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Minnesota Valley Unitarian
Universalist Fellowship
A liberal religious congregation in the Minneapolis area If the Menu on the Left Hasn't Appeared |
| FELLOWSHIP NEWS Home | Calendar Updated August 23 2010 |
Board of
Trustees & Staff News
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This fall you will be seeing a new face around MVUUF, our ministerial intern for the church year, Robert Bledsoe. Bob is a student at United Theological Seminary and will be joining us on a quarter-time basis to both observe and participate in the life of MVUUF. This is an important service to the future of Unitarian Universalism, since United Theological Seminary is not a UU institution, and is therefore unable to prepare UU students for the—shall we say—“peculiarities” of UU congregational life. United Theological Seminary has several UU students each year, and those students need the help of local churches in their education. By the way, congregations in Wayzata and Fridley will be joining us as new internship sites for this year. Bob won’t just be here to learn. Having an intern who is immersed in the newest theological and church-management thinking will be a boon for MVUUF as well. Besides, like all UUs, Bob has his own story of wrestling with religious understanding. Speaking of which, please note that MVUUF member and United Theological Seminary seminarian Kelly Hughes is on the same path as Bob. Kelly will be an intern at Associated Church in Owatonna this year. We won’t see much of her, but when she is able to visit, give her a big hello and find out how she is navigating the waters of being a UU in a liberal Christian church. You will have plenty of opportunities to get to know Bob. We will formally welcome him during the Water Communion service on the twelfth of September. Top of Page |
Information on Minister Office Hours - Minister Links to Minister's Sermons MVUUF Book Discussion Blog |
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We have excellent material for each group of children and youth and a dynamite group of caring, experienced teachers. Our long-time nursery care provider, Meagan Gosinger, will be back to take good care of the youngest ones. Preschool will continue downstairs in the yellow room across from the kitchen, which has much more space, and this group will be our chalice children. First and second graders will be in the orange room and will explore around our church and learn about some fascinating Unitarian Universalists. Third and fourth graders will have many hands on experiences in the green room as they learn about eight famous Unitarian Universalists, including Dorothea Dix, Theodore Parker and Lewis Latimer. In the purple room, fifth and sixth graders will have a new curriculum, Amazing Grace, Exploring Right and Wrong, from the Unitarian Universalist Association. The Junior High will be learning about our Neighboring Faiths and visit places of different faiths. In the Senior High comfy room they will explore the Unitarian Universalist local Twin Cities scene. All this will be happening Sunday after Sunday with our wonderful volunteer teachers. Take time to talk to each other and reconnect. Introduce yourselves to the teachers and fellow children and renew those friendships. Come downstairs to the family corner, have some treats and say hello. I am really looking forward to see you and your children soon. Top of Page |
DRE Biography DRE Office Hours |
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The clear message I took away from our recent General Assembly is that Unitarian-Universalism is not simply a theology of rejection. We are an affirming people with an affirming faith. But affirmation demands courage, creativity, and community in a world where angry, power-hungry people spew hatred and fear in the name of religion. Sadly for many Unitarian-Universalists, words from the religion of their youth – “faith,” “worship,” “spiritual” – still have power to anger them. They continue to let other religions define the terms. That control is so strong they even avoid using these words, many of which have definitions that are probably acceptable to most of us. Faith is simply “that which one believes.” Spiritual includes “everything that affects the human spirit.” Forrest Church, a long-time minister at New York’s All Souls Unitarian-Universalist Church, wrote in¬ The Cathedral of the World: a Universalist Theology, . . . (T)he word “God” has shrunk from repeated use, but we can always stretch it again. If you can’t manage to do this –¬- the G-word fitting your mind . . . like a straitjacket . . . -– then simply substitute another. “Spirit” may work for you, “the sacred” or “the holy” or “higher power.” As long as the object of your reverence is large enough, it doesn’t really matter, not at all. MVUUF Bylaws direct our Board of Trustees to envision what might make our church community stronger and richer. As part of that responsibility, the Board at its last meeting issued a challenge to each of us, a theme for our coming church year, to “Find our Unitarian-Universalist Voice.” Many of us know little about each other’s beliefs; we may even be unsure of our own. Take a risk this year. Now and then -- over coffee, at meetings, in or out of church -- ask MVUUF friends how they define some of the terms commonly used by other religions. Then listen, really listen. Share your own views. But don’t judge or critique each other. Above all, resist the temptation to straighten out the poor, misguided soul you’re talking to. And don’t let anger lingering from a former religion control you. Top of Page MVUUF VISION STATEMENTS Within
MVUUF is a place where people of all ages find what they need to grow into their wholeness through:
Among
MVUUF is a place where people feel they belong by:
Beyond
MVUUF is a place where people live their liberal and religious values
in the world by:
A Personnel Policy Manual drafted by Tom Traub, Personnel committee chair, and approved by the Board of Trustees is now in place and available from the Office Manager for anyone hiring staff at MVUUF. An extensive Policies, Procedures and Governance Handbook is available from the office manager or from the MVUUF website. Bylaws, Board approved policies, governance information, Committee Purpose and Responsibilities are now all in one convenient location for new or existing members, leadership and the public to view. Many thanks to those who helped pull this together Top of Page |
MVUUF Board of Trustees - Who, What Board of Trustees Meetings .. |
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We warmly welcome George Fairman’s daughter, Sally Mills, to the soprano section of the choir. She is just what we need – a warm soprano voice and a good reader. We in the choir were saddened to hear of the death of George’s dear wife and Sally’s mother, Phyllis. We know that music is very important to George and Sally and we hope our singing together will help the healing for both of them. In late September, we will be purchasing some new Orff instruments and they will be used at our Holiday Music Sunday in December. We have also hired Jody Petter, who has worked with the youngsters and the instruments a few times. She has agreed to start a kids’ choir and will will also work with the Orff instrument kids at 9:30 December 12 (Music Sunday) in preparation for a performance that day. We plan to hire Jody again in the spring for the Spring Music Sunday. If you have been thinking about joining the choir or chorale, please do so NOW! The choir rehearses every Wed., at 6:30-7:30 and every Sunday morning from 9:15-10:15. You don’t have to read music but you do have to sing in tune and have a blending voice. We look forward to your joining us! Top of Page |
Minister of Music Biography To Music Page Minister of Music Celebration Music Committee |
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When attending Sunday services or any of our many other activities at MVUUF, please wear your name badge. We are large enough that we don’t know everyone. Find out why someone has a colored circle next to their name that is different than yours. If you need a new name badge, sign up on the clipboard in the downstairs hallway. If you are interested in more information about Unitarian Universalism, its history, about membership or have questions, consider attending one of the 9-10 am Sunday morning discussion groups or membership classes. Check the Silent Announcements and website for more information and/or pick up one of the pink flyers “MEMBERSHIP at MVUUF” Every Sunday morning we need at least two Greeters at the front door and two Ushers outside of the Sanctuary. Please sign up to do each of these jobs at least once during the 2010-2011 year. A family could do it together. During the Social time after services, most people enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and probably sample the treats set out. Please sign up to help set up, clean up afterwards and bring refreshments. If everyone/family took at turn, we can continue to have beverages and treats. UU Books for Sale Thanks to a donation from our MVUUF Women’s Group, we are starting a small Book Table (book store) here at MVUUF with books relating to our liberal religion. Some of the books are written with children in mind. We plan to expand the selection as we go along. So, if you are looking for more information on Unitarian Universalism (UU), or you are looking for help in articulating to others what Unitarian Universalism is or means to you, we currently have these four choices:
Top of Page Name Tags / Badges – Please wear your name badges when you are at the Fellowship. They also have your town listed. See if you can find others who live in your town and/or near you. If we do not have a name badge for you on the rack by the elevator, please request one on the clipboard downstairs. If your children would like a name badge like yours, also sign them up for one. For safety reasons, we will not print their town on the badge. Welcome Our Visitors Typically, when visitors come to MVUUF, they are greeted at the table in the entryway as they come in, asked to sign a visitor card and given a generic nametag. Also, visitors are encouraged to introduce themselves during the service. Please introduce yourselves to them and make them feel welcomed! We sometimes get newcomers who bypass the table and / or don’t feel comfortable standing during the service to introduce themselves. If you become aware and recognize that someone is a newcomer and you have made them feel welcomed, please point them out to the Membership Committee as we are eager to touch base with them and build on the positive impression you’ve already created. Top of Page |
If Your Postal or Email Address Has Changed. HOSPITALITY Some Easy Ways To Get Involved At MVUUF |
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The MVUUF library has recently received some very generous donations from members. Of particular interest are the many religious reference books Scott Werdal gave us as a permanent loan. These include a fabulous collection of nearly all of existentialist Paul Tillich's books! Scott also donated the Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible. & IDB Concordance as well as A History of Lutherans and Religion. Thanks, Scott! We also have a donation of several books including ones on the Druids, Earthway: A Native American Visionary's Path to Total Mind, Body, and Spirit Health by Mary Summer Rain and the Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. The books in the MVUUF library are available for loan. Just sign the book out and return it within a week or two. (03/07) A film series Nonviolent Conflict: A Force More Powerful" is available in our fellowship library. It was purchased for a just completed Adult Religious Education class to study Strategic Nonviolent Action. The class concluded that SNVA isn't appropriate for every conflict, but it has the potential to be successful in more situations than we had previously realized. The two tapes contain six 30-minute segments on the use of strategic nonviolent conflict in the American civil rights struggles of the 1960's; the independence struggles of Gandhi and his followers in India in the 1930's; the struggles against apartheid in South Africa in the 1980's; the resistance movement during the German occupation of Denmark in the 1940's; the Polish Solidarity movement in the 1980's; and the nonviolent overthrow of Augusto Pinochet in Chile in 1988. The tapes are appropriate family viewing for teenagers and their parents. For more information on the tapes and on strategic nonviolent action in the 21st century see A Force More Powerful, The Albert Einstein Institution, and International Center on Nonviolent Conflict. New Books in the Library 10/06: Marilyn Boe has donated a compilation of her poetry to our library. The MVUUF library has received two new book donations that are sure to be wonderful additions. The first is Living with Chronic Pain: the complete health guide to the causes and treatment of chronic pain by noted pain specialist Jennifer P. Schneider, M.D., Ph.D. It offers expert advice and guidance in everyday language on symptoms, causes, and treatments. The second book is The Gifts of Caregiving: stories of hardship, hope, and healing by Connie Goldman. This book has conversations with more than thirty caregivers, including Dana Reeve (wife of actor Christopher Reeve) and Rosalynn Carter. Please stop by the library shelves in the Fellowship Hall to check out one of our new books. Books in lending library:
Video tapes, all with printed study guides. Many thanks to Floyd Olson for giving us the following .
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MVUUF Social Justice Library |
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The MVUUF Aesthetics Committee does many jobs around the church building. The most enjoyable are hanging artwork, decorating for the holidays and arranging flowers. The hardest job is making sure our building is attractive. The Aesthetics Committee has been charged by the Steering Committee to choose or approve all furnishings for the entire building (excluding the RE classrooms.) Simply put, when anything comes into the building that will be put up for display (excluding bulletin board items) or will be a permanent addition, the Aesthetics Committee should be consulted. Although we’d prefer not to be known as MVUUF Style Police, our goal is to try to keep the building looking good and at the same time, help committees promote their projects. On January 21, 2004, the Aesthetics Committee recommended to the Steering Committee that no sales or promotions take place in the entry level of the building. This recommendation came after many voiced their dismay at the appearance of the entry. The Steering Committee authorized the Aesthetics Committee to set the policy. This policy was not widely publicized outside of the Steering Committee, but as our MVUUF population grows and becomes more active, our members need to know about how to best promote their projects. Prior to that decision, the entry often became congested with sales tables and sign ups. There was the concern that newcomers and visitors would feel as though they had walked into K-Mart! This has not always been a popular decision - MVUUF committees are passionate about their causes and want to share their enthusiasm with everyone. Committees often feel that the best way to promote a cause is for people to see it as soon as they enter the building; there is concern that the impact of their ideas will be lost in the congestion of the lower level. The Aesthetics Committee, then, tries to balance requests for displays upstairs and down. The white board was purchased to direct members to sales, displays and committee projects. We try to maintain safe exits and prevent congestion. We try to give equal space to committee projects both upstairs and down. We try to respect the dignity of the space outside the sanctuary - it can get to be a juggling act! This article was written to thank committees that check with the Aesthetics Committee before putting up a display and as a reminder that there is a policy regarding placement of tables, easels, posters, items for sale and art work at MVUUF. So far, the MVUUF Style Police has not had to write any citations this year and we’d like to keep it that way! Top of Page |
Flowers for Sunday Morning Services |
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Micro-Loan Program and Minister's Discretionary Fund MVUUF has two funding programs available for its members. The first is the Micro-Loan Program. Under the supervision of the minister and with assistance from the chair of the Laity Caring Committee, the maximum amount for the program is $75.00, with no restrictions on how the funds are used. (The request for the loan is made to the minister and is completely confidential.) While there is a clear expectation that members pay back the loan, no specific time table or deadline is assigned. (We recognize these loans are for a small amount, but may help offset emergency needs.) In addition, MVUUF members may make donations to the micro-loan program. For further information on donating funds, please see either Don or Kathy Allen. The minister also has at his disposal a discretionary fund, which allows him to issue emergency funds to members. No repayment of these funds is expected. The minister may work with the member to seek out other possible solutions and/or resources prior to issuing the funds. See . Don Rollins with questions or requests. Top of Page |
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We have a treat! Rev. Frank Dreisbach has gifted our Archives with a set of his thoughtful meditations offered at MVUUF between 1998 and 2010. The tome, “Frankly Speaking” Creating Ourselves, is beautifully printed and bound by Staples in Roseville. Staples will keep this set in their computer for a while. If you wish to own your own copy, let me know and I will order from Rev. Dreisbach. The cost is $13.00. --Beverly Schmidt, Archivist Donna Kopnick submitted this "did you know" to Archives a few years ago. Have you ever wondered if the logo on the header of our newsletter has any special meaning? I have, so I asked the person responsible, Barbara Gudmundson, former member here at MVUUF, to explain her thinking when she designed the logo. She said she wanted an honest depiction of the Minnesota River valley, so the logo shows the different slopes of the valley, from north to south, with the river in the middle, just as the glacier formed it. And to show our fellowship's allegiance to the Unitarian Universalist Association, Barbara put that statement along the valleys outline. She then asked member Jane Parrish to use her artistic skills to polish and complete the design. AUDIO TAPES – Sunday Services Tapes of Sunday services may be borrowed for a short time from the church office. . Be sure to sign your name to a slip of paper when you borrow a tape. They are kept in the Archives for the future. Top of Page |
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Upcoming Activities: Annual End-of-Year Picnic Top of Page |
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Pride Weekend coincides with General Assembly, June 26-27. Standing on the Side of Love for Marriage Equality: An Interfaith Public Witness Event will be Saturday, June 26, noon, in Loring Park. Or you can watch the parade with other Unitarian Universalists (UU). Each UU congregation in the Twin Cities has been assigned a corner to gather and cheer. Ours is 10th St. at Hennepin. Join our group there 10:30 am Sunday, June 27th.. Top of Page |
Welcoming Congregation Page Informational Links UUA video which makes clear the support of people of faith for marriage equality. We have two pictures in the video. Can you spot them? |
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Be sure to check Silent Announcements and the website for new offerings in book discussions, creativity or other stimulating adventures. If you have ideas about things we should do, or a workshop or class you would like to lead please let me know. Keely@ unique-software.com
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For those of you who elected to pay your monthly pledge with an automated deduction from your checking account, the first payment was deducted on July 15th. Subsequent payments will be deducted on the 15th of every month. If you were previously enrolled in automated pledge payments and changed your pledge amount for the fiscal year beginning July 1st, the new amount will be deducted beginning July 15th. Our expenses continue through the summer, so please keep your pledge current. You can enroll in the automated payment program at any time. If you are interested, just email me at lalundborg@hotmail.com and I’ll send you the registration form. Top of Page Fund Raising for MVUUF Don’t forget that there are two ways you can raise funds for MVUUF without much effort. First, remember to use GoodSearch and GoodShop for your internet searches and online purchases including travel. Complete information about how to do that is at GoodSearch and GoodShop. Second, once you’ve made those travel plans using GoodShop, don’t forget to use the MVUUF chauffer service to get to the airport. There are volunteers in each area served by MVUUF who will be happy to give you a ride. See the list of drivers. Taxis are expensive, and giving a donation to MVUUF for the amount you would have spent on the taxi is a great way to help the Fellowship and have a pleasant conversation on the way to the airport. Top of Page Top of Page Minimum Contribution for Membership The bylaws of the Fellowship state that qualifications for membership include “making the minimum contribution of record to the current operating budget by January 1st of each year.” The Board of Trustees has determined that this minimum contribution of record is $100 per member. Although the total cost of operating the Fellowship is approximately $1,000 per member, this minimum amount is intended to reflect the incremental, out-of-pocket cost for each person on the membership role. It includes the amounts we pay to Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations and the Prairie Star District for each member as well as administrative expenses such as mail boxes, copying, mailing and so forth. It does not include costs such as salaries, religious education, program, and building expenses which comprise the majority of our expenditures. Top of Page |
FUNDRAISERS Airport Chauffeur Service  |
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The idea behind the Book is easy: take a book that interests you and replace it with one you're done with. Help the fellowship's book lovers by donating your old books! Just drop them off on the Book shelves. We currently have fiction and non-fiction books but very few children's books. Top of Page |
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About Acronyms What does RE mean? Or DRE? Or UU? Or Board? Who is David? Who is Janet? If you've been around for a while, you may think, "Well, everybody knows that!" . BUT, remember that we have lots of new people coming through our doors. All they hear or see is the acronym, and acronyms make people feel like outsiders. When you address the congregation in any venue – Sunday service, the Uni-Sun (our newsletter), articles on the website, silent announcements, sign-up sheets downstairs, etc., please say or write the following: Religious Education. Director of Religious Education. Unitarian Universalist. Board of Trustees. Rev. David Breeden. Our office manager Janet Stevens. The extra syllables are worth it to make visitors feel welcome. Now You Can Search the MVUUF Website Have you found it frustrating to find a particular item on the MVUUF website (www.mnvalleyuu.org) these days? Check out the new search capability available from the Home page. Try some searches and send comments and questions to webmaster@mnvalleyuu.org. I would especially like to hear from 1) those who find the capability useful and 2) those who have problems with it. Searching was added in response to requests from members. Although right now it can only be done from the Home page, if I hear that people find it useful, the search box will be added to other pages, and the feature will be enhanced. Keep Your Email Address Up-to-Date MVUUF is communicating to members more and more by email including important information on the business of the Fellowship. Email is quick and convenient, and it saves us money. Please be sure the email address you've given MVUUF is one that you check often. If you need to change the email address that MVUUF uses, send the new address to our office manager, Janet Stevens, at office@mnvalleyuu.org. MVUUF Facebook Account For members of the congregation who are into online social networking Bill Balcziak has started an MVUUF group on Facebook to connect members and friends of the MVUUF community. He hopes that it becomes an active, interesting group where people can interact with others and help spread the word about this amazing congregation. You need a free Facebook account to join this online group; get the account at Facebook. Then sign in to Facebook and type “MVUUF” in the Search box to find the group and join it. For additional information e-mail Bill. Top of Page |
Tips for Communicating at MVUUF |
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Many thanks go to Eva Mach and Metro Communication, the company she runs, for our improved sound system. Eva donated equipment and expert personnel from her company. Thanks to her generosity, we now have a greatly improved sound system! --Jerry, “The Sound Man,” Gilliand Top of Page |
MVUUF Energy Audit (PDF) |
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MVUUF is governed by a seven member Board of Trustees. In May at the annual meeting, two Trustees at Large and a Chair-Elect will be proposed for 2-year terms on the Board beginning July 1, 2010. The board meets monthly and is responsible for setting policies, directing the administration of the Fellowship, long-range planning, and providing direction and support to committees and committee chairs. The Chair-Elect facilitates the Program Council and becomes Chair the following year. The Treasurer keeps financial records of the Fellowship and performs other financial duties as detailed in the bylaws. If you’d like to know more about trustee responsibilities and being nominated to the Board, please call Mary Woodward-Kreitz, Nominating Committee Chair, at 651-322-2791 or email her at mwk@usfamily.net. Top of Page |
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Now, it is getting close to Summer. School will be finished, and everybody will be going their separate ways for much needed rest and relaxation.But before we go our ways, I would like to invite the Junior and Senior High Youth to a Night of Games and Discussion, Saturday June 5, 2010, 5:00 -8:00 PM. This evening, we will play games, eat good food, and talk about some activities for the summer. For the meal, there will be meat, vegetarian, and gluten free selections available. Come with ideas of things you would like to do over the summer as a group from MVUUF. Possibilities include, but are not limited to, a lock-in, cook out, camping trip, Mall of America treasure hunt, day trip to Valley Faire, etc… Parents are welcome to come to this event, too! Your advice will come in handy while coming up with ideas and scheduling. If you plan to come to this event, please let me know on one of the up coming Sundays. I will also be making phone calls in the next couple of weeks. Remember the date, Saturday June 5th 5-8 PM. Thank you for a wonderful year! Top of Page |
Youth Coordinator Biography |
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Minister of Music |
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 For the past eight years, MVUUF’s garden has been a work in progress. In 1999, landscape designer Ginny Christiansen laid out the original plan, one that reflected her love of Minnesota prairies. Then Ginny moved east, leaving development of her plan to Becky McPeek and Beth Smith who, she says, expanded and enriched it, adding primarily native shrubs and perennials to create a colorful frame for the building. Other MVUUF members have gotten involved, donating benches, sometimes watering and dedicating memorials to help the garden grow. Becky McPeek, a University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener, began working with the garden in 2002. “I was interested in having a peace pole. I wanted it to be part of something spectacular,” she said. So the first year, Becky and Beth focused on plantings around the peace pole and a welcoming congregation sign. The second year, they added more plants to attract birds and butterflies, creating an official Monarch butterfly waystation financed in part by the MVUUF women’s group. The third year, Becky built a labyrinth behind the building. By year four, the garden had matured enough to require only occasional watering or weeding or the replacement or addition of a plant here and there. Last year, the congregation planted a Pagoda Dogwood tree in the garden to commemorate MVUUF’s 40th anniversary. A lovely magnolia planted by the front entry last fall bloomed for the first time this spring. “Beth’s a meadow person,” says Becky. “I like more open spaces.” Evidence of both styles can be seen in the garden. The strip along Zenith Ave. is filled with plants, many of them from Beth’s home garden. Plants multiply and reseed, needing only occasional dividing or weeding to stay beautiful. The labyrinth laid out in the back of the church is Becky’s work. Spiraling pavers are edged with Lemon thyme. This peaceful shady area includes a bench for quiet meditation. In 2006, Ginny returned to Minnesota. She was thrilled to return to the fellowship and to see the garden she envisioned had been planted and expanded. Today, the garden blooms with hydrangeas, phlox, monarda, daisies, delphinium, butterfly weed, hollyhocks and baby’s breath. Birds and butterflies visit the garden regularly. Thanks to an application filed by Alicia Williams, the garden is an official Audubon reserve. It’s a wonderful place to recharge spiritual batteries until the congregation gathers again in the fall. Top of Page |
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HOW CAN I REMEMBER MVUUF IN MY WILL? There are multiple ways to leave a legacy gift to MVUUF in your will, based on what is best for you. You have the ability to use any of these methods: 1) Leave a stated dollar amount 2) Leave a stated percentage 3)Gift the remainder of your estate after your heirs have received a stated dollar amount or income 4)Leave a gift to create a charitable remainder trust that will pay income to your heirs until their death with the remainder amount going to MVUUF 5)Leave a gift to create a charitable lead trust which will pay MVUUF income for a stated number of years, after which the remainder goes back to your heirs As you can see, there are multiple ways to remember MVUUF in your will and the best part is you always have the ability to change how your gift is structured while you are alive. For more information on how you can remember MVUUF in your will or other ways you can benefit the Fellowship and our endowment, please contact Bob Boucher Chair of the Endowment Committee. RECEIVE INCOME FOR LIFE…AND SUPPORT THE FUTURE OF MVUUF Lifetime Income – A meaningful gift You can establish a GIFT ANNUITY by donating just $5,000 or more to MVUUF(through the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations.) In return you’ll receive a fixed payment each year, quarter or month for the rest of your life. You may choose to receive payments immediately or receive a higher fixed rate by deferring them to a later date. The payments can be made for one person’s life or multiple people. Reduced Taxes A portion of your donation is eligible for an immediate income-tax deduction, and part of the annuity payments are tax free. Plus, you can reduce or defer capital gains taxes by donating appreciated securities. You get peace of mind and a fixed-rate income for life and create a legacy for the future health of our beloved fellowship. Remember, leaving a legacy that perpetuates our UU values will help ensure that future generations have the same opportunities we have enjoyed. What could be better than getting a tax break and partially tax-free income for paying it forward? For more information about Gift Annuities and other ways you can create your legacy to MVUUF, please contact Bob Boucher of the Endowment Committee. IRA Charitable Rollover Renewed Through 2009 Did you know that if you are age 70.5 or above, you can now make gifts to your congregation, the UUA, or other UU entities directly from your IRA – without including the IRA withdrawal in your taxable income? This timely provision will be in effect through December 31, 2009. To make a tax-free distribution, simply send a letter to your IRA custodian requesting a transfer directly from your IRA to the organization of your choice. --Jerry Gilliand, Treasurer MVUUF Endowment Fund Purpose The Fund is a savings/investment account separate from the MVUUF budget. The purpose of the Fund is to enhance the mission of MVUUF apart from the general operation of the congregation and in general no portion of the principal or income from the Fund is to be used for the annual operating budget. Programs for support may include:
While almost any gift to the Endowment Fund will ultimately achieve income or estate tax benefit, certain forms of gifts are favored by tax laws with immediate tax benefits, while also later reducing the taxable estate. Since these rules are complex and may change from time to time, consult your tax advisor to confirm the tax effect in your situation. More Information As part of the Endowment Committee’s plan this year to provide information to the congregation and also receive information from the congregation, we will be doing a survey which will include providing contacts for individual members to discuss their specific situations as well as offering a seminar where endowment fund opportunities would be discussed in greater detail. Also we will be interested in hearing your ideas as to what projects you would like to see Endowment assets support. Top of Page |
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We are very excited about the new church management software system that we are rolling out for this church year. It is called Fellowship One, it is a web-based, and it will be far easier for staff, leaders, and members to access than our current systems. Now we won’t have to worry about backups, upgrades, hardware problems or the other headaches of hosting a system. It can even be accessed from smart phones, and of course it has multiple levels of security to protect the data. We now have our membership and pledge data loaded into the system and have begun using it. We will be rolling out more features to more people throughout the year. This means change and that isn’t always smooth or easy, but we feel strongly that this system will allow us to do many things better and easier as we learn the best ways to use it. It took two years to accomplish this. In October of 2008, the Board created an ad hoc committee to evaluate how well the Fellowship’s computer systems were meeting our needs. After interviewing more than 50 members and staff, the committee concluded that we could do better and spent last year evaluating more than 60 available church management systems. Last spring, the Board approved the committee’s recommendations to acquire Fellowship One and to have the committee continue as the Technology committee. We will be providing much more information about the system as the year progresses. Top of Page |
Fellowship One Recommendation Needs Analysis Summary of Findings Needs Analysis Proposal |
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UUA General Assembly 2010 |
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Ministerial Evaluation As we come to the end of the Rev. David Breeden’s first year as our full time minister, it is appropriate that an evaluation of this experience be completed. The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) sent a form to be completed to gain information to be used to improve ministerial training and to determine content for continuing education opportunities. The same information can be used for planning Rev. Breeden’s annual employment review. Becky Czoschke and Laura Lochen from the Committee on Shared Ministry and Delores Roeder and Eve Webster from the Board of Trustees met to determine how to best accomplish this assessment and how to include the most people in the process. A short survey form, based on the UUA form, has been created. It shouldn’t take more than ten minutes to complete. You are encouraged to share your thoughts by responding to the survey. To access the form online see the email that was sent to everyone in the congregation who has an email address. To fill out a paper survey see the office manager. Surveys must be complete by June 6. Top of Page |
Description of the Proposed COSM |
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MVUUF’s Board of Trustees recently crafted a set of vision statements to guide the Fellowship’s development into the future. These statements are based on information from a variety of sources -- current and past missions and values, membership surveys, and conversations facilitated by the settled minister search committee. These vision statements focus on the difference we want to make within individual members, among congregants, and beyond our immediate community. This within, among, and beyond approach is intended to help us plan where we want to be in three, five, and even ten years and design good strategies to get there. Please take a careful look at these vision statements. What do you like best? Is anything missing? Is something unclear or do you have questions? Your responses will be the foundation of our planning process. The Board of Trustees also established a task team to design and carry out a planning process. This team will ultimately create a working document (long range plan) to guide decisions, measure our effectiveness, and make sure we fully live our mission and thrive as a congregation. This is the first step in that planning process and your involvement is critical. Please share your thoughts and ideas on these vision statements with the planning team. Call, email, write, or engage any one of us in conversation between now and April 7. We’ll pull responses and comments together, present a summary by mid-April, and on Sunday, April 25 everyone will have an opportunity for dialogue after the regular morning program. Details will be here in the April. Top of Page |
Vision Statements March 2010 |
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Nan Corliss The workshops I chose, in looking back, were those with social justice and international themes. I seemed to steer away from the leadership, development and growth workshops for congregations. I did go to the workshop that Ashley Thomas participated in entitled, “Beyond Duh” which was sponsored by MUUSJA ( Minnesota UU Social Justice Alliance). This involved youth talking about same sex marriage and BGLT issues surrounding marriage. Three youth presented along with our minister, David Breeden and the minister of White Bear Lake congregation, Victoria Safford. The youth spoke of their experiences , thoughts and hopes for the future concerning same sex marriages. Besides Ashley Thomas, Noah and Zoey gave their perspectives. When Zoey, a twelve year old with 2 moms, said she “just wanted things to be normal”, it brought things together for my understanding of where we need to be, that being, “Beyond Duh”- no big deal. There is hope with the next generation of youth. The workshop on Indigenous peoples, entitled “Global Blueprint for Cultural Survival” gave a clear perspective on the fragile communities of these people, who perhaps better than any of us, understand the great need to respect the environment and live a life style that shares and sustains the earth and allows for our own survival. UN Resolution # 3065, titled the “UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples” was adopted in 2007. The United States still has not signed this declaration. Canada and Australia are currently reviewing this and New Zealand signed this year. Why hasn’t the United States signed? It is time our country do what is right by our Indigenous populations and the world. Presenters at this workshop were Winona LaDuke and Carrie Sykes, both Native Americans from 2 indigenous tribes. Fascinating workshop. GA is a marathon. But, what I learned and the connections I made with past friends from the many UU congregations I had been a part of from East coast to West, made this an experience one I will always remember. Top of Reports Top of Page The Sources Supper Donna Kopnick Have you ever thought how neat it would be if we Unitarian Universalists(UU) had an annual dinner/ritual similar the Seder that the Jews celebrate, a time to get together with children, extended family and friends and talk about our Unitarian Universalist history? The General Assembly workshop I attended was led by Dr. Bill Doherty, Marriage and Family therapist, who told us about The Sources Supper, a ritual dinner which he and a group from the Unity Unitarian Church of St. Paul spent a number of years creating. It is based on six highlights in the UU history, stories to be read by the people attending the dinner, stories that "build connections to our past and deepen our relationships to the present". It has been tested by a number of churches around the country and the goal is that many more will make this “supper” an annual event in their family life. To learn more about the creation and script for the supper go to The Sources Supper. Top of Reports Top of Page Attending GA was a refreshing and uplifting experience Laura Lochen Attending GA was a refreshing and uplifting experience. There were many workshops with great ideas and conversations as well as the interesting prospect of deciding and voting on policy for social justice and change. I attended a number of workshops dedicated to ways to keep our kids and young adults in our congregations after they leave the RE program. As a raised Unitarian Universalist(UU), I have been interested in a long time about what makes us leave and go elsewhere or leave and not come back until we have children ourselves. 4000 kids annually graduate from our Religious Education programs across the US and we only keep or return 12% of those individuals! How much energy and enthusiasm are we losing for our faith? I know I carried my values from growing up as a UU throughout my life, and I never considered any other faith once I decided to come back to church. What kinds of things would have kept me here? I hope to start conversations and ideas going around this topic here at MVUUF. We have to keep as many up and coming young adults in our faith as possible to be a viable and important place for people of all varieties to feel comforted and welcome. We also need to find ways to bring more young adults into our faith and give them the opportunity to experience this wonderful community of UUs they have been searching for. Top of Reports Top of Page Covenant Groups Monica Williams One of the workshops I attended was called "Enhancing, Revitalizing, Restarting Your Small Group Ministry". Important factors in growing a small group ministry or Covenant Group, is first of all "buy-in" or a commitment from the minister, facilitators and congregants. The Covenant Group leaders/facilitators must demonstrate competence by being well trained. Many resources are available through the UUA on leading a covenant group. Website: www.smallgroupministry.net Successful programs have congregants who share during meetings, bond with others in the group, evaluate programs as consistently meeting their needs and return each year. A Covenant Group is bound by a covenant of interaction, has specific meeting structure, limited to 6-10 people, lead by a trained facilitator. The goal is to connect in a meaningful way with other members and friends of our church community. This time together allows you to continue to develop and articulate your personal beliefs, listen and share as all explore spiritual questions and personal experience in a trusting environment. It was wonderful to see so many MVUUF members at General Assembly. I hope that the sharing of some of what we learned will be informative and spark some new ideas. Top of Reports Top of Page |
UUA General Assembly 2010 Video Clips from the 2010 General Assembly On-Demand Video, Transcripts, and Workshop Handouts from General Assembly |
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| General Assembly
De-Briefing Jane and Walt Stull, Leadership Development Committee On Thursday, July 22nd, six grant recipients met with Fellowship Minister David Breeden at Walt and Jane Stull’s home to share highlights from this year’s General Assembly and to propose the following projects for the upcoming year.
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