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Services & Religious Education for Children & Youth
at 9:00 am & 11:00 am
Childcare available during services for babies (6 months+) and toddlers (to 3 years old)
April 3 - The Big PictUUre
Spirituality, it's said, is feeling part of something greater than oneself. Is our Rochester congregational life part of a greater Unitarian Universalist spirituality? Is our UU spirituality part of some even greater life beyond us?
Rev. Fritz Hudson
, Worship Leader
Anne Black-Sinak, Worship Associate
Laurie Helmers, piano & vocals
April 10 - Our Spiritual Challenge
We are in the midst of unprecedented change in American religion. People are leaving congregations by the million. We tend to think of this as an organizational challenge. However, it is ultimately a spiritual challenge-and opportunity.
Rev. Peter Morales, Speaker (UU Association President)
Rev. Fritz Hudson
Melissa Eggler, Worship Associate
Walden Hill Vocal Ensemble & Walden Hill Children's Choir
Joe Mish, Director
CEREMONY at 10:30am
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150th Anniversary Stained Glass Window Dedication
Shared Plate:
UU Midwest Youth Leadership School
April 17 - oUr EdUcators
Horace Mann, Elizabeth Peabody, John Dewey, Sophia Lyon Fahs: Unitarian Universalists have significantly shaped the evolution of American education. What have they left us to do?
Rev. Fritz Hudson & Ryan Shriver, Worship Leaders
Mark Brutinel, Worship Associate
Lori Elward, vocals
Connie Schuelka, organ/piano
Shared Plate: Rochester Planned Parenthood
April 24 - "By Whose Authority"
Are Unitarian Universalists still resisting the authority of dogma or are we challenged now by cultural hegemony? Are we able to explore new models for our movement to grow that are counter to our long held beliefs about diversity? Rev. Hutt will propose a radical idea for our movement in today' pluralistic landscape that challenges us to look at diversity issues through new lenses.
Rev. Karen Hutt, UU Pediatric Chaplain, University of Minnesota Medical Center
Ann Hutton, Worship Associate
Maritza, Eastern European Fok Music
Connie Schuelka, organ/piano
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Serious Fools?
(April 2016)
April Fools' Day. On this day, our modern culture seems to demand of "serious" adults
only that we benignly tolerate the pranks of children. Psychiatrist Theodore Isaac Rubin
suggests, however, that we could benefit from giving it a bit more:
"I must learn to love the fool in me," Dr. Rubin writes, " -- the one who feels too much, talks
too much, takes too many chances, wins sometimes and loses often, lacks self-control,
loves and hates, hurts and gets hurt, promises and breaks promises, laughs and cries. It
alone protects me against that utterly self-controlled, masterful tyrant whom I also harbor
and who would rob me of human aliveness, humility, and dignity but for my fool."
Our U.U. hymnal captures this message in a reading of anonymous authorship (#658):
"To laugh is to risk appearing the fool . . .
To reach out for another is to risk exposing our true self.
Just as Paul of Tarsus said and Shakespeare's Lear learned, the pursuit of true wisdom
and maturity requires, not that we suppress our childhood foolishness, but that we retain
and refine it.
phone: 402-617-3055
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2016/2017 Pledge Drive Update
by Jerry Katzmann, Vice-President
The pledge drive is underway and we hope to complete the campaign by April 10. If you received a pledge form in the mail, please consider how you can financially support the church. If you haven't received a form (or can't find it), call the office. Pledge forms may be returned by mail or in person to the "plate" or to the office.
We have 3 goals in this year's campaign:
1. Our 150th JumpStarter goal is $150,000.
- Congregants have made almost $142,000 in JumpStarter pledges!
2. Our goal for the annual pledge drive is $435,000.
- We have received 135 pledges (out of an anticipated 207) for $321,000.
- These 135 pledgers have increased their pledges by almost 8%!
3. Our goal is 100% financial participation by all our members.
- 11 members who previously did not make a financial pledge have submitted a pledge!
We are all energized by the positive, high energy campaigns and are proud of what we are
accomplishing. We are not a building; we are not the services we hold each Sunday. We
are a community of people with a covenant and a shared mission. When we pledge our
financial support, we provide the resources for our work together.
If you have any questions, please contact any member of your excellent joint
Stewardship/ JumpStarter Committee:
Patricio Aleman,
Gail Bishop,
Paulette DeMers,
Rob Harveland,
George Huston,
Jerry Katzmann, Dave
Siljenberg,
Pat Siljenberg,
Bill Thompson, Linda Thompson, and Chris
Wendt.
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Shared Plate Recipients - April 2016
Sunday, April 10 -
Youth Midwest Leadership School / Beloit, Wisconsin
 Youth Midwest Leadership School (YMLS) is a weeklong intensive experience designed to engage participants in all aspects of leadership in a Unitarian Universalist faith community. Since 2009, YMLS has been offered for teens (entering 9-12 grade) in tandem with the Adult School on the Beloit College Campus. As an intentional community and learning experience, it equips young UUs with a foundation that deepens their religious development and expands their ability to contribute, both in their UU community and beyond.
Sunday, April 17
Your contribution to the shared plate will be matched through the generosity of an ano
nymous member of the congregation.
Our Social Justice Council has chosen Planned Parenthood of Rochester to be the recipient of the April Shared Plate.
Planned Parenthood has served the Rochester community for more than 80 years. It was first established as the Motherhood Protection League in the 1930s - and became Planned Parenthood in 1971. The founders were the wives of several Mayo Clinic doctors and services were provided in people's homes. Rochester Planned Parenthood is part of the Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota (PPMNS) affiliate.
Fast forward to 2016 and we are a thriving team serving the Rochester area with clinical services, advocacy and education. The Rochester medical clinic provides reproductive and sexual health services to 5,000 patients per year, including birth control, cancer screenings, and STD testing and treatment. Our education team, including four staff members and 15 volunteers, provides comprehensive sex education to adults and teens in Rochester and the surrounding area. The Rochester-based education programs include Somali Outreach, Women's Health Night events, Youth Power, Reach One Teach One and Teen Council. All the education programs are dedicated to training teens and adults to be experts in sex education and, in turn, to educate their peers. Rochester Planned Parenthood also has one full-time external affairs person, a Regional Advisory Committee, and a group of Rochester residents who are dedicated to supporting the mission of Planned Parenthood through local advocacy and philanthropy.
Planned Parenthood clinical services are open to all regardless of age or income. We accept most insurance and we have low and no-cost options to meet patients' needs. We have solid roots and a strong history in Rochester and we look forward to a bright future here as the community grows and changes.
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Happy 1st Birthday �� Hawthorne Helps!
Hawthorne Helps
is a partnership between
Rochester Public School's Hawthorne Education Center and First Unitarian Universalist
Church with assistance from local faith, service and business groups.
Our Mission: HH strives to provide support that affirms personal dignity, welcomes newcomers to our community and encourages all students' educational success.
Our Service: HH offers necessities that cannot be purchased with SNAP(Food Stamps).
UU volunteers and donations with contributions from our community have made this Social Justice project a success. Thank you all.
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Clara Barton Spring Luncheon
Tuesday, May 10 / 11:30 am / Charter House
The Guild invites you to join them for their annual Spring Luncheon. It's always a festive occasion.
Served this year will be a Polynesian Chicken Spinach Salad... Chopped Romaine and baby spinach are topped with grilled marinated chicken, mandarin oranges, red bell peppers, cashews, toasted coconut and topped with Raspberry Poppy Seed Dressing and served with nut bread. Regular and decaf coffee, Pepsi products and for dessert, a slice of cheesecake with berries. Wine will also be served.
Price: Any contribution above or below $12 is welcome. A signup sheet is available in the Commons or speak with Kathe Yoss.
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Social Justice Volunteer Opportunity in 2016
Saturday Noon Meals - April 16, June 25th, Aug. 27th
We need your help at
Saturday Noon Meals, the Channel One agency that acts as the weekend soup kitchen for people in the Rochester area who are hungry. Its Mission is: "To provide an attractively served nutritious meal in a warm safe atmosphere for persons in need."
Each Saturday the cooking begins at 9:00 am. We need 6 cooks in the morning that will stay until the serving group arrives (
9:00 to 11:30 am). At 11:00 am, the cooking and serving groups are together for an informational session, which includes the history of Saturday Noon Meals. W
e need 8 to 10 volunteers for the s
erving / cleanup crew (11:00 am until 1:30 pm).
Saturday Noon Meals hosted at Christ United Methodist church - 400-5th Ave SW Rochester. Signup sheets are in the Commons.
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Spring 2016 Pathway to Membership
 Welcome to First Unitarian Universalist of Rochester: A Class for Newcomers
Tuesday, April 19th, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m., Hearth Room
If you have been visiting First Unitarian Universalist Church and would like to find out more about Unitarian Universalism and our congregation, we invite you to join us for the Welcome to First Unitarian Universalist Church class. Together we will have an opportunity to share our religious journey and meet others who are exploring the church as a spiritual home and will explore the mission and vision of this church, as well as historical and contemporary Unitarian Universalism.
Finding Yourself and Committing to First Unitarian Universalist of Rochester
Tuesday, May 3rd , 6:30 - 8:00 p.m., Hearth Room
In this session you will become acquainted with the programs and ministries of the congregation and explore the deeper meanings and expectations of membership and shared ministry. It offers time to reflect on the meaning of generosity.
If you would like to sign up for a class, please sign up on the clipboard on the Guest Table or contact Sarah Rothwell, Coordinator of Congregational Life, at 282-5209 or pastoralcare@uurochmn.org. With at least one week advance request, childcare will be provided for all classes. Contact Molly Dennis at 206-3598.
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All-Church Spring Rummage Sale
Sponsored by the Clara Barton Guild
We need your help! Set aside your gently used rummage sale donations and plan to join in the fun of rummage sale setup. We start accepting donations on Wednesday, April 20.
Setup & Cleanup: Wed-Sat, April 20-23
Sale: Saturday, April 23, 8 am-1 pm
Private Sale for Members and Friends: Friday evening, April 22 (5:30-7:30 pm).
The whole family is invited; refreshments will be served.
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 Thank You
To our Friends at Unitarian Universalist Church,
You make a difference! Thank you so much for your Food Drive contributions of 307 pounds of food this winter! Because of you and your extra effotrs, many individuals and families struggling with food insecurity have a few less meals to worry about. You are truly helping feed people through your generous support and we value your partnership in this important mission. Thank you again for supporting the work we do and for helping others in need.
Sincerely,
Barbara Schramm, Community Engagement Coordinator
Channel One Regional Food Bank |
Happening at First UU
Information about activities, events, classes and more is i
n our Weekly eNews, on the
Events at First UU
page on our website, and is
available on Sunday morning.
Click on either the link or the image to see details for these opportunities.
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Upcoming Newsletters
The deadline is the 3rd Monday of each month, as noted.
| Issue |
Due Date |
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| May |
Monday, April 18
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Care Coordinators
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March 20-April 2
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Linda Thompson
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April 3-16
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Ann Lien |
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April 17-30
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Julie Gilkinson |
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| Our Staff |
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Office Hours
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Contact
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Rev. Fritz Hudson
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Interim Minister |
by appointment |
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Ryan Shriver
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Director, Religious Education &
Youth Programs Coordinator |
Sunday: 8 am - 5 pm
Tues, Wed, Thurs: 10 am - 4 pm |
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| Sarah Rothwell |
Coordinator, Congregational Life |
Wednesday, by appointment |
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Jody Tharp
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Office Administrator |
Monday thru Friday: 9 am-3 pm
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Connie Schuelka
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Records Administrator |
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 9 am-3pm
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| Joe Mish & Connie Schuelka |
Co-Directors of Music |
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| Molly Dennis |
Childcare Coordinator |
Sunday morning |
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Tom Rud
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Custodian |
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Rev. Dillman Baker Sorrells
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Minister Emerita
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| Our Board |
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Members at Large
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| President |
David Kallmes |
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Erika Beetcher
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| Vice-President |
Jerry Katzmann |
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Charyssa Cobb
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| Secretary |
Ann Hutton |
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Randy Crawford
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| Treasurer |
Rob Harveland |
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Angela Davey
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Eric Eggler
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