First Universalist Church of Minneapolis Sunday Service Podcast

November 28, 2021- Giving, Receiving, as Love Shows Us How

Rev. Jen Crow, Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Isabel Quast, Franco Holder and Aimee K. Bryant lead an intergenerational service of story and song as we invite each other into the spiritual practices of giving and receiving and growing. Come find out more about Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism and our annual Holiday Giving project, and leave lifted up by our collective power that comes together when each of us shares what we can.

 

Humming Meditation- Aimee K. Bryant (:27)

Words of Welcome- Rev. Jen Crow (9:48)

Music- Wake Now My Vision- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Aimee K. Bryant, Franco Holder (18:17)

Story for All Ages and Calling our Ancestors- Rev. Jen Crow (20:12)

Music- Wake Now My Vision- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Aimee K. Bryant, Franco Holder (28:45)

Meditation and Cycle of Life- Rev. Jen Crow (30:16)

Message- Giving, Receiving, as Love Shows Us How- Rev. Jen Crow and Isabel Quast

Outro Music- Aimee K. Bryant and Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout

 

November 21, 2021- Child Dedication Sunday

We celebrate the miracle that is at the center of the larger cycle of life. We welcome and name and dedicate ourselves to the care of nine children in our Child Dedication Ritual – and as we bear sacred witness to these unfolding lives, it is our hope we will see ourselves and each other anew. Each of us born whole and holy and worthy. Each of us important and ordinary and unique. Each of us in need of the larger community of this earth and this church to hold us in rhythm, each with the other.

 

Words of Welcome- Rev. Karen Hutt (:20)

Story for All Ages- Lauren Wyeth (7:27)

Calling Our Ancestors- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (13:23)

Child Dedication Ceremony- Lauren Wyeth and Rev. Karen Hutt (16:52)

Prayer and Cycle of Life- Rev. Jen Crow (22:25)

Anthem- Children Will Listen by Stephen Sondheim, arr. Brymer, First Universalist Choir, Franco Holder, piano, Dr. Randal Buikema, conductor (28:23)

Message- Rev. Jen Crow (31:52)

November 14, 2021- New Member Sunday

This Sunday, November 14, we welcome new members into our company. Our new members will be formally welcomed during our second service while our first will offer a renewal of membership and a blessing to those joining. **Both ceremonies are included on the podcast** Whichever service you attend, we invite you to “re-member” what it means to cast our lot with this congregation, day after day, week after week, as we affirm again the threads of connection that bind us to those who came before, and make and remake our faith for the world that is coming.

 

Words of Welcome- Julica Hermann de la Fuente (:30)

Calling the Ancestors- Julica Hermann de la Fuente and Rev. Arif Mamdani (3:06)

Story for All Ages- The Perfect Club- Julica Hermann de la Fuente (7:58)

Meditation Practice and Cycle of Life- Rev. Arif Mamdani (14:46)

Renewal of Membership Ceremony (9 a.m. service)- Liz Farmer, Daryn Woodson, Rev. Arif Mamdani (23:32)

New Member Ceremony (11 a.m. service) - Daryn Woodson, Rev. Arif Mamdani, Liz Farmer (34:53)

Message- Rev. Arif Mamdani (43:29)

November 7, 2021- Building a New Way

We continue to build a new way of being together as a church community. The choir will sing – with some guest appearances you won’t want to miss; children and youth will be with us and we’ll share in a story for all; we’ll join in meditation and prayer and care, and we’ll ask each other – Can you feel a brand new day? Is today a day when you can feel it? Is today a day when you feel something else – worry or fear or sadness or grief? Is today a day the community can hold the hope of a brand new day with and for you? Does this day – like all days – hold it all?

Words of Welcome- Rev. Karen Hutt (:28)

Calling Our Ancestors- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (4:38)

Anthem- Everybody Rejoice from “The Wiz” by Luther Vandross (arr. Pete Eklund) - First Universalist Choir and Band, Dr. Randal Buikema, conductor (12:06)

Story for All Ages- Where Are You From?- Lauren Wyeth and Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (16:38)

Meditation and Cycle of Life- Rev. Jen Crow (22:20)

Message- Building a New Way- Rev. Jen Crow (33:50)

Music for Going- Sing Out, My Soul by Marques L. A. Garrett- First Universalist Choir and Band, Dr. Randal Buikema, conductor (46:15)

 

October 24, 2021- Be Your Note: Journeys into Prayer

“…sometimes, it can take a long time to sound like yourself.” -Miles Davis

This Sunday, Oct. 24, we lead a journey of creative prayer practices. There is no one way to pray, or a specific word you must remember. There are many ways to focus the mind and tune the heart to love.

We’ll share music and stories. We’ll have fun together, making space to call the wisdom in each of us, until we hear the singing from within.

 

Words of Welcome- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (:21)

Story- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (2:37)

Hymn- Standin' in the Need of Prayer (6:27)

Invitation into Prayer- Rev. Arif Mamdani and Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (9:09)

Silence, Community Prayer, and Cycle of Life- Rev. Arif Mamdani (17:00)

Poems, Prayers, Meditations- Be Your Note- Rev. Arif Mamdani and Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (25:39)

 

October 17, 2021- The Demand of Wholeness

We are coming ’round the mountain – heading toward a critical city election, toward more church gatherings possible in person, toward fall and the winter holidays, through another cycle of life. How might we relax into this familiar rhythm and circle round the mountain, orienting ourselves toward what matters most as we travel through unpredictable terrain? We let story and song and the wisdom of the indomitable Nina Simone guide us.

Words of Welcome- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (:29)

Celebrating 10 Years with Dr. Randal Buikema, Director of Choral Arts (12:23)

Community Prayer and Cycle of Life- Rev. Jen Crow (21:38)

Anthem- The Us of Me by David L. Brunner- First Universalist Choir, Dr. Randal Buikema, Franco Holder, piano (27:00)

Message- The Demand of Wholeness- Rev. Jen Crow (33:23)

September 26, 2021- When Control Can‘t Carry Us

If we’ve learned anything these last 18 months, we’ve learned that try as we might, we cannot always control how things turn out. If control cannot carry us, then what can? Unitarian Universalist theologian Dr. Sharon Welch suggests that an ethic of risk may be at the center of what allows us to persist in building the world and the lives of love and justice we long for, even in the face of partial victories and continued defeats. Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Franco Holder, Julica Hermann de la Fuente, Rev. Arif Mamdani, Dr. Randy Buikema, and the First Universalist Choir lead the service.

 

Words of Welcome- Rev. Arif Mamdani (:30)

Story for All Ages- Julica Hermann de la Fuente (4:43)

Anthem- The Road Home by Stephen Paulus- First Universalist Choir, Dr. Randal Buikema- conductor

Message- When Control Can't Carry Us- Julica Hermann de la Fuente

 

Vocalists: Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Aimee K. Bryant

Pianist: Franco Holder

September 19, 2021- When the Waters are Held Back

Gathering in person at Minnehaha Falls, we immerse ourselves in the imagery of water and the power of the river as we remember the strength of the stones in the banks we build, and the well-worn groove of the river bed that waits for us, whatever the season. We remember the ritual of Water Communion and the symbolic ingathering it represents and we will intentionally hold back the waters for now, waiting with each other, for the fullness of our hoped-for return to our building in November and the joy it will bring. Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Aimee K. Bryant, Franco Holder, Lauren Wyeth, and Revs. Arif Mamdani and Jen Crow lead the service.

Words of Welcome- Rev. Jen Crow (:29)

Song- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout and Aimee K. Bryant (7:10)

Time for All Ages- Aimee K. Bryant (9:47)

Body and Community Prayer- Lauren Wyeth and Rev. Arif Mamdani (15:40)

Message- Rev. Jen Crow (26:35)

September 12, 2021- Backpack Blessing/What We Need Is Here

This multigenerational service of song, story, and strength as we remember that no matter what is going on around us or within us, when we are in it together – what we need is here. Backpacks will be blessed for those who carry them, and all of us will come away with the joy of community and a grounding in our deepest commitments.

Worship leaders: Rev. Jen Crow, Lauren Wyeth, Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Rev. Karen Hutt

August 22, 2021- One Of Us- Rev. Arif Mamdani

Going slow to go fast. Heeding the lessons from geese. These last several weeks, our services have invited us to reflect on how it is that we do this thing called religious community. This Sunday, we continue this exploration as we lift up a concrete approach to the challenges that can arise when human beings try to do things together.

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

Story for All Ages- The Messiah is Amongst You- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (8:07)

Prayer and Cycle of Life- Rev. Karen Hutt (14:43)

Message- One Of Us- Rev. Arif Mamdani (21:04)

Introduction and Anthem- How Can I Keep from Singing- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, First Universalist Choir, Dr. Randal Buikema (conductor), Franco Holder (piano), and the First Universalist Orchestra. (38:13)