2. Congregation Histories : Minnesota

Brainerd

Northwoods Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship

Northwoods Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship is a small fellowship in rural north central Minnesota. We first met in late fall 1982 and were officially recognized as a fellowship in June 1983. Brena and Glen Lakes (who have since left the area) were the main organizers, inviting people from a wide geographic area and varied professions to join in a liberal religious group.

We meet the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month, usually in a member’s home and occasionally at a local conservation reserve meeting room. Our meetings always begin with a song session and then we divide into child and adult groups. One or two parents teach RE for our seven children (if all are present) aged 2–10.

Our adult discussions are most often led by a member; occasionally we have a speaker from outside the group. The adult discussions have covered a wide variety of issues. Gandhi, Thoreau, mindfulness, the soul, COACT, the value of entertainment, modern marriages, nuclear freeze, behaviorism, and courage are a sampling of topics we’ve covered.

After the discussions, we always have a potluck dinner and then visit for an hour or two. The fellowship satisfies many social and “community” needs of its members.

We are fortunate to live in a beautiful area with many recreational opportunities near by, and we do take advantage of them. In September 1983, we started a tradition of a fall (post mosquito and tourist season) camping weekend. In 1985, we added a spring camp out and a winter afternoon ski trip to our outdoor activities. In the summer, we often go swimming if we meet at a member’s lake home.

Individually, some of our members are very active in social and political concerns and as a group we have collected for local food shelves.

Because of the geographies of our group (we have five families with school-age children in five different school districts), it is difficult for us to get together other than on Sundays. In 1983 and 1984, we had a monthly adult dinner and discussion, but lately even that seems impossible to schedule.

Although we are listed in the church section of many local newspapers, we have not attracted many new members. We sometimes have visitors who come for a meeting or two, but our very small, family-oriented fellowship cannot meet the needs of all religious liberals in the area. We hope to someday find a permanent, centrally located meeting place (preferably on a lake!) and think that would attract more members.

(Author not noted)