December 2nd, 2018 ~ “I Believe That I Don’t Know”
Beth Atkinson, Worship Associate
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, Worship Leader
Connie Schuelke, Piano & Organ
Readings:
“Take This Sunset” by A. Powell Davies
“Days When I Forget The Mystery” by Denise Levertov
November 25th, 2018 ~ “Harvesting Memories”
Linda Ortiz, Worship Associate
Bonita Underbakke, Worship Associate
Greg Wimmer, Worship Leader
Jan Matson, Piano
Readings:
“My Memory Fails Me” by the Students of the Jewish Theological Seminary, NY, NY
“Nature & Memory” by Virginia Woolf
November 18th, 2018 ~ “You Must Eat to Live”
Beth Atkinson, Worship Associate
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, Worship Leader
Connie Schuelka, Piano
Featuring the Walden Hill Vocal Ensemble
Directed by Joe Mish
Reading:
“Perhaps The World Ends Here” by Joy Harjo
November 11th, 2018 ~ “This I Believe”
Brianna Berg, “This I Believe”
Elizabeth Katzmann, “This I Believe”
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, Worship Leader
Connie Schuelka, Piano
Music composed and performed by:
Jane Foote, Vocals & Guitar
November 4th, 2018 ~ “Love For The Republic”
Jeff & Julie Larson-Keller, Worship Associates
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, Worship Leader
Connie Schuelka, Organ & Piano
Readings:
American Triptych: “Potluck at the Wilmot Flat Baptist Church” by Jayne Kenyon
October 28th, 2018 ~ “All Souls Service: A Candle-lighting Remembrance”
Greg Wimmer, Worship Associate
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, Worship Leader
Walden Hill Vocal Ensemble, Joe Mish Directing
Connie Schuelka, Organ & Piano
Reading:
“My Dead” by Tim Nolan
October 21st, 2018 ~ “Authoritarianism and You”
George Thompson, Worship Associate
Rev. Jim Foti, Guest Speaker, (First Unitarian Assembly, Minneapolis, MN)
The Nodding Wild Onions, Special Musical Guests
Connie Schuelka, Piano
Readings:
“Active Hope” by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone
“Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds” (excerpt) by Adrienne Maree Brown
October 14th, 2018 ~ “Your Plate is Waiting”
Mark Brutinel, Worship Associate
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, Worship Leader
Connie Schuelka, Piano
Readings:
“Red Brocade” by Naomi Shihab Nye
“The Guest house” by Mewlana Jalaluddin Rumi
October 7th, 2018 ~ “Church Steeple, Open It Up”
Beth Atkinson, Worship Associate
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, Worship Leader
Jacqueline Schwab, Piano
Readings:
“A Blessing Called Sanctuary” by Jan Richardson
“Temple” by Steven Garness Holmes
September 30th, 2018 ~ “Final Triumph of the Good”
Anne Black-Sinak, Worship Associate
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, Worship Leader
Music by the 1st UU Quintet
Readings:
“The Opening of Eyes” by David Whyte
“The Opening Doors” (excerpt) by Rev. Olympia Brown
September 9th, 2018 ~ “Water, Heal My Soul”
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, Worship Leader
Joe Mish, Co-Director of Music
Connie Schuelka, Co-Director of Music
Joyce Rood, Director of Religious Education
Derik Robertson, Youth Program Coordinator
Melissa Eggler, Coordinator of Congregational Life
Sep 2nd, 2018 ~ “The First Few Miles of Rest”
Beth Atkinson, Worship Associate
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, Worship Leader
Connie Schuelka, Piano
Rod Milbrandt, Piano
Max Milbrandt, Sax
Readings:
“Labor Day” by Joseph Millar
“After Work” by John Maloney
August 26th, 2018 ~ “Work & Rest: The Rhythm of Our Lives”
Anne Black-Sinak, Worship Associate
Beth Atkinson, Worship Associate
Joe Mish, Worship Leader
Music by the 1st UU Quintet
Readings:
“Opening Words for Labor Day” by Megan Dowdell
August 19th, 2018 ~ “Improvising A Life”
Amy Nelson, Worship Associate
Rev. Meg Riley, Worship Leader
Teresa Tolmie, Piano Accompaniment
Reading:
“The Truth About Stories” by Thomas King
August 12th, 2018 ~ “Give It A Rest”
Mark Brutinel, Worship Associate
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, Worship Leader
Teresa Tolmie, Piano Accompaniment
Readings:
“Walking” (an excerpt) by Henry David Thoreau
“Doing Laundry On Sunday” by Brigit Pegeen Kelly
August 5th, 2018 ~ “This I Believe”
Kathy Brutinel, “This I Believe”
Jay Smith, “This I Believe”
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, Worship Associate
Connie Schuelka , Piano Accompaniment
Readings:
Selected writings of Mahatma Ghandi
“The Unity of A Community” by Dharah
July 29, 2018 ~ Being, Becoming and Restorative Justice
Rev. Terri Burnor, Worship Leader
Anne Black-Sinak, Worship Associate
Mike Anderson, Piano Accompaniment
Readings:
Untitled Reading by Rev. Theresa Inés Soto
“Transition Story by T. K.” (previously published in The Reflector, the Shakopee Women’s Prison’s quarterly newsletter, used with permission)
July 22, 2018 ~ Unfurling A Larger Freedom
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, Worship Leader
Linda Ortiz, Worship Associate
Teresa Tolmie, Pianist
Readings:
“Straight Into Gay America” by Lars Clausen
“Song of the Open Road” by Walt Whitman
July 15, 2018 ~ A Murmuration of Starlings
Greg Wimmer, Worship Associate
Rev. Ashley Horan, Worship Leader
Teresa Tolmie, Piano Accompaniment
Readings:
“The Incredible Science Behind Starling Murmurations“ by Jaymi Heimbuch
July 8, 2018 ~ Nobody Needs A Machine Gun
Rev. David Kraemer, Worship Leader
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, Worship Associate
Connie Schuelka, Piano Accompaniment
Readings:
“When I Change” by Ma Theresa Gustilo Gallardo
“Where I Lived, and What I lived For” by Henry David Thoreau
Special Music: Rose Mish and Andy Hanson
Guest Performers:
Rose Mish: Piano, Violin & Vocals
Andy Hanson: Guitar & Vocals
Original Composition “Red Dirt Road” by Andy Hanson
July 1, 2018 ~ Looking Backward, or Moving Forward?
Jack Gaede, Worship Leader
Laurie Helmers, Piano & Organ
Mark Brutinel, Worship Associate
Readings:
“Be Ours A Religion” by Theodore Parker
“The Low Road“ by Marge Piercy
June 24, 2018 ~ Singing for Change: Songs for the People
Joe Mish, Co-Director of Music
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, Minister
Connie Schuelka, Piano Accompanist
Readings:
“Songs For The People” by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper
June 17, 2018~ The Birds Take Back Their Language – Reflections on Borders & Community
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, Worship Leader
Kathryn Lozada, ISAIAH/Minnesota
Jeff LarsonKeller, Worship Associate
Laurie Helmers, Piano & Organ
Readings:
“Partial Clearing” by Judith Terzi
“The Moment” by Margaret Atwood
June 10, 2018~ Reflections on the Sabbath
Linda Ortiz, Worship Associate
Beth Atkinson, Worship Associate
Greg Wimmer, Worship Associate
Jaymi Wilson, Pianist
Readings:
“Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church” by Emily Dickinson
“The Frog With The Lichened Back and Golden Thigh” by Wendell Berry
May 20, 2018~ A UU Youth-Led Service
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, Minister
Connie Schuelka, Piano & Organ
Readings:
“Flawless“ by Margaret Wheatley
“Fortune“ by Dobby Gibson
“A Litany of Restoration” by Marjorie Bowens-Wheatley
May 13, 2018~ The Church of What We Know
Special Guest, Peter Mayer: www.petermayer.net
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, Minister
Connie Schuelka, Piano & Organ
Reading:
“Earth Mother, Star Mother” by Starhawk
May 6, 2018 ~ Murmuring Along
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, Minister
Amy Nelson, Worship Associate / Connie Schuelka, Piano / John Vettel, Viola
Walden Hill Vocal Ensemble / Joe Mish, Directing
Readings:
“Maypole of Merry Mount” by Nathaniel Hawthorne
“Weaving Our We” by Carole Bebelle
Chalice Lighting, 1st Service: Angie, Ash, Amani & Milan Gupta
Chalice Lighting, 2nd Service: Morgan, Kyla, Daria & Jamis Robertson
April 29, 2018 ~ Building Up A World
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, Minister
Ann Hutton, Worship Associate / Connie Schuelka, Piano & Organ
Walden Hill Children’s Choir / Joe Mish, Directing
Readings:
“On Gathering Artists” by Alberto Rios
“Sorting” by Twila Hansen
April 22, 2018 ~ Heaven Underfoot
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, Minister
Ann Hutton, Worship Associate / Connie Schuelka, Piano & Organ
Walden Hill Vocal Ensemble / Joe Mish, Directing
Readings:
“Advice From A Tree” by Ilan Shamir /
“Words of Meditation” from Wendell Berry
Chief Noah Sealth, Statement on Surrendering Tribal Lands, (excerpt; attributed 1855)
“A Poem Of Hope” (excerpt) by Wendell Berry
April 15, 2018 ~ What the Blank? Chaos, Order and Life in the Middle
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, Minister
Greg Wimmer, Worship Associate / Connie Schuelka, Piano / Joe Mish, Cello
Readings: “Make Your Life Your Art” by Charlotte Eriksson / “Air and Light and Time And Space” by Charles Bukowski
April 8, 2018 ~ Singing For Our Lives
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, Minister
Beth Atkinson, Worship Associate / Connie Schuelka, Piano
Readings: “Songs for the People” by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper / “I Hear America Singing” by Walt Whitman
Special Musical Guests: The Mila Vocal Ensemble (www.milavocalensemble.com)
April 1, 2018 ~ Some Glad Morning
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, Minister
Ann Hutton, Worship Associate / Connie Schuelka, Piano & Organ
Walden Hill Vocal Ensemble & The Prairie Revival String Band!
Readings: “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou / An excerpt from the Gospel of Mark / “Winter Is Over” by Rumi
March 25, 2018
“Dear Lovely Death”
Text version of the sermon (there was no video for March 25th due to technical difficulties)
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, Minister
Greg Wimmer, Worship Associate / Lori Elward, Vocals / Connie Schuelka, Piano
Readings: An excerpt from Being Mortal by Atul Gawande / Dear Lovely Death by Langston Hughes
March 18, 2018 ~ Just a Dusting
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, Minister
Amy Nelson, Worship Associate / Connie Schuelka, Piano & Harpsichord
Reading: “Blessing the Dust” by Jan Richardson
March 11, 2018 ~ Intersectional Justice and UUism
Pastor Danny Givens, MUUSJA Statewide Organizer (www.muusja.org)
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, Worship Associate / Connie Schuelka, Piano & Organ
Reading: “Dropping Keys” by Hafiz
March 4, 2018 ~ Water Through the Rock
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, Minister
George Thompson, Worship Associate / Connie Schuelka, Piano & Organ
Readings: “Whether Something Lasts” by Werner Herzog / “The Fountain” by Denise Levertov
February 25, 2018 ~ Songs of Courage and Hope
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, Minister
Mark Brutinel, Worship Associate / Connie Schuelka, Keyboards / Walden Lane Vocal Ensemble with Joseph Mish Directing
Music Composed by Elizabeth Alexander [“Prologue from Kindling,” “Love is the Spirit of this Church” (with Tony Larsen), “Song of the Five Thousand,” “Let it Matter,” “Where There Is Light In the Soul,” “As We Sing of Hope and Joy,” “Go Out!”]
Readings: Where Everything Is Music by Jelaluddin Rumi / Courage as attributed to Winston Churchill
February 18, 2018 ~ Mental Health Journeys
Greg Wimmer, Worship Associate
Paula Horner, Disability Task Group Chair / Laurie Helmers, Piano
Overview: Courtney Lawson, Executive Director, NAMI SE Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
Readings: Poems by Kerry Rita Nolte –Depression and The Maintenance Man
Personal Journey: Maggie O’Connell Nolte
Personal Journey: Courtney Lawson
February 11, 2018 ~ Unbreak My Heart
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, Minister
George Thompson, Worship Associate / Connie Schuelka, Keyboards
Reading: Excerpt from Healing the Heart of Democracy by Parker Palmer
February 4, 2018 ~ I Am Alive
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, Minister
Jeff LarsonKeller, Worship Associate
Readings: Heart by Dorianne Laux / Affirmation by Assata Shakur
January 28, 2018 ~ This I Believe
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, Minister
Greg Wimmer, Worship Associate
Guest Speakers: Ethan Thompson-Jewell & Leslie Redinger
January 21, 2018 ~ Breaking the Binding Wide Open
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, Minister
Beth Atkinson, Worship Associate
Readings: Excerpt from Freedom of Belief by Sophia Lyon Fahs / Tree of Reason by Denise Levertov
January 14, 2018 ~ Lift Every Voice
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, Minister
Ann Hutton & George Thompson, Worship Associates & Guest Speakers
January 7, 2018 ~ Angel of the Battlefield
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Chalice Lighting – Ultimate Grace by Ma Theresa Gustilo Gayardo
Reading – An excerpt from The Women Who Went to the Field by Clara Barton
December 31, 2017
Readings: Here’s to the Crazy Ones by Rob Siltanen / Acknowledgment of Limitations by Burton D. Carley
Christmas Eve, 2017 ~ Sing Choirs of Angels
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Readings
- It is the Glad Season by Maya Angelou
- Gospel of Luke – The Song of Mary, 1:47-55 & The Birth of Jesus, 2:1-14
- Glory Sings Here by Rebecca Parker
- The Wake of Christmas by Howard Thurman
December 24, 2017 ~ Dark of Winter, Soft and Still
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Reading – In Midwinter by Rebecca Parker
December 17, 2017 ~ Giving My Heart
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Readings: A Winter Daybreak above Vence by James Wright / An excerpt from In the Bleak Midwinter by Christina Rossetti
December 10, 2017 ~ Enough for a Spark
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Readings: The Lamps are Burning in the Synagogue by Charles Reznikoff / Chanukah Lights Tonight by Steven Schneider
December 3, 2017 ~ The Slowed-Down Season
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Readings: Winter Grace by Patricia Fargnoli / Bear In Mind by John Martin
November 5, 2017 ~ A Radical Reformation
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
October 29, 2017 ~ A Low Threshold
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
October 22, 2017 ~ Spilling More Than Milk
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Installation of The Reverend Luke Stevens-Royer, October 15, 2017
Order of Service
October 15, 2017, Rev. Karen Hutt
October 1, 2017, Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
September 24, 2017, Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
September 17, 2017, Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
August 27, 2017, Jackson Young
August 13, 2017, Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer
Rev. Kelli Clement, July 9, 2017
Rev. Fritz Hudson, June 18, 2017
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, May 7, 2017
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer, April 30, 2017
Manuscripts of previous sermons
Rev Fritz Hudson – Just Deserts or Just Desserts? June 18, 2017
Rev. Fritz Hudson – Passing the Baton sermon 6-11-2017
Rev. Fritz Hudson – Love’s Labor Lost (grief) sermon 5-28-2017
Rev. Fritz Hudson – What do Atheists Believe? sermon 4-9-2017
Rev. Fritz Hudson – Jihad: Faith’s Struggle sermon 2-5-2017