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In the Interim: 9/13/2019

meg-riley

It’s been my privilege to hold worship as central in my portfolio as part of the troika providing interim ministry to this congregation.  That’s why you see more of me in the pulpit than you do of Rev. Terri or Arif—I’m the minister for worship arts.

It’s been wonderful to work with the Worship Arts Ministry team, a strong team with great skills and devotion.  We meet monthly and dream, scheme, plot and plan what’s coming along.  We work closely with Paul Winchester and the Music Ministry team, Jennifer Zwick and the religious education folks.  And we could use more members!

If helping with worship in any way is an exciting idea for you, I encourage you to come to a half-day training on Saturday, September 28, 9 AM to noon, to reflect more about it.  Our team members don’t all stand up on the chancel—indeed some of them say they’d prefer having 3 root canals to doing that—but help in ways large and small, visible and invisible.  All kinds of different skills are necessary. Continue reading →

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From the Board: September 2019

September’s theme is “Expectations,” a theme of particular interest to me as a new board member. I’ve been a member of UUCM for over two years now, and have been so happy to find such a caring and welcoming community.

“Expectations” is a big word, with many resonances. What does the congregation expect of me in this new board role? What are the other board members’ expectations? And what about the interim ministerial team? I could quickly get overwhelmed—and not merely by a string of rhetorical questions.

Certainly, there are the basic expectations, like going board meetings and being an active member of church life. Those are obvious, and I’m sure there’s more to it than that. It’s good to expect things from each other, and to hold each other accountable, to hold oneself accountable. Continue reading →

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Social Justice Action Update: 9/15/19

UUCM’s Social Justice Ministry keeps members and friends informed about upcoming social justice events and activities of interest. We encourage you to participate and help build the congregation’s capacity to educate, serve, witness, and advocate for social justice. If you have a social justice event you would like to publicize, contact John Ziegenhagen.

EVENTS

Family Focus – On-Farm Gleaning: The Food Group is sponsoring a gleaning (harvesting otherwise unable-to-sell produce directly from farm fields). They are hosting shifts every Thursday morning from 10:30 am – 1 pm through November (first and third Thursday at Big River Farm in Marine on St. Croix and the second and fourth Thursday at Waxwing Farm in Webster MN). Families with children age 12 and older are welcome to attend. Volunteers will spend some time harvesting vegetables, and then wash them and prepare them for delivery to a local food shelf. Registration is available online.

Family Focus – Promoting racial equity at school: As children head back to school, it’s important to remember that schools can play an important role in promoting racial equity for youth. The University of Texas offers these recommendations for Equity Questions Every Parent Must Ask During Back-to-School Night. If you have concerns about your school’s educational or discipline practices, consider Embrace Race’s 5 Tips for Organizing Parents to Fight for Racial Equity at Their Children’s Schools.

Monday, September 16

Minnetonka Climate Initiative, 6:30 p.m., Minnetonka City Hall.  Come help urge the Minnetonka City Council to create a Climate Action Plan and Sustainability Commission with youth involvement.  Please RSVP to Judy Gregg at amelia42jg@gmail.com to indicate you can come and/or to get more information.

Friday, September 20

Global Climate Strike March. 11:30 a.m., St. Paul College, 235 Marshall Ave., St. Paul.  March to Capitol for a rally. School strikers are calling on young people, parents, workers, and all concerned citizens to join massive climate strikes and a week of actions. People all over the world will use their power to stop “business as usual” in the face of the climate emergency. Join young people in the streets to demand an end to the fossil fuel age and emergency action to avoid climate breakdown. 

Saturday, September 21

Destiny Hill Church Open House, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., 13207 Lake St. Extension, Minnetonka.  UUCM members have been invited to this open house. The church appreciated our members attending their worship service and for our support. Continue reading →

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Interfaith Outreach: 9/15/19

iocp-logo-1

Do Good, Feel Good, Look Good – Learn about volunteering at Resale Select

Join Interfaith Outreach’s Resale Select team on Sept. 25 from 12-1:15 p.m. for a private, behind the scenes tour of this unique boutique resale store powered by the community, for the community. Discover how you and your friends can join the close, family-like group of fun, engaging community volunteers! Lunch is included, so registration is required to attend this free event. Sign up by e-mailing your full name and number of guests to resaleselect@iocp.org or call 763-489-7549. Interfaith Outreach and its Resale Select store are located at 1605 County Road 101 N in Plymouth.

It’s not too Early! Sign up to Sponsor and Individual or Family

Each year, Interfaith Outreach’s Holiday Gift Program matches 500 Interfaith Outreach families of varying sizes with sponsors who provide gifts or financial support for gifts in December. Can you help make the holidays a little brighter for our neighbors? Visit iocp.org/holidaygift to learn more, become a sponsor or volunteer:

  • BECOME A SPONSOR – Sponsor registration is officially open – you will be matched with a family or individual by late October so we can provide you with their wish list. Learn more and sign up at iocp.org/holidaygift.
  • VOLUNTEER – Holiday Gift Program is 100% volunteer-led. Can you volunteer to help with family registration in October – November and distribution in December? View shifts and sign up at iocp.org/holidaygift. Thank you!

Continue reading →

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The UUCM Auction: An Annual Tradition

AuctionLogo2019The Auction is held each year to create a fun, community-building event for our members and friends, and to raise money for the UUCM General Fund. The 2019 edition of the Annual UUCM Auction, “Photo Safari”, is scheduled for Saturday evening, November 2, 2019. The doors open at 5:00 pm, the Silent Auction starts at 5:30pm and the Live Auction begins at about 7:00pm.

The Auction is one of the premier events on the UUCM Social Calendar, and our largest fundraiser. Last year we raised over $22,000 for the church.

Come join us as we celebrate and raise funds to help our church meet the needs of our community. All are welcome, and food, drink, music, and childcare will be provided 

So, what is the Auction all about? Continue reading →

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Annual Women’s Retreat: Register Now!

UPDATE: Learn more and register here!

Register for UUCM Annual Women’s Retreat
All Women-Identified Members and Friends of UUCM (ages 18-100) are invited to  attend our annual Women’s Retreat October 4th-5th, 2019 held at UUCM.
Highlights include opportunities to:

  • Learn new Spiritual Practices and share your favorites during small group activities including Journaling, Meditation, Crystals, and Nurtured by Nature.
  • Nourish yourself with good food from local caterers.
  • Contemplate Brene՛ Brown’s 10 Guideposts for Wholehearted Living.*
  • Relax and Unwind in a Yoga session or in the ‘Art Barn.’
  • Connect with other women, “in this disconnected world.”*
  • Be Reminded and Remind Others, “At the heart of whole- heartedness,we are worthy of Love and Belonging now. Right this minute, as is.”*

*From The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene՛ Brown.

The 2019 Women’s Retreat Planning Committee: Stephanie Siewert, Shelley Buss, Malia Brandt, and Lori Arnold.

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Sign Up Invitation: Board of Trustees Listening Sessions

CLICK HERE to sign up!

Sunday, Sept 29 and October 27 from 11:30am to 1:30pm
You are invited to sign-up for one of the listening sessions in which Board members will ask questions and listen carefully to your answers to gain a deeper and broader understanding of where the congregation is being called.  This will be a fun activity done in a World Café style where you’ll be able to share your views and interact with others in the congregation in small groups. Childcare and lunch will be provided. Sign-up online at the church website or in-person at the sign-up sheet in the Community Room. Please sign up early to get your preference! The due date for registration is Sunday, September 22.

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In the Interim: 9/6/2019

terri-burnorThroughout the summer, a group of congregational leaders, staff, and the interim ministry team, came together to imagine how UUCM’s mission and ends (the longer range goals of the congregation) could more intentionally be brought into the active work of the church. We engaged in study, reflection and conversations. We dreamt big, wrestled with how things are and how things could be, learned more about governance, asked hard questions with care, allowed space, and became clearer in the what and why behind all this hard work.

The end result was the creation of three areas of focus that UUCM’s core ministries will be accountable to for the 2019/2020 church year.  Continue reading →