In Focus
Join FUS Members and Friends on Sunday, 10/21 at 10:30 a.m. for Assembly.
Dr. Chris Mato Nunpa, tenured Associate Professor of Indigenous Nations & Dakota Studies at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, Minnesota will present "To Keep Our Word."
The presentation will focus on three specific issues of concern to indigenous peoples of this area: the Treaty of 1805 between Dakota Oyate (People, or Nation) and the U.S., which involves 155,000+ acres of land on which the Twin Cities now sit, Land Theft, and Genocide. It calls upon us to ask, "What is my ethical responsibility as a citizen of the United States of America in regard to these issues?" so that we as citizens can become the agents of transformation.
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Reminders
The next Soup Lunch is on Sunday, Novemer 11 at 11:30 a.m. in the Lower Assembly Hall. Donations are accepted.
Upcoming Eat 'N' Meet events are on Wednesdays.
Dinner is at 6:45 p.m. in the Lower Assembly Hall. And the Program begins at 7:00 p.m.
Suggested donations for dinner: Adult $7, Child $4, maximum $15 per family. The program is free.
October 17 the meal is Thai food and the program topic is "The Case for War -- Was It Fraudulent?" by the Social Action Committee.
October 24 the meal is Mexican food and the program topic is "Summer in Alaska" by Nick Rowse.
Fall New Member Orientation Dates are: Sundays, October 21 and 28 at 4:00 p.m. in the Dietrich Room. For more information contact Membership Coordinator Teresa West at 612-377-6608 ext. 104 or by email. |
FUS Email Contacts
Phone: 612-377-6608
Fax: 612-377-2151 | |
Greetings from Mount Curve! 
Wednesday evenings at FUS offer a tasty mix of delicious dinners and engaging after-dinner programs. This Wednesday, October 17, enjoy a Thai dinner hosted by Adele Hansen, followed by a reading in the Upper Assembly Hall from Elizabeth de la Vega's provocative book, "The Case for War - Was It Fraudulent?" |
The Case for War -- Was It Fraudulent?
A PROPOSED GRAND JURY HEARING
THE UNITED STATES v. GEORGE W. BUSH et al.
(Six readers are presenting this case based on
Elizabeth de la Vega's book)
Wednesday, October 17 at 7:00 P.M.
The First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis
900 Mount Curve Ave.
Free Admission
No matter what our political affiliation or stand on the war happens to be, our government officials must be held accountable for upholding their oath of office. The task often boils down to the people having to pressure Congress to perform their oversight job.
In this case, six readers present the evidence for an indictment of top government officials charging they tricked the nation into war, or, in legal terms, conspired to defraud the United States.
While the grand jury is hypothetical, the facts presented here are real. They were compiled by a former federal prosecuting attorney of 20 years, Elizabeth de la Vega. Having prepared for hundreds of grand juries like this one, she devoted two years meticulously sifting through mountains of facts, and throwing out any evidence that was not corroborated by two or more reliable sources. All the facts and circumstances in this reading can be found in her book, U.S. v. George W. Bush et al. Learn the staggering scope and depth of the alleged crime; when it started, how it evolved, and the people involved. Then decide if there's enough evidence to indict.
Click here to read the Mother Jones interview with de la Vega.
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From Empire to Earth Community
A New Discovery Group at FUS
Are you frustrated with the "Empire" mindset that much of our national administration and our world advocates? Do you share the concern that our current cultural patterns of greed, materialism, injustice, hedonism, and war are destroying our planet and our souls? What is an alternative to Empire? If these questions intrigue you, I will be facilitating a 4-week Discovery group that will read and discuss David Korten's fascinating book, The Great Turning. In this book Korten examines how 5000 years of an Empire mindset has brought us to the verge of extinction as a species. He proposes that we shift to the Earth Community model of cooperation rather than competition and he provides many practical ways to bring about this transformation.
The group will meet Tuesday evenings at FUS from 7-9 pm on October 30 and November 6, 13, and 20. Registration in this group is open for 6-15 participants. If you would like to join the group or learn more about it, please contact Ministerial Intern Steven Protzman by October 21 or sign up at the Ask Me Table. | |
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Hungers of The Spirit
Assembly for 10/28/2007
Speaker: Rev. Dr. Kendyl Gibbons
"The whole of nature," wrote the English author William Ralph Inge, "is a conjugation of the verb to eat, in the active and passive." Like every other creature on earth, humans take part in a food chain, and our place in that food chain, or web, determines to a considerable extent what kind of creature we are. It has been suggested that a creature that could conceive of eating anything (including, notably, other humans) stands in particular need of ethical rules, manners, and ritual. We are not only what we eat, but how we eat, too. Shelley Schreffler, winner of the 2007 Service Auction sermon topic, has asked me to consider Michael Pollan's
The Omnivore's Dilemma, and the function of eating as an expression of the human condition. A sermon discussion will take place in the Dietrich Room following this Assembly. |
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Nurture Your Spirit - Help Heal Our World: The New UU Ad Campaign
The first national advertising campaign promoting Unitarian Universalism in over 50 years has started with full-page ads in Time magazine, the oldest and most recognized news publication in America. You'll see the first one in the October 15 issue. Additional ads will hit the newsstands in issues dated November 5, December 3, and December 31 - Person of the Year Edition. Time magazine has a weekly readership of 21 million people.
The theme for the ads is:
Nurture Your Spirit - Help Heal Our World
We are sharing the good news of our faith with those seeking a liberal religious home. Also - the UUA wants all congregations to be ready for new visitors who are responding to the campaign. Read Bill Sinkford's announcement of the campaign here. |
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Fall New Member Orientation Sessions
New member orientation sessions will be on Sundays October 21 and 28. New member Sunday is November 11. For more information, contact Membership Coordinator Teresa West at 612-377-6608, ext. 104, or by email: membership@firstunitariansociety.org. |
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Let Your Voice Be Heard
A Letter Writing Campaign on the Iraq War
Do you believe the Iraq war is wrong? Or do you believe the war is necessary to help end terrorism and bring stability to Iraq? Should the government continue to fund the war? Or should the government bring the troops home? What do you think?
Let's make November another opportunity to have our voices heard in Washington! I invite you to participate in the American democratic process by writing to your elected officials to share your views on the war in Iraq. Be sure to stop by the information table in the social hall and pick up a copy of the list of addresses for our US Senators and for the Representatives of the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth Congressional districts.
Be part of the democratic process! Let YOUR voice be heard on this war!
Steven Protzman
Ministerial Intern
intern@firstunitariansociety.org
612-377-6608, ext. 107 |
Grants from the FUS Foundation
The Foundation of the First Unitarian Society is accepting applications for grants from the Unrestricted Fund. FUS committees and staff are encouraged to submit an application for projects that foster new growth and development at FUS. Grants should be used for innovative projects, matching funds, or enhancements to the building. Grants are not intended to replace or augment the annual operating budget. Grant requests should be submitted in writing to the Foundation, attention Curt Dederich, and should include: · Purpose of the project or program (1-2 paragraphs) · Description of what the funds would be used for and actual cost estimates (1-2 paragraphs) · Copies of two or more bids for materials and/or labor if appropriate · Estimated date that funds would be needed · Estimated date when the project or program would be completed. Deadline for submission is December 1, 2007. Depending upon the number of proposals submitted and the amounts requested, we may not be able to fund all of the worthy projects. The Unrestricted Grant committee will review all proposals with final decisions made by the Foundation Board. Grant applications are available from the FUS website here. |
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FUS How To
If you wish to gift flowers for the Assembly or Greeters tables, please contact Morgan in the FUS office to reserve a spot on the calendar. Morgan can be reached at 612-377-6608, ext. 110, or by email: morgan@firstunitariansociety.org.
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