Episodes
Monday Oct 17, 2022
October 16, 2022- Mental Health Sunday
Monday Oct 17, 2022
Monday Oct 17, 2022
This Sunday, October 16 is Mental Health Sunday, a service where we commit ourselves to creating a world where struggles with mental health are normalized and where seeking mental health care is destigmatized. Through word, song, and ritual we will make visible these commitments of our hearts, bodies, and minds, knowing that mental health care is something we all need access to, and that while not all illness can be cured, in community, we all can find healing.
Opening Hymn- Come Thou Fount of Ev'ry Blessing- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (:28)
Words of Welcome- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (3:17)
Story for All Ages- Rev. Ashley Harness-Jiminez (9:56)
Hymn- I've Got Peace Like a River- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (17:43)
Meditation and Message- Rev. Arif Mamdani, Carol Jackson (22:14)
Ritual (32:14)
Song- Sending You Light by Melanie DeMore- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (49:55)
Singing Together- For All that is Our Life- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (53:26)
Benediction- Rev. Arif Mamdani (56:08)
Monday Sep 26, 2022
September 25, 2022- A Topography of Belonging
Monday Sep 26, 2022
Monday Sep 26, 2022
Rumi and Jung agree on at least one thing: paradox is our greatest spiritual gift.
As Rumi notes:
Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing,
there is a field. I’ll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass,
the world is too full to talk about.
Ideas, language, even the phrase each other
doesn’t make any sense.
And isn’t that what we long for – that space of paradox, out beyond rightdoing and wrongdoing, beyond belonging where event the phrase each other doesn’t make any sense?
This Sunday, we explore the topography of belonging and the paths that may or may not get us where we long to be.
Words of Welcome- Rev. Jen Crow (:40)
Story- The Green Grass Grows All Around- Lóre Stevens (7:38)
Prayer and Silence- Rev. Arif Mamdani (10:41)
Practice of Giving: Beacon Interfaith Housing- Lóre Stevens (19:32)
Message- A Topography of Belonging- Rev. Arif Mamdani (22:41)
Singing Together- Love Will Guide Us- Franco Holder, piano (38:43)
Benediction- Rev. Arif Mamdani (40:22)
Wednesday Aug 31, 2022
August 28, 2022-Ready? Set? Go! (Backpack Blessing)
Wednesday Aug 31, 2022
Wednesday Aug 31, 2022
How do we prepare ourselves for a new year? A big transition? New experiences? With the help of stories and spiritual practices, our worship leaders will guide us through our annual Backpack Blessing ritual.
Music for Gathering- I'm On My Way- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout and Franco Holder (:25)
Words of Welcome- Rev. Jen Crow (4:46)
Time for All Ages- Lauren Wyeth (11:13)
Song- There Is More Love Somewhere-Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout and Franco Holder (17:36)
Prayer and Cycle of Life- Rev. Arif Mamdani (21:26)
Homily- Rev. Jen Crow (29:18)
Invitation to Give- Lore Stevens (41:02)
Backpack Blessing- Lauren Wyeth and Youth Staff (43:58)
Music for Going- I'm On My Way and Where You Go I Will Go (48:43)
Monday Aug 29, 2022
August 21, 2022- Air and Breath
Monday Aug 29, 2022
Monday Aug 29, 2022
The First Universalist Choir, Dr. Randy Buikema, Aimee K. Bryant, Franco Holder, Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Rev. Arif Mamdani, Rev. Jen Crow, and Lauren Wyeth will lead and inspire us through music, story, and message.
Music for Gathering- Where Do We Come From?- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout and Aimee K. Bryant (19:24)
Words of Welcome- Rev. Jen Crow (5:39)
Call to Worship- Eagle Poem by Joy Harjo (10:53)
Singing Together- Open the Window, Children (14:29)
Wisdom from the Choir (19:41)
Homily- Rev. Jen Crow (26:04)
Prayer and Meditation- Rev. Jen Crow and Rev. Arif Mamdani (33:18)
Invitation to Give- Lauren Wyeth (39:13)
Offertory- Loving Will Lead Us On, by Linda Kachelmeier and Rev. Kate Tucker- First Universalist Choir (42:30)
Singing Together - Open the Window, Children; Where You Go I Will Go; (48:42)
Monday Aug 15, 2022
August 14, 2022- The Stillness of the Chrysalis
Monday Aug 15, 2022
Monday Aug 15, 2022
Following a summer of Sundays exploring “The Bigger Story,” this Sunday we recognize the Biggest Story of all, the story of change, the story of transformation, the story of evolution. It’s a story that applies to living organisms, to communities, and even to patterns of worship. Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout and Rev. Kate Tucker will invite us into that living, breathing Pause that dwells between what was (the No Longer) and what is yet to be (the Not Yet).
Welcome and Land Acknowledgement- Rev. Kate Tucker (:18)
Call to Worship- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (5:30)
Story for All Ages- The Rabbit Listened - Daryn Woodson (8:30)
Invitation to Give to the Offering Plate- Rev. Arif Mamdani (15:34)
Offertory- Franco Holder
Song- Return Again- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (17:57)
Prayer and Cycle of Life- Rev. Arif Mamdani (20:46)
Homilies- Rev. Kate Tucker and Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (30:22)
Benediction- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (59:43)
Tuesday Jul 05, 2022
June 26, 2022- The World Was Made to be Free In
Tuesday Jul 05, 2022
Tuesday Jul 05, 2022
Monday Jun 06, 2022
June 5, 2022- Flower Communion
Monday Jun 06, 2022
Monday Jun 06, 2022
99 years ago, almost to the day, Rev. Norbert Capek led the first Flower Communion ritual. He developed it then, and we observe it today, as a ritual of giving and receiving, of connecting with the beauty in each of us, and the bigger story of that beauty when we come together in community, in fellowship, and in the spirit of love that is this church. We’ll have music from Dean Magraw and his band, and a special guest vocalist, Thomasina Petrus.
Prelude- Feelin' Good by Nina Simone- Dean Magraw, guitar; Thomasina Petrus, vocals; and the band
Words of Welcome- Rev. Jen Crow (3:13)
Time for All Ages- Saying Goodbye to Julica (12:18)
Flower Communion Ritual- Rev. Arif Mamdani (20:15)
Prayer and Cycle of Life- Rev. Arif Mamdani (28:51)
Homily- Rev. Jen Crow (31:42)
Invitation to Give- Rev. Jen Crow (38:28)
Benediction- Summertime by Miles Davis- Thomasina Petrus, Dean Magraw and the band (41:15)
Monday May 16, 2022
May 15, 2022- Everybody In
Monday May 16, 2022
Monday May 16, 2022
Almost 30 years ago, First Universalist Church dared to dream of a physical space that might mirror our mission – a place where there would always be room for one more, where our sense of who we are is ever-expanding, a building that might embody a love that will not let anyone go. This Sunday, May 15, we celebrate the completion of our capital project, Not for Ourselves Alone: Building an Inclusive Future, as we welcome everybody in and say thank you to our past, present, and future selves.
Music for Gathering- Everybody In- Peter Mayer (:30)
Words of Welcome and Land Acknowledgement- Rev. Arif Mamdani (5:19)
Wisdom Story- Rev. Jen Crow (12:02)
Meditation and Prayer- Peter Mayer and Rev. Arif Mamdani (20:59)
Message- Everybody In- Rev. Jen Crow (33:49)
Gratitudes and Celebration- Rev. Jen Crow (39:41)
Invitation to Give- Rev. Jen Crow (55:23)
Music for Going- The Wonder- Peter Mayer
Monday Apr 25, 2022
April 24, 2022- Truth... It Is Worth Waiting For
Monday Apr 25, 2022
Monday Apr 25, 2022
In Unitarian Universalism, our congregations, and specifically the members of our congregations, are the only body that can ordain a minister, calling out and lifting up one whose ministry is formally recognized and named in the act of ordination. This Sunday, we gather to formally lift up the ministry of Stephanie Vos. Through word, song, and story, we’ll share some of her journey, tell a bigger story about what ministry can be in the world, and formally ordain Stephanie to the Unitarian Universalist ministry. Join us for this joyous and celebratory service.
Words of Welcome- Rev. Jen Crow (:31)
Interlude- Aimee K. Bryant and Franco Holder
Call to Worship- from Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer- Cedar Schimke (6:39)
Time for All Ages- Toolbox of Faith- Lauren Wyeth (9:24)
Prayer and Cycle of Life- Rev. Jen Crow (16:42)
Homily- Rev. Jen Crow on behalf of Rev. Karen Hutt (21:06)
Invitation to Give to the Living Tradition Fund of the UUA (34:47)
The Ordination of Stephanie Vos- Daryn Woodson, Rev. Jen Crow, Rev. Arif Mamdani (37:08)
Hymn- Wake Now My Senses (51:30)
Benediction- Rev. Stephanie Vos (53:16)