This Week at UBC Updated every Monday "Sweetness in the air and justice on the wind." — Bob Franke march 9, 2026 Hello Friends: Apparently, there is another scam email purporting to come from me asking for a discreet email and eventually money. If you receive one of these emails, please don’t respond. Block the email address and report the scam before deleting the email. If you receive an email like this, call me or contact me on my correct email address before responding. I’m hosting another maple syrup-making event today and will probably do so again later on this week. A friend from South Africa commented on my Facebook post recently saying that maple syrup is way too expensive in her country. Kinda reminds me of the spike in oil prices as a result of the latest war in Iran (but I digress). Anyway, I told her what I tell everyone, anyone who hangs out with us around the fire goes home with a jar of fresh sweetness. I see it as a bit of an antidote or perhaps a subtle defiance of a word too often defined by meanness. So, come on over. This Saturday, we will be hosting our next Roots Cellar concert. Root River Jam combines elements of Americana, country, rock, and blues genres. Performing music with the spark of creativity and individuality from each musician, they produce songs and sounds that draw you in to their eclectic style! Tickets and more info here . On Sunday morning, we’ll continue our Lenten series on Progressive Christianity. This Sunday, we are considering how learning of other faith traditions enhances our faith experience. How did interfaith work become a threat? Other religions reflect God and humanity’s search for meaning. God is bigger than our certainty. Curiosity about another tradition is a sign that faith is alive. My sermon is entitled, “Is My God Better than Your God?” The scripture reading will be Psalm 95. The UBC Chorale will sing and Megan Dahlberg will be the worship leader. Our forum on Sunday will be about the Singing Resistance that has enlivened and enhanced the protests of these past few months and has given voice to our collective longings. Co-founder Conie Borchardt will talk about the hundreds-strong singing group that formed the week Renee Good was killed. Since then, they have been taking their voices to the streets all over the metro with songs like “Hold On” that we’ve been learning in worship. Learn how to take part or support the group. As music reviewer Jim Walsh wrote in MinnPost , “The sound of this chorus coming out of nowhere on a cold and dangerous night is a healing, hopeful, soulful blessing.” Blessings and Peace, Doug Donley this week's schedule tuesday 5:30pm - Sacred Harp wednesday 6pm - UBC Chorale rehearsal 7:30pm - UBC Carillon bells rehearsal friday 11:15am - Every Meal at Marcy School saturday 1pm - Card Club at the home of Jean Lubke 1pm - Grace in Contemporary Literature by Women Zoom Link 7pm - Root River Jam plays the Roots Cellar Ticket Link Sunday 10am - Worship at UBC 11am or so - Joys and Concerns Zoom Link 11:15 or so - Refreshments 11:45 or so - Bible Study; Forum: The Singing Resistance 1pm - UBC Council Meeting Annual Report 2025 Discernment Report Pledge Packet 2025

University Baptist Church has an intentional focus on inclusion, justice-seeking and peace-making. We are intrigued and captured by the challenge and whimsey of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and seek to live out this Good News in our individual and collective lives. WELCOME TO UBC! Our mission at UBC is to be a loving and inclusive community seeking faith, joy, and action nurtured by the biblical traditions, the teachings of Christ, and God's continuing revelation. UBC is adjacent to the University of Minnesota in historic Dinkytown. We have a focus on inclusion, justice-seeking, and peace-making. All are welcome! SUNDAY SERVICE BULLETIN 10am Worship Service in person and livestreamed. Followed by Joys & Concerns, in person and on Zoom. JOYS AND CONCERNS and FORUM zoom info Zoom info: Meeting ID 839 4725 7444 password 257750. One tap mobile: +13602095623,,83947257444#,,,,*257750# US Extra parking on Sundays can be used in the LDS & Library lots. QUICK LINKS THIS WEEK AT UBC NEWSLETTER CALENDAR WORSHIP SERVICES ROOTS CELLAR RENTAL SPACE GIVING

GROUPS & MEET UPS AT UBC Memoir Writing Group Write on your own and share work (if desired). Groups meets via Zoom every other Tuesday, 7 p.m. Anti-Racism Group Meets monthly to deepen our understanding of racism and how to address its lasting impact. We want to not just be aware of racism, but become actively anti-racist accomplices. Second Tuesday of the month at 7pm. Bells and Choir Rehearsals Wednesday evenings in the sanctuary or lounge. Choir 6pm, Bells 7:30pm Grace in Contemporary Literature by Women Book Group Self-explanatory! Meets second Saturdays at 1pm on Zoom. Caregiver Support Support group for those who are serving as caregivers. Share the joys and challenges with others in the same position. First Thursdays at 6:30pm. Bible Study First and third Saturdays at 9am on Zoom. New members are welcome! Journeys , a Bible Study for adults – Sundays at 11:30am in the library. Journeys is an opportunity to read, to explore your questions, and to share your thoughts about key passages of Scripture. Each week there is a new reading and a new lesson. Journeys is open to all. No preparation or long-term commitment is required. Feel free to attend regularly or only occasionally. Card Club This group meets monthly to learn card-making techniques, share ideas, and make beautiful greeting cards. Due to the limited space and the need to prepare materials, registration is needed for each month's session. UBC-FCC Evening Handcraft Group Every third Monday at 7pm. The group is made up of stitchers from UBC and First Congregational Church. UBC-FCC Daytime Handcraft Group First Wednesdays. Bring your knitting, crocheting, hand sewing or even mending and reapplying buttons! If you are interested and want to be on a distribution list, please let Marilyn Burns (from FCC) know at mbsnoobear@mac.com or contact us. Sacred Harp Singing Sundays (except the first), 4-6pm, and every Tuesday, 5:30-7:30pm, at UBC in Room 303. No experience or talent necessary! Every Meal Second Fridays at 11am -1pm at Marcy Open School in SE Minneapolis. Volunteers are needed to deliver meal bags to student backpacks during the school day. Meals on Wheels Tuesday-Friday the first full week of the month. Meals are picked up around 11:15 am and the route in SE Minneapolis usually takes less than two hours. Contact us at info@ubcmn.org for more info or to be added to our weekly updates email list.

join us to celebrate the 175th anniversary of our congregation established on july 13, 1850 at st. anthony falls 1850-2025: 175 years of ubc! Hello Friends: We would love to see you as we celebrate the 175th anniversary of University Baptist Church! If you can't attend in person, join us by livestream on Sunday mornings from 10-11am. We would also appreciate it if you write a memory of UBC and send it to us at marketing@ubcmn.org or to our mailing address. We look forward to seeing many of you in the coming months to share the joy of UBC's legacy and God's continuing revelation. Blessings and peace, Pastor Doug Donley and the 175th Anniversary Committee Chris Follett, Don Follett, Elwyn Alexander Fraser Jr., Harriet Johnson, Howard Johnson, Gayla Marty (chair), Betty Shaw, Sue Wester, Terri Wottrich ubc175 events SUNDAY, JULY 13, 2025 - FOUNDING DAY Reflections on 1850 with music of the time 10 am - Worship followed by an ice cream social on the lawn SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 - PICNIC Welcome back picnic after church 10 am - Worship followed by lunch on the lawn SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 - PICTURING THE PAST Illustrated presentation of our locations in St. Anthony/S.E. Minneapolis by architectural historian Kristin Anderson 11:30 am SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12 - BLOCK PARTY Arts and fun with our Dinkytown neighbors 12-6 pm SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2 - ALL SAINTS Honoring loved ones and leaders who have joined our great cloud of witnesses 10 am - Worship followed by extended fellowship SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16 - BUILDING TOUR Tour our 100-year-old building with historical preservation experts 11:30 am WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24 - CHRISTMAS EVE Lessons and carols with musical prelude 4:30 pm

Our Staff & Council We are all ministers. Ministry teams do most of the heavy lifting at UBC. To support them, we have the following council and staff: Church Council Pastor Rev. Doug Donley Treasurer Denise Roy Church life coordinators Margie Garmers & Betty Shaw President Jean Lubke Church Clerk John Medeiros Outreach coordinator Karole Graham UBC Staff Rev. Doug Donley UBC Pastor pastor@ubcmn.org Maura Dunst Marketing Manager marketing@ubcmn.org Trista McGovern Administrative Assistant info@ubcmn.org David Lesniaski Music Director music@ubcmn.org Patrick Mavity Property Manager property@ubcmn.org Allan Edwards Janitor

Members Everyone is welcome at UBC! There are membership classes for those interested in formalizing their presence within the congregation. They happen a few times a year depending on people's schedules. We have a special category of membership for people who expect to be here for a short period of time and want to maintain their membership in their home church. We call this a community/university member. Since we're a Baptist church, we believe that baptism decisions ought to be made by people who are old enough decide for themselves. We call this Believer's Baptism. We practice baptism by immersion. It's a beautiful thing to behold, especially with all of the water sloshing around afterwards. We recognize and accept previous baptisms and confirmations and we don't require you to be re-baptized, unless you want to. Want to learn more about becoming a member? Contact Paula Moyer, who coordinates our new member orientations! paulamoyer52@gmail.com

we have rental space for offices events weddings and more! Next door to one of the largest research universities in the world - a campus of 50,000 students - UBC's building was designed as a hub of activity. Our sanctuary is a beautiful space for weddings and commitment ceremonies as well as music, theater, and public programs. Our lawn and portico provide a lovely green space on a busy corner. We have room to share for renters, too. Tenants in our beautiful space have included not only other congregations but an alternative school, small businesses, artists, musicians, yoga classes, labor organizers, basketball players (we have a gym under the sanctuary), consultants, and more. Rental Spaces Currently Available Rooms for Lease Room 303 - 540 sq ft, non-profit $1,031/mo, for-profit $1,204/mo Room 305 - 675 sq ft, non-profit $1,289/mo, for-profit $1,505/mo Room 309 - 342 sq ft, non-profit $653/mo, for profit $763 Hourly or Special Occasion Gym $20/hr block (2hr minimum) Assembly Room 1,768 sq. ft., $40/hr including kitchen $30/hr without kitchen, 2hr minimum Sanctuary is available for funerals, concerts, and other special occasion rentals at $50/hr Sanctuary is is also available for weddings - see guidelines below Library - $25 for the first hour, $10 for each additional hour Lounge - $25 for the first hour, $10 for each additional hour DETAILS Many rooms have hardwood floors. All rooms are handicap accessible. Utilities are included (small air conditioning or space heater surcharge added). We have many rooms available for meetings, rehearsals, recreations, rituals and performances, including a gym. Room rental spaces are open for month to month leases/contracts. To set up a showing or for more information, please contact us at 612-331-1768 or property@ubcmn.org Inquiring about a funeral or memorial service? Review our FUNERAL/MEMORIAL SERVICE INSTRUCTIONS . Wedding Ceremonies University Baptist Church (UBC) is proud to perform wedding ceremonies for everyone, including the LGBTQA+ community. We are a faith community with a noble tradition of supporting full equality for LGBT people. UBC was the first Baptist Church to appoint an openly lesbian pastor, the Rev. Nadean Bishop, who served from 1992-2000. UBC belongs to the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists and American Baptists Concerned for Sexual Minorities. UBC’s pastor, the Reverend Doug Donley, has been an impassioned advocate of LGBT rights and equality. Doug has held national leadership positions with Soulforce, an organization dedicated to LGBT inclusion and the elimination of spiritual oppression through nonviolent means. Doug is also a founding member of the Coalition for A Respectful U., an inter-faith coalition whose mission is to create a safe and welcoming environment for LGBT students at the University of Minnesota. In 2005, Doug received the University’s Breaking the Silence Award in recognition of his work on behalf of LGBT people. In 2004, under Doug’s leadership, the congregation of UBC passed a statement affirming marriage rights for same-sex couples. UBC Wedding Brochure

Education Education happens at UBC in a variety of ways, including: Forums Bible Study Children's Church Forums These happen every Sunday from 11:30am-12:30pm in the Lounge. The forums are on topics of interest to the congregation but can vary from an informal getting to know you session for new people to a more formal lecture on a topic of interest. Bible Study We offer two bible studies: one that meets from 11:30am-12:30pm on Sundays in the church library, and one that meets the first and third Saturdays at 9am on Zoom. These groups usually looks at a particular book of the Bible taking several weeks or months to investigate the nuances and teachings of the book. Bible study is open to everyone! For Children Children are a central part of life at UBC. Children of all ages are encouraged to be in the service up until the "Children's Time" when the pastor spends time talking to and praying with them. After this, children up to age 10 can go to the nursery where they are cared for by two paid nursery staff. The older children have a Sunday School lesson each week, while the younger children have "circle time" in the nursery where they hear a story and sing a few songs. Below: UBC members meet with forum speaker Mikah Meyer about his Outside Safe Space program to make the great outdoors more accessible to the LGBTQ+ community.

Music at UBC University Baptist Church has a vibrant music program. Music groups at UBC are open to new members at any time. We welcome you to join the fun! The program year begins in early September and runs through mid-May. The handbell season may be longer depending on projects. programs chorale Directed by David Lesniaski The UBC Chorale is an ensemble of about 20 voices that rehearses on Wednesdays from 6:00-7:15 p.m. The Chorale sings a variety of music ranging from classics like the Paulus Pilgrims' Hymn and movements by Haydn or Bach to Spanish-English bilingual variations of Handel's Messiah and compositions by our own choir members. Augmented by several professional section leaders/soloists, the Chorale is the primary musical leadership of our worship. Beyond Sunday worship the Chorale occasionally sings at the homes of homebound congregation members and in special-event partnerships with neighboring churches. Carillon and majors handbell choirs Directed by Jean Lubke Directed by Jean Lubke, the Carillon and Majors Handbell Choirs rehearse on Wednesday nights from 7:30-9:00 p.m. and perform several pieces one Sunday per month for our worship service. This ensemble rings five octaves of Malmark bells and four octaves of chimes performing sacred music, hymn arrangements, and bell arrangements of classical music. The Carillon Choir and Majors Ensemble gave a concert tour in England and Scotland in 2004 and in the Eastern U.S. (Indiana, Ohio, and New York) in 2007, California in 2010, Nicaragua in 2013, and France/Germany in 2017, and Scandinavia in 2022. They are planning their next trip to Finland, Estonia, and Latvia for 2027. sacred harp singing Sacred Harp Singing is hosted by UBC each Tuesday from 5:30-7:30 p.m. and the second and fourth Sundays of every month from 4-6 p.m. in Room 303. No musical training or special ability are required to join in this early American Shape-Note style music. Contact fasolamatt@yahoo.com . For more information on singing in the Twin Cities, visit mnfasola.org This congregation proudly counts among its instrumentalists people who play hammer dulcimer, violin, cello, flute, clarinet, ukelele, banjo, fiddle, crumhorn, djembe, acoustic bass, and a number each of guitarists, keyboardists, and recorder players. We love to borrow University of Minnesota music students. Anyone who would like to contribute music to a worship service is heartily encouraged to call the church office or email music@ubcmn.org . Instruments Organ UBC's primary instrument during most services is the pipe organ, having acquired in its earliest days a cabinet organ in the 1870's about twenty years after the congregation was founded. The instrument in our building today, built freestanding in the rear balcony in 1981, is Dobson's Opus 15 (II/30) and replaced Reuter's Opus 237 (III/18) built originally in 1927 in front chambers (with 1969 Moller console). The service of dedication was played by music director Martha Pittenger on October 11, 1981, with a recital the same evening. A booklet published for the organ's inauguration can be seen here . It was the feature instrument of The American Organist journal in October 1982. The project was facilitated by pastor Lee Freeman, organist and choir director Martha Pittenger, consultant Keith Linney, James Moeser of the University of Kansas, and a task force consisting of (at various stages) Jim Ross, Tony Garmers, Siri Kommedahl, Chuck Campbell, Janet Otis, Craig Edwall, Andy Collins, Jim Campbell, Bill Schafer, and Bob Wallace. Harpsichord By 1980 the rear Sanctuary balcony was also home to a one-manual two-rank (8' and 4') 52-note Zuckermann kit harpsichord dating from the late 1960s or early 1970's. Church archives indicate it was probably built by William Gudim of Watertown, Minnesota, and was acquired by UBC between 1976 and 1980. It is used frequently during services as a solo instrument and for accompanying strings or voices on Baroque repertoire. Pianos On the main floor of the Sanctuary lives a Petrof grand piano that was manufactured around the year 2000 in the Bohemian town of Hradec Kralove, about 70 miles east of Prague. Purchased from local resident Linda Hanson in 2008 (who, in addition to not seeing it played as much as she wanted, found its sound too big for her residence), the Petrof replaced the regular use of a Bush & Lane baby grand manufactured in the early decades of the 20th century that had developed a cracked pin block. In the church Lounge resides a 1982 Everett Studio upright piano given by Nancy Myers in 2016. This is the main instrument for leading smaller services in this space and supplies a keyboard for use of the Lounge as a teaching space.

THE ROOTS CELLAR We host periodic concerts highlighting roots-focused musicians in an intimate informal atmosphere. Building on Dinkytown's iconic heritage as a folk music mecca, we showcase an eclectic mix of traditional and roots musicians ranging from blues to bluegrass, folk, and Americana. The Roots Cellar is hosted in the lower auditorium at the University Baptist Church at 1219 University Ave SE, Minneapolis MN 55414. Bus routes are a block away and parking is available in small lots next door, paid lots nearby, and street parking as well. 2025-2026 Roots Cellar Schedule See our Humanitix concerts hub below for all upcoming shows. Look for tickets available closer to the date if not yet posted! September 13th Sadie Gustafson-Zook October 12th (Sunday at 6pm) Jaspar Lepak November 8th Rachael Kilgour February 22nd (Sunday) Katie Dahl/Hope Dunbar/Rj Cowdery March 14th Root River Jam April 11th Crys Matthews TICKETS TICKETS TICKETS Sign up for Root Cellar emails Never miss a show again! Roots Cellar Alumni Tret Fure Ann Reed Peter Mayer Joe Jencks Zachary Scott Johnson Claudia Schmidt Pop Wagner Ellis Delaney Barley Jacks Pop Wagner and the Hampden Rounders Bob Bovee The Eclectics Annie Fitzgerald Lehto & Wright David Stoddard the Beau Baker Band the Men of New Hope Charlie Maguire

CONTACT US University Baptist Church 1219 University Avenue SE, Minneapolis MN 55414 612-331-1768 info@ubcmn.org Submit Thank you! Transit & Location University Baptist Church is located at 1219 University Ave. SE, Minneapolis MN, 55414. We are on the corner of University Ave. and 13th Ave. SE. The best way to get to UBC is to walk, bike or take public transit. The 2, 3, and 6 buses stop within a block of the church. The Green Line and Campus Connector stop a few blocks away, too. Parking meters in Dinkytown are enforced from 8 am-10 pm seven days a week. The good news is that there is free street parking within a few blocks of UBC. Give yourself a few extra minutes to find it. We have a small parking lot for a dozen cars (more if we block each other in). These spaces are first-come first-served. UBC guests can park in the Arvonne Fraser Library lot when the library is closed. (1222 4th St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414) The library is open 9-5 M, W, F, S and 12:30-8 T and TH. On Sundays, you can park for free on the south side of 4th street until 2 pm and on University Avenue until 5 pm. There are pay lots at: The Venue: 428 13th Ave. SE. (5th St. SE between 13th and 14th Aves.) It is located on the east side of 13th Ave. SE between 4th St. and 5th St. SE. The entrance is at the south end of the Venue at Dinkytown on 13th Ave. SE, next to Burrito Loco) 4th Street Ramp: 4th St. SE at 17th Ave. Other Info: ABOUT UBC OUR STAFF & VOLUNTEERS NEW MEMBERS HISTORY & BUILDING DONATE