This Sunday, March 24 9:30am FUS Foundation Board Presentation
10:30am Justice Sunday Speaker: Shannon Williams, FUS Social Justice Coordinator. Justice Sunday is a Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) program that focuses on upholding the inherent worth and dignity of every person through our power as consumers, specifically by protecting the rights of workers in the food system. Workers have the right to work in a safe environment, receive fair wages, and organize with dignity. Together with UUSC, you can act on a deep commitment to ethical eating and change the national conversation about how to create a truly sustainable food system.
|
FUS Email Contacts
Religious Education
Unitarian FLASH Editor
Phone: 612-377-6608
Fax: 612-377-2151 |
Reminders
Candidating Week
The FUS ministerial candidate will spend the week of April 7-14 at FUS, preaching sermons on both Sundays and spending time with FUS committees and groups getting to know people, answering questions and listening to concerns. Now is the time for FUS Committee Chairs and group leaders to schedule time with the candidate by contacting the Search Committee at search@firstunitarian.org with your request for a day and time (morning, afternoon, evening). Pot luck meals (breakfast, lunch or dinner) or dinners in member homes are encouraged. An FUS congregational meeting will take place on Sunday April 14 following the service to vote on calling the candidate.
Fee Waivers EVENTS. FUS has had a longstanding practice of waiving the entrance fee for staff who are working at that event. When donations are required for meals hosted after the service, first-time quests at that service are invited to the meal for no charge. Members who need to request a waiver for Sunday lunch events may do so by telling the person collecting money that they wish to have a waiver this time. FUS Exchange Join our online community. For more information, click here. Join Our Facebook Page! 
FUS Library The catalog of the contents of the FUS Library can be accessed through our web site, or by clicking here. The FUS Library is also on Facebook, click here to connect. Financial Information Download a pledge form here. FUS financial reports are available from Will Hegeman in the FUS office.
FUS Office Hours The FUS office is open Monday-Friday from 10am-4pm. Please call ahead if you need building access at other times: 612-377-6608. |
|
|
Greetings from Mount Curve!
Be sure to join us this Saturday, March 23, for the Service Auction. You can still buy tickets at the door; more information is available here. On Sunday, March 31 children will enjoy a cooperative Easter Egg Hunt and adults will hear Rev. Pam speak on A Humanist Perspective on Resurrection and Phoenix Rising. Click here to view the FUS calendar, and scroll through the dates to see descriptions of upcoming Sunday programs.
|
|
Setting the Table
Goal: $50,000 in increased or new pledges
We are a couple of weeks into our campaign, and have a promising first round of results. As of Monday March 18, 20% of our pledging households (45 of 219) have returned their pledge forms. Of the 45 who have returned their pledges, 26 households (58%) increased their pledges for a total increase of $9500. $9500 is almost 20% of the way towards our goal. Keep those pledge forms coming- we are setting the table for our future at FUS and a fully loaded table requires all of us!
|
Verifying Membership 
Watch for an email from FUS in your inbox next week seeking to verify your membership before the vote on the ministerial candidate in April, and the annual meeting in May. If you do not receive this email and you are a member of FUS, please contact the FUS office at 612-377-6608.
|
 Confluence "The question has come up this year, 'Is FUS an atheist congregation?' The recently unveiled statement of FUS purpose identifies the Society as a Unitarian Universalist Humanist congregation ... It does not specify any requisite set of beliefs." Click here to read more of this publication by the FUS Board of Trustees.
|
Liberal Parenting Discussion Group  Friday, March 22, 6:30-8:00pm Please join us for rich discussions on parenting topics that affect our daily lives. All discussions are free and open to the public - nonmembers are welcome! Light refreshments and childcare are provided.
Do Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny Celebrate Solstice? Facilitated by Clare Priest, Chris Tymchuck, and guest speaker, Jess Rosenfeld. During this session we will discuss how we choose which religiously based holidays to celebrate as humanist families and how we create and explain those celebrations. We will focus on generating a variety of thoughtful and intentional approaches to holidays that are authentic to our families' values and beliefs, as well as discussing constructive responses to societal, and often family, pressure to celebrate certain holidays in certain ways. For more information click here. |
Service Auction 
Saturday, March 23, 5:00pm
The Service Auction promotes a sense of community within the congregation. It also serves to raise funds for worthwhile causes both in our congregation and in our wider community. The night is fun for all who attend with events including live and silent auctions, live music, food, and drinks. Items sold at the auction include donations from the congregation and the local business community. Tickets are $25 at the door. Click here for more information.
|
Monthly Poetry Group
Friday, March 29, 7:00-9:00pm
Please join UUs and humanists for another evening of poetry reading and discussion. This month our theme is "sacrifice." What have poets had to say about this ancient and multifaceted concept? If you find a poem on the topic to share, bring enough copies for the group (8-10 should do). Or just come to participate in the discussion. Light refreshments will be served. Facilitated by Audrey Kingstrom.
|
 Cooperative Egg Hunt
Sunday, March 31
Celebrate with us! Join the traditional FUS cooperative Easter egg hunt in Seven Pools Park, followed by parachute games inside. The park may be muddy/cold, so please dress your kids with boots and coats! We hope to do the hunt outside if at all possible! |
The Alliance Meets 
Wednesday, April 3
Our program at 11:00am features Sandra Brick, an expert on women inventors and a textile artist, speaking on "Women Inventors Change the World?" Luncheon follows the program. Click here to see the Alliance web page for more information.
|
|
 Film Screening
Tuesday, April 9, 7:00pm
"Two Who Dared" is the story of Waitstill and Martha Sharp, an American Unitarian minister and his wife who boldly committed to a life-threatening mission in Europe to help save imperiled Jews and refugees at the onset of World War II.
|
FUS Orientation Series 
Sundays, April 21 and April 28
These sessions provide newcomers an opportunity to learn more about our Society, our religion, our history, our philosophy and purpose, and how we function. It's a chance to meet and hear from staff and long-time members and leaders in the congregation. You'll also meet others who are engaged in the same search you are. And you don't have to be a newcomer! Everyone is welcome! Childcare can be arranged with at least one week's notice. There will be a sign up sheet available at the Welcome table in the Lower Assembly Hall during Sunday social hour. If you would like to attend and/or you have questions regarding this series or about membership, please feel free to contact Membership Director Wendy Reynolds at 612-377-6608, ext. 110.
|
FUS Gives
The First Unitarian Society raised $1200 for MCTC's Students Against Hunger and Homelessness organization during the February 17 assembly. FUS member Shannon O'Brien delivered the check to the students and they were thrilled!
|
 Childcare for FUS Events
Whereas FUS has made a commitment to provide childcare for all FUS events, such childcare may be facilitated as follows:
The event coordinator will:
- Contact the office to obtain a list of approved providers and rates of pay; and make arrangements for childcare with the provider of their choice.
- Submit to the office a check request approved by program staff/chair; check request forms can be obtained in the office.
|
Prairie Star District Conference 
April 5-7, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
There is something for everyone at the Prairie Star District UU Annual Conference: Inspire the Future We Envision. Highlights include two major lectures, 24 workshop selections, children's activities, and a youth-led worship service. Friday night ends with a celebration of PSD's 50th anniversary, while Saturday night closes with entertainment by an acoustic blues guitarist. Sunday features the conference choir at the closing worship service. The business meeting will include voting on becoming a region.
Information about the Conference and registration is available here.
|
Save the Date 
The Annual Meeting is coming, so save the date of May 15. The meeting will start with a dinner at 5:30 followed by a business meeting at 6:30. The board will be giving an update on our goals and there will be a vote to approve the next budget. If there are resolutions for consideration please contact either Bruce Nelson or Mike Illes so they can be included in the annual meeting packet to members.
|
GA Registration and Housing Now Open! 
Registration for General Assembly (GA) June 19-23, 2013 in Louisville, KY is now open! Click here for registration information and rates. The UUA also is now accepting hotel reservations for GA 2013. Click here to use the online reservation system to book, modify, or cancel hotel reservations.
|
Or Emet's Passover Seder Celebration
Saturday, March 30, 5:00-8:00pm at FUS
You are invited to a Humanistic service with traditional Passover foods and potluck buffet. There is a small fee for visitors. Make reservations March 10-25 (or until limit reached) online here. Questions? Contact Joan Barnett.
|
|
|
|
|
