The Weekly Liberal: February 12, 2026

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Pledge: Make your Annual Financial Commitment

Please complete the pledge form ASAP, or by March 6:

Here's what's coming up for Children, Youth, & Families at First Universalist:

• Friday, Feb 13 - Sunday, Feb 15: Senior High (grades 11-12) OWL Retreat at Camp Eden Wood.
• Sunday, Feb. 15: Common Ground Sunday in Cummins at both 9 & 11 a.m.
• Sunday, Feb 22: Regular Sunday: Religious Education in Classrooms at both 9 & 11 a.m. services. 
• Wednesday, Feb. 25: Middle and High School Youth Groups meet, 7:00-8:15 p.m.
• Sunday, Mar. 1: Regular Sunday: Religious Education in Classrooms at both 9 & 11 a.m. services.

Find information on upcoming programming for Children, Youth, & Families in the all-ages calendar spreadsheet. Find the appropriate age group tab on the bottom for events for your family. This document is updated regularly - please check often.

A big THANK YOU to Middle School Families, youth, volunteers and youth group facilitators for an AMAZING Middle School Overnight last weekend! Much fun was had by all, and none of it could have been possible without fabulous volunteer and family support. Thank you!

1st/2nd Grade OWL Registration is live! 

Register Here

Families should have received an email from Claire, if you have not, please email her (claire@firstuniv.org) with questions.

Allison Connelly-Vetter, our Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries, is currently on parental leave through March 2026.

Find out how to get support while she's out on our Families Web Page:

SAVE THE DATE! Talent Show & Trivia Night... and Dinner, too!

Friday, March 13, 5:30-8:00 p.m. at church

The Senior High Youth Leadership Team is bringing back the wildly successful Talent Show & Trivia Night! This event is a fundraiser for the church, and First U youth leaders are counting on all ages to bring their talent (and their wallets!) as we build community and fortify our church for the coming year. Mark your calendar and watch this space for a way to RSVP soon.

Sunday Worship

Sunday, February 15

Love Lives Beyond Binaries

Two worship services:

9 a.m. in person

11 a.m. in person and livestreaming

We continue our exploration of Love at the Margins with an experience of worship rooted in the Love that lives beyond binaries, gender binaries in particular. Hear from members of our community whose lives bust open the binaries so many have been taught to live inside and find the love that meets us there. This will be a celebration of what is possible no matter what power dictates as norms.

Smudging Ceremony this Sunday: Join in a circle in the sanctuary of the church at 10:30 am. Much like the Bdote, or the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers, we will meet between the two services of our church. We will practice a sacred ceremony between our 9 am and our 11 am services and smudge together as one sacred beloved community. Regardless of age, race, gender, sexuality, or any other identities, all are welcome to join in this sacred ceremony.

Following Worship: A Place to Start

Sundays: February 15, March 1 & 15, April 5 & 19, May 3 & 17, Immediately after worship services, meets at the front of the sanctuary, no RSVP necessary

Are you new or new-ish to First Universalist and wondering where to begin? Here’s “A Place to Start!” Whether you're simply curious or are considering making this your spiritual home, in this casual, 45-minute class, you'll learn some of the basics of Unitarian Universalism, as well as how to get connected to what you’re seeking here at church. Meet at the front of the sanctuary immediately after the service on a first or third Sunday. Facilitated by First U members.

This Sunday is a Common Ground Sunday. Grade-based Religious Education programs resume [date].

At both services, all children and youth in grades K-12 begin in worship and are dismissed as a group to the Cummins Room early in the service. Kids in PreK and younger can be dropped off in room 104 as early as 15 minutes before the start of each service. On Common Ground Sundays, all kids and youth can attend either service time, regardless of when they are registered or typically attend.



Common Ground Sundays take the place of typical Religious Education programming. In the Cummins Room, kids and youth will have time to worship, explore, create, and play centered around the UU symbol of the chalice. Learn more about Common Ground Sundays here.

You may pick up your child or youth from the Cummins Room at 10:30 a.m. or 12:30 p.m., not before, even if worship has ended. 

If you have not already, please register here for Religious Education and our additional Children, Youth, & Family Ministries for the 2025-2026 church year. All families, with babies through high schoolers, need to register each church year, regardless of previous registration.

In Case You Missed It:

Last Sunday, February 8

You can watch past worship services and view other First U video content:

Cycle of Life

If you are experiencing a crisis or transition, celebrating a joy­ or marking a sorrow, please let us know. To be included in our Cycle of Life on Sunday in worship, or if you would like support, contact Rev. Laura Smidzik at laura@firstuniv.org or (612) 405-5583 (call or text).

We “Hold This Together” by Cooking Meals and Helping Each Other During Life’s Marker Events

Cook a Meal

We have congregants in need of support during life events. Please read the instructions carefully so that you can provide the type of meal that will bring the families the most comfort. Contact Rev. Laura if you are in need of meals to help you through a transition. 

Current Mealtrain Requests:

Zion, Jera, and Baby Violet

Help with Rides, Chores, or Companionship During Worship

On occasion, we receive requests from congregants for distinct needs. If you are willing to help with any of these needs, email or text Rev. Laura at laura@firstuniv.org or 612-405-5583.

• General chores (lawn moving, cleaning) post surgery and when congregants are struggling. 
• Rides—sometimes to church and other times to doctor appointments. 
• Companionship during worship for congregants with cognitive impairment who need a buddy when in the building.

Ways to Connect at Church

Featured Programs

Pancake Breakfast for Trans and Gender Expansive Folx

Saturday February 14; Breakfast 9:30-10:30 a.m., Short program 10:00, Breakouts 10:30-11:15, Closing 11:15-11:30.

RSVP

Join us at a pancake breakfast open to individuals and families with trans and gender expansive identities. This is an opportunity to see how large and varied our community is. Imagine a room filled with transgender and gender expansive adults, youth, and children. We build community by being together. You may even make some new connections! We will eat, have a short program, and then create breakout groups. This breakfast is open to transgender and gender expansive kids, youth, and adults, and to cisgender allies who are parents and siblings of trans and gender expansive children and youth. Otherwise, cisgender folks are not invited to the breakfast. However, they can be allies by spreading the word about the breakfast to trans and gender expansive loved ones in their lives and encouraging them to come! Please spread the invitation widely: church membership is not required for attendance.

Habitat for Humanity Builds

Saturday, February 14th, 8:30am to 3:30pm, 3149 Park Avenue, Minneapolis

Saturday, March 28th, 8:30am to 3:30pm, 1400 North Winthrop Street, St Paul (a.k.a. The Heights)

RSVP at the Habitat Website

A new rehab project is beginning to take shape in our neighborhood that will provide First U members opportunities to impact our direct neighborhood. Whether you’re a seasoned builder or brand new to Habitat, all skill levels are welcome. Every hour you contribute helps create safe, stable homes for families in our community. First U Habitat Team Lead: David Harrison - rdavid.harrisonjr@gmail.com - (920) 225-9153

Welcome Team

Info Session: Sunday, February 15, between the services (about 10:15-11:15 a.m., 12:15-1:15) at church, Library | Welcome Team Interest List

We invite you to be part of the Welcome Team at First U! Our group's mission is to ensure all newcomers feel welcome and have an opportunity to explore if First U is a place where they belong. We are seeking new members to learn about welcoming opportunities at First U and sign up to help. These include welcoming newcomers at the social hall table after services, door greeters and ushers, and facilitators for newcomer programs: A Place to Start and Newcomer Circles. We will host an informational and sign-up session on February 15 after worship service for you to learn how to join the team and get involved. 

First U Environmental Justice Gathering 

Sunday, February 15

12:30 Sharing of food in Social Hall (food provided by EJ Team leaders)

Meeting 1-2pm, Room 209

RSVP Here

We come together as individuals concerned about the climate crisis with open hearts willing to explore effective ways to promote personal ecological wellbeing and planetary health. And most importantly, to embrace one another in our shared community.

Come explore how to

• get involved
• stay connected
• take leadership 
• On climate issues you care about!

Embracing the Contradictions of Life - A Daytime Bookgroup and Conversation

Wednesdays, Feb 18, March 4 & 18, and April 1, 11:00 am-12:30 pm, at church, Room 201  | RSVP Here

We will be using the book Between the Dark and the Daylight: Embracing the Contradictions of Life by Joan Chittister to guide a facilitated small group. We will meet for four sessions and read around 40 small pages each time. Topics range from the mirage of security to the sanity of irrationality. Chittister is a progressive, Benedictine so the book uses Christian language that is very open and affirming. Facilitated by Rev. Laura Smidzik

Daytime Connections for Older Adults

Topic: Health Support for Trans Youth | RSVP Here

Thursday, February 19, 9:45 a.m. coffee, 10-noon program, Noon lunch, in person in the Social Hall and on Zoom

Would you like to know more about the program at Children’s Hospital that works to

support transgender youth? Dr. Kade Goepferd, the founder and director of that

program for the past eight years, will tell us about the many ways that the hospital helps trans youth and their families through the transition process.

Daytime Connections empowers older adults to live intentional, joyful, purposeful and spiritually fulfilled lives, by building a vibrant community and providing engaging programming that promotes conscious aging and fosters personal and spiritual growth. 

Membership Class at First U

We are offering three different membership class times this spring:

NEW DATES: Thursday, February 19 and 26 February 19, 6:00-8:00 pm RSVP

Saturday, March 21, 9:00am-1:30 pm (potluck) RSVP

Tuesday, April 21 and Tuesday, April 28, 6:00-8:00 pm RSVP

We ask that congregants who are interested in becoming members take a membership class. Participants have an opportunity to get clear on what they personally are committing to as church members and what a mutual, reciprocal church community commits to them in return. In community, participants explore the practical and spiritual sides of what relevant, sustainable church membership means to them. Even if you’re a lifelong UU interested in membership, we ask that you take the membership class at First Universalist as it helps orient folks to this congregation and helps build community. 

Physical Media Party

Friday, Feb 20, 6pm, at church

RSVP to Maria:  815-821-4674

Bring your own snacks!

Does all your media live in the cloud? Do you wish it didn’t and that you owned your own media like you did in 2005? Come join the Early Adults to make a plan to print your pictures, to put your music and movies on a flash drive, to back up your computer, and even to rip your old CDs! Bring your computer and USB drives or CDs.

Building Trust, Enhancing Belonging

Saturdays. Feb 28, Mar 7, Mar 14, 28, 10-11:30 a.m., at church, Room 207 | RSVP Here

Communities and Countries are held together by trusting relationships. But we often taken them for granted until we are betrayed. Why is trust so important to our lives? Trust in government, science, in relationships of all kinds? Trust is a psychological, practical, and moral concept that we run into every day. How can we strengthen our relationships and repair those that are 'broken'? Why does it feel so awful when others don't trust us? This program will be a discussion, informed by ideas we've listened to/read to nudge us to puzzle things out and consider different people's views together. Facilitated by Nancy Potter.

Newcomer Circles

Newcomers Circles create a rich, supportive environment in which to share and grapple with our emerging UU values, theology, identity, and sense of belonging. This 4-session gathering is a caring and structured group to dig deeper into Unitarian Universalism and further connection at church. This Circle is intended for members and non-members alike who are discerning if and/or how they will commit to and continue their spiritual journey at First U as Unitarian Universalists. Please plan to attend at least three of the four sessions. Registration is limited to 8. The first session is required for group cohesion and trust building. Newcomers Circle is not a replacement or prerequisite for the Membership Class—they are complimentary curriculums that may be done in any order.

Mondays, March 9, 16, 23, 30 6:00-8:00 pm, meets in the Library RSVP

May Circle - dates to be determined, please join the Newcomer Circle Interest List

Early Adults:

Early Adults at First U are folks who are 18 years old - 39 years old (No High School Students Please 🙂 High Schoolers are invited to take part in our Youth Group)

Early Adult Monthly Dinner

Tuesday, February 24, 6:30pm

RSVP to Billy: 218-770-8863

Coming up in the next few weeks:

Resistance Reflection Circle

Friday mornings, 9-10 a.m. on Zoom | RSVP Here

Community News & Needs

An Outpouring of UU Love

Unitarian Universalists from (we think) every state, and even around the world, have sent messsages of support, solidarity, and encouragement to First Universalist. You may have seen the sea of cards at the front of the sanctuary the last couple of weeks. The Virtual Arts Committee is working on creating a display to share with the congregation. Thanks to Bette DeMars for sending in the photos featured here to give you a sample of what has come in to First U. We are grateful.

An invitation to Fiber Artists

You are invited to come to a gathering of knitters at Walker Place this Saturday, February 14th, from 11:00 to 1:00. Bring your knitting (or crochet or embroidery or ??) project and join us for lunch and lively conversation. We can order lunch from the menu...soup, salad, and sandwiches...must use a credit card to pay.

Parking available on Bryant Avenue, 37th Street, and a few places in the parking lot.

There will be a table set up for "give and take" yarn donations. One of the knitters is looking for donated worsted weight yarn to pass on to a group of high school kids learning how to knit. Does not have to be full skeins.

RSVP to Barbara Melom with your plans and let her know if you want to be added to the email list: barbmelom@gmail.com

First U Seeks Choral Accompanist/Worship Pianist

Help us find our next music leader to work with Paolo! We're looking for someone with skills as an accompanist and music leader who can join the worship team at First Universalist. Please share the job description in your networks, and remember, our policy is to hire non-church members for staff positions.

Christmas lights recycling a huge success!

The EJ team collected 139 lbs. of Christmas lights and received $69.50 from KK Recycling in North Minneapolis. This money will help cover screening fees for the premier showing of Future Council the evening of April 23 as part of First U's Earth Month celebrations.

First U Artist

Fiber, Fragment and Form

January 30 - March 15, 2026



Martha Bird’s work plays with the traditional weave of functional baskets, twisting and expanding them into sculptural willow and rattan forms. She draws her inspiration from French, Irish and Japanese basketry that allow viewers to experience the art form in new ways.  

Her 22 “baskets" are on display throughout the Spring Flower Show, with a focus on her Japanese-inspired basketry in the Andersen Horticultural Library (some with ikebana flower arrangements).

Location:

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

3675 Arboretum Dr.

Chaska, MN 55318

Link to event.

Artist Talk by Martha Bird Saturday, February 21, 2026 1 - 2 pm "Cultivating Willow: Building Community through the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum”

(free admission on 2/21 offered by contacting marthabirdart@gmail.com)

Join UUs for Justice in the Middle East (UUJME) for a Palestine 101 Teach-in, on February 22nd, 5:00 CST

Co-sponsored by Church of the Larger Fellowship, Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, and Diverse and Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries.

See pictures showing the history of the land and people before 1948, hear about helpful frameworks for learning, and experience rich UU resources by Side with Love and others. We will also share examples of actions that UUs are taking around the country.

RSVP to get the Zoom link here: https://www.uujme.org/uujme_calendar

MUUSJA: Trans Host Home and Accompaniment Program Info Session

Wednesday, February 18th, from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm

RSVP Here

Minnesota is now home to more trans people per capita than any state in the US, largely due to an influx of trans refugees fleeing hostile legislation in another state. Join us for an info session on how you can support trans/nonbinary refugees coming to Minnesota seeking a safer life. This session is for people interested in providing housing for folks needing a safe place to land, or who want to welcome refugees by being in a sustained relationship with them, offering support in social, emotional, and practical ways.

12-Step Spirituality

Visit the website for details.



In person – at First Universalist Church

And on Zoom - get the link here.

These meetings are for people who are actively working any 12-step program.

The meetings focus on the 11th step, prayer and meditation, by using the practice of Centering Prayer Meditation.

We teach Centering Prayer Meditation, meditate for 20 minutes, visit in small groups and practice two other forms of prayer.

2026 AUW Spring Retreat “Belonging”  

Keynote speaker Rev. Karen Hutt 

Come spend a relaxing, regenerative and fun weekend with others!

Register below.  Come join us!

AUW 2026 Spring Retreat "Belonging" | AUW Website

Association of Universalist Women

Visit the website • Join or renew membership • AUW Facebook Group

AUW sponsors activities for people who identify as women, non-binary and/or gender fluid.

Need to make a connection or ask for care?Find what you need here.

First Universalist Church of Minneapolis

3400 Dupont Ave. S.

Minneapolis, MN 55408

612-825-1701  

firstuniversalistchurch.org

For staff contact information, please visit our Ministers and Staff page.

Weekly Liberal Submissions

We encourage you to submit church news! To do so, email your content to Rachel Rott: rachel@firstuniv.org. Edits for length and/or content may occur. The deadline for submissions is noon on Wednesday the week of publication. Past issues can be found on our website.