Join us on either Sunday, March 4 or Tuesday, March 6 for a round table discussion to explore our individual and collective perspectives and hopes around the issues of racial justice, affordable housing, and homelessness.

Sunday, March 4, from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Chalice Room
Tuesday, March 6, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Chalice Room

Register here for either session. Both sessions will be preceded by a simple complimentary soup and bread lunch or supper 30 minutes before the session starts.

Our congregation is holding two conversations to explore the intersection between systemic racism and housing inequity. As congregational members of Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative, our collective ideas will help form future decisions on the next steps in eliminating homelessness and creating affordable housing in the Twin Cities.

We Want You To Join Us If:

• You have a desire to share thoughts on these issues
• You have a deeper understanding of the relationship of systemic racism to housing inequity in the Twin Cities
• You want to learn what we can do to create the world as we want to see it.
• If you’ve: built a house through Habitat; advocated on behalf of Homes for All, Habitat, or Beacon; volunteered with Families Moving Forward; donated to racial/housing justice; and/or wished you knew what you could do to eliminate homelessness and create more affordable housing

The conversations will be a mixture of:

• Input on critical information on racism and housing inequity in the Twin Cities
• Opportunities to identify our own experiences
• Ideas for furthering affordability of housing and eliminating homelessness

Carnage The Executioner released a new video on YouTube yesterday as part of his series “Executioner Expressions” that features footage, audio and still images from worship at First Universalist Church on Sunday, July 10 – including portions from his performance as our musical guest and Rev. Elaine Aron Tenbrink’s sermon, “Choosing Hope.”

Falling just days after the death of Philando Castile, who was shot by police in Falcon Heights, Minnesota, worship at First Universalist on July 10 created a space for people to reflect on and process recent racially-charged violence, and ultimately come away with a message of hope.

The video description from Carnage’s website reads:

“The present days are filled with death at the hands of Law Enforcement, heightened crime rates & racial divide. We are all in-need of self-reflection, increased hope & empathy if we are to prevent what appears to be the onset of an anarchy followed by Martial Law.

“Carnage The Executioner enlists the help of First Universalist Church Of Minneapolis to release the newest installment of Executioner Expressions – his in-debth & personal video series. Please watch & share the moving Hecasode #3 & keep hope in humanity that we can overcome these sour times.”

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

In December, First Universalist was recognized on a local television program for the racial justice work being done by our community.

Rev. Justin Schroeder, Senior Minister at First Universalist, and Ben Miles, member of the Racial Justice Leadership Team, appeared on a segment of “Our Issues Twin Cities” that aired on The CW-23 in December. The segment covers police brutality, the recent emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement – “one of the most powerful civil rights movements since the 1960s” – and highlights First Universalist as one of several predominantly white communities in the Twin Cities that is putting racial justice at the center of its mission and responding to the call from Black Lives Matter to stand in solidarity.

The CW-23 program is available to watch online via YouTube as well as in the player below. Look for Rev. Justin Schroeder and Ben Miles starting around the 15:30 mark.

24-Hour Racial Justice Training Dates Announced for Winter/Spring 2016

by the Racial Justice Leadership Team

You’re invited to apply to participate in the next 24 hour racial justice training led by Dr. Heather Hackman this spring! This is the last 24 hour training we’ll be offering with Heather Hackman for the foreseeable future.

Through this 24-hour training, you will gain the tools and insights to see and be in the world differently as it relates to racial justice. The training helps give us a shared language to use in our racial justice ministry at First Universalist. After this training, some may feel called to be involved in additional justice work, though that is not a requirement.

The trainings are scheduled for Saturdays, Feb. 6, Feb. 27, and April 9, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Participants are expected to attend all three days and to stay for the entire length of the session. Meals will be provided. We do ask for a donation to help cover some of the costs of the training, as well as the meals.

To apply for this training, please answer the following questions, and send your response to the church’s Administrative Assistant, Chelsea Bertsch, at Chelsea@firstuniv.org:

• Your name
• Your contact Info (address, phone, email)
• Your racial identity
• Why do you want to do this training?
• How does your faith inform your desire to do this work?
• Why is racial justice training important to First Universalist?

We hope you will consider joining us on this journey!

Sincerely,

The Racial Justice Leadership Team

Dear First Universalist Friends,

The First Universalist Racial Justice Team is expanding! We are interested in having four new members join us and expanding the size of our team to 12 members total, so that we can work most effectively in planning and organizing programming, learning, and action.  We are excited about the work over the past two years that has propelled First Universalist toward growth in racial justice on many levels: worship, communication, programming, etc. and there is much more to be done. Our team has transitioned from “leadership” to “teaming” so that we can work hand-in-hand with the committees, leaders, trainers, activists, and involved congregants in continuing this racial justice journey.

Ours is an active team, with subcommittees working and supporting areas such as recommending changes to Church communication media and signage, impacting the worship experience (music, arts, sermons), developing outreach/partnerships (both inside and outside First Universalist), supporting action events, and continuing to support training and education throughout our congregation.

If you are interested in joining us send an email to ramakaye@msn.com  and respond to the questions below.  Please submit your application no later than July 15th.

Thank you so much for your continued commitment to racial justice and for considering applying to join us on the Racial Justice Team.

In faith,

Racial Justice Team (Justin Schroeder, Rama Hart, Fawzia Khan, Emma Paskewitz, Richard Spratt, Kristen Mengelkoch, Ben Miles, Polly Talen)

Yes I am interested in applying to join the Racial Justice Team.

1. Full Name:
2. Email:
3. Best phone number to reach you at:
4. Church status: member or considering?
5. Past or present First Universalist activities/roles:
6. Racial identity:
7. Please let us know how you have already been involved in First Universalist’s Racial Justice work. (no more than 250 words)
8. Describe any racial justice work or other relevant involvement outside of First Universalist. (no more than 250 words)
9. Describe why you are interested and what you feel you can offer to the work of the Racial Justice Team. (no more than 250 words)

Join us on our Racial Justice Journey! Fall 2015

By the Racial Justice Leadership Team

Please note: this training is now full. Please check back later this year for future dates!

You’re invited to apply to participate in the next 24 hour racial justice training led by Dr. Heather Hackman this fall!

Dr. Hackman’s approach is multi-faceted, and provides a foundation for shifting our entire “lens” toward racial justice, as we understand the ways that race, racism, and whiteness work in the world around us.

We’ll be partnering with members from Judson Memorial Baptist Church in this training, as they deepen their commitment to becoming a faith community committed to racial justice. There is room for 30 First Universalist participants in this training, and we expect these spots to fill up fast.

Here are the Details:

* The trainings are scheduled for Saturdays, Oct 3rd, November 7th, and November 21st from 8:00 to 4:00 p.m.

* Participants are expected to attend all three trainings and to stay for the entire length of the session. Meals will be provided.

* To apply for this training, please answer the following questions, and send your response to the church’s Administrative Assistant, Chelsea Bertsch, at Chelsea@firstuniv.org:

o Your name
o Your contact Info (address, phone, email)
o Your racial identity
o Why do you want to do this training?
o How does your faith inform your desire to do this work?
o Why is racial justice training important to First Universalist?

We hope you will consider joining us on this journey!

Sincerely,
The Racial Justice Leadership Team

Black Lives Matter: Preparation, Action, and Reflection

Join us in a three-part journey of preparation, action, and reflection as we stand with Black Lives Matter Minneapolis for justice and equity in our schools and in our country.

Please note that this is a three-part event, held on: April 26, May 1, and May 5.

YOUTH WELCOME!

Prepare
WHAT: Direct Action Training with Liz Loeb and Lena K. Gardner. Learn how to peacefully and faithfully participate in direct action.
WHEN: Sunday, April 26, 1:30-4:00pm
WHERE: Chalice Room, at First Universalist Church

Act
WHAT: Black Lives Matter Student Walkout and Rally
WHEN: Friday, May 1, 12:00pm
WHERE: Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, 4055 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis.

Additional Information:
8:30am: Court Solidarity Rally
10:30am: Students Across the Twin Cities Walk Out
12:00pm: Rally and May Day BBQ at King Park
2:30pm: International Worker’s Day March

Reflect
WHAT: Reflection and De-Brief with Liz Loeb, Lena K. Gardner, and Rev. Justin Schroeder
WHEN: Tuesday, May 5 at 7:00pm
WHERE: Chalice Room, First Universalist Church