Read the April 18 issue of The Weekly Liberal here: The Weekly Liberal April 18

In this week’s Liberal, Rev. Justin writes:

Have you ever listened to Nora McInerny’s podcast, Terrible, Thanks for Asking? This has become a favorite in our household. I deeply appreciate how McInerny blows past the “How are you?” “I’m fine,” social interactions we all too often engage in when we aren’t fine at all. She keeps it real, talking about the death of her husband, the miscarriage of her child, and the death of her father, all in a period of a few months. In this country and culture we live in, so often our grief and despair is private, talked about in the privacy of a therapist’s office, or a one on one conversation with a minister or with a trusted loved one, or perhaps in a Circle at church; there are very few public places to name and simply be with the loss, betrayal, death, and grief that is so often a part of our lives. read more

Read the full issue of this week’s newsletter here: The Weekly Liberal April 11 read more

Due to the weather and hazardous travel conditions, we canceled our April 11 session and rescheduled for Thursday, May 2.

As we explore whether co-location with Shir Tikvah at 3400 Dupont is the right path for us, we strongly encourage everyone to attend a Co-location Information & Listening Session this spring.

Ultimately, First Universalist members will be making the decision about co-locating or not, via congregational vote later in 2019 (likely in the fall). It’s important to be informed and know what the implications of this decision are. This is your opportunity to learn about what either path will mean for the future of First Universalist Church, and to participate in the decision-making process.

At these sessions, we will share more detailed information about what co-location would look like – and what the alternative is. You will have an opportunity to share your hopes, concerns, questions, and ideas in small groups, and all of that input will be collected and compiled. You’ll also be invited to share thoughts in writing at the end of the session. Your feedback is incredibly valuable, and we want as many voices as possible to be part of this conversation!

Schedule of Information and Listening Sessions:

• Monday, April 15, 7-8:30 p.m.
• Thursday, April 25, 7-8:30 p.m.
• Thursday, May 2, 10 a.m.-noon
• Sunday, May 5, 1-2:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, May 8, 7:45-9 p.m. for Choir members (during rehearsal)
• Sunday, May 19, 1-2:30 p.m.

We are also offering three mini-sessions for families whose schedules won’t allow them to attend a full session. Check your April 10 Family E-news for details.

More Information

Please read our recently updated Frequently Asked Questions before the session if you can; we will have print copies available at each session.

Background information about the history of these co-location conversations is available here.

Read the full issue of this week’s newsletter here: Weekly Liberal April 4

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Read this week’s issue here: The Weekly Liberal March 28 read more

Read the full issue of this week’s newsletter here: The Weekly Liberal March 14

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The Nominating Committee is now recruiting candidates for leadership positions on the Board of Trustees, the Foundation Board, and the Nominating Committee itself for the next church year. We believe the congregation is full of untapped talent and we encourage people to step forward and share their skills.

Now is an exciting and important time to serve as we continue to build on the positive energy and growth of our congregation. Serving on one of these bodies provides unique opportunities to deepen and enrich your personal connection to the church while broadening your circle of relationships within our spiritual community. Committee members have unique opportunities to collaborate with our passionate ministers and lay leaders to advance the mission of the church. read more

Read the full issue of this week’s Liberal here: Feb. 28 Weekly Liberal read more

On Wednesday, Feb. 27 at 8 a.m., Winter Parking Restrictions will go into effect in Minneapolis. Through April 1, parking is allowed on the ODD side of non-snow emergency routes only. This means no parking on the church’s side of Dupont and nearby avenues, and no parking on the north side of 34th and nearby streets. Parking is allowed on both sides of snow emergency routes (Bryant and 35th are both snow emergency routes).

We strongly encourage you to carpool or use public transit, especially on Sundays and when large events are happening. If you do drive, plan for extra time to find parking.

For those with limited mobility, we have a relatively new designated handicapped drop-off zone and handicapped parking spots (Sundays only) on 34th Street that may be especially helpful during this time!

Read the full issue of this week’s newsletter here: The Weekly Liberal February 21

In this week’s Liberal, Rev. Justin writes: read more