We are coming ’round the mountain – heading toward a critical city election, toward more church gatherings possible in person, toward fall and the winter holidays, through another cycle of life. How might we relax into this familiar rhythm and circle round the mountain, orienting ourselves toward what matters most as we travel through unpredictable terrain? Join us Sunday, October 17 at 10:30 a.m. as we let story and song and the wisdom of the indomitable Nina Simone guide us.

Order of Service

Give to the Offering Plate

or text firstuniv to 73256. You’ll receive a link to a secure form where you can enter your information. Select the “Offering Plate” fund from the dropdown menu.

Care Companions ~ 11:30 a.m.
We know that worship can take us into deep and surprising places. If you find yourself needing to talk with someone about what is stirring for you after worship, please speak with one of our care companions in a confidential zoom room after the service. This is how we care for one another.

First Step ~ 11:30 a.m.; right after the service
First Step is a brief, casual orientation to Unitarian Universalism and First Universalist Church. During this 45-minute class, participants will learn about the foundations of our faith tradition and opportunities to get involved. If you attend First Step this morning, please fill out the Visitor Connect form so we can follow up with you! Thank you!

UUs in 12-Step Recovery – 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Drop-in group for UUs in 12-step based recovery from all kinds of addiction and family dysfunction. Participation is confidential. (Meeting ID: 922 6965 4151 Passcode: 839388) For more info, contact Dick Young at 952-893-1188.

Join Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout for a meditation on ancestry for adults and older youth. Tune in on Zoom at 7 p.m. for this 30-minute virtual gathering geared toward adults and older youth, which offers a midweek time of connection, centering, and reflection. Come and be with Glen Thomas and other First U members and friends in this space of meditation.

Launch the Wednesday Worship Zoom here – 7 p.m.

Webinar ID: 117-312-320.
Dial in: 1-312-626-6799 and enter the webinar ID.

Care Companions Space ~ 7:30 p.m.
We know that worship can take us into deep and surprising places. If you find yourself needing to talk with someone about what is stirring for you after worship, please speak with one of our care companions in a confidential zoom room after the service. This is how we care for one another.

No matter how many times we make our way through the changes life brings, we may still find ourselves wondering if there isn’t some other way around the mountain. Join us Sunday, October 10 at 10:30 a.m. as we explore the cycles and spirals of life while challenging ourselves to grow in compassion and commitment each time we make our way through.

Order of Service

Give to the Offering Plate – First Universalist Sanctuary and Resistance Fund

or text firstuniv to 73256. You’ll receive a link to a secure form where you can enter your information. Select the “Offering Plate” fund from the dropdown menu.

Care Companions ~ 11:30 a.m.
We know that worship can take us into deep and surprising places. If you find yourself needing to talk with someone about what is stirring for you after worship, please speak with one of our care companions in a confidential zoom room after the service. This is how we care for one another.

Join Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout for a midweek worship experience for adults and older youth. This 30-minute service is a brief time of connection, centering, and reflection to help us find and keep our balance.

Launch the Wednesday Worship Zoom here – 7 p.m.

Webinar ID: 117-312-320.
Dial in: 1-312-626-6799 and enter the webinar ID.

Care Companions Space ~ 7:30 p.m.
We know that worship can take us into deep and surprising places. If you find yourself needing to talk with someone about what is stirring for you after worship, please speak with one of our care companions in a confidential zoom room after the service. This is how we care for one another.

Risk is an inherent part of what it means to be human and alive. As we go about our daily lives, we regularly engage in almost automatic calculations where we assess the risk of a particular action and its reward. We try to achieve a balance between perceived benefit and perceived safety. But what happens when we’re confronted with something new? This Sunday, October 3 at 10:30 a.m., join your worship team for an exploration of risk and reward and how we can stay open to wisdom, creativity, and possibility even in the face of new challenges.

Order of Service

Give to the Offering Plate
or text firstuniv to 73256. You’ll receive a link to a secure form where you can enter your information. Select the “Offering Plate” fund from the dropdown menu.

Care Companions ~ 11:30 a.m.
We know that worship can take us into deep and surprising places. If you find yourself needing to talk with someone about what is stirring for you after worship, please speak with one of our care companions in a confidential zoom room after the service. This is how we care for one another.

First Step ~ 11:35 a.m.
First Step is a brief, casual orientation to Unitarian Universalism and First Universalist Church. During this 45-minute class, participants will learn about the foundations of our faith tradition and opportunities to get involved. If you attend First Step this morning, please fill out the Visitor Connect form so we can follow up with you! Thank you!

First Sunday Meditation Group – 11:30 a.m.- 12:45 p.m.
Join this monthly congregant-led group for a silent meditation meeting on zoom, 11:30 a.m.- 12:45 p.m. After 20 minutes of sitting together in silence, we will share experiences from our practices. We will begin our gathering at 11:30 to provide time to share our lives with one another.

UUs in 12-Step Recovery – 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Drop-in group for UUs in 12-step based recovery from all kinds of addiction and family dysfunction. Participation is confidential. Next meetings will be Oct. 12 at 6:30 and Oct. 17 at 11:30. (Meeting ID: 922 6965 4151 Passcode: 839388) For more info, contact Dick Young at 952-893-1188.

Join us on Wednesday, September 29 at 7 p.m. for a midweek worship experience for adults and older youth. This service is a brief time (20-30 minutes) of connection, centering, and reflection to help us find and keep our balance.

Launch the Wednesday Worship Zoom here – 7 p.m.

Webinar ID: 117-312-320.
To listen by phone (audio only), dial 1-312-626-6799 and enter the webinar ID.

Care Companions Space ~ 7:30 p.m.
We know that worship can take us into deep and surprising places. If you find yourself needing to talk with someone about what is stirring for you after worship, please speak with one of our care companions in a confidential zoom room after the service. This is how we care for one another.

If we’ve learned anything these last 18 months, we’ve learned that try as we might, we cannot always control how things turn out. If control cannot carry us, then what can? Unitarian Universalist theologian Dr. Sharon Welch suggests that an ethic of risk may be at the center of what allows us to persist in building the world and the lives of love and justice we long for, even in the face of partial victories and continued defeats. Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Franco Holder, Julica Hermann de la Fuente, Rev. Arif Mamdani, Dr. Randy Buikema, and the First Universalist Choir will lead the service this Sunday, September 26 at 10:30 a.m.

Follow along with the Order of Service

Offering– TBA
(give here) or text firstuniv to 73256. You’ll receive a link to a secure form where you can enter your information. Select the “Offering Plate” fund from the dropdown menu.

Care Companions ~ 11:30 a.m.
We know that worship can take us into deep and surprising places. If you find yourself needing to talk with someone about what is stirring for you after worship, please speak with one of our care companions in a confidential zoom room after the service. This is how we care for one another.

Join us on Wednesday, September 22 at 7 p.m. for a midweek worship experience for adults and older youth. This service is a brief time (20-30 minutes) of connection, centering, and reflection to help us find and keep our balance.

Launch the Wednesday Worship Zoom here – 7 p.m.

Webinar ID: 117-312-320.
To listen by phone (audio only), dial 1-312-626-6799 and enter the webinar ID.

Care Companions Space ~ 7:30 p.m.
We know that worship can take us into deep and surprising places. If you find yourself needing to talk with someone about what is stirring for you after worship, please speak with one of our care companions in a confidential zoom room after the service. This is how we care for one another.

Order of Service

Link to Give to the Offering

Join us in person at the Minnehaha Regional Park Bandstand, located at 4801 S Minnehaha Drive in Minneapolis. The bandstand is very near the parking lot for Sea Salt Eatery and the Falls. There may be traffic and more limited parking, particularly for the 11 a.m. service. We encourage you to arrive by 8:45 or 10:45 a.m.

Watch the recording: This service will not be livestreamed due to lack of adequate technology onsite, but it will be recorded and made available on our YouTube channel on Sunday evening.

Directions & access info: Minnehaha Park is located in the southeastern part of Minneapolis, just off of Highway 55 and 46th Street. The park is accessible via Metro Transit bus routes 23, 46, 74, and the A line, and the light rail’s Blue line. The bandstand at the park is located just to the east of Sea Salt, and south of the parking lots.

Parking: There are two paid parking lots on the northern side of the park, off of Godfrey Parkway. There is free street parking on city streets to the north of the park. Bike parking is available on the southeastern side of Sea Salt.

Gathering in person at Minnehaha Falls, we’ll immerse ourselves in the imagery of water and the power of the river as we remember the strength of the stones in the banks we build, and the well-worn groove of the river bed that waits for us, whatever the season. We’ll remember the ritual of Water Communion and the symbolic ingathering it represents and we will intentionally hold back the waters for now, waiting with each other, for the fullness of our hoped-for return to our building in November and the joy it will bring. Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Aimee K. Bryant, Franco Holder, Lauren Wyeth, and Revs. Arif Mamdani and Jen Crow will lead the service.

Join Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout on September 15 at 7 p.m. for a midweek worship experience for adults and older youth. This service is a brief time (20-30 minutes) of connection, centering, and reflection to help us find and keep our balance.

Launch the Wednesday Worship Zoom here – 7 p.m.

Webinar ID: 117-312-320.
To dial in: 312-626-6799 and enter the webinar ID.

Care Companions Space ~ 7:30 p.m.
We know that worship can take us into deep and surprising places. If you find yourself needing to talk with someone about what is stirring for you after worship, please speak with one of our care companions in a confidential zoom room after the service. This is how we care for one another.