First Universalist Church

Unitarian Universalism is rooted in the radical reformation of Christianity. Yet, many of us seem to squirm when we consider the historical constructs and events that undergird our faith. Some of us do so because we do not know— and others would prefer not to know— because they trigger emotions about how we have experienced Christianity. Let’s set the record straight about our history and explore what it means to be a UU in 2019 rooted in the Christianity of 1519. Call to Worship- Pastor Stephanie Vos (:31) UU Quotes- Rev. Karen Hutt & Pastor Stephanie Vos (8:55) Sermon- Rev. Karen Hutt (12:08)

“Faith development is all we do. Unitarian Universalism is the faith we teach. The congregation is the curriculum.” Connie Goodbread is a credentialed religious educator who consults about healthy congregations and transformation for the Unitarian Universalist Association. Her words remind us that faith development is not just for children; in fact, it is a thread woven through all our activities. What are we teaching and what are we learning at church, on purpose and by accident? How might a focus on faith development help us manifest the sweetest, most dangerous promises of our UU faith? Call to Worship- (:30) Reading- It's Hard Work, Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt (3:57) Reading- Even This Is Enough, Vanessa Southern (5:17) Sermon- The Congregation is the Curriculum, Lauren Wyeth (7:43)    

A core spiritual practice at First Universalist is to “listen deeply to where love is calling us next.” Since early January, a group of congregants and ministers have been following this call, working toward sponsoring a detained (imprisoned) asylum seeker. Dozens of congregants are part of this effort, and at the end of May, a young, indigenous, Guatemalan woman arrived in Minneapolis, sponsored by congregants. This Sunday, we members of the core Asylum Support Team share reflections on this journey, describe how our faith calls us to this ministry, and invite congregants to support this effort in whatever ways they can. The service is in English and Spanish. Call to Worship: Laura Schlatter (:31) Reflection 1: Ron Schlatter (8:13) Reflection 2: Karen Heegard (14:41)

July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. We know that mental health conditions do not discriminate. Anyone can experience mental health challenges. Yet, background and identity often determine access and quality of care to mental health treatments. This week, Isha Caldwell (Navigator at Mental Health Connect), Daryn Woodson (Worship Associate), and Rev. Ruth MacKenzie lean into questions of stigma and access, cultural strengths and wisdom, and the call for transformation, to choose strength over silence, and love over fear. Call to Worship- Daryn Woodson (:28) Reflection- Isha Caldwell (4:51) Reflection- Rev. Ruth MacKenzie (15:21)

Executive Director of Black Lives of UU and First Universalist member, Lena K. Gardner, will be exploring the importance of a grounded, principled understanding of “yes, and…” that doesn’t eschew responsible action in the world for tepid inaction or hollow half-steps under the guise of thoughtfulness and embracing “all sides”. We will explore what a principled “yes, and” could mean in the midst of power structures that define all aspects of our lives even how we think about ourselves, our bodies, our children and the circumstances of our lives. If you have heard Lena Gardner preach before, you know she will raise many questions and offer sustenance for spiritual deepening. Lena states: “I do believe that in seeking together — the responsible search for truth and meaning — we find paths that bring us closer to love and justice, rather than comfortably embracing the ways of the world that are marred by injustice, greed, and racialized inequality.” Call to Worship- Rev. Karen Hutt (:29) Sermon - Lena K. Gardner

On May 12, in her sermon, “Our First Sound,” Rev. Karen Hutt reflected on the complicated, lovely, weird, fun, scary, and joyous relationships we have with our mothers, and all of the nuance that exists around Mother’s Day. This Sunday, Rev. Hutt and Rev. Schroeder, along with several congregants, reflect on what it means to be a father, what it means to be a father in this #MeToo era, what it means to be a “white father,” or a “father of color,” and more. Finally, they reflect on the spiritual dimension of fathering.  Call to Worship: Keven Ambrus (:30) Reflection 1: Drew Rosielle (4:38) Reflection 2: Andrew Tralle (9:49) Reflection 3: Rev. Justin Schroeder (14:33) Reflection 4: Rev. Karen Hutt (17:30)

Jaylani Hussein, the Executive Director of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN), speaks about true American community. How will we live out Dr.King's dream? Mr. Hussein suggests four things we can do.  Call to Worship: Rev. Justin Schroder (:30) Sermon: Jaylani Hussein (1:33)

Flower Communion is an early-summer tradition of Unitarians and Universalists. The ritual is a metaphor for the diversity, connectedness, and beauty of our community. In this service, the First U congregation honored the participation, learning, and work of the many leaders, teachers, facilitators, planners, and more through this celebration of giving and receiving blessings. Call to Worship: Rev. Karen Hutt Wisdom Story: Rev. Justin Schroeder  

The poet Wendell Berry writes, “Any man’s [person’s] death could end the story: his [their] mourners having accompanied him to the grave through all he knew, turn back, leaving him complete. But this is not the story of life. It is the story of lives, knit together, overlapping in succession.” This Memorial Sunday, we remember the history of Memorial Day and those who have served in this knitting together of lives. Call to Worship: Drew Rosielle Sermon: Rev. Ruth MacKenzie

On this updated version of our May 12th Mother's Day Service, hear credos from First Universalist's Coming of Age Class of 2019.  Credo Intro by Rev. Ruth MacKenzie-  :30 Credos- 2:25-14:16 Sermon, "Our First Sound" - 14:20

It starts early and remains complicated, lovely, weird, fun, scary and joyous. Our relationships with our mothers are at the root of our lives and they can not be ignored or celebrated lightly. Sermon: Rev. Karen Hutt

Rev. Justin writes: Nearly 10 years ago, I preached a sermon on an episode of the show “Lost.” The title of the Sermon was “The Constant.” I was reminded of this sermon in a conversation with a congregant two weeks ago. It had stuck with him all these years. I soon as he mentioned it, I also remembered the sermon, and thought, “as we begin our May exploration of ‘Thresholds’, let’s explore what, if anything, remains as we cross the thresholds in our lives — from student to graduate, from single to married, from married to single, from well to ill, whatever it might be. Is there anything that remains constant in those threshold moments — those moments marked by a ‘before’ and an ‘after?'” Wisdom Story: Rev. Jen Crow (:30) Sermon: Rev. Justin Schroeder (5:49)

First Universalist Choir sings Mozart’s Requiem, a piece shrouded in mystery. Commissioned by a (then unidentified) stranger, possibly written for his own funeral, and eventually completed by Mozart’s student, the work is just as intriguing as its story. This podcast includes First Universalist Choir & Orchestra performing Mozart’s Requiem and Rev. Jen Crow’s sermon, “Ours to Complete.” Please see the Order of Service to follow along and to see the list of those performing. Call to Worship - :32 Intro, Krie, Dies Irae - 4:35 Rex Tremendae - 13:44 "Ours to Complete, pt. 1" - 15:48 Confutatis, Lacrimosa - 20:44 "Ours to Complete, pt. 2" - 25:55 Agnus Dei, Lux aeterna - 31:24  

So often we are so tied up in knots by our fears, our heartache, and our attachments to certain ways of doing things that we don’t recognize the promise of transformation that is right in front of us. The invitation into new life doesn’t match the story line we are looping over and over again in our head. The religious life asks us to move deeper and wider than the repeated story line of either/or, good or bad, in or out. Buddhist nun Pema Chödrön says: “Feel the feelings, drop the story line.” How might this spiritual practice resurrect our lives? How might we open ourselves to the unexpected bits of grace that intersect with our lives everyday? How are we called to rise up? Worship Associate: Daryn Woodson Message for All Ages: Road to Emmaus; Luke 24:13-33, adapted by Ruth MacKenzie Sermon: Rev. Ruth MacKenzie

Joining Rev. Justin in the service will be the LaPointe family, a Lakota family that First Universalist has been in relationship with for a number of years. The LaPointe Family shares some reflections on the importance of relationship in organizing, the Earth, and spirituality. Then, Rev. Justin weaves a homily with the themes of the LaPoint family's work. What if the question is not “what do we do?” in the face of climate change, but “who are we in relationship with?” and “how can those relationships deepen?”    Call to Worship: Thorne LaPoint Reflections: The LaPointe Family Sermon: Rev. Justin Schroeder Piano Music: Franco Holder

Our promises transform us. Being unwavering in our commitment may feel static, but it will shape us. Transformation will happen. – The Third Body, by Robert Bly. Wisdom Story: Life Itself, by Rev. Kristin Maier; read by Lauren Wyeth Sermon: Rev. Elaine Aron Tenbrink  

Me'Lea Connelly has a compelling spiritual, moral, and economic vision for a black-owned credit union in North Minneapolis. Learn more about how this vision came to be and how we can support it. Call to Worship: Rev. Justin Schroeder Sermon: Guest Speaker, Me'Lea Connelly

Unitarian Universalists are being called in this moment to live more powerfully and boldly into a vision of Beloved Community. What does this look like and how do we answer “Yes” to this calling in our lives and in our congregations? Call to Worship: Rev. Jen Crow Sermon: Guest Minister & UUA President, Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray

What if sacrifice is more than a matter of giving something up? What if sacrifice moves us closer to what is essential, to what is holy and whole? What if in the act of sacrifice we move into the great exchange, where giving becomes receiving and offering transforms into blessing? What if the dynamics of sacrifice mean staying close to what is relevant — the “real” of reality? What if we quit paging through holy books and asked the trees to school us in the sacred work of community and sacrifice? Worship Associate: Leila Ambrus Sermon: Rev. Ruth MacKenzie Music: Free Music Archive

Sacrifice is an evocative word. We have immediate images when we hear the word. What role has sacrifice played in creating value? What does sacrifice in our culture teach us about agency and destruction? How do we challenge the the doctrine of American sacrifice as people of faith? Worship Associate: Taylor Putz Sermon: Rev. Karen Hutt Piano music: Franco Holder