![First Universalist Church of Minneapolis Sunday Service Podcast](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/fs1/user-site-dist/assets/frontrow3-banner-lignht.jpg)
Episodes
![June 16, 2024- Dad Joke Sunday](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/4274/logoshield_300x300.jpg)
Thursday Jun 20, 2024
June 16, 2024- Dad Joke Sunday
Thursday Jun 20, 2024
Thursday Jun 20, 2024
Father’s Day gives us a chance to reflect on the wisdom that often comes wrapped in humor from those who fill the roles of mentors, guides, or fathers. As we explore the lighter side of life, we’re reminded of the broader roles these figures play. Their playful approach teaches us resilience and reveals the human spirit in everyday moments. It shows us how, sometimes, the deepest wisdom is shared in moments of lift and levity, that joy is the vehicle for the strength we need to make change for good!
Worship Leaders: Paolo Debuque and Choir, Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Rev. Arif Mamdani, Rev. Ashley Harness
Singing to Gather (:31)
Opening Hymn- Though I May Speak With Bravest Fire (3:33)
Words of Welcome and Call to Worship (6:04)
Singing Together- Guide My Feet (19:01)
Prayer (21:49)
Offering (33:35)
Offertory (36:09)
Message (40:13)
Closing Hymn (1:05:00)
Benediction (1:08:42)
![June 9, 2024- Stop in the Name of Love](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/4274/logoshield_300x300.jpg)
Wednesday Jun 12, 2024
June 9, 2024- Stop in the Name of Love
Wednesday Jun 12, 2024
Wednesday Jun 12, 2024
This Sunday, we explore how ordinary people can create extraordinary change. Retelling the stories of Norbert Čapek and Waitstill and Martha Sharp, as well as the village of Le Chambon, we’ll reflect on the profound impact of simple acts of courage and compassion. By examining historical and modern examples of collective action and resilience, we’ll see how our community can support and inspire each other in the face of challenges. Join us to deepen our commitment to justice and compassion, to realize the extraordinary potential within each of us.
Worship Leaders: Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Katherine Harrell, Rev. Jen Crow, Rev. Ashley Harness
Opening Hymn- We Rise (:22)
Words of Welcome (3:09)
Call to Worship (9:51)
Singing Together- We Are Building a New Way (15:50)
Prayers and Cycle of Life (18:54)
Offering (28:24)
Reading- Courage by Anne Sexton (32:53)
Anthem- If I Can Help Somebody by Mahalia Jackson (34:30)
Message- Stop in the Name of Love (37:12)
Singing Together- Woyaya (59:45)
Benediction (1:01:32)
![May 26, 2024- The Body Knows](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/4274/logoshield_300x300.jpg)
Wednesday Jun 05, 2024
May 26, 2024- The Body Knows
Wednesday Jun 05, 2024
Wednesday Jun 05, 2024
What rituals and practices help us remember and bring care to the grief and loss we know as individuals and communities? How might we move it through our bodies, and what roles do beauty and singing and laughter have to play? How might we hold multiple stories and experiences within and among ourselves all at once? Join us on Sunday for shared song and story and searching as we explore the origins of Memorial Day and strengthen ourselves for the journey ahead.
Worship Leaders: Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Nancy Nyquist Potter, Allison Connelly-Vetter, Rev. Jen Crow
Opening Song- Hold Everybody Up! (:33)
Words of Welcome (4:57)
Singing Together (8:47)
Prayer and Cycle of Life (13:21)
Offering Recipient Intro (22:20)
Offertory (25:47)
Message- The Body Knows (29:07)
Closing Hymn (59:05)
Benediction (1:03:51)
![May 5, 2024- A Community of Practice](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/4274/logoshield_300x300.jpg)
Monday May 13, 2024
May 5, 2024- A Community of Practice
Monday May 13, 2024
Monday May 13, 2024
This Sunday, First Universalist joyfully celebrates New Member Sunday, a testament to our community’s growth and resilience. Worship Leaders will guide us through a reflective conversation on the essence of openness. They invite us to examine how vulnerability, grace, and kindness are more than spiritual practices—they are vital for deepening our communal bonds. This service challenges us to dismantle the barriers that often lead to isolation, making every interaction a profound connection. As we celebrate this enriching occasion, reflect on your journey: What is your next step toward deeper engagement in our community? Join us for a transformative experience.
Worship Leaders: Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Meleah Houseknecht, Rev. Jen Crow, Liz Farmer, Matt Keller
Opening Hymn- Building Bridges (:27)
Call to Worship and Words of Welcome (4:37)
Wisdom Story (10:39)
Singing Together- Come and Go With Me (20:14)
New Member Welcome Ritual (21:41)
Prayers and Cycle of Life (28:50)
Practice of Giving and Receiving (37:17)
Offertory- If You're Out There by John Legend (43:07)
Reading- Safety Net by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer (46:06)
Anthem- Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand) by Diana Ross (47:18)
Message- A Community of Practice (49:35)
Closing Song- Love Will Guide Us (1:08:06)
Benediction (1:10:00)
![April 28, 2024- Count the Ways](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/4274/logoshield_300x300.jpg)
Monday May 06, 2024
April 28, 2024- Count the Ways
Monday May 06, 2024
Monday May 06, 2024
This Sunday, we kick off a four-week Season of Gratitude, and immerse ourselves in the rich languages of love and gratitude. We warmly invite everyone to join us as we explore how these sincere expressions deepen our bonds and strengthen the fabric of our community. It’s an ideal moment to celebrate the diverse ways we can express our appreciation for each other’s efforts within our beloved community.
Worship Leaders: Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Rev. Ashley Harness, Rev. Arif Mamdani
Singing to Gather- Morning Has Come (:18)
Call to Worship and Welcome (1:44)
Singing Together- Oh, We Give Thanks (12:15)
Community Prayer (13:23)
Stewardship Update (20:18)
Celebrating Volunteers (27:46)
Offering and Offertory (32:35)
Readings- from All About Love by bell hooks and What is Love? by Haddaway (36:23)
Message- Count the Ways (38:14)
Singing- Make Channels for the Streams of Love (54:29)
Benediction (56:08)
![April 21, 2024- Earth Day Sunday](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/4274/logoshield_300x300.jpg)
Thursday Apr 25, 2024
April 21, 2024- Earth Day Sunday
Thursday Apr 25, 2024
Thursday Apr 25, 2024
On Earth Day, we come together for a service developed in collaboration with our Environmental Justice Team. This day, we reaffirm our sacred bond with the Earth, confronting the environmental crisis with courage, creativity, and collective action. Stories of resilience from communities around the globe will guide us in redefining our relationship with the planet. This service is an invitation to reflect and find inspiration, a calling to realize our commitment to respectful relationship with the natural world. As one, we forge a path forward to notice our role in the delicate balance of life. Together, we honor our responsibility to shape a legacy of hope and healing for future generations.
Opening Hymn- Love's In Need of Love Today by Stevie Wonder- Paolo Debuque and Choir (:25)
Call to Worship- Nancy Potter (6:10)
Words of Welcome- Cathy Geist (11:43)
Time for All Ages- Rev. Arif Mamdani (17:30)
Singing Together- Come and Go With Me- Paolo Debuque (25:05)
Invitation to Conversation- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (26:53)
Prayer and Meditation- Rev. Arif Mamdani (32:15)
Practice of Giving and Receiving- Rev. Jen Crow (38:55)
Reading from A Life on Our Planet by David Attenborough- Stan Sattinger (49:10)
Anthem- This I Know- Paolo Debuque, Aimee K. Bryant, Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (51:38)
Message- Reimagine That!: Earth Day - Rev. Arif Mamdani (57:04)
Closing Hymn- Blue Boat Home (1:23:00)
Benediction- Rev. Arif Mamdani, Bob Friedman (1:26:02)
![March 24, 2024- Lessons from the Edge of Existence](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/4274/logoshield_300x300.jpg)
Tuesday Mar 26, 2024
March 24, 2024- Lessons from the Edge of Existence
Tuesday Mar 26, 2024
Tuesday Mar 26, 2024
In the heart of our journey towards Easter, we turn to the second chapter in our three-part series, inviting you into a contemplative exploration of dying and the profound lessons it imparts on communal living. This service weaves together thought, music, prayer, and story, reflecting on our shared human experience and the bonds that sustain us through life’s transitions. Join us in this reflective exploration of the spaces between life and death, community and solitude, fear and hope, embracing the full spectrum of our existence with open hearts and minds.
Opening Hymn- Gathered Here- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (:31)
Words of Welcome and Call to Worship- Rev. Arif Mamdani (5:57)
Time for All Ages/Singing Together-The Universe Song- Allison Connelly-Vetter (16:46)
Singing Together- Come and Go With Me- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (22:01)
Prayer and Meditation- Meleah Houseknecht (23:49)
Practice of Generosity- Rev. Arif Mamdani (33:18)
Offertory- I am a Poor Pilgrim of Sorrow- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (37:03)
Readings- from Wash Your Hands by Dori Midnight; John 13:1-5- Meleah Houseknecht (40:18)
Anthem- Take My Hand Precious Lord- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (42:42)
Message- Lessons from the Edge of Existence- Rev. Ashley Harness (47:07)
Closing Song- For All That is Our Life- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (1:08:41)
Benediction- Rev. Ashley Harness (1:10:51)
![March 17, 2024- Willing Love](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/4274/logoshield_300x300.jpg)
Tuesday Mar 19, 2024
March 17, 2024- Willing Love
Tuesday Mar 19, 2024
Tuesday Mar 19, 2024
As we embrace this month’s theme of humility, we are called to reflect on our individual needs within the vast expanse of community life. Join us at First Universalist this Sunday for a journey that promises to deepen our collective wisdom, cultivate understanding and love, and reinforce our community’s bonds. This series is not just a retelling of age-old stories but a dynamic engagement with the themes that have shaped humanity’s spiritual journey across millennia.
Opening Hymn- Love Will Guide Us- Aimee K. Bryant, Paolo Dubuque (:29)
Words of Welcome- Rev. Jen Crow (2:40)
Building Community- Building Bridges- Aimee K. Bryant, Paolo Dubuque (7:54)
Singing Together- Come and Go With Me- Aimee K. Bryant, Paolo Dubuque (12:25)
Prayer and Meditation- Rev. Ashley Harness (14:18)
Practice of Giving and Receiving- Rev. Ashley Harness, Lynn Broaddus (24:14)
Offertory- Aimee K. Bryant, Paolo Dubuque (31:49)
Readings- If bell hooks wrote I Corinthians by Tess Baumberger (34:42); poem by Aurora Levins Morales (36:47)- Lynn Broaddus and Rev. Jen Crow
Anthem- No One Is Alone by Stephen Sondheim- Aimee K. Bryant, Paolo Dubuque (38:52)
Message- Willing Love- Rev. Jen Crow (42:18)
Benediction- Rev. Jen Crow (1:03:11)
![March 3, 2024- The Lost Art of Sacrifice](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/4274/logoshield_300x300.jpg)
Monday Mar 11, 2024
March 3, 2024- The Lost Art of Sacrifice
Monday Mar 11, 2024
Monday Mar 11, 2024
This Sunday, Rev. Rolenz will lead us in contemplating The Lost Art of Sacrifice, a timely reflection as we navigate the solemn periods of Lent and approach Ramadan. In a world often driven by the quest for instant gratification, Kathleen invites us to reconsider sacrifice as a source of spiritual nourishment and unexpected joy. Drawing on her experiences from serving in diverse communities and her profound understanding of liturgy, Kathleen’s sermon promises to be a compelling journey through the complexities of faith, community, and the sacrifices that bind them.
Join us in welcoming Rev. Kathleen Rolenz and immerse yourself in a service that promises not just to explore the depths of humility and sacrifice but also to celebrate the communal spirit that defines our congregation. Let’s gather together to discover the joy and enrichment that humility can bring to our lives and our community.
Music for Gathering- Woyaya- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (:19)
Story for All Ages- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Rev. Kathleen Rolenz, Nanette Stearns (4:03)
Words of Welcome and Call to Worship- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (10:00)
Singing Together- Come and Go With Me (20:00)
Meditation and Prayer- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (22:19)
Practice of Sharing and Receiving- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Karen Heegaard, Nanette Stearns (33:06)
Offertory- Barbara Brooks, piano (45:49)
Poem- Altar by Deborah Leipziger (47:45)
Message- The Lost Art of Sacrifice- Rev. Kathleen Rolenz (49:59)
Singing Together- Make Channels for the Streams of Love (1:09:34)
Benediction- Rev. Kathleen Rolenz (1:11:08)
Outgoing Song- Where You Go, I Will Go, Beloved by Shoshana Jedwab
![Feb. 25, 2024- Unshackling the Chains of Numbness](https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/4274/logoshield_300x300.jpg)
Tuesday Feb 27, 2024
Feb. 25, 2024- Unshackling the Chains of Numbness
Tuesday Feb 27, 2024
Tuesday Feb 27, 2024
This Sunday at First Universalist, we invite you to a special service, “Awakening Presence: A Journey From Numbness to Engagement,” as we explore the transformative power of reconnecting with our emotions and each other. Dive deep into the essence of presence, overcoming the barriers of emotional numbness that hinder our personal growth and communal vitality. Engage in a meaningful exploration of how mindfulness and empathy can not only enrich our personal journeys but also empower our collective commitment to justice and compassion.
As we continue our stewardship campaign, remember that your support breathes life into the heart of our community, helping to revive the emotional nerve endings of our congregation. Join us in fostering a vibrant, engaged, and empathetic community, ready to embrace the full spectrum of life’s experiences together. Your presence and contribution are the keys to unlocking a more present, connected, and lively congregation.
Welcome and Call to Worship- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (:24)
Story for All Ages- Adaptation of a story by Leo Tolstoy- Em Herman-Johnson and the congregation (4:15)
Singing Together- Come and Go With Me and What Wondrous Love is This?- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (16:35)
Community Prayers- Katherine Harrell (23:00)
Invitation to Give and Receive- Rev. Ashley Harness and David Leppik (30:37)
Offertory- I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free by Nina Simone- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (36:18)
Greeting One Another- Em Herman-Johnson (38:38)
Reading- Go to the Limits of Your Longing by Rainer Maria Rilke (40:48)
Message- Unshackling the Chains of Emotional Numbness- Rev. Ashley Harness and Dick Young (42:41)
Benediction- words by David Gate in memory of Nex Benedict (57:45)
Closing Song- Where You Go, I will Go, Beloved by Shoshana Jedwab