The Weekly Liberal: June 5, 2025 | | NOTE: Some e-mail programs will not load the full content of this publication. Please click "View Entire Message" at the bottom if you see it! | |
Shared Ministry: The Arrangement | |
In ‘78, the pride flag wore eight colors.
Hot pink for sex. Red for life. Orange for healing. Yellow for sunlight. Green for nature. Turquoise for magic. Indigo for serenity. Violet for spirit.
A full prism of queer becoming.
But hot pink was costly to print—so it disappeared. Magic and serenity folded into one. The flag was simplified. Streamlined. Made easier to wave. Easier to sell.
We remembered the shape. Forgot the reason.
Some lives vanished from the flag before they vanished from the world. Or maybe it was the other way around.
History, like the market, has a favorite palette. And a habit of tidying.
Sylvia and Marsha were pushed to the edges of the story. Black and brown stripes came later, like a postscript. Trans lives still marked optional, or worse—unreadable.
And yet, those same lives danced. Marched. Fought. Preached. Raised children. Made art. Buried their dead. Carried us.
There’s a kind of violence that doesn’t come howling with slurs—
It arrives with a clipboard and a design brief...
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An Invitation from the Sanctuary & Resistance Team: Support Karen & Khloe | |
We know that summer can be a busy time. One way for folks to provide ongoing support for our Sanctuary and Resistance work is to acquire and drop off diapers, groceries, and personal items for Karen and Khloe while they are staying at our church.
Please sign up for a donation/volunteer slot. A few days before your drop-off day, you will receive an email from Emma Paskewitz with a more detailed list of what Karen and Khloe need that week.
Questions? Concerns? Please email Emma Paskewitz at elpaskewitz@gmail.com.
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Sunday, June 8 at 11:30: Annual Congregational Meeting | |
Members: Pre-register and plan to attend and vote in person or virtually | Friends and guests are welcome in person
Key topics:
- Annual Reports from leadership
- Proposed Budget
- Nominees for Leadership Positions
- Proposed bylaws changes
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June 8 | Flower Communion
One service at 10 a.m.
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The Difference Between Us
This Sunday, we gather for Flower Communion.
One by one, we’ll bring blooms—from gardens, sidewalks, corner stores, or borrowed hands. One by one, we’ll place them in a shared vase. And in doing so, we’ll remember: our differences don’t divide us; they make us whole.
A century ago, Rev. Norbert Čapek created this ritual for a people who didn’t all believe the same, but who chose to belong together. He called them to honor beauty, dignity, and difference—even from inside a Nazi prison camp. The Nazis killed him. The ritual survived. So did the courage.
This Sunday, we inherit that story again. Not in theory, but in full color. In families and friendships. In people returning, and people arriving for the first time. We bring what we can. We receive what we need. And we begin again to practice a love large enough for all of us.
Bring a flower if you can. If not, come anyway. The flowers will be here—and so will we.
Join us at 10 a.m. in person or via livestream.
Sunday’s Order of Service (updated each week before worship)
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SUMMER: Religious Education is in worship through September 7. All ages and voices are welcome in the Sanctuary! Childcare will be available for ages 6 months through PreK in Room 104.
Please check the website and the Children, Youth, & Families calendar for more information.
Registration is open for the upcoming 2025-2026 church year, which will begin in September. All families — new and returning, with babies through high schoolers — must register each church year.
| | SAVE THE DATE
June 22: General Assembly Sunday Worship | | |
NOTE: NO WORSHIP AT FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH ON SUNDAY, JUNE 22
Sunday, June 22, 10:00 am, Riverview Theater, Minneapolis
No RSVP Necessary - just mark your calendar and join us for this annual event!
Grab your popcorn and join other local UU congregations for a livestream of a powerful and communal experience – the largest annual gathering of Unitarian Universalists in worship. Every year, Unitarian Universalists from around the world gather in one place for several days of connecting, learning, worshiping, and doing the business together of our Unitarian Universalist Association of congregations. The Sunday worship that rounds out the UUA General Assembly is a powerful experience, with UUs attending together in person and virtually.
Pictured above: Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout leading the Ministers' Choir at GA several years ago
| | WATCH: “We are a tower of strength, within and without…” Move your body with Dr. Glen Thomas and the congregation. And get a look at the gorgeous Pride decorations created and installed by our Visual Arts Committee! | | You can see past worship services and other video content: | | |
There are no Cycle of Life announcements for the community this week.
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 pastoralcare@firstuniv.org or (612) 405-5583 (call or text).
| | Ways to Connect at Church | |
Featured Summer Programs
Coming up in the next week or so:
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Nimona: Movie Night for Trans and Gender Expansive Folx
Saturday, June 7, 6:30 pm, Cummins Room
RSVP Here
Unwind for the start of the summer and join us for a night at the movies! We will be showing the movie Nimona (PG). Nimona is an animated movie about an aspiring villain with great abilities, including shapeshifting and creativity. The Geeky Waffle says, “It’s incredibly refreshing to have this unique, beautiful, heartfelt movie that smashes the norm. It is setting a new bar for what should be seen in an animated film and how to create thoughtful and needed queer content.”
We hope you can join us for this community building event that is explicitly for trans and gender expansive folx. It is not for cis allies except parents and siblings of trans and gender expansive children and youth. Please spread the invitation widely: church membership is not required for attendance.
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My Parents Think They Are Wizards (Or Something)
Sunday, June 8, 15, 22, 29, July 6, 13, 20, 27, 12-4 p.m. at church
RSVP Here
A place where kids can play pretend with other kids, and grownups can play pretend with other grownups. In one space, children enjoy a (supervised) playdate with other First U children. In another space, grownups enjoy a game that involves imagination, roleplay, and collaborative storytelling (and yes, most likely dice). Because everybody likes games, but different ages can have different needs, goals, and ways to play.
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Labyrinth Walk on the Full Moon
June 11, July 10, 5-7 p.m. in the Social Hall at church - no RSVP Necessary
Join the Labyrinth Interest List | Labyrinth Web Page
A labyrinth is a tool for meditation. It is a single winding path that can be walked or traced with a finger, from the outer edge in a circuitous pattern to the center. Labyrinths are used world-wide as a way to quiet the mind, calm anxieties, recover balance in life, enhance creativity, and encourage meditation, insight, self-reflection and stress reduction. Please join us! Folks will be on hand to assist, teach, and guide you. Facilitated by member Kate Guin.
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Summer Instrumental Music
Thursday evenings, beginning June 12, no meeting August 7, 14, or 21; 7-8:30 p.m. in the Cummins Room
RSVP Here
Calling instrumental musicians! This summer, we'd love to gather together and play music together. We have a handful of pieces to start with that can be played by flexible groups of individuals. We will be playing some high school-level music to start, with opportunities to split out into small ensembles depending on who joins up.
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Environmental Justice Gathering: Responding to the Climate Crisis-Next Steps
Sunday, June 15, 11:30-3:00 at church - includes lunch
RSVP Here
The First U Climate Conversations initiative this spring has provided insight into our church community's feelings and thoughts about the climate crisis. Now it's time for our EJ team to figure out which steps our church community should take in addressing the climate crisis.
Join us for lunch and extended time as we engage in an exercise of "issue cutting" and direction setting.
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Crafting Group
Sundays, June 15, 29, July 6, 27, September 7, 21, 12-2 p.m. at church
RSVP Here
Are you creative/crafty/artistic (or would like to be!) and like to create in the presence of others? Let's meet up and be creative in community! Imagine: a drop-in space where you come with a project, or use materials from our pop-up free table (i.e., a spot we can bring craft items we no longer want or need, to pass to someone else, or to find a new project or hobby). Joy is an act of resistance and connecting with creative folks can be inspiring!
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Responding to the Anti-Trans Movement
In collaboration with MUUSJA
June 17, 24, and July 1, 6:00-7:30 p.m. on Zoom or in person
RSVP Here to join online from home
Want to watch together, in person? Rev. Laura Smidzik is hosting a viewing gathering of this training so folks who want to come together in person for this course can: RSVP Here to join the in-person gathering
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Trans & Gender Expansive Support Group
Saturdays: June 22, July 27, August 24, September 28, 12-1:30 at church
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Getting to Zero Waste in Hennepin County
Wednesday, June 25, 6-7:30 p.m. at church
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Meditation Tuesday Mornings
On Zoom only
Every Tuesday, all year/every week; 9:00-10:15 a.m.; gather at 8:45;
Email Martha Easter-Wells to RSVP: ewellsm@gmail.com
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Improv for Elders
Wednesdays, ongoing, 10:00-11:30 a.m. at church
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Qigong for Liberation
Thursdays; 4:00 - 4:45 p.m. at church
Facilitated by Denise Konen.
| | About those gorgeous pillows at Bridging... | | |
On Sunday, May 18, we celebrated Bridging with our graduating seniors. One important Bridging tradition here at First Universalist is the gift of a handmade quilted rainbow chalice pillow. These pillows are lovingly handmade by faithful members of our congregation: Marnie Piechel, Marie Listopad, Judith Gritner, Sara McMullen, and Carolyn Liebler. When you share this gorgeous pillow gift with our graduates, we bless them with these words:
"Our wish is that you keep this pillow as a reminder of our love, and as an opportunity to stay grounded in your own beliefs. When you need someone to hug, or someone to hug you, find comfort and connection in this pillow, the physical embodiment of our presence with you always. When you need a moment of beauty, joy, and light, turn towards this pillow and see the caring gorgeousness created just for you by our congregation. Take this pillow with you wherever you go, and remember the love and faith that are in this gift – they are here for you whenever you need them. When you hold this pillow, we hope you’ll remember all the lessons we have learned together and the comfort that can be found in religious community."
Thank you Marnie, Marie, Judith, Sara, Carolyn, and all quilters of First Universalist!
| | Summer Needs: Joyce Uptown Food Shelf | | The need is great for nonperishable food. In 2024 a million pounds of food was distributed, which was an all time high. The number of families served in 2024 was up 84% from 2023. Currently they could use personal items: toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, conditioner, especially the hotel-sized ones. Please put your donations on the shelves in the church lobby. Your food insecure neighbors thank you. | | Community & Affiliated Org Events | | |
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.
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Association of Universalist Women
AUW sponsors activities for people who identify as women, non-binary and/or gender fluid.
AUW ERA Minnesota Matching Donation Campaign
The AUW board, in considering the long history of AUW and its ongoing commitment to the rights of women and girls, to UU principles and the current threat to those rights and principles has decided to invest some of our financial reserves in a matching grant in support of ERA MN. AUW will invest up to $2000 of its reserve funds to match donations made between April 30 and June 15 by our members and friends through our website here.
Games Group
Meet at the church on the second Thursday of each month to play board games and socialize. To receive email updates, contact Anne Frenchick. The next Games Group meeting is June 12. Please let Anne know if you plan to attend.
Women Who Read
We read books written by women. RSVP to Abbie Finger. June 23 will be in-person only as we decide the books for next year.
The reading list for 2024-25 is posted on the AUW website here. Location of the in-person meeting is available to those on the mailing list. The Zoom version of the meeting convenes online at 7:00 pm; click here to join by Zoom.
| | 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.
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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.
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