Seeking Truth, Building Community, and Promoting Justice
Welcoming Congregation
We are a welcoming congregation that seeks to be a spiritual home for people of free faith. We value the full range of human diversity, including race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, affectional/sexual orientation, age, national origin, socioeconomic status, and ability.
We acknowledge that we gather on the traditional and sacred land of the Anishinaabe and Dakota people. In honor of their stewardship throughout the generations, we commit ourselves to protecting that land and working to mitigate the effects of climate change.
The St. Cloud Unitarian Universalist Fellowship is a small religious community serving the central Minnesota area. We are a welcoming congregation and a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association which has more than one thousand congregations in the United States and Canada.
Our denomination has a shared set of principles to guide us rather than a prescribed creed. Each individual has an opportunity to seek their own spiritual path. Our efforts and growth are encouraged through intellectual, aesthetic, supportive and spiritual programs and activities and through discussions among members and friends.
If you are seeking an open and welcoming religious environment, please visit us and share in our fellowship.
Sunday Services
We meet at 10:30 on Sunday mornings from September through May. The services usually include music, readings, a presentation by a minister or other speaker, and a chance to respond to the presentation. Casual dress is common and the service is less formal than many churches. Visitors are welcome.
On the first and third Sundays of each month from September to May, a Children’s Religious Education (CRE) experience, based on UU Principles, is offered for children and youth ages 5 – 16. Recent topics have included: Democracy for Dinosaurs, Insects, A Creative Expression of Thankfulness, Bullying, Beekeeping, Meditation and Racism.
A “CRE Corner” in the Sanctuary has quiet games and activities for youngsters to enjoy during the other Sundays of the month. “Time for Children” story time is offered early in the service and a nursery is available for infants and toddlers.
Sunday Services and Events
SUNDAY SERVICES WILL BE MULTIPLATFORM. YOU MAY USE ZOOM OR ATTEND IN PERSON.
PRESENTERS PLAN TO PARTICIPATE IN PERSON.
View our Calendar for more events and information.
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May 2024
10:30 a.m. Sunday, May 5: The Hard, Messy Work of Compassion: Principles 1, 2 and 3 – Ellen Eastby
Floods, earthquakes, and school shootings. We easily feel compassion for the victims of incidents like these. But what about feeling compassion toward those who annoy us or we don’t like or we disagree with? Aren’t they too worthy of our compassion? Our first principle states that all people have inherent worth and dignity and the second requires us to use justice, equity and compassion in human relations. But living up to the ideals of our principles is often easier said than done. Ellen will focus on compassion, and hopes that it will provide a starting point for meaningful, respectful conversation centered around heartfelt compassion for all people. Stay for soup and bread provided by members of the Budget & Finance Committee and Caring Committee.
Children’s Program (CRE): Introduction to drumming on hand drums and djembes. History, protocol and songs for the Mother Drum. Perhaps a performance to look forward to?
10:30 a.m. Sunday, May 12: Climate Justice in Minnesota and Beyond: Leadership by Frontline Communities – Corrie Grosse, PhD
This presentation will include an introduction to the latest on climate science, what climate justice is, and how folks at COP (the annual United Nations climate change negotiations) and here in Minnesota are working to advance it, with a focus on the solution of Native-led solar energy in Minnesota. Corrie Grosse is Associate Professor of Environmental Studies at College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University. She teaches the intersections of energy, climate justice, and activism and takes students to the annual United Nations climate change negotiations.
Children’s Activity: Bright Bulb Kidz Korner.
10:30 a.m. Sunday, May 19: Forgive Me – Rev. Shelley Dugan
Forgiveness is a spiritual practice, necessary for relationships and society, and good for our mental health. Yet it is anything but easy. When it comes to forgiving ourselves, things become even more complicated. Together we will explore some of the basic aspects of forgiveness and the barriers to forgiving ourselves.
Children’s Program (CRE): We’ll learn a UU children’s poem with its hand motions: “We are Unitarian Universalists. We’re the faith of the open mind, we’re the faith of the loving hearts and the helping hands. Together we care for our Earth, and work for friendship and peace in our world.” (Adapted from Aisha Hauser and Susan Lawrence in Sunday and Every Day: My Little Book of Unitarian Universalism.) And, we’ll process our field trip, plan for the Nature Walk at Quarry Park on Sunday, June 23rd, July Sing-a-long, water our trees, brainstorm for next year and play a game.
11:30 a.m. Sunday, May 26: Potluck Picnic at John & Linda Peck’s farm
We'll eat at noon, but please come a little earlier. Bring something edible to share, as well as your own plates, cups and utensils, folding chair or blanket. The Sauk River and natural parks are nearby so optional activities may include canoeing, kayaking, hiking, wildlife viewing, etc. Members of the Audubon Society will attend as well. It’s great fun and fellowship for all ages! Directions from St. Cloud/Waite Park: Travel west on TH 23 for four miles past the I-94 Intersection. Look for two green signs on the right: Rockville Downtown and Broadway Street. Turn right onto Broadway proceeding into Rockville. At the Rockville Gas and Bait station turn right (north) onto Co. Rd. 139. Once over the Sauk River STAY LEFT onto Sauk River Rd. Go past Rockville County Park to 12299 Sauk River Rd approximately 1 mile west of the bridge.
Weekly Sunday Services will resume on September 8. Informal activities are being planned for the summer.