About Us

Who We Are

Our church, a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association, was founded in 1960 as an outgrowth of the First Universalist Church of Minneapolis. We now have over 220 members and approximately 150 children in our Religious Education program—and we continue to grow.

We are small enough to provide a real sense of community, yet large enough to support a wide range of activities. Our members live in more than a dozen suburbs and include people of all ages.

We come from many religious backgrounds, but have one thing in common: an open quest for meaning, and an ongoing effort to put our shared values into practice. Unitarian Universalists find the essence of religion in character and conduct rather than doctrine, creed or dogma. We welcome and affirm the worth of all people regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender, physical abilities, affectional orientation, marital status, or religious beliefs.

Our Principles and Purposes

As Unitarian Universalists we affirm and promote the following principles:

A Welcoming Congregation

Rainbow chalice

In order to be fully recognized as a welcoming congregation, UUCM undertook at two-year course of self study in the areas of education, congregational life, and community outreach.

We fly our rainbow flag with pride every day, celebrating Solidarity Sunday in October, attending Twin Cities Pride celebrations, the People of Faith Rally at the State Capitol in support of same-sex couples, and have hosted workshops, book discussions, movie nights, and speakers regarding GLBT issues.

UUCM has been officially recognized as a Welcoming Congregation by the Unitarian Universalist Association. A welcoming congregation affirms the worth and dignity of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people and encourages them to visit, participate, become friends, and join our congregation.

Sunday Services

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Minnetonka offers Sunday services at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. from September 20 through May, and at 10:00 a.m. during the summer months.

Childcare is provided for infants and young children at all services.Religious Educationclasses are offered at the 11:00 a.m. service for children age three through senior high during the school year.

Sunday, June 27, 9:00 am

On Sunday, June 27 the entire UUCM congregation is invited and encouraged to attend worship at GA. It will be from 9:00 am until 10:15 am at the Minneapolis Convention Center and is open to everyone with no fees involved

Sunday, July 4, 10:00 am

State of the UUA 2010, Reverend Kent Hemmen Saleska.

Sunday, July 11, 10:00 am

Topic on Unitarian Universalism inspired by General Assembly 2010, Reverend Kent Hemmen Saleska.

Sunday, July 18, 10:00 am

Honoring a Home Grown Hero, Rev. Nels Oas, guest speaker.

Sunday, July 25, 10:00 am

Best of GA 2010, Diana Allen, Worship Associate and service coordinator.

Sunday, August 1, 10:00 am

We will have our Sunday service at Baker Park (at the regular 10:00 am service time), at the pavilion at the Katrina Group Campsite.

Sunday, August 8, 10:00 am

TBD.

Sunday, August 15, 10:00 am

TBD.

Sunday, August 22, 10:00 am

TBD.

Sunday, August 29, 10:00 am

TBD.

Our Church Leadership

Our Minister

Our Minister
Reverend Kent Hemmen-Saleska
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Our Staff

Director of Religious Education

RE Director

Andrea Purdy Heier

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Music Director

Music Director

Greg Membrez

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Choir Director

Choir Director

Mark Brekke

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Office Administrator

Office Administrator

Mary Paquette

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Bookkeeper

Bookkeeper
Rita Jelinek
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Board of Trustees

The responsibilities of the Board are specified by the church bylaws. Board members are elected by a vote of the congregation and serve three-year terms. They have the ultimate fiduciary and policy-making authority for the church with the exception of calling ministers and approving the annual budget.

President:  Alison Albrecht
Vice President:  Noel Martinson
Treasurer:  Michael Gower

 

Directors: Kevin Johnson, Michael McGee, Bill McKnight, Jackie Smolen, Steve Sundby. Ex-Officio: Christy Dachelet, Relocation Task Force Chair

 

Ministries and Their Missions

Communications

To promote UUCM, its news and events to its members and to the public.

Facilitator:Stephanie Wallingford
Community

To sustain a thriving, caring community that welcomes & embraces human diversity.

Facilitator:Deanna Johnson
Facilities and Operations

To enhance our church environment.

Co-facilitators:Pete ConnorsandLee Kaster
Finance

To ensure financial support of the church.

Facilitator: Open—volunteer needed!
Membership

To support and grow the membership of UUCM

Facilitator:Janna Sundby
Lifespan Religious Education

To help each individual develop a personal religious identity and a sense of belonging to our UUCM community.

Facilitator:Julia Antonsen
Social Action

To develop and support programs identified by Social Action and the congregation, which provide opportunities to live our UUA principles.

Facilitator:John Crosson
Worship Arts

To encourage individuals to act in accordance with their beliefs & values; To nurture our quest for knowledge, truth & spiritual growth at every stage of life.

Facilitator:Diana Allen

Church Activities

Church Music Program

Church Music Program

Our choir is open to all and performs at many of our services. Instrumental and vocal groups also perform from time to time.

For more information: Greg Membrez

Circle Suppers

Circle Suppers

Potluck-style “Circle Suppers” are held in members’ homes throughout the year. A great way to get to know others from UUCM. The host usually provides beverages and the guests each bring part of the meal. Sign up to host or attend in the North Room.

For more information: Marie Kidder

Connecting Caregivers: Caregiver Support Group

Caregiver Support Group

Are you providing care for relatives, partners and/or friends? You don’t have to go it alone. Share your journey with peers and receive emotional and spiritual support as well as answers to your caregiving questions. The group meets at UUCM from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday the month.

For more information: Stephanie McCullough-Cain.

Face2Face Job Networking Group

Face2Face Job Networking Group

“Face2Face”assists Minneapolis/West Metro professionals in finding a new job more quickly. A self supporting group gathered in an atmosphere of mutual help, members have access to job leads, a member database, job search resources, success stories, social contact, great ideas, encouragement, guest speaker presentations and some fun!

Meetings are held at UUCM on the first and third Thursdays of the month, 9:00 a.m.-noon. Small initial registration fee and per meeting donation requested.

For more information: JoAnne Meehl.

Unitarian Universalist Women’s West

Unitarian Universalist Women’s West

An affiliate of the UU Women’s Federation, the purpose of this group is to support women of the congregation, our community and the Twin Cities, and to promote the UU Principles.

UUWW events include a Women’s Retreat, Book Chat, “Thing Swap,” Tea Party, and more. Events are usually held on the second Friday of the month.

For more information: MaryAnn Wiborg.

UUCM Celebrations

UUCM Celebrations

Harvest Festivals, Summer Picnics, Holiday Parties, Games and Pizza Nights. UUCM offers time for families and community to gather in celebration of the seasons and the special times in our lives.

UUCM Venerable Men

UUCM Venerable Men

Especially for men 60+, this group meets at The Original Pancake House, Wayzata, at 8:00 a.m. on the first Tuesday of the month.

For more information: officeadmin@mtn.org.

UUCM Venerable Women

UUCM Venerable Women

Especially for women 60+, no agenda’s, just fun and getting to know one another. The group meets at UUCM and other fun spots around the area at Noon on the first Friday of the month.

For more information contact Bev Montgomery.

The Monday Morning Book Club

The Monday Morning Book Club

Open to all, Join Us!

The MMBC meets on the third Monday of every month in Room 4 at UUCM. Anyone interested is invited to come and participate. Books are chosen by the group and members take turns being the group's facilitator.

Questions? Email Bev Montgomery or call Bev at 952.931.0805.

Youth Group

Youth Group

Seventh through twelfth graders gather on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. for a program planned by the Youth Adult Committee. Our goal is to build community with all of the youth in the Religious Education program through worship, social action, youth-adult relations, learning and fun activities.

For more information, email our Youth Advisor April Kaisen.

Religious Education

Lifespan Religious Education Ministry (LRE)

The mission of Lifespan Religious Education Ministry is to be a catalyst and support for spiritual growth, transformation, and progressive change within our congregation and the wider community

There are three programs, led by individual leadership teams, that make up the LRE ministry:

Nursery and Toddlers

Nursery and Toddlers

Our youngest children receive care and comfort during the Sunday service.

As they grow, these youngsters begin some early group skills and a few simple UU rituals.

Children and Youth

Children and Youth

Children and youth are always welcome at UUCM! School age children and youth join the congregation for the beginning of the Sunday service before going to classes.

All visiting children and youth are asked to sign-in with the Religious Education Greeter on the lower level before the beginning of the Sunday service. After a few visits, families who continue will be asked to register for the program, which entails volunteering and pledging as able.

Our Religious Education program is guided by our Director of Religious Education for Children and Youth (DRE), Andrea Heier.

For more information on Unitarian Universalism for Children, check out KidTalk from the Church of the Larger Fellowship

Especially for Youth

Especially for Youth

Seventh through twelfth graders are invited to gather on Wednesday evenings for a program planned by the Youth Adult Committee.

Our goal is to build community with all of the youth in the Religious Education program through worship, social action, youth-adult relations, learning and fun activities.

Two important documents for Religious Education at UUCM:
  • 2009-2010 Religious Education Class Registration and Volunteer Form
  • 2009-2010 Religious Education Class Brochure

Adult Education Program

Adult Religious Education

Our adult class offerings feed the soul and refresh the mind. Forums, discussions, and classes on a variety of topics are held throughout the week.

Open Forum - Nurture Your Spirit…Get Connected…  Join the Open Forum!

Interested in discussing the sermon? Our discussion will provide an opportunity for the congregation to reflect and comment on the previous week’s sermon in an interactive way.

  • Dates:
  • Every Sunday starting May 23
  • Time:
  • After 10:00 am service
  • Location:
  • South Alcove Sanctuary
  • Facilitator:
  • Jodi Holden
Drumming the Soul

Come and enjoy wildly fun drumming plus carefully deep shamanic experiences that equip you with the spiritual skills to navigate through the changes (personal, communal, global) in which you find yourself swimming.

Drumming is one of the oldest ways humans have entertained themselves and one of the oldest and most organic prayer practices. Drumming is inherently easy, liberating, sensuous, ecstatic, meditative, stress-reducing, soul-saving, earth-loving and “wahoo-inducing”. Drums are provided, or bring your own. No previous skill or experience is needed! This is an event for adults. Teens accompanied by an adult are welcome.

Jaime Meyer has a master’s degree in Theology and Arts from United Seminary of the Twin Cities. In nine years has led thousands of people into what he calls “groovelicios rhythmocity”, the deep fun of spiritual drumming.

  • Dates:
  • Saturday, July 1
  • Time:
  • 7:00-9:00 pm
  • Location:
  • UUCM North Room
  • Fee:
  • the event is free, with a suggested donation of $15
  • Facilitator:
  • Jaime Meyer
  • To Register:
  • Contact Jodi Holden at 952-240-3846 or send Jody an email
For more information on these offerings, contact Jodi Holden

Related Links

Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA)

The UUA represents the interests of more than one thousand Unitarian Universalist congregations, on a continental scale. The UUA grew out of the consolidation, in 1961, of two religious denominations: the Universalists, organized in 1793, and the Unitarians, organized in 1825.

Prairie Star District

A division of the Unitarian Universalist Association, representing the Association in the Upper Midwest of the United States.

Church of the Larger Fellowship

A UU congregation by mail and cyberspace providing helpful online resources.

Metro Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Alliance

The Metro UU Social Justice Alliance is a multi-congregational organization of UUs in the Twin Cities of Minnesota, working together for social change.

Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth

Facilitates and supports the work of Unitarian Universalists by affirming and promoting the Seventh Principle of the UUA, “Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.”

UU World

The magazine of the Unitarian Universalist Association.

Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners

IOCP is a non-profit, community-based human service organization that helps people in times of crisis and provides support for people working toward long-term self-sufficiency. They represent the cities of Hamel, Long Lake, Medicine Lake, Medina, Minnetonka Beach, Orono, Plymouth and Wayzata, Minnesota.

Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity

Working to eliminate poverty housing from the Twin Cities area and to make decent, affordable shelter for all people a matter of conscience.

Metro Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing

MICAH’s mission is to mobilize congregations and people of all faiths to ensure decent, safe and affordable housing for everyone in the Twin Cities metropolitan community. Our 150 member congregations represent a wide array of faith perspectives: Christian, Jewish, and Muslim.

Congregations Caring for Creation

Promoting the active care of creation as integral to spiritual life and social justice in Minnesota communities of faith.

What's Your Spiritual Type Quiz   Beliefnet: Inspiration, Spirituality, Faith

“What's your religion?” It used to be such a simple question to answer. But now you might be “spiritual but not religious”--or raised in one faith but practicing another. Maybe you're a Methodist but think of yourself more as an evangelical, or a seeker who is anti-religion--or born again. The old categories don't seem to work because the religious landscape has changed so much.

The quiz is meant to help you learn about your self, see how you compare with others, and have a little fun. Please allow about 10 minutes for completion. Afterward, you might want to visit our message boards to meet others with similar scores.

UUCM's Green Resources Page

The UUCM Environmental Task Force (part of the Social Justice Ministry) has created a list of web resources that will help us be more environmentally aware. Our hope is that this page can inspire our congregation and our members to continually embrace more environmentally friendly practices.