First Universalist Church of Minneapolis Sunday Service Podcast

July 30, 2023- ”Art & Soul” with Paolo Dubuque and You

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)

July 2, 2023- ”Art & Soul” with Aimee K. Bryant

Each Sunday in July will feature a different local musician sharing their music and reflection on how their art connected to their spirituality. Sunday, July 2, we begin our July worship series with our own vocalist in residence, Aimee K. Bryant.

Worship led by Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Aimee K. Bryant, and Sally Reynolds on piano

Singing to Gather (:26)

Words of Welcome (4:49)

Time for All Ages (13:23)

Singing Together- Just As Long As I Have Breath (19:26)

Prayer, Poetry, Silence (21:44)

Practice of Giving and Receiving (32:16)

Offertory- Open the Window, Children (36:10)

Message- Art and Soul: Song and Conversation with Aimee K. Bryant (40:13)

Benediction and Singing- Where You Go, I Will Go, Beloved (1:13:55)

 

June 11, 2023- Freedom- Not for Ourselves Alone

In these days when the circle of who has autonomy over their body and what history we can teach in our classrooms grows smaller and smaller, we are called to remember that freedom is not freedom if it is for the individual, alone. Freedom is individual and collective—a personal experience and decision, and a collective commitment, experience, and responsibility. Universalism invites us to draw the circle wide, and draw it wider still. What does our faith require of us when the circle of freedom is shrinking in our society?

Opening Hymns- Circle 'Round for Freedom and Woyaya- Aimee K. Bryant- (:32)

Words of Welcome- Rev. Jen Crow (8:45)

Story for All Ages- The Stonewall Inn- Rev. Ashley Harness (15:12)

Hymn- Make Channels for the Streams of Love- Aimee K. Bryant (26:33)

Song, Silence, Meditation- Lóre Stevens (28:18)

Practice of Generosity- Rev. Ashley Harness (36:23)

Offertory- Franco Holder (38:24)

Reading- by Marge Piercy- Lóre Stevens and Rev. Jen Crow (41:13)

Anthem- Aimee K. Bryant- (43:24)

Message- Freedom, Not for Ourselves Alone- Rev. Jen Crow (46:39)

Benediction- Freedom is Coming- Aimee K. Bryant and Rev. Jen Crow (1:05:48)

 

May 28, 2023- Hear the Earth Call: A New American Humanism

Our humanist roots encourage us to believe in “the common good” as reliably universal–a value that, deep down inside, we all share. What do we do when our experiences of life challenge this idea? The humanist influences of our faith date back centuries to African, Chinese, South Asian and European philosophers. But what kind of humanism do we need in America today? 

Singing to Gather- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (:24)

Words of Welcome- Lóre Stevens (8:38)

Singing Together- Hold Everybody Up by Melanie DeMore- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (12:15)

Meditation and Prayer- Lóre Stevens (14:51)

Singing Together - Praise the Source of Faith and Learning- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (22:05)

Practice of Giving and Receiving- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (28:20)

Offertory- Franco Holder, piano (31:00)

Message- Hear the Earth Call: A New American Humanism- Rev. Karen Hutt (32:49)

Singing Together- Woyaya - Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (58:22)

Benediction- Rev. Karen Hutt (1:00:32)

May 14, 2023- Generation to Generation

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

 

April 30, 2023- All Beginners Here

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

 

April 16, 2023- Only We Are Earthseed

62 years ago this week, the first human being went to outer space! Our perspective as Earthlings has never been the same. Life on Earth is the part of the cosmos which relentlessly resurrects. How can we become more responsible stewards of the seeds of Life, both on and beyond Earth? This Sunday, April 16, We invite you to bring the seed paper and annual giving commitment cards which you received in your annual giving campaign packet to share blessings and aspirations!

Opening Hymn- Blue Boat Home (:18)

Words of Welcome and Call to Worship- Lóre Stevens (1:31)

Time for All Ages- Rev. Arif Mamdani and Lauren Wyeth (6:09)

Hymn- This Little Light of Mine (18:03)

Silence and Prayer- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (21:07)

Practice of Giving and Receiving (28:55)

Offertory- by James Williams; Franco Holder, piano (29:46)

Hymn- Rising Green (31:49)

Message- Only We Are Earthseed- Lóre Stevens (34:42)

Hymn- Touch the Earth, Reach the Sky (49:05)

Benediction- Lóre Stevens (51:26)

April 2, 2023- Trusting Life

As we make the sometimes slow and halting turn toward spring and the emergence of new life, we continue our journey of pausing to pay attention. Together, we pick up the practice of noticing and naming the changes and losses among us and tentatively begin to trust again the turning and motion that life offers. This Sunday, April 2 we join each other in the collective practice of letting go as we do our part to make room for all that is about to emerge.

Opening Hymn- Open the Window- Aimee K. Bryant, Franco Holder (:22)

Words of Welcome and Call to Worship- Rev. Jen Crow (5:11)

Story for All Ages- Little Mole Finds Hope by Glenys Nellist (12:47)

Singing Together- There's a River Flowin' in my Soul - Aimee K. Bryant, Franco Holder (17:09)

Poem- The Thing Is by Ellen Bass- Rev. Jen Crow (20:03)

Singing- A Change is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke- Aimee K. Bryant, Franco Holder (21:20)

Message- Trusting Life- Rev. Jen Crow (25:47)

Meditation and Cycle of Life- Rev. Ashley Harness (42:45)

Reflection on Giving- Kerstin Beyer Lajuzan (51:23)

Offertory- Franco Holder (59:32)

Hymn- Make Channels for the Streams of Love- Aimee K. Bryant, Franco Holder (1:01:31)

Benediction- Rev. Jen Crow (1:03:06)

Postlude- Where You Go I Will Go, Beloved by Shoshana Jedwab

 

March 19, 2023- A Covenant with Mystery

As Unitarian Universalists, we make covenants all the time. Our relational faith is built on covenant. Join us as we explore what it means to make horizontal and vertical promises to each other and to the oneness of mystery.

Prelude- Seasons of Love, Franco Holder, piano (:23)

Opening Hymn- Gathered Here- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (1:14)

Words of Welcome and Land Acknowledgement- Rev. Jen Crow (5:35)

Story for All Ages (11:40)

Meditation and Cycle of Life - Rev. Jen Crow (16:30)

Hymn- For the Earth Forever Turning (23:13)

Reflection on Annual Giving- Ginny MacAninch (26:16)

Practice of Giving and Receiving- Rev. Jen Crow (30:21)

Offertory- The Lovers’ Celebration by James Williams- Franco Holder, piano (32:03)

Reading- from The Sacred Depths of Nature by Ursula Goodenough (34:13)

Anthem- What Wondrous Love is This, setting by John Carter- Franco Holder, piano (37:05)

Message- Guest Minister (39:47)

Hymn- Woyaya (54:04)

Benediction (56:49)

Music for Going- Where You Go I Will Go, Beloved by Shoshana Jedwab

March 5, 2023- Persisting with Love

This Sunday, we begin our March worship theme, Persistence, with a focus on advocacy. Congregants leading some of our legislative advocacy ministries will share their stories along with guest speaker Rev. Terri Burnor, Senior Movement Builder with Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light. We’ll also share a special blessing with and for our trans* beloveds and families who have been under recent attack by legislative measures.

Opening Hymn- The Fire of Commitment - Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (:50)

Words of Welcome- Rev. Ashley Harness (4:19)

Land Acknowledgement- Rev. Terri Burnor (7:04)

Call to Worship- Peg Mitchell (9:25)

Blessing for our Trans* Beloveds- Kaden Colton, Lauren Wyeth, and Rev. Arif Mamdani (13:22)

Hymn- This Joy- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (22:32)

Prayers and Meditation- Rev. Arif Mamdani (28:36)

Reflections- Rev. Terri Burnor, Sara McMullen, Susan Willhite (32:46)

Practice of Giving and Receiving- Karen Wills (56:25)

Offertory- Franco Holder, piano (59:20)

Benediction- Rev. Terri Burnor (1:00:04)

Music for Going- Where You Go I Will Go, Beloved by Shoshana Jedwab