This Week at UBC
Updated every Monday
"The culture of selfishness and individualism that often prevails in our society is not what builds up and leads to a more habitable world: it is the culture of solidarity that does so, seeing others not as rivals or statistics, but brothers and sisters."
— Pope Francis (1936-2025)
April 21, 2025
Hello Friends:
The early morning news today is that Pope Francis died, just a few hours after helping celebrate Easter at St. Peter’s in Vatican City. He will be remembered as a humble and dedicated servant. He eschewed the wealth that often accompanied the office and advocated strongly on behalf of the environment. I pray for the larger Catholic communion in mourning, and I give thanks for this gentle man’s service.
Easter Sunday at UBC was a great celebration, enhanced by the bell and vocal choirs. It was good to see so many people at UBC these past several weeks. I look forward to a great spring season as we continue this momentum.
Tomorrow is Earth Day. The rain predicted for this week ought to green up the brown winter lawns and spur the trees to bud and the flowers to bloom. A welcome respite. Who knows, we may even turn off the boiler for the season at UBC.
This Sunday, we’ll turn our post-Easter focus to the book of Acts. Often called Luke’s second volume, Acts recounts from Luke’s perspective the founding of the churches across the middle east. It’s the story of how the people made sense of Jesus’ death and resurrection and how they built that into a movement. It had its share of bumps along the way. Sunday’s focus is on Acts 5:27-32. The Apostles were continuing the healing work of Jesus and as a result got arrested. Somehow, they broke out of prison and continued to do what got them thrown into prison in the first place. The courage of the apostles was infectious. For what moment do we need to muster our courage these days? What truth might set us free? Are we willing to take risks on behalf of the Gospel of liberation? Maybe that’s the post-easter set of questions? My sermon is entitled, “Finding your Voice”. Gayla Marty will be the worship leader and the UBC Chorale will sing.
The deadline for the May newsletter is April 25th. Please send your articles, announcements, reflections, and photos to Christ Follett at chrisf2828@yahoo.com.
If you haven’t done so already, please complete your pledges of time, talent and treasure. This will help the Council and the Talent Team tremendously as we make plans for our upcoming program and fiscal year which starts on July 1st.
Our friends at First Congregational church are hosting a Story Slam on Sunday the 27th at 1pm. Those of you who are not attending the Worship Planning Team meeting might want to consider the story slam. The theme is “second chances.”
Looking ahead, join members of the Antiracism Group for a tour of local Native American Sacred Sites, led by Jim Bear Jacobs, on Sunday June 1, 1-5 pm. To register, follow this link and scroll to the form at the bottom of the page: https://www.mnchurches.org/what-we-do/healing-minnesota-stories. If you are able to register, please let me or Denise Roy know so we can maintain a list for carpooling purposes. If you are not available on June 1, or if you are unable to register because the tour is full, consider alternative tours on Saturdays May 3 and October 18, both 10 am to 2 pm. Tours fill fast, so register soon!
Blessings and Peace,
Doug Donley
This week's schedule:
Monday
7pm UBC/FCC Knitting Group at the home of Mercedes Tuma-Hansen
Tuesday
5:30pm Sacred Harp
7pm Antiracism Group
Meeting ID: 517 697 6753 Passcode: 602794
Wednesday
6pm UBC Chorale
7:30pm UBC Carillon Bell Choir
Saturday
10am UBC/FCC Spanish Conversation Group at Curioso Coffee Shop
1712 Marshall St NE, Minneapolis. All levels of Spanish proficiency are welcome, especially beginners.
Sunday
10am worship
11am or so Joys and Concerns on Zoom
Meeting ID 839 4725 7444 passcode 257750
12:45pm Worship Planning Team
4pm Sacred Harp