First Universalist Church of Minneapolis Sunday Service Podcast

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 30, 2022- Drawing the Circle

As our monthly worship theme of “You Can Count On This,” comes to a close this week, we’ll turn our attention to the practices of Universalism. Our faith tradition claims a love so strong it will not let any one of us go and a circle so wide that everyone is included, but how do we put that faith into practice in our lives, our congregations, and our communities? You can count on this: the spiritual practices of our faith may not be easy, but they are liberating and life-giving.

 

Singing to Gather- Breaths by Ysaye M. Barnwell- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout and Aimee K. Bryant (:30)

Words of Welcome- Rev. Arif Mamdani (6:42)

Hymn- Hold Everybody Up by Melanie Demore- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout and Aimee K. Bryant (14:35)

Embodyment Practice- Aimee K. Bryant (17:53)

Song- Circle 'Round for Freedom- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout and Aimee K. Bryant (27:02)

Story and Cycle of Life- Rev. Ashley Harness (30:09)

Practice of Giving- Rev. Ashley Harness (36:36)

Offertory- Ordinary People by John Legend (37:41)

Message- Drawing the Circle- Rev. Jen Crow (42:43)

Singing Meditation- There Is a Love by Elizabeth Norton- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout and Aimee K. Bryant (55:57)

Benediction- Rev. Jen Crow (58:35)

 

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)

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)