Dear Ones,

This September, we’re taking a year-long journey in worship. We’re exploring what it looks like to build a web from our connections potent enough to stop injustice. We’re exploring the ways our beloved community can be party to the worldwide movement that brings love to life, restores joy, makes pleasure a beauty everyone can access freely everywhere. Our Commitment to Beloved Community project has helped us see the ways we already bring this alive in our relationships heart-to-heart and as a living spiritual community. The leading team for the project helped us to articulate the many ways we see beloved community in action here. They distilled what we all said into nine action statements, statements that will now serve as our monthly worship themes for the coming church year. We begin in September with Welcome. 

What does it mean to “welcome all people with openness, intention, and acceptance”? Who does that challenge us to become? What do we have to lose, alone and together, to make it possible for our hopes of a wide embrace of all people the reality we live? What do we have to gain? What uncomfortable connections between us is love demanding we strengthen anyway? Aren’t we already welcoming enough? No–not yet, at least. Do we even have a chance? If we’re willing to stay stubborn on hope, if we’re willing to acknowledge current truths and use our collective action for the hearts hoping on us, if we’re willing to release the phone for a while and pick up the mantle of accountable relationships and unfailing joy–then hell yes. 

\

This week, percussionist, songleader, minister, my friend Matt Meyer visits worship to lead us in a time of song, stories, and stirring up of our hearts, and start to a year. Together, let’s take the journey that loves and lifts the tender, mighty web of lives that we are. 

Peace, dear ones. Peace now and always, 

Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout

Director of Worship Arts Ministries

Intro

Welcome All People

Sunday Worship

This Sunday, Sept. 3, 10 a.m.

Sunday, August 27 Recordings

Cycle of Life

News & Features

Sept. 10 Water Communion

Fall Community Dinners

Programs Calendar

RE Begins Sept. 17

Parent Nourishment, 9/30

Community Events & Affiliated Organizations:

AUW, 12-Step Spirituality

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Sunday, Sept. 3 — 10 a.m.

"Lessons for Future Ancestors" with Matt Meyer

"Let us measure success by how many of us can say: I am living a life I don’t regret. A life that will resonate with my ancestors..." -adrienne maree brown

Join us for a reflection of heavy suitcases, surprise turning points, and opening to welcome, even when the people are complicated and the path is unclear.

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 for children aged 6 months to 3 years. All other children and youth remain in the sanctuary with their families for a multigenerational worship service. Learn more here.

AFTER WORSHIP

A Place to Start - 11:15 a.m. or right after worship; join in person or via zoom

Facilitated by one of our members, A Place to Start is a brief, casual orientation to Unitarian Universalism and First Universalist Church. During this 40-minute class, participants will learn about the foundations of our faith tradition and opportunities to get involved. The facilitator will be holding a green “Here is A Place to Start” sign at the front of the sanctuary after the worship services. We look forward to welcoming you!

August 27 Worship Recap:

Backpack Blessing!

Watch the August 27 service on YouTube here

August 27 podcasts will be available next week.

Podcast Archive | Recording Archive | Sermon Archive

We send wishes for quick and easy healing to member Carol Chiros following surgery earlier week. She's healing well and welcomes our cards and well wishes. We hold in our care her daughter Chris Chiros as she supports her mother through this surgery and recovery. 

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.

Water Communion, 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 and menu available soon. (Correction: No family pre-party in September. The family pre-party from 5-6 p.m. will take place before the October dinner.) 

Register Now: RE Begins Sept. 17

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.

Parent Nourishment on September 30th

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.

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

Hiking Group:  Meets most Saturdays at a park or trail head. For questions or to get on the hiking group mailing list, contact:  Marie Sorensen, 612-419-3620, mariefsor@aol.com,  or Lynn Richardson 612-323-2776, Kalelynn19@gmail.com  Think sun protection, sun tan lotion, possible bug spray for summer.

September 2, 2023. 10am Lakewood Cemetery, 3600 Hennepin Ave South

Meet by Chapel – led by Lynn Richardson

Sept 9 10am. Minnehaha Falls 5000 West River Parkway

Meet at paylot sidewalk. Park at paylot or on streets.  Led by Marie Sorensen.

September 16, 23. 10am  Lake Harriet

Meet at Pay Lot or Bandshell. Park in lot or on Parkway. Led by Lynn Richardson.

Sept 23, 23 10 am Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden, 1 Theodore Wirth Parkway

Led by Marie.

Fall Kickoff Event:  September 16, 12 noon – 2 pm. This is a time to KICK OFF our AUW mission for our new program year, greet old friends & meet new ones!  Please come!  

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: tedanne@pro-ns.net.   The next game night is September 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.

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: 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 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 7:00 pm; the zoom meeting link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84044809909?pwd=YUxnWkRLRENUMUY3eHRGNXBsdDl0dz09

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 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 at book club if you forget).  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.