Do you like to sing? Have you thought about being in a choir, but you can’t make an extended commitment? Summer Choir may be just right for you!

The Summer Choir is scheduled to sing in services on June 19, July 24 and August 21. Rehearsals are at 9 a.m. on the day of the service, and services begin at 10 a.m. Yes, only one rehearsal on the day of the service! Music is easy enough to learn in the 45 minute rehearsal. All are welcome! If you have any questions, contact randy@firstuniv.org.

Do you love worship? Do you have a flair for writing stories or prose? Please consider applying to be a Worship Associate this year. Here’s what Worship Associates say about being a part of this group….

“I have been speaking in public since I was 12 years old. I do it professionally. But it was always about someone or something else. Being a Worship Associate has given me a chance to speak my truth, to be vulnerable, and to share my heart.” – Ginger Murphrey

“More than anything else I’ve done at First Universalist, being part of the Worship Associates team made me feel a part of this church.” – Marion Dane Bauer

“The worship associate circle expanded my soul in ways that I could not have imagined. Gathering with such a wonderful group has made me feel more connected to the church.” – Benjamin Miles

Worship Associates speak two or three times during the church year in our worship services, September through May. Associates and Rev. Ruth MacKenzie gather for two half-day retreats to discuss themes for upcoming months, talk about writing for oration, review how to lay out a manuscript and practice public speaking.

If this interests you, please write a 500 word piece about forgiveness and submit your manuscript to Rev. Ruth MacKenzie at: ruth@firstuniv.org. The deadline for submissions is May 15, 2016. The Worship Team will be choosing applicants representative of the multi-generational, multi-cultural congregation we are becoming.

Over the past few months, the Chancel Group has been meeting with builder Richard Helgeson to create and craft a new pulpit for our chancel. You may be asking, why a new pulpit? Or, why now?

When the Chancel Group convened two years ago, in collaboration with the ministry team, we decided that two goals would make a dramatic difference to the beauty and power of our service. The first was to paint the chancel. This was completed in 2014. The second was to replace the pulpit.

Our current pulpit has served this congregation well. It was built for the chancel at our church on 50th & Girard, and traveled with us to 3400 Dupont in 1993. Although it is graceful and open, it is showing signs of wear and tear. Also, with an expanding vision of shared ministry, the worship team has longed for a pulpit from which two people could comfortably speak, as well as a pulpit that resonates more strongly with the scale and architectural gestures of our chancel.

Richard has done some beautiful work creating a trio of pieces (pulpit, bell stand, and chalice stand) that reflect our dreams. He built a cardboard replica of the pulpit and is honing his design under the direction of the Chancel Group and ministers. At this date, the design is approved, the majority of the building materials have been chosen, and the build should start in a couple of months.

Members of the Chancel Group will be in the social hall on Sunday, April 17 so that you can ask questions, see small replicas of the pieces, and learn more.

See more of Richard’s work on his website.

First Universalist Church is hosting an exhibit of work by the Jewish Women Artists’ Circle January 10 through February 14, 2016. The exhibit includes artworks from two interrelated themes: “Creation” and “The Beginning of Knowing.”

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Please join us for a special Sunday of story telling and sing a longs for the whole family on Nov 30, with the Rev. Jen Crow, and local troubadour Larry Long. Larry is an American singer-songwriter who has made his life’s work the celebration of everyday heroes. His work has taken him from rural Alabama to the Lakota communities in South Dakota. He has given musical voice to struggling Midwest farmers, embattled workers, and veterans. This is a Sunday not to be missed!

On Sunday, October 26, the First Universalist Choir and Orchestra will present “Mercy” from Jonathan Elias’ record album entitled Prayer Cycle. The work is a synthesis of diverse musical styles, including European, African, and Native American music traditions.  Listeners are amazed that these eclectic elements come together in a cohesive whole.

First Universliast Choir member Ian Cook custom arranged the piece, making our live performance possible. Geoff Jones, member of the Grammy Award winning Sounds of Blackness, sings the solo in Swahili, our own Ruth MacKenzie performs the Hungarian solo, and Lisa Hirst Carnes performs the oboe obligato. This will be an anthem not to be missed!!

This Sunday, October 19, special musical guest Guante will be performing at both 9:30 and 11:15 AM services at First Universalist!

Guante is a hip hop artist, two-time National Poetry Slam champion, social justice activist, educator and writer. He and/or his work has appeared on Upworthy, MSNBC, Racialicious, Feministing, MPR, the Progressive, City Pages’ “Artists of the Year” list and URB Magazine’s “Next 1000” list, and he’s shared bills with Talib Kweli, Saul Williams, Brother Ali, Dead Prez, Sage Francis, Andrea Gibson, Doomtree, Zion I and more. Guante’s work explores the intersections of art, media and social justice education; to that end, he facilitates workshops on identity, power and privilege, founded the MN Activist Project and Hip Hop Against Homophobia concert series, writes essays and op-eds, and works with COMPAS, TruArtSpeaks and others to engage in artist residencies around writing and performance for youth.

​Don’t miss this Sunday! This Water Communion Sunday we will be blessed by the songs of Ann Reed. ​

A touring musician for more than 30 years, Ann has gotten to know a bit about the geography of the United States and Canada. She has toured North America coast to coast, doing concerts, clubs, and festivals including Bumbershoot, Winnipeg, Black Mountain, and National Women’s Music Festival. And she’s met wonderful fans and made friends all along the way.
She has appeared on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion, ABC’s Good Morning America, and NPR’s Morning Edition ​.

So come hear her beautiful songs of blessing and celebrate our ingathering of water, word and community.​

Water Communion Sunday is a worship service of reunion and recommitment. One of the meanings for the word communion is: united in a common fellowship. On Water Communion Sunday, members of First Universalist Church embody our unity and recommitment as Love’s people. We bring a small sample of water from our journeys near, or far during the year, and merge them together in a single body of water. We do this to celebrate our unity as a faith community and remember that we are held in an ocean of love.

Water Communion is an inter-generational service. We will sing, listen to Ann Reed, make a thunderstorm with our hands and feet, and merge the waters in a beautiful dance presented by our youth and young adults.

Just bring a small vial of water from your backyard, or from your travels, to merge with other waters from around the globe. It’s a great day. Don’t miss it!