Our Youth Sleep Out for Homeless
More than 400 teenagers and a few hardy adults -- including a dozen participants from First Universalist Church -- slept outside in cardboard boxes during “A Night on the Street” Friday, April 20, in the parking lot of Plymouth Congregational Church in Minneapolis. They did so to raise awareness of youth homelessness and to raise funds for affordable housing for young adults. More than $1,385 was raised through individual contributions solicited by First Universalist youth participating in the event. In honor of their efforts, the offerings collected in children’s RE classes all year long -- totalling over $1,300 -- will be given as a “matching donation,” meaning that this year our First Universalist children and youth contributed over $2,700 toward ending youth homelessness.
Marriage Equality Story Telling (April 19, May 6)
Help Defeat the Marriage Prohibition Amendment
Attend Story Telling Training 101
two sessions at First Universalist Church April 19th or May 6th
Easter/Passover service
Were you here last year for our special Easter/Passover celebration about the Road to Emmaus? Bring your family and friends again to our April 8 all-ages service for a similar storytelling service.
Please bring a loaf of bread to share. After both services we will join in the Social Hall for fellowship and the sharing of bread. Tables will be set out to receive your offering before each service. Many of us are unable to eat wheat, so alternatives are appreciated!
Food that is not eaten will be brought to Simpson Housing, a shelter for the homeless.
Upcoming AUW Events
AUW Sacred Choices: April 6
The annual First Universalist support of Planned Parenthood on Good Friday will be held at the Association of Universalist Women (AUW) counter-protest. On behalf of women's human rights and reproductive justice, and on behalf of our Unitarian Universalist faith, please come to this annual rally. In recent years, as many as a thousand anti-abortion protesters have held all-day events. AUW Sacred Choices Reproductive Rights team and metro UUs have been among a vocal contingent of pro-choice supporters who show up. It's strictly non-confrontational and a very positive rally. Now more than ever, you are needed to show support. Take a long lunch break. Take a human rights day. Note that families with school-aged children do attend.
Planned Parenthood would like volunteers to show up for a two-hour shift, but you can just drop by as well. Shifts begin at 8am, until 4pm. Sign-up at PPAction.org.
Director of Religious Education Hired
Lauren Wyeth has joined First Universalist staff as our Director of Religious Education.
A Unitarian Universalist for 12 years, she was an active member of the Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara, California, before relocating to Minneapolis this past fall, with her partner of 22 years and their 12- and 9-year-old sons. Lauren has a background in marriage and family therapy, and her career has focused on building community, working for social justice, and helping individuals, parents, couples and families give, receive and grow.
Lauren is excited about utilizing the new Director of Religious Education position to enrich the spiritual lives of our children, their families, and our congregation as a whole. Her passions around religious education at First Universalist include:
First Universalists nominated for Prairie Star District awards
2012 Prairie Star District Award Nominees
The First Universalist Church Nominations Committee has nominated four individuals for awards. These summaries are excerpted from the submitted nominations:
Keeping the Faith Nominee: Ginny McAninch
Openings for Lay Leaders
Deadline for applications: March 23rd
Download application here. Please download the file to your computer, answer the questions, then send it to nomination@firstuniv.org.
If you have submitted an application and not received an acknowledgement from the Nominating Committee, please contact NomCom member Ginny McAninch (ginny.mc1947@gmail.com).
The Openings
The Nominating Committee is actively recruiting candidates for leadership positions on the Board of Trustees, the Foundation Board, and the Nominating Committee for the next church year.
Our 153rd year will be an exciting and important time to serve as we welcome a new Program Minister and continue to build on the positive energy and growth of 2011. Serving as an elected member of one of these bodies provides unique opportunities to:
1) Deepen and enrich your personal connection to the Church;
2) Expand your knowledge of Church and UU history and polity;
Opening on Board of Trustees
Job Description: Trustee of First Universalist Church of Minneapolis
Trustees of First Universalist Church represent the congregation in decisions about church policies, governance, and oversight. Trustees are responsible for being in touch with the hopes, dreams, ideas, goals, fears and complaints of the congregants and, as appropriate, turning them into governing policies that provide direction and priorities to the senior minister, and indirectly for church staff as supervised by the senior minister.
Trustees are also responsible for monitoring church finances, for evaluating whether reasonable progress is being made toward congregational goals as communicated in the form of policies, and for evaluating the administrative performance of the senior minister.
Being a Trustee of First Universalist Church presents an opportunity to further its mission, to gain a deeper understanding of its staff and operations, to be in fellowship with other Board members and to achieve personal growth. While this role requires dedication and a commitment of time, the rewards are great and well worth it.
Visionary Goals
We, the people of First Universalist Church, grow in our UU faith: we are equipped to live out our values and experience worship, spiritual practices, and rituals that challenge, comfort, celebrate, and heal.
Great Gatherings
At the 2011 First Universalist auction, many wonderful opportunities to gather as groups in congregant homes were sold out. But there are still a few spaces left in some of the Great Gatherings throughout the year. Check this list to see if some of these remaining ones interest you. If so, contact coordinator Heather Koser Baradan (singandgiggle@yahoo.com):
$10/person - A Night of Passion
with Ann Kay and Bill Jones Saturday, March 24 @ 7pm
Coffee, desserts, and sharing stories of your inner fire ‘round the fire -- what inspires you?
$10/person OR $20/family - Family Friendly Kickball Fun
with Lianne Knych & Dave Potyondy and Pam & Umesh Berry Sunday, May 20 @ 2-4:30pm
Two fun families invite up to 12 other fun families for a rollicking, recreational afternoon!!! All ages are welcome! Play kickball… hang out with First Univ friends... Beverages and a refreshing treat will be provided.