of women’s spirituality), to help us all remember how deeply we are each connected to one another, and to all life. 

Water Communion is a very special tradition we celebrate each year at First Universalist. All are welcome, whether it’s your first or fortieth time! Come and be a part of this joyous time whether the waters mingle and set a new year of community on its way. 

We’re having our Water Communion ritual in Sunday worship on September 10th at 10am. We invite you to bring a small bit of water to the sanctuary with you. Some bring a bottle, others a few drops, some bring water they gathered from a special summer memory, others from the kitchen tap. It doesn’t matter how much or where from–all water is beautiful. 

If you can’t collect your own water to bring (or if you forget yours on the counter at home), not to worry. We’ll have pitchers waiting here. We want you to be a part of this important time in our community, where wisdom and joy rush to greet us and show us the way to deeper love. See you there! 

Fall Community Dinners

We had such fun meeting new folks and reconnecting with old friends, eating yummy homemade meals, and deepening our spirits in breakout groups last year. This year, Community Dinners are back starting Wednesday, September 13! Dinner starts at 6; Breakout groups from 7-8:15. All are welcome and there is no charge. We always offer vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, nut free and kid-friendly options. Mark your calendars and nourish your belly and spirit in community.

RSVP Requested

Register Now: RE Begins Sept. 17th

Religious Education runs from Sept. 17, 2023-May 19, 2024. Learn more and register your family today.

In RE, and in all stages of life, we seek to expand our hearts and minds, make a difference in the world, mark important milestones, and explore big questions in the context of a supportive, anti-racist, anti-oppressive, radically welcoming religious community.

We are a church dedicated to racial justice, and we honor all kinds of families, recognizing our interdependence and our common foundation of love.

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

Fall Kickoff Event: September 16, noon-2 p.m. This is a time to KICK OFF our AUW mission for our new program year, greet old friends and meet new ones! Please come!

Hiking Group: Meets most Saturdays at a park or trailhead at

10 a.m. Bring sun protection, sunscreen, and bug spray. For questions, contact Marie Sorenson, 612-419-3620 or Lynn Richardson, 612-323-2776.

August 26 Normandale Lake. 84th and Chalet Road. Bloomington, MN.

Game Group: Meets at the church on the second Thursday of each month to play board games and socialize. The next game night is September 14. You are welcome to bring snacks to share and a game you would enjoy teaching others. To receive email updates, contact Anne Frenchick. 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 p.m. every Thursday. Hosts are Liz and Carol. Here is the Zoom info to tune in: Evening Happy Hour

Women Who Read: We read books written by women. We host an in-person and a virtual meeting on the fourth Monday of each month. Request an invitation to our next meeting and be added to our email list by sending your contact info to Abbie Finger. The next meeting will be Monday, Ausust 28 at the home of Debbie Cash (612-363-7794). We will be discussing The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré. In Person Potluckat 6:30 p.m.; discussion at 7:30 p.m.; Zoom Discussion at 7 p.m.

Give and Take a Book! *new!*

To share books we love and build more literary connections, we are starting a new project. If interested, please bring 1 or 2 books (no more!) to give at the monthly book club. If interested, pick a book to take home. To help make connections, put a post-it note on the book with your name and a reason you liked the book. 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 cell 612-250–1661.

Saturdays, 9:30–10:45 a.m. online via Zoom

This weekly online meeting focuses on people who are actively working in any of 12 Step programs. It is focused on the 11th step through the practice of Centering Prayer Meditation. Meeting details are available at 12stepspirituality.org.



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.