Fire of Committment

Sunday, November 1, 1 pm

Rev. Krista Weber Huang

As we approach what may be a challenging election week in the USA, we gather to ground ourselves in what it means be a Unitarian Universalist in these trying times. We will explore some wisdom from the past and share hope for the future as we recognize where we are in the long arc of the universe. 

In Person: UCCNB, 1000 Long Lake Road

Online: Merging Waters Zoom Room 

(If prompted for a passcode, enter "kindness". This seems to be more likely if joining from your phone.)

Rev. Krista's Office Hours

Due to developing meetings in preparation for democracy defense around the election, Rev. Krista will not have regular office hours next week but is available by appointment to meet via Zoom or in person.

Fire of Committment, Sunday, November 1, 1pm

Election Night Vigil, Tuesday, November 3, 5:30pm
First Thursday Feast & Fun, Thursday, Nov. 5, 6pm

Pot Luck & Coffee House, Saturday, November 7, 5:30pm & 6:30pm

Election Night Vigil
Tuesday, November 3, 5pm - 9:30pm

An Election Night Vigil organized by members of United Church of Christ - New Brighton and Merging Waters Unitarian Universalists will be held on TUESDAY, November 3rd from 5:00 pm - 9:30 pm.

Flameless candles will be available for people to use on the bridge or inside the church.  

This vigil is to give people a place of calm where they can be supported and where their anxieties are acknowledged but it's not really a place of escape. If we get word to show up quickly as rapid responders to election interference, we will invite people to respond. Some leaders will remain to be with those who choose to stay in the church.

5:00 pm - Rev. Robin Raudabaugh and Rev. Kiely Todd-Roska (from UCC-NB) will lead a prayer service for 15 to 20 minutes inside the church.

7:00 pm Rev. Krista Weber-Huang (from UU) will lead a prayer service.

There will be candles for people to light if they wish.

At the conclusion of prayer, people will be encouraged to take flameless candles outside. After the first set of prayers, people can take their candles to the bridge, if they choose. Otherwise, and after the second set of prayers, people will be invited to stand in front of the church building with their flameless candles for 15 or 20 minutes.  

Reasons to check out our First Thursday Feast and Fun:

• Too tired to cook on Thursday nights
• To enjoy food from local immigrant-owned restaurant (vegetarian and gluten free option included)
• Eating together and sharing stories builds community
• It’s free
• ALL are welcome – bring family and friends!

Monthly Potluck & Coffee House

Saturday, November 7

5:30pm (Potluck), 6:30pm (Coffee House)

In Person: Pilgrim House

Online: mergingwatersuu.org/zoom

Come to the monthly MW pot luck and coffee house this Saturday night at Pilgrim House. Come and perform or just come and enjoy! If want to sign up to perform, contact Chad Snyder at chadasnyder@gmail.com.  

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3

If you have not already voted, please make a plan to vote. Check your county web page for information about locations and hours for early, in person voting, or to check your registration status and polling place location on election day. It is too late to mail a ballot. If you have a completed absentee ballot you have not mailed, bring it to your city or county elections office or discard the ballot and vote in person.

See https://www.sos.mn.gov/elections-voting/ for more information about how to register to vote and other information. 

Fight Hunger and Food Insecurity

One of Merging Waters’ top social justice priorities is caring for our neighbors facing hunger and food insecurities. The Action and Justice Team has two opportunities for our members and friends to address this important issue.

Donate to Second Harvest Heartland-Our November Share the Plate Partner (see Share the Plate section below)

Flavors of Our Community

From November 1-30, Merging Waters Unitarian Universalist Congregation (MWUUC) will be participating in the United Way’s “Flavors of Our Community” project. Flavors of Our Community supplements the staples found in food shelves with herbs and spices unique to a culture. You can choose an herb/spice mix for a particular culture, package them, and bring them to put them in the donation box in the lobby. (See Volunteer at Home: Flavors of Our Community Pantry Packs | Greater Twin Cities United Way). 

Many of the herbs and spices can be purchased at supermarkets like CUB. However, there are many small grocery stores that serve our immigrant neighbors with foods and other goods unique to their cultures. Please consider supporting these businesses. See Ethnic Grocery Stores

We Vote Together-Support Our Somali Neighbors

Looking for a powerful way to support democracy and stand up for Somali Americans? We are encouraging Merging Waters and UCCNB members to sign-up for this location so we will better be able to recognize one another as safe folks onsite:

Abu Khadra | 4056 7th St NE | Columbia Heights

November Worship Theme: Covenant

“By saying we’re a covenantal faith, Unitarian Universalists are defined not by a set of beliefs in the ultimate, but by the commitments we make to travel a path together—a path held together by love, which is a covenan twith whatever we hold to be the divine, the creative life force, the ultimate of the universe.”

from Woven Faith’s November worship packet

Second Harvest Heartland is at the center of a giant food network, working with over 1000 partners to deliver food to hungry people in Minnesota and across the Midwest.  

Their mission: “We believe hunger is a solvable problem… Every day, we’re working together to source and distribute food efficiently, advocate for effective policies and programs, and invest in new ways to end hunger in the heartland.”

Second Harvest Heartland’s programs include:

• Promoting access to SNAP
• Distributing food to seniors through the Commodity Supplemental Food Program
• Working with schools to prevent child hunger through food distribution, outreach, grants and expertise
• Coordinating a network of local restaurants and caterers (the Kitchen Coalition) who turn food bank ingredients into prepared meals that other nonprofits deliver to hungry neighbors
• Partnering with healthcare providers and insurers to connect patients with food resources that will improve their health (FoodRX)
• Moving excess food from commercial kitchens and manufacturers to local food shelves (MealConnect)
• Teaming up with manufacturers, retailers and farmers to divert edible food away from landfills and to hungry people. Food Rescue saved 39.7 million pounds of safe food in 2025.
• Making grants to fund the needs and ideas of their community partners and connect their partners to more impactful ways to serve their communities 

For every dollar we donate, Second Harvest Heartland can provide 3 meals to hungry neighbors.  Please give generously to fight hunger in Minnesota!

Merging Waters Women's Book Group

November 7, 9:30am

Online: Our Zoom Room

Book selected: Non-Fiction- The Last Days of the Dinosaurs: An Asteroid, Extinction, and the Beginning of Our World, by Riley Black

What happened in the days, the years, the centuries, and the million years after the impact, tracking the sweeping disruptions that overtook this one spot, and imagining what might have been happening elsewhere on the globe. Life’s losses were sharp and deeply felt, but the hope carried by the beings that survived sets the stage for the world as we know it now.

The Merging Waters Women's Book Group is a gathering of female (identifying as female/feminine, LGBTQ+ inclusive)) members and friends who meet the first Saturday of each month to discuss books written by female identified authors. The group alternates between fiction and non-fiction works recommended by one or more of the group members.  Contact Pat Ferrian (ferri004@gmail.com) to be added to the email list.

Meetings are held online via ZOOM, 9:30 am to 11:30 am. Unless otherwise noted, use the “Our Zoom Room” (Yellow Button) on the mergingwatersuu.org home page. 

Merging Waters Sunday Evening Book Group

November 8, 7pm

Sig & Marti’s

(The Residences at St Anthony Assisted Living)

Treats: Laurie

Book Selected:         

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans. 304 pages. Published in 2025. Filled with knowledge that only comes from a life fully lived, The Correspondent is a novel about the power of finding solace in literature and connection with people we might never meet in person. It is about the hubris of youth and the wisdom of old age, and the mistakes and acts of kindness that occur during a lifetime.

The Merging Waters Unitarian Universalist Congregation (MWUUC) Sunday Evening Book Club meets the second Sunday of each month except in August.  Contact Pat Ferrian (ferri004@gmail.com) to be added to the email list or for questions.