First Universalist Church of Minneapolis Sunday Service Podcast

October 9, 2022- What We Need Is Here

As we continue our exploration of the theme, “You Can Count On This,” we turn our attention to our bodies this week. Sources of ancient wisdom carried deep within our bones, sources of comfort, pleasure, pain, joy, grief, and frustration – our bodies hold so much. Through story, prayer, music, poetry and shared breath, we’ll explore the wisdom of the body this week.

Singing to Gather- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Franco Holder (:51)

Words of Welcome- Rev. Jen Crow (7:26)

Story for All Ages- Lauren Wyeth (13:07)

Singing- This Little Light of Mine-Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Franco Holder (19:54)

Prayer and Meditation- Rev. Jen Crow (23:43)

Practice of Giving- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (31:07)

Message- What We Need Is Here- Lauren Wyeth, Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Rev. Jen Crow (35:55)

Chant- What We Need Is Here- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (55:48)

Benediction- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (1:00:20)

 

October 2, 2022- The Heart Left Open Will Heal Itself

As we begin our exploration of the monthly theme, “You Can Count On This,” we’ll start with our hearts. What do our hearts tell us, and how do we listen? Where and with whom do we place our hearts? And what do we do with the inevitable heartbreak that comes? We’ll explore all of these questions and more through stories, songs, meditation, and prayer together.

Singing Together- Circle 'Round for Freedom (:28)

Words of Welcome- Rev. Jen Crow (1:35)

Story for All Ages- Rev. Ashley Harness (8:54)

Hymn- Lean On Me by Bill Withers- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (14:33)

Prayer and Cycle of Life- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (23:02)

Practice of Giving- Rev. Jen Crow (37:45)

Offertory- Franco Holder, piano

Message- The Heart Left Open Will Heal Itself- Rev. Jen Crow (42:50)

Benediction- Rev. Jen Crow (1:01:39)

Outro- Franco Holder, piano

 

September 25, 2022- A Topography of Belonging

Rumi and Jung agree on at least one thing: paradox is our greatest spiritual gift.

As Rumi notes:

Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing,
there is a field. I’ll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass,
the world is too full to talk about.
Ideas, language, even the phrase each other
doesn’t make any sense.

And isn’t that what we long for – that space of paradox, out beyond rightdoing and wrongdoing, beyond belonging where event the phrase each other doesn’t make any sense?

This Sunday, we explore the topography of belonging and the paths that may or may not get us where we long to be.

 

Words of Welcome- Rev. Jen Crow (:40)

Story- The Green Grass Grows All Around- Lóre Stevens (7:38)

Prayer and Silence- Rev. Arif Mamdani (10:41)

Practice of Giving: Beacon Interfaith Housing- Lóre Stevens (19:32)

Message- A Topography of Belonging- Rev. Arif Mamdani (22:41)

Singing Together- Love Will Guide Us- Franco Holder, piano (38:43)

Benediction- Rev. Arif Mamdani (40:22)

September 18, 2022- Belonging to Beloved Community

The dream has been alive for years – Beloved Community. A place, a people, a moment in time when we might truly be, as our Visionary Goal proclaims, “a multi-racial, multicultural, and intergenerational faith community of mutual caring and support where people bring all of who they are and welcome each other with joy. Our sense of who we are as a community of faith is ever expanding.” What does it mean to belong to that Beloved Community, and what will be required of us as we unlearn soul-killing patterns of oppression and practice liberating, life-sustaining ways? What does it mean to belong to this Beloved Community?

Music for Gathering- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (:19)

Words of Welcome- Rev. Arif Mamdani (3:42)

Call to Worship- To Be of Use by Marge Piercy- Lóre Stevens (16:18)

Story for All Ages- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (18:26)

Prayer and Meditation- Rev. Arif Mamdani (26:11)

Practice of Giving- Rev. Jen Crow (33:28)

Celebrating Rev. Jen's Ten Years- Rev. Sara Smalley and the Team (37:17)

Message- Belonging to Beloved Community- Rev. Jen Crow (44:30)

Music for Going- Love Will Guide Us (1:03:05)

September 11, 2022- Water Communion: The Ocean Refuses no River

We are water. 60% give or take, and about as salty as the ocean. So at least metaphorically, each of us is a body of water. When we gather in community, it is as if each of us is a drop in a larger body of water, held by the vessel that is our church. Our Water Communion and in-gathering service invites us to experience the truth of our interconnection through ritual, word, and song.

 

Singing Together- Love Will Guide Us (:30)

Words of Welcome- Rev. Jen Crow (2:36)

Invitation to Give- Lauren Wyeth (10:13)

Silence, Prayer, and Cycle of Life- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (12:45)

Water Communion Ritual - Rev. Arif Mamdani, Rev. Jen Crow, Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (21:42)

Singing Together- For the Earth Forever Turning (44:42)

Benediction- Rev. Arif Mamdani (47:02)

 

piano- Franco Holder

 

 

 

September 4, 2022- Homemade by the River

What can architects, masons, and the sound of water teach us about crafting a home by hand? And what do rivers remind us about living a life in motion and movement? Join us for worship with guest worship leader, Matt Meyer.

Matt is a musician and worship leader who has led hundreds of services for UU congregations across the country. He has a degree in hand drumming and serves as Director of Community Life for Sanctuary Boston.

Music for Gathering- Water Heal my Body by Coco Love Alcorn- Matt Meyer and Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (:30)

Words of Welcome- Rev. Jen Crow (1:38)

Call to Worship- from At the River Clarion by Mary Oliver- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (10:39)

Song- Put Your Roots Down by Molly Hartwell- Matt Meyer (12:33)

Story- Desmond Gets Free by Matt Meyer (17:45)

Prayer and Cycle of Life- Rev. Jen Crow (25:53)

Invitation to Give- Lóre Stevens (32:45)

Offertory- Ilu Finu by Miriam Margles- Matt Meyer

Reading- 250 Things an Architect Should Know by Michael Sorkin - Matt Meyer and Lóre Stevens (36:26)

Song- There's a River Flowin' in my Soul by Faya Ora Rose Touré (39:14)

Message- Homemade by the River- Matt Meyer (42:50)

Song for Going and Benediction - Where You Go I Will Go by Shoshana Jedwab- Matt Meyer (59:36)

August 28, 2022-Ready? Set? Go! (Backpack Blessing)

How do we prepare ourselves for a new year? A big transition? New experiences? With the help of stories and spiritual practices, our worship leaders will guide us through our annual Backpack Blessing ritual.

Music for Gathering- I'm On My Way- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout and Franco Holder (:25)

Words of Welcome- Rev. Jen Crow (4:46)

Time for All Ages- Lauren Wyeth (11:13)

Song- There Is More Love Somewhere-Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout and Franco Holder (17:36)

Prayer and Cycle of Life- Rev. Arif Mamdani (21:26)

Homily- Rev. Jen Crow (29:18)

Invitation to Give- Lore Stevens (41:02)

Backpack Blessing- Lauren Wyeth and Youth Staff (43:58)

Music for Going- I'm On My Way and Where You Go I Will Go (48:43)

August 21, 2022- Air and Breath

The First Universalist Choir, Dr. Randy Buikema, Aimee K. Bryant, Franco Holder, Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Rev. Arif Mamdani, Rev. Jen Crow, and Lauren Wyeth will lead and inspire us through music, story, and message.

Music for Gathering- Where Do We Come From?- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout and Aimee K. Bryant (19:24)

Words of Welcome- Rev. Jen Crow (5:39)

Call to Worship- Eagle Poem by Joy Harjo (10:53)

Singing Together- Open the Window, Children (14:29)

Wisdom from the Choir (19:41)

Homily- Rev. Jen Crow (26:04)

Prayer and Meditation- Rev. Jen Crow and Rev. Arif Mamdani (33:18)

Invitation to Give- Lauren Wyeth (39:13)

Offertory- Loving Will Lead Us On, by Linda Kachelmeier and Rev. Kate Tucker- First Universalist Choir (42:30)

Singing Together - Open the Window, Children; Where You Go I Will Go; (48:42)

August 14, 2022- The Stillness of the Chrysalis

Following a summer of Sundays exploring “The Bigger Story,” this Sunday we recognize the Biggest Story of all, the story of change, the story of transformation, the story of evolution. It’s a story that applies to living organisms, to communities, and even to patterns of worship. Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout and Rev. Kate Tucker will invite us into that living, breathing Pause that dwells between what was (the No Longer) and what is yet to be (the Not Yet).

Welcome and Land Acknowledgement- Rev. Kate Tucker (:18)

Call to Worship- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (5:30)

Story for All Ages- The Rabbit Listened - Daryn Woodson (8:30)

Invitation to Give to the Offering Plate- Rev. Arif Mamdani (15:34)

Offertory- Franco Holder 

Song- Return Again- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (17:57)

Prayer and Cycle of Life- Rev. Arif Mamdani (20:46)

Homilies- Rev. Kate Tucker and Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (30:22)

Benediction- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (59:43)

 

July 24, 2022- The Larger Circle

Poet Wendell Berry’s description of “The Larger Circle” as “the circle of all creatures/Passing in and out of life” takes on new meaning as we gaze at – and struggle to comprehend- the 13 billion light-year view of the earliest galaxies in the universe provided by the James Webb telescope. Are those faint smudges even connected to us? Do they matter? How? Or is the question, why?

 

Music for Gathering- Morning Has Broken- Aimee. K. Bryant, Franco Holder (:28)

Words of Welcome & Call to Worship- Rev. Kate Tucker (2:12)

Story for All Ages- The Stuff of Stars- Marion Dane Bauer (6:33)

Offering- Rev. Kate Tucker

Offertory- Turn the Word Around- Aimee K. Bryant, Franco Hoder (11:55)

Prayer and Meditation- Aimee K. Bryant, Rev. Kate Tucker (15:18)

Message- The Larger Circle- Kathy Coskran (22:10)

Hymn- Blue Boat Home- Aimee K. Bryant, Franco Holder (39:30)

Benediction- Kathy Coskran (42:00)

Music for Going- Where You Go by Shoshanna Jedwab- Aimee K. Bryant, Franco Holder