Get to know your Board: Matt & Emily
News –
From First U Board President, Marc Gorelick: As I mentioned in a previous column, this year the Board is continuing to set its priorities around building trust and creating a greater sense of belonging in the church.
Connection is fundamental to both of these, indeed, it is foundational to practicing Beloved Community. Connection arises when we get to know each other better. In that spirit, over the next few months we will be devoting some of these columns to introducing ourselves. Today, meet Emily Wallace and Matt Keller!
From Emily Wallace: Over the next few months, the Board of Trustees is going to share about ourselves to help you all get to know us better. I hope you’ll come find me on a Sunday and chat in the Social Hall! I came to First Universalist looking for a community to belong to, and for a spiritual home in 2018. I have found my spiritual home, and have made so many great friends here. I consider myself a liberal Christian, and I do believe in a higher power/divine presence, some might say “God.” Prayer is a very important part of my life, it helps ground me in gratitude, and helps me remember to hold others’ in my heart. I really enjoy getting to know what grounds other people spiritually, and how they engage in spiritual practice. I love to read, to be outside, and to ride my bike. I enjoy journaling, but I am terrible at making it a regular practice!
I really love being part of this beloved community. At church, I can usually be found wrangling my two-year-old and four-year-old daughters in the Social Hall or in the corner by the Library trying to seek out the people who are feeling intimidated by the Social Hall dynamics. Talk to me about baking, reading poetry, climate adaptation, surviving parenting, and what it’s like to be a board member at church (it’s not boring, I promise!).
From Matt Keller: Hello, my name is Matt Keller and I have been a member of First Universalist since 2009. I was first attracted to First U. because of its message of inclusiveness and generosity of spirit. I like the engagement of the congregation and have volunteered as an RE teacher, participated in congregational planning with Rev Justin, delivered care packages during COVID, and have been Secretary on the Board of Trustees for the last 5 years. I live in South Minneapolis and have 3 adult daughters and two adorable grandchildren. I am a consultant in the education publishing and technology field and enjoy helping companies grow. I play trombone and am in a couple of bands, and toured in Germany this last Spring. I enjoy travel, reading, exercising, and connecting with many friends, new and old!