The Weekly Liberal: May 14, 2026 | | 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! | |
May the blessings of the poet be with us as we are carried beyond the face of fear | |
Two-time Pulitzer prize nominee and Poet Laureate of my home state of Maryland, Lucille Clifton, offered us clear and metaphorical imagery and words to make sense of our hopes and our days—and this particular poem has been sitting with me again lately:
blessing the boats by Lucille Clifton
(at St. Mary’s)
may the tide
that is entering even now
the lip of our understanding
carry you out
beyond the face of fear
may you kiss
the wind then turn from it
certain that it will
love your back may you
open your eyes to water
water waving forever
and may you in your innocence
sail through this to that
St. Mary’s, the place that Clifton names at the start of the poem, is a small public liberal arts college on the Eastern Shore of Maryland not far from the land my mother’s family farmed for generations. [...]
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Here's what's coming up for Children, Youth, & Families at First Universalist:
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Sunday, May 17: Coming of Age Worship Service at 10 a.m. Only. Summer Sunday: Religious Education is on break for the summer. Childcare is offered for infants-PreK.
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Sunday, May 24: Summer Sunday: Religious Education is on break for the summer. Childcare is offered for infants-PreK.
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Saturday May 30: Saturday Sprouts for Families, 10 a.m.-noon.
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Sunday May 31: Bridging Worship Service at 10 a.m. Only. Summer Sunday: Religious Education is on break for the summer. Childcare is offered for infants-PreK.
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.
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Saturday Sprouts for Families
Saturday, May 30, 10-noon at church
No RSVP necessary
Saturday Sprouts is a monthly opportunity for families to socialize, worship, play, and offer and receive peer support. We start with snacks and time to get to know each other before moving into family worship, followed by playtime for kids and a peer sharing group for parents and caregivers. We close by sharing gratitudes and singing together.
Saturday Sprouts is open to all families, with programming geared towards young children (6 months - 5th grade) along with their siblings and parents/caregivers.
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Register for First Universalist Summer Camp 2026! | Registration is live for First U Summer Camp! Learn more about camp and register now: | | | | |
Have questions...
...about our programs for children, youth, and families?
Allison Connelly-Vetter, our Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries, can be reached at allison@firstuniv.org.
Learn more about resources and connection points for Families at First U:
| | These are highlights. | Please look in Community News and Needs in this newsletter for lots more. | | |
Annual Budget Preview Meeting
Please plan to attend the annual budget preview meeting Sunday, May 17, at 11:30 am following worship in the sanctuary. Treasurer Cameron Smither will present the current draft of the proposed 2026-27 church year budget. This will be an opportunity for questions and input before the board reviews and approves a final draft at its May meeting. The final budget will be submitted for approval by the congregation at the annual meeting on Sunday, June 14.
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Volunteer: Sunday Morning Childcare
We need YOU to keep our Sunday morning childcare running this Summer! We are committed to providing childcare for our youngest children (ages 6 months - PreK) in the nursery during worship every Sunday so that their parents can worship and connect with other adults. With recent childcare staff transitions and volunteers taking a well-deserved break, we need help to keep this option open for the summer. If you can spend time with these youngsters for even a few Sundays between now and September, please email Hirut at hirut@firstuniv.org. Thank you for making church possible!
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JOB LISTING: First U Seeks Childcare Provider
POSITION OVERVIEW:
- Provides supervision and care for babies, toddlers and preschoolers while their parents and caregivers attend worship services and church activities on-site
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Works Sundays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. with potential for additional hours on Wednesday evenings if desired
| | Sunday, May 17 | One service at 10 a.m. | Sacred Connections: Coming of Age First Universalist Church 2026 | |
NOTE: ONE Worship Service
10 a.m. in person and livestreaming
| | What does it mean to deeply engage our own spiritualities in a particular moment in time? How do we embody our Unitarian Universalist sources of faith and shared values? Join the 2026 Coming of Age cohort to witness their growth and experience their unfolding and unique spiritualities. Youth will share excerpts from their co-created zine and a glimpse into the May 13 Coming of Age Ceremony. | | Religious Education is on break for the summer. Childcare is offered for infants-PreK. | | You can watch past worship services and view other First U video content: | | |
Phyllis Stenerson died today after having a series of strokes. We will let you know about her memorial service when a date is confirmed.
Harry Pontiff, Connie Diercks‘ husband, died earlier this week. Harry moved to memory care and soon after had two weeks in hospice. He passed very peacefully. We will let you know when a date for his Celebration of Life is scheduled.
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).
| | Caring Corner | Holding it Together | | |
We “Hold This Together” by Caring for Each Other During Life’s Marker Events
Provide Food and Other Basic Needs
We have community members in need of support during major life events. For meal requests: Please read the instructions carefully so that you can provide the type of meal that will bring the families the most comfort—gift cards are an option, in addition to preparing or purchasing food.
NEW REQUEST: Finn, age 2, was in the intensive care unit last week after a series of viruses led to viral pneumonia. His family is asking for meals to ease back into life following his health emergency.
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Receive or Offer Support
Do you need support during a challenging time? We are here for one another. Are you able to offer support? On occasion, we receive requests from congregants for distinct needs. If you would like support, or if you can offer support, email or text Rev. Laura at laura@firstuniv.org or 612-405-5583.
| | Ways to Connect at Church | | |
DEADLINE TO SUBMIT IS THIS SUNDAY, MAY 17!
Host a Small Group or Gathering this Summer at church!
Would you like to host a discussion or affinity group? Perhaps a book study? A hiking group? We welcome your ideas for summer programs at First U!
We're trying something new this summer: We are inviting in-person gatherings at church be scheduled on Wednesdays and/or Sundays. You are welcome to schedule your in-person event at a different location (park or other community location) for any day that works for you! Virtual events are welcome any day of the week.
The deadline to submit your program idea is May 17.
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First U Instrumental Music
Sunday, May 17, 1:30-3 pm, at church, Cummins Room | RSVP Here
The First U Instrumental Music group welcomes musicians to join us for music and fellowship. Our music is at a lower high school level, so we can welcome youth musicians as well as adults who may have let some dust gather on their instruments. Facilitated by Elaina Buzzell.
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Daytime Connections for Older Adults
9:45 a.m. coffee, 10-noon program, Noon lunch, in person in the Social Hall and on Zoom | RSVP Here
Topic: Integrative Medicine
As we age, we have more contact with conventional medicine, which often helps us, but sometimes falls short. Please join us to hear nurse practitioner Laura Sandquist, a faculty teacher at the U of M Center for Spirituality and Healing, describe her integrative health model and talk about steps toward whole person health.
Organized and hosted by the Daytime Connections Planning Team
Daytime Connections for Older Adults 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. Registration Requested by the Monday prior. (Suggested donation for provided lunch is $0-20 as you are able. Attendees are also welcome to bring their own lunch.)
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Labyrinth on the Full Moon
May 31, Full moon in Sagittarius, 5-7 p.m. in the Social Hall
No RSVP Necessary | Join the Labyrinth Interest List
First U has a long history of labyrinth walking, please join us for this relaxing and contemplative open walk each month. You don't need to come every time, and you don't need any experience. Bring a friend!
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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)
Speed Bingo
Saturday, May 16, 12pm, at Sociable Cider Works
RSVP to Unique: 806-316-9660
Early Adult Potluck
Saturday, May 23, 1pm, at Brackett Field Park
RSVP to Unique: 806-316-9660
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Beyond the Gender Binary
Saturdays, May 9, 16, 23 and June 6, 10-11 am, at church
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First U Instrumental Music
Sunday, May 17, 1:30-3 pm, at church
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Daytime Connections for Older Adults
May 21: Integrative Medicine
9:45 a.m. coffee, 10-noon program, Noon lunch, in person in the Social Hall and on Zoom
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Saturday Sprouts for Families
Saturday, May 30, 10 a.m. to noon
No RSVP necessary
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Candlelit Labyrinth Walk on the Full Moon
Sunday, May 31, 5-7 p.m. in the Social Hall
No RSVP Necessary | Join the Labyrinth Interest List
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Weekly meditation group on zoom
Tuesdays 9:00-10:15 am, gather at 8:50.
Contact Martha Easter-Wells ewellsm@gmail.com to join and for the zoom link.
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BIPOC Group
Fill out the interest form or email Nico (nico@firstuniv.org) for meeting details; in person and online available.
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Trans, Non-binary and Gender Expansive Community and Support Group
Will meet once/month based on participant availability. Contact Kaden at kaden.e.colton@gmail.com to express interest and for more information.
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Qigong for Liberation
Tuesdays, ongoing, 4:30-5:15pm (zoom and in person)
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Resistance Reflection Circle
Friday mornings, 9-10 a.m. on Zoom | RSVP Here
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Seeking Delegates for General Assembly! | The Unitarian Universalist Association's General Assembly, or "GA" as it is known, is an annual gathering of delegates from member UU congregations for several days of conducting UUA business, worship, inspiring speakers, and networking with fellow UUs from around the country. It's a great way to get more connected to the larger UU movement, and [...] | | | |
Institute on Theology and Disability 2026 | |
June 15 at 9:00 AM to June 17 at 5:30 PM CDT in St. Paul
First Universalist Church is a co-sponsor; we encourage you to register!
Join us in St. Paul, Minnesota, for three days of deep learning, community-building, and practice-based sharing.
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SmorgasBoard: May 7, 2026 | "We wrote a covenant to help bring our best selves to our work, and to remind ourselves that conflict is natural, inevitable, and even can be healthy." - Emily Wallace, Board Vice President | | | | |
New Art Installation in the Sanctuary
The First U Visual Arts Committee has installed new artwork at the front of the sanctuary!
The textile on the left is an ethereal green, soft, airy plant with strands that drift across the image like whispers of wind. The delicate green filaments blur into a dreamy gradient, evoking movement and lightness.
The textile on the right has a bumble bee on a purple globe thistle flower. The spiky bloom in soft purples and blues, stands out against a gently blurred green background. The round, fuzzy bumblebee clings to the flower. (This graphic is also featured in the newsletter header for May.)
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Looking for a lay-led team for the Lake Harriet Picnic
We are holding our annual Lake Harriet worship service on Labor Day weekend. In the spirit of shared ministry, we are looking for a team to plan and host the picnic part of the morning. The picnic takes place immediately after the service (up the hill where there’s picnic tables and a grassy area). Congregants bring dishes to share.
The staff can talk the team through logistics, but we were we are looking for this to be a lay-led community gathering. If you are interested in leading or being a part of the team contact Rev. Laura at laura@firstuniv.org. If a team does not come together, we will forgo any formal picnic and folks can gather up the hill if they’d like or just come for the service.
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Totally Fabulous, All-Generations Queer Prom: Disco Inferno | |
Saturday, May 30, 2026 at SpringHouse Ministry Center, Minneapolis, MN.
Find event and ticket information:
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Center Down, Rise Ready Noncooperation Trainings
Thursday, May 14, 5pm - 7:30pm
Presented by Center Down Rise Ready, a branch of MARCH (Multifaith Anti-racism, Change and Healing)
Dinner will be served, childcare is available.
Winnie the Pooh tells us: “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” We trust in these words from Winnie the Pooh. We are a movement of spiritually minded folks that are grounded in love, courage, faith, and humility. Join us for a workshop to learn about a national noncooperation strategy and growing movement. We explore the power of collective noncompliance and mass noncooperation. This training is from the Freedom Trainers noncooperation curriculum and will be infused with a spiritually minded and expansive theological framework. All are welcome to this event, whether you identify as someone who is a person of faith or not, Atheist or believer, this is a welcoming space for all who believe in the worth and dignity of every human.
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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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AUW Annual Meeting and Celebration
Saturday, May 30 in the First U Social Hall
9:00 – 9:30 Social with light food
9:30 – 11:30 Meeting
A special AUW member mailing containing the annual meeting material will arrive the week of May 3. Please familiarize yourself with the contents before the meeting.
Also, we will be inducting to Wise Women those AUW members who have reached 80 years or more and who are not yet on our list. Please let us know who these women are at auwfirstuniv@gmail.com so we can celebrate this milestone.
You will find much more information at auwfirstuniv.org.
Please register here for the meeting:
| 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.
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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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