First Universalist Church of Minneapolis Sunday Service Podcast

Sept. 24, 2023- Tough Love

The experience of being welcomed with open arms can change us, rooting us in communities of care that transform individuals and society. Practicing this kind of love requires a tough mind and a tender heart, Dr. Martin Luther King once wrote, urging us to develop the characteristics that can ground us in transformative love.

Opening Hymn- My Life Flows On In Endless Song (:25)

Call to Worship & Words of Welcome- Nanette Stearns (6:43)

Singing Together- Lone Wolf- Shelley Des Islets and Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (12:59)

Time for All Ages- Allison Connelly-Vetter (20:48)

Prayer & Cycle of Life- Rev. Ashley Harness (28:44)

Practice of Giving and Receiving - Rev. Jen Crow (36:42)

Offertory- Paolo Dubuque (38:21)

Reading- from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (41:34)

Singing Prayer- Standing Stone - Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (45:23)

Message- Tough Love- Rev. Jen Crow (47:39)

Singing Together & Benediction (1:06:31)

Sept. 10, 2023- Water Communion

Water Communion is a very special tradition we celebrate each year at First Universalist. All are welcome, whether it’s your first or fortieth time! Come and be a part of this joyous time where the waters mingle and set a new year of community on its way.

Singing to Gather- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (:29)

Words of Welcome- Rev. Jen Crow (7:11)

Story for All Ages- Worship Leaders (14:26)

Practice of Giving and Receiving- Allison Connelly and Rev. Arif Mamdani (24:20)

Offertory- Peace Like a River (28:24)

Prayer and Cycle of Life- Rev. Jen Crow (31:13)

Water Communion Ritual- Worship Leaders (40:43)

Singing Together and Benediction- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (1:03:46)

 

September 3, 2023- Lessons for Future Ancestors

“Let us measure success by how many of us can say: I am living a life I don’t regret. A life that will resonate with my ancestors…” -adrienne maree brown. This Sunday, we reflect on heavy suitcases, surprise turning points, and opening to welcome, even when the people are complicated and the path is unclear.

 

Singing to Gather- Enter, Rejoice, and Come In and Bright Morning Star- Matt Meyer (:27)

Words of Welcome- Rev. Jen Crow (7:28)

Reading- by adrienne maree brown - Matt Meyer (12:09)

Singing Together- Wake Now My Senses- Matt Meyer (13:03)

Story for All Ages- Redefining Success- Matt Meyer (17:06)

Singing Together- Anthem, words by Leonard Cohen - Matt Meyer (24:37)

Community Prayer- Rev. Arif Mamdani (28:24)

Practice of Giving and Receiving- Rev. Arif Mamdani (35:37)

Offertory- Not Heavy by Faya Ora Rose Toure- Matt Meyer (37:08)

Reading- What You Missed That Day You Were Absent in Fourth Grade by Brad Aaron Modlin- Rev. Arif Mamdani (40:40)

Homily- Lessons for Future Ancestors- Matt Meyer (44:04)

Benediction and Closing Songs- We Are the Ones by Bernice Johnson and Where You Go I Will Go, Beloved by Shoshana Jedwab (59:19)

 

August 27, 2023- Backpack Blessing

As summer comes to an end, don’t miss our annual Backpack Blessing and worship service this Sunday, Aug. 27 at 10 a.m. The multigenerational service will offer children, youth, and adults of all ages the opportunity to reflect upon how we might carry the love of our church community and the tools of our faith with us wherever we go.

Singing to Gather- I'm On My Way (:31)

Words of Welcome and Call to Worship- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (5:19)

Singing Together- Oh We Give Thanks (10:33)

Story for All Ages- The Invisible String by Patrice Karst- Allison Connelly-Vetter and Willa (12:08)

Community Prayers - Rev. Ashley Harness (20:51)

Homily- I Carry Your Heart- Rev. Jen Crow (27:34)

Practice of Giving and Receiving- Rev. Ashley Harness (34:20)

Backpack Blessing- Allison Connelly-Vetter and Rev. Jen Crow (37:46)

Singing Together- You've Got a Light (44:53)

Celebrating and Saying Goodbye to Franco- Rev. Jen Crow and Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (48:19)

Singing Together- Where You Go I Will Go, Beloved by Shoshana Jedwab (52:06)

 

August 20, 2023- Lake Harriet Worship

Rev. Ashley Horan, Aimee Bryant, and Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout lead worship with you at the bandshell at Lake Harriet. By the waters, we’ll embody the joy and talk the truths of willful change we can make to the ways we do community. We’ll live a little of love’s post-pandemic, not-far-along-enough-yet call. Truth be told, it has more to do with play and laughter and loving yourself than we’ve often understood. And the possibilities, when we’re willing to untether from the needful, are more wonderful even than we could have dreamed.

Singing to Gather- Rev. Ashley Horan, Aimee Bryant, and Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (:30)

Words of Welcome and Call to Worship- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (3:55)

Singing Together- Morning Has Come (7:03)

Poem- I Thank You God - e. e. cummings (8:07)

Singing Together- Morning Has Come (10:23)

Singing Together- Breathing In, Breathing Out (14:42)

Reading- Building a Common Life by Elea Kemler- Allison Connelly-Vetter (22:39)

Community Prayer- Rev. Ashley Horan (28:55)

Practice of Giving and Receiving- Rev. Ashley Horan (40:09)

Offertory- Light of a Clear Blue Morning by Dolly Parton- Dr. GTR (42:45)

Reading- Touched by an Angel by Maya Angelou (47:07)

Anthem- Home by Diana Ross- Aimee K. Bryant and Dr. GTR (48:36)

Message- To Change What We Know- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (52:06)

Singing Together- We Are the Ones (1:02:35)

Benediction- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (1:06:50)

August 13, 2023- Why Stop Now?

We often exclaim church to each other as a place, a sanctuary, a place away from other places. Isn’t it at least as much a moment we make special together? A present-day prophet, the Black science fiction writer Octavia Butler describes “God is change.” How would your relationship with holy things shift if you were looking not for things that have become divine, but instead were on a hunt for the becoming itself in progress? Would that change what goodness you discovered in you?

This Sunday, we explore the ways the divine expresses in units of time. Guided by the ancient Hebrew practice of sabbath-keeping, we reflect on the special moments of life that keep us in motion. And we ask ourselves and each other: What will stop to have time for what’s holy? What gets a no, so you can be present to what’s right in front of you?

Music for Gathering- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout and Aimee K. Bryant (:29)

Words of Welcome & Call to Worship- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (3:51)

Story for All Ages- The Stuff of Stars by Marion Dane Bauer- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (12:49)

Meditation on Breathing- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (22:43)

Community Practice & Prayer- Rev. Ashley Harness (26:26)

Reading- from A Look to the Future (1957) by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (34:17)

Anthem- Amazing Grace- Franco Holder on piano (37:22)

Message- Why Stop Now?- Rev. Ashley Harness (40:52)

Giving and Receiving- (1:02:11)

Benediction- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (1:07:41)

August 6, 2023- Backing Into the Big Questions

Shifted schedules, evening sunshine, produce that doesn’t fit anybody’s plan for the week, movies and music and sunsets that take our breath away and demand that we stop and pay attention. As summer stretches into August, the Big Questions call to us. ThisSunday, August 6, we ask: what are yours and ours, and how might we respond?

 

Singing to Gather- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (:32)

Call to Worship- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (7:16)

Story for All Ages- What the Road Said by Cleo Wade- Rev. Arif Mamdani (15:56)

Singing Together- Blue Boat Home (23:51)

Prayer and Cycle of Life- Rev. Arif Mamdani (27:05)

Reading- The Path to the Milky Way Leads Through LA by Joy Harjo- Rev. Jen Crow (32:09)

Message- Rev. Jen Crow (34:50)

Offering- Rev. Jen Crow and Offertory- Franco Holder (54:33)

Hymn- Wake Now My Senses (58:39)

Benediction- Rev. Jen Crow (1:01:44)

July 30, 2023- ”Art & Soul” with Paolo Dubuque and You

Paolo Dubuque and Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout talk about re-imagining musical ensembles and using collaborative music to change the world. We make music together for a finale of sorts we’re calling We are the ones, after June Jordan’s famous end to her poem, “Poem for South African Women.” Together, we make music as a community (that’s right–the featured artist is you! But shhhhh…it’s a surprise.), and we explore the rich relationships and stories of American singing over centuries, across cultures. You’ll hear reflections on the Music Listening Session results. And we embrace the calling of this new day–for communities of justice to know the power of their own voice, and to build up beauty in the world starting from within.

Music for Gathering- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout and Aimee K. Bryant (:28)

Call to Worship- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (9:14)

Words of Welcome- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (16:17)

Singing Together- The Way Knows the Way- Shelley Des Islets and Dr. GTR (18:41)

Singing Together- With You- Shelley Des Islets and Dr. GTR (25:55)

Prayer and Meditation- Rev. Ashley Harness (27:59)

Field Trip through our Hymnals- Dr. GTR (31:45)

Practice of Giving and Receiving- Rev. Ashley Harness (41:12)

Offertory/Singing Together- (43:28)

Regarding Choir- Dr. GTR (51:51)

Conversation with Paolo Dubuque- (1:05:54)

Benediction- Dr. GTR (1:20:00)

July 23, 2023- ”Art & Soul” with Ellis Delaney

Each Sunday in July, worship will feature artists and musicians sharing their craft and some reflections on how their art is connected to their spirituality. We continue this worship series with musician, composer, and First U Member, Ellis Delaney. Ellis is at once funny and wise, thoughtful and uninhibited, with a captivating voice that is matched by tender, sometimes funny, uplifting lyrics. Their music is transformational; leaving audiences feeling better, with softened edges & opened hearts.

Music for Gathering and Words of Welome- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (:19)

Story for All Ages- Dinosaur Air by Rev. Nancy Shaffer (24:21)

Hymn- Building Bridges Between Our Divisions- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout and Aimee K. Bryant (26:15)

Meditation, Prayer, and Cycle of Life- Rev. Ashley Harness (33:08)

Message- "Art & Soul" with Ellis Delaney (39:44)

Transition Music- Prelude in C- The Well-Tempered Clavier (1:14:23)

"Art & Soul" with Ellis Delaney- Continued Conversation (1:18:55)

July 9, 2023- ”Art & Soul” with Dean Magraw

Each Sunday in July, worship will feature a different local musician sharing their music and some reflections on how their art is connected to their spirituality. Dean Magraw is a consummate guitarist, playing with wit and soulful abandon. A performer like no other, he is part-comedian, part-philosopher and all-around musical genius. This past Sunday, he and Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout talked poetry, impressionists, and John Coltrane.

* Please note significant cuts and edits have been made due to poor original sound quality.

Opening Hymn- How Can I Keep from Singing? (:24)

Words of Welcome- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (3:48)

Poem- Monet Refuses the Operation by Liesel Mueller (10:30)

Prayer and Cycle of Life- Rev. Ashley Harness (13:39)

Practice of Giving and Receiving- Rev. Ashley Harness (18:54)

Offertory- Dean Magraw (22:38)

Message- Art and Soul: Music and Conversations with Dean Magraw (23:09)

Benediction- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (48:51)