First Universalist Church of Minneapolis Sunday Service Podcast

In these tender times, we turn to our communities to help us hold it all. This Sunday, Lena K. Gardner, Executive Director of Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU), joins Rev. Jen Crow in leading our service as we practice being and building the world we dream about.

Calling Our Ancestors- Rev. Jen Crow (:20)

Hymn- Lift Every Voice and Sing- Aimee K. Bryant, Franco Holder (7:06)

Prayers and Cycle of Life- Rev. Jen Crow (8:52)

Message- Community That Holds it All- Lena K. Gardner (20:13)

Holiday Giving- Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism

As we turn into the longest nights of the year, what commitments will shine like stars, helping us navigate through these troubling times? What if we aimed to keep our hearts soft, our hands open, and our boundaries clear? Together we’ll explore how these ways of being might help us live in alignment with our Universalist faith in the spirit of love and hope.

Welcome- Rev. Jen Crow (:30)

Story for All Ages- Lauren Wyeth (8:35)

Anthem- A Christmas Round by John Tavener- First Universalist Choir, Dr. Randal Buikema, conductor (12:49)

Prayer and Cycle of Life- Rev. Karen Hutt (14:42)

Message- Soft Heart, Open Hands, Clear Boundaries- Rev. Jen Crow (20:57)

piano throughout- Franco Holder

As we turn into the longest nights of the year, what commitments will shine like stars, helping us navigate through these troubling times? What if we aimed to keep our hearts soft, our hands open, and our boundaries clear? Together we’ll explore how these ways of being might help us live in alignment with our Universalist faith in the spirit of love and hope.

Welcome- Rev. Jen Crow (:30)

Story for All Ages- Lauren Wyeth (8:35)

Anthem- A Christmas Round by John Tavener- First Universalist Choir, Dr. Randal Buikema, conductor (12:49)

Prayer and Cycle of Life- Rev. Karen Hutt (14:42)

Message- Soft Heart, Open Hands, Clear Boundaries- Rev. Jen Crow (20:57)

piano throughout- Franco Holder

Rev. Jen Crow, Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Isabel Quast, Franco Holder and Aimee K. Bryant lead an intergenerational service of story and song as we invite each other into the spiritual practices of giving and receiving and growing. Come find out more about Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism and our annual Holiday Giving project, and leave lifted up by our collective power that comes together when each of us shares what we can.

Humming Meditation- Aimee K. Bryant (:27)

Words of Welcome- Rev. Jen Crow (9:48)

Music- Wake Now My Vision- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Aimee K. Bryant, Franco Holder (18:17)

Story for All Ages and Calling our Ancestors- Rev. Jen Crow (20:12)

Music- Wake Now My Vision- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Aimee K. Bryant, Franco Holder (28:45)

Meditation and Cycle of Life- Rev. Jen Crow (30:16)

Message- Giving, Receiving, as Love Shows Us How- Rev. Jen Crow and Isabel Quast

Outro Music- Aimee K. Bryant and Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout

Rev. Jen Crow, Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Isabel Quast, Franco Holder and Aimee K. Bryant lead an intergenerational service of story and song as we invite each other into the spiritual practices of giving and receiving and growing. Come find out more about Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism and our annual Holiday Giving project, and leave lifted up by our collective power that comes together when each of us shares what we can.

Humming Meditation- Aimee K. Bryant (:27)

Words of Welcome- Rev. Jen Crow (9:48)

Music- Wake Now My Vision- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Aimee K. Bryant, Franco Holder (18:17)

Story for All Ages and Calling our Ancestors- Rev. Jen Crow (20:12)

Music- Wake Now My Vision- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Aimee K. Bryant, Franco Holder (28:45)

Meditation and Cycle of Life- Rev. Jen Crow (30:16)

Message- Giving, Receiving, as Love Shows Us How- Rev. Jen Crow and Isabel Quast

Outro Music- Aimee K. Bryant and Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout

We celebrate the miracle that is at the center of the larger cycle of life. We welcome and name and dedicate ourselves to the care of nine children in our Child Dedication Ritual – and as we bear sacred witness to these unfolding lives, it is our hope we will see ourselves and each other anew. Each of us born whole and holy and worthy. Each of us important and ordinary and unique. Each of us in need of the larger community of this earth and this church to hold us in rhythm, each with the other.

Words of Welcome- Rev. Karen Hutt (:20)

Story for All Ages- Lauren Wyeth (7:27)

Calling Our Ancestors- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (13:23)

Child Dedication Ceremony- Lauren Wyeth and Rev. Karen Hutt (16:52)

Prayer and Cycle of Life- Rev. Jen Crow (22:25)

Anthem- Children Will Listen by Stephen Sondheim, arr. Brymer, First Universalist Choir, Franco Holder, piano, Dr. Randal Buikema, conductor (28:23)

Message- Rev. Jen Crow (31:52)

We celebrate the miracle that is at the center of the larger cycle of life. We welcome and name and dedicate ourselves to the care of nine children in our Child Dedication Ritual – and as we bear sacred witness to these unfolding lives, it is our hope we will see ourselves and each other anew. Each of us born whole and holy and worthy. Each of us important and ordinary and unique. Each of us in need of the larger community of this earth and this church to hold us in rhythm, each with the other.

Words of Welcome- Rev. Karen Hutt (:20)

Story for All Ages- Lauren Wyeth (7:27)

Calling Our Ancestors- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (13:23)

Child Dedication Ceremony- Lauren Wyeth and Rev. Karen Hutt (16:52)

Prayer and Cycle of Life- Rev. Jen Crow (22:25)

Anthem- Children Will Listen by Stephen Sondheim, arr. Brymer, First Universalist Choir, Franco Holder, piano, Dr. Randal Buikema, conductor (28:23)

Message- Rev. Jen Crow (31:52)

This Sunday, November 14, we welcome new members into our company. Our new members will be formally welcomed during our second service while our first will offer a renewal of membership and a blessing to those joining. **Both ceremonies are included on the podcast** Whichever service you attend, we invite you to “re-member” what it means to cast our lot with this congregation, day after day, week after week, as we affirm again the threads of connection that bind us to those who came before, and make and remake our faith for the world that is coming.

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

Calling the Ancestors- Julica Hermann de la Fuente and Rev. Arif Mamdani (3:06)

Story for All Ages- The Perfect Club- Julica Hermann de la Fuente (7:58)

Meditation Practice and Cycle of Life- Rev. Arif Mamdani (14:46)

Renewal of Membership Ceremony (9 a.m. service)- Liz Farmer, Daryn Woodson, Rev. Arif Mamdani (23:32)

New Member Ceremony (11 a.m. service) - Daryn Woodson, Rev. Arif Mamdani, Liz Farmer (34:53)

Message- Rev. Arif Mamdani (43:29)

This Sunday, November 14, we welcome new members into our company. Our new members will be formally welcomed during our second service while our first will offer a renewal of membership and a blessing to those joining. **Both ceremonies are included on the podcast** Whichever service you attend, we invite you to “re-member” what it means to cast our lot with this congregation, day after day, week after week, as we affirm again the threads of connection that bind us to those who came before, and make and remake our faith for the world that is coming.

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

Calling the Ancestors- Julica Hermann de la Fuente and Rev. Arif Mamdani (3:06)

Story for All Ages- The Perfect Club- Julica Hermann de la Fuente (7:58)

Meditation Practice and Cycle of Life- Rev. Arif Mamdani (14:46)

Renewal of Membership Ceremony (9 a.m. service)- Liz Farmer, Daryn Woodson, Rev. Arif Mamdani (23:32)

New Member Ceremony (11 a.m. service) - Daryn Woodson, Rev. Arif Mamdani, Liz Farmer (34:53)

Message- Rev. Arif Mamdani (43:29)

We continue to build a new way of being together as a church community. The choir will sing – with some guest appearances you won’t want to miss; children and youth will be with us and we’ll share in a story for all; we’ll join in meditation and prayer and care, and we’ll ask each other – Can you feel a brand new day? Is today a day when you can feel it? Is today a day when you feel something else – worry or fear or sadness or grief? Is today a day the community can hold the hope of a brand new day with and for you? Does this day – like all days – hold it all?

Words of Welcome- Rev. Karen Hutt (:28)

Calling Our Ancestors- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (4:38)

Anthem- Everybody Rejoice from “The Wiz” by Luther Vandross (arr. Pete Eklund) - First Universalist Choir and Band, Dr. Randal Buikema, conductor (12:06)

Story for All Ages- Where Are You From?- Lauren Wyeth and Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (16:38)

Meditation and Cycle of Life- Rev. Jen Crow (22:20)

Message- Building a New Way- Rev. Jen Crow (33:50)

Music for Going- Sing Out, My Soul by Marques L. A. Garrett- First Universalist Choir and Band, Dr. Randal Buikema, conductor (46:15)