Strengthening our Coming of Age and Youth Ministries Program
by Rev. Justin Schroeder
Our Coming of Age program is a significant milestone in the lives of our 9th and 10th grade youth and an important ritual in our religious tradition. Over the past two years, Lauren Wyeth, our Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries, and Rev. Ruth MacKenzie, our Minister of Worship Arts, have been collaborating in the development of our Coming of Age (COA) program.The presence, skill and leadership of a minister, working within the larger vision our program director holds for our children and youth, has significantly deepened the experience of both youth and mentors in the COA program.
When Abe Levine, our former Youth Ministries Coordinator, stepped down from his position, Lauren re-imagined what the program could look like, and budgeted so that Ruth could come on board as the Minister for the Coming Age Program, offering a Coming of Age during both services. From mid-August through May, Ruth will devote ten hours a week to designing COA curriculum, leading the volunteer youth advising team, training mentors, communicating with parents, and working directly with COA youth on many Sunday mornings and special events throughout the year. Jeremy Korpi, our Program Assistant to Coming of Age, will be working closely with her.
We are grateful for the gifts that Ruth brings to her Coming of Age ministry. She has taught as an Artist in Residence in schools throughout MN for the past 27 years, and brings a wealth of experience working with youth, as well as her ability to inspire reflection, to invoke the holy, to teach spiritual practices, and to guide groups in creating religious community. Thanks to the collaboration and visioning of Jen Crow, Lauren and Ruth, our youth now have direct access to a minister.
Meanwhile, Emma Paskewitz -- a young adult who has volunteered with First Universalist youth for the past two years, and helped with COA when she was a college student -- has accepted a year-long paid position as our Senior High Youth Group coordinator. To kick off their year, the Senior High Youth Group is diving into a UUA multiculturalism and racial justice curriculum called Be The Change! and making plans for an overnight bike trip the first weekend of October.
First Universalist has one of the largest Unitarian Universalist Religious Education programs in the country, and we are always working to ensure that the faith formation we offer our children and youth reflects that they are at the heart of our ministry. Together, giving and receiving, we grow into Love's people.
I'll see you in church,
Justin
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September 28 Order of Service and Bulletin
To view the September 28 Order of Service and Bulletin online, click below.
Worship Schedule: two services at 9:30 and 11:15 AM
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Aligning our Values and our Practices: Why do we charge fees for child and youth faith formation?
By Jennifer Schuster-Jaeger
A note from Sr. Minister, Rev. Justin Schroeder: I believe that the work of a religious community is to narrow the gap between our aspirations and core values, and the actual practices we have as a faith community. The goal is to bring our values and practices into alignment.
Over the past few years, I have become more and more troubled by the fact that we charge families to participate in our Religious Education Programming. If Sunday morning worship, choir, Circles, the Wellspring Program, Adult Programming, Racial Justice workshops, and more, are all offered as a part of our ministry, supported by the financial gifts of members and friends, why do we charge our families for their participation in Religious Education? I wonder: Shouldn't our core ministries be available to all?
These are moral and spiritual questions we're asking, and I'm grateful that church member, Jennifer Schuster-Jaeger, has stepped forward to lead a team to explore these questions and to make recommendations about how we might bring our values and our practices into alignment.
First Universalist's mission is "In the Universalist spirit of love and hope, we give, receive and grow."
One of our primary means of living into our mission is shared worship, spiritual seeking and education. Every Sunday we welcome people into Sunday worship. Throughout the year we encourage adults to deepen their spiritual lives with faith formation activities such as Circles and Wellspring. There are no fees for adults to attend worship or participate in a Circle.
Religious education is the primary form of worship, spiritual deepening and education for children and youth. We value our excellent, loving RE programs for young people. Yet our Religious Education program requires children and families to pay RE fees to participate in this core faith formation ministry - setting up moral conflict between our stated mission and vision and the way we live that out in the world.
This fall we are forming a workgroup to examine this problem and come up with recommended path to eliminate RE fees by 2017. The group will meet 4-5 times between October and January and submit recommendations to the Management Team in January before the start of the next budget cycle. Details about the workgroup can be found here in the workgroup charter.
We are looking for a diverse mix of perspectives on this workgroup including parents, youth, young adults, elders, people new to First U and long-time members. If you are interested in participating in the workgroup or sharing your thoughts please contact me at [email protected] or
612-600-4455.
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The Pathway to Membership
Feeling like First Universalist could be your spiritual home? Join us for The Pathway to Membership, which invites you into an exploration of Unitarian Universalism, the history of this congregation, our racial justice commitment, and the experience of membership.
The Pathway to Membership is required for joining the church. This class is offered as a three weeknight series or in a full-day Saturday format.
Upcoming Pathway to Membership dates:
Tuesdays, October 13, 21, 28 from 6:30-8:30pm
Saturday, October 25 from 9:00am-3:00pm
To sign up, contact the Rev. Elaine Aron Tenbrink at [email protected] or 612-825-1701x124. Childcare available with at least 7 days advance notice by clicking here.
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2014-2015 Annual Events and Fall Worship Schedule
The 2014-2015 Annual Events and Fall Worship Schedule is now available! Paper copies will be on hand during services this Sunday, and can also be found at the front desk in the church office. The online PDF version can be viewed by clicking here.
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Circle Suppers
Looking for a great way to meet new people within the congregation and enjoy good food and conversation? Then join Circle Suppers! This runs from November through March on the first Saturday of every month. Small groups of 6-8 people meet at a participant's home for dinner where the host provides the main course and guests bring other dishes that are needed. You are required to host one time. The deadline for sign up is October 31, 2014. Please contact Marybeth Hoelzer for any questions (612-824-1121 or:
[email protected]).
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The 'Weekly Liberal' Launches NEXT WEEK!
Big, exciting changes are on the horizon for communications at First Universalist Church! Thursday, October 2nd will be the kick-off of our new publication, The Weekly Liberal, which we are very excited about! The Weekly Liberal is a hybrid of the best parts of the 'old' Liberal newsletter and the current Weekly E-News, redesigned and formatted into a digital, user-friendly format. It is our hope to provide vibrant and devotional content--in addition to relevant news, events, and information--on a weekly basis through this new communication channel.
If you aren't already on the e-news distribution list and would like to be, simply click HERE to sign up. If you are receiving today's Weekly E-News via your email account, don't worry: this means you are automatically signed up for The Weekly Liberal, and there is no need for any additional sign up.
Please note, too, that paper copies of The Weekly Liberal will always be available in the office and at Sunday's services following the weekly Thursday publication.
If you are unable to access the internet and/or email, and would like a paper copy mailed to you weekly, contact Administrative Assistant Chelsea Bertsch at [email protected] or call at 612-825-1701 with your name and address to get on the hard copy mailing list.
The weekly deadline to submit content for The Weekly Liberal will always be Tuesday at 10:00 AM; any questions can be directed to [email protected]. If you would like to submit content for The Weekly Liberal, please click here to fill out our new online form!
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Celebrating Rev. Justin's 5 Year Anniversary!
Please join the Board of Trustees and the Ministerial Search Committee to commemorate a very special anniversary. Five years ago our congregation, after thoughtful deliberation, took "A Leap of Faith" and "A Leap In Faith" and voted to invite Reverend Justin Schroeder to be our Senior Minister. Please join us on Sunday, September 28, when, at both services, we will briefly reflect on what has been five dynamic years for our church community and, following both services, enjoy anniversary cake together to celebrate this landmark in our church's history and in Justin's ministerial life.
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Ever wonder what Rev. Justin does to prepare for sermons? We've always suspected, but now we have video proof!
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Artist Reception in Social Hall This Sunday
Our current art exhibit features the oil paintings of Minneapolis artist Carl Bretzke. Carl is trained in Plein Air landscape painting but with a special interest in urban landscape and nocturnes. His work has been shown nationally and he is currently represented by Doug Flanders Fine Art Gallery in Minneapolis and Susan Calloway Fine Art in Washington D.C. There will be a reception with Carl in the Social Hall after both services this Sunday, September 28th.
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UU VOTES!
Stop at the HUB after services on September 28 to support UU VOTES. You can:
- Register to vote... online!
- Update your registration... online!
- Request your absentee ballot... online! NO EXCUSE NEEDED! Voting began Sept. 19.
- Commit to voting in the November 4 election!
Minnesotans are justly proud of leading the nation in voter turnout. But even in Minnesota, voter turnout can drop by more than 20 points in a midterm election. Join the UU VOTES campaign by the Association of Universalist Women (AUW) & the Minnesota Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Alliance (MUUSJA) to encourage 100% Unitarian Universalist voter turnout in Minnesota for the general election November 4. Vote, and encourage others to vote, to live our UU Principles that affirm democracy and the inherent worth of all voices.
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Let Us Keep You in Our Thoughts and Prayers
If you are experiencing a crisis or transition, or celebrating a joy - please let us know. If you'd like to be included in our Cycle of Life each Sunday in worship, please contact Sandy diNanni at ([email protected]) or (612) 825-1701. If you would like support, please contact Rev. Jen Crow ([email protected] or 825-1701) or any member of our Pastoral Care Team.
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Universalism For Our Time: What Will Save Us?
A Conversation With Rev. Justin Schroeder, Senior Minister
Saturday, October 11, 2014 at 10:00am, Cummins Room
Universalism is a tradition with roots that go back centuries: from the 3rd century Greek philosopher Origen, to the Welshman John Relly in the 18th century, to the early years of the city of Minneapolis, our faith has responded to the prevailing questions of the day. What gifts and challenges does Universalism bring to the conundrums of modern living? Join the Rev. Justin Schroeder, Senior Minister, for a lively discussion of our life-giving faith.
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First Universalist Church
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