Sunday Programs
Sunday, May 18 at FUS
FORUM: "Men Against Destruction -- Defending Against Drugs and Social Disorder" (MAD DADS)
Presenter: V.J. Smith, President of the Minneapolis Chapter of MAD DADS
9:30 a.m. in the Lower Assembly Hall
The Minneapolis Chapter of MAD DADS seeks to bring about positive change, and encourages, motivates and guides committed men and women in the struggle to save children, communities and themselves from the social ills that presently plague neighborhoods.
ASSEMBLY: Youth Service Speaker: FUS Youth
10:30 a.m. in the Upper Assembly Hall
Come see and hear a group of talented FUS youth. The senior high service is on the importance of music in one's life. If you have been to other youth services, you know that the youth always present an insightful and meaningful service. Simply your presence will support our youth. Don't miss the chance! Combined into this service will be Flower Communion and OWL recognition, so bring a flower to share next Sunday. All RE students grades three and up are strongly encouraged to attend this service. Children ages K - grade two will have an alternate activity for the day.
Soup Lunch
11:30 a.m. in the Lower Assembly Hall. Join us for a delicious Soup Lunch following the Assembly.
Ceremony for Grieving and Healing
Noon - 12:30 p.m. in the Sir Isaac Newton Room
The loss of a loved one is a part of the life cycle, but our culture tends to leave little space for grieving or remembering those who have died. FUS holds a special, short service for those who are grieving from noon to about 12:20 the third Sunday of each month in the Sir Isaac Newton Room (#107). At each service, participants will light a candle in honor of their lost loved one, read and hear words of comfort and hope, and be in silent company with others who have suffered a loss. For more information or to volunteer to help, call Rev. Kendyl Gibbons at 612 377-6608, ext. 116.
Artist Reception
5:00 - 7:00 p.m. in the Gallery
Join us for the opening of the new exhibit by the Thursday Afternoon Painters.
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Updates
and Reminders
Religious Education Registration Forms Are Due NOW. Please complete RE registration forms. They are available in the FUS office or by clicking here.
Green Team Meeting
All are welcome to join the Green Team meeting on Tuesday, May 20 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. in the Heritage Room.
Memorial Day Weekend
There are no RE classes meeting nor is childcare offered on Sunday, May 25 due to the holiday.
Habitat for Humanity
Sign-up during Social Hour to participate in the UU Habitat for Humanity build this June or contact Carol Koepp.
RE Carnival
The RE Carnival will be held on Sunday, June 1 in the Chalice Room where there will be more fun and games than ever!
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.
Visitors Orientation
If you are interested in learning more about the Society, 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 | |
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Greetings from Mount Curve! 
Just as gardens are blooming with a variety of flowers, so too is FUS blooming with a variety of programs. Join us this Sunday for an Assembly led by our youth and for Flower Communion -- both great UU traditions. The month ends with the FUS Cabaret on May 31 featuring our home-grown talent. Be sure to enjoy these and other programs offered this month at FUS. |
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Act Now for Higher Foundation Annuity Rates
Financial times have certainly become distressing. While the interest rate you can earn on your money goes down and stock prices fluctuate (too often in a downward trend), the cost of gasoline and food skyrockets. For those of us on a fixed income and/or dependent upon the earnings on our investments, the outlook can seem bleak. There is, however, some good news on the horizon. A gift annuity may be an attractive option for you if you wish to increase your yield and leave a gift to the FUS Foundation upon your death.
Here's an example. At age 70, if you act BEFORE July 1, 2008, you'll receive a yield of 6.50% on your investment. If you wait until AFTER July 1, your yield will drop to 6.10%. At age 80, the yield drops from 8% to 7.60%.
In addition to a high rate of return on your money, a gift annuity allows you to take a significant charitable tax deduction in the year you purchase the annuity. Also a portion of each quarterly payment to you could be tax exempt. Upon your death, any remaining funds would go to your named beneficiary: the FUS Foundation (or any specific fund within the Foundation) and/or the UUA.
If you are interested in investigating this opportunity, don't delay! Call Susan Barton (612-340-1363) or another member of the Foundation Board for more information. You can also access the UUA web site for further details(www.uua.org/giving).
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Race in America as Reflected Through the Rev. Wright & Barack Obama Story
Gathering the Movement
In the aftermath of the controversy surrounding Rev. Jeremiah Wright's fiery sermons and Senator Obama's gut wrenching responses, many of us were left wondering; Are Americans more racially polarized than many of us imagined? Is Rev. Wright wrong? And, is it possible, in our generation, to have "a more perfect union," as Barack Obama suggests? Please join the PEACE Foundation and a panel of community members, activists and ministers, as we move beyond the rhetoric and discuss these issues with an eye towards bridging the racial divide.
Light dinner at 6:30, followed by panel discussion. Questions? Call PEACE Foundation at 612-521-4405.
FUS is an ally and partner with the Peace Foundation.
Thursday, May 22, 6:30 to 8:30
PEACE Foundation
1119 W. Broadway North (above Cookie Cart. Enter back door/park in alley)
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Keith Ellison Hosts Town Meeting at FUS
The forum will be held 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. following a book signing from 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. and moderated by Nasrin Jewel.
Dr. Trita Parsi is the author of Treacherous Alliance -- The Secret Dealings of Iran, Israel and the United States. He wrote his Doctoral thesis on Israeli-Iranian relations under Professor Francis Fukuyama (and Drs. Zbigniew Brzezinski, R.K. Ramazani, Jakub Grygiel, Charles Doran) at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies while heading the largest Iranian-American organization in the U.S., the National Iranian-American Council (NIAC).
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Flower Communion: A UU Tradition
Flower Communion will be celebrated at FUS at this Sunday's Assembly, May 18 at 10:30 a.m. Bring a flower; take a flower. Celebrate our community.
The Flower Communion Service, originated by the Rev. Norbert F. Capek in his native Czechoslavakia in 1923, is perhaps the most widely-celebrated ritual in Unitarian Universalist congregations today. Every spring, most of our churches and fellowships devote a Sunday to this festive participatory service which celebrates both the earth's beauty and humanity's oneness. Its simplicity and universality make it meaningful for children as well as adults.
To learn about the history of the Flower Communion Service click here. |
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Greening Investments Fund
 Remember to contribute to the Greening Investments Fund described in the May Newsletter (those investments are not seen as part of an annual pledge, but are fully tax deductible). If all of us can contribute at least half of our upcoming Federal Rebate to the GREENING FUND (an energy upgrade effort) beginning in May of this year, we will raise over $100,000! Checks to FUS, with Greening Fund on the memo line, will do the job. Click here and scroll to page 7 to view the May Newsletter text on the Greening Investments Fund.
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Bone Marrow Drive
Masjid An-Nur Mosque Asking For Help From FUS
The First Unitarian Society supported the work of the Masjid An-Nur Mosque earlier this year by holding a social justice collection to supply their food shelf and by helping with food distribution. Now they are asking for our help with another effort.
They are organizing a bone marrow drive for all races. The first Bone Marrow Drive will be May 24, 2008 at the mosque, 1729 Lyndale Ave., 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. It will be an info session Spaghetti Dinner and when all can join the registry. A series of drives will be announced.
Volunteers will need to be trained by the National Marrow Donor Program's Volunteer Ambassador Coordinator. This training will teach the basics of becoming a donor and how to run a drive. There is no cost to the volunteers and lunch or dinner will be provided, depending on training day and time. Trainings will be held at NMPD Coordinating Center (N.E. Mpls.) and Masjid An-Nur mosque. If we have ten or more volunteers it is a possibility that a training session can be held at FUS.
Look for a sign up sheet on the Social Action Table during coffee hour after a Sunday assembly. |
Successful Annual Meeting
The FUS Membership's Annual Meeting was held on May 14. Ray and Lee Schreurs received the Dueltgen Award and the 2008-09 budget passed unanimously.
You can view the 2007-08 annual report by clicking here, or in the FUS office. Annual Report meeting minutes will be available soon. |
FUS Cabaret 
Buy Your Tickets in Advance and Save!
The FUS Cabaret is coming soon! Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 31, at 7:00 p.m. in the Lower Assembly Hall. This will be a fun evening of musical entertainment featuring our home-grown FUS talent. A wide range of musical styles will be featured, including classical, country, pop, folk, show tunes, bluegrass--and more! You'll hear from solo performers, as well as ensembles. And enjoy some great snacks and beverages while you relax & watch the show! Advance tickets will be on sale every Sunday in May during social hour. Advance ticket cost: $5.00/person ($15.00 max per family). At the door: $7.00/person ($20.00 max per family). Childcare will be available for $3.00 per family. We look forward to seeing you at the FUS Cabaret! |
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FUS at PRIDE Festival
 Sign up to host the FUS booth at the Pride Festival June 28 & 29.
Come be a part of this exciting festival in our neighborhood. It will be held June 28 and 29 at Loring Park. Did you know that one of our own members, Matt Stark, has been named the Grand Marshal for the Festival this year? We are looking forward to reaching out to our GLBT neighbors to share our values and heritage of humanism.
We are currently looking for volunteers to staff the booth in two hour increments, and also with set-up and take down. Please stop by the Ask Me table in the Lower Assembly Hall to sign up for a shift. Or contact Teresa West by clicking here , or 612-377-6608 x 104.
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Forum and Assembly Previews
Forums are at 9:30 a.m. in the Lowers Assembly Hall.
Assemblies are at 10:30 a.m. in the Upper Assembly Hall. For descriptions of the upcoming forums and assemblies click here and scroll to pages 2 and 3.
May 25
 Forum: "Winter Soldier"Presenter: Brandon Day, leader of Iraq Vets Against War, Minnesota Chapter
Assembly: "The Next Monument"
Speaker: Rev. Dr. Kendyl Gibbons
June 1
Forum: "Immigrant Rights"
Presenter: The Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Coalition (MIRAC)
Assembly: "Bread for the Journey"
Speaker: Rev. Dr. Kendyl Gibbons |
You're Invited
Join us at FUS for these great events!
- Soup Lunch: Sunday, May 18, 11:30 a.m.
- Ceremony for Grieving and Healing, Sunday, May 18, 12:00 noon
- Forum on Iran and U.S. Relations hosted by Congressman Keith Ellison at FUS, May 28, 5:00 p.m.
- FUS Cabaret: Saturday, May 31, 7:00 p.m.
- Religious Education Carnival: Sunday morning, June 1
- Summer Solstice Celebration: June 20, 6:30 p.m.
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