First Universalist Church of Minneapolis Sunday Service Podcast

This being human is not easy. Habits (good and bad) form. Thought patterns shape us. We neglect parts of ourselves and they drift away. Or, we wish certain parts of ourselves would drift away. We slip into autopilot. Later, pieces of ourselves drift back, tectonic plates of the spirit shift within, and we’re delighted to discover a new continent has emerged internally. Being human means we shift between loathing and loving the miracle that is our life, and the miracle that is this planet. How do we hold the beautiful mess of it all and say, “Here is where we are. Now is what we have. This is how we start”?

Call to Worship by Pamela Reed, Sermon by Rev. Justin Schroeder

Here in the middle of it all, we are called to do what we can with what we have, right where we are, to create the world we dream about. But the story does not start or end with us. Here in the middle, how can we know and do our particular part?

Call to Worship by Taylor Putz, Sermon by Rev. Jen Crow

Every time we gather for worship, we begin anew. We set intentions for the week and for our lives. We chart the course we hope to travel, as we become the people we long to be. During the week and during our lives, there is much that distracts, snags us, pulls us off course. Church and worship are a time to course correct.

On this intergenerational Water Communion/Homecoming Sunday, we gather and merge the Waters from sacred places, as we reconnect with the story and power of this life-sustaining and life-giving resource. We  begin a new church year together. We begin again in love.

Message for All Ages by Rev. Jen Crow, Homily by Rev. Justin Schroeder

What if we all spent some time listening to our neighbors who seem so different from us? The illusion that we are separate would disappear. There would be no us and them, there would be only us!

Call to Worship by Rev. Justin Schroeder; Sermon by Rolf Lowenberg-DeBoer, Executive Director of City House

In this season of returning and restarting, we affirm the boundless worth of each and every person, and encourage one another to act with courage and compassion. The multigenerational service offers children, youth, and adults of all ages the opportunity to reflect upon how we might carry the love of our church community and the tools of our faith with us wherever we go. Expect some fun and surprises!

Children and youth are invited to wear their school backpacks to church so that we can include them in the Backpack Blessing ritual.

Call to Worship by Lauren Wyeth, Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministries at First Universalist Church and sermon by Rev. Jen Crow.