The Weekly Liberal: April 17, 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! | | The Spiral Path: Easter & Earth Day | |
The Spiral Path: Easter & Earth Day | |
My grandfather used to wake me with a song.
“I can’t get’m up, I can’t get’m up, I can’t get’m up in the morning!”
Goofy. Loud. Unapologetic.
And every time—like clockwork—I rose.
Each school day of my childhood, he made waking up more than survival.
It became an event. A joke. A ritual. A promise.
A small, daily resurrection.
He walked me to school each morning and met me each afternoon.
He turned a patch of city-owned lawn into a renegade garden—unauthorized, blooming with color and food and joy.
To me, he was a magician. A mountain.
One summer morning, I was six. We made our usual outlaw breakfast—fried bread and black coffee—then walked to the edge of the neighborhood.
He handed me a Styrofoam cup. I hoped for candy.
It held worms.
| | | | Video: Sarah Heuser tells us why RE will save the world, in her stewardship testimonial last Sunday. | |
Invitation to Mutual Mentorships Pilot at First Universalist | Are you longing for intergenerational relationships? Would you be nourished by growing alongside people in a different life stage? Do you want to be mentored by people younger, older, or just different from your primary social group? | | | | |
We the People Concert
SAVE THE DATE: May 4 at 4 p.m.
Tickets Available Now!
We're celebrating strength, diversity, resistance and joy! Come together for a fabulous fund-raising concert with some of the greatest female vocalists in the Twin Cities. They'll be performing tunes poignant, provocative, jubilant and joyous—all affirming the UU values of Interdependence, Justice, Transformation, Generosity, Equity and LOVE!
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Saturday, May 17: Talent Show & Trivia Night! | Support our youth and our church programs: Get tickets for the Talent Show & Trivia Night on May 17! | | | | |
April 20 – Ritual Sunday |
The Spiral Path: Easter & Earth Day
This year, Easter and Earth Day arrive together. The harmony of their truths will guide a ritual of movement and spirit.
Inside the sanctuary, five stations will invite you:
Begin. Grow. Break. Wait. Rise.
Join us at 9 or 11 a.m. in person or via livestream at 11 a.m.
Sunday’s Order of Service (updated each week before worship)
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Religious Education is in worship this Sunday. Childcare will be offered for babies to pre-K kids, and all other children and youth are invited to join in worship with their families and friends. No senior high bagel gathering this Sunday.
Please check the website and the Children, Youth, & Families calendar for more information.
If you have not yet registered your family for this year of Religious Education, please register your family today. All families — new and returning, with babies through high schoolers — must register each church year.
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After Worship
Coffee Hour in the Social Hall
Visit with old friends and meet new ones over coffee and cookies in our social hall.
Earth Day
After service, be sure to stop in the social hall to continue our celebration of Earth Day. The Earth ball is in the center and there will be Environmental Justice (EJ) working group displays and actions and other related EJ efforts:
- Healthy soils-will have a seed planting station for kids and families to take home!
- Library display with EJ titles
- Gift tables
- Life after Doom
- EJ team signup, info about team, upcoming events
- Electrify Everything
- Biodiversity
And don’t miss the word cloud displayed on the screen reflecting the content of our Climate Conversations!
| | Last Sunday, April 6 – Palms, Paths, and Possibilities | | |
No items 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 | |
Saturday Sprouts for Families
Saturday, April 19, 10 a.m. to noon at church
No RSVP necessary - join us!
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.
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Newcomers Circle
Wednesdays, April 30-May 21; 6:30-8 p.m.
Register Here
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. 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. Facilitated by Jeanne Guignon and Ralph Wyman
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Authentic Selves Book Group (UU Common Read)
Attend as many sessions as you are able: Wed., April 30, 7-8 p.m. on Zoom; Sat., May 3, 10-11 a.m. at church; Wed., May 7, 7-8 p.m., on Zoom; Sat., May 10, 10-11 a.m. at church
Register Here
People of all gender identities are invited to read the UU Common Read Authentic Selves, a sweeping compilation of life stories and portraits of trans and nonbinary people, as well as their partners, parents, children, siblings, and chosen family members. More than an introduction to gender identity, with Love at the center, the sessions will encourage participants to better know and love themselves and others. Copies of the book are available for purchase widely online and at InSpirit. Contact claire@firstuniv.org if you’d like the church to purchase a copy of the book for you. Facilitated by members Troi Ferguson and Claire Tralle.
| | | Coming up in the next few weeks | | |
Authentic Selves Book Group | UU Common Read
Attend as many sessions as you are able:
Wed, April 30, 7-8 p.m. on Zoom
Sat, May 3, 10-11 a.m. at church
Wed, May 7, 7-8 p.m., on Zoom
Sat, May 10, 10-11 a.m. at church
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Newcomers Circle
Wednesdays, April 30-May 21, 6:30-8:00 p.m.
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Winter/Spring Grief Group
April 20 (Easter), May 4, 18; 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. on Zoom
Facilitated by Mark Caswell, church member and ministerial aspirant
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Deepening Ties Among Young Adults
Sundays: April 27, May 18; 12:30-2 p.m. at church
(Young Adults are folks in their 20s and 30s)
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Young Adults: Second Sundays Lunch at Gigi’s
May 11; 12:15 p.m.
Young Adults (folks in their 20s and 30s) informally gather in the Social Hall after the second service to travel to nearby Gigi’s Cafe for lunch and conversation.
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Caregivers Support Group
Second Sundays: May 11; 1:00 - 2:30 pm on Zoom
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Labyrinth on the Full Moon
May 12; drop in from 5-7 p.m. in the Social Hall
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Life After Doom Salon
Meets as determined by participants, first week of February - mid May
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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.
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Trans, Non-binary and Gender Expansive Community and Support Group
Will meet once/month based on participant availability. Contact Kaden Colton for information.
| | For details and the most complete and up-to-date listing of Programs, Gatherings, & Events at Church, visit our church calendar, or view the Program Guide: | | Get a Name Tag for Church! | | |
Lost your name tag? Never got one? Complete this form and we’ll add you to the list. Staff and church volunteers will make name tags every couple of weeks, or whenever we have a batch of requests!
| | Community & Affiliated Org Events | | |
The Call to Sanctuary for Minnesota UUs
Part 1 - Thursday, April 17 from 6–7:30 pm
Part 2 - Tuesday, April 22 from 6–7:30 pm
Please be sure to register for both parts, if you can!
Join MUUSJA for a 2-part webinar on how Minnesota UUs can act in solidarity with those under threat and how we can fight against efforts to target and deport our neighbors. We've invited panelists from congregations and community partners to share stories, insights, and resources to support sanctuary and resistance.
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Dining Out For Life Minnesota
Thursday, April 24
| Dining Out For Life is an annual fundraising event where the community comes together to eat out at restaurants that have committed to donating a percentage | | | Act for a Change: Improvising Answers to Hate Speech | Sunday, April 27, 2025 at Open Book, Minneapolis, MN. | | | |
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12-Step Spirituality
Visit the website for details.
First Saturday of each month through May 3, 2025, 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM.
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.
Last chance! AUW Spring Retreat at Camp Courage
May 2-4, 2025
REGISTER HERE before April 18
Come meet new friends and let someone else cook all your meals for you!!
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 May 8. Please let Anne know if you plan to attend.
Women Who Read
We read books written by women. RSVP to Abbie Finger. On Monday, April 28 the book selection will be West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge. The in-person potluck will begin at 6 pm, followed by discussion at 7.
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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