First Universalist Church of Minneapolis Sunday Service Podcast

May 23, 2021- Youth Sunday

In our annual beloved Youth Sunday worship, our senior high youth offer a message, story and music to remind us to cross the thresholds in our lives with care, creativity and courage. This Sunday, May 23, the service includes a Bridging Ritual to honor our graduating seniors, marking the end of their time as First Universalist youth and welcoming them into young adulthood in our church. Youth Sunday is a moving expression of our vibrant multigenerational religious community that you won’t want to miss.

Words of Welcome- Julica Hermann de la Fuente (:28)

Story for All Ages- Sylvia (3:35)

Musical Offering- Wherever Is Your Heart by Brandi Carlile, Juliet and Theo (7:00)

Prayer and Cycle of Life- Julica Hermann de la Fuente (8:40)

Message- Liv (12:45)

Special Music- Swimming to the Other Side by Pat Humphries, David and Lisa Carnes (12:51)

Bridging Ritual- Lindsey Thomas, Lauren Wyeth, Emma Paskewitz (22:25)

Closing Words - Julica Hermann de la Fuente (27:52)

 

January 10, 2021- Remembrance Sunday

Every year, as we begin the New Year, we hold a ritual space to name and recount the losses we’ve experienced in the past year. This year, more than ever, this ritual of “Remembrance Sunday” feels so important. In 2020, grief was a constant companion. We lost jobs, business, and loved ones, many of them to Covid-19. We lost opportunities to attend graduations and weddings, memorials and family reunions. For many of us, grief wove with grief.

In this service, we will be held by beautiful music from Ellis as well as Franco Holder and violinist Travis Waymon. Lauren Wyeth, Rev. Arif Mamdani, and Rev. Justin Schroeder will lead us in story and ritual as we touch on the realities of impermanence, remember what lives on in memory, and discover how, even in the face of grief, we might embrace life and love once again.

Words of Welcome- Rev. Justin Schroeder (:29)

Story for All Ages- Lauren Wyeth (3:03)

Lighting the Candle of Impermanence (9:30)

Interlude- Excerpt from Spiegel im Spiegel- Travis Waymon and Franco Holder (10:55)

Prayer and Reflection- Rev. Justin Schroeder (11:43)

Lighting the Candle of Memory (21:02)

Spirit of Life- Travis Waymon and Franco Holder (22:02)

Homily- Rev. Arif Mamdani (23:20)

Lighting the Candle of Embracing (30:46)

Start Where You Are- Ellis Delaney (32:45)

Closing Words- Lauren Wyeth, Rev. Arif Mamdani, Rev. Justin Schroeder (36:59)

December 27, 2020 - A Year-End Prayer- Rev. Arif Mamdani

Rev. Arif Mamdani shares: In a year that has seen so much, how we gather, how we mark this passing, is not as clear cut as it may have been in other, less tumultuous years.

Back in the spring, almost a year ago now, I asked “what is the story that we want to be able to tell about this time?” I invited us then to imagine ourselves into a future where we’d be sharing the story of this pandemic with young ones who hadn’t lived through it or were too young to recall. This was before George Floyd was murdered, before the cities across our nation and around the world rose up in a cry for justice that is still reverberating, before it became evident that Line 3 was going to be a significant fight, before our president would make numerous attempts to destroy our democracy and we would wonder (we are still wondering) if we’d have a peaceful transition of power or if we would need to be in our streets defending our democracy. And in the background of all this, the drumbeat of loss, and loss, and loss that has been a constant refrain of 2020.

It has been a year. And so, when we gather as a community on the 27th, let’s gather with this question in mind: “how shall we end this year? And what comes next?” And when we gather, let’s see how we answer it, together.

Words of Welcome- Rev. Arif Mamdani (:34)

Opening Hymn, Sanctuary - Seth Anderson-Matz (3:01)

Collective Prayer- Rev. Arif Mamdani (4:59)

Homily- Rev. Arif Mamdani (19:27)

October 25, 2020 - The Ordination of Rev. Arif Mamdani

Some say that the most unique element of Unitarian Universalism is its individualism - the idea that each one of us is an essential source of religious authority for our own spiritual journey. But individualism and personal authority are not all there is to it. Our faith requires community, and our faith communities call out the good - and the god - in us. This Sunday, we set one among us apart as we ordain Arif Mamdani to the Unitarian Universalist ministry. Our faith community will call out the good - and the god - in him - and we will reaffirm our commitment to call out the good and the god in ourselves and each other.

 

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

Story for All Ages, Seth Matz (2:29)

Hymn: Gather the Spirit, Aimee K. Bryant and Franco Holder (7:38)

Homily, Rev. Jen Crow (10:30)

Act of Ordination, Bryana French and congregants (21:42)

Presentation of Stole (26:20)

Laying on of Hands, Revs. Janne and Rob Eller-Isaacs (31:00)

Hand of Kinship, Rev. Ashley Horan (35:45)

Charge to the Minister, Rev. Karen Hutt (39:33)

Charge to the Congregation, Rev. Meg Riley (46:10)

Hymn: For All That is Our Life, Fawzia Khan and Franco Holder (49:11)

Benediction, Rev. Arif Mamdani (51:14)

September 13, 2020- Water Communion- Revs. Justin Schroeder and Jen Crow

As we gathered for this virtual Water Communion Sunday, we remembered that we are held in a larger community of care, a community that isn’t afraid of the complexity of this time, or the many swirling currents of this time, or the waves of feeling and emotion that crash into us on a daily basis. In the midst of all of this, we symbolically linked arms, held hands, and breathed together, riding the waves of our life, finding our way. 

Words of Welcome- Rev. Jen Crow (:21)

Wisdom Story- Lauren Wyeth (2:41)

Sermon- Rev. Justin Schroeder and Rev. Jen Crow (8:18)

Water Communion Ritual (27:00)

August 23, 2020- New Beginnings Ritual

 On Sunday morning, August 23, we celebrated our annual back-to-school ritual (formerly known as Backpack Blessing) in a new way for new times.

 

Song- Seth Matz (:22)

Wisdom Story- Aimee K. Bryant (2:49)

Song- Count on Me by Bruno Mars, First Universalist Choir (11:25)

Sermon-Rev. Jen Crow (14:43)

Back-to-School Blessing- Ministers and Staff (30:36)

Song- Go On Your Way in Peace, First U Summer Campers (32:57)

June 28, 2020- A Good Goodbye for Rev. Ruth

In this Sunday’s worship service, we say a good goodbye to Rev. Ruth and bless her as she retires, hear special music, and more.

Welcome- Rev. Jen Crow (:30)

Wisdom Story- Lauren Wyeth (4:24)

Reflections for Rev. Ruth- Michael Dotson, Daryn Woodson, Adrian Ali-Caccamo (11:28)

Anthem- First Universalist Choir (26:28)

Blessing for Rev. Ruth (28:47)

June 7, 2020- Child Dedication & "The Prophethood of Believers"

In this service, Lauren Wyeth introduces our Child Dedication Ritual and we hear from families as they introduce their beloved young ones and Rev. Jen Crow preaches on deep listening in this historic moment. 

Child Dedication- Lauren Wyeth (:31)

Sermon- Rev. Jen Crow (13:13)

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)

December 22, 2019 - Home: Blessing and Belonging

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)