Church News and the Newsletter

For all communications-related questions, please email Rev. Laura Smidzik, laura [at] firstuniv.org.

The Weekly Liberal

The Weekly Liberal email newsletter is sent every Thursday and published on our website.

We are happy to consider submissions sent by email to our Programs & Communications Specialist, Rachel Rott: rachel [at] firstuniv.org. Please note that we are unable to accept submissions on paper or by phone. Publication is at the discretion of Rev. Laura.

Deadline for submissions: Wednesday at 10 a.m. the week of desired publication. The Weekly Liberal is typically published on Thursdays.

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August 13, 2026

Vote to Save Democracy: An Update and What’s Next

Thank you for voting in the Primary Election! The Minnesota Secretary of State’s office announced that this primary saw the most pre-election ballots cast in any non-presidential primary in the history of the state.  Watch for more information in the Liberal leading up to the General Election on November…

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A Message from Rev. Laura, Assistant Minister
August 6, 2026

An Openness to Change

"I have come to understand that to move beyond reacting or simply coping I need to be proactive in finding spiritual practices that let me acknowledge my anxieties and then to let them go (or at least to calm them)."

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