Keynote Speaker: Rev. John Cummins, Minister Emeritus
Long-term members of the congregation, who joined 25 years ago or longer, were sent an invitation to attend a luncheon to be held at the former church at 5000 Girard. Please RSVP to Nancy Atchison at 612-798-1802.
The Sesquicentennial celebration kicked off on October 25 and 26, 2008, one year in advance of our actual anniversary, with "Faithful Founders and Free thinking Liberals: Launching our Celebration of 150 Years of Liberal Faith in Minneapolis." This enlightening and enlivening weekend of events began on Saturday with nearly 130 UUs assembled to hear presentations by three noted Unitarian Universalist theologians, ministers and historians. If you weren't able to attend or you were there but would love to read what these excellent speakers said, read on!!!!
The Rev. Dr. Paul Rasor, Unitarian Universalist minister, theologian and the Director of the Center for the Study of Religious Freedom at Virginia Wesleyan College, began with a presentation titled "Circumscribing Universalism: Navigating Some Universalist Shoals". Paul quoted Dr. Robert Cummins, former head of the Universalist church of American and father of our Minister Emeritus John Cummins, as saying "a circumscribed Universalism is unthinkable". Read Paul's presentation here.
Following Paul, the Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Strong, a raised Universalist, student of Universalist history and Unitarian Universalist minister of religious education spoke on "Universalism's Long and Proud History: Its people, theologies, scholarship and just plain quirkiness". Read her Narrative for a Romp through Universalist History, complete with dates and fascinating factoids.
The third speaker was John Hurley, the UUA archivist and Director of Communications. John got our history juices flowing by reading articles about our congregation's 50th and 100th anniversaries from the Universalist/Christian Leader, predecessor to UUWorld magazine. He talked about the importance of history in answering the questions what do we need to be reconciled to and what wounds need to be healed. Read John's presentation here.
On Sunday, Rev. Rasor preached on "Democracy Matters." Read his sermon here. Following the second service, Rev. Strong shared fascinating excerpts from Rev. Marion Shutter's ten sermon series on evolution, which he preached around the turn of the century to crowds of over a thousand. Rev. Shutter was minister of our congregation, then known as the Church of the Redeemer, from 1891 to 1939. You can read more about his ministry under Articles. Click here to read excerpts from his evolution sermons.
Thanks to everyone who helped make the Darwin Day program such a great success. Nearly 500 adults and children celebrated Darwin’s birthday with a piece of cake following the inspiring and enlightening worship services. Special thanks to John Jensen, Janice Hunton, the choir and Jim Riccardo for Darwin-related music; to Ben Cooper for his portrayal of Darwin and to Rev. Kate Tucker for her “Unfinished Business” sermon, which is now available as a podcast on the main www.firstuniv.org site under Resources & References. Many children helped to paint “Chuck,” a paper mache Galapagos tortoise created by the RE staff.
110 people gathered in the Social Hall after a catered lunch for a panel presentation on "Darwin, Science and Religion, Then and Now." Thanks to our panelists David Rhees, Ken Waters, Minister Emeritus John Cummins and moderator (and program chairperson) Kim Stelson for their fascinating presentations. Thanks also to sound specialist Frank Bacon and to Martha Joy and Barb Melom, lunch and clean up coordinators, and crew Polly Hudson, Geoff Lenox, Nancy McCall, Catherine Dorr, Joy Throm, Phyllis Stenerson, Gary Melom, Phil Burke, Joyce and Jim Sutherland, Mary Beth Hoelzer, Caren Stelson, Judy and Dick Carlson, Marlene Walth, Martha Joy, John Cushing, Cecilia Newton and David Thomas.
Darwin's groundbreaking work Origin of the Species was published the same year our church was founded. The Rev. Dr. Marion Shutter, our minister for 48 years, drew crowds of over a thousand for each of the ten sermons he preached on evolution in 1900. You can read excerpts from his sermons in the Articles page on this site, and on the Events page article about he October Kickoff workshop.
Darwin Day is celebrated around the world on or near February 12, Darwin's 200th birthday. Find more information about those events on the Darwin Day website.Click on Read More to see the press release announcing this event.
Lake Harriet BandshellCelebrate Justin Schroeder's beginning of ministry to our church at an
all-church family picnic following the service at the Lake Harriet
bandshell on August 23. The picnic will be a half-mile away at the
"Upper Lake Harriet" pavillion near 46th and Upton. See the flyer for
more details and how you can help. Bring everyone to join the fun and
kick off the next 150!
Eighty members who joined First Universalist Church before 1984 (25-year plus members) enjoyed a wonderful luncheon at the Girard church on Saturday, May 30. John Cummins gave the keynote address, and David Lauth provided musical entertainment. Thanks to Jenny Thomas and Carol Johnson for arranging a delightful experience, and AUW and youth from the Youth Cultural Exchange for serving and cleaning up. Twenty-five year members were invited to submit their memories of the church on this form. A few responses were included in the Sesquicentenial book. All will be archived as part of the church history.
Sunday, August 23rd at 10:00 AM
Reverend Kate Tucker, Justin Schroeder (our new senior minister), and Heidi Mastrud will be involved in the service based on our sesquicentennial theme -
Illuminate the Past, Celebrate the Present, Inspire the Future
Music by our own Rock Band
Rain or Shine this service will happen!
Please contact Pam Vincent if you can help: 952-888-6675 or
Tasks include
Helping with stage set-up
Ushering, collecting the offering
Serving water
Bringing Ice
Purchasing ice, paper cups
Bringing supplies from church to the Bandshell
Returning items to the church
Clean-up
Setting up and staffing the information table
Parking
-- Anyone can park at any meter where prices range from 50 cents to $1.25 per hour. Some meters have a time limit, so check carefully. Parking Pay Stations are available on a first-come, first served basis. If you have a Park Patron Parking Pass, you can park for free around the lake or in the bandshell parking lot.
A Sesquicentennial Celebration for All Ages
Sunday, August 23rd
PLACE: Beard's Plaisance Picnic Shelter, Lake Harriet, Minneapolis
DIRECTIONS: The picnic shelter can be reached from Upton Ave South at 46th Street or from the west side of Lake Harriet, south of the Bandshell above the tennis courts
TIME: 11:00AM - 2:00 PM (after our 10:00AM church service at the Lake Harriet Bandshell)
WHAT WILL BE HAPPENING: A festive afternoon with a potluck picnic, old fashioned games (3-legged race, water ballon toss, checkers), the May Pole dance, music by the Folk Band, a pie contest, and fun for all ages.
FOOD: Bring what you love to eat and something to share with others. Iced tea, water, and lemonade will be provided. We'll have ice cream cones for everyone.
Eco-friendly plates, cups, silverware, and napkins will be supplied.
PARKING: To reach Beard's Plaisance it is most convenient to park on either side of Upton Ave South or numbered streets leading to it around 46th Street.
ADDITIONAL INFO:
Any time after 9:00 AM there will be individuals at the picnic shelter so you can drop your cooler and other items before the church service. (Please label your coolers.) You can either walk or drive to the Bandshell and come back after the service.
The park has picnic tables and benches but maybe not enough room for all of us so you may want to bring something to sit on (folding chair, blanket, beach towel.)
In case of rain the picnic and activities will be held in the Social Hall at the church.
This event will be a great success if we have help with food, set-up, games and activities, decorations, clean-up. Please contact Katie Oberle to offer your help. kinderwoman@katieoberle.com or 952-285-1062
Thanks to all twelve talented bakers (See below) who submitted pies for the Pie Contest! All merit the Blue Ribbon Award. Pies were judged on Appearance, Texture & Consistency, Flavor & Taste, and Creativity & Presentation. Sean Doherty-Powell won the Best of Show with Cranberry Apple Walnut. First Place was garnered by Steve Oakley for his Raspberry/Blueberry Pie, and Sue Schiess took 2nd and 3rd Place honors with her Old Fashioned Coconut Cream Pie and Raspberry Ribbon Pie. Recipes are included here as submitted. More recipes will be posted as they are available. Judges were Carol Jackson, Chris Keane, Phil Burke, and Marcia Wattson. The question on everyone's lips was - "What do I have to do to be a judge?" Stayed tuned for next year's baking event!
2009 First Universalist Pie Contest Entrants
Trisha Bishop - Perfectly Smooth Pumpkin
Sean Doherty-Powell - Apple Cranberry Walnut
Karen/Barry Johnson - French Apple
Marisa Lamarca - Apple
Geoff Lenox - Key Lime
Carrie Mosborg - Rhubarb
Steve Oakley - Raspberry Blueberry
Sue Schiess - Green Tomato
Sue Schiess - Raspberry Ribbon
Sue Schiess - Coconut Cream
Julianna & MaryAnn Schroeder - Peach Cobbler
Craig Schulz - Blueberry
Bill Schulz, recently appointed interim director of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee and former president of Amnesty International, presented a workshop for members and friends of First Universalist on Saturday, April 17, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Social Hall. The workshop, titled "Could the Other Side Have a Point? Tackling Tough Issues of Public Ethics," was attended by 60 people from First Universalist.
Tagged: Inspire the Future
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