First Universalist Church of Minneapolis Sunday Service Podcast

February 17, 2019 - The Purpose-Driven Church, Pt.2

In 2011, Rev. Justin preached a sermon called “The Purpose Driven Church.” Now, eight years later, he's preaching part 2, as we explore our theme of “Vision” and the deeper purposes of faith community. As Oscar Romero said, “A church that doesn’t provoke any crises, a gospel that doesn’t unsettle, a word of God that doesn’t get under anyone’s skin, a word of God that doesn’t touch the real sin of the society in which it is being proclaimed — ​what gospel is that?” In this service, we’ll explore our purpose, the power of an unsettling gospel, and where that is leading us.

Worship Associate: Juliet Ali-Caccamo

Sermon: Rev. Justin Schroeder

Piano music: Franco Holder

 

February 10, 2019 - Wake Now Our Vision

Meditation has taught me that each breath is new and unique, and worthy of my full attention. My Unitarian Universalist faith teaches me that this is true for each interaction with another human being. When I am deeply attentive, not assuming I know what my breath or the person in front of me is going to do, I open up to the holy, to the possible. All of a sudden, my assumptions, “shoulds,” and expectations are sidelined, and a wide open horizon unfolds in front of me, a whole new vision of what could be. What happens when we, as community, practice putting down our assumptions, “shoulds,” and expectations? Does a whole new vision wake up in us?

Worship Associate: Pamela Reed

Reading: Our Visions are Ropes through the Devastation, adrienne marie brown

Sermon: Rev. Justin Schroeder

Piano: Franco Holder

January 27, 2019 - Rama Who?

 

Our bodies ain’t what they used to be. Our bodies have a history of collective change. Our bodies are the repositories of science in motion. Our bodies are an amazing biological story of adaptation. Come and celebrate human potential while taking a deep dive off the cliff of mystery and change.

Call to Worship: Drew Rosielle

Sermon: Rev. Karen Hutt

Piano: Franco Holder

 

January 20, 2019- Love Is Resistance

In his 1967 speech, “Where Do We Go From Here?”, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., gave clear instructions. “We must massively assert our dignity and worth.” On this MLK Sunday, we will do as Dr. King instructed us, exploring his words and his work as we learn to love our bodies as an act of resistance – especially if we are people who live within marginalized identities.

Call to Worship: Richard Lopez

Sermon: Rev. Jen Crow

Piano: Franco Holder

 

January 13, 2019- The Teaching Body

“All our bodies are fundamentally good and lovable (Rachel Martin).” What do you feel when you read this statement? What wells up in your consciousness, in your body? Does your breath come a little easier? Does your jaw relax? This Sunday we explore the goodness of our bodies no matter what shape, size or color, and the ways in which our bodies might teach us a deeper kind of interconnectedness and health.

Call to Worship: Jason Berry

Sermon: Rev. Ruth MacKenzie

Music: Franco Holder

December 30, 2018 - Watch Night

Call to Worship: Youth Cultural Exchange

Homily: Rev. Karen Hutt

Piano: Franco Holder

December 23, 2018 - Spiritual Survival

Creating and finding sanctuary are spiritual survival skills. In this time when so much is broken and so many of us feel broken, how can we create sanctuary for ourselves and others? Come and know again the light that can shine through the broken places in us all.

Call to Worship: Janell Hill

Sermon: Rev. Jen Crow

Piano: Franco Holder

December 9, 2018- The Sanctuary Is Burning

Sanctuary is a holy refuge, a place of worship, and a hiding place for migrants.
But what if you keep looking for sanctuary and you can’t find it?
What if sanctuary is elusive to you? What if your sanctuary is on fire? Where do you go for safety?

Call to Worship: Leila Ambrus

Sermon: Rev. Karen Hutt

Piano: Franco Holder

 

November 25, 2018- The Big Non-Negotiable

All month we’ve been exploring the non-negotiables in our lives. We end this month’s theme by turning to “The Big Non-Negotiable,” that thing that every human being shares as an ultimate non-negotiable, no matter age, gender, race, culture, class, religion, or education. On this Sunday, facing our own mortality, we will fully immerse ourselves in the present moment of life.

Call to Worship: Juliet Ali-Caccamo

Sermon: Rev. Justin Schroeder

Piano music: Franco Holder

November 18, 2018 - Whole, Holy, and Worthy

Our Universalist faith is grounded in the belief that each and every person is born whole, holy, and worthy. This means that your dignity and worth (and everyone’s dignity and worth) are non-negotiable. What does it mean for us to live into this truth individually and as a community?

Call to Worship by Suzan Klein, Sermon by Rev. Jen Crow