Faithful Action: where justice work and spiritual growth intersect!
Faithful Action is how we describe our justice ministry. It is where justice work and personal spiritual growth intersect; we act on our faith!
The term “Faithful Action” recognizes that there are hundreds of ways to act faithfully as we work for a more fair and equitable world—we can advocate, write letters, learn about issues, serve meals, build a home, mentor students, protest, stand in sacred witness, and so much more.
Join us this Spring!
Habitat for Humanity Build Days
Saturdays, Feb. 10 and March 16, 8:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. Registration through Habitat Required
Come join our crew! All you need is a willingness to work – no experience necessary. Youth ages 16+ and their parents or caregivers are welcome to join this intergenerational opportunity. We will be working on a new home in North Minneapolis doing whatever the site supervisor asks of us; putting up siding, hanging sheetrock, painting- whatever needs doing with on-the-job training. Lunch will be provided.
DIRECT ACTION AND GROUP GATHERINGS WITH MINNESOTA UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST SOCIAL JUSTICE ALLIANCE (MUUSJA)
The North Star Act, in Solidarity with MN Immigrants
Volunteer Launch (recommended but not required): Wed. Jan. 24, 5:45-6:45 p.m., at UMN Law School Mondale Hall (229 19th Ave S., Room 55). Then, register for the zoom link for small group meetings Sundays, Feb. 25, March 24, April 28; 7-8 p.m. on zoom.
In 2024, some folks will use anti-immigrant rhetoric to divide the people and gain power, but we will build solidarity. The North Star Act will stop Minnesota police from detaining or reporting immigrants to the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for minor infractions, such as traffic violations. Join members of First U’s Sanctuary & Resistance Team for small group Zoom meetings for First U (and area UUs), advocating to help inform policy-makers and public awareness. Small group facilitated by First U member Karen Wills and Heidi Romanish.
Multicultural Democracy in MN: First U’s Team Launch
Volunteer launch (recommended but not required): Sunday, Jan. 28; 2-8 p.m. at Neighborhood House in St. Paul (179 Robie St. E.). First U congregants will attend the launch together. Register separately for the launch & dinner at Neighborhood House. Then, contact Karen Wills to be on the First U Democracy Team that will mutually decide when to meet.
Direct action to strengthen an inclusive multicultural democracy brings us together to live into our UU 5th Principle of “supporting the democratic process.” Join the launch of our First U Democracy Team! Begin, if you can, at the “We Choose Us MN” retreat on Jan. 28 (dinner included), then come to monthly meetings at times to be determined by First U team members. Want to be in the loop, but can’t join the launch or attend meetings? No problem, you can still “be the change!” Contact First U member and MUUSJA Democracy Strategist Karen Wills at kwmuusja@gmail.com or 612-270-6559.
First Fridays: Democracy on Film
Fridays, Feb. 2, March 1, April 5, May 3; 6:30-9 p.m. Online only. Register for the zoom link to join the watch party from home.
Every organizer needs relaxation, and some may enjoy some (virtual) company, community, and inspiration from classic pro-democracy films to help us get through 2024. At First Friday Films, we will light a chalice and check in using Zoom at 6:30, then watch a movie together from our own devices, starting at 7:00pm. As participants watch together online, we build a sense of shared community. We’ll start with Mr. Smith Goes to Washington on Friday, Feb. 2, then choose other films by group vote. Register on the zoom link to be in the loop about the group’s future film showings! Other films could include A Face in the Crowd, Strong Female Lead, All the President’s Men, Malcolm X, The Candidate, Election, Lincoln, Primary, Shouting Down Midnight, and Milk. Online gathering hosted by First U member Karen Wills.
CLIMATE & ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE TEAM EVENTS
Eco Film Screening and Discussion: Atomic Hope
Sunday, March 3; 1-3 p.m. in person at church Registration Requested
Special Guest Announcement: Post-film discussion with Eric Meyer, founder and executive director of Generation Atomic, an advocacy group for advancing nuclear power. Eric is featured in the film.
Join the Climate and Environmental Justice team to view Atomic Hope, a film by Friankie Fenton (88 minutes). “Atomic Hope is an observational documentary filmed over ten years which follows a tiny group of highly unpopular “pro-nuclear” activists who controversially believe we now need to urgently re-address our feelings on nuclear power if we are to have any hope of decarbonizing our energy systems before the effects of catastrophic climate change wreak havoc.”
Environmental Justice Gathering
March 3, 3-4:30 p.m. in person at church Registration Requested
The EJ Team currently meets quarterly, with primary justice action occurring through the EJ team’s working groups (see church website for a listing of working groups). People attending will share environmental concerns and actions in which they have recently been involved. All interested people in the First U community are welcome to attend the gathering.
Snowshoeing at Bdote
Saturday, March 9; 1-3:30 p.m. Registration Required
Join the Environmental and Climate Justice Team’s Biodiversity Working Group. The group who hiked at our event in October enthusiastically requested another event at this park in the winter– snowshoeing! (If there’s not enough snow, we’ll hike instead.) Whether you attended the October event or not, please join EJ Team member Cathy Geist and a park naturalist as we snowshoe by the Mississippi River at Bdote/Fort Snelling State Park, where the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers converge. Please note that this State Park is not at the same location as Historic Fort Snelling. Snowshoes will be provided by the State Park. Together, in the context of this area’s indigenous history, we’ll learn more about the amazing diversity of life here as winter continues and the plants, animals, and other organisms adjust to winter conditions. We’ll meet in the parking lot near the State Park Visitor Center, where the park road ends. (Please stop at the building at the bottom of the hill near the park entrance to purchase a 1-day park pass if you need one.) Contact Cathy at 612-384-2723 or cathy.geist@minneapolis.edu with any questions. She will also send out driving directions after you register, so please make sure to include your email. Hope to see you there!
Eco Film Screening and Discussion: Common Ground
Sunday, April 14; 1-3 p.m. in person at church Registration Requested
In anticipation of Earth Day at First U, April 21 2024, the EJ team invites you to a screening of Common Ground, from the creators of Kiss the Ground, a favorite film of the EJ team, which emphasized the need to move away from industrial agriculture to regenerative practices that will preserve our soil and our environment. Sobering yet hopeful, Common Ground exposes the toxic interconnections of American farming policy, politics, and health, by sharing stories of destruction and healing, and how regenerative agriculture and soil health plays a vitally important role in changing these systems for the better. At its root, the film explores how people from different walks of life, different political backgrounds, and different places share one thing in common – the very soil beneath their feet.
Earth Day at First U
Sunday, April 21; in the Social Hall after each service
Refreshments will be served.
Come celebrate our resilient Earth with the Environmental Justice Team (EJT) on First U’s Earth Day 2024. Join our team in the social hall to honor the diversity of the world around us, to gain new insights into how to preserve its future, and to take action now to make a difference for our children. EJ working groups will be tabling to include healthy soils, food solutions, keeping fossil fuels in the ground, regenerative ag solutions, and, of course, electrifying everything.
Discover a multitude of ways you can help mitigate the climate crisis by electrifying everything in your life! The federal Inflation Reduction Act has provided all of us with rebates and tax credits to help us make the shift to electrify our world. Come explore electric appliances and heat pumps for heating (and cooling) as well as heating your water.
