First Universalist Church of Minneapolis Sunday Service Podcast

January 31, 2021- Amidst the Change- Rev. Justin Schroeder

We are in the midst of great change, aren’t we? Some change we choose, and some change chooses us, but everything is always changing. As Octavia Butler writes, “God is Change.” What might it mean to really embrace this reality? As we finish our month of exploring the theme of “Choosing Change,” we’ll rest in the divine swirl of courage, change, brokenness, love, new possibilities and dreams, and we’ll see what emerges to guide us in our living in 2021. 

 

Words of Welcome - Rev. Justin Schroeder (:30)

Story for All Ages- Lauren Wyeth (3:29)

Hymn- Voice Still and Small- Erin Segrue (8:38)

Sermon- Amidst the Change- Rev. Justin Schroeder (10:15)

Anthem- Dream On by Aerosmith- First Universalist Choir (29:32)

December 20, 2020- A Christmas Pageant

Our beloved annual Christmas Pageant, adapted for the small screen with creativity, humor, and extra layers of meaning will remind you of what matters most in this extraordinary season, as 2020 draws to a close.

This year’s Pageant is born of the time and talents of so many, including: our children and youth, who will co-lead the service and act out our story; Aimee K. Bryant, Randy Buikema, Franco Holder, the First Universalist Choir, Seth Anderson-Matz, Andrew Tralle, Dave and Ani Peichel, several caroling families and our virtual children’s chorus, who crafted amazing music; and a great deal of technical wizardry from dedicated church members and staff.

December 13, 2020 - Question Box Sermon - Julica Hermann de la Fuente

Sunday, December 13, Julica Hermann de la Fuente, our Director of Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression Ministries, offers a Question Box Sermon. Do you have a burning inquiry about anti-racism and anti-oppression work, especially as it applies to our congregation? We create the message together when you provide the questions for the sermon part of our worship service.

Words of Welcome - Rev. Justin Schroeder (:22)

Story for All Ages - The Wonder Box- Julica Hermann de la Fuente (3:04)

Sermon - Question Box - Julica Hermann de la Fuente (13:48)

Anthem - Make Them Hear You, from Ragtime - First Universalist Choir, Dr. Randal Buikema, conductor, Dominique Wooten Embretson, soloist, Franco Holder, piano, First Universalist Instrumentalists, Shelley des Islets, editor (40:33)

 

December 6, 2020 - In the Interim Time - Rev. Justin Schroeder

In his poem, “For the Interim Time,” John O’Donahue writes, “You are in this time of the interim/Where everything seems withheld,” and “The old is not old enough to have died away; the new is still too young to be born.”

These words capture right where we are: we are in a season of waiting, of anticipating the arrival of Christmas, of the Solstice, of Hannukah, of the turning of the planet, and the returning of the light. We are in a season of waiting, anticipating the vaccine for Covid-19 and the end of the pandemic, but “when?” and “how?” remain just out of reach. We are in the in-between place, the liminal space, a time of miracle and magic, fear and anxiety, wonder and grief.

In such a space, where do we cast our eyes for hope? In such a space, what is the spiritual work as we wait for the new dawn?

 

Words of Welcome - Rev. Justin Schroeder (:31)

Wisdom Story - Aimee K. Bryant (1:45)

Hymn- Lo, How a Rose/The Rose - First Universalist Choir (12:54)

Sermon - In the Interim Time - Rev. Justin Schroeder (18:18)

Interlude - Why Shouldn't We - David Lauth (34:20)

Blessing - Rev. Justin Schroeder (34:56)

August 30, 2020- The Ugly Cry - Rev. Karen Hutt

The service includes a story for all ages, music from the First Universalist Choir, and a sermon from Rev. Karen Hutt. We continue to explore our summer worship theme, “Here We Are.”

Wisdom Story- The Water Bearer- Seth Matz (:20)

Anthem- Shenandoah - First Universalist Choir (4:21)

Sermon- The Ugly Cry- Rev. Karen Hutt (8:11)

August 23, 2020- New Beginnings Ritual

 On Sunday morning, August 23, we celebrated our annual back-to-school ritual (formerly known as Backpack Blessing) in a new way for new times.

 

Song- Seth Matz (:22)

Wisdom Story- Aimee K. Bryant (2:49)

Song- Count on Me by Bruno Mars, First Universalist Choir (11:25)

Sermon-Rev. Jen Crow (14:43)

Back-to-School Blessing- Ministers and Staff (30:36)

Song- Go On Your Way in Peace, First U Summer Campers (32:57)

June 28, 2020- A Good Goodbye for Rev. Ruth

In this Sunday’s worship service, we say a good goodbye to Rev. Ruth and bless her as she retires, hear special music, and more.

Welcome- Rev. Jen Crow (:30)

Wisdom Story- Lauren Wyeth (4:24)

Reflections for Rev. Ruth- Michael Dotson, Daryn Woodson, Adrian Ali-Caccamo (11:28)

Anthem- First Universalist Choir (26:28)

Blessing for Rev. Ruth (28:47)

June 21, 2020- They'll Remember How You Made Them Feel

In this episode, hear a welcome from Rev. Justin, a story from Young Children's Program Coordinator Seth Matz, an anthem from the Choir, Rev. Ruth's last sermon with us before retirement, and her beautiful goodbye gift to the congregation. 

Words of Welcome- Rev. Justin Schroeder (:30)

Wisdom Story- Seth Matz (3:54)

Anthem- First Universalist Choir (8:10)

Sermon- Rev. Ruth MacKenzie (10:40)

Rev. Ruth's gift to the congregation (39:44)

 

January 19, 2020- Radical Imagination

On this Dr.King Sunday, we hear a Wisdom Story and a sermon from Rev. Jen Crow.

Wisdom Story- Sue Searing (:30)

Reading- In the Spirit of Martin, by Nikki Giovanni (7:28)

Anthem- Rise Up, featuring Anoka-Hennepin Community College musicians Thomas Yoder, Danny Thompson, and Maddy Stoeckmann (10:50)

Sermon- Radical Imagination, Rev. Jen Crow (14:10)

Holiday Giving & Choir-Led Worship

Led by the music ministry of our choir and orchestra, we are held by exquisite voices and sounds, as we prepare our hearts to make our Holiday Gifts to BLUU (Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism.) Back on November 17, we invited the congregation to consume less this holiday season, to live into our core values, and to re-imagine what joy and justice might look like this holiday season. This Sunday, we pooled our gifts (from the money we didn’t spend this holiday season) to support the work of BLUU. 

Call to Worship by Holiday Giving Team Members (:31)

Fantasia on Christmas Carols, Part 1, Shelley des Islets, Libretto (2:12)

Holiday Giving Team Members Reflection (6:16)

Fantasia on Christmas Carols, Part 2, Shelley des Islets, Libretto (10:32)

Homily, Rev. Justin Schroeder (13:00)

Holiday Giving Offering to Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (23:00)

Fantasia on Christmas Carols, Part 3, Shelley des Islets, Libretto (26:22)