First Universalist Church of Minneapolis Sunday Service Podcast First Universalist Church

This Sunday, First Universalist joyfully celebrates New Member Sunday, a testament to our community’s growth and resilience. Worship Leaders will guide us through a reflective conversation on the essence of openness. They invite us to examine how vulnerability, grace, and kindness are more than spiritual practices—they are vital for deepening our communal bonds. This service challenges us to dismantle the barriers that often lead to isolation, making every interaction a profound connection. As we celebrate this enriching occasion, reflect on your journey: What is your next step toward deeper engagement in our community? Join us for a transformative experience.
Worship Leaders: Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Meleah Houseknecht, Rev. Jen Crow, Liz Farmer, Matt Keller
Opening Hymn- Building Bridges (:27)
Call to Worship and Words of Welcome (4:37)
Wisdom Story (10:39)
Singing Together- Come and Go With Me (20:14)
New Member Welcome Ritual (21:41)
Prayers and Cycle of Life (28:50)
Practice of Giving and Receiving (37:17)
Offertory- If You're Out There by John Legend (43:07)
Reading- Safety Net by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer (46:06)
Anthem- Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand) by Diana Ross (47:18)
Message- A Community of Practice (49:35)
Closing Song- Love Will Guide Us (1:08:06)
Benediction (1:10:00)

This Sunday, we kick off a four-week Season of Gratitude, and immerse ourselves in the rich languages of love and gratitude. We warmly invite everyone to join us as we explore how these sincere expressions deepen our bonds and strengthen the fabric of our community. It’s an ideal moment to celebrate the diverse ways we can express our appreciation for each other’s efforts within our beloved community.
Worship Leaders: Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, Rev. Ashley Harness, Rev. Arif Mamdani
Singing to Gather- Morning Has Come (:18)
Call to Worship and Welcome (1:44)
Singing Together- Oh, We Give Thanks (12:15)
Community Prayer (13:23)
Stewardship Update (20:18)
Celebrating Volunteers (27:46)
Offering and Offertory (32:35)
Readings- from All About Love by bell hooks and What is Love? by Haddaway (36:23)
Message- Count the Ways (38:14)
Singing- Make Channels for the Streams of Love (54:29)
Benediction (56:08)

On Earth Day, we come together for a service developed in collaboration with our Environmental Justice Team. This day, we reaffirm our sacred bond with the Earth, confronting the environmental crisis with courage, creativity, and collective action. Stories of resilience from communities around the globe will guide us in redefining our relationship with the planet. This service is an invitation to reflect and find inspiration, a calling to realize our commitment to respectful relationship with the natural world. As one, we forge a path forward to notice our role in the delicate balance of life. Together, we honor our responsibility to shape a legacy of hope and healing for future generations.
Opening Hymn- Love's In Need of Love Today by Stevie Wonder- Paolo Debuque and Choir (:25)
Call to Worship- Nancy Potter (6:10)
Words of Welcome- Cathy Geist (11:43)
Time for All Ages- Rev. Arif Mamdani (17:30)
Singing Together- Come and Go With Me- Paolo Debuque (25:05)
Invitation to Conversation- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (26:53)
Prayer and Meditation- Rev. Arif Mamdani (32:15)
Practice of Giving and Receiving- Rev. Jen Crow (38:55)
Reading from A Life on Our Planet by David Attenborough- Stan Sattinger (49:10)
Anthem- This I Know- Paolo Debuque, Aimee K. Bryant, Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (51:38)
Message- Reimagine That!: Earth Day - Rev. Arif Mamdani (57:04)
Closing Hymn- Blue Boat Home (1:23:00)
Benediction- Rev. Arif Mamdani, Bob Friedman (1:26:02)

This Sunday marks a special journey led by our high school youth group, as they invite us into an exploration of abundance and collective growth. They’ve crafted an interactive service that promises not just to engage but to weave our vibrant community energies into a living tapestry of action and shared dreams. With each of us contributing to a communal symbol of unity, we’ll reflect, give thanks, and envision a humanity grown in the spring of our collective efforts. Under the inspired guidance of our youth, we are sowing seeds of hope to nurture the garden of our gathered dreams.
Singing to Gather- Woyaya- Paolo Dubuque (:33)
Words of Welcome- Allison Connelly-Vetter (2:07)
Call to Worship- Willa Maynor (3:19)
Singing Together- Lean on Me by Bill Withers (7:57)
Story for All Ages- Henry at Home by Megan Maynor- Max and Bobbi (11:47)
Practice of Giving and Receiving- Isla Mysenburg and Rev. Jen Crow (17:12)
Offertory- Paolo Dubuque (25:32)
Prayer and Meditation- Isla Mysenburg and Rev. Jen Crow (29:30)
Poem and Blessing- We Need Each Other by m jade kaiser- Rasana Mamdani (34:33)
Planting Together- Rasana Mamdani (41:44)
Singing Togther- Blue Boat Home (44:06)
Benediction- Rasana Mamdani (47:00)

We gather as a community, each of us a unique thread, ready to weave a tapestry that embodies our theme for the month: “Investing Together.” Imagine a morning where every one, young and old and in between, help us make a masterpiece. We’ll share stories with each other, sing melodies that weave through our shared spaces, and create a living mosaic of our collective spirit. This isn’t just about the art we create or the songs we sing; it’s a deeper call to explore the beauty and strength we unlock when we come together, each of us investing our piece of the puzzle. In this gathering, we celebrate not just the power of unity but the joy and growth it brings into our lives.
Singing Together- If I Had a Hammer by Pete Seger- Allison Connelly-Vetter (:30)
Welcome and Call to Worship- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (3:38)
Singing Together- If I Had a Hammer by Pete Seger- Allison Connelly-Vetter (11:11)
Story Sharing- Allison Connelly-Vetter (12:31)
Singing Together- If I Had a Hammer by Pete Seger- Allison Connelly-Vetter (18:20)
Meditation and Cycle of Life- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (20:19)
Investing Conversation- Kaden Colton and Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (31:36)
Practice of Giving and Receiving- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (37:29)
Offertory- We Are a Tower of Strength (39:16)
Singing Together- If I Had a Hammer by Pete Seger- Allison Connelly-Vetter (43:01)
Art Piece- Dallas Rising and Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (44:45)
Closing Blessing- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout and Allison Connelly-Vetter (52:53)

This Easter, what if our affirmations served not only as testaments to our capacity to instigate meaningful change but also as prompts to engage deeply with every soul we encounter. Can we mine our shared experiences for tales of resilience or resignation? Will we amplify the echoes of triumph, or will we underscore the moments of faltering? This selection process crafts the larger narrative of our existence. In this season of reflection and renewal, what narratives will you choose to elevate? How will you demonstrate your belief in the boundless potential for peace, love, and justice in our world?
Opening Song- Allelujah- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout and Congregation (:34)
Story and Words of Welcome- My Shadow is Purple by Scott Stuart Rev. Arif Mamdani (4:21)
Singing Together- Sing and Rejoice! - Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout and Congregation (14:54)
Time for All Ages- Allison Connelly-Vetter (19:17)
Prayer and Cycle of Life- Rev. Ashley Harness (29:28)
Practice of Giving and Receiving- Rev. Jen Crow (36:17)
Offertory- I Am Light by India.Arie- Glen Thomas Rideout (38:20)
Reading- Mark 16:1-8- Mark Caswell (41:32)
Message- Rev. Jen Crow (43:49)
Singing Together- Sanctuary- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout and Congregation (53:53)
Benediction- Rev. Jen Crow (56:06)