First Universalist Church of Minneapolis Sunday Service Podcast

August 8, 2021- Roots Hold Me Close- Rev. Jen Crow

Change is ever-present these days, a constant cycle of new information, new experiences and new understandings of ourselves, each other, and the larger world keep coming our way. This Sunday, we continue our exploration of the nature of change and how we, as people of faith, continue to align our actions with our values.

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

Story for All Ages- The Water Cycle- Aimee K. Bryant (4:58)

Blessing in Song- Breaths- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (9:37)

Prayer and Cycle of Life- Rev. Arif Mamdani (14:21)

Sermon- Roots Hold Me Close- Rev. Jen Crow (23:12)

Outro music- Shenandoah- First Universalist Church Choir, conducted by Dr. Randy Buikema

August 1, 2021- Harnessing (and Being Harnessed by) Change - Julica Hermann de la Fuente

This Sunday, August 1, Julica Hermann de la Fuente guides us in using Martha Beck’s Change Cycle to explore how we navigate and make meaning of change. Join us to inquire into the nature of change, the possibilities and challenges of change, and the ways that change will continue to be with us personally and congregationally. 

Words of Welcome- Julica Hermann de la Fuente (:30)

Story for All Ages- Suzy Messerole (2:37)

Interlude - Building a New Way- Aimee K. Bryant and Franco Holder (9:00)

Prayer and Cycle of Life- Julica Hermann de la Fuente (11:28)

Message- Harnessing (and Being Harnessed by) Change- Julica Hermann de la Fuente (16:03)

Outro Music- I Am Willing by Holly Near

 

July 25, 2021- What Kind of Humanist Are You?- A Colored Kid's Journey- Rev. Karen Hutt

This Sunday, Rev. Karen shares her humanist journey from Yankee Stadium to the Rift Valley in East Africa. We will also explore opportunities for Unitarian Universalism and humanism in the coming years as we reflect on our 5th Source.

Words of Welcome- Julica Hermann de la Fuente (:19)

Wisdom Story- Anansi- Sue Searing (4:38)

Interlude- We Shall Be Known- Seth Anderson-Matz (10:31)

Prayer and Cycle of Life- Julica Hermann de la Fuente (12:43)

Message- What Kind of Humanist Are You?: A Colored Kid's Journey- Rev. Karen Hutt (18:23)

Outro Music- Lean On Me, by Bill Withers- Aimee K. Bryant and Franco Holder

July 18, 2021- A Prophetic Encounter: Have You Had One Lately? - Rev. Karen Hutt

Prophets are often treated like icons. How many prophetic people can you rattle off the names of? What characteristics do they display? Our 2nd Source as UU’s provides us with some interesting human centered guidance, if we parse the words enough and dive deeply. This Sunday, we continue to learn how to walk the walk that we talk of so much.

Words of Welcome- Julica Hermann de la Fuente (:30)

Wisdom Tale- The Emperor's New Clothes- Aimee K. Bryant (3:30)

Interlude- Shine On Me, by Melanie DeMore (11:16)

Prayer and Cycle of Life- Julica Hermann de la Fuente (14:50)

Sermon- A Prophetic Encounter: Have You Had One Lately?- Rev. Karen Hutt (20:23)

Outro music- Show Up, by Joe Davis

July 11, 2021- Cinnamon Sticks and God- Jill Braithwaite

Radical acceptance, as defined by Buddhist teacher Tara Brach, is the spiritual practice of accepting reality exactly as it is, without trying to control or judge or pull away. When we’re feeling stuck and unable to make a change, radical acceptance can help us move forward. Join Jill Braithwaite for a reflection on what can happen when we step into radical acceptance and let go.

Jill Braithwaite has been a member of First Universalist Church since 2004. She has an M.A. in theology and the arts from United Theological Seminary and is currently studying there in the Master of Divinity program with a concentration in UU Studies.

Words of Welcome- Rev. Arif Mamdani (:20)

Story for All Ages- Rev. Arif Mamdani (3:56)

Prayer and Cycle of Life- Rev. Arif Mamdani (8:41)

Message- Cinnamon Sticks and God- Jill Braithwaite (13:49)

Outro music- We Are Building a New Way - Aimee K. Bryant

July 4, 2021- Owning Our Stories- Rev. Jen Crow

Whole-hearted spiritual living invites us to learn how to tell our stories with honesty, humility and care - celebrating our learning and joy while simultaneously acknowledging the places we still need to grow. This Sunday we'll explore how we might own the fullness of our stories as individuals and as a nation. 

Prelude- Aimee K. Bryant (:30)

Words of Welcome- Rev. Jen Crow (2:28)

Story for All Ages- Rev. Arif Mamdani (7:15)

Music- A Change is Gonna Come by Sam Cook- Aimee K. Bryant (12:51)

Reading- Let America Be America Again by Langston Hughes- Yahanna, Aliana, Satya (15:44)

Musical Response- Lift Every Voice and Sing by James Weldon Johnson & J. Rosamond Johnson- Aimee K. Bryant (22:51)

Prayer and Cycle of Life- Julica Hermann de la Fuente (25:13)

Message- Owning Our Stories- Rev. Jen Crow (33:01)

Outro Music- Respect by Aretha Franklin - Aimee K. Bryant (49:16)

 

June 13, 2021- Making Room- Rev. Jen Crow

After over a year of being physically apart, this Sunday, June 13 marks our first time together in person and online as a church community when we gather at the Lake Harriet Bandshell and on zoom. How will it feel to be together in person? How will it feel to be online when others can gather face-to-face? What will it be like? As people of faith, we promise to pay attention, to be curious with ourselves and each other, and to make room for all of who we are and all of the feelings and experiences that arise. We’ve got this, together.

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

Prelude- How Can I Keep From Singing, First Universalist Choir, Dr. Randal Buikema conducting, Franco Holder on piano (6:09)

Story for All Ages- Just Ask by Sonia Sotomayor- Jill Braithwaite (10:56)

Reading- Spilling the Light by Rev. Theresa I. Soto- Jill Braithwaite (16:56)

Anthem- Love Is Love by Abbie Betinis- First Universalist Choir, Dr. Randal Buikema conducting, Franco Holder on piano (18:50)

Message- Making Room- Rev. Jen Crow (19:58)

Outro- Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield- Aimee K. Bryant and Franco Holder

 

June 6, 2021- The Stories We Tell- Rev. Jen Crow

This Sunday, we say a final Good Goodbye to Rev. Justin through story, song, ritual, and a message from Rev. Jen Crow. 

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

Story for All Ages- Rev. Arif Mamdani (5:22)

Prayer and Cycle of Life- Rev. Arif Mamdani (11:21)

Ritual of Relinquishment- Worship Leaders (18:52)

Message- The Stories We Tell, Rev. Jen Crow (24:09)

Outro Music- For Good by Stephen Schwartz- Franco Holder

May 30, 2021- Tending the Soil of Radical Imagination- Rev. Ashley Horan

Scholar Mariame Kaba reminds us that abolition is a “positive vision:” one that is fundamentally about building a world in which all people can be free and flourish. In this season of reckoning, as we commemorate the anniversary of George Floyd's murder and contemplate how we are called to build a world in which all of us are free, we will step into the practice of radical imagination together as we work to conceive of a world without policing and prisons, and with resources, accountability, and safety for all.

Words of Welcome- Julica Hermann de la Fuente (:30)

Story for All Ages-  Julica Hermann de la Fuente (4:35)

Hymn- Gather the Spirit- Aimee K. Bryant and Franco Holder (13:22)

Prayer and Cycle of Life- Julica Hermann de la Fuente (16:16)

Interude- from Imagine by John Lennon- David Lauth (22:05)

Message- Tending the Soil of Radical Imagination- Rev. Ashley Horan (22:57)

May 23, 2021- Youth Sunday

In our annual beloved Youth Sunday worship, our senior high youth offer a message, story and music to remind us to cross the thresholds in our lives with care, creativity and courage. This Sunday, May 23, the service includes a Bridging Ritual to honor our graduating seniors, marking the end of their time as First Universalist youth and welcoming them into young adulthood in our church. Youth Sunday is a moving expression of our vibrant multigenerational religious community that you won’t want to miss.

Words of Welcome- Julica Hermann de la Fuente (:28)

Story for All Ages- Sylvia (3:35)

Musical Offering- Wherever Is Your Heart by Brandi Carlile, Juliet and Theo (7:00)

Prayer and Cycle of Life- Julica Hermann de la Fuente (8:40)

Message- Liv (12:45)

Special Music- Swimming to the Other Side by Pat Humphries, David and Lisa Carnes (12:51)

Bridging Ritual- Lindsey Thomas, Lauren Wyeth, Emma Paskewitz (22:25)

Closing Words - Julica Hermann de la Fuente (27:52)