First Universalist Church of Minneapolis Sunday Service Podcast

The energy of breaking down and building up is an important part of our UU theological legacy. As we unpack what this means, we’ll explore the idea of God and how we might relate to it in the world we live in today. This Sunday, Arif Mamdani, Director of Membership and Adult Ministries, and Pastor Stephanie Vos help us enter more fully into February’s theme of “Breaking down and Building up.”

Call to Worship- Pastor Stephanie Vos (:21)

Reflection- Pastor Stephanie Vos (2:17)

Sermon- Arif Mamdani (9:36)

In this season of darkness, we are invited to rest and be at home in the stillness and winter quiet, trusting that the light, birdsong, and blossoms will return. As the season turns, the darkness at this threshold moment holds both blessing and belonging. As we rested in such a moment, we welcomed our guests from Families Moving Forward, offered a blessing for Rev. Justin, Rev. Jen, and the entire congregation as they collectively prepared for Justin’s 6-month sabbatical. This Sunday, we readied ourselves for love to be born again in the world, and to be surprised and delighted by what the New Year brings. 

Call to Worship, Monique Wentzel (:21)

Reflection, Bryana French, (3:20)

Reflection, Rev. Justin Schroeder (7:43)

Sabbatical Blessing, Rev. Jen Crow (20:34)

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)

This holiday season, join us in actively engaging in ways to re-imagine our relationship to the holidays, to our families, to our planet, and to our communities. Over the coming weeks, we are inviting the whole congregation to explore what truly brings us joy in this season, to more fully live into our values as people of faith, and to put in motion new practices and ways of being that might live with us throughout the year.  In this service, you’ll hear from Rev. Justin, youth and adult members of our Holiday Giving Team, learn more about about Holiday Giving Recipient, Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism, and be invited to re-imagine what joy and justice might look like in your life this holiday season. 

Youth Reflections (:30)

Reflections from Holiday Giving Team Co-Chairs, Isabel Quast and Rev. Justin Schroeder (4:57)