December 27, 2020 – Ritual of Change and Growth
An annual ritual of celebrating the threshold of the new year with gratitude, openness, and possibility.
Preaching:
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Reflections:
Austin Ferguson
Linda Ortiz
Readers:
Trish Braga
Ann Hutton
Gus Braga
Musicians:
Austin Ferguson, keyboards
Joe Mish, strings
December 24, 2020 – Christmas Eve Service – Distant Light
Preaching:
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Musicians:
Walden Hill Vocal Ensemble
Austin Ferguson, keyboards
Joe Mish, strings
December 21, 2020 – Winter Solstice Service 2020
Preaching:
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Guests:
Angela Davey
Anne Black-Sinak
Kate Thompson Jewell
Amy Nelson
Ramona Barr
Autumn Harff
Kim Edson
Musicians:
Austin Ferguson, keyboards
Joe Mish, strings
December 20, 2020 – Still, in Winter, There is Green
Preaching:
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Worship Associate:
Trish Braga
Guest Musicians: WyBlue
Andrew Hanson – vocals & guitar
Rose Mish – vocals & violin
Lekenneth Miller – drum set & cello
Will Deblaey- bass guitar
Musicians:
Austin Ferguson, keyboards
Joe Mish, strings
December 13, 2020 – Don’t Let the Light Go Out
Preaching:
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Reflections:
Jodi Edmonson
Paula Horner
Jerry Katzmann
Joe Lobl
Guest Musician:
Emilie Mish
Musicians:
Austin Ferguson, keyboards
Joe Mish, strings
December 6, 2020 – Blizzard Mind
Preaching:
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Worship Associate:
Paul Trewartha-Weiner
Musicians:
Connie Schuelka, keyboards
Joe Mish, strings
November 29, 2020 – This I Believe
A regular tradition of spiritual reflections from members of our church.
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Reflections from:
Aaron McGrath
Patty Trnka
Musicians:
Austin Ferguson, keyboards
Joe Mish, strings
November 22, 2020 – Pull Up Another Chair
Preaching: Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Worship Associate: Greg Wimmer
Additional Reader: Jessica Hoffman
Musicians:
Walden Hill Vocal Ensemble
Austin Ferguson, keyboards
Joe Mish, strings
November 15, 2020 -Speak. Hum. Hurt. Love.
Preaching:
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Musicians:
Austin Ferguson, piano
Joe Mish, cello
Order of Service: Click HERE
November 8, 2020 -We Do Not Concede
Preaching:
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Worship Associate:
Mark Brutinel
Musicians:
Austin Ferguson, piano
Joe Mish, cello
Service information: Click HERE
Reading:
My President by Danez Smith
November 1, 2020 -May Their Dreams Be Ours To Do
All Souls Sunday
A service that focused on ancestors – both their lasting presence in our lives and in the world, but also that we are the continuation of their hopes, dreams, and work – that we are the living embodiment of them, and that we honor their legacy with our living, our voting, and our action.
Preaching:
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Guest Musician:
Morgan Robertson
Worship Associate:
Ann Hutton
Musicians:
Austin Ferguson, piano
Joe Mish, cello
Service information: Click HERE
Readings:
Visitations by Deborah Gordon Cooper
And Do I Die by Kathleen Horb
October 25, 2020 -Universal(ism) Sin
Preaching:
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Guest Musician:
Vona Murrell
Vona Murrell is a Minnesota native and long-time Rochester resident with a love of all things music since her early childhood. She has been playing the piano, singing, and teaching in the area for more than 25 years and is grateful for the incredible privilege to help students develop on their musical journey.
Worship Associates:
Stephanie Evans Hanson
Alex Higano
Musicians:
Austin Ferguson, piano
Joe Mish, cello
Service information: Click HERE
Readings:
Why There Will Always Be Thistle by Maxine Kumin
A New World by Arundhati Roy
October 18, 2020 -Sources
Guests:
Larry McDonough
Larry McDonough is a composer, pianist, singer, teacher, Minnesota Rock Country Hall of Fame member, and recent recipient of the American Composers Forum Showcase Award for the composition “Strait of Gibraltar.” He also serves as Senior Minnesota Counsel, National Anti-Eviction Project, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, helping to coordinate eviction defense and tenant protection programs in Minnesota through training and mentoring attorneys and law students and policy advocacy. http://www.larrymcdonoughjazz.homestead.com
Richard Terrill
Richard Terrill, sax player, poet and retired Minnesota State University Mankato English Professor, received the Minnesota Book Award for Poetry for his poetry compilation “Coming Late to Rachmaninoff” (University of Tampa Press, 2003). In September 2020, he released his new book, “What Falls Away Is Always” from Holy Cow! Press. https://richardterrill.com/
Worship Leader:
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
October 11, 2020 -Sound. Silence. Echo.
Preaching:
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Worship Associate:
Beth Atkinson
Musicians:
Austin Ferguson, piano
Joe Mish, cello
Service information: Click HERE
Readings:
How to Survive the Apocalypse by Sean Dennison Parker
How to Listen by Joyce Sutphen
October 4, 2020 -UU the Vote
UU the Vote is a non-partisan faith initiative, in partnership with broader justice movements, to engage our neighbors, educate our communities, mobilize voters, and rally around key ballot initiatives. Join with your UU community to create a future defined by love, justice, and faith.
Service information: Click HERE
September 27, 2020 -Faithful Dissent
This service focuses on Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and a lot of focus on the legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, in particular with her focus on dissent of the “status quo” and her work toward an unknown future – always working for what would come, because of our work now, unsure of how it would grow…
Preaching:
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Worship Associate:
Anne Black-Sinak
Musicians:
Austin Ferguson, piano
Joe Mish, cello
Connie Schuelka, piano
Service information: Click HERE
Readings:
The Birthday of the World by Marge Piercy
Dissent by Hon. Ruth Bader Ginsberg
September 20, 2020 -Soul Stitching
Preaching:
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Worship Associate:
Gus Braga
Guest Musician:
Jeff Daehn
Originally from Chicago, Jeff Daehn studied music at Valparaiso University in Indiana and Union Theological Seminary in New York City. He came to Rochester in 1977 as organist and music minister at Zumbro Lutheran Church, studied carillon with Dean Robinson and other well-known carillonneurs and served as carillonneur of Mayo Clinic from 2004 through 2016.
Service information: Click HERE
Readings:
Generation to Generation by Antione de Saint-Exupery
Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church by Emily Dickinson
September 13, 2020 -Circling the Drain
Water Communion Sunday
Preaching:
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Worship Associate:
Ann Hutton
Musicians:
Joe Mish, Strings
Austin Ferguson, Keyboards
Guest Musicians:
Jane Foote
Carl Stephenson
Service information: Click HERE
Readings:
New Water by Sharon Chmielarz
Drought Year by Wendell Berry
September 6, 2020 -Endless Repair
Preaching:
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Worship Associate:
Beth Atkinson
Musicians:
Joe Mish, Strings
Austin Ferguson, Keyboards
Service information: Click HERE
Readings:
The End of Summer by Rachel Hadas
Hope: An Owner’s Manual by Barbara Kingsolver
August 30, 2020 -The Calendar is Melting (and how to survive)
Preaching:
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Worship Associate:
Trish Braga
Musicians:
Joe Mish, Cello
Austin Ferguson, Keyboards
Special Guest Musician:
Sam Buchl
Sam Buchl is a pianist and piano teacher in Rochester, Minnesota. He studied with Goldie McCoy in his hometown, Kasson, and has accompanied high school choir concerts, church events, and weddings. Sam studied Psychology & Cognitive Science at Swarthmore College, currently works at Mayo Clinic as a research assistant, teaches students of all ages at the Rochester Academy of Music and independently, and is applying to graduate school to study regenerative neuroscience and neurologic music therapy. He is excited & grateful for the opportunity to contribute to Rochester’s Universal Unitarian community.
Service information: Click HERE
Reading:
Last August Hours Before the Year 2000 by Naomi Shihab Nye
Hours by Hazel Hall
August 23, 2020 -Whatever It Takes
Preaching:
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Worship Associate:
Mark Brutinel
Musicians:
Joe Mish, Cello
Austin Ferguson, Keyboards
Service information: Click HERE
Reading:
Leaf Blower by Lynn Ungar
August 16, 2020 -Crossing the Line: Borders, Bravery, and Belonging.
We live in a time of deep and dangerous divisions – and a time of people coming together like never before. In the face of great uncertainties, how do we cultivate hope and human connection?
Preaching:
Rev. Jim Foti
Rev. Foti is one of the ministers at the First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis. He last spoke at our congregation in the fall of 2018.
Worship Associate:
Paul Trewartha-Weiner
Musicians:
Joe Mish, Cello
Austin Ferguson, Keyboards
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Service information: Click HERE
Reading:
The Complaint of Rio Grande by Richard Blanco
August 9, 2020 – Cast. Drift. (Repeat)
Preaching:
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Worship Associate:
Ann Hutton
Musicians:
Joe Mish, Cello
Austin Ferguson, Keyboards
Service information: Click HERE
Readings:
Let the Artists Win by Bob Janis-Dillon
August 2, 2020 – Offensively Nice
Preaching:
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Musicians:
Kathleen Covalt, Violin
Austin Ferguson, Keyboards
Service information: Click HERE
Readings:
Nice and Kind by Maggie Lupin
Life is Not Intended to Be Safe by Ethel Waters
July 26, 2020 – Celebrating 30 Years of ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)
Participants:
Gail Bishop, Paula Horner, Ann Lien, Kim Reid, Lyn Smith, Harriet and John Hodgson, Shelly Rohe
Musician:
Laurie Helmers
Service information: Click HERE
Reading:
This is the Landscape by Julia Watts Belser
July 19, 2020 – Love Will Guide Us
Preaching: Regina Mustafa
Musicians:
Austin Ferguson
Joe Mish
Service information: Click HERE
Reading:
This is the Reality We Live by Oriah Mountain Dreamer
July 12, 2020 – From Precincts to Paradise
Preaching: Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Musicians:
Austin Ferguson
Service information: Click HERE
Readings:
Give the Police Departments to the Grandmothers by Junauda Petrus
Tomorrow I’ll Wake by Jonathan Butler
July 5, 2020 – The Dream the Dreamers Dreamed
Preaching: Rev. Ashley Horan and Rev. Karen Hutt
Musicians:
Joe Mish
Rose Mish
Service information: Click HERE
Let America Be America Again by Langston Hughes
June 28, 2020 – Catching the Threads of Sorrow
Preaching: Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Worship Leader: Mark Brutinel
Musicians:
Austin Ferguson
Joe Mish
Connie Schuelka
Service information: Click HERE
Readings:
Before You Know What Kindness Really Is by Naomi Shihab Nye
Now I Love You, Now I Witness by Theresa Soto
June 21, 2020 – Sighs Too Deep for Words
A service about the power and beauty of art, especially during times of struggle and distance. This Sunday, we also celebrate Connie Schuelka, retiring as Co-Director of Music after 30 years of service to the church, and becoming Musician Emerita. The service includes some of her favorite pieces to celebrate the beauty of music.
Preaching: Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Worship Leader: Trish Braga
Musician:
Connie Schuelka
Service information: Click HERE
Readings:
Music by Juhan Liiv
The House that Music Built by Rita Dove
June 14, 2020 – Imagine Abolition
Preaching: Rev. Victoria Safford
Worship Leader: Beth Atkinson
Musician:
Joe Mish
Connie Schuelka
Guest Musicians:
David Townsend, Clarinet
June 7, 2020 – Uprising Through Weeds and Streets
Preaching: Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Worship Leader: Ann Hutton
Musicians:
Joe Mish
Connie Schuelka
Guest Musicians:
Rose Mish
Morgan Robertson
May 31, 2020 – Mind the Gap
Preaching: Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Worship Leader: Paul Trewartha-Weiner
Musicians:
Joe Mish
Connie Schuelka
Guest Musician:
Rose Mish
Cook with Honey:
Jane Foote & Carl Stephenson
May 24, 2020 – Tick Tock (Old School)
Preaching: Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Worship Leader: Gus Braga
Musicians:
Joe Mish
Connie Schuelka
Guest Musician:
Morgan Robertson
May 17, 2020 – Inspiration + Necessity
Musicians:
Joe Mish
Connie Shuelka
Guest Musicians:
Allen Bishop
Rose Mish
Bells and Whistles
Service information: Click HERE
Script of Prayer and Homily: Click HERE
Readings:
Bread by E.J. Mudd
Beyond Recipes by Robert J. Levy
May 10, 2020 – Far Beyond the Lintel and Sill
Musicians:
Joe Mish
Connie Shuelka
Guest Musician:
Nanilo
Service information: Click HERE
Script of Prayer and Homily: Click HERE
Readings:
From Final Triumph of the Good by Rev. Olympia Brown
Open Up the Doors by Rev. Lindasusan Ulrich
May 3, 2020 – Bloom-in-Place
Musicians:
Joe Mish
Rose Mish
Connie Shuelka
Service information: Click HERE
Script of Prayer and Homily: Click HERE
Readings:
Homesteading by Joyce Sutphen
Excerpt from Maypole on Merry Mount by Nathaniel Hawthorne
April 26, 2020 – Univers(alsim)
Musicians:
Joe Mish
Connie Shuelka
Special Guest Musician: Ellis
Order of Service
Univers(alism)
Readings:
Autobiography by Ansel Elkins
To the People Who Have Mistaken Freedom for Liberation by Rev. Theresa Sota
April 19, 2020 – Learn the Flowers – A Celebration of Earth Day.
Reflections on the Environment and Spirituality from Kelly Rae Kirkpatrick and Angie Gupta, with worship leaders Ann Hutton and Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Musicians:
Joe Mish
Connie Shuelka
Special Guest Musician: Peter Mayer
Readings:
Earth Teach Me from the Ute Native Americans
April 12, 2020 – For Christ’s Sake – Easter for Unitarian Universalists in Pandemic Times
Preaching: Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Worship Leader: Greg Wimmer
Musicians: Joe Mish, Connie Shuelka, Walden Hill Vocal Ensemble
Special Guest Musician: LaSonya Fleming
Readings:
An Excerpt from the Gospel of Mark
After by Fred Hammond
April 9, 2020 – Welcome Table Service – Meditation & Music in Honor of the Jewish Passover and Christian Holy Week
A service of music, readings, and reflection with Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, Ann Hutton, Joe Mish, and special music from Rev. Luke’s installation
April 5, 2020 – No More, No Less
Preaching: Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Worship Leader: Mark Brutinel
Musicians: Joe Mish, Connie Shuelka
Special Guest Musician: Large Mouth Brass
Order of Service
No More, No Lesss
Reading:
This is the Part by Rev. Elizabeth Nguyen
March 29, 2020 – The Journey of Stillness
Preaching: Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Worship Leaders: Ann Hutton, Amy Nelson, Melissa Eggler, Derik Robertson, and Darin Podulke-Smith
Musicians: Joe Mish, Connie Shuelka
Order of Service
The Journey of Stillness
Readings:
Today by Mary Oliver
Imagine by Lynn Ungar
March 22, 2020 -Gathering of Spirits: Soulful Connections in a Time of Social Distance
Preaching: Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Worship Associate: Linda Ortiz
Readings:
Lockdown by Richard Hendrick
March 8, 2020 -Why DId the Soul Cross the Road?
Preaching: Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Worship Associate: Mark Brutinel
Readings:
Traffic Misdirector by Pedro Pietri
An Excerpt from Thomas Metron
March 1, 2020 -From This, We Live
Preaching: Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Worship Associate: Paul Trewartha-Weiner
Readings:
Information by David Ignatow
Numbers by Mary Cornish
February 23, 2020 -Hazy Heaven
Preaching: Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Worship Associate: George Thompson
Readings:
A Step Along the Way by Ken Untener
Remeber the Angels of Bread by Martin Espada
February 16, 2020 -The Music of Centuries
Preaching: Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Worship Associate: Greg Wimmer
Readings:
Believe, Believe by Bob Kaufman
A Map to the Next World by Joy Harjo
February 9, 2020
All services canceled due to weather
February 2, 2020 -Books, Bricks, Grief
No Video Available
Readable Version: Books Bricks Grief
Preaching: Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Worship Associate: Trish Braga
Readings:
Heavy by Mary Oliver
Won’t You Celebrate With Me by Lucille Clifton
January 26, 2020 -Becoming Our Choices
Preaching: Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Worship Associate: Mark Brutinel
Readings:
Rebus by Jane Hirshfield
Another World is Possible by Rev. Ashley Horan
January 19, 2020 -The Time is Always Right to do What is Right
An annual service celebrating Martin Luther King Jr., with reflections from
Molly Dingel and Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Speaking: Molly Dingel and Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Worship Associate: Jeff Larson Keller
Readings:
After the Vigil for the Charleston Church Massacre by Stevie Edwards
What Would Gwendolyn Brooks Do by Parneshia Jones
January 12, 2020 -Still Working On It
Preaching: Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Worship Associate: Gus Braga
Readings:
I Want to Be Unfolded by Anne Lamott
Rise by Ana Lisa de Jong
January 5, 2020 – On the Brink
Preaching: Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Worship Associate: Paul Trewartha-Weiner
Readings:
Praise Song for the Day by Elizabeth Alexander
The New Year by Barbara Crooker