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Strategic Plan
Join the Board of Trustees this Sunday March 29 after the assembly at noon in the Chalice Room for a Conversation with the Trustees about the Strategic Plan. This three-year plan outlines major goals and objectives for the Society including governance, leadership development and hiring an assistant minister. You have the opportunity to be involved in the process by reviewing the draft and providing input on the progress so far and the exciting journey ahead.
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Senior High Cookie Sale: Satiate your sweet tooth with some warm, yummy, fresh-baked cookies during social hour on Sunday and support the senior high's trip to Boston!
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Letter Writing This Sunday
Contact our senator and representatives demanding an investigation into the Seymour Hersh allegations of domestic activities against people they thought to be enemies of the state, an "executive assassination ring." Supplies and talking points will be at the Take Five table. For a copy of the report click here. |
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Updates and Reminders
The Alliance
"The Journey Ahead" (end-of-life arrangements) will be Pat Jordan's topic for the April 1 meeting. For more information click here and scroll to page 10. Prairie Star District Conference
April 3-5 in Duluth "Our Blue Boat Home: Living the Seventh Tradition." All information, including facts about youth programming and child care, is available here.
Social Justice Pre-Conference Workshop: "Successful Strategies for Environmental Justice" Friday April 3, 1:30-4:30 p.m., UU Congregation of Duluth, 145 W. Winona St., Duluth. You can register by selecting "Pre-Conference Workshop" on the Annual Conference registration form.
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For Your Information

Remember that you can forward The Unitarian FLASH to a friend at any time. Simply scroll to the bottom of each edition of The Unitarian FLASH and click on the link called "forward email." Forwarding The Unitarian FLASH will not add the recipient to any email lists, or allow entry of any spam into their inbox, but it will allow you to share the information in the The Unitarian FLASH you'd like them to see with just a quick click!
Donation Options
FUS is pleased to offer congregation members the convenient option of making donations right on our website. Families are making an increasing number of payments and donations online. If this donation method appeals to you, we encourage you to visit the FUS website, locate the link to our donation page and follow the simple process for setting up both regular offerings and one-time gifts. 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.
FUS News
The Unitarian FLASH features only a selection of stories events at FUS. For more details and other stories visit the FUS website and view recent The First Unitarian newsletters. Electronic Versions of The First Unitarian Newsletter are available at the FUS website. 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.
Ceremony for Grieving and Healing FUS holds a special, short service for those who are grieving from noon to about 12:15 the third Sunday of each month in the Sir Isaac Newton Room (#107). For more information contact The Rev. Dr. Kendyl Gibbons or click here.
The FUS Community Chorus meets the first and third Wednesdays each month at 6:15 - 7:00 p.m. All are welcome! For more information contact Music Director Barbara Brooks or click here.
Flower Sponsorship
Fresh flowers enhance the Sunday morning experience for all of us and are a lovely way to honor a loved one, a special day, an event, or a remembrance. To provide flowers, please stop at the FUS office to fill in a flower sponsorship form or click here.

Sponsor Refreshments
Here's your chance to celebrate birthdays, recognize anniversaries and rites of passage, and satisfy the congregational sweet tooth. Sign-up to sponsor refreshments during the social hour following assembly. Your sponsorship will be acknowledged in the Sunday order of service and with a sign by the refreshments. Slots are available for the first, third, and fifth Sundays; second Sundays are when we have soup lunches, and the Alliance has generously underwritten fourth Sundays. To sponsor refreshments simply complete the appropriate form and deliver it with your payment to the FUS office. Forms are available on the "Ask Me" table in the Lower Assembly Hall on Sunday mornings, in the FUS office and on the FUS website. To sponsor refreshments, click here. To sponsor cake(s), click here.
Radio FUS Is on the Air at 88.1 FM:
If you're at the Society on a Sunday morning and want to hear the service but for some reason you can't be in the Upper Assembly Hall, bring a radio. Services and other events in the Upper Assembly Hall that use the sound system are now broadcast on 88.1 on the FM band. Assemblies are also aired on our assisted listening devices available in the office, but your own FM radio now can pick them up, too-- anywhere on the first two floors and in the front and back yards of FUS.
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FUS Email Contacts
Phone: 612-377-6608
Fax: 612-377-2151 | |
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Greetings from Mount Curve!
Say "Cheese"! It's good practice for your photo shoot for the FUS photo directory. If you still haven't sign-up for an appointment, click here. There's lots to do for UUs at FUS, and in the wider community. And be sure to join us at noon on Sunday March 29 for the Conversation with the Trustees about the Strategic Plan. Check out the opportunities below and in the April edition of The First Unitarian newsletter. |
 Books!
Join us this Sunday March 29, 9:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in the Dietrich Room for the annual FUS Library Book Sale! We UUs love reading and we love exchanging information. Let's turn these interests into funds to support our library.
Donate Books: The senior high is collecting new and very gently used children's books (Grades K-6) until April 8 to be donated to Project Pride in Living.
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Social Action 
Here are some opportunities gathered by our Social Justice Coordinator Carol Koepp. For more information visit the Social Action table, located in the Lower Assembly Hall at FUS, or contact Carol directly by email or phone at 612-377-6608, ext. 103.
Focus on Homelessness: Education and Service Opportunities
Boxed In - Experience Homelessness to END Homelessness
Friday April 17, 5:30 p.m. to Saturday April 18, 7:45 a.m. An event to raise money for the Dignity Center in Hennepin Ave. Methodist Church. Event Highlights include: * Shelter Dinner & Breakfast * Film & Art Exhibit * Workshops & Panel Discussions * Book Sale * Spoken Word & Singing * Service * A Night Under the Stars (box provided)
Help Provide Toiletry Kits for the Homeless Served at the Dignity Center We will be collecting basic small or travel-size toiletry supplies until Sunday April 12.
Look for the Sock Box on the SAC table. New socks are being collected for distribution by a church in the Rondo neighborhood in St. Paul during the month of April while they are providing shelter and meals for the homeless. Packages of tube socks are recommended.
Plymouth Church Neighborhood Foundation invites you to: A Conversation with Craig Rennehohm on his Mental Health Chaplaincy with the Homeless, Falcon Heights United Church of Christ, 1795 Holton St. (at Garden Ave.), Falcon Hieghts, 55113. 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m., Saturday, April 4. Pizza Lunch. RSVP: bashley@plymouthfoundation.org or call 612-871-0890.
Project Homeless Connect - May 11, Mpls. Convention Center. Sign up at the Social Action table in the Lower Assembly Hall.
Other Social Justice Events * Forum on Peace and Stability in Iraq and Afghanistan, Congressman Keith Ellison, Sunday March 29, 1:00-3:00 p.m., Plymouth Congregational Church * Northside Community Tour, 10:00 a.m. Driving tour focusing on the assets and challenges in North Minneapolis lead by Council Member Don Samuels. Reservations needed. Call PEACE Foundation, 612-521-4405.
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* FUS is a member of the Metropolitan Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice Association (MUUSJA). Follow these links for more information about MUUSJA or to view their e-newsletter Connections.
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Join us on Wednesday evenings March 31-May 13 this spring at 5:45 p.m. in the Lower Assembly Hall for some yummy eats and fabulous company. Then at 7:00 p.m. move upstairs to the Dietrich Room for the evening's free program. Attend one, or attend them all. Bring a friend-or more! All are welcome!
Essential Facts: * A vegetarian option is always served at each dinner. * Suggested donation rates for Eat 'N Meet dinners are: adults $7, children $5, with a maximum of $15 per family, however if the cost is prohibitive for you, please be our guest. *Childcare is provided free on-site. *The programs are free and open to all.
April 1 Program: Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Art in the Gallery
Leader: Art in the Gallery Committee
Menu: Chili
April 8
Program: Art, Architecture and Humanism: John Page's Arrangements in Blue and Black
Leader: Chris Bubser
Menu: Potato Bar
Click here for a schedule of Eat 'N Meet menus and program topics.
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In the foyer gallery this month you will see the work of Delor Erickson, who had a distinguished 40-year career as a graphic artist. Throughout his career and into retirement Delor painted what he knew best, and when he discovered palms he was inspired by their abstract qualities, their unique shapes, wonderful colors and dramatic angles. Sadly, Delor passed away suddenly last May, just after he agreed to do this show. We are especially pleased to present his work. The show is on view through Sunday May 3.
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What Will Your High Schooler Be Doing This Summer? Did you know that FUS has a Summer Social Justice Internship Program specifically for youth finishing 9th -11th grades? This is a great opportunity for your high school youth to serve the community as well as to learn more about social justice.
The program is very flexible: Interns work at a community organization in their neighborhood. (They can arrange it, or else we will help make a connection.) They also meet regularly with an FUS mentor at a place they arrange to talk about their work and social justice. They will also be meeting once during the summer as a group to learn more about social justice issues. Most important, they are paid a stipend (up to $595) based on the number of hours they work.
Jan Devor has visited the high school group to talk about the program, and there are applications in the Senior High room. You might also see posters around the building advertising the program. This is a wonderful opportunity for our youth, and we hope you encourage your high schooler to apply. If you want to learn more about the program, contact Jan or Adele Hansen.
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UU Events
There are a number of great events being offered by and for Unitarian Universalists in our area. Click here and scroll to page 13 to learn more.
Greening the Economy
You are invited to First Universalist's Chalice Room on March 29 at 1:00-2:30 p.m. to hear Louis King, the dynamic and engaging leader of Summit Academy OIC, as he speaks to the MUUSJA spring meeting about the promise and challenge of greening the economy. Refreshments served. Full details at MUUSJA's online news. FFI contact Ralph.
Live Stream the PSD Annual Conference New this year. If you can't attend the UUA Prairie Star District Annual Conference in person, we are planning to stream some events live on the Internet.
Events currently scheduled for live streaming: * Keynote Address: Linda Barnes and Mark Runquist, Friday, April 3, 7:45-9:00 p.m. * Judy Memorial Lecture: Peter Mayer, Saturday, April 4, 9:00-10:15 a.m. * UUA Presidential Candidates Forum: Saturday, April 4, 1:30-2:45 p.m. Click here to see and hear these events from the Annual Conference. Note the times listed on the online schedule are Pacific Time. Central Time is two hours later. When a broadcast is in progress, you won't need to do anything once you are at that website; the video will start automatically. These events will also be available for playback by clicking here at and several days after the Conference we hope to have a higher quality version on the PSD website. UUs Out for Marriage
You are urged to join up with MUUSJA's campaign: UUs Out For Marriage (UUO4M), organizing to support a statewide campaign to achieve marriage equality in Minnesota. UUO4M has been meeting and planning effective strategies for UU involvement in this issue. Meetings are the first Monday of each month at Unity Church Unitarian, 732 Holly, St. Paul. All are welcome to attend our next meeting on April 6 at 7:00 p.m. Contact Ralph for more information.
8th Annual Asian/Pacific Islander Caucus Meeting at FUS on April 24-26, Catie Chi Olson is coordinating this conference for all Unitarian Universalists of Asian or Pacific Islander descent. Three workshops are being offered: Transracial Adoption (recommended for people of color), Parenting Through Transracial Adoption (facilitated by Rev. Meg Riley) and Creating A Jubilee World, one of our UUA's recommended first steps into becoming the anti-oppressive Beloved Community. This third workshop is for all those who are concerned with racial justice and being led by Janice Marie Johnson of Community Church, NYC, and Myrtle Hepler, former president of Thomas Jefferson District. All conference participants are invited to the Saturday night performance by Hmong spoken word artist Tou SaiKo Lee. Register by clicking here.
Unitarian Universalist Affordable Housing Program
We are the lead congregation in a group entitled Unitarian Universalist Affordable Housing Program (UUAHP). This group, consisting of FUS, First Universalist Church of Minneapolis, MN Valley UU Fellowship, Unitarian Universalist Church of Minnetonka (UUCM) and White Bear Unitarian Universalist Church, sponsor one week of Work Camp in which we combine to provide the labor, lunches and love to assist in building a new home for some deserving families around the Twin Cities. This year, we will be in Ramsey, MN for one week Monday through Friday June 22-26. Please plan on contributing your talents during that week and help deserving families to achieve an important goal in their lives. Please contact Jerry Edwards for details.
Making Your Summer Plans?
Registration is now open for Camp StarTrail, our new UU summer camp for all ages. Click here for more information. Our Theme Speaker is Rev. Kendyl Gibbons, Senior Minister at First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis. Her topic is "Toward Wisdom: How to Recognize and Become a Spiritual Grown-Up, With or Without God."
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Events in the Metro
The FUS Religious Education and Social Justice staff members call our attention to these events.
Howard Zinn-Voices of a People's History;  Stories of Truth and Peace for a New Generation
A benefit to support Nonviolent Peaceforce. Performances by: Dipankar Mukherjee, Isabell Monk O'Connor, Jearlyn Steele, Lou Bellamy, Melvin Carter III, Michael Kiesow Moore, Sarah Levy, Tou Ger Xiong, Howard Zinn. Monday, April 6, O'Shaughnessy, 7:00 p.m. Students $12; General $21/36; Sustainer $125. For tickets click here.
Building Foundations, A Day of Connection for Mothers and Sons is an all-day retreat for sons, ages 10-12, and their mothers or female mentors. Both fun and educational, this retreat provides a special opportunity to:
* Develop a better understanding of puberty and adolescence * Talk about sexuality and your family's values
* Appreciate the positive power of building respectful relationships * Work together to enhance positive communication and connection * We have two mother-son retreats open to the public in 2009: Saturday, April 18 and Saturday, November 14.
For more information contact Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota by clicking here. | |
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You're Invited!
Join us for these great events!
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FUS Library Book Sale: Sunday March 29
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Youth Cookie Sale: Sunday March 29
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Conversation with the Trustees: Sunday March 29
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Eat 'N Meet: Wednesdays, April 1 & 8 at 5:45 p.m.
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Book Chat: April 12
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Ceremony for Grieving and Healing: Sunday April 12 at 12:15 p.m.
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April Forums and Assemblies: Sunday mornings. Click here and scroll to pages 2-3 for program descriptions.
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For an updated list of events at FUS visit the calendar.
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