The Weekly Liberal: May 22, 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! | | This is the work of the church. | |
"This is the work of the church." | |
When I arrived to serve this church in the summer of 2012, it wasn’t long before I became familiiar with a particular phrase:
This is the work of the church.
This phrase would be the last line of an email or the closing words of a sermon or a casual statement in a conversation in the social hall. This is the work of the church. Conviction, clarity, pride, encouragement and invitation often came through with those seven words—helping us remember who we are, who we want to be, and what we can do to bring the Universalist spirit of love and hope alive in the world.
This phrase hasn’t gone away, and I am hearing it again in new ways in this moment and I am grateful for it.
Last week, we said goodbye with intention to Rev. Arif and thanked him for his ministry among us. On the very same day, the New Baby Team hosted a baby shower for a trans couple the congregation is accompanying as they resettle here in the Twin Cities...
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Pledge 2025-2026: WE DID IT! | |
We Did It!!
Thanks to the generosity of so many of you, we reached our goal of $1.3 million in pledges toward our annual operating budget beginning on July 1, 2025. Thank you to everyone who made a commitment to the mission and ministries of the church...
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Share your reflections about Ritual Sundays
Ritual Sundays were an experiment in a new style of intergenerational worship at First Universalist. Please share your experiences and your values around intergenerational worship by completing the form:
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Attend a film premiere that includes First U collaboration in support of First Nation Youth | Read about First U's part in this story, and make plans to attend the film premiere on Saturday, June 7, at 6 p.m. at Sabathani Community Center: | | | | May 25 | One service at 10 a.m. | |
May theme: The individual and collective pursuit of justice, in relationship with the people most impacted.
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.
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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.
| | May 18 – Annual Bridging Ritual | | |
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 | | |
Sign-Up Sunday
June 1, after worship - about 11:15-12:15, in the Social Hall
After worship, head to the Social Hall to visit tables hosted by facilitators of our Summer Programs at church. You can find out more about what they're offering and sign up to join them at gatherings that will take place between June 8 - September 21. Don't worry if you can't make it for Sign-Up Sunday, the Summer Program Guide will be available in the newsletter and on our website soon!
| | Coming up in the next few weeks | |
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Newcomers Circle
Sundays, June 1, 15, 22, 29, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 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.
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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: | |
First U OWL Program Coordinator Claire Tralle in the news: "Area orgs step up support for trans youth amid federal pushback" | |
A quote from Claire in the article:
“We really need the cisgender allies to stop just silently permitting (anti-trans or transphobic actions) to happen. All it takes is (for) one or two people to say, ‘Hey, that’s not OK. That’s not how we treat each other. That’s not an OK thing to say.’”
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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.
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Annual Congregational Meeting
SAVE THE DATE: Sunday, June 8, beginning at approximately 11:30 a.m.
Our annual meeting will take place shortly after the single 10 a.m. service ends, on June 8. All members are strongly encouraged to attend, and all are welcome. The meeting will be livestreamed for those unable to attend in person. Please mark your calendar and plan to join us!
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Bring Your Flower Bounty to Worship This Summer
If you are getting ready to plant a garden of flowers, the Visual Arts Committee would like you to consider sharing it with the congregation at Sunday services this summer. There is one service each Sunday during the summer. You would pick flowers from your garden and put together an arrangement. We would supply the vase at church. After the service, it's yours!. No experience needed and it could be a great family project. If you would like to try it out, please contact Marjie Smith at marjiesmith1@gmail.com.
Dates available: June 15, 22 and 29; July 13, 20 and 27; August 17, 24 and 31 (Lake Harriet worship would not require flowers–date TBD)
| | | Community & Affiliated Org Events | | |
Justice Delayed is Justice Denied! Sign this petition for Jason Sole
While we wait and work for Philip Vance's hearing date to be set to exonerate him for a crime he did not commit, we can act in solidarity with Jason Sole, an amazing servant leader and beautiful human being! Jason is awaiting a date for a pardon hearing with the Minnesota Clemency Review Commission. It's been 7 months since he applied, and he still doesn't have one! It highlights another part of the criminal justice system that is focused on punishment, rather than redemption and rehabilitation. It is failing formerly incarcerated Minnesota citizens who want to move forward with their lives. In this Op Ed piece Jason is asking the commission to pardon at least 50 people by Juneteenth. See Jason's op ed in the Star Tribune.
It would mean a lot to me if you would sign this petition for my dear friend, Jason, and send it to all your friends and family! Pardon Me by Juneteenth!
With care and solidarity,
Denise Konen
P.S. Please continue to spread the word about Philip Vance's innocence and wrongful conviction and share the FreePhilipVance website.
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5th Annual RISE & REMEMBER Festival at George Floyd Square
May 23, 24, 25, 2025
Sign up to support the event
Our annual event, Rise & Remember Festival, exists to hold in remembrance George Floyd and those we have lost unjustly to the pervasive impacts of systemic racism. Activities focus on education, empowerment, healing, celebration, and our collective pursuit for racial justice and equity. Through Rise & Remember Festival, we will host a candlelight vigil, a Night of Honor, and the street festival that continues to highlight the role of community-rooted healing and art as activism. Our vision is that this experience inspires people to rise to the occasion to come together in community and build racial justice and equity.
Please come volunteer at this meaningful community gathering of healing, honesty, resilience, and joy! There are a variety of opportunities and time commitments. Contact Denise Konen, dkonen10@gmail.com with questions, who is volunteering on Saturday from 10 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
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From Fork to Forest
Webinar (Zoom) hosted by MUUSJA
A 45-minute presentation, followed by Q&A
Tuesday, May 27, 2025 from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
Register here
Our current system of animal agriculture generates as much greenhouse gas as the entire transportation sector, but few people are talking about it. Even if we stopped using fossil fuels today, emissions from our food system would still cause the Earth to exceed targets.
This lively presentation will discuss our food system's underappreciated climate and environmental impact. You’ll learn actions you can take at your very next meal to start changing things for the better.
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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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Association of Universalist Women
AUW sponsors activities for people who identify as women, non-binary and/or gender fluid.
AUW Annual Meeting
Saturday, May 31, 10:15 am - 1:30 pm, First Universalist Church
RSVP Here
Non-members are welcome and are invited to donate $10 at check-in.
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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