This Sunday, May 13
9:30 a.m. FORUM:
"2012 Social Justice General Assembly, Phoenix and the Doctrine of Discovery"
In 2010, The Unitarian Universalist Association General Assembly (GA) was held in Minneapolis and a major issue of the Assembly was whether or not we should boycott Phoenix for the 2012 GA given the very harsh immigration law they had recently passed. The decision of the body was that we would accomplish more by holding a Social Justice GA in Phoenix in partnership with our local congregations and other organizations there working to reform attitudes and policies on immigration in Arizona and across the country. We, the delegates in Minneapolis, promised that we would commit to attending. FUS is sending its youth to Social Justice GA! A few other members have also committed to go. Part of what the GA will discuss is a resolution on the Repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery which has justified the European and American conquest of the world. The UUA would like congregations to discuss this doctrine so that we can take a stand at the GA. In addition, the GA is asking congregations to take local actions on Saturday, June 23 in a National Day of Witness and Service. Does FUS want to participate? Let's talk about it! Please join us as we look at what some of our members and youth will experience in Phoenix and discuss this important resolution of our association. Presented by Polly Peterson, FUS member and Board of Trustee Liaison for Denominational Affairs.
10:30 a.m. ASSEMBLY: "Given in Blessing"
Speaker: Rev. Dr. Kendyl Gibbons. Remember to bring a flower to contribute to our annual celebration of beauty, diversity, and community. No human enterprise so deeply expresses the capacity to sacrifice one's own interests in the service of another person's well-being as parenthood, and so we are called to respond with gratitude on this Mother's Day. At the same time, in a world where nearly 350,000 women and girls die every year from complications of pregnancy and childbirth, the Rachel project affirms that no woman should lose her life to create a new one. What is sacred in motherhood can never be compelled. A special collection in support of local families will be received at this Assembly, and we will welcome our newest Chalice Lighters.
Click here to view descriptions of upcoming Sunday programs.
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FUS Email Contacts
Religious Education
Unitarian FLASH Editor
Phone: 612-377-6608
Fax: 612-377-2151 |
Reminders
FUS Exchange Join our online community. For more information, click here. RE Registration Forms Due Be sure to complete your RE registration forms for next year. Click here for the forms. Sermon Audio Files Now you can listen to sermons anytime! MP3 recordings of most sermons are available now on the web site. Enjoy! Check it out here.
FUS Library The catalog of the contents of the FUS Library can be accessed through our web site, or by clicking here . Sponsorships YOU can sponsor flowers or refreshments for a Sunday morning service. Click HERE to learn more! Email Addresses All FUS email addresses now end with "@firstunitarian.org" NOT "@firstunitariansociety.org". Please update your addresses so your email will get delivered. 
FUS is now tweeting on a regular basis. Our handle is @fusminneapolis. Financial Information Current year pledge projections have a shortfall of nearly $10,000. If you haven't increased your pledge in recent years, now would be a wonderful time to ensure FUS remains financially stable. You can submit a revised pledge form to Will in the office weekdays or Sundays. Download the new pledge form here. FUS financial reports are available from Will Hegeman in the FUS office.
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Greetings from Mount Curve! 
Remember to bring a flower on Sunday for the Flower Celebration that will be a part of the service. Plan to participate in the FUS Annual Meeting this Wednesday, May 16.
And Tomorrow night, May 12, come to FUS for a fabulous concert by Roy Zimmerman. Read more below. Click here to view the FUS calendar, and scroll through the dates to see descriptions of upcoming Sunday programs.
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 | | Hope, Struggle and Change - Roy Zimmerman |
Roy Zimmerman Concert
Don't miss the Roy Zimmerman Concert tomorrow night, May 12 at 8:00 p.m. Roy's music is witty political satire and original. This would be the perfect Mother's Day Gift for that politically savvy mother - yours or someone else's. Five dollars from every ticket goes to help fund our youth going to G A. To hear a sample of his music click the video link above.
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Annual Meeting May 16
Join us for dinner at 5:45 p.m. followed by the FUS Annual Meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the Lower Assembly Hall on May 16. The Society's bylaws require that the membership meet annually to discuss and approve a variety of issues integral to the society, including approving new board members and next year's budget.
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Stewardship Update
Reminder from your Stewardship Committee: The Stewardship Campaign ends on May 16, 2012. Pledge forms can be found here. We look to enter next year with a solid budget to keep momentum as we have an interim minister and look to attract ministerial candidates. Please consider increasing your pledge in any amount. Any increases will go directly to the bottom line allowing expanded programming to segments of our membership that may be underserved. Thank you to everyone who has turned in their 2012-2013 Pledge forms and those that have increased their pledges this year!
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Project Homeless Connect
You can still volunteer for Project Homeless Connect at the Minneapolis Convention Center on Monday, May 14, the one-stop-shop with services for the homeless. Click here to learn more about the day and to learn how to volunteer.
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 MN AIDS Walk If you are under the age of 30 you have never known a world without HIV/AIDS. Join our FUS team to walk or come pledge your support at the AIDS Walk table downstairs in the Lower Auditorium after the May 13 service. The walk takes place on Sunday, May 20. For more information, contact Mibs Pearson. |
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Volunteers Needed
Do you enjoy having Thomas Lowry Park across the street from FUS? One way to show your appreciation is to volunteer to help with the soup lunch on May 20. The proceeds constitute our contribution to the Friends of Lowry Park, which helps to maintain it, and gives us status as recognized good neighbors by contributing to its upkeep. To volunteer contact Laney Ohmans.
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Humanist Poetry Group
Friday, May 25, 7:00 p.m.
This month, join us for the poetry of place, personal connections to specific geographic locations. As always, Audrey will bring a few poems on this topic from my collection. If you find a meaningful poem that speaks to the power of place, bring some copies to share for discussion. We meet in the FUS library. Light refreshments will be served. This event is a collaboration between FUS and the Humanists of MN. Facilitated by Audrey Kingstrom.
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Saying Good-bye There are a variety of events planned to say good-bye and celebrate Kendyl's ministry. Mark your calendars and join us!
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 Social Justice Internship
Each summer FUS organizes a Summer Social Justice Internship Program open to our youth. It's a combination of paid social justice work and periodic meetings with a volunteer adult mentor from our congregation. Several youth have expressed interest, but we need adult mentors. If you are interested in volunteering or learning more, see Adele Hansen or Jan Devor.
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FUS Members in Action
 | | Shine On Wirth Coop |
Three of our members are working hard to establish a food co-op in north Minneapolis: Deacon Warner, Jenny Warner and Pat Jordan. To see Deacon's short film about the co-op click here.
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 New Exhibit The exhibit now on view through June 2 in the Upper Foyer Gallery is Recent Work by the Thursday Painters: Gretchen Clemence, Pattie Dorf, Pegatha Hughes, Ruth Martin, Gay Moldow, Herbie Sewell, Cliff Wexler and Gloria Wexler. Please contact Gretchen Clemence with any questions.
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 Turn Our Kids Into Smugglers
The HUUmanists are asking people traveling to Phoenix for GA to bring a copy of one of the books banned in Arizona to help establish "underground libraries." The banned books include The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, Declarations of Independence by Howard Zinn, and The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child by Francisco Jimenez. We have a large group of youth going to this General Assembly which will be focused on immigrant rights and immigration reform. Let's give them each at least one book to smuggle into Arizona.
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Making Your Summer Plans?
Consider spending five days at Camp StarTrail in Nebraska. Our theme speaker, Rev. Nate Walker, is doing creative things at his church in Philadelphia. Come hear his vision for vibrant and relevant UU religious community. All housing is air-conditioned, and the company and the food are great! This summer's dates are July 29 to August 3, 2012. More information here.
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