First Universalist Church of Minneapolis Sunday Service Podcast

June 13, 2021- Making Room- Rev. Jen Crow

After over a year of being physically apart, this Sunday, June 13 marks our first time together in person and online as a church community when we gather at the Lake Harriet Bandshell and on zoom. How will it feel to be together in person? How will it feel to be online when others can gather face-to-face? What will it be like? As people of faith, we promise to pay attention, to be curious with ourselves and each other, and to make room for all of who we are and all of the feelings and experiences that arise. We’ve got this, together.

Words of Welcome- Rev. Jen Crow (:30)

Prelude- How Can I Keep From Singing, First Universalist Choir, Dr. Randal Buikema conducting, Franco Holder on piano (6:09)

Story for All Ages- Just Ask by Sonia Sotomayor- Jill Braithwaite (10:56)

Reading- Spilling the Light by Rev. Theresa I. Soto- Jill Braithwaite (16:56)

Anthem- Love Is Love by Abbie Betinis- First Universalist Choir, Dr. Randal Buikema conducting, Franco Holder on piano (18:50)

Message- Making Room- Rev. Jen Crow (19:58)

Outro- Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield- Aimee K. Bryant and Franco Holder

 

April 4, 2021-Practicing Resurrection in this Moment - Rev. Justin Schroeder

Easter is about new life, new hope, and resurrection of the spirit in the face of despair. Easter speaks to a miraculous force and a love that is stronger than death. In this time of global pandemic and this time of the trial of Derek Chauvin (which has global implications), how do we make sense of Easter? Easter speaks to the timeless cycle of death and rebirth, and this Easter, we ask, “Given the world as it is, what in us might die, so that something new and life giving might be born?” 

 

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

Wisdom Story - Lauren Wyeth (5:31)

Interlude- Lo The Earth Awakes Again- Members of First Universalist Choir

Message pt. 1- Practicing Resurrection in this Moment- Rev. Justin Schroeder (13:28)

Special Music- Lift Every Voice and Sing- Give Get Sistet (26:41)

Message pt. 2- Practicing Resurrection in this Moment- Rev. Justin Schroeder and Julica Hermann de la Fuente (28:44)

Hymn- Over My Head- Aimee K. Bryant and Franco Holder (39:41)

 

February 21, 2021- Remember, You Are Water - Rev. Jen Crow

The truth is, grief hurts. It is exhausting, disorienting, and downright awful when we lose someone or something that matters to us. As we approach a year of pandemic living and losing, grief is our everyday companion. The author and activist, adrienne maree brown, reminds us that we are water, that the salt trails of our tears are the natural outcome of our living and loving. This Sunday, we continue to recognize our losses and the love that keeps us connected.

 

Words of Welcome- Rev. Justin Schroeder (:28)

Story for All Ages- Seth Anderson-Matz (3:54)

Interlude music by Dean Magraw

Message- Remember, You Are Water- Rev. Jen Crow (9:37)

Anthem- Gaelic Blessing- First Universalist Choir, Dr. Randal Buikema (33:05)

February 7, 2021 - Is the Truth Broken? - Rev. Karen Hutt

The word “truth” is a major construct in any discussion of Unitarian Universalism. We pride ourselves on being seekers of truth, but who has this truth? How is it confirmed? What happens when the truth appears broken? Can we let go of our need for universal truths?

This Sunday, we delve into our February worship theme, “Truth Telling,” with this message from Rev. Karen Hutt. Rev. Jen Crow and Lauren Wyeth will share a story for all ages, and we’ll also enjoy newly recorded music from Franco Holder and Aimee K. Bryant — and a special reading and musical reflection from Franco.

 

Words of Welcome - Rev. Jen Crow (:30)

Story for All Ages- Rev. Jen Crow and Lauren Wyeth (3:37)

Hymn- For All That Is Our Life- Fawzia Khan (12:05)

Sermon- Is the Truth Broken? - Rev. Karen Hutt (12:40)

August 16, 2020- Radical Imagination - Bryana French and Rev. Justin Schroeder

As author and activist adrienne marie brown writes, “We are in an imagination battle.” It’s true; imagination creates racial hierarchies, creates borders, creates supremacy thinking, creates oppression. As adrienne marie brown says, “I often feel I am trapped inside someone’ else’s imagination, and I must engage my own imagination in order to break free.”

 

Whose imaginations are we trapped in? Who are we trapping by our imaginations? And what does it look like to break free? Though story, spoken word, music and message, we explore what radical imagination might unlock in the world around us.

 

Wisdom Story- Julica Hermann de la Fuente (:31)

 

Poem- H. Adam Harris (8:06)

 

Sermon- Bryana French and Rev. Justin Schroeder (12:10)

March 8, 2020- A Time For Everything

At First Universalist, we promise to give, receive, and grow together. Sometimes though, we don’t have a whole lot to give. What does it mean to engage in the spiritual practice of receiving? How can we lean into the strength of community, trusting that there is more than enough to go around, trusting that we will be held, and that there is so much to learn by receiving? 

Call to Worship- Satya Mamdani (:21)

Reading- Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (4:41)

Sermon- Rev. Jen Crow (6:24)

January 26, 2020- Living in the Layers

Every Sunday, we are invited to bring our whole selves into worship, to bring our joys and our sorrows, giftedness and woundedness, the smooth and the rough edges. This is a profoundly counter-cultural invitation. So often we are asked to prove the text our lives- that is, to only focus on the passages, the feelings, and the events that prove a point or justify a particular framing of our theology or worldview. What if we actually took our faith community up on its invitation and sat with the whole of our lives in the company of faithful companions? What if we “live in the layers, not on the litter” of this precious life?

Call to Worship- Daryn Woodson (:31)

Reading- The Layers by Stanley Kunitz (6:30)

Sermon- Living in the Layers, Rev. Ruth MacKenzie (9:08)

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)

January 12, 2020 - Reading the Story of Your Life

This month’s theme invites us to view our life as sacred text. What exactly does that mean? And how might we go about doing it? Arif Mamdani and Worship Associate Shawn Neel open up this question and explore how this theme might come alive in the text of our lives.

Call to Worship- Shawn Neel (:30)

Readings- Arif Mamdani (4:19)

Sermon- Arif Mamdani (6:02)

January 5, 2020 - Remembrance Sunday: The Cure for Sorrow

Remembrance Sunday is an annual service that is a time to remember and reflect on our losses over the past year and to honor those we love who have died. This service can also be a time to mark other significant losses in the life of your family, such as a separation or divorce, saying goodbye to friends who’ve moved away, or any number of other things. 

Wisdom Story- Lauren Wyeth (:29)

from the Cycle of Life, Rev. Ruth MacKenzie (4:55)

Readings (8:32)

Sermon, Rev. Jen Crow (10:08)