First Universalist Church of Minneapolis Sunday Service Podcast

June 16, 2024- Dad Joke Sunday

Father’s Day gives us a chance to reflect on the wisdom that often comes wrapped in humor from those who fill the roles of mentors, guides, or fathers. As we explore the lighter side of life, we’re reminded of the broader roles these figures play. Their playful approach teaches us resilience and reveals the human spirit in everyday moments. It shows us how, sometimes, the deepest wisdom is shared in moments of lift and levity, that joy is the vehicle for the strength we need to make change for good!

Worship Leaders: Paolo Debuque and Choir, Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Rev. Arif Mamdani, Rev. Ashley Harness

Singing to Gather (:31)

Opening Hymn- Though I May Speak With Bravest Fire (3:33)

Words of Welcome and Call to Worship (6:04)

Singing Together- Guide My Feet (19:01)

Prayer (21:49)

Offering (33:35)

Offertory (36:09)

Message (40:13)

Closing Hymn (1:05:00)

Benediction (1:08:42)

June 9, 2024- Stop in the Name of Love

This Sunday, we explore how ordinary people can create extraordinary change. Retelling the stories of Norbert Čapek and Waitstill and Martha Sharp, as well as the village of Le Chambon, we’ll reflect on the profound impact of simple acts of courage and compassion. By examining historical and modern examples of collective action and resilience, we’ll see how our community can support and inspire each other in the face of challenges. Join us to deepen our commitment to justice and compassion, to realize the extraordinary potential within each of us.

Worship Leaders: Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Katherine Harrell, Rev. Jen Crow, Rev. Ashley Harness

Opening Hymn- We Rise (:22)

Words of Welcome (3:09)

Call to Worship (9:51)

Singing Together- We Are Building a New Way (15:50)

Prayers and Cycle of Life (18:54)

Offering (28:24)

Reading- Courage by Anne Sexton (32:53)

Anthem- If I Can Help Somebody by Mahalia Jackson (34:30)

Message- Stop in the Name of Love (37:12)

Singing Together- Woyaya (59:45)

Benediction (1:01:32)

June 2, 2024- Flower Communion

The opportunity has come again, as it has for a century (to say the least), for the flowers to remind us of the audacious beauty of collective action; to remind us to love differences that define and distinguish us; to keep our faith in the call of love in common.

Worship Leaders: Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Mark Caswell, Rev. Jen Crow, Rev. Arif Mamdani, Rev. Ashley Harness, Barb Brooks

Opening Hymn: Come Sing a Song With Me (:23)

Words of Welcome and Call to Worship (3:12)

Singing Together: We Would Be One (8:35)

Flower Communion Ceremony (11:26)

Offering Intro and Collection (22:42)

Offertory- This Little Light of Mine (26:16)

Flower Communion, continued (30:37)

Prayer and Cycle of Life (39:54)

Benediction (48:07)

May 26, 2024- The Body Knows

What rituals and practices help us remember and bring care to the grief and loss we know as individuals and communities? How might we move it through our bodies, and what roles do beauty and singing and laughter have to play? How might we hold multiple stories and experiences within and among ourselves all at once? Join us on Sunday for shared song and story and searching as we explore the origins of Memorial Day and strengthen ourselves for the journey ahead.

Worship Leaders: Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Nancy Nyquist Potter, Allison Connelly-Vetter, Rev. Jen Crow

Opening Song- Hold Everybody Up! (:33)

Words of Welcome (4:57)

Singing Together (8:47)

Prayer and Cycle of Life (13:21)

Offering Recipient Intro (22:20)

Offertory (25:47)

Message- The Body Knows (29:07)

Closing Hymn (59:05)

Benediction (1:03:51)

May 19, 2024- Bridging Ritual

Share in a celebration of life’s meaningful moments this Sunday at First Universalist. As we proudly honor our high school graduates moving forward into new adventures, we also widen our embrace to acknowledge all the transitions our community members are navigating. We welcome back the soul-stirring music of Ellis Delaney, to grace our gathering with stories sung to life. Big or small, each change marks a meaningful point in our journey. We offer a space for everyone to share their experiences, reflect on personal growth, and cross a symbolic bridge in supportive community. Join us to celebrate these transitions together, reinforcing the ties that bind us one with another, loving the stories that make each one of us whole.

Worship Leaders: Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Allison Connelly-Vetter, Ellis Delaney, Deb Keller

Opening Hymn- Where Do We Come From? (:33)

Words of Welcome and Call to Worship (1:42)

Time for All Ages (6:51)

Singing Together- Come and Go With Me (12:44)

Prayers and Cycle of Life (15:52)

Practice of Giving and Recieving (31:24)

Offertory (34:22)

Briding Ritual (38:24)

Benediction (58:23)

 

May 5, 2024- A Community of Practice

This Sunday, First Universalist joyfully celebrates New Member Sunday, a testament to our community’s growth and resilience. Worship Leaders will guide us through a reflective conversation on the essence of openness. They invite us to examine how vulnerability, grace, and kindness are more than spiritual practices—they are vital for deepening our communal bonds. This service challenges us to dismantle the barriers that often lead to isolation, making every interaction a profound connection. As we celebrate this enriching occasion, reflect on your journey: What is your next step toward deeper engagement in our community? Join us for a transformative experience.

Worship Leaders: Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Meleah Houseknecht, Rev. Jen Crow, Liz Farmer, Matt Keller

Opening Hymn- Building Bridges (:27)

Call to Worship and Words of Welcome (4:37)

Wisdom Story (10:39)

Singing Together- Come and Go With Me (20:14)

New Member Welcome Ritual (21:41)

Prayers and Cycle of Life (28:50)

Practice of Giving and Receiving (37:17)

Offertory- If You're Out There by John Legend (43:07)

Reading- Safety Net by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer (46:06)

Anthem- Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand) by Diana Ross (47:18)

Message- A Community of Practice (49:35)

Closing Song- Love Will Guide Us (1:08:06)

Benediction (1:10:00)

April 28, 2024- Count the Ways

This Sunday, we kick off a four-week Season of Gratitude, and immerse ourselves in the rich languages of love and gratitude. We warmly invite everyone to join us as we explore how these sincere expressions deepen our bonds and strengthen the fabric of our community. It’s an ideal moment to celebrate the diverse ways we can express our appreciation for each other’s efforts within our beloved community.

Worship Leaders: Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Rev. Ashley Harness, Rev. Arif Mamdani

Singing to Gather- Morning Has Come (:18)

Call to Worship and Welcome (1:44)

Singing Together- Oh, We Give Thanks (12:15)

Community Prayer (13:23)

Stewardship Update (20:18)

Celebrating Volunteers (27:46)

Offering and Offertory (32:35)

Readings- from All About Love by bell hooks and What is Love? by Haddaway (36:23)

Message- Count the Ways (38:14)

Singing- Make Channels for the Streams of Love (54:29)

Benediction (56:08)

April 21, 2024- Earth Day Sunday

On Earth Day, we come together for a service developed in collaboration with our Environmental Justice Team. This day, we reaffirm our sacred bond with the Earth, confronting the environmental crisis with courage, creativity, and collective action. Stories of resilience from communities around the globe will guide us in redefining our relationship with the planet. This service is an invitation to reflect and find inspiration, a calling to realize our commitment to respectful relationship with the natural world. As one, we forge a path forward to notice our role in the delicate balance of life. Together, we honor our responsibility to shape a legacy of hope and healing for future generations.

Opening Hymn- Love's In Need of Love Today by Stevie Wonder- Paolo Debuque and Choir (:25)

Call to Worship- Nancy Potter (6:10)

Words of Welcome- Cathy Geist (11:43)

Time for All Ages- Rev. Arif Mamdani (17:30)

Singing Together- Come and Go With Me- Paolo Debuque (25:05)

Invitation to Conversation- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (26:53)

Prayer and Meditation- Rev. Arif Mamdani (32:15)

Practice of Giving and Receiving- Rev. Jen Crow (38:55)

Reading from A Life on Our Planet by David Attenborough- Stan Sattinger (49:10)

Anthem- This I Know- Paolo Debuque, Aimee K. Bryant, Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (51:38)

Message- Reimagine That!: Earth Day - Rev. Arif Mamdani (57:04)

Closing Hymn- Blue Boat Home (1:23:00)

Benediction- Rev. Arif Mamdani, Bob Friedman (1:26:02)

April 14, 2024- Youth Sunday

This Sunday marks a special journey led by our high school youth group, as they invite us into an exploration of abundance and collective growth. They’ve crafted an interactive service that promises not just to engage but to weave our vibrant community energies into a living tapestry of action and shared dreams. With each of us contributing to a communal symbol of unity, we’ll reflect, give thanks, and envision a humanity grown in the spring of our collective efforts. Under the inspired guidance of our youth, we are sowing seeds of hope to nurture the garden of our gathered dreams.

Singing to Gather- Woyaya- Paolo Dubuque (:33)

Words of Welcome- Allison Connelly-Vetter (2:07)

Call to Worship- Willa Maynor (3:19)

Singing Together- Lean on Me by Bill Withers (7:57)

Story for All Ages- Henry at Home by Megan Maynor- Max and Bobbi (11:47)

Practice of Giving and Receiving- Isla Mysenburg and Rev. Jen Crow (17:12)

Offertory- Paolo Dubuque (25:32)

Prayer and Meditation- Isla Mysenburg and Rev. Jen Crow (29:30)

Poem and Blessing- We Need Each Other by m jade kaiser- Rasana Mamdani (34:33)

Planting Together- Rasana Mamdani (41:44)

Singing Togther- Blue Boat Home (44:06)

Benediction- Rasana Mamdani (47:00)

March 31, 2024- Narratives of Renewal

This Easter, what if our affirmations served not only as testaments to our capacity to instigate meaningful change but also as prompts to engage deeply with every soul we encounter. Can we mine our shared experiences for tales of resilience or resignation? Will we amplify the echoes of triumph, or will we underscore the moments of faltering? This selection process crafts the larger narrative of our existence. In this season of reflection and renewal, what narratives will you choose to elevate? How will you demonstrate your belief in the boundless potential for peace, love, and justice in our world?

Opening Song- Allelujah- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout and Congregation (:34)

Story and Words of Welcome- My Shadow is Purple by Scott Stuart Rev. Arif Mamdani (4:21)

Singing Together- Sing and Rejoice! - Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout and Congregation (14:54)

Time for All Ages- Allison Connelly-Vetter (19:17)

Prayer and Cycle of Life- Rev. Ashley Harness (29:28)

Practice of Giving and Receiving- Rev. Jen Crow (36:17)

Offertory- I Am Light by India.Arie- Glen Thomas Rideout (38:20)

Reading- Mark 16:1-8- Mark Caswell (41:32)

Message- Rev. Jen Crow (43:49)

Singing Together- Sanctuary- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout and Congregation (53:53)

Benediction- Rev. Jen Crow (56:06)