First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis: Recent Episodes
First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis
Fus Member, Phil Duran, on Lammas, harvest, hospitality — What does it mean to welcome a stranger, and what does it mean to let yourself be welcomed? A UU message from First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis, recorded August, 2, 2026.
What holds a community together when its members don’t all believe the same things? In Unitarian Universalism, shared convictions are often less about doctrine than about the spaces, stories, rituals, and relationships that shape us over time. Drawing from oral histories of longtime members of the First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis, this sermon explores how […]
Join the Mental Health Awareness Team for an inspiring International Self-Care Day assembly focusing on how self-care strengthens resilience, supports heart and mental health, and helps us continue living our values. Readings and songs will celebrate resilience, connection, and community.
The United States is celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence this year. On Sunday, July 5, FUS members and friends will take a closer look at this bold, aspirational statement and consider how we as a nation have and have yet to achieve the vision embedded in the Declaration. Phil Duran, Mikki […]
Life is a journey, and we both influence and are influenced by everyone and everything that we encounter on our paths. Using the story “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse” by Charlie Mackesy, we’ll reflect on how we make sense of our experiences along the way.
Robin Wall Kimmerer has written that all flourishing is mutual. As we approach the end of this time of interim ministry, let’s explore what we have learned and what our work together has uncovered. What are some best practices for this community to flourish as it moves into its next chapter?
Folks in animal costumes have shown up at marches all across the nation, and have become emblematic of peaceful protest, and many home-made signs have expressed a desire for kindness over hatred. The winner of a ‘sermon topic of your choice’ at the 2025 auction chose the theme of non-violence and its role in effective […]
You might at some time have been scolded with the words “curiosity killed the cat,” suggesting that too much curiosity is not a good thing. And yet we are curious beings. Assuming curiosity is itself amoral, what are our responsibilities around how we use it? (Think of AI or space travel or exploring worlds not […]
On the first Sunday Rev. Chad Snyder was with you, he spoke of the mystery embedded in what is yet to come. We just don’t know what will happen, or what will emerge. Let’s explore the role of curiosity as an influencer…as a chosen tool in creating the future. A talk from Rev. Jullan Stoneberg.
“What is a community of faith? It is first and foremost a place of constant beginning.” Those words are from Rev. Dr. Galen Guengerich, former Senior Minister of All Souls UU congregation in New York City. In this present era, it might serve to revisit some of the ground in which our “constantly beginning” […]
Everything grows from something. We can’t always know just how the planting will turn out, but we can picture possibilities and envision what we will do together to shape them into something beautiful and flourishing. Rev. Chad Snyder — candidate to be the next settled minister at FUS — will share his hopes for what […]
We enter the month of April celebrating the Earth. The earth beneath us literally grounds us…holds us in its gravitational pull…as we continue to live into and through a shifting world. What possibilities are emerging right below our feet? Our theme for the month of April is Embracing Possibility.
A cofounder of the Minnesota Green Party, Greta Gaard is author of Critical Ecofeminism, a book about contemporary issues from animal and plant studies to sustainability and climate justice. She is an activist and scholar with insights about the ecofeminist perspective, which recognizes the co-constitution of human identities with all life on earth: elements, species, minerals, contaminants. As she […]
It has been cold and icy in Minnesota, and some are longing for spring. But Kurt Vonnegut says that March and April are not spring; rather, they are the unlocking season. Now is the time for what is frozen to thaw, and what has been buried to emerge.
It takes a special kind of resilience to insist on love, to keep choosing it when it seems an impossible task, to act in the knowledge that only love can overcome hate. This isn’t a ‘Valentine’s Day’ kind of love; it is something more primal, more wild, more radically collective.
We’ve talked of resistance, and now, as we see that we are in this for the long haul, we must lean into our resilience. Whence cometh it? What ancient knowing holds us up? What nascent understanding pulls us forward, one step in front of the other?
Humanism isn’t the opposite of faith – it’s the opposite of authoritarianism. Unitarian minister Curtis Reese, a co-founder of the American Humanist Association, referred to humanism as the “religion of democracy” for a reason – because of our radical belief that truth, morality, and power do not rightly reside in an external source, as theistic […]
There is so much to resist in these times, and it’s important to remember that the foundation of resistance is not necessarily potential success. Maybe we resist because of what will be lost if we do not, or because we dream of something different for our children…or maybe because there’s no viable alternative.
A talk in three parts about fascism, chaos, and hope — largely from the words given here at First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis 100 years ago by Rev. John Dietrich and Rev. Raymond Bragg. And an invitation to offer new seeds to a future renaissance of systems we have had in place for so long. […]
The winter solstice has officially passed, but the sun won’t be rising any earlier for at least a couple more weeks. We’re told the days are getting longer, but it doesn’t quite feel like it. Still, hasn’t the sun been pretty reliable so far? One can only hope it will continue to light up our […]
As 2025 comes to a close, America finds itself struggling to remember essential core values which helped it get past the drumbeats of fascism, racism, homophobia and other horrible systems of belief. With all that’s coming at us, how can we keep faith, stay the course? There’s only one way: a commitment to hope, tightly […]
Can hope be cultivated? Is it just hanging around waiting for us to choose it? Or maybe there are certain conditions under which it thrives. Today we’ll wonder if hope might grow in uncertainty or hide in the shadows.
Gratitude is not just a “bigger” grateful. So says the research on gratitude. But what is it, and why is it worth our consideration? Guest speaker Rev. Arif Mamdani joins us for an exploration of gratitude – what it is (or at least could be), why it matters, and (riffing on Ross Gay a bit), […]
It’s been just over a year since ‘the’ election. It feels like the earth is burning, like democracy is dying, and as if kindness is a vanishing value. What on earth do we have to be grateful for? Are there any gifts to be found in grief, in despair? Our Theme for November is ‘Nurturing […]
It is said that the grateful person is the generous person, or is it the other way around? This morning we take a lesson from the serviceberry, and its gifts of both abundance and reciprocity. Living in gratitude, perhaps we can release our grip on toxic forms of capitalism and live into a gift economy.
At this time of year, many traditions honor their ancestors. We will do that. And, we will take a look at how it is that we know who our people are, and what it means to choose our people. What qualities do we look for? (Hint: Compassion is a very good quality!)
Covenant is more than a beautiful place to visit; it’s a place where we live. When we know what binds us in community, what is expected of us, and what our responsibilities are to others, our relationships can blossom with understanding and love.
Building a home requires many steps…dreaming, planning, measuring, hard work, polishing, a certificate of occupancy. As we launch the program year for our younger generations, let’s consider how to best build (and continually maintain) a home where all can belong…in safety and in love.
Fall Equinox is about balance in the duality of life: light and dark, growth and release, joy and sorrow. Celebrate the season with a fun original play, “Humdrum and the Last Apple Tree.”
As we adjust to the arrival of fall and all the changes it brings, we take intentional time to appreciate the many gifts we receive from one another in community (aka volunteer appreciation!) Connection and belonging doesn’t just happen; everything we offer in service to one another matters deeply.
It’s September, and today we renew our commitment to gathering in beloved community in common dedication to love and justice. A reflection from Rev. Jullan Stoneberg.
Pamela Zeller, director of WISE — which works to self-empower immigrant and refugee women and girls — will talk about the life lessons she has learned from her 38 years of working with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. These lessons reinforce the strength, resilience, and creativity of survivors.
Almost every person will tell you that they are good drivers, have a great sense of humor, and that they’re excellent listeners. Many of us have been taught the basic skills of how to be a good communicator. It can be a lot of work. Join us this Sunday as we play with a new […]
Boycotts are more than withdrawals—they are declarations. In this talk, Nekima Levy Armstrong reflects on how we, as conscious consumers and community members, can reclaim our power by refusing to fund injustice. Together, we’ll explore how discernment, protest, and hope can shape a more just and accountable world.
Martin Luther King said, “Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic.” Unitarian Universalists recently affirmed a new covenant among congregations which puts love at the center of our values. How do we ensure that our love is not sentimental and anemic, in a time when love with […]
Each of us is cradled in an invisible web of stories we tell, or are told, about ourselves, our world, and the cosmos. Finding ourselves in these larger narratives can help craft our individual and communal identities, reinforce the meaning we see in our lives, and provide a broader context in which to see our daily […]
Join us to reflect on the profound power of memory—specifically, the memories of the safe spaces we’ve encountered throughout our lives. Memory is not just a mental exercise; it is deeply embedded in our biology. Our muscles, our nervous system, even our heartbeats are attuned to our experiences, and they carry the imprint of the […]
The world needs to be reminded of humanism more than ever, as the anti-human policies of the current administration assault our dignity and intelligence. What will it take for us to engage the historical aspirations of classical American Humanism with the emerging movements that have similar goals for beloved communities? What will it take to […]
Love’s rumbling, pulsing, thumping nature powers justice. Our actions speak, but how can we meet the moment by answering love’s call even more loudly? A talk from Rev. Terri Burnor. Rev. Terri (she/her) is Executive Director of MUUSJA (the Minnesota Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Alliance). She also serves the St. Croix Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in […]
“What’s in a Name?” Names have power—they can enchant or disillusion, claim unwanted ownership or open the door to freedom. In this service, we’ll reflect on how the names we give to the sacred—whether shifting from “God” to “Cosmos,” or “prayer” to “contemplation” or “meditation”—reshape our experiences of meaning and mystery. How do name and […]
As we celebrate Father’s Day, let’s consider what it means to ‘live in this house’. One of our Unitarian Universalist values is Pluralism which encourages us to embrace both our differences and our commonalities with love, curiosity, and respect. Yet, we cannot be free when we experience difference as oppressive. Can diversity actually be liberating?
It’s Pride Month, and Juneteenth is just around the corner. At this time when so many corporations and institutions are back-tracking on their DEIB commitments (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging), we have a role to play in more boldly keeping ours. Responding to tyranny calls on us to stand out and shine a light!
We have entered a time in US history when the meaning of freedom is being debated even as its presence quietly fades into the background. How is this happening? Are we paying attention? We’ll look at this through the lens of Timothy Snyder’s book, “On Tyranny.”
As beloveds in our communities are scapegoated and attacked by the current administration, what does UUism call us to embrace and respond? As we turn toward Pride month, we will learn more about the UU commitment to pledge our collective faithful efforts to affirm and celebrate trans, nonbinary, intersex, and gender diverse people within and […]
Poet John O’Donohue suggested that “if our style of looking becomes beautiful, then beauty will become visible and shine forth for us.” A talk from Rev. Jullan Stoneberg.
Author and activist adrienne maree brown believes that all organizing is science fiction. “Trying to create a world that we’ve never experienced and never seen is a science-fictional activity.” On this morning, we gather to practice some collective imagining.
Let’s get real about how our joy can change the world, even as it co-exists with our pain, brokenness and curmudgeon-ness. How we can commit to inciting joy and making it more robust? Our theme for April is Living Love through the Practice of Joy
Some might question if there is any joy to be found in these times. How do we live holding the dual realities of despair and joy? How are these two things connected? As Shirley Ceasar’s song says, “This joy that I have, the world didn’t give it to me…the world can’t take it away.
Trust is built at the speed of relationship, so it takes two (or more) to build trust! The ability to trust is a muscle of the heart that is exercised through the practice of covenant. It’s not always easy, and it doesn’t necessarily come naturally, but we can do it!
Science writer Ed Yong refers to the ways in which our screen-focused, fear-based society is impacting our scope of concern. He says we are currently being “crunched ever inward” and that it behooves us to get out and connect with others. Being in community is a beautiful way to uncrunch ourselves and stretch!
When things feel precarious and unpredictable, it’s crucial to know what there is that is trustworthy and dependable. What is it that reliably supports us and holds us up?
Holding us now – to hope, to courage, to clarity and to each other – is the radical love at the very center of Unitarian Universalism. It shows up as wonder (and grief) for our achingly beautiful world; it shows up as relentless respect and care for one another, resplendent in all our vulnerability and […]
There is internal tension in living our shared values. Can we live into pluralism while holding firm to equity and justice? When is belonging more important than individuality? And how do we get along with each other when our values differ?
“The most daring thing is to create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured.” – Kurt Vonnegut How can the practice of humanism act as an antidote to America’s crisis of loneliness and purposelessness? And how can the humanist movement catalyze Vonnegut’s dream of “stable communities” for the tens of […]
Widening the circle of inclusion is always limited by a group’s identity, so that the push to be inclusive gets tugged at by resistance to changing who we are. Who belongs at FUS, and what are the costs, and the benefits, of exclusion?
Albert Camus famously wrote that “In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.” For many, this year Imbolc — the midpoint of astrological winter — simultaneously brings a sense of growing light and of growing darkness. Today, our Seasonal Celebrations Team will present a candlelight program that will honor […]
Here We Are, a new administration is about to take office. What Now? We are facing 4 years of national political leadership hostility to the idea of addressing climate change while witnessing the effects of inaction. Where does this leave us? And what can we do about it now? Please join the FUS Climate Action […]
This is a great week to bring a friend with you to FUS! Here on the cusp of a presidential inauguration and Martin Luther King Jr Day, events that hold disparate visions, we are called to name the stories and the values that we insist upon claiming.
Three women in their 20s discuss their perspectives on hope and grief as we usher in the changes of 2025, moderated by Minnesota Women’s Press editor (and FUS member) Mikki Morrissette. Melissa Vasquez of LatinoLEAD organizes and celebrates the Minnesota Latine Community. Cheyenne Wilson is author of a comprehensive guide for fellow survivors of sexual […]
The human species operates by stories. They can guide or misdirect us, inspire or limit us, while providing both meaning and perspective. So as we enter 2025, let’s ask… Which stories ring true for us, and what are the stories we choose to live by?
Spiritual congregations have a lengthy tradition of offering critiques of what they believe to be societal ills, and UUs and Humanists are no different. Theodore Parker, John Dietrich, Carl Storm, and Kendyl Gibbons — the last three were settled ministers here at First Unitarian Society — all witnessed deeply challenging times, and offered words of […]
Stillness. Quiet. The presence of winter. Twinkle Lights. Glittery snow. Crisp starry nights. The gifts of the natural world surround us.
In his essay on Sisyphus, Albert Camus ends with these haunting words: “one must imagine Sisyphus happy.” Camus invites us to wrestle with the appropriate response to absurdity. Is it suicide? That is to say, is the killing of oneself in light of the human condition, the existential angst and ontological trauma we face, a proper […]
Call it mindfulness, call it intentionality, call it witness…there is a way of being in relationship whereby we fully show up for one another. How might we offer our simple presence as a gift to the world?
“All That Is” is a lot of stuff, and between this time of year and this time in our world, there is so much that demands our presence. What would it mean to call ourselves into the presence of all of this? Or, maybe the call is asking us to get in touch with what […]
Ours is an unapologetic world. Seldom does anyone take responsibility for damage done. While we might not like the words, let’s look at how remorse and repentance can play a role in our personal and societal transformation.
Whatever the results of the election, our purpose remains the same….to heal ourselves and our world. And we’re in it for the long haul. So let’s assess the situation and then lay out the task before us. We’ve got some stuff to do.
The election is just days away. We have worked hard to ensure that democracy will prevail. And yet, many are experiencing this as a very dark time in our nation. Let’s spend time reconnecting to all that we can trust to get us through.
Description: We’ve come to that time of the year when many cultures believe the veil between the living and the dead is thin. If we listen deeply to the past…particularly to those who have built, sustained, and transformed this congregation…what do we hear?
Those of us who come from immigrant histories cannot claim being indigenous to this land. But we can become naturalized to it. Robin Wall Kimmerer says that “Being naturalized to place means to live as if this is the land that feeds you, as if these are the streams from which you drink, that build […]
If only every day had only one pain! Noise, fear, and pain-avoidance seem to conspire to plug up our ears and our eyes. And yet, we cannot, should not, turn away from all the hurt and suffering in the world. As we look ahead to the coming election, how can we better tune our ears […]
You've likely been exposed to all kinds of advice about how to be a gracious host and about how to create space that allows everyone to bring their full selves. And still, not many of us are good at the practice of intentional and generous hosting. Let's explore the gap between our intentions and our realities.
In the same way that many have come to rely on air conditioning to keep us comfortable, it’s easy to get used to having our human environment organized to please us and our ways of being. Just as there are benefits to sitting on the front porch to cool off on a summer night, there are benefits to learning to adapt to the diversity around us.
It's time to Gather! Like the merging of many streams, we come together to join forces and voices in love, learning, growing and singing, putting our beautiful heads and hearts to the task of building beloved community.
We are, each one, always suspended between two moments. Between sleeping and waking. Between summer and fall. Between connection and isolation. Still, we rarely pause in that liminal space to reflect. So on this first Sunday together...congregation and new Interim Minister...let's explore the gifts of being suspended between two known realities, because this interim period is a time given to naming what 'was' and to envision what 'will be.'
In Charles Darwin’s fifth edition of “On the Origin of Species”, he writes about the importance of “survival of the fitted.” This simple and yet, famous phrase explains that organisms that best adapt to their environment are more likely to survive and produce. However, what if we, FUS reimagined our organizational adaptability and observe our existence within the surrounding area as “natural selection” where all people find a community, belonging, and becoming? A talk from Rev. Dr. Jé Exodus Hooper.
The wheel of the year turns, and brings us again to the threshold of the harvest time. Lammas is one milepost in the cycle of the seasons, which embraces both constant change as well as predictable rhythms. Are we open to the beauty that the unfolding of evolution can bring?
Join Rev. Je and FUS member Dara Strickland at Assembly for a kitchen table discussion about how the rituals of hospitality transform the utilitarian into the affirmingly humanist. We will be updating the Society on the evolving work at the Second Sunday meal at Plymouth Congregational Church and exploring additional ways FUS members can connect to the neighbors we host for dinner there.
We live in a time when the everyday stresses of work, school, and maintaining relationships have been compounded by climate change, political and social upheaval, and a global pandemic. Knowing that it’s not so easy to simply “reduce your stress,” what can we do to take care of ourselves that falls outside the typical “diet and exercise” box? Join the Mental Health Team for some fresh ideas about taking care of your mental health.
This series of stories by member Mikki Morrissette is about mental health, house repair, vulnerability, talking to strangers, collaboration, and how blues music might be the key to the universe. She will be sharing recent lessons she has learned from people featured in the Minnesota Women's Press magazine she edits, as well as a musician and a carpenter.
There is an emboldened posture of Christian Nationalism infiltrating our classrooms in this country. As two states set the educational trend that compromises our religious freedom, what does our humanism call us to do? What is our response to Biblical violence? Join Rev. Dr. Jé for a critical talk to embolden our moral compass with moral courageousness in order to protect our children, and hold our religious neighbors accountable to uphold the worth of all people.
We’ve had our farewells and shared innumerable hugs. The past decade has been marked with an unforgettable impact from these two ministers, and now that they move on to new chapters, where does that leave us at First Unitarian Society? Join us this first Sunday after, as we consider the road ahead and take first steps into our congregation’s next chapter.
How does renewal help us navigate transition? Rev. Kelli looks backward over her past nine years at FUS and forward to your next chapter.Talk_09-06-2024_Kelli_celebrationDownload
Times are greatly changing and congregational practice is declining as generations are evolving. What is the church called to do? What is the mission and focus of this social and spiritual beacon? Together we will unpack some congregational considerations to engage transformation that may enhance the life force of our communities, and helps us build toward a better future.
The old melting pot metaphor for the US still has some “resistance is futile” power to it. We all must, however, resist. A talk from Rev. Dr. David Breeden.
Does the way we practice Humanism help or hurt us in cultivating pluralism? A talk from Rev. Kelli Clement
The nature of US society tends naturally toward pluralism. However, our stand on pluralism must go way beyond tolerance of "the other." In US law, individuals have rights. Group rights, however, have proven problematic. A talk from Rev. Dr. David Breeden.
This year we saw our UUA Religious Education program evolve into Ethical Explorers (aka E²) under the facilitation of Rev. Jé, our Minister of Lifelong Education and Community. This program has sought to elevate the First Unitarian Society Humanist's values and congregational momentum by ushering a new approach to aiding our youth in forming their moral compass and courageous.
How do we turn the inevitable into the Good? A talk from Rev. Dr. David Breeden.2024-03-31_Talk_Change_InevitableDownload
So many of the changes we experience are not of our own choosing. How do we find gifts in the struggle for transformation? A talk from Rev. Kellli Clement.
What might imagination and free thinking do to trans-form our society?Talk_Trans_Form_Part2_2024-03-10Download
Revs. Jé and David will consider the Civil Rights Era thought of A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin, asking the question of both of them asked: How might we integrate public spaces? The challenge remains.
Did you know that Loveworks Academy, the charter school housed at FUS, is one of only five black-led and black-taught school in Minnesota? For Black History Month, let's celebrate this treasure and look to how Loveworks Academy is shaping the future in Minnesota.
A Conversation with Lena K. Gardner of Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism. When we expand our thinking about who is in our movement, we see what was there all along. Ms. Gardner and Rev. Kelli will explore BLUU and why it matters to all of us.
February 2 is well-known in our culture as Groundhog's Day, but the significance of that date goes back considerably further than a tradition involving wildlife in Pennsylvania. The midpoint of astrological winter, this time has been referred to as Imbolc, Candlemas, and more. It is often a time of looking ahead to what is on, or maybe even just beyond, the horizon. Members of the Seasonal Celebrations Team invite you to consider: what are YOU looking forward to? A talk from FUS member Phil Duran.
For our Intergenerational Assembly Rev. Dr. David Breeden discusses the ethical considerations of what we owe future generations in terms of a livable planet. Challenging the Western-centric narratives in climate action and embracing indigenous knowledge. Symmachus once said, "To think highly of one's ancestors is good, to think highly of one's descendants even better."
Rev. Kelli shares reflections on the Leadership Seminar she participated in during her time away and how love leads FUS toward shared purpose.
Join Revs. Kelli, Jé, and David plus special guests for an MLK Weekend roundtable on our theme for January: Liberation. Where are we? Are we fulfilling our obligations to future generations?
According to a Pew Research Center study, 49% of Americans report having at least one mystical experience. What does having one mean? Do personal mystical experiences positively affect society? A talk from Rev. Dr. David Breeden.2023-12-03_Talk_MysteryDownload
Throughout recorded history humans have sought hope and inspiration amidst the inscrutable forces beyond their control - especially at this time of the year. Where do Humanists look to find hope in dark times? A talk from Ministerial Intern David Buckley.
Our theme for the month of December is mystery. From shadowy characters in drama to ambiguous shapes in art, the human mind loves mystery. And solving it.2023-12-03_Talk_Mystery-1Download
Delve into the ethereal aspects of sharing and giving, where intention, compassion, and love intertwine. Give without expectation; love without boundaries, serve because it's the right thing to do.
Human history can be read as a series of experiments in managing our resources. These experiments can lead to cultures characterized by selfishness or generosity. Which will we choose? With Ministerial Intern David Buckley.
Our theme for November is Generosity. Yes, generosity is an emotion, yet how we experience generosity is culturally defined.2023-11-05_Talk_Humanist_Philosophy_of GenerosityDownload
Long before the term "humanist" became part of the FUS story, the congregation had pledged itself to being humane. Our theme for October is heritage, and I will give a three-part talk on the past and future of FUS. According to the Articles of Incorporation (1881), the purpose of FUS is: to form an Association where people without regard to theological differences may unite for mutual helpfulness in intellectual, moral, and religious culture, and humane work.A talk from Rev. Drs. David Breeden and Jé Exodus Hooper.2023-10-22_Talk_Humane_WorkDownload
You know about individual mindfulness but what about a mindful community? Bring your smartphone. (Yes, it can help us be mindful if used intentionally!) A talk from Ministerial Intern David Buckley.
From the beginning, FUS has been about congregating. What will that mean for the next generation?Our theme for October is heritage, and I will give a three-part talk on the past and future of FUS. According to the Articles of Incorporation (1881), the purpose of FUS is: to form an Association where people without regard to theological differences may unite for mutual helpfulness in intellectual, moral, and religious culture, and humane work.
There is more than one way to disregard theological differences. Which ways offer possibility and potential rather than restriction?Our theme for October is heritage, and Rev. David will give a three-part talk on the past and future of FUS. According to the Articles of Incorporation (1881), the purpose of FUS is:to form an Association where people without regard to theological differences may unite for mutual helpfulness in intellectual, moral, and religious culture, and humane work.2023-10-08_Talk_Herigage_Theological_DifferencesDownload
While the adage "character is destiny" has long been a staple of philosophical discourse, the idea that zip codes can determine fate is now supported by empirical evidence. A talk from Rev. Dr. David Breeden2023-10-01_Talk_Reality_Unzipped_Zip_CodesDownload
This is our first program year since the pandemic that feels like back to “normal.” What will the lessons of the past few years teach us about who we are now, and what will we learn about ourselves and our congregation? A talk from Rev. Kelli Clement.
Fall Equinox and this season of change reminds us that change is the only constant. While our nature is to seek control, there's beauty and strength in accepting—even cherishing—the mysteries of the unknown.2023-09-17_TalkDownload
Yes, we mean all. And, yes, we mean FUS. A talk from Rev. Dr. David Breeden2023-09-10_Talk_Where_All_of_you_BelongsDownload
The distinction between knowledge (knowing what) and technique (knowing how ) has long been a tension. The solution sounds simple, but in practice it is not. A talk from Rev. Dr. David Breeden.2023-09-03_Talk_Knowledge_Know-How_WisdomDownload
“Everything is held together by stories. That’s all that’s holding us together--stories and compassion.” ~ Lopez
Take a walk off the beaten path and into the woods of some FUS members' lived experience, in a unique Assembly that brings you the fellowship, comfort and awe felt by our writing group these past three years.
Even as we contemplate the dog days of summer, Lammas reminds us that the wheel of the year inexorably turns toward harvest. Metaphors abound!
Time to binge watch Ted Lasso (maybe again) in advance of Rev. Kelli’s talk exploring the characters and complexities of this hit show.
Meditation, prayer, aligning your chakras...what is spirituality? Is it all about incense, chanting and rituals? Can I be a spiritual humanist or atheist? Join us to examine the basics of spirituality and the value of having spiritual practice in our lives. A talk from Rev. Laura Thompson.
Rev. Laura Thompson was a part-time intern at FUS in 2013-14. She currently serves as minister to Minnesota Valley UU Fellowship in Bloomington.
Explore where Minnesotans are engaging the evolution of collective oneness. A talk from FUS member, and Minnesota Women's Press owner/editor, Mikki Morrissette.
Let's think together about how our humanism invites pluralism, or not. A talk from Rev. Kelli Clement.
American history is messy. So is present day America. In that light, how do we make sense of the annual celebration of our nation's founding? With Ministerial Intern David Buckley.
How do mindful breath practices lead to unexpected discoveries, including reduced stress and anxiety, better sleep, and greater peace of mind? Tap into the extraordinary power of your ordinary breath! Debby Magnuson is a longtime FUS member and BreathLogic Level 2 Instructor. She leads breathwork sessions locally and nationally.
As FUS prepares to host a Trans Welcome space, what are we learning about what is needed and how FUS can help?
Spiritual maturity invites us to cultivate delight as an antidote to despair. What might we discover about ourselves and our world? A talk from Rev. Kelli Clement.
Ministerial Intern David Buckley reflects on the possibility (and peril) that is held in the interchange between our evolving selves and our evolving world.
A congregation is organic, ever adapting to its environment. Let's consider some things FUS has done over the years and what we might be ready for next. With Rev. Dr. David BreedenTalk_Here_Because_We_Are_HereDownload
A congregation is organic, ever adapting to its environment. Let's consider some things FUS has done over the years and what we might be ready for next. With Rev. Kelli Clement
Have you ever noticed that we often hear about the war between science and religion but never about the war between science and poetry? A talk from Rev. Dr. David Breeden.To learn more about first Unitarian Society of Minneapolis, go to https://firstunitarian.org2023-05-14_Talk_Creativity_and_ReligionDownload
Some suggest that for movements of resistance to injustice to be effective, they must articulate a positive vision of the world that reflects the justice they seek in addition to the injustices they oppose. Join Ministerial Intern David Buckley as he explores one emerging vision of the path to a better world that Humanists may want to embrace.
Help us lure pollinators and puppets to our Assembly Hall. A Talk from Rev. Kelli Clement
No, that phrase doesn't exactly rhyme, but in the climate of contemporary US politics, resistance often means the long--often mind-numbing--process of government. A talk from Rev. Dr. David Breeden.2023-04-16_Talk_My_Way_or_the_PolicyDownload
While many religions celebrate vibrant spring holidays, what is a nonbeliever to do? Hear the inspiring history of cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin and the International Day of Human Spaceflight. A talk from Lóre Stevens, ministerial intern at First Universalist Church.Lóre Stevens (rhymes with 'story', she/her) is from Nashville TN. She graduated from Harvard Divinity School (HDS) and is completing her ministerial internship at First Universalist Minneapolis. She identifies as bisexual, mestiza (mixed-race Mexican-American), and an atheist mystic. She loves science fiction, film, bullet journaling, and her two sweet cats!
It takes bravery to transgress social norms. There often are consequences. A talk from Rev. Dr. David Breeden.2023-03-26_Talk_Sitting_Pretty_Sitting_DuckDownload
Chances are that Galileo did not say “And yet it moves” after the Inquisition forced him to recant his heresy concerning the movement of the Earth around the Sun. However, celebrating the movement of our cosmos is what the Equinox is all about.
Stasis may equal safety but it never allows for progress. When we welcome change and allow ourselves to be vulnerable to growth, the unexpected can happen. Real life application: the UUA Article 2 Commission report.
We can learn valuable lessons from our personal vulnerability, but the pandemic, climate change, and US political and social instability can feel overwhelming. Is a positive collective vulnerability even possible?2023-03-05_Talk_Vulnerability_Wounds_OpennessDownload
The Latin root of the English word emotion is emovere, meaning "to agitate." Dust off those Emo CDs and Goth outfit because its time to go . . . agitate. A talk from Rev. Dr. David Breeden.2023-02-26_Talk_What_Is-_EmotionDownload
Beyond shaking heads and wringing hands, what is the appropriate humanist response to the one-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine?
The English word love is often inadequate to describe the cornucopia of emotions that we feel. Love is an emotion but also hard work. A talk from Rev. Dr. David Breeden.2023-02-12_Talk_Love_without FallingDownload
The word "love" can conjure up images of chocolate and valentines. That's appropriate in some circumstances, but as Dr. Cornel West has written, "Justice is what love looks like in public." A talk from Rev. Dr. David Breeden2023-02-05_Love_Without_the_SyrupDownload
Rev. David reflects on the Downtown Senior Clergy Interfaith Civil Rights Pilgrimage.2023-01-29_Talk_Bridge_AbandonedDownload
Rev. Kelli Clement shares good news about the vibrancy of our congregation and wonders what we might say about our future.
Human beings see difference. It is an evolved strategy. It is easy to exploit, not so easy to suppress. A talk from Rev. Dr. David Breeden.2023-01-15_Talk_What_We_Cant_SayDownload
Human beings are meaning makers, with metaphor as a primary tool for understanding. Using labyrinth imagery, let’s explore what it means to release, receive, and integrate as ways of centering. A talk from Rev. Kelli Clement
What is popularly known as "finding yourself" can be an individualistic and solitary endeavor, or it can be about centering yourself while realizing that none of us is the center. A talk from Rev. Dr. David Breeden.2023-01-01_Talk_Center_OffCenter-CenteringDownload
Critics of a naturalistic worldview often insist that awe and wonder are lacking in non-theistic perspectives. Clearly, they haven't asked a Humanist. With Rev. Dr. David Breeden2022-12-18_Talk_Awe_Wonder_and_NaturalismDownload
"Radical Amazement: Cultivating Wonder as a Life Practice," a talk from Rev. Kelli Clement.
Alice Walker wrote, "The more I wonder, the more I love." Day-to-day life encourages cliche and stereotype. It takes courage--and some creativity--to face life with wonder. A talk from Rev. Dr. David Breeden.2022-12-04_Talk_Grab_the_the_WonderDownload
Lemony Snicket wrote, “Love can change a person the way a parent can change a baby--awkwardly, and often with a great deal of mess.” Yes, that's how change works. The fact feels unfortunate. Yet, going with messy change is the way.
2022-11-27_Talk_Awkwardly_with_MessDownload
Rev. Kelli finds inspiration from Octavia Butler, Karen Hering, and neuroplasticity to explore the Path to Change.
Our theme for November is "the path of change." The metaphor of a path is a good one to express the feeling of change, but with global climate change, we may do better going back to Heraclitus and his river of change.
2022-11-06_When_the_Path_FloodsDownload
We know about the party faithful who would vote for a yellow dog before voting for the other party. How about joining the party that takes a good, long look at that yellow dog? And, no, I'm not talking about politics. A talk from Rev. Dr. David Breeden.
Liberalism is a philosophy but also a predisposition that respects the complexities of issues. American philosopher John Dewey once said, "We only think when we are confronted with a problem." Taking the time to feel our way through a problem is more of a necessity than a luxury. A talk from Rev. Dr. David Breeden.
2022-10-23_Talk_Let_Me_Sit_with_ThatDownload
With the multitude of challenges facing us today, how do we find the courage to be in good relation and kinship with the world around us? A talk from Rev. Kelli Clement.
It is axiomatic that having the courage of our convictions is a moral good. Having the courage of our confusions might be as well. A talk from Rev. Dr. David Breeden.
2022-10-09_Talk_Courage_of_ConfusionDownload
Playwright August Wilson once wrote, "Your willingness to wrestle with your demons will cause your angels to sing.” Angels. Demons. Perhaps even some trolls. No matter what our age, we've always got some growing up to do. A talk from Rev. Dr. David Breeden.
2022-02-10_Talk_Courage_to_Grow_UpDownload
It is a truism that everyone wants to belong. But belong to what? The options for belonging grow daily, yet what do all the choices add up to? And how do we choose?
2022-09-25_Talk_Belonging_and_Birds_ThatDownload
It is a truism that everyone wants to belong. But belong to what? A talk from Rev. Dr. David Breeden.
2022-09-18_Talk_Being_Belonging_BalanceDownload
A celebration of our new program year. Join us as we reflect on surviving difficult times, asking new questions and renewing commitments to our community. Talks from Revs. Kelli Clement and David Breeden.
Whether unemployment is high or low, labor, it seems, is always in trouble. As we come out of the pandemic, what innovations might avoid the trap that American writer Studs Terkel once described: "Most of us have jobs that are too small for our spirits." A talk from Rev. Dr. David Breeden.
2022-09-04_Talk_Labor_TroublesDownload
The term comes from a novel by the British philosopher Thomas Carlyle, who hoped that the human religious impulse would survive the science of his time. Nearly 200 years later, how is that going? A talk from Rev. Dr. David Breeden.
2022-08-28_Talk_Natural_SupernaturalismDownload
https://youtu.be/sYoYFkTBG-g
What is an all-powerful god’s part in the evil of our world? To put it mildly, thinkers have pondered the topic for some time! Pragmatists of a naturalist bent have an answer. A talk from Rev. Dr. David Breeden.
Talk_Gods_of_Nice_Stuff_2022-08-22Download
https://youtu.be/5BWKBuIH28Y
Ancient legends tell of seafarers who landed on isolated islands. They built a fire, only to find that they had awakened a beast that dragged them to their doom. A cautionary tale, if you’re a seafarer. And all of us are. A talk from Rev. Dr. David Breeden.
2022-08-14_Talk-Islands_that_Aren'tDownload
https://youtu.be/L1V6vuRGvLk
Monogamy has been the relationship catalyst in society to find and have love, a healthy connection, and sometimes a family. Over time, bold formations of love and relationship are trending, shattering the social foundation of monogamy as we know it. Come eavesdrop on Drew Bekius and Jé Exodus Hooper in a conversation about their social madness in the multiverse of love, right relationship, and polyamory.
Drew Bekius is an advisor, coach, author, and Humanist. His coaching focus is on working with groups and individuals to help identify and more fully embody Humanist values. Drew’s work also includes confidence coaching, consultation in community-building, and he is a speaker coach for TEDxMinneapolis. A former evangelical minister, Drew has served as President of The Clergy Project and is the author of two books, “The Rise and Fall of Faith” and “Your Next Life Now.” A Humanist celebrant and member of several Humanist organizations, he also serves on the Board of Trustees at First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis. Drew and his two teenage daughters live in St. Louis Park, Minnesota.
https://youtu.be/dPhpN9yRma4
Winona LaDuke has said that we have to become involved in building communities, not just developing things. How does a group of introverted thinkers, atheists, and social justice warriors connect in order to restore economies, democracy, and human rights? It seems to have something to do with playing together in the town square.
https://youtu.be/zbBgjXu9uBE
Our humanism calls us to expand reproductive health, rights, and justice for every person in Minnesota and beyond. Rev. Kelli will zoom to Assembly live from the rally and march in St. Paul. Learn about activism for reproductive freedom from a humanist faith perspective and make a plan for engagement to keep Minnesota moving forward.
https://youtu.be/H22vbcVzU7E
The troubles of our times are overwhelming. Let’s lighten up with a little humor, silliness, and moderate exuberance!
https://youtu.be/JUGmwctQyNE
Liberal religion in general and Humanism in particular have come in for a lot of criticism for being "individualistic." This is a misunderstanding concerning what individual conscience means in the context of communal action. As the philosopher John Dewey put it, "A democracy is more than a form of government; it is primarily a mode of associated living, of conjoint communicated experience." (Democracy and Education, 1916)
Text of Talk (PDF): Independence is a State of Mind
https://youtu.be/FMN-ImWWDmw
Our monthly theme is "Celebrating Blessings." None of us likes the state of the nation at the moment but looking back at where we've been is cause for celebration. Note: I will talk about progressive successes and look a bit more closely at how difficult those actually were for those involved. History glosses over the time and boredom of social action.
https://youtu.be/f-XCIEjCCdk
Reflections on Father’s Day, Juneteenth, and the Nature of Authority.
https://youtu.be/JZYxv0ykeIU
This is a short phrase from the French philosopher Gilles Deleuze. It underlines a fact about how we combine memory and anticipation to live in the possibilities of the moment. On a day that we celebrate our graduating high school seniors and our many volunteers, let's consider what is next.
Text of Talk (PDF): Becoming is an Anti-memory
https://youtu.be/gLANET2AWUo
William Shakespeare wrote, “Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, /And Summer’s lease hath all too short a date . . . " (Sonnet 18). Beauty, ephemerality, and storms. Those words go a long way toward encompassing our lives.
Enjoy special music from Martha Hardesty and Maureen Hunt.
https://youtu.be/pzDz30WqBVo
Our Annual Meeting marks the 141st year of First Unitarian Society and our 106th year of being a congregational humanist gathering. Over those decades some things have changed a lot. Many things haven't changed at all. The conclusion that I draw from all this? We're not done here!
https://youtu.be/c8CczZCc7UU
Don’t miss Revs. Kelli and Jé in this love and beauty duet, a different kind of Sunday morning experience, with story, poetry, and dance. With beautiful music by the Eclectics.
https://youtu.be/BeN7yho65pg
Both Unitarian Universalism and Humanism are products of the nineteenth century idea that all religions come from a common source--perhaps a god, perhaps the human mind. There is a dark side to this conviction.
Text of Talk (PDF): Getting All Meta About It
https://youtu.be/BgR6S4dEDAI
The great Japanese poet Kobayashi Issa wrote, “Where there are humans / You’ll find flies / And Buddhas.” Our theme for the month of May is Nurturing Beauty. Who doesn’t love beauty, but too often the nurturing part gets onerous.
Text of Talk (PDF): Seedbeds and Worms (Buddhas and Flies)
https://youtu.be/ZvEqZ0LZYUU
Let’s give Rev. Jim a send-off filled with joy and gratitude! Message from Rev. Jim Foti.
https://youtu.be/u-NMymd3wz0
Let’s give Rev. Jim a send-off filled with joy and gratitude! Message from Rev. Dr. David Breeden.
https://youtu.be/rb7Nsm93CkM
Let’s give Rev. Jim a send-off filled with joy and gratitude! Message from Rev. Kelli Clement.
https://youtu.be/fFqXG3cI5wc
Join Rev. Kelli and members of the Climate Justice Team as we celebrate Earth Day. Plan to process to Thomas Lowry Park after Assembly.
https://youtu.be/f0gT75urzfA
One of the devices the great Octavia Butler uses in her fiction is awakening. A character awakes to an unexplainable new reality only to discover that it is like the old reality. Butler uses this device to discuss the Black experience in America and so much more.
https://youtu.be/oqd3UpVd3_o
Text of Talk (PDF): Waking and Waking Again
It appears that ranking things comes naturally. Good. Better. Best. When learning a language, words for ranking are some of the first we learn. Ranking, however, artificially creates a better than rather than a different from.
https://youtu.be/35Xc3FZ6Obc
Text of Talk (PDF): Wake, Woke, Enlightened
During the pandemic many have felt a strange sense of time. Faster? Slower? Usually both. Our perceptions of time are not merely an annoyance. The perception of time is a key to how consciousness works. A talk from David Breeden
https://youtu.be/tXFsdzBllcU
Text of talk (PDF): Time is the Trickster
"Committing to the Seasons and the Change” with Rev. Dr. David Breeden. Human religions have marked the seasons most likely since the beginning of human consciousness. But it isn’t the seasons that frighten us so much as the change.
https://youtu.be/qbfzdNZrn2I
Text of Talk (PDF): Committing to the Seasons and the Change
"Committing to the Seasons and the Change” with Rev. Dr. David Breeden. Human religions have marked the seasons most likely since the beginning of human consciousness. But it isn’t the seasons that frighten us so much as the change.
https://youtu.be/rAbxZ8aRSV4
Text of Talk (PDF) Committing to the Seasons and the Change
In a world full of daunting challenges, it can be grounding to remember to what and to whom we are most committed – and why. Join us for Rev. Jim’s second-to-last talk at FUS.
https://youtu.be/84O5lNyWd2g
Text of Talk (PDF): Whose Are We?
A talk from Rev. Dr. David Breeden: The Modernist poet Ezra Pound (1885-1972) wrote those words as an admonishment to his generation of writers to be “modern.” It’s not bad advice for living a life, either, lest, as Pound wrote, “And life slips by like a field mouse / Not shaking the grass.”
Text of Talk (PDF): Make It New Everyday
https://youtu.be/qKV2SHMk2FA
Revs. David & Kelli will share the talk to discuss how we draw the circle wider still, both within and beyond our congregation.
Text of Talk (PDF): Concentric Circles: Widening the Circle of Concern from the Inside Out Pt. 2
https://youtu.be/7sRNfzjctXY
Revs. David & Kelli will share the talk to discuss how we draw the circle wider still, both within and beyond our congregation.
https://youtu.be/LI1AeYlnBHM
The video "Baby Shark" is the first on YouTube to cross the ten billion views milestone. Ten billion? We are living in what the World Health Organization terms an “Infodemic." Information is everywhere. How much of it can one person absorb? How can we avoid the “noise”?
Text of talk (PDF): Signal and Noise
https://youtu.be/W01t5jqdr9A
Text of talk (PDF): The Venn Diagrams of Community
Most individuals belong to more than one kind of community, with each of us at the center of our very own Venn diagram. But what might we do about all the circles that don’t overlap, and the forces that keep people apart?
https://youtu.be/54L836_EW4A
with Rev. Dr. David Breeden
Text of talk (PDF): One of Degree and Not of Kind: Darwin Widens the Circle
In his book The Descent of Man, 1871, Charles Darwin wrote, “The difference in mind between man and the higher animals, great as it is, certainly is one of degree and not of kind.” We still grapple with this stunning news.
https://youtu.be/OvBa3StmJ7Y
with Rev. Dr. David Breeden
Text of talk (PDF): Intentionality and the Big Fix
Scientist and philosopher Blaise Pascal wrote, “All of humanity’s problems stem from our inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” That is probably a bit of an over-simplification, yet our avoidance of boredom and solitude may well be why so few of us have fully realized interior lives.
https://youtu.be/T-rrS-6vZb0
with Rev. Dr. David Breeden, Christopher D. Sims, and music by Ted Olsen. Text of talk (PDF): A Celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. in Spoken Word and Music
https://youtu.be/mxFLtf9D_oY
A talk by Rev. Dr. David Breeden Text of talk (PDF): Living with Intention: Theory and Practice Pt. 2
https://youtu.be/USQinb8xrhQ
A talk by Rev. Dr. David Breeden Text of talk (PDF): But I Didn't Mean To! with Rev. Dr. David Breeden
A talk by Rev. Dr. David Breeden Text of talk (PDF): "Movable Feasts and Usable Pasts" with Rev. Dr. David Breeden
A talk by Rev. Dr. David Breeden Text of talk (PDF): Talk Prep Notes for Becoming an Ancestor
Speaker: Rev. David BreedenSunday, June 6, 2021
Text of talk (PDF):
Rules of the Game.pdfDownload
Speaker: Rev. David Breeden 2019.09.08
Led by Revs. David Breeden, Jim Foti and Kelli Clement
Come kick off the new program year with our annual water celebration as our ministers share reflections on what it means to gather as a humanist community. This all-ages assembly will include a story by Rev. Jim and Religious Education Director Allison Wyeth. Remember to bring along a small amount of water you collected over the summer!
Speaker: Rev. Jim Foti 2019.09.08
Led by Revs. David Breeden, Jim Foti and Kelli Clement
Come kick off the new program year with our annual water celebration as our ministers share reflections on what it means to gather as a humanist community. This all-ages assembly will include a story by Rev. Jim and Religious Education Director Allison Wyeth. Remember to bring along a small amount of water you collected over the summer!
"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." -- Dr. Seuss
"One day humanity will play with law just as children play with disused objects, not in order to restore them to their canonical use but to free them from it for good." -- Georgio Agamben, in State of Exception.
"The art of living is more like the art of the wrestler than the art of the dancer. Be ready, stand firm, and expect to be hit." -- Marcus Aurelius (VII. 61)
Speaker: Rev. Jim Foti, Assistant Minister Sunday, March 19, 2017
Jim explores connections between the wisdom of nature and the challenges of today.
Text (PDF): Wisdom and Nature
"Whether all is really lost or not depends entirely on whether or not I am lost." -- Vaclav Havel
Speaker: Brandt Williams, MPR Senior Reporter Sunday, January 9, 2017
Brandt Williams has spent a fair amount of his career covering the controversial mix of cops, courts, crime, and color. At this monthly forum, he spoke on what he has found out while covering fatal police shootings, traffic stop disparities and the impact of gun violence in parts of the city. A senior reporter at Minnesota Public Radio, he has covered the city of Minneapolis for nearly 25 years. Before coming to MPR in 2000, Brandt was the executive editor of Insight News, the state's largest African American-owned newspaper.
April 27th, 2014
Welcome - Madalyn Cioci; Chalice Lighting - Jim Foti, Jan Devor & Melanie Willett; Greetings from the UUA - Rev. Harlan Limpert; Greetings from the Downtown Senior Clergy - Rev. Dr. James Gertmenian; Offering - Denis Davidoff; Reading from Dr. Carl Storm - Bill Karns; Introduction of the Speaker - Madalyn Cioci; "A Millennial's Vision of the New Humanism" - Vanessa Gomez Brake; Ceremony of Installation - Mike Illes; Charge to the Minister - Rev. Victoria Safford; Charge to the Congregation - Kathy Burek.
Rev. Dr. David Breeden, Senior Minister Elect Sunday, April 14, 2013
Dr. Breeden gave this address after completing a week of meetings with members of the First Unitarian Society community in a variety of settings. Following the Assembly, the Board of Trustees convened a special congregational meeting to determine whether Dr. Breeden should be called to be the congregation's next settled minister, a vote was taken, and Dr. Breeden was approved by 99% of the congregation.
Rev. Dr. David Breeden, Senior Minister Elect Sunday, April 7, 2013
Dr. Breeden, recommended by the Search Committee to the next settled minister of the First Unitarian Society, gave this address, kicking off a week of meetings with members and staff. In this two part series, Dr. Breeden discusses the future of religious humanism and the historical role of the First Unitarian Society in its development.