First Universalist Church of Minneapolis Sunday Service Podcast

April 11, 2021- The Holy Fool- Rev. Justin Schroeder

Sometimes we think of the religious life as serious and staid. But in every faith and spiritual tradition, there exists a trickster, fool, clown, jester, buffoon, or “simpleton” that disrupts, mocks, pokes fun at, and questions authority—religious and otherwise. The purpose of the “holy fool” is to upend what we think we know, to shatter our perceptions of what is real, and to reveal a deeper truth. Play, playfulness, riddles, and humor are all tools of the “holy fool,” designed to snap us out of our waking slumber, out of our certainty, and into a new understanding of life and ourselves. In this time of environmental collapse, of racial justice uprising, of life altered by a pandemic, what might we learn from the “holy fools” of history, from the “holy fools” of our own time, and how might we embody and practice holy foolishness? Worship on Sunday, April 11 at 10 a.m. includes a story for all ages, sharing our joys and concerns, special music, and a message.

Words of Welcome- Rev. Justin Schroeder (:31)

Wisdom Story- Aimee K. Bryant (5:54)

Prayer and Cycle of Life (10:50)

Anthem- Concerto: A Pandemic-Inspired Performance- Members of First Universalist Choir; Dr. Randy Buikema, conductor; Franco Holder, pianist (17:32)

Message- The Holy Fool- Rev. Justin Schroeder (23:11)

April 4, 2021-Practicing Resurrection in this Moment - Rev. Justin Schroeder

Easter is about new life, new hope, and resurrection of the spirit in the face of despair. Easter speaks to a miraculous force and a love that is stronger than death. In this time of global pandemic and this time of the trial of Derek Chauvin (which has global implications), how do we make sense of Easter? Easter speaks to the timeless cycle of death and rebirth, and this Easter, we ask, “Given the world as it is, what in us might die, so that something new and life giving might be born?” 

 

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

Wisdom Story - Lauren Wyeth (5:31)

Interlude- Lo The Earth Awakes Again- Members of First Universalist Choir

Message pt. 1- Practicing Resurrection in this Moment- Rev. Justin Schroeder (13:28)

Special Music- Lift Every Voice and Sing- Give Get Sistet (26:41)

Message pt. 2- Practicing Resurrection in this Moment- Rev. Justin Schroeder and Julica Hermann de la Fuente (28:44)

Hymn- Over My Head- Aimee K. Bryant and Franco Holder (39:41)

 

March 14, 2021 - How Do You Measure a Year? - Rev. Justin Schroeder

How do you measure a year? How do you measure “five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes?” The hit song from “Rent,” invites us to measure a year in love, and that’s certainly a good measure. But this past year has been full and complicated: fear, grief, loss, struggles with mental health, slowing down, re-evaluating everything, new rituals, recipes, and cooking adventures, and the death of loved ones are ways many of us have measured this past year.

This Sunday, March 14 we will mark the one year anniversary of the pandemic, make meaning of what we’ve experienced, acknowledge we’re not through it yet, and lift up ways to care for ourselves and one another as we move through the third quarter of the pandemic.

 

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

Story for All Ages - Lauren Wyeth (3:19)

Interlude- Where You Go, by Shoshana Jedwab- Adrian and Juliet- (8:22)

Message- How Do You Measure a Year? - Rev. Justin Schroeder (9:13)

Interlude and Outro music by The OK Factor

March 7, 2021- Faithful Action Sunday

What does it mean to act on your faith? This Sunday, March 7, you’ll hear moving testimony and reflections from members of our Faithful Action Council, the group that oversees the church’s Faithful Action Ministries, and you’ll hear from congregants involved with our Faithful Action Partners*, and how this involvement has grown their spirits, deepened their faith, and given them hope when things have seemed hopeless.

*Our Faithful Action Partners are Augsburg Fairview Academy, Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative, Habitat for Humanity, Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light, Simpson Housing, a variety of Immigration Justice Organizations and the Center for Leadership and Neighborhood Engagement (CLNE.)

 

Words of Welcome- Rev. Justin Schreoder (:31)

Spoken Word- Joe Davis (5:11)

Story for All Ages- Aimee K. Bryant (8:35)

Hymn- We Shall Be Known- Seth Anderson-Matz (17:04)

Faithful Action Team Conversations (19:16)

Interlude- We'll Build a Land- Sarah Lindsay and Franco Holder (27:49)

February 28, 2021- The Truth of Now- Rev. Arif Mamdani

The only place our lives happen is in the present, yet for many of us, our minds spend a lot of time being everywhere else but here, now. In this service, we’ll enter into the truth of the present moment through word, song, and shared practice and see if we might get a bit more comfortable hanging out here, now, together. 

 

Words of Welcome- Rev. Arif Mamdani (:31)

Interlude music by The OK Factor

Story for All Ages- Lauren Wyeth (6:05)

Interlude music by The OK Factor

Poetry and Music- Franco Holder (12:33)

Sermon- The Truth of Now- Rev. Arif Mamdani (15:25)

February 21, 2021- Remember, You Are Water - Rev. Jen Crow

The truth is, grief hurts. It is exhausting, disorienting, and downright awful when we lose someone or something that matters to us. As we approach a year of pandemic living and losing, grief is our everyday companion. The author and activist, adrienne maree brown, reminds us that we are water, that the salt trails of our tears are the natural outcome of our living and loving. This Sunday, we continue to recognize our losses and the love that keeps us connected.

 

Words of Welcome- Rev. Justin Schroeder (:28)

Story for All Ages- Seth Anderson-Matz (3:54)

Interlude music by Dean Magraw

Message- Remember, You Are Water- Rev. Jen Crow (9:37)

Anthem- Gaelic Blessing- First Universalist Choir, Dr. Randal Buikema (33:05)

February 14, 2021- Following the Thread - Rev. Justin Schroeder

In worship this Sunday, Rev. Justin offers reflections on his ministry with First Universalist, speaks to how his faith is guiding him into a new season, and most importantly, reflects on what it means for all of us to follow the call of love, to live our deepest truths, and to trust our innermost knowings. We are held by music from Franco Holder, Andrew Tralle, and a story from Aimee K. Bryant.

Words of Welcome- Rev. Jen Crow (:31)

Story for All Ages- Aimee K. Bryant (7:37)

Song- One Voice, by the Wailin' Jennys- Andrew Tralle (14:41)

Sermon- Following the Thread - Rev. Justin Schroeder (17:58)

February 7, 2021 - Is the Truth Broken? - Rev. Karen Hutt

The word “truth” is a major construct in any discussion of Unitarian Universalism. We pride ourselves on being seekers of truth, but who has this truth? How is it confirmed? What happens when the truth appears broken? Can we let go of our need for universal truths?

This Sunday, we delve into our February worship theme, “Truth Telling,” with this message from Rev. Karen Hutt. Rev. Jen Crow and Lauren Wyeth will share a story for all ages, and we’ll also enjoy newly recorded music from Franco Holder and Aimee K. Bryant — and a special reading and musical reflection from Franco.

 

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

Story for All Ages- Rev. Jen Crow and Lauren Wyeth (3:37)

Hymn- For All That Is Our Life- Fawzia Khan (12:05)

Sermon- Is the Truth Broken? - Rev. Karen Hutt (12:40)

January 31, 2021- Amidst the Change- Rev. Justin Schroeder

We are in the midst of great change, aren’t we? Some change we choose, and some change chooses us, but everything is always changing. As Octavia Butler writes, “God is Change.” What might it mean to really embrace this reality? As we finish our month of exploring the theme of “Choosing Change,” we’ll rest in the divine swirl of courage, change, brokenness, love, new possibilities and dreams, and we’ll see what emerges to guide us in our living in 2021. 

 

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

Story for All Ages- Lauren Wyeth (3:29)

Hymn- Voice Still and Small- Erin Segrue (8:38)

Sermon- Amidst the Change- Rev. Justin Schroeder (10:15)

Anthem- Dream On by Aerosmith- First Universalist Choir (29:32)

January 24, 2021- Existence as Resistance- Rev. Jen Crow

In a society that wants you erased, existence is resistance. In a country where laws have limited your access to resources and opportunity, to safety and basic human rights, survival is a form of resistance. In a time when lies are fed to the masses, naming the truth is resistance. As we take a collective breath this week, we will remember that for many of us, existence is an act of resistance. We will remember those who did not make it with us to this moment, and we will acknowledge the parts of ourselves that have been injured even as we have survived. Together, we will continue to heal. 

 

Words of Welcome- Rev. Justin Schroeder (:28)

Story for All Ages- Seth Anderson-Matz (4:11)

Interlude- We Will- Ann Reed (7:42)

Sermon- Existence as Resistance- Rev. Jen Crow (9:33)