NOTE: We're resending this issue with information that was inadvertently left out earlier today. The new pieces have all been added to News & Features so that you can find them easily in one place. To folks whose pieces were left out--big apologies and thanks for reaching out so we could fix this!

- Rachel Rott, Communications Assistant

Investing Together—In Church

Dear Ones,

Our theme this month is "investing together" and it comes from the “Beloved Community Behaviors” that our Commitments to Beloved Community team developed last year:

“Committing our time and money to the Church and the wider community to achieve together what we cannot do alone;”

We can interpret that in many ways and over the course of our Sunday services this month, we will. The most obvious interpretation may be financial or economic investment. As our annual giving drive continues, we are keenly aware of the importance of each gift and the impact it can make on our beloved community.

In that spirit, take a look at these three graphs.

Pie chart showing Annual Pledges by Amount (2022-2023)

47% - $10-500

25% - $505-$1,000

14% - $1,025-$2,000

9% - $2,035-$5,000

Pie chart showing Annual Pledges by Financial Impact (2022-2023)

37% - Over $5,000

23% - $2,035 to $5,000

16% - $1,025 to $2,000

15% - $505 to $1,000

9% - $10,500

Bar graph showing Annual Giving by Amount (2023-2024)

Amounts from $0 to $25,000, showing the distribution of giving along that continuum.

Each is a visual representation of last year's giving. As you look at each of these graphs, what do they say to you about your giving and the giving of others? What do they say to you about the ways you and others in the congregation are investing together in the health of this church?

Based on the trajectory of our current campaign, graphs for next fiscal year will look quite similar. And, with $600,000 left to raise to avoid significant layoffs, we really need to increase either the number of supporters or the pledged amounts, or ideally, both!

One of the biggest lessons we take from these graphs is that annual gifts below $500 make a big difference. If you’re an automatic giver and haven’t increased your giving in a while, please do so. If you’ve already made your commitment, please consider an increase. Your staff and board are committed to bringing you a balanced budget and the only way we do that is by raising more money, cutting staff, or both. We can reach our goals, so let’s invest together and make it so. 

If you have already turned in your pledge card or let us know of your plans for 2024-2025, thank you!

If you are a sustainer who has not let us know, please do so by emailing Jie@firstuniv.org about your continuing pledge and ideally, the amount you’d like to increase.

If you are not a sustainer and have not let us know, please do so. If you would like to talk with a Board member or member of the Stewardship team about your giving, email boardchair@firstuniv.org and we will get in touch. We would love to talk with you about how we can grow our beloved community in the coming year.

Emily Bijnagte, Board Member & Stewardship Team Member

Rev. Arif Mamdani, Associate Minister

Intro

Investing Together



Sunday Worship

This Sunday, April 7,

10 a.m. ONLY

Choir

Worship Info

Service Recordings

Cycle of Life

Programs Calendar

Winter / Spring Programs

Adult OWL

Mindfulness & Grief

Young Adults

Knitting

Quilting

Membership Class

High School Seniors

Parent Groups

Family Overnight

Community Dinner

Daytime Connections

Centering Prayer

Meditation

Cultivating Joy

Meditation Group

Pastoral & Community Care

Grief Group

Caregivers Group

Estrangement from

Adult Children

Faithful Action

First Fridays Film

Common Ground

Earth Day

Immigrant Solidarity

News

UUJME Event

MNIPL

Support Teachers

Ceasefire Choir

Breeze

Community Events & Affiliated Orgs:

AUW, 12-Step Spirituality

Some email programs truncate long emails; watch for "message clipped; view entire message" or similar at the bottom of this email if you don't see all contents listed.

Investing Together: Community, Our Work of Art

Join us this Sunday, April 7 at 10 a.m. ONLY, as we explore our April theme, "Investing Together."



This Sunday at 10 a.m., we gather as a community, each of us a unique thread, ready to weave a tapestry that embodies our theme for the month: "Investing Together." Imagine a morning where every one, young and old and in between, help us make a masterpiece. We’ll share stories with each other, sing melodies that weave through our shared spaces, and create a living mosaic of our collective spirit. This isn’t just about the art we create or the songs we sing; it’s a deeper call to explore the beauty and strength we unlock when we come together, each of us investing our piece of the puzzle. In this gathering, we celebrate not just the power of unity but the joy and growth it brings into our lives. Join us this Sunday to be part of a memorable day, a testament to what we can achieve as a community united in purpose, building by heart.

Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout

Director of Worship Arts Ministries

Choir Is Back And There's A Place for You!

Rehearsal Schedule for the May 12 service: Thursdays, April 25, May 2, May 9; 7-9 p.m.

Sing in Sunday Worship: May 12 at 9 and 11 a.m. services; 8 a.m. call/arrival

Harmony in Progress: Imagining Our Choir's New Voice

As the year unfolds, bringing with it stories of resurrection and rebirth, Paolo and I, GT, are filled with joy as we invite you to partake in the revival of our First Universalist community’s choir. This column will serve as our shared diary, a place where we dream, theorize, and articulate the evolution of our ministry of music and the arts. We aim to do more than just rebuild a choir; we're weaving a new narrative of unity, justice, and collective empowerment through the medium of music, fostering a beloved community that champions radical inclusion and shared leadership.

Our Vision for the choir is one of harmony and hope, where every note sung bridges the divine with the communal, creating a tapestry of sound that celebrates love, justice, and togetherness. We aspire to transform our choir into a reflection of a beloved community, where radical inclusion is practiced, and leadership is shared among all members, transcending traditional roles to foster a dynamic exchange of ideas, support, and musical inspiration.

In this collaborative environment, leadership is to be a dynamic force, calling active participation and shared responsibility from every individual, thereby empowering each of us to contribute significantly to our collective harmony and embody the strength of our united voices. Our commitment to radical inclusion welcomes every voice, regardless of prior musical experience, to find a home with us. We believe that diversity in experience not only enriches our sound but also strengthens the foundation of our values—justice, love, and community—in every aspect of our work together.

Join the Chorus. We extend this invitation to all, our dedication to an environment where everyone, from seasoned singers to first-time choir members, can flourish. Our approach to radical inclusion is comprehensive. We honor the distinct musical journeys of every person. We're committed to cultivating a space where diversity in experience and background contributes to a rich, communal song, where every member can grow, contribute, and find joy in our collective endeavor.

As we look forward, this column will be the vessel through which we share our journey and reflections, chronicling the growth of a choir that embodies our core values of beloved community, radical inclusion, and shared leadership. We invite you to join us in this musical voyage, where together, we'll create a future in which music sparks real change, and our community becomes the chorus that brings it to life.

In love for community

and the shared purpose of

peace,

Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout and Paolo DeBuque

Please fill out the Choir Interest Form here.

Visit the Choir's web page to see the rehearsal and Sunday service schedule.

Worship Info

IN PERSON AND ONLINE

In person and livestreamed at 10 a.m. ONLY. 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. 

A Place to Start

Immediately after worship

Are you new or new-ish to First Universalist and wondering where to begin? Here’s “A Place to Start!” Whether you're simply curious or are considering making this your spiritual home, in this casual, 45-minute class, you'll learn some of the basics of Unitarian Universalism, as well as how to get connected to what you’re seeking here at church. Meet at the front of the sanctuary immediately after the service on a first or third Sunday. No RSVP necessary. 

Please note the church does not provide childcare during A Place to Start due to full Sunday morning RE and volunteer schedules. Kids are welcome in A Place to Start after they’re picked up from RE. Options for kids during A Place to Start are the same as in worship: coloring sheets and pipecleaners, and moving to a more kid-friendly space within the sanctuary. You’re also welcome to ask another trusted adult to watch your child(ren) during this time if you prefer. Facilitated by First U members.

From Last Sunday's Service:

"TRANScendent Love of the universe,

You who move us beyond the boundaries of binaries,

You who grow within our very bodies

into our most flourishing and fabulous selves,

You who queer our beings into beacons of justice in this world,

You who raise us up against the violence of laws limiting access to the healthcare that is our liberation and the bathrooms that are our birthright,

We pray to your infinite wisdom that dwells alive always in trans and nonbinary bodies,

We bless our risen and rising trans and nonbinary beloveds as we are blessed by them - this day and always." - Rev. Ashley Harness

Podcast Archive | Recording Archive | Sermon Archive

We share in gratitude for our memorial service reception team, for the care and hospitality they offer to families in times of deep grief, and our hearts continue to go out to Kim and Ben Lund. We celebrated the life of Ani (sounds like Annie) Lund, Kim's daughter and Ben's sister, yesterday here at church.

We send love and light to Jeremy Burke this week as he and his family grieve the passing of Jeremy's mom, Beth Guthrie. She went into hospice on Wednesday and passed late Thursday night. She was known affectionately as Granmom to Calla and Jasper.

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.

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.

Me, Myself, and OWL: an OWL Class for the Unattached

Mondays, April 8, 15, 22, 29; 7-9 p.m. Room 201 at church

Registration Required - Registration closes Friday, April 5 at 9 a.m.

As the Adult OWL Program continues to grow, we are offering our first affinity group OWL Session. Over a series of 4 weeks, we will explore aspects of sexuality relating to boundaries, fantasy, pleasure, communication, and identify. We will focus most of our discussions on newly forming or potentially forming relationships. This group is an opportunity for individuals to grow individually, not a small dating group. Please note that Older Adult OWL (ages 55+) will be offered in a two-part series during the Fall/Spring of 2024/2025. Facilitated by members Claire Tralle and CT Neal-Hermann

Mindfulness during Times of Grief and/or Loss

Tuesdays, April 9, 16, 23, 30; 6:30-8 p.m. on zoom

Registration Required

Facilitated by Pam Berry on zoom 

This mindfulness course is for folks who are experiencing or have experienced loss and/or grief in their lives. Topics will include mindfulness of breath, body, thoughts, and emotions. Each session will also include a meditation practice. Pam‘s personal experience with chronic pain and the untimely loss of her sister inform her practice and teaching.

Young Adults

Young Adults will go to nearby Gigi's Cafe for a casual lunch after worship this Sunday, April 7. Meet in the Social Hall after church and we'll head over together about 11:20-ish. 

Young Adults are folks in their 20s and 30s in varying social/cultural life stages. 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.

Knitting

Sunday, April 7 at noon, 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

Sunday, April 7; 3-5 p.m. on zoom; Sunday, April 21; 3-5 p.m. In person

Registration Required - attend one or more!

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.

Online Membership Class

Wednesday, April 10, 6:30-9 p.m. on Zoom

REGISTRATION REQUIRED

This class is the last chance to become a member in order to vote at the Annual Meeting in June! Registration closes Monday 4/8 at 4 p.m.

Joining First Universalist is a symbolic, spiritual act of saying “yes” to growing your soul in this place, with these people, within our free faith tradition. Our membership class offers a chance to inform yourself about the ministry areas of the church, be in community with other new members, and officially join the church. Learn about First Universalist at your own pace through online videos before meeting, then choose a class meeting experience that meets your needs. 

Facilitated by First U Board Members and Liz Farmer, Coordinator of Membership and Congregational Connections

Celebrating High School Seniors

We are looking to connect with families who have a current high school senior who has been involved with First Universalist Church sometime in the past several years. Whether or not these seniors have been involved in our programming this year (or even since COVID), we would love to celebrate them at church this May.

We have several opportunities to celebrate your youth over the next few months, include joining a small group with peers that would meet a few times in April and/or May, attending a celebratory dinner for parents and youth on Wednesday, May 15, and youth being recognized in our 10 a.m. worship service on Sunday, May 19.

If you have a youth who is a current high school senior, please fill out this form by Saturday, April 13, letting us know how you and your youth would like to participate in these celebrations. If you do not have a current student who is a senior but know others in our congregation who do, whether or not they have been involved this year, please share this information with them so we can celebrate their young people in May.

We are so, so proud of your young folks, and we are cheering them and their families on all the way.

With care,

Allison

Parent Groups: Elementary & Tweens/Teens

Based on your input, we are hosting parent peer groups this Spring! These are opportunities for you to offer and receive support and build and deepen relationships with other parents and caregivers. Please see more information below and register for the groups.

Note: these groups are different in several ways, including date/time of meeting and whether or not food and childcare are involved. If you have a child/ren in both age groups, please feel free to attend one or both, whatever works for your schedule.

Parents of Elementary-Aged Children at First Universalist Church are invited to a six-week small group and family dinner on Monday evenings from 6-7:30 p.m. beginning April 15 and ending May 20 in-person at the church.

We will begin with a potluck with kids and adults all together - please bring a dish to share - and then move into separate spaces. We will hire youth staff to provide childcare for the kids while the adults have time to build relationships, share, and learn together.

These gatherings will be co-led by Allison Connelly-Vetter, Hirut Hedge, and parents of First Universalist Church.

Please RSVP here so we know who to expect, and reach out to Allison Connelly-Vetter with questions, suggestions, or for more information at allison@firstuniv.org.

Parents of Teens and Tweens at First Universalist Church are invited to a six-week small group focused on building community with kindred parents and sharing the joys and challenges of this unique season of parenting.

This group will meet in-person at the church on Tuesday evenings from 7-8:30 p.m. beginning Tuesday, April 16 and ending Tuesday, May 21. Together we will deepen peer relationships, make space for ritual and sharing, and dig deeper into our current and multifaceted roles and identities.

This group will be led by Rev. Arif, with support from Allison Connelly-Vetter and other congregants.

Please RSVP here so we know who to expect, and reach out to Allison Connelly-Vetter with questions, suggestions, or for more information at allison@firstuniv.org.

Grades 2-5 Overnight!

Saturday, April 20 - Sunday, April 21

RSVP Here

This highly-anticipated annual overnight is for families with children in 2nd-5th grade along with siblings in-person at the church. We'll have lots of fun cooking together, playing games, exploring the church via a scavenger hunt, putting on a talent show for each other, and more.



Check-in is at 4 p.m. on Saturday and we will wrap-up at 9 a.m. on Sunday in time for worship. You can find the full schedule and packing list here.

Please contact Hirut Hedge at hirut@firstuniv.org with any questions, concerns, or for more information.

Community Dinner

Wednesday, April 17, Family Pre-Party 5-6 p.m.; Dinner 6-7 p.m. in the Social Hall; Breakout Groups 7-8:15 p.m. 

Menu: baked ziti, caesar salad, bread, dessert

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.

Breakouts: A Place to Start, Home Buying Help through Habitat for Humanity, Drop-in Parent Support, Board Listening Session, Art Project: Chalice Decorating, and maybe more to come!

Daytime Connections

Thursday, April 18, 9:45 a.m. gathering, 10-noon program, Noon lunch

Registration Requested by the Monday prior for lunch planning purposes.

Organized and hosted by the Daytime Connections Planning Team

Daytime Connections empowers older adults to live intentional, joyful, purposeful and spiritually fulfilled lives, by building a vibrant community and providing engaging programing that promotes conscious aging and fosters personal and spiritual growth. 

AI for Creativity or Fakery

Since the release of ChatGPT by OpenAI in 2022, Artificial Intelligence has been in the news a lot, with opinions that range from ecstatic to apocalyptic. In reality, computers that “intelligently” handle our day-to-day tasks have been creeping into our lives for at least a decade, ranging from driving and navigation assistance to medical diagnosis. What has changed? What are the new opportunities and risks? For this presentation Bill McTeer and David Leppik will attempt to de-mythologize Artificial Intelligence.

Centering Prayer

Sunday, April 21; 1-2:30 p.m. in person at church

Registration Required - single-session attendees welcome!

facilitated by Dick Young

Centering Prayer is a meditation practice that opens you to your higher power. It has the power to heal you while also opening you to characteristics that separate you from your higher power.

Meditation

Sunday, April 28; 1-2:30 p.m. in person at church, attend one or all sessions

Registration Required - single-session attendees welcome!

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.

Cultivating Joy 

Monday, April 29, 7-8:30 p.m. Room 209 at church

Registration Required - single-session attendees welcome!

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.

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.

Grief Group (online)

Sundays, 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, 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

Estrangement from Adult Children

Thursdays, April 4, April 18, May 2; 7-8:30 p.m. in person at church Registration Suggested - Come as you are able

Some adult children, for various reasons, view independence as distancing themselves or cutting themselves off from their parents. This estrangement from one's adult children can be very painful and often isolating. Join others with similar challenges and find support and ideas for resilience and spiritual healing.

First Fridays: Democracy on Film

Fridays, 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. 

Eco Film Screening and Discussion:

Common Ground

Sunday, April 14; 1-3 p.m. in person at church

Registration Requested

Click thumbnail to view movie trailer

In anticipation of Earth Day at First U, April 21 2024, the EJ team invites you to a screening of Common Ground, from the creators of Kiss the Ground, a favorite film of the EJ team, which emphasized the need to move away from industrial agriculture to regenerative practices that will preserve our soil and our environment. Sobering yet hopeful, Common Ground exposes the toxic interconnections of American farming policy, politics, and health, by sharing stories of destruction and healing, and how regenerative agriculture and soil health plays a vitally important role in changing these systems for the better. At its root, the film explores how people from different walks of life, different political backgrounds, and different places share one thing in common – the very soil beneath their feet.

Earth Day at First U - Electrify Sunday

Sunday, April 21; in the Social Hall after each service

Refreshments will be served.

Come celebrate our resilient Earth with the Environmental Justice Team (EJT) on First U’s Earth Day 2024. Join our team in the social hall to honor the diversity of the world around us, to gain new insights into how to preserve its future, and to take action now to make a difference for our children. EJ working groups will be tabling to include healthy soils, food solutions, keeping fossil fuels in the ground, regenerative ag solutions, and, of course, electrifying everything. 

Discover a multitude of ways you can help mitigate the climate crisis by electrifying everything in your life! The federal Inflation Reduction Act has provided all of us with rebates and tax credits to help us make the shift to electrify our world. Come explore electric appliances and heat pumps for heating (and cooling) as well as heating your water. Congregants with electric vehicles will be showcasing their cars in our parking lot and discussing charging options. 

Solidarity with MN Immigrants

Register for the zoom link for small group meeting Sunday, 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.

Gathering for UUs Engaging on Israel/Palestine

Sunday, April 7, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. in the Cummins Room at church

No RSVP necessary

Join Rebecca Donley, member of First Universalist and Pamela McInnes, member of Unity Unitarian and UUs for Justice in the Middle East (UUJME) board member for a viewing of this webinar. We will watch and participate in the webinar together and then have a community conversation about next steps and local actions.

If you can't join us in person but want to join by Zoom:

Register in the form below to get Zoom info a week and a day before the event. Share this link to ask others to register.

From UUJME:

Join us as we watch excerpts from the Side With Love webinar originally presented in November during the earlier stages of the conflict in Gaza. A facilitated sharing session follows.

During this 1.5-hour event, you will learn about the Palestine/Israel conflict and the situation in Gaza from 6 UU ministers and 3 people from Palestine/Israel. Following the video presentation, you will be invited to attend facilitated breakout room discussions using the approach in a UUA commissioned template for congregational conversations designed with the intention to create safe spaces for sharing.

About the November recorded webinar:

Sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Association and hosted by Muslim and Jewish UU professionals, the webinar features experts sharing about UU engagement on these issues over the past 40 years, reflecting on the many-layered history of the region, exploring the complexities of Islamophobia and antisemitism, and faithful responses to the ongoing violence. In this time of collective fear and grief, let us form a community willing to learn, struggle, and heal together.

Information about follow-up webinars on related topics such as antisemitism and anti-Palestinian racism as well as how to excel at handling conflict will be provided at the end of the session.

Faithful Action Partner MNIPL

Now is a perfect time to go solar, and you don't have to figure it out by yourself. Two organizations that care about the planet are working together to make solar for homeowners easy and low cost.

MN Interfaith Power & Light and Solar United Neighbors have created buyers' groups (aka Solar Co-ops) that offer free education and guidance and more competitive pricing from installers.

You can join a Solar Co-op for free, find out if solar is a good fit for your home, and get a discounted price from a vetted, trusted installer.

Installing solar on your home dramatically reduces the greenhouse gasses you create. It cuts your utility bills, and it raises your home's value. Through tax credits, the federal government will pay for 30% of the cost of your solar system, and you may qualify for utility and municipal incentives as well.

Going solar is the right choice for the earth and future generations. You don't have to go it alone. Let MNIPL and Solar United Neighbors help.

Click here to join or learn more about the Twin Cities Solar United Co-op!

Click here to join or learn more about the Duluth – Arrowhead Solar Co-op!

Support Teachers!

Minneapolis Federation of Teachers 59 is actively negotiating their contract with Minneapolis Public Schools. Teachers and Education Support Professionals (ESPs) are campaigning towards competitive pay, sustainable workloads, academic supports, and retaining educators. Families are welcome to join the contract campaign by filling out the Google Form at the end. Questions/comments: Please contact First U member and MFT59 Educator Amelia Marquez at Amelia.d.marquez@gmail.com.

Sign on now.

Coming Soon: Breeze!

You’ll soon be able to manage your giving and access the member directory on our new online database, called Breeze. Church Staff are working on a process to roll out the new online congregant login and member directory. In the next couple of weeks, we’ll have information and guidance for you, including in-person support after services coming in April and May. We would greatly appreciate help in onboarding our congregation to the new directory. If you’re comfortable using computers and apps, and are available to help get congregants set up, please sign up here or contact Liz Farmer.

If you need contact info for a member or members in the interim, please contact Liz Farmer.

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

AUW Spring Retreat - Registration closes April 12

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! Registration closes April 12.

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. Kalelynn19@gmail.com   Note: Hikes begin at 2 pm.

April 6 2pm. Lake Harriet, Mpls. Meet at Bandstand where audience sits. Marie will lead.

April 13 2pm. Normandale Lake. 8416 Chalet Road, Bloomington, MN. 84th and Chalet Rd. Large parking lot on right. Cross Chalet Rd and meet at Lake sign lakeside, 1.9 miles. Lynn will lead.

April 20 2pm. Richardson Nature Center. 8737 East Bush Lake Road, Bloomington, MN. Meet by large trailhead sign in parking lot. Asphalt trail. Some easy hills. Marie will lead.

April 27 2pm. Wood Lake Nature Center. 6710 Lake Shore Drive, Mpls. (This is AUW Retreat weekend so Marie and many others will be at retreat. Lynn may lead. Let her know if you are coming to the hike.

May 4 Minnesota River Valley Wildlife Center. 3875 American Blvd, Bloomington, MN. Bring a hat, not much shade. Maybe eagle, frogs, turtles. Steps at beginning and end. Meet in front of Center.

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 April 11. 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, April 22. We will be discussing Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan. 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.