In Focus
January 13 Forum
"A Mother/Daughter Dialogue on Anti-Racism and the Journey Towards Wholeness"
Emma Olson and Catie Chi Olson
What are some of the most exciting efforts in our denomination moving UUs along the path toward racial justice? What is DRUUMM, and why should we know more about it?
Emma Olson and Catie Chi Olson are mother and daughter volunteers working on Anti-Oppression/Anti-racism/Multiculturalism within the UUA.
Emma cochairs the continental Diverse Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministry Youth and Young Adults (DRUUMMYaYA). She will share what she learned at last year's Youth Summit and Youth Council.
Catie Chi Olson brought Rev. Bill Gardiner to FUS last month for the Workshop on Whiteness and excellent Assembly on racial justice. Catie attends United Theological Seminary and serves the UUA on the Asian/Pacific Islander Caucus (A/PIC) Steering Committee, as a Beyond Categorical Thinking (BCT) Trainer and on the Journey Toward Wholeness Transformation Committee (JTWTC).
The FUS Social Action Committee organizes Forums at least monthly; racial justice is the theme for January. The monthly Social Justice Collection gathered at the Assembly following the Forum will go to Color Coordination, a coalition of groups of color (and white allies) in the GLBT community organizing for racial justice.
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Updates
and Reminders
Women's Awareness Group Meeting Topic Update
Monday, January 14
The topic for the January meeting of the Women's Awareness Group will be a presentation by Barbara Weatherhead of her recent trip to the Middle East. It will be held at the home of Wanda McCaa, 1235 Yale Place, Apt. 402, Minneapolis. Marian Behrend is the cohost. FUS women are invited to come at 6:30 p.m. for a potluck dinner, followed by the presentation.
UU Play Group
Saturday, January 12
The FUS UU Play Group will meet in the Chalice Room from 10:00 until 11:30 a.m. Bring your own snack and join other parents of young children, while the children (up to Kindergarten-age) play together with large motor toys. For more information contact Jan Devor at 612-377-6608 ext. 108 or by clicking here.
Parking at FUS
The Vineland Parking Ramp attached to Walker Art Center is available for FUS parking on Sundays. The cost is $1, and coupons for $1 are available in the FUS Office. Simply park your car in the ramp, remembering to bring your ticket with you as you leave the parking facility; come to FUS and stop by the office to pick up a coupon.
Electronic Versions of The First Unitarian Newsletter are available at the FUS website at www.firstunitariansociety.org. They are posted there each month. If you would like to stop receiving the printed version via postal mail and access the electronic version instead, simply contact the FUS Office with that request: 612-377-6608, or send an email request by clicking here.
Save the Dates
A Wonderful, Intergenerational Dinner and Presentation: Tuesday, January 22, 5:45 p.m. for a GREAT Indian dinner cooked by Mark Gibbons, followed by a program by a representative from the UU schools in India. For more information click here and scroll to page 3.
Child Dedications
On Sunday, January 27, there will be child dedications during the Assembly. Please let Jan Devor know if you would like your baby or child(ren) dedicated at this service. You can reach Jan at 612-377-6608 ext. 108 or by clicking here.
MUUSJA Annual Membership Meeting and Celebration
January 27, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. at First Universalist Church. For more information click here and scroll to page 6.
Visitor Orientation Sessions
If you are interested in learning more about the Society, join us at these sessions. January 27 and February 10 from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. in the Dietrich Room. New member Sunday will follow on February 24. For more information contact Teresa West, Membership Director at 612-377-6608 ext. 104 or by clicking here. |
FUS Email Contacts
Phone: 612-377-6608
Fax: 612-377-2151 | |
Greetings from Mount Curve! 
Happy New Year!
Here at FUS this month there are fabulous opportunities to get out of the house and get connected to others in new ways!
Consider participating in the adult religious education series, "The History of Humanism" being offered by Rev. Dr. Kendyl Gibbons starting on January 10. Or, you may choose to become a "Mystery Friend" to a child in the congregation, where you will trade letters for five weeks while the child tries to guess your identity. And, as always, there are some thought-provoking forums and great assembly services coming up as well.
Join us! |
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Adult Religious Education Series
Join Senior Minister Rev. Dr. Kendyl Gibbons, for one or both upcoming adult religious education series.
"January offers a great opportunity to improve your mind and your social life at the same time. Get together with a congenial group of your fellow FUS members to learn more about the history of our humanist movement, or to reflect on your own life journey and how you make sense of it all."
The History of Humanism
Thursday evenings, January 10 - February 21
7:00-8:30 p.m. in the Heritage Room
"It's a fascinating story, and those of us who would differentiate ourselves from the Judeo-Christian default narrative of our culture should be familiar with it," writes Rev. Dr. Kendyl Gibbons
Constructing a Personal Worldview
Thursday evenings, March 13 - May 15
7:00-8:30 p.m. in the Heritage Room
"This is a ten-session course which is designed to help participants articulate their existing beliefs, understand something about the origins of those beliefs, and compare them with some of the classic theological and philosophical ideas of our western intellectual heritage. ... We use readings, journaling, survey instruments and storytelling, as well as discussion, to lead us to insights about how we each construct the world of our own beliefs and make sense of our life experiences, and we always have a good time in the process."
For more information on these classes view Kendyl's entire article by clicking here or call Kendyl at 612-377-6608, ext. 116.
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Mystery Friends
Sign up to be paired with a Mystery Friend on January 13, 20 or 27.
Mystery Friends is a program where children and adults in the FUS community volunteer to be secretly paired; the child and adult trade letters for five weeks as the child tries to guess the identity of the adult. There is a party on March 9 when the pairs meet and have a good time. It is a great way for the kids to get to know another wonderful UU adult and vice versa!
For more information contact Jan Devor, Director of Religious Education at 612-377-6608, ext.108 or by clicking here.
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UUA Commission on Appraisal Comes to Minneapolis January 12
We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: The inherent worth and dignity of every person; Justice, equity and compassion in human relations; Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations; A free and responsible search for truth and meaning; The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and society at large; The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all; Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
Which of the above seven principles should we drop? How about the third? Or should be add an eighth principle? Since our beginnings as a religion, we have not been a people who are satisfied accepting prescribed dogma regarding either beliefs or practices. The bylaws of the UUA (Unitarian Universalist Association) mandate a periodic review of the Principles and Purposes. The UUA's Commission on Appraisal is inviting UUs across the land to thoughtfully review, and potentially suggest changes to the current language and intent of the principles and purposes.
Join Steven Mosborg as he leads a workshop on this subject for metro UUs on Saturday, January 12, at First Universalist Church, from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Then, stick around for a chance to give the UUA's Commission on Appraisal your ideas during a hearing from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Lunch will be provided between the workshop and hearing. There are only 40 spots available to UUs all over the metro.
RSVP in advance to guarantee your space!
Contact Heidi Mastrud, Director of Lifespan Faith Development
First Universalist Church
3400 Dupont Ave. S., Minneapolis
612-825-1701 ext. 124 or click here to email Heidi. |
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Volunteer Opportunity
 The Alliance is looking for someone willing to serve as a back-up courier for Max Green on our program meeting days. Those dates in 2008 are: February 6, March 5, April 2, may 7 and June 4. You would help out only when Max Green, our current courier, cannot help out that day. Your responsibilities would include receiving the payment check from Suzy Sewell, driving to The Wedge on Hennepin Avenue, picking up the luncheon food and delivering it to the Dietrich Room by 11:50 a.m. or so. In addition to our grateful thanks, you would be rewarded with a delicious lunch. Think about it! If you'd like to volunteer, or would like more information, please contact Jan Sigmund at 651-646-2455 or Linnea Asp at 763-551-1558. |
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Did You Know... ?
How to Submit Items for Publication at FUS
Submissions for inclusion in the weekly Orders of Service announcements are due in the FUS by noon on the Wednesday preceding the Sunday publication.
Submissions for the The First Unitarian newsletter are due in the FUS Office on the 10th of the month preceding the newsletter. For example, the deadline for the February 2008 newsletter is January 10.
Items for consideration for The Unitarian FLASH may be submitted at any time. It is published on a somewhat flexible schedule, usually twice per month.
Submissions for all of these publications can be made by emailing them to Morgan Rock, Publications Coordinator or by clicking here. Please identify the publication and the date for which you'd like the submission considered.
Please note that during Morgan's maternity leave all voicemail and email messages will be received and processed by other staff and/or by the person who will be filling in for her during her leave.
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