Music Sunday,
May 3
"The Wounded Earth"
Please join the FUS Orchestra, Chorus, and Community Chorus, as we both honor and mourn our relationship to dear mother earth. From the beauty of Beethoven's "Pastoral" symphony, to the heartbreak of Steve Heitzig's "The Wounded Fields," we will explore music that depicts both the healing and destruction of our blessed earth. This is a morning not to miss as we say goodbye to Gabriela, our wonderful associate music director. Click here for more details. |
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Updates
and Reminders
Eat 'N Meet Join us on Wednesday evenings April 29 and May 6 for some delicious food and fabulous company. Dinner is at 5:45 p.m. and donations are suggested. Programs are free and start at 7:00 p.m. All are welcome! Click here for menus and program topics.
The Alliance
This month's meeting is on May 6. Kathleen Anderson will discuss "Politics from an Insider." Click here and scroll to page 9 more information.
Annual Congregational Meeting
May 13: Join us at 5:45 p.m. for a FREE dinner and 7:00 p.m. for the meeting. |
FUS Nuts & Bolts
Use the link at the bottom of this email to forward The Unitarian FLASH to a friend. We won't spam them and they will be so impressed at how well-connected you are!
Donation Options
To donate to FUS click here.
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.
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!
This a time of year to take stock and recommit to  energy-giving activities and events in your life. At FUS we're preparing for our Annual Congregational Meeting May 13 and registering children for Religious Education classes for next year. So, pull out your calendar and compare it to the May edition of The First Unitarian newsletter and the articles below to ensure that you'll participate in the FUS activities and events that you most enjoy. |
Join Us This Sunday, April 26
Join us this Sunday April 26 at 9:30 a.m. for the  Forum, The Boys-To-Men Mentoring Network, led by Rick Gravrok, Activities Director for this network. Some say, "Too many boys in America are not really growing up." How best to deal with this crisis? Come and see what insights arise among local men leading this unique network for boys 13-15 years old. For a more detailed description click here.
And be sure to enjoy Sunday's Assembly, "Earth Matters: Project  Rescue," which will be presented as a children's musical performance. We will summarize this year's focus on "Earth Matters" by considering what it means to build a sustainable future for our planet and ourselves. For more information click here. |
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Conversation with the Trustees
Join the Board of Trustees for a presentation of the  proposed FUS budget for the 2009-2010 program year at The Conversation with the Trustees on Sunday May 3 at 12:00 in the Dietrich Room. FUS is not immune to the economic ailments afflicting the rest of the world so the Board is proposing some cost cutting measures to make up for a substantial drop in our pledge revenue. In an effort to maintain our current level of staffing some of our programs will need to rely more heavily on using their Restricted Funds in the coming year. Establishing a responsible balanced budget necessitates some concessions from everyone but we hope this will be temporary and as the overall economy rebounds and FUS pledges increase we can reconstitute and expand our programming capabilities. Share with the Board your "joys and concerns" for the upcoming year at FUS.
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Register NOW for Religious Education
Registration for the Religious Education program year  September 2009-May 2010 is happening now. Click here to register and please be sure to complete all THREE forms. All children and youth should sign-up on or before May 3.
Please, consider teaching a class. It is a win/win for you and the kids. The kids can't have a UU background without the help of adults! Follow a class up through the grades and teach them once a year, or pick a subject that you want to learn about and teach it to children- you and the children learn!
For more information and to volunteer contact Director of Religious Education Jan Devor: 612-377-6608, ext. 108. |
Social Action 
Here are some opportunities gathered by our Social Justice Coordinator Carol Koepp. For more information visit the Social Action table (SAC table), located in the Lower Assembly Hall at FUS, or contact Carol directly by email or phone at 612-377-6608, ext. 103.
* Attention residents of Minneapolis and Hennepin County! Nicollet Square needs our support. This is the shovel-ready transitional housing development we supported earlier in the year. They need stimulus funding to proceed with the construction. Click here to learn what YOU can do. Questions? Contact Jenny Mason: 612.871.0890.
* The premiere showing of Stop Sexual Violence: Listen and Lead will be in the Chalice Room, this Sunday April 26, noon to 1:00 p.m. Watch and discuss. Refreshments provided.
* Dine Out for Life on Thursday April 30 at one of Minnesota's 130 participating restaurants. Drop by one of these restaurants for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a quick cup of coffee, and the restaurant will donate between 10 % to 100 % of the price of your meal to the The Aliveness Project, a community center for people living with HIV/AIDS.
* The Center For Victims of Torture is seeking an investigation to assess who is responsible for sanctioning and ordering torture. SAC recommends calling the White House at 202.456.1111 and expressing your support for an investigation.
* The Unitarian Universalist Office of Social Justice recommends we call our representatives with support for H.R. 1913, The Local Law Enforcement Act. (For more information click here.) This is the first-ever federal law to provide protections for transgender people. Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Equality is one of the priority social justice issues for the UUA this year.
State legislation closely related to the above is the Minnesota Safe Schools for All Bill. (Click here for more information.) To help support this bill contact Stephanie Hazen at 651.644.4848 ext. 2.
* In the Spirit of Sankofa Part II: Protecting Our Communities & Promoting Peace Conference, May 2, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., in Minneapolis. Organized by Citizens for a Safer Minnesota and other Northside community groups. For registration information click here or see the SAC table during social hour.
* Volunteer opportunities on the SAC table:
- Project Homeless Connect, May 11
- Habitat for Humanity, June 22 - 26. All skill levels are welcome.
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UUA National News
The UUA released ground-breaking reports on Youth  Ministry and Mosaic Project Assessment. The reports invite all UUs to help build vibrant multigenerational, multicultural faith communities. Click here to learn more.
Of Interest to UUs
This weekend the Asian/Pacific Islander Caucus of DRUUMM will meet at FUS for its 7th annual conference. Click here for more information. Register for Camp StarTrail, a UU summer camp for all ages. Click here for more information. The theme speaker is Rev. Kendyl Gibbons. | |
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