First Universalist Church of Minneapolis Sunday Service Podcast

November 15, 2020 - Living Our Values During the Pandemic Holidays, Rev. Justin Schroeder

The costs of the global pandemic have been high: lives and jobs lost; family gatherings, celebrations, and memorial services postponed, or cancelled; and physical contact limited with friends and loved ones. At the same time, for some of us, the lockdowns and different pace of life have given us a glimpse of what else might be possible. For a time, the smoggy sky over major world cities cleared. Carbon emissions dropped. Many of us became more clear what really mattered and why. How might these new “pandemic insights” shape our holiday season this year? What would it mean to put the earth first this year? To prioritize what really matters? Though the votes have been counted, and a new president elected, every day, we get to vote with our dollars, our actions, and our relationships. Everyday, we can cast a vote for a more just and fair world, or a vote for the status quo. This Sunday, we explore these questions as we launch our annual Holiday Giving Project, in support of Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism.

 

Words of Welcome- Rev. Schroeder (:21)

Story for All Ages- Lauren Wyeth (2:28)

Hymn, Glory Glory- Aimee K. Bryant and Franco Holder

Holiday Giving Reflections- Rev. Schroeder, Lena K. Gardner, Lamboglia Family, Isabel Quast (7:00)

Outro Music, We Shall Be Known - Seth Anderson-Matz

 

November 8, 2020 - What Now? - Rev. Justin Schroeder

The election is over. The votes counted and still being counted. What now? What next? What guides, holds, and shapes us in these coming months? How might we live with, wrestle, and be challenged by these words of the great American poet, Langston Hughes, who wrote,

“Out of the rack and ruin of our gangster death,
The rape and rot of graft, and stealth, and lies,
We, the people, must redeem
The land, the mines, the plants, the rivers.
The mountains and the endless plain—
All, all the stretch of these great green states—
And make America again!”

 

Words of Welcome - Rev. Justin Schroeder (:32)

Story for All Ages- Aimee K. Bryant (2:59)

Sermon- What Now? - Rev. Justin Schroeder (9:11)

October 25, 2020 - The Ordination of Rev. Arif Mamdani

Some say that the most unique element of Unitarian Universalism is its individualism - the idea that each one of us is an essential source of religious authority for our own spiritual journey. But individualism and personal authority are not all there is to it. Our faith requires community, and our faith communities call out the good - and the god - in us. This Sunday, we set one among us apart as we ordain Arif Mamdani to the Unitarian Universalist ministry. Our faith community will call out the good - and the god - in him - and we will reaffirm our commitment to call out the good and the god in ourselves and each other.

 

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

Story for All Ages, Seth Matz (2:29)

Hymn: Gather the Spirit, Aimee K. Bryant and Franco Holder (7:38)

Homily, Rev. Jen Crow (10:30)

Act of Ordination, Bryana French and congregants (21:42)

Presentation of Stole (26:20)

Laying on of Hands, Revs. Janne and Rob Eller-Isaacs (31:00)

Hand of Kinship, Rev. Ashley Horan (35:45)

Charge to the Minister, Rev. Karen Hutt (39:33)

Charge to the Congregation, Rev. Meg Riley (46:10)

Hymn: For All That is Our Life, Fawzia Khan and Franco Holder (49:11)

Benediction, Rev. Arif Mamdani (51:14)

October 11, 2020 - Soul On Deck - Rev. Jen Crow

In these extraordinary times, we are called to care for ourselves and each other with extraordinary discipline and extraordinary tenderness. This Sunday, we explore how we might lean into vulnerability and expand our resources as we name the mental health challenges of this and every time.

 

Words of Welcome, Rev. Jen Crow (:27)

Wisdom Sharing, Julica Hermann de la Fuente (3:22)

Humming Meditation, Aimee K. Bryant (10:27)

Sermon, Rev. Jen Crow (17:48)

September 27, 2020- Caring for One Another in a Time of Crisis- Rev. Justin Schroder

In this Sunday Service podcast, we remember the tools, practices, and habits that will sustain us through election season, winter, and a pandemic.

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

Story for All Ages- Aimee K. Bryant (2:52)

Sermon- Rev. Justin Schroeder (10:35)

September 13, 2020- Water Communion- Revs. Justin Schroeder and Jen Crow

As we gathered for this virtual Water Communion Sunday, we remembered that we are held in a larger community of care, a community that isn’t afraid of the complexity of this time, or the many swirling currents of this time, or the waves of feeling and emotion that crash into us on a daily basis. In the midst of all of this, we symbolically linked arms, held hands, and breathed together, riding the waves of our life, finding our way. 

Words of Welcome- Rev. Jen Crow (:21)

Wisdom Story- Lauren Wyeth (2:41)

Sermon- Rev. Justin Schroeder and Rev. Jen Crow (8:18)

Water Communion Ritual (27:00)

August 9, 2020- Poetry and Presence - Arif Mamdani

What does presence have to do with poetry? Where are we when we say “Here We Are.” What do the poetic forms of haiku, American sentences, and dekazz have to do with the pandemic? On Sunday, join Seth Matz and Arif Mamdani as they help us travel with these questions through music, story, and word as we continue to explore this summer’s theme: “Here We Are.”

Seth and Arif are joined by Julica Hermann de la Fuente, Barrington Walker, and Aimee Bryant-- the newest members of the team! And, bring some paper and something to write with so you can join the poetic fun and add your words to the space we create when we come together.

Words of Welcome- (:22)

Wisdom Story- Seth Matz (5:42)

Sermon- Arif Mamdani (9:43)

August 2, 2020 - Through It- Rev. Justin Schroeder

In the popular children’s book and song, “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt,” the refrain is “Can’t go over it, can’t go under it, we’ll have to go through it.” It’s a silly, fun story, with a piercing truth. Sometimes there aren’t any work arounds, short cuts, or easy hacks for particular situations, moments, challenging experiences, and hard feelings. Sometimes, “through” is the only way you can go. In a time like this, how do we make it through? What and who do we need to make it through? How do we go through, together? Go with us, this Sunday, as we go on a spiritual bear hunt.

 

Words of Welcome- Rev. Justin (:31)

 

Story for All Ages- Rev. Karen (2:00)

 

Sermon- "Through It"- Rev. Justin (6:55)

July 26, 2020 - Mining the Museum

Museums tell us stories about the past and challenge us to understand the present. The images from museums penetrate our consciousness and linger in our psyche often shaping our values, beliefs and theologies. Come take a museum tour with Rev. Karen and view the dioramas of your mind. 

 

Words of Welcome- Rev. Justin (:30)

 

Story- Fred Wilson, via San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (5:30)

 

Music- Upside Down Star Spangled Banner (9:27)

 

Sermon- Rev. Karen Hutt (11:27)

 

July 12, 2020 - Humility and Power

In this week's service, Zoe Mulvihill and Katelyn Berry share a story, Seth Matz sings, and Rev. Justin preaches the sermon. 

Welcome - Rev. Justin (:30)

Wisdom Story- Zoe and Katelyn (3:56)

Community Singing- Seth (9:16)

Sermon- Rev. Justin (11:14)