Connections Circles foster community outside of our main time together on Sunday through a free dinner and subsequent group programming events. Examples include an Open Mic Night hosted by the Writer’s Group and a Care Team Hygge Night. Connection Circles are free, everyone is welcome to participate. Please send an email with any questions.

Our Women’s Group (Formerly Women’s Awareness Group (WAG)) grew out of a “Women in Religion” class taught at FUS in the early 1980s. Over the years we have explored literature, art, film, ideas, and current issues important to us as women. Our awareness grew as many of us discussed these issues frankly for the very first time. We continue to be a group of women of varied ages, interests and occupations, single and married, who enjoy the stimulating discussions, the shared insights, and the respect we hold for one another. We appreciate the confidentiality maintained by this welcoming group, which gives us the freedom to discuss ideas and concerns.

We are an informal group with no bylaws, no officers, and no dues.  Our group’s strength lies in the ongoing commitment of its members. Meetings have traditionally been held in members’ homes, with a co-host assisting; however, because of Covid we have been meeting on Zoom since 2020. At each meeting, we first “check-in” to let folks know what has been happening in our lives since the last time we met. This is followed by a discussion on a topic of interest. The topic for the month may be decided by the hosts or another WG member.  FUS women are invited to join us.

Hybrid meetings are held on the second Monday of each month, from 11am – 1pm.

The FUS Men’s Support Group is a regular group of folks who identify male that gather monthly for support and sharing. Through facilitated discussion we engage our feelings, witness each other’s lives, and share our own life experiences to offer support. We do our best to avoid falling into traditional male habits of “fixing things” or giving advice during these group sessions. Rather, we attempt to keep the question “how do I feel?” front and center when sharing.

Discussions are led by facilitators who have experience in guiding similar groups at the Twin Cities Men’s Center. They follow a tried-and-true support group format of: check-in, individual sharing, and check-out. This allows each person a chance to seek the amount of time they might need on a particular day, and the group may adjust to those needs.

Participants often find that these simple acts of sharing and support have helped them to better navigate the world. This is true for people who have dropped in for a session or two, as well as for those with decades of involvement.

This group meets on the second Sunday of every month from 12pm – 1 pm.

YAAAS helps members and newcomers in their 20s to mid-30s get connected to FUS and each other. Activities include social outings, game nights, reflection circles, book discussions, and more. Most of the planning and conversation takes place via the GroupMe messaging app.

Events are held at a variety of dates and times, usually weekends.

Our welcoming Zoom writing sessions, where participants respond to a prompt in real time and share their work with appreciative listeners.

The First Unitarian Society “Big Read” has been meeting since 2014. We pick a “big book”, usually nonfiction, with lots of content. It turns out to be something of a self-education effort in discussion with knowledgeable people. The discussions are directed by a group of questions or stimulating statements taken from the current reading. The readings are 50 to 100 pages of the chosen book each month.

Previous Big Reads

• Capitalism and its Critics
• The Ancestors Tale
• The Tyranny of Meritocracy
• The Lies That Bind
• The People, NO
• The Better Angels of Our Nature
• Sapiens
• Enlightenment Now

The Mental Health Awareness Team (MHAT) is a volunteer-led group that meets several times throughout the year to plan activities and programs that promote mental health advocacy and education in the congregation.

The mission of the MHAT is to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and provide support through education, advocacy, and community to those whose lives have been touched by mental health challenges. Reach out to the FUS office for questions or to volunteer for the team.

In a mental health emergency, call 911 or seek out a crisis line such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness-Minnesota.

If our ministers or volunteers can help you with less urgent matters, please reach out to our Care Team.

Under the auspices of the Alzheimer’s Association, the Society hosts a Caregivers’ Support Group. This is open to FUS members and to the public. The group has an Alzheimer’s Association trained facilitator.

When we meet

The group meets once a month on third Tuesday mornings from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Although grief is a universal human experience after a loved one dies, it can be helpful to get support from a humanist or non-theistic perspective. The FUS minister can offer resources and is available to meet with members for one-on-one appointments around grief issues.

When we meet

The Grief Group meets twice a month via Zoom, on the first and third Thursday evenings. Send an email for more information and participation links.