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This Week at Unity Church February 1–7, 2015
Welcome visitors! After the service today, please stop by the Welcome Table in the Parish Hall to introduce yourself and learn more about Unity Church.
A New Sanctuary Sound System
Are you noticing microphones hanging from the beams of the
Sanctuary? Does the spoken word sound unusually clear? Are you
using the hearing assisted system and noticed that you’re hearing
the music too? Thanks to a generous gift from the estate of Joan
Lovrien, we have a new sound system! This system gives us a higher
level of professional sound and allows us to record both the spoken
word and beautiful music during services. If you are interested in
serving on our newly establish Sound Team, please contact Ruth
Palmer at [email protected] or 651-228-1456 x118.
Parking Reminder
On Sundays, please remember to leave the parking spaces open
for handicapped parking in the small lot just to the east of the
church. This is important to providing access to those with mobility
challenges. In addition, there is one spot that is for electric vehicles
only — our new fast charging station — that needs to be left open!
Open Page Writing Session
Led by Consulting Literary Minister Karen Hering, Open Page
writing session participants use stories, poetry, images, and objects
as well as wisdom from religious teachings, science, and history,
to reflect on the month’s theme. RSVP to [email protected]
Sunday, February 8 • 2:00-4:00 p.m. • Unity Church
Paradise: Then and Now and Yet to Come
Paradise has often been imagined as a garden laden with fruit and
shining in perfect possibilities, each one realized. What can we
learn about the world we live in today, by exploring the stories
of a paradise found somewhere else, as a place of creation or a
destiny of souls?
Heritage Week! Sign up for a Sources Supper!
In the Sources Supper tradition, during the week of February 14-22,
we will come together to tell the story of Unitarian Universalism
and apply it to our lives today. There are two options to participate
in this community building and spiritually deepening dinner ritual:
in one another’s homes on February 15 and 21, and at the church
on February 21. Sign up for a Supper in the Parish Hall after the
service and online at www.SourcesSupper.org.
Unity Church Welcomes Rev. Dr. Sándor Kovács
We welcome Rev. Dr. Sándor Kovács, Associate Professor of
History at the Unitarian Seminary in Transylvania, who will visit
Unity Church from February 18 through 22, offering two programs
and preaching.
Wellspring Wednesday, February 18 • 7:15 p.m.
Sharing the Journey: Religious Dissenters in Europe
Rev. Dr. Sándor Kovács will share stories of the relationship that
developed between Hungarian Unitarians and their English
speaking counterparts, including the joys and the struggles. This
is a wonderful opportunity to go deeper in the story of our faith’s
European roots and to get to know international Unitarianism today.
Saturday Forum, February 21 • 10:00 a.m. • Parish Hall
The Development of Unitarianism in Transylvania in the 16th Century
This history lesson will be especially appropriate for anyone
considering this summer’s pilgrimage to Transylvania (details on back).
Sunday Worship: February 22: Imagining Paradise
Rev. Dr. Sándor Kovács and Worship Associate Zoe Leuthner
Parish Hall Artist
Today is the last Sunday for Peter Ross’ art exhibit in the Parish Hall.
This Week in Religious Education (R.E.)
Bedtime Rituals for 11:00 service only: In place of regular
classes today, parents of children enrolled in YELLOW and
GREEN Rotations (3-4 graders) are introduced to Bedtime Rituals
developed by the UU Families group. This training serves to
bridge children’s faith experience at church with practices at
home toward a more holistic life of faith. Families of 3-4 graders
who have already experienced this training, or missed registering
for today’s training, should attend worship together in the main
sanctuary. Please contact R.E. staff for future trainings. Note: All
other R.E. classes continue as regularly scheduled.
Spirit Play (ages 3-6): Children in Spirit Play today hear the story
of John Murray and the message of universal love he brought
to America. Does God love only certain people or all people
everywhere? How does God speak to people about such love?
Workshop Rotation (grades 1-6): Children meet in regular
classes today (*note above exception for 11:00 service). They
continue exploring our current unit on “The Sacred Within”
and seeing one another through the eyes of compassion.
Junior High (grades 6-8): Youth continue in our three junior
high courses: Extreme Religions, What Do You Stand For?, and
Technology and Religion. Take time to greet your child’s teacher!
Tween (grades 5-8) Group: Programming is on pause, with
many of our tweens participating in the musical. Programming
will resume in March.
Our Whole Lives (OWL): Class continues February 4 with
a thematic shift into intimacy and “love making.” OWL is a
signature sexuality and spirituality program for grades 7-9.
Coming of Age (COA): Coming of Age class meets today with
mentors at 3:30 p.m., with concluding focus on the theme
“Living in the Face of Death and Loss.” Mentors and youth
attend worship together at 4:30. COA is our signature spiritual
growth program for 9th graders.
Tower Club (grades 10-12): Tower Club does NOT meet tonight
but will resume next Sunday with screening of film “Selma” and
engaging the larger conversation at Unity Church around racism.
733 Portland Avenue • Saint Paul, MN 55104 • 651-228-1456 • www.unityunitarian.org • [email protected]
Upcoming Worship Service: February 8
This Week at Unity Church
Sunday, February 1
Children’s Choir Rehearsal
Women’s Ensemble Rehearsal
Afterthoughts
Soup Supper
Monday, February 2
Unitots Playgroup
Tuesday, February 3
Sangha Meditation Wednesday, February 4
Wellspring Wednesday
Thursday, February 5
Unity Choir Rehearsal
Friday, February 6
Unity Bridge Group
Service times: 9:00 and 11:00 a.m., 4:30 p.m.
10:15 a.m., Robbins Parlor
10:15 a.m., Choir Room
10:15 a.m., Gannett Room
5:45 p.m., Parish Hall
9:30 a.m., Nursery
5:30 p.m., Ames Chapel
See box below
7:30 p.m., Parish Hall
7:00 p.m., Robbins Parlor
Half-Day of Silence
Saturday, February 21 • 1:00-5:00 p.m. • Robbins Parlor
Join Spiritual Director Sarah Cledwyn for a half-day silent retreat that
will include an indoor labyrinth, journaling, mandalas and more.
This is an opportunity to dip your toes into stillness, with support,
and see what you find there. This program is free but please RSVP
to Sarah at [email protected] to ensure there are enough
space and materials for everyone. Child care requests to michelle@
unityunitarian.org at least one week in advance.
Wellspring Wednesday, February 4
6:00 p.m. Dinner: TBA
Cost: $7/adult, $4/child (age 5-12), $2/child (age 2-4), $20/family
6:45 p.m. Worship service in the Ames Chapel
7:10 p.m. Programs and Childcare
Soul Work: Anti-Racist Theologies in Dialogue: Unitarian
Universalists (UU) have had a long history of engagement in the
work of racial justice, but the first UU consultation on theology and
racism was convened only a few years ago. Come and explore the
themes and distinct voices that emerged from that consultation,
and learn about the opportunities for continued dialogue today.
The Zen of Being Green: How can we intentionally move towards
a deeper relationship with the world around us? Join green guru
and church member Dale Howey for a discussion about how
living green can be a conscious way of life, as well as a change in
our living habits. All the decisions we make have an impact, and
studying, seeing, and living with the results of our consumption
choices can be a spiritual path, as well as work for justice.
Go: The Chinese Board Game: Unity Church member Bob Ruud
is offering to host an introduction to Go. Anyone above the age
of 10 interested in learning and/or playing the game is welcome
to come. Several boards and sets of stones will be provided, but
attendees are encouraged to bring their own if they have them.
If there is enough interest, sessions will be scheduled every other
Wednesday night for the foreseeable future. Check out the website
of the American Go Association: http://www.usgo.org/what-go
Embodied Spiritual Practice: Gentle Meditative Yoga: Come as
you are and experience non- judgmental, non-competitive yoga.
Youth ages 10 and up are welcome to come with an adult family
member. Wear comfortable clothing. Bring a yoga mat, towel,
and water bottle. A few mats will be available for loan.
New Family Religious Education Orientation — Rev. K.P. Hong
A Time, A Place, and A Space
Pastor Danny Givens, Jr., and Worship Associate Jen Niemela
Paradise on earth has an immutable impact on our day to day lives
as people of faith. We often find ourselves enveloped with the
varying notions of how we experience paradise on earth. A time,
a place, and a space all provide a container to ponder the varying
notions of such experiences from both a shared and more intimate
viewpoint. Musician: Jamela Pettiford, vocalist
Our Ministry of Generosity
Each Sunday, thirty percent of the offering goes to support the
Community Outreach Ministry at Unity Church and seventy percent
is given to a chosen community non-profit recipient. Please make
checks payable to Unity Church. On January 25 Unity Church
collected $6,883.14 in the Sunday offering. Unity’s Justice Learning
Scholarship Fund will receive the entire amount. Information about
today’s offering recipient the St. Paul Area Council of Churches’s
Interfaith Youth Leadership Coalition can be found in your order
of service. The offering recipient on February 8 is Bedlam Theatre.
Rainbow Chalice Alliance is Selling Pies
Pie Day (3/14/15) is fast approaching! Unity’s Rainbow Chalice
Alliance (RCA) will be tabling in the Parish Hall on Sunday,
February 8, and 15, taking orders for made-from-scratch blueberry,
apple, and French silk pies. RCA is only able to make 50 pies, and
it’s first-come, first-served. The pies are prepared and then frozen so
you can bake them whenever you want. The funds raised from Pie
Day help us to support Q-Quest (an event for LBGTQA youth held
in the fall) and help fund Queer Prom and Youth Pride in the spring.
Unity Church–Unitarian presents the 26th Annual Children’s Musical
The Golden Queen
A Royal Musical Adventure About Life’s True Riches
Performances are held in the Sanctuary on the following nights:
Thursday, February 26 • 7:00 p.m.
Friday, February 27 • 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 28 • 5:00 p.m.
“The Golden Queen” tells the story of Gilda, the queen, who has
mistaken the amount of gold she acquires with the amount of
happiness she feels she deserves. An unfolding tragedy, a group of
villagers, and a whole lot of singing and dancing lead Gilda down
a path of discovery. Will tragedy be averted? Does the queen
ultimately have a heart of gold? Find out in this royal musical
adventure about life’s true riches!
As always, the entire production—from the script to the music to
the choreography—is original material created for Unity’s 6th,
7th, and 8th graders. Sandy Waterman returns for her 26th year
as composer of the musical score. Mary Blouin Auffert wrote the
script this year and returns as director. Tickets are $6 for adults, $4
for children, and $20 for families and are for sale in the Parish Hall
after services, online at www.unityunitarian.org, as well as before
the performances.
Heart to Heart: A Couples’ Enrichment Weekend
Heart to Heart is a program designed to enrich communication
and deepen intimacy in your relationship. This year’s 21st annual
retreat will be held April 10-12, 2015, at Holy Spirit Retreat
Center. Cost is $385 and scholarships are available. All couples
committed to their partners and their relationships are welcome
— same-sex and opposite-sex, married and unmarried. Space is
limited. For more information visit: http://hearttoheartmn.org.