Archives: Services

UUA General Assembly Service

Join us virtually for the largest annual gathering of UUs  joining in worship. Recognizing the importance of shared  ministry and the many innovative approaches to worship  created by congregations during the pandemic, UUA  President, Rev. Dr. Susan Frederick Gray, selected  the First Universalist Church of Minneapolis to serve  as worship leaders for this year’s GA Sunday Morning  Service. 

First Universalist has been a model of shared ministry  and what it means to put the work of dismantling white  supremacy and building anti-racist, anti-oppressive  practices at the center of their ministry. They have  been on the front lines in support of the Movement for  Black Lives in Minneapolis, bringing spiritual care and  moral leadership in the wake of George Floyd’s murder  by police and the important uprisings for justice that  followed. Children and families are a vital part of their  ministry, and they have been using creative approaches  to engage all ages in worship during the pandemic.  Their leadership exemplifies some of the best practices  for the creativity, spiritual depth, and moral leadership  that is possible when we embrace the work of shared  ministry rooted in love and justice. 

Honoring Juneteenth

We were going to advocate for Juneteenth to become a national holiday this Sunday. But since this became law on June 17th, we now get to celebrate Juneteenth and learn more about its history and significance. How might we, as Unitarian Universalists, live our values by deepening our commitment to racial justice and equity. Reverend Nica and Ayanna Gaines will share their thoughts. Join us also to honor our fathers this Father’s Day.

Emerging Youth

In the Unitarian Universalist faith, Bridging is a beautiful right of passage that any youth will look forward to as they graduate from high school. They are being lifted up in praise and shepherded on to the next stage of their life by the loving hands of their congregation. We take this moment to celebrate our youth’s achievements and share in the joyful anticipation of what is yet to come. Please join Rev. Nica Eaton-Guinn and Sam Dickerson as we shine a light on Chalice’s phenomenal graduates of 2020 and 2021.

Emerging from Covid – Lessons for Our New Reality

As things start opening up and we return to life in a more normal way, we explore the importance of grieving what we’ve lost and assessing what we’ve learned. In this way we can make room for our new reality. In this service we get to reflect on our lessons of the last year and how we might build a new future informed by our learning.

What Happened to Soul 22? The Story of Our Soul Awakening

In the Pixar animation, Soul, middle school teacher and jazz pianist Joe Gardner has a sudden near death experience that sends him to the Great Before where he is assigned to mentor the little ball of potentiality known as Soul 22. Cynical and ornery, Soul 22 has for eons thus far resisted entering life on earth with all its bittersweet possibilities. Soul 22 is a kind of alter ego for Joe Garner as he weighs the meaning of his own life hanging in the balance. Soul. What does it mean?Is it what you feel when you hear Aretha Franklin or Luciano Pavarotti? Do you have a soul? Are you a soul? Is soul the breath of life, and what does it mean for your journey here and now?

The Mysteries of Memory

French author Marcel Proust said “Remembrance of things past is not necessarily the remembrance of things as they were.” Since our memories hold the stories of our lives, mysteries surround what we do and do not remember. Join us as we look at the precious gift of memory, our fears about losing it, and our hopes for holding onto it as long as possible.

Stories from Lives Well Mom’ed

We all have a mother – but there our similarities end. Our experience of motherhood is dynamic and can run the gamut from warm to reactive. Join us for a reflective service on this observation of Mother’s Day with readings, music, and the sharing of Chalice Mothers’ stories of motherhood.

The Stories We Tell Ourselves

The stories we tell ourselves shape our lives. Whether we repeatedly relive the stories from our past in our minds or actions, or we allow them to determine our future, these stories shape who we are in the present. They determine what we think of ourselves, how we show up, and who we can become. Join us to explore the cultural, personal and ancestral stories we tell ourselves, so we might become more aware of their impact in our lives.