On Sunday, November 20 a Congregational Meeting was held to vote on this motion: "The Congregation authorizes the Board of Trustees to receive and solicit financial contributions for the purpose of evaluating congregational support for the possibility of adding a second ordained minister to the staff of the Society."

 

There were 120 members of FUS in attendance with 96 voting yes and 24 voting no to the above motion. The meeting not only answered the question of whether to move forward with a fundraising plan for a second minister, it was also a great moment when ideas, concerns, and congregational needs were raised in front of a large number of members.  

 

Frequently asked questions (and their answers) about the second minister process is available online here.   

 

More information about the vote and the next steps is online here.  

 

 

During the month of November you can bring new or gently used and clean coats, hats, scarves and ski gloves to the Upper Foyer at FUS on Sunday mornings. Most needed are coats; dark knitted caps and ski-type gloves for men; and lengths of 60 inch polar fleece cut in 12 inch lengths, in plain, dark colors, such as black, navy and brown.

You will be tempted by tables laden with delicious, homemade goods and hand-crafted holiday gifts all made by FUS members who donate their talents and time and save you time for other things. All of the sale proceeds are used for projects at FUS. Bring your friends and stock up for the holiday season. Cash and checks are readily accepted.

 

 

December 2-4 

Creating a Culture of Peace (CCP) 

CCP offers interactive training - not lectures and lots of reading - on the principles, practice and skills of active nonviolence for change.

 

Sponsored by Veterans for Peace #27 and MN Fellowship of Reconciliation and facilitated by Elliott Adams, National President, Veterans for Peace and  Janet Chisholm, CCP Founder-Director & WAMM Board Member.  For more information click HERE. 

The Memorial Blood Centers Bloodmobile will be at FUS on Sunday, December 11, from 8:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. To make an appointment, contact Curt Dederich OR to make an appointment online, go to www.mbc.org/searchdrives and enter 9874 as the sponsor code. Then click on the event date to register. Please register by December 9. Eligibility question? Call the MBC nurse at (651) 332-7208. Thank you!

Midwinter Revels,  

Wednesday, December 21
Ticket on sale now!  

Share this wonderful humanist celebration of the season with family and friends! Volunteers are needed to help with the festive dinner, Midwinter Revels program and children's activities. Visit the Solstice table in the Lower Assembly Hall during Social Hour, click here for more information, or email seasonalcelebrations@firstunitarian.org.

Next Sunday will begin the special seasonal RE activities:

 

November 27: Children first go to service and then Jan Devor will lead a UU Advent Calendar project for K-5. Six and seventh grades should go to service with parents as part of their Neighboring Faiths experience. 

 

December 4 and 11: K-7 will be taking part in the "Hands for Peace" project. The Northern Clay Center will be coming in to lead a clay project. These projects will be sold on December 18 to fund the Deaf Connection. 

 

 

 

December 18: Kendyl and Jan will be doing a service for all ages. 

 

December 25: There will be a service here, but no childcare or groups on this day or on January 1.

 

January 8: RE Program begins for the Winter Term.   

 

For an examination of why the "Occupy" movement may not speak to people of color, and how various communities have responded read Native Appropriations' thought-provoking blog post here:  (from Catalyst, the newsletter of Multicultural Growth & Witness Regarding Racial and Ethnic Concerns).