First Universalist Church

As a kid and now as a parent, the word “scooch” carries at least two meanings. It can mean scooch, as in move along and get out of here, and it can also mean scooch, as in scooch over and make room for whoever might be joining us. This Sunday, we’ll explore the spiritual practice of scooching over to make room as one way of embodying our Unitarian Universalist belief in the worth and dignity of every person. Music for Gathering- We Are Creators- Paolo Dubuque (:26) Call to Worship and Welcome- Katherine Harrell- (6:38) Singing Together- We All Do Better- Paolo Dubuque (17:21) Time for All Ages- Rev. Jen Crow- (21:01) Prayer and Cycle of Life- Rev. Ashley Harness (25:51) Practice of Giving and Receiving- Rev. Ashley Harness (32:10) Offertory- Give Yourself to Love by Kate Wolf - Paolo Dubuque (35:26) Poem- by Joy Harjo- Rev. Jen Crow (39:37) Message- Scooching Over- Rev. Jen Crow (42:06) Singing Together- Love Will Guide Us (1:02:31) Benediction- Rev. Jen Crow (1:04:36)  

"The world begins at a kitchen table. No matter what, we must eat to live."  - Joy Harjo Our spiritual gathering - much like a meal at a table, nourishes us, but also requires our participation. How does this 'meal' feed us and what does it ask of us in return? There might be instances that provoke us to consider leaving this 'table'. Yet, when should such a step become the necessary course? Addressing our relevance in the contemporary world, why do we choose to belong to the church today? And how do we ready ourselves and our community for the church love calls us now to become? What do we do with our own resistance? Our journey is about growing faith into real resilience, cultivating the skills we need to navigate challenging exchanges and open ourselves to evolving perspectives. In worship this Sunday, we connect with our spiritual community to mutually nourish and learn from one another, to remember why we’re here, to gather the tools we need for a future arriving already and always. We warmly invite you

In a dynamic, multi-generational community, wisdom flows in every direction, reminding us to value the experiences of others to gain a broader understanding of life. It is important to break free from the belief that only older people have wisdom, as this limits our personal growth and potential.  Recently, our youth returned from a trip to Boston, a city rich in Unitarian Universalism history, and their fresh perspectives and thought-provoking questions are reshaping our understanding of our common faith. Through their encounters with our traditions, legends, and seminarians, their connection to our faith and our spiritual community deepens. Their reflections are sure to have a profound impact on your journey, too.  Opening Hymn- Centering Prayer by The Porter's Gate- Allison Connelly-Vetter (:32) Call to Worship and Welcome- Nancy Nyquist Potter (5:34) Boston Pilgrimage Introduction- Rev. Arif Mamdani (15:18) Land Acknowledgement- Rev. Jen Crow (18:28) Hymn- Lean On Me by Bill Withers- Ani Peichel and Dr. G

Each week we sing, “Where you go I will go, Beloved” to end our worship service and send each other back into the world remembering we do not go alone. This week we’ll dig a little deeper into that song: how do we actually travel with each other as Beloveds and make real the idea that “your people are my people?" In this multigenerational service, we’ll experiment with building a spiritual practice of solidarity that begins with listening to our own bodies’ stories and moves outward playfully and meaningfully into family, church and wider and wider circles of community. Opening Hymn- I'm On My Way - Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout and Barbara B., piano Call to Worship- Emberly Herman-Johnson (4:29) Singing Together- There Is a Love- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout and Barbara B., piano (11:38) Wisdom Story- Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney (15:12) Prayer and Settling into Our Bodies- Rev. Ashley Harness (18:49) Sharing and Perspective Taking Practice/Message- Rev. Ashley Harness (24:48) Singing Together- Where You Go,

Our mental well-being is deeply linked with the relationships we cultivate and the social networks we are part of. By learning to understand and nurture each other in deeper ways, we can gain insight into our own mental health and well-being. Just like our Earth thrives on diversity, so do we. The diversity of our connections and experiences make us stronger. However, to tap into this strength, we need to be open to giving and receiving wisdom, even when it's uncomfortable or challenging.  Along this enlightening journey to worship and wisdom, we will also create a simple ritual of candlelight–a time to honor our individual and collective mental health journeys, to learn and remember that we can navigate these journeys together, as a community.  There is space for hope if we break down the walls of communication and stigma that often separate us. This service promises to be a thought-provoking exploration of how we are part of each other's health, and an invitation to the heart to honor the many truths of eac

A single cylinder of interlaced bamboo strips seems delicate around two pointers–at least at first. But soon, they’ll want out. Without thinking, the digits back away from their closeness and find themselves stuck in place. Neither force nor frenzy will help; not twisting, not waiting, not pulling apart. The mind will need to calm to think of something beyond what’s worked before. The hands will need a wiser, more elegant idea to get free from the finger trap. Hubris would teach us to limit our trust to the ideas we already know. Panic for the problems around us will tighten our grip on what’s familiar. Living from fear for the future will only make it harder to remember the wisdom in the generations. To make space for what we’ve not imagined, we’ll need to release some of what we have. To get free will mean to decenter a lot of what we think we can control, what’s common, what’s cozy, what’s currently clear. To grasp what love needs from us now, how can we relieve the tensions which trap us? To get to freedo

The experience of being welcomed with open arms can change us, rooting us in communities of care that transform individuals and society. Practicing this kind of love requires a tough mind and a tender heart, Dr. Martin Luther King once wrote, urging us to develop the characteristics that can ground us in transformative love. Opening Hymn- My Life Flows On In Endless Song (:25) Call to Worship & Words of Welcome- Nanette Stearns (6:43) Singing Together- Lone Wolf- Shelley Des Islets and Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (12:59) Time for All Ages- Allison Connelly-Vetter (20:48) Prayer & Cycle of Life- Rev. Ashley Harness (28:44) Practice of Giving and Receiving - Rev. Jen Crow (36:42) Offertory- Paolo Dubuque (38:21) Reading- from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (41:34) Singing Prayer- Standing Stone - Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (45:23) Message- Tough Love- Rev. Jen Crow (47:39) Singing Together & Benediction (1:06:31)

Spiders catch water from thin air and store it in the web. There’s no need to go and find it; they are quenched simply by the water the web holds. Spiders build webs to pull raindrops in toward the center which, in turn, make more room on the edges for new drops to arrive.  What if entering the beloved community were a continuing cycle of coming out from the rain, closer and closer to each other? And what if welcoming those on the edges were the action at our core?  Drops of water and wisdom await us on the web. The more we welcome well, the healthier we all are. What would it take to welcome all people? What would we have to lose? What’s not to gain? Call to Worship- Rev. Arif Mamdani (:42) Singing Together- Come, Come, Whoever You Are and Make Channels for the Streams of Love - Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (2:38) Lighting the Chalice (7:27) Singing Together- Hold Everybody Up! - Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (12:17) Time for All Ages and Blessing for RE- Rev. Jen Crow, Rev. Arif Mamdani (17:05) Prayer and Meditation-

Water Communion is a very special tradition we celebrate each year at First Universalist. All are welcome, whether it’s your first or fortieth time! Come and be a part of this joyous time where the waters mingle and set a new year of community on its way. Singing to Gather- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (:29) Words of Welcome- Rev. Jen Crow (7:11) Story for All Ages- Worship Leaders (14:26) Practice of Giving and Receiving- Allison Connelly and Rev. Arif Mamdani (24:20) Offertory- Peace Like a River (28:24) Prayer and Cycle of Life- Rev. Jen Crow (31:13) Water Communion Ritual- Worship Leaders (40:43) Singing Together and Benediction- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (1:03:46)  

“Let us measure success by how many of us can say: I am living a life I don’t regret. A life that will resonate with my ancestors…” -adrienne maree brown. This Sunday, we reflect on heavy suitcases, surprise turning points, and opening to welcome, even when the people are complicated and the path is unclear.   Singing to Gather- Enter, Rejoice, and Come In and Bright Morning Star- Matt Meyer (:27) Words of Welcome- Rev. Jen Crow (7:28) Reading- by adrienne maree brown - Matt Meyer (12:09) Singing Together- Wake Now My Senses- Matt Meyer (13:03) Story for All Ages- Redefining Success- Matt Meyer (17:06) Singing Together- Anthem, words by Leonard Cohen - Matt Meyer (24:37) Community Prayer- Rev. Arif Mamdani (28:24) Practice of Giving and Receiving- Rev. Arif Mamdani (35:37) Offertory- Not Heavy by Faya Ora Rose Toure- Matt Meyer (37:08) Reading- What You Missed That Day You Were Absent in Fourth Grade by Brad Aaron Modlin- Rev. Arif Mamdani (40:40) Homily- Lessons for Future Ancestors- Matt Meyer (44:04) Bened

As summer comes to an end, don’t miss our annual Backpack Blessing and worship service this Sunday, Aug. 27 at 10 a.m. The multigenerational service will offer 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. Singing to Gather- I'm On My Way (:31) Words of Welcome and Call to Worship- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (5:19) Singing Together- Oh We Give Thanks (10:33) Story for All Ages- The Invisible String by Patrice Karst- Allison Connelly-Vetter and Willa (12:08) Community Prayers - Rev. Ashley Harness (20:51) Homily- I Carry Your Heart- Rev. Jen Crow (27:34) Practice of Giving and Receiving- Rev. Ashley Harness (34:20) Backpack Blessing- Allison Connelly-Vetter and Rev. Jen Crow (37:46) Singing Together- You've Got a Light (44:53) Celebrating and Saying Goodbye to Franco- Rev. Jen Crow and Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (48:19) Singing Together- Where You Go I Will Go, Beloved by Shoshana Jedwab (

Rev. Ashley Horan, Aimee Bryant, and Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout lead worship with you at the bandshell at Lake Harriet. By the waters, we’ll embody the joy and talk the truths of willful change we can make to the ways we do community. We’ll live a little of love’s post-pandemic, not-far-along-enough-yet call. Truth be told, it has more to do with play and laughter and loving yourself than we’ve often understood. And the possibilities, when we’re willing to untether from the needful, are more wonderful even than we could have dreamed. Singing to Gather- Rev. Ashley Horan, Aimee Bryant, and Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (:30) Words of Welcome and Call to Worship- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (3:55) Singing Together- Morning Has Come (7:03) Poem- I Thank You God - e. e. cummings (8:07) Singing Together- Morning Has Come (10:23) Singing Together- Breathing In, Breathing Out (14:42) Reading- Building a Common Life by Elea Kemler- Allison Connelly-Vetter (22:39) Community Prayer- Rev. Ashley Horan (28:55) Practice of Giving and

We often exclaim church to each other as a place, a sanctuary, a place away from other places. Isn’t it at least as much a moment we make special together? A present-day prophet, the Black science fiction writer Octavia Butler describes “God is change.” How would your relationship with holy things shift if you were looking not for things that have become divine, but instead were on a hunt for the becoming itself in progress? Would that change what goodness you discovered in you? This Sunday, we explore the ways the divine expresses in units of time. Guided by the ancient Hebrew practice of sabbath-keeping, we reflect on the special moments of life that keep us in motion. And we ask ourselves and each other: What will stop to have time for what’s holy? What gets a no, so you can be present to what’s right in front of you? Music for Gathering- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout and Aimee K. Bryant (:29) Words of Welcome & Call to Worship- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (3:51) Story for All Ages- The Stuff of Stars by Marion

Shifted schedules, evening sunshine, produce that doesn’t fit anybody’s plan for the week, movies and music and sunsets that take our breath away and demand that we stop and pay attention. As summer stretches into August, the Big Questions call to us. ThisSunday, August 6, we ask: what are yours and ours, and how might we respond?   Singing to Gather- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (:32) Call to Worship- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (7:16) Story for All Ages- What the Road Said by Cleo Wade- Rev. Arif Mamdani (15:56) Singing Together- Blue Boat Home (23:51) Prayer and Cycle of Life- Rev. Arif Mamdani (27:05) Reading- The Path to the Milky Way Leads Through LA by Joy Harjo- Rev. Jen Crow (32:09) Message- Rev. Jen Crow (34:50) Offering- Rev. Jen Crow and Offertory- Franco Holder (54:33) Hymn- Wake Now My Senses (58:39) Benediction- Rev. Jen Crow (1:01:44)

Paolo Dubuque and Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout talk about re-imagining musical ensembles and using collaborative music to change the world. We make music together for a finale of sorts we’re calling We are the ones, after June Jordan’s famous end to her poem, “Poem for South African Women.” Together, we make music as a community (that’s right–the featured artist is you! But shhhhh…it’s a surprise.), and we explore the rich relationships and stories of American singing over centuries, across cultures. You’ll hear reflections on the Music Listening Session results. And we embrace the calling of this new day–for communities of justice to know the power of their own voice, and to build up beauty in the world starting from within. Music for Gathering- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout and Aimee K. Bryant (:28) Call to Worship- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (9:14) Words of Welcome- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (16:17) Singing Together- The Way Knows the Way- Shelley Des Islets and Dr. GTR (18:41) Singing Together- With You- Shelley Des Isle

Each Sunday in July, worship will feature artists and musicians sharing their craft and some reflections on how their art is connected to their spirituality. We continue this worship series with musician, composer, and First U Member, Ellis Delaney. Ellis is at once funny and wise, thoughtful and uninhibited, with a captivating voice that is matched by tender, sometimes funny, uplifting lyrics. Their music is transformational; leaving audiences feeling better, with softened edges & opened hearts. Music for Gathering and Words of Welome- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (:19) Story for All Ages- Dinosaur Air by Rev. Nancy Shaffer (24:21) Hymn- Building Bridges Between Our Divisions- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout and Aimee K. Bryant (26:15) Meditation, Prayer, and Cycle of Life- Rev. Ashley Harness (33:08) Message- "Art & Soul" with Ellis Delaney (39:44) Transition Music- Prelude in C- The Well-Tempered Clavier (1:14:23) "Art & Soul" with Ellis Delaney- Continued Conversation (1:18:55)

Each Sunday in July, worship will feature artists and musicians sharing their craft and some reflections on how their art is connected to their spirituality. We continue this worship series with two artists who meditate on rhythm, form, repetition, and healing in this world and in worlds beyond our initial perceptions: musician Davu Seru and sculptural basketweaver (and First U member) Martha Bird. Singing to Gather- Now Let Us Sing- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Aimee K. Bryant (:28) Call to Worship- The Larger Circle by Wendell Berry- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (8:27) Poem and Prayer- Bring Your Broken Hallelujah by Theresa I. Soto- Rev. Ashley Harness (14:56) Message- Art & Soul with Martha Bird (19:59) Practice of Generosity- Rev. Ashley Harness (42:25) Offertory- Aimee K. Bryant and Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (44:27) Message- Art & Soul with Davu Seru (46:47) Benediction- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (1:13:06)  

Each Sunday in July, worship will feature a different local musician sharing their music and some reflections on how their art is connected to their spirituality. Dean Magraw is a consummate guitarist, playing with wit and soulful abandon. A performer like no other, he is part-comedian, part-philosopher and all-around musical genius. This past Sunday, he and Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout talked poetry, impressionists, and John Coltrane. * Please note significant cuts and edits have been made due to poor original sound quality. Opening Hymn- How Can I Keep from Singing? (:24) Words of Welcome- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (3:48) Poem- Monet Refuses the Operation by Liesel Mueller (10:30) Prayer and Cycle of Life- Rev. Ashley Harness (13:39) Practice of Giving and Receiving- Rev. Ashley Harness (18:54) Offertory- Dean Magraw (22:38) Message- Art and Soul: Music and Conversations with Dean Magraw (23:09) Benediction- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (48:51)

Each Sunday in July will feature a different local musician sharing their music and reflection on how their art connected to their spirituality. Sunday, July 2, we begin our July worship series with our own vocalist in residence, Aimee K. Bryant. Worship led by Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Aimee K. Bryant, and Sally Reynolds on piano Singing to Gather (:26) Words of Welcome (4:49) Time for All Ages (13:23) Singing Together- Just As Long As I Have Breath (19:26) Prayer, Poetry, Silence (21:44) Practice of Giving and Receiving (32:16) Offertory- Open the Window, Children (36:10) Message- Art and Soul: Song and Conversation with Aimee K. Bryant (40:13) Benediction and Singing- Where You Go, I Will Go, Beloved (1:13:55)  

On and on, the circle of love, welcome, learning and inclusion expands. What spiritual practices, orientations of the heart, imagination and shared work is needed if we are to move with and continue to stretch that circle? This Sunday, June 18, Lauren Wyeth, Director of Spiritual Growth for All Ages, shares stories and reflections on her learning, and her charge, for us as she prepares to depart.  Singing to Gather- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (:31) Call to Worship- Rev. Jen Crow (10:06) Time for All Ages- Aimee K. Bryant (16:41) Prayer, Silence, Song- Rev. Arif Mamdani, Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (23:24) Practice of Generosity- Rev. Arif Mamdani (33:31) Offertory- Franco Holder, piano (34:52) Preparing for the Message- Franco Holder, piano (37:24) Message- Freedom to Move- Lauren Wyeth (40:55) Hymn- Make Channels for the Streams of Love (1:03:53) Parting Blessing- Rev. Jen Crow (1:05:38) Music for Going- Where You Go, I Will Go, Beloved by Shoshana Jedwab