To Nico, we offer blessings and deep gratitude
News –
As Rev. Jen noted in her message last week, this Sunday, June 14, is Cummins Ministerial Intern Nico Van Ostrand’s last Sunday with us. The process for becoming a Unitarian Universalist minister requires a full-time internship for one year, or a part-time one for two years. The process also requires that every intern have an Internship Committee to accompany them on their faith formation internship journey.
Seven congregants have had the privilege of working closely with Nico this year to provide support, feedback, answer questions, be a sounding board and prepare mid- and year- end evaluations for the Ministerial Fellowship Committee, the body that assesses individuals for fitness as UU ministers. Those of us who have had the pleasure of accompanying Nico this year include Eric Cooperstein, Amelia Marquez, Cindy Marsh, Isabel Quast, youth members Max Rosielle and Harrison Viswanathan and Karin Wille.
Nico has shared their many gifts with us over the past nine months, including preaching and various other roles in worship. They have had a significant pastoral care presence, including restarting the BIPOC Group, facilitating the Grief Group and participating in memorial services. Nico stepped up in significant and important ways during Operation Metro Surge, including co-leading a vigil for visiting UU ministers from across the country at our church in January. Nico’s presence and contributions made it possible for our ministers to take on additional responsibilities during that difficult and stressful time.
As Rev. Jen has said from the pulpit, First Universalist has been a teaching congregation for a long time. We are able to support interns financially because of the Cummins Ministerial Internship Fund. The fund was established during the ministry of the late Rev. John Cummins, who served this church for decades, and strengthened and revitalized during the ministry of the Rev. Justin Schroeder. Currently the fund can support a full-time intern every two to three years due to the vision and generosity of congregants who created and have given to the fund.
Please know you can give to this important ministry of our church any time—just make sure your donation is designated for the Cummins Ministerial Internship Fund [Use our online giving portal, then add “Internship Fund” on the comment line]. Our congregation is strengthened and enriched by the commitment, dedication and talents interns like Nico bring to us. Unitarian Universalism is strengthened and enriched by the work our ministers and congregation perform as a teaching congregation.
Following the service on Sunday, we will celebrate and thank Nico in the Social Hall with cake (hint: they’re very partial to chocolate). Please join us before the annual meeting to share cake and conversation. You’ll also have an opportunity to write a blessing for Nico in the guest book we will have in the Social Hall. Hope to see you there!
Karin Wille
Chair, Ministerial Internship Committee
Nico (he/they) learned how to be Unitarian Universalist by volunteering in religious education classrooms as a teenager, exploring our theology alongside elementary kids. He served as a religious educator for twelve years, and turned towards ministry after a visit to the UU churches in the Philippines. Nico is committed to BIPOC-centered UU ministry and is excited about multigenerational community, storytelling, and the creative ways people around the world are living Unitarian Universalism out loud. Nico is deeply grounded in the Filipino and UU communities of the Twin Cities. They find spiritual grounding in ancestor prayer, and love writing, puzzles, long nature walks, and their two old cuddly cats.