Episodes
Tuesday Aug 15, 2023
August 13, 2023- Why Stop Now?
Tuesday Aug 15, 2023
Tuesday Aug 15, 2023
We often exclaim church to each other as a place, a sanctuary, a place away from other places. Isn’t it at least as much a moment we make special together? A present-day prophet, the Black science fiction writer Octavia Butler describes “God is change.” How would your relationship with holy things shift if you were looking not for things that have become divine, but instead were on a hunt for the becoming itself in progress? Would that change what goodness you discovered in you?
This Sunday, we explore the ways the divine expresses in units of time. Guided by the ancient Hebrew practice of sabbath-keeping, we reflect on the special moments of life that keep us in motion. And we ask ourselves and each other: What will stop to have time for what’s holy? What gets a no, so you can be present to what’s right in front of you?
Music for Gathering- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout and Aimee K. Bryant (:29)
Words of Welcome & Call to Worship- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (3:51)
Story for All Ages- The Stuff of Stars by Marion Dane Bauer- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (12:49)
Meditation on Breathing- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (22:43)
Community Practice & Prayer- Rev. Ashley Harness (26:26)
Reading- from A Look to the Future (1957) by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (34:17)
Anthem- Amazing Grace- Franco Holder on piano (37:22)
Message- Why Stop Now?- Rev. Ashley Harness (40:52)
Giving and Receiving- (1:02:11)
Benediction- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (1:07:41)
Tuesday Aug 08, 2023
August 6, 2023- Backing Into the Big Questions
Tuesday Aug 08, 2023
Tuesday Aug 08, 2023
Shifted schedules, evening sunshine, produce that doesn’t fit anybody’s plan for the week, movies and music and sunsets that take our breath away and demand that we stop and pay attention. As summer stretches into August, the Big Questions call to us. ThisSunday, August 6, we ask: what are yours and ours, and how might we respond?
Singing to Gather- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (:32)
Call to Worship- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (7:16)
Story for All Ages- What the Road Said by Cleo Wade- Rev. Arif Mamdani (15:56)
Singing Together- Blue Boat Home (23:51)
Prayer and Cycle of Life- Rev. Arif Mamdani (27:05)
Reading- The Path to the Milky Way Leads Through LA by Joy Harjo- Rev. Jen Crow (32:09)
Message- Rev. Jen Crow (34:50)
Offering- Rev. Jen Crow and Offertory- Franco Holder (54:33)
Hymn- Wake Now My Senses (58:39)
Benediction- Rev. Jen Crow (1:01:44)
Wednesday Aug 02, 2023
July 30, 2023- ”Art & Soul” with Paolo Dubuque and You
Wednesday Aug 02, 2023
Wednesday Aug 02, 2023
Paolo Dubuque and Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout talk about re-imagining musical ensembles and using collaborative music to change the world. We make music together for a finale of sorts we’re calling We are the ones, after June Jordan’s famous end to her poem, “Poem for South African Women.” Together, we make music as a community (that’s right–the featured artist is you! But shhhhh…it’s a surprise.), and we explore the rich relationships and stories of American singing over centuries, across cultures. You’ll hear reflections on the Music Listening Session results. And we embrace the calling of this new day–for communities of justice to know the power of their own voice, and to build up beauty in the world starting from within.
Music for Gathering- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout and Aimee K. Bryant (:28)
Call to Worship- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (9:14)
Words of Welcome- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (16:17)
Singing Together- The Way Knows the Way- Shelley Des Islets and Dr. GTR (18:41)
Singing Together- With You- Shelley Des Islets and Dr. GTR (25:55)
Prayer and Meditation- Rev. Ashley Harness (27:59)
Field Trip through our Hymnals- Dr. GTR (31:45)
Practice of Giving and Receiving- Rev. Ashley Harness (41:12)
Offertory/Singing Together- (43:28)
Regarding Choir- Dr. GTR (51:51)
Conversation with Paolo Dubuque- (1:05:54)
Benediction- Dr. GTR (1:20:00)
Tuesday Jul 25, 2023
July 23, 2023- ”Art & Soul” with Ellis Delaney
Tuesday Jul 25, 2023
Tuesday Jul 25, 2023
Each Sunday in July, worship will feature artists and musicians sharing their craft and some reflections on how their art is connected to their spirituality. We continue this worship series with musician, composer, and First U Member, Ellis Delaney. Ellis is at once funny and wise, thoughtful and uninhibited, with a captivating voice that is matched by tender, sometimes funny, uplifting lyrics. Their music is transformational; leaving audiences feeling better, with softened edges & opened hearts.
Music for Gathering and Words of Welome- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (:19)
Story for All Ages- Dinosaur Air by Rev. Nancy Shaffer (24:21)
Hymn- Building Bridges Between Our Divisions- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout and Aimee K. Bryant (26:15)
Meditation, Prayer, and Cycle of Life- Rev. Ashley Harness (33:08)
Message- "Art & Soul" with Ellis Delaney (39:44)
Transition Music- Prelude in C- The Well-Tempered Clavier (1:14:23)
"Art & Soul" with Ellis Delaney- Continued Conversation (1:18:55)
Wednesday Jul 12, 2023
July 9, 2023- ”Art & Soul” with Dean Magraw
Wednesday Jul 12, 2023
Wednesday Jul 12, 2023
Each Sunday in July, worship will feature a different local musician sharing their music and some reflections on how their art is connected to their spirituality. Dean Magraw is a consummate guitarist, playing with wit and soulful abandon. A performer like no other, he is part-comedian, part-philosopher and all-around musical genius. This past Sunday, he and Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout talked poetry, impressionists, and John Coltrane.
* Please note significant cuts and edits have been made due to poor original sound quality.
Opening Hymn- How Can I Keep from Singing? (:24)
Words of Welcome- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (3:48)
Poem- Monet Refuses the Operation by Liesel Mueller (10:30)
Prayer and Cycle of Life- Rev. Ashley Harness (13:39)
Practice of Giving and Receiving- Rev. Ashley Harness (18:54)
Offertory- Dean Magraw (22:38)
Message- Art and Soul: Music and Conversations with Dean Magraw (23:09)
Benediction- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (48:51)
Tuesday Jun 20, 2023
June 18, 2023- Freedom to Move
Tuesday Jun 20, 2023
Tuesday Jun 20, 2023
On and on, the circle of love, welcome, learning and inclusion expands. What spiritual practices, orientations of the heart, imagination and shared work is needed if we are to move with and continue to stretch that circle? This Sunday, June 18, Lauren Wyeth, Director of Spiritual Growth for All Ages, shares stories and reflections on her learning, and her charge, for us as she prepares to depart.
Singing to Gather- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (:31)
Call to Worship- Rev. Jen Crow (10:06)
Time for All Ages- Aimee K. Bryant (16:41)
Prayer, Silence, Song- Rev. Arif Mamdani, Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (23:24)
Practice of Generosity- Rev. Arif Mamdani (33:31)
Offertory- Franco Holder, piano (34:52)
Preparing for the Message- Franco Holder, piano (37:24)
Message- Freedom to Move- Lauren Wyeth (40:55)
Hymn- Make Channels for the Streams of Love (1:03:53)
Parting Blessing- Rev. Jen Crow (1:05:38)
Music for Going- Where You Go, I Will Go, Beloved by Shoshana Jedwab
Monday Jun 05, 2023
June 4, 2023- Flower Communion
Monday Jun 05, 2023
Monday Jun 05, 2023
This coming Sunday, June 4, we’re celebrating Flower Communion, and we could use your help! Bring a flower to share with the community (don’t worry: we’ll have more flowers available if you don’t have one). We’ll make a beautiful arrangement with whatever flowers come! At the end, we each get to take a different flower with us as a gift and reminder of beauty in our unity and difference. This special ritual has been performed for years here at First Universalist. And this year marks the 100th anniversary of the very first Flower Communion ever!
Singing to Gather- Come, Sing a Song with Me- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (:29)
Call to Worship- Rev. Jen Crow (2:26)
Introduction to Flower Communion- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (7:07)
Hymn- We Would Be One- (10:35)
Flower Communion Ritual- Rev. Arif Mamdani (14:57)
Prayer and Meditation- Rev. Jen Crow (36:33)
Celebrating Lauren Wyeth- Revs. Jen Crow and Arif Mamdani (41:55)
Practice of Giving and Recieving- Rev. Arif Mamdani (47:29)
Offertory- This Little Light of Mine (52:18)
Benediction- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (55:03)
Tuesday May 16, 2023
May 14, 2023- Generation to Generation
Tuesday May 16, 2023
Tuesday May 16, 2023
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry wrote that “Love, like a carefully loaded ship, crosses the gulf between the generations.” This Sunday, love will make its way across the generations as we dedicate our children, welcome the wisdom of our Coming of Age youth, and care for each other in times of celebration and grief.
Singing to Gather- Gather the Spirit- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Franco Holder (:29)
Call to Worship and Words of Welcome- Lauren Wyeth, Rev. Jen Crow, Lóre Stevens, Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (4:11)
Hymn- Come, Sing a Song With Me- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Franco Holder (8:43)
Child Dedication Ceremony- Lauren Wyeth, Rev. Jen Crow, Lóre Stevens (12:14)
Prayer and Meditation- Rev. Jen Crow (15:24)
Chant- I Will Be Your Standing Stone- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (21:31)
Coming of Age Spiritual Statements- Lóre Stevens, Max, Isla, Rasana, Rev. Jen Crow (26:38)
Practice of Giving and Receiving- Lóre Stevens (46:25)
Offertory- Franco Holder, piano (49:52)
Singing Together- Make Channels for the Streams of Love- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (52:32)
Benediction- Rev. Jen Crow (54:29)
Music for Going- Where You Go, I Will Go, Beloved by Shoshana Jedwab
Tuesday May 02, 2023
April 30, 2023- All Beginners Here
Tuesday May 02, 2023
Tuesday May 02, 2023
The Zen practice of shoshin calls us each to bring a “beginner’s mind” to every day we live. This Sunday, as we celebrate how our community has grown with new members, we are reminded to bring this same spirit to our relationships with one another. We can know each other more deeply with fresh curiosity. We can deepen our bonds with fresh compassion. We can build a stronger “we” when each of us takes every opportunity to “tell our story from deep inside and listen with a loving mind.”
Opening Hymn- When Our Heart Is In a Holy Place - Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (:27)
Words of Welcome and Call to Worship- Rev. Ashley Harness (2:59)
New Member Welcome- Come, Come, Whoever You Are- Liz Farmer, Matt Keller, Daryn Woodson (9:04)
Singing Together- Turn the World Around - Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (22:03)
Meditation Prayer and Cycle of Life- Rev. Jen Crow (26:28)
Message- All Beginners Here- Liz Farmer (35:54)
Practice of Giving and Receiving- Rev. Jen Crow (45:31)
Offertory- Franco Holder (47:28)
Singing Together- The Fire of Committment - Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (49:17)
Benediction- Liz Farmer (52:38)
Song for Going- Where You Go, I Will Go, Beloved by Shoshana Jedwab
Monday Apr 24, 2023
April 23, 2023- Hot for Climate
Monday Apr 24, 2023
Monday Apr 24, 2023
The Environmental Justice Team from First Universalist Church leads us through an Earth Day service that invites us to consider what it is that we love in this natural world, and why and how we might get more involved in fighting for it. Join us this Sunday as the team ministers to us through music, story, and personal narrative, and helps chart a pathway of hope for how we might more fully live into our interdependence with the web of existence of which we are a part.
Opening Hymn- For the Beauty of the Earth- Aimee K. Bryant and Franco Holder, piano (:30)
Words of Welcome- Rev. Arif Mamdani (2:53)
Land Acknowledgement- Susan Keller (9:16)
Call to Worship- Bob Freidman (10:39)
Time for All Ages- Cathy Geist (13:53)
Singing Together- Wake Now My Senses- Aimee K. Bryant and Franco Holder, piano (20:59)
Prayer and Meditation- Rev. Arif Mamdani (23:33)
Invitation to Give- Stan Sattinger (31:02)
Message- Hot for Climate- Alix Dvorak (32:56)
Closing Hymn- The Oneness of Everything- Aimee K. Bryant and Franco Holder, piano (55:11)
Benediction- Alix Dvorak (59:10)
Outro Music- Where You Go Will Go, Beloved by Shoshana Jedwab