Read this week’s issue of our newsletter here: The Weekly Liberal June 30

Read this week’s issue of our newsletter here: The Weekly Liberal June 23.

Read this week’s newsletter here: The Weekly Liberal June 16

There are so many ways to connect at church this summer, in worship and beyond!

Worship at 10 a.m. on Summer Sundays

Get details about worshiping with us online or in person here.

Get details about Sunday morning childcare and fun for kids, ages 6 months to 12 years, here.

Sunday Community Gatherings

July 10 Blessing of the Animals

11 a.m. Lunch, 11:30 a.m. Blessing, 12 p.m. Dog Walk

August 14 Open Eye Theatre Puppet Show

11 a.m. Lunch, 11:30 a.m. Driveway Tour Puppet Show: “Tucker’s Robot”

August 21 Worship at the Lake Harriet Bandshell

10 a.m. worship, 11 a.m. potluck picnic

Fellowship for All Ages

Community Sing

Wednesdays, June 15, July 13 & Aug. 10, 7–8 p.m. in the Social Hall. SIGN UP

Join in an hour of summer singing with Glen Thomas. We’re getting together for the joy of making music in community, and your voice couldn’t be more welcome. No experience or preparation needed. Sign-ups are helpful, but not required. Masks are required. Facilitator: Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Director of Worship Arts Ministries

Pastoral & Community Care

Grief Group

Sundays, June 5 & 19, July 10 & 24, August 7 & 21, 4–5:30 p.m. on Zoom. REGISTRATION (requested) JOIN

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. Facilitator: Rev. Stephanie Vos, community minister and First U member

Caregivers Group

Sundays, June 5, July 10 & Aug. 7, 1–2:30 p.m. on Zoom REGISTRATION (requested)

Whether you’re caring for an aging parent or a child with a chronic health condition, this group offers mutual support, connection, and community building. Facilitator: Rev. Arif Mamdani, Associate Minister

UUs in 12-Step Recovery

CURRENTLY ON BREAK; RESUMES IN SEPTEMBER, EXACT DATE TBA Sundays, 7 p.m. on Zoom

Connect with others at church who are working a 12-step program of recovery. Anyone in any 12-step program is welcome. The focus is on building community and relationships. Facilitated by: First U members in recovery

Abortion and Reproductive Healthcare Experiences Small Group 

Sundays, June 12, 19 & 26, 11:15 a.m.–12:45 p.m. at church.
— Registration closed —

The recent news around Roe and Casey rulings has, for many, come with a sense of grief and anger. If you have a personal experience of abortion or reproductive healthcare and would like to gather to listen to truth unveil and speak your story in community, we hope you will join us. Facilitator: Katherine Harrell, First U member

Moving, Breathing, and Writing through Grief 

Wednesdays, June 15, 22, 29 & July 6, 5:30–7 p.m. at church. REGISTRATION (required)

We’ll care for our bodies with gentle movement and breathwork followed by writing from a prompt about an aspect of grief. Please bring a yoga mat, a journal/notebook, and a pen. If you don’t have a yoga mat, please let us know and we can arrange to have one available for you. Best suited for people who are grieving the death of a loved one, recent or not. Facilitator: Dallas Rising, First U member, yoga instructor and specialist in somatic grief work

Journey Conversation: Finding Your Way in a Broken World

Mondays, Aug. 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29, 7–8 p.m. on Zoom REGISTRATION (required)

A pandemic is wreaking havoc across the globe, hate and bigotry are rising, and our personal challenges do not evaporate in the wake of world upheaval. Illness, family dysfunction, abuse, economic distress, and more continue to plague us even as the world seems to be falling apart. What can we do? Is there a spiritual solution? Gather with other seekers who are finding direction in these challenging times. Facilitator: Frederic McDonald-Dennis, First U member

Adults Who Are Newer to First Universalist

First Step

Sundays, June 12 & 19, July 10 & 17, Aug. 7 & 14, 11 a.m. at church (drop in)

First Step 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. 

Newcomers Circle 

Thursdays, July 14 – Aug. 4, 7–8:30 p.m. in person outside at church. REGISTRATION (required)

Join this series of four gatherings for people who are new-ish to a committed spiritual journey at First U. This circle is intended for folks who want to reflect on their spiritual journeys and theology with a new and/or deepening sense of UU identity and rootedness at First Universalist. Facilitator: Ellen Kluz, First U member 

Pathway to Membership 

MORE INFO & REGISTRATION (required)

Pathway to Membership is a class for those who want to become members. Learn at your own pace through online videos, then choose a class experience that meets your needs. Facilitator: Liz Farmer, Membership Coordinator

2-Session class: Sundays, July 17 & 24, 11:15 a.m.–12:45 p.m. at church

1-Session class: Tuesday, Aug. 2, 6:30–8:30 p.m. on Zoom

2-Session class for parents/caregivers with children in Religious Education: Part 1 Wednesday, Aug. 24, time TBD, on Zoom; Part 2 Sunday, Aug. 28, 11:45 a.m.–1 p.m. at church

BIPOC-Specific Opportunities (Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Multiracial)

Food and Fellowship for BIPOC Folks and Multiracial Families

Wednesdays, June 15 & Aug. 10, 5–7 p.m., Cummins Room    REGISTRATION (required)

BIPOC congregants of all ages—and our household family members of all racial identities—are invited for a time of joy and fellowship. We’ll light a chalice, break bread, lift our voices in song, and build our connections and community. Everyone, from the newest to the eldest, is joyfully welcomed, and all dietary needs can be accommodated. Facilitators: Rev. Arif Mamdani, Associate Minister and Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Director of Worship Arts Ministries

BIPOC Middle School Book Club 

Sundays, July 17, 24 & 31, 10 a.m.–12 p.m., Senior High Lounge (Room 211). REGISTRATION (required)

BIPOC youth (entering 6th-9th grade) build community and discuss YA fiction by BIPOC authors. There’s no homework; we’ll read short pieces together when we gather. Come for one or all three meetings. Lunch will be provided Facilitators: 1st U BIPOC youth/young adult staff: Liv Dalby, Rui Rui Bleifuss & Zoe Mulvihill, led by Eleanor Kline-Olson

Reconnection Circles

As we seek to make meaningful connections in an ongoing pandemic, we may feel a mixture of excitement, loneliness, overwhelm, and awkwardness. And yet, we crave community and friendship. Reconnection Circles help us reconnect emotionally and spiritually as we move back to in-person gatherings and into a new church year together. 

Reconnection Circle for Young Adults ages 24–29 years 

Wednesdays, Aug. 10 – Sept. 14, 7:30–9 p.m. at church. REGISTRATION (required)

Facilitators: Emma Paskewitz, Youth Programs Coordinator, and Mats Jacobsson, First Umember

Reconnection Circle for Young Adults in their 30s 

Six weekly meetings, early August – mid-September, at church. Please indicate your preferred meeting times at registration.  REGISTRATION (required)

Facilitators: Liz Farmer, Membership Coordinator, and Kelly Prosen, First U member

Reconnection Circle for Adults of All Ages 

Thursdays, Aug. 11 – Sept. 15, 7–8:30 p.m. at church. REGISTRATION (required)

Facilitators: Ray Dillon and Katie Fox, First U members

Families/Parents/Babies–Middle Schoolers

Chalice Camp (1st–5th grades) and Adventure Camp (6th–8th grades) 

July 5–8 (Tuesday–Friday), 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. at church. REGISTRATION (required)

Chalice Campers have a full morning, with active games, a children’s chapel with stories and singing, and small group activities. After lunch, Chalice Campers play outside or head to a local park, then return for a closing meeting and choice activities at church. Adventure Campers spend the morning in team building activities including games and cooking. They might share lunch at church or out in the world. Their week will include three fun field trips, such as heading to a lake, water park, or movie for the afternoon. Facilitators: Lauren Wyeth, Emma Paskewitz and Hirut Hedge and a radically-welcoming team of First U high school youth

Parents/Caregivers of Babies and Preschoolers 

Third Thursdays, June 16, July 21 & Aug. 18, 8:30–9:30 p.m. on Zoom. REGISTRATION (required)

This is a casual, conversational, welcoming group that focuses on the realities of parenting and resources we might access to support ourselves through challenges and amplify our joys. We may organize some outdoor meetups, too. Facilitator: Lauren Wyeth, Director of Spiritual Growth for All Ages

Neighboring Faiths Visit Series (8th–9th grade families) 

Orientation: Sunday, June 12, 9–10 a.m. at church. REGISTRATION (required)

Due to the pandemic, our rising 8th and 9th graders weren’t able to participate in the faith community visits that are part of the Neighboring Faiths class. This summer, those students and their families are invited to visit Shir Tikvah, Baha’i Center of Minneapolis, Hindu Temple of Minnesota, and Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. Facilitators: Kara Yorkhall and Channing McKinley, First U members, and Emma Paskewitz, Youth Programs Coordinator 

Faithful Action

Twin Cities Pride with MUUSJA

Saturday, June 25 & Sunday, June 26 at Loring Park. SIGN UP (required)

Join UUs from congregations across the metro under the umbrella of MUUSJA (MN UU Social Justic Alliance) at Twin Cities Pride. Sign up to march in the parade or staff the UU table at the festival. 

Information Session: Relationships Evolving Possibilities

Wednesday, July 20, 7–8:30 p.m. under the tent at church. SIGN UP

Learn about Relationships Evolving Possibilities (REP), an organization that has been nominated to become one of our Faithful Action partners. REP is a network of dedicated abolitionists showing up to support others in moments of crisis or urgency, with care and respect for the full dignity and autonomy of the people in crisis. Facilitators: Susan Raffo, REP Core Group member, and Rebecca Donley, Karen Heegard, and Denise Konen, First U members

Information Session: CloseKnit

Wednesday, Aug. 3, 7–8:15 p.m. under the tent at church. SIGN UP

First Universalist is exploring a new Faithful Action partnership with Closeknit: Loving Youth out of Homelessness. Learn about CloseKnit, discover how you might become involved, and expand your understanding of youth homelessness and the systemic racial, economic and structural and barriers that family and friends face when they try to support young people seeking housing. Facilitators: Jacqueline White, CloseKnit Founder and Executive Director, and Karen Heegard, Peg Mitchell, and Polly Talen, First U members

Habitat for Humanity Lunch & Learn

RESCHEDULED Sunday, Aug. 7, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. at church. REGISTRATION

The church has had a long and deep relationship with our partner organization Habitat for Humanity, from countless build days to funding a complete “House That Love Built” in 2014 when the congregation raised $120,000. Join the Habitat team at church for lunch, and  learn more about plans for the fall and how you can participate. 

Volunteer with Families Moving Forward 

Sunday, Sept. 4 – Saturday, Sept. 17. SIGN UP (required)

Families Moving Forward is a program of Beacon, an interfaith housing collaborative, which provides temporary housing for people seeking permanent shelter. During a two week period, First U volunteers will provide prepared meals and snacks for families housed in a local hotel. Sign up to help pick up groceries, cook at home or church, or deliver prepared meals. FMF Coordinator: Peg Mitchell, First U member

Learning Opportunities

Humanism Through Multiple Lenses 

Thursdays, June 30 & July 28, 6:30-8 p.m. on Zoom
REGISTRATION (required)

In this class, we explore humanist geographies and intellectual histories from Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa; examine the cultural production of humanism in sports, film, literature and music; and analyze humanism in the public arena, private life and in social issues. Facilitator: Rev. Andrea Johnson, Community Minister and First U member

Spiritual Growth: Charting Our Course 

Thursdays, Aug. 11 & 25, 7:30–9 p.m. on Zoom. REGISTRATION (required)

One way we live out the mission and vision of First Universalist Church is by doing spiritual development together in community – in small groups, on faithful action teams, working for liberation, in classes and support groups and shared spiritual practice. In this conversation series, we’ll explore foundational approaches to spiritual growth and maturity, and we’ll discuss our spiritual needs both as individuals and as a community. This series is designed for those who are interested in understanding and shaping how we support spiritual growth in our congregation. Come be part of charting our church’s future plans and programming. Facilitator: Lauren Wyeth, Director of Spiritual Growth for All Ages

People tell stories. We tell stories about the day ahead of us as we wake in the morning; we tell stories about our lives, what they mean, and how we relate to and meet the ups and downs of our days. We tell stories as groups, too—things like mission statements of organizations we support and belong to, stories about meaning and purpose in our lives. Sometimes, these shared stories become culture. They tell us what’s good or bad, right or wrong, what it means to be human, how to love, what’s “inside the box” and what’s beyond the pale. In a very real way, we live inside these stories, and as these stories change, so do our lives.

This summer, our theme invites us into the stories we tell about ourselves, about each other, and about the wider world, asking us if the stories we tell are “big enough” to hold us? Does our story of gender make room for what’s true in our minds, bodies, and spirits? Does our story of the land have space for the earth to love us? Does our story of courage have room for our truth? And if and when they’re not big enough, what happens when we tell bigger stories together?

Read this week’s issue of our newsletter here: The Weekly Liberal June 9

Read this week’s issue of our newsletter here: The Weekly Liberal June 2

Members: please mark your calendar and plan to attend our multi-platform (in person and online) Annual Meeting of the Membership, scheduled for Sunday, June 5 from noon to 1:30 p.m., following our 10 a.m. worship service. Interested non-members are welcome to observe the meeting. The meeting agenda is available here. Lunch will be served outside under the tent at 11 a.m.

This is an important meeting that requires 25% of our voting members to attend in order for us to successfully call Rev. Arif as our Associate Minister. We will also be voting to adopt the 8th Principle, an important affirmation of our faith commitment to racial justice. Please make time to join us and be a part of these historic votes.

We will meet in person in the Sanctuary and will live stream the meeting on Zoom for members and YouTube for non-members. Advance registration and membership verification is required to join the Zoom webinar. Those joining us in person will need to check in and verify their active membership status in order to vote. 

Per our bylaws, only members in good standing (“voting members”) can vote at the annual meeting. To be considered a voting member, you need to have officially joined the church and have made a pledge/gift in any amount to the current or upcoming annual operating fund or have a ministerial waiver. Please contact Rev. Arif Mamdani at 612-825-1701 ext. 124 or arif@firstuniv.org to inquire about a waiver.  

This is a time when we celebrate a successful year and conduct the business of this church that only church members can do. We need a quorum to conduct the meeting – please give us the gift of your time so that we may complete this work! This year our church business includes:

• calling Rev. Arif Mamdani as our Associate Minister,
• approval of the annual budget,
• the election of members to the Board of Trustees, the Foundation Board, and the Nominating Committee,
• a proposal to adopt the 8th principle,
• and a proposal to amend our bylaws to institutionalize youth participation on the Foundation Board. 

Online Registration & Participation Information

Register in advance here. If you are uncertain whether you will attend online or in person, you are encouraged to register for the Zoom webinar. Please make sure you are registered no later than 11:15 a.m. on Sunday, June 5. We cannot guarantee access to the webinar for registrations received after 11:15 a.m.

We will count attendees based on who is logged in and vote using the Poll feature in Zoom. Therefore, each member attending online needs to register and be logged into the webinar on their own device, even if in the same household.

After registering and once your membership has been verified by staff, you will receive a confirmation email from Zoom. Please save this, as you’ll need your personalized credentials to access the webinar on June 5. Non-members will be able to view the meeting on YouTube live but will not be able to ask questions or vote. 

Meeting Materials

2022 Annual Report
The meeting agenda is available here.
The Slate of Candidates is available here.

We look forward to seeing you in person or online for our Annual Meeting on Sunday, June 5!

Thank you,

Daryn and Sarah

Daryn Woodson
President, Board of Trustees

Sarah Hedge
Secretary, Board of Trustees

Read this week’s newsletter here: The Weekly Liberal May 26

Read this week’s issue of our newsletter here: The Weekly Liberal May 19