First Universalist Church of Minneapolis Sunday Service Podcast

October 18, 2020- Magnitude and Bond, Arif Mamdani

The poet Gwendolyn Brooks, in a poem and tribute to Paul Robeson writes “…we are each other’s harvest/ We are each other’s business/ We are each other’s magnitude and bond.” These lines reflect one way we might understand what we’re driving at at church when we talk about being a community of communities. This Sunday, Aimee Bryant, Arif Mamdani, and Lauren Wyeth weave together music, story, and prayer and in the process endeavor to lift up some ways we might enter into all this: these words from Gwendolyn Brooks, the invitation of community, and a heart’s yearning to be known and beloved.

 

Wisdom Story- Lauren Wyeth (:29)

Hymn- Aimee K. Bryant and Franco Holder (5:08)

Sermon- Arif Mamdani (6:30)

 

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)

October 4, 2020- Celebrating 250 Years of Universalism

Although the focus of Universalism has shifted over the years – today’s Universalists are far less focused on Universal salvation and everyone going to Heaven than our forebears were – the essential message of Universalism (there is something of value in every human being; or said another way, there are no fundamentally bad people, only bad and deeply harmful behaviors) remains a challenging, potent, and powerful roadmap for building the Beloved Community here on earth. Universalism is no easy faith. It demands we do away with either/or, right/wrong, good/bad thinking, and hold a more honest and nuanced understanding of what it means to be human, and how love can shape and change us. It calls us into the difficult, uncomfortable work of loving the hell out of ourselves, our communities, and ultimately, the world.

Story for All Ages- Aimee K. Bryant (:20)

Sermon- Rev. Justin Schroeder (5:46)

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 20, 2020 - Building Connection, Strengthening Hope - Julica Hermann de la Fuente

From Julica Hermann de la Fuente:
Dear First U, This first month and a half of my time with you has been a lovely time of connecting and deepening trust. Thank you for welcoming me so warmly, for trusting me to go deep quickly, for your willingness and desire to engage in anti-racism work in the many areas of our congregation. Please join me this coming Sunday morning for a couple of stories about imagination and hope that I hope will nourish you in these difficult times, and also give you a window into what moves me and sustains me in my work. Bonus for the crafters among us: the story of how I constructed the tree in my office! 

 

Story for All Ages - Interview with Rev. Jen and Julica (:29)

Sermon- Julica Hermann de la Fuente (8:00)

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 30, 2020- The Ugly Cry - Rev. Karen Hutt

The service includes a story for all ages, music from the First Universalist Choir, and a sermon from Rev. Karen Hutt. We continue to explore our summer worship theme, “Here We Are.”

Wisdom Story- The Water Bearer- Seth Matz (:20)

Anthem- Shenandoah - First Universalist Choir (4:21)

Sermon- The Ugly Cry- Rev. Karen Hutt (8:11)

August 23, 2020- New Beginnings Ritual

 On Sunday morning, August 23, we celebrated our annual back-to-school ritual (formerly known as Backpack Blessing) in a new way for new times.

 

Song- Seth Matz (:22)

Wisdom Story- Aimee K. Bryant (2:49)

Song- Count on Me by Bruno Mars, First Universalist Choir (11:25)

Sermon-Rev. Jen Crow (14:43)

Back-to-School Blessing- Ministers and Staff (30:36)

Song- Go On Your Way in Peace, First U Summer Campers (32:57)

August 16, 2020- Radical Imagination - Bryana French and Rev. Justin Schroeder

As author and activist adrienne marie brown writes, “We are in an imagination battle.” It’s true; imagination creates racial hierarchies, creates borders, creates supremacy thinking, creates oppression. As adrienne marie brown says, “I often feel I am trapped inside someone’ else’s imagination, and I must engage my own imagination in order to break free.”

 

Whose imaginations are we trapped in? Who are we trapping by our imaginations? And what does it look like to break free? Though story, spoken word, music and message, we explore what radical imagination might unlock in the world around us.

 

Wisdom Story- Julica Hermann de la Fuente (:31)

 

Poem- H. Adam Harris (8:06)

 

Sermon- Bryana French and Rev. Justin Schroeder (12:10)

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)