First Universalist Church of Minneapolis Sunday Service Podcast

December 4, 2022- Waiting for the Coming Dreams

Winter is a time of turning inward, a time where the nights are longer and so too is our time for dreaming.

December is a month in which we experience ever shorter days, the longest night, and then the turning toward the long days of summer again. It is also a month in which some amongst us share stories about a light that held out against hope and others tell of the coming of a singular light to the world.

As we begin this time of beginnings, as we enter this month of waiting, of dreaming, of telling stories and remembering in our bones the turning of the earth, the turning of the seasons, and the turning of our tradition, we gather on Sunday to start at the beginning. We’ll revisit beginnings, wonder about what came before the beginning, where we’re situated in the line of beginnings and endings, and incline our hearts toward what we hear when we’re dreaming in the dark.

 

Singing to Gather- Come Thou Fount of Ev'ry Blessing (:30)

Words of Welcome- Rev. Jen Crow (1:20)

Time for All Ages- Rev. Jen Crow (8:58)

Prayer and Cycle of Life- Rev. Jen Crow (16:18)

Message- Waiting for the Coming Dreams- Rev. Arif Mamdani (23:21)

Holiday Giving Introduction- Isabel Quast (44:55)

Offertory- Franco Holder, piano

Hymn- Blue Boat Home (50:41)

Benediction- Rev. Arif Mamdani (53:38)

November 27, 2022- One in Gratitude

On this multigenerational Sunday, our shared attention will turn to the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address, a practice created and shared by the indigenous people of the Turtle Clan, Wolf Clan, and Mohawk tribe. This practice invites us to begin and end our days with gratitude, and together we will experiment and wonder about how we might choose to begin and end our days, and how we and our relationships might be changed by our practices.

Intro- Ashgrove (Welsh Tune)- Franco Holder, piano

Hymn- We Give Thanks (1:43)

Words of Welcome- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (5:19)

Singing Together- The Welcome Table (7:42)

Prayer and Cycle of Life- Rev. Jen Crow (11:36)

Gratitude Ritual- Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address- Rev. Jen Crow, Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, members of the congregation (17:54)

Practice of Giving- Rev. Jen Crow (40:11)

Offertory- You Matter to Me by Sara Bareillis- Franco Holder, piano (44:56)

Singing Together- For the Earth Forever Turning

Benediction- Rev. Jen Crow (49:58)

November 20, 2022- Becoming Together: Child Dedication Sunday

This Sunday, Nov. 20, we will celebrate the miracle that is at the center of our larger story and the cycle of life. We will welcome, name, and dedicate ourselves to the care of children in our congregation through a Child Dedication Ritual. Together we will discern and practice the spiritual work of committing ourselves to the care of our youngest and making room for the people they will become over the course their lives. 

Singing to Gather- Come, Come Whoever You Are

Words of Welcome- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (2:21)

Child Dedication Ritual- Lauren Wyeth, Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Rev. Ashley Harness (7:47)

Silence, Meditation, Prayer- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (15:09)

Practice of Giving and Receiving- Rev. Ashley Harness (22:46)

Offertory- Glen Thomas Rideout (25:36)

Message- Becoming Together- Rev. Ashley Harness (26:56)

Benediction- Rev. Ashley Harness (42:13)

November 13, 2022- The Company We Keep

We are members of many things: families, gyms, affinity groups, and faith communities. Our culture likes us to think of “membership” as an administrative task: a series of tasks that lead us to checking off a box. This Sunday, November 13, we welcome and celebrate the commitment of our newest members of First Universalist, and invite you into reflecting on- and participating in!- membership as a creative, relational process, one in which we change and by which we are changed by the company we keep.

Hymn for Gathering- Morning Has Come- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (:29)

Words of Welcome- Rev. Jen Crow (7:52)

Time for All Ages- The Messiah Lives Among You- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (14:46)

Hymn- Woyaya- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (20:37)

Prayer, Meditation, Cycle of Life - Rev. Jen Crow (25:49)

Offertory- What Wonderous Love is This- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (35:27)

New Member Ceremony- Liz Farmer, Rebecca Slaby, Daryn Woodson (38:35)

Singing Together- Come and Go With Me- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (45:24)

Homily- The Company We Keep- Liz Farmer (48:12)

Singing Together- Be Thou My Vision- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (57:04)

Benediction- Liz Farmer (1:03:02)

 

November 6, 2022- The Practice of Giving and Receiving

This Sunday, November 6, we open the theme of “Giving, Receiving (as love shows us how).” We’ll enter the theme through the Tonglen practice, a Buddhist practice that invites us to open our hearts and spirits to giving and receiving and in doing so, soften our hearts and live more deeply into the experience of our interdependence. Drawing on the work of rev. angel Kyodo Williams and Lama Rod Owens, we’ll have time for practice, song, and reflection as love leads the way.

Opening Hymn- Wake Now My Senses- Aimee K. Bryant, Franco Holder (:21)

Words of Welcome- Rev. Arif Mamdani (2:32)

Time for All Ages- Aimee K. Bryant (6:00)

Meditation and Prayer- Aimee K. Bryant, Franco Holder, Rev. Ashley Harness (11:13)

Practice of Giving and Receiving- Rev. Ashley Harness (19:12)

Mesage- The Practice of Giving and Receiving- Rev. Arif Mamdani (22:49)

Tonglen Practice- Rev. Arif Mamdani (33:38)

Singing Together- Filled with Loving Kindness- Aimee K. Bryant, Franco Holder (44:42)

Benediction- Rev. Arif Mamdani (47:43)

 

October 23, 2022- A River of Stars

As we continue exploring our monthly theme, "You Can Count on This," we move from heart, body, and mind to…space? Many may wonder how the vast field of galaxies can be counted on. But our ancestors have always traced stories onto constellations. Humanity navigated dangerous waters using those reliable but distant stars. During our own times of loss and alienation, how can the mysterious, interdependent universe provide solace and hope?

Singing to Gather- We Are- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Franco Holder (:29)

Poem by Nancy Scaffer (3:34)

Words of Welcome- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (5:18)

Story for All Ages- Quilatzli and the River of Stars- by Lóre Stevens, inspired by Aztec and Greek mythology (10:38)

Body Meditation- Michael Tangen (16:02)

Body Prayer- Lóre Stevens (20:04)

Prayer and Cycle of Life- Rev. Ashley Harness-Jiminez (22:25)

Invitation to Give - Rev. Ashley Harness-Jiminez (27:33)

Offertoty- Into the West  by  STØLACE- Michael Tangen (31:35)

Homily- A River of Stars- Lóre Stevens (40:44)

Hymn- A Firemist and a Planet - Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (50:43)

Benediction- Lóre Stevens (53:57)

 

 

October 16, 2022- Mental Health Sunday

This Sunday, October 16 is Mental Health Sunday, a service where we commit ourselves to creating a world where struggles with mental health are normalized and where seeking mental health care is destigmatized. Through word, song, and ritual we will make visible these commitments of our hearts, bodies, and minds, knowing that mental health care is something we all need access to, and that while not all illness can be cured, in community, we all can find healing.

Opening Hymn- Come Thou Fount of Ev'ry Blessing- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (:28)

Words of Welcome- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (3:17)

Story for All Ages- Rev. Ashley Harness-Jiminez (9:56)

Hymn- I've Got Peace Like a River- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (17:43)

Meditation and Message- Rev. Arif Mamdani, Carol Jackson (22:14)

Ritual (32:14)

Song- Sending You Light by Melanie DeMore- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (49:55)

Singing Together- For All that is Our Life- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (53:26)

Benediction- Rev. Arif Mamdani (56:08)

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)