This winter, we invite you to grow your soul and find your community within the larger community here at church by joining a circle. Whether you’re ready to engage in a spiritual practice or deepen your racial justice work, there is something for you!

Circles are groups of 8-10 committed participants who come together with a trained leader to nurture spiritual growth in community. These groups are grounded in the spiritual practices of deep listening and open-hearted reflection.

Don’t miss your chance to sign up! Registration will be open from January 8-24 online at firstucircles.weebly.com and on Sundays, Jan. 8, 15, and 22 in the Social Hall.

Read the full issue of the December 8 Weekly Liberal here.

Board of Trustees President Eric Cooperstein writes:

Dear Church,

As you know, we conducted a series of focus groups in October to present a vision of how we might repair and upgrade our Church home. Based on the strong support from the focus groups and after considering the comments and issues raised in those meetings, I am excited to share that your Board of Trustees has decided to move forward with our capital campaign!

This past Sunday in worship, we introduced and asked for your blessing of our Capital Campaign Steering Committee, led by co-chairs Dan Berg and Sofi Ali. Dave Bach, Cindy Marsh, Craig Bierbaum, Rich Jaeger, Keven Ambrus, Channing McKinley, Caitlin Rogers, Jenelle Masterson, Liz Short, Zack Steven, Lisa Haugen, Katie Oberle, and Dick Niemiec make up the rest of this dream team. They’re joined by ex-officio members Rev. Justin Schroeder, Rev. Jen Crow, myself as your Board President, and our Campaign Consultant Skip Schlafer.

The theme of the Campaign is Not for Ourselves Alone: Building an Inclusive Future. The goal of this campaign is to meet with the entire congregation and invite participation in the vision to: Expand Welcoming Hospitality, Enhance our Worship Experience, Ensure Inclusive Programs, and Encourage Future Ministries. In these troubled times, we can be a beacon of light!

For the next few months, we will be in the preparation phase of this campaign, getting ready for the formal start of the campaign in late winter/early spring, when we will have a kick-off event for the whole congregation.

We are grateful for our Steering Committee, a dedicated group of people who have enthusiastically said “yes” to the vision of this campaign, promising to faithfully ensure that the campaign stays true to our values of racial justice and deep inclusion, and to share their passion and deep commitment to this church, so that together, all of us will make this campaign a success.

In faith,

Eric Cooperstein
President, Board of Trustees

Information about the Capital Campaign can be found here.

First Universalist is beginning our fifth year of partnership with Augsburg Fairview Academy (AFA). Young adults from diverse communities who face educational barriers to achievement in traditional schools are welcomed into AFA, a charter school that prepares them for college, career and life. The 125+ students come from diverse backgrounds including African American, Somali, and Native American. Many are homeless or marginally housed during the school year.

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This fall, we invite you to grow your soul and find your community within the larger community here at church by joining a circle. Whether you’re ready to engage in a spiritual practice, explore what it means to be resilient, or deepen your racial justice work, there is something for you!

Circles are groups of 8-10 committed participants who come together with a trained leader to nurture spiritual growth in community. These groups are grounded in the spiritual practices of deep listening and open-hearted reflection. Each gathering offers an opportunity for connection: connecting with ourselves, connecting with others, and connecting with something greater than ourselves. Registration is open through Sunday, Oct. 2 online at firstucircles.weebly.com.

read more

Our Fall 2016 Worship Calendar, with information about monthly worship themes, worship leaders, music, special services, and more, is now available to view and download here: Fall 2016 Worship Calendar.

Our 2016–2017 Annual Events Calendar is now available as well!

Read the most recent issue of The Weekly Liberal here!

By Rev. Elaine Aron Tenbrink   (read the full issue of this week’s Liberal here)

Shocked. Enraged. Grieving. Heartbroken.

Like many of you today, I’ve been moving through a range of strong emotions after learning of Philando Castile’s murder by police in Falcon Heights last night. His girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, and her four-year-old daughter, Dae’Anna, witnessed his death by gunshot after they were pulled over for a broken taillight. This horror stunned me, coming just the day after Alton Sterling was murdered by police in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

In the company of fellow members of our congregation, I brought my broken heart to the rally at the Governor’s Residence in St. Paul today. Through powerful personal stories, prayer, and impassioned calls to action, the gathered community grieved, raged, and organized.

How many more shootings will it take? How many more videos? How many more children must be traumatized by violence?

The time to start believing what we’re seeing is now.

Now is the time to work together to end the ongoing police violence against people of color, especially African American men.

Now is the time to collectively dismantle the systemic racism that hurts us all.

And this is OUR system to change.

In the words of Pastor Danny Givens, “There is no such thing as other people’s children.”

Tonight, along with the Rev. Jen Crow and a good number of First Universalist members, I will bring my broken heart to JJ Hill Montessori Magnet School (998 Selby Ave in St. Paul) at 5:30 p.m. for a vigil in the school’s garden area. I would love to see you there.

This Sunday, I will bring my broken heart to church at 10 a.m.

A final thought: In the wake of these disturbing events, I couldn’t be more grateful to be in community with you.

Our church is an anchor in my life, a place where we can openly name hard truths, navigate toward greater love and justice together, and ask ourselves – really ask ourselves – where love is calling us next.

My life is more aligned with my values because I am a part of this community. Thank you.

In Gratitude, in Love, and in the Struggle,

Elaine

What Does Justice Look Like? The Struggle for Liberation in Dakota Homeland

by Waziyatawin

Book Discussion

Sunday, April 12 at 1:00pm OR Tuesday, April 14 at 6:30pm, Cummins Room

Discussion facilitated by Suzanne Hay, Kayci Rush, and Rev. Justin Schroeder

During the past 150 years, the majority of Minnesotans have not acknowledged the immense and ongoing harms suffered by the Dakota People ever since their homelands were invaded over 200 years ago. How have we been mis-educated about Minnesota history? What can we do to reverse the patterns of oppression in Native and non-Native relations?

Join Rev. Jen Crow, Minister of Program Life, for this retreat focused on the enriching experience of claiming, re-imagining, and practicing the living tradition of Unitarian Universalist spirituality. We’ll spend time together in large and small groups, bearing witness to the holy within and among us.

To register, contact Rev. Elaine Aron Tenbrink at Elaine@firstuniv.org