Uploaded March 2024 | Updated September 2026, 9 hours ago
March 17, 2024 service for the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City: a Celebration Sunday service, with uplifting music from the Chancel Choir under the direction of David Owens. Reverend J Sylvan expresses their personal gratitude for the community of First Unitarian Church, reflecting on their own journey to becoming the first non-male solo Senior Minister in the church's history. First Unitarian Church's growing membership, its increasing participation, and its new initiatives are celebrated. Rev. Sylvan calls attention to the spirit of love and hope in the church's covenant, and encourages the congregation to further engage in practical actions like volunteer work, local advocacy, and developing genuine relationships with marginalized communities as means to fulfill the church's covenant and build a better world.
The Covenant of the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City:
"The Church shall be a fellowship of individuals with free minds, having for its object the study and practice of liberal religion, including the principles propounded by the Unitarian Universalist Association, the development of a more meaningful life for each of its members and friends, and the building of a better community and world. Love shall be the spirit of the Church, with service to one another and to the larger community its greatest concern. The members and friends of the Church do hereby covenant to dwell together in peace, to seek the truth in all things, and to help one another."
*ORDER OF SERVICE*
00:00 π΅ Introduction: "We Will Go Out In The World" β music by David Owens
01:05 π΅ Choral Prelude: "A Festive Alleluia" β words and music by Mary Lynn Lightfoot (American, b. 1952); performed by the Chancel Choir; David Owens, piano
03:22 π΅ Introit: # 188, "Come, Come, Whoever You Are" β words adapted from Rumi (1207-1273); music by Rev. Lynn Ungar (American, b. 1963); led by David Owens
04:28 Welcome & Announcements β Rev. J Sylvan
08:22 Chalice Lighting β Nancy Moos
09:17 π΅ Opening Hymn: # 318, "We Would Be One" β music by Jean Sibelius (Finnish, 1865-1957); words by Samuel Anthony Wright (American, 1919-2016); David Owens, organ
11:58 Meditation β Rev. J Sylvan
16:58 π΅ Choral Anthem: "Thankful" β words and music by Carole Bayer Sager (American, b. 1944), David Foster (Canadian, b. 1949) and Richard Page (American, b. 1953); arranged by Mark Hayes (American, b. 1953); performed by the Chancel Choir; David Owens, piano
22:15 Introduction of the Pledge Committee Chairs / Update on the Growth of the Church β Rev. J Sylvan
26:42 Pledge Committee Update β Henry Whiteside, Becky Heal, Sue Geary
32:53 π΅ Song of Gratitude: # 1010, "We Give Thanks" β words & music by Wendy Luella Perkins (Canadian, b. 1966); led by Rev. J Sylvan
33:30 Offertory β Rev. J Sylvan
33:59 π΅ Doxology: "From All that Dwell Below the Skies" β with the Chancel Choir, Holly Stuart conducting
35:13 Sermon: "What Is Our Covenant?" β Rev. J Sylvan
57:33 π΅ Closing Hymn: # 1021, "Lean on Me" β words and music by Bill Withers (American, 1938-2020); David Owens, piano
1:00:41 Benediction β Rev. J Sylvan
1:01:26 π΅ Choral Postlude: "Go Make a Difference" β words and music by Steve Angrisano (American, b. 1965) and Tom Tomaszek (American, b. 1950); performed by the Chancel Choir; David Owens, piano
1:03:59 Closing Words β Rev. J Sylvan
1:04:24 π΅ End Credits
Rev. J Sylvan, Senior Minister
Amanda Esko, Director of Religious Education
David Owens, Director of Music
Stefanie Park, Administrator
Tristan Moore, Audiovisual Director
π First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City
β Website: slcuu.org
β Facebook: facebook.com/firstuuslc
β Instagram: instagram.com/firstuuslc
β YouTube: youtube.com/FirstUUSLC
π We are supported by the financial contributions of our members and friends.
β Donate: slcuu.org/give
π¬ Related video topics from First Unitarian Church
β Recent Services (2023-2024): youtube.com/playlist?list=PLouELW-J6FZbDnrbE194WlV7b_q-9iZs0
β Celebration Sunday Services: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLouELW-J6FZaeRXEMQcTr-dM2GLJrjAr_
March 17, 2024 service for the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City: a Celebration Sunday service, with uplifting music from the Chancel Choir under the direction of David Owens. Reverend J Sylvan expresses their personal gratitude for the community of First Unitarian Church, reflecting on their own journey to becoming the first non-male solo Senior Minister in the church's history. First Unitarian Church's growing membership, its increasing participation, and its new initiatives are celebrated. Rev. Sylvan calls attention to the spirit of love and hope in the church's covenant, and encourages the congregation to further engage in practical actions like volunteer work, local advocacy, and developing genuine relationships with marginalized communities as means to fulfill the church's covenant and build a better world.
The Covenant of the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City:
"The Church shall be a fellowship of individuals with free minds, having for its object the study and practice of liberal religion, including the principles propounded by the Unitarian Universalist Association, the development of a more meaningful life for each of its members and friends, and the building of a better community and world. Love shall be the spirit of the Church, with service to one another and to the larger community its greatest concern. The members and friends of the Church do hereby covenant to dwell together in peace, to seek the truth in all things, and to help one another."
*ORDER OF SERVICE*
00:00 π΅ Introduction: "We Will Go Out In The World" β music by David Owens
01:05 π΅ Choral Prelude: "A Festive Alleluia" β words and music by Mary Lynn Lightfoot (American, b. 1952); performed by the Chancel Choir; David Owens, piano
03:22 π΅ Introit: # 188, "Come, Come, Whoever You Are" β words adapted from Rumi (1207-1273); music by Rev. Lynn Ungar (American, b. 1963); led by David Owens
04:28 Welcome & Announcements β Rev. J Sylvan
08:22 Chalice Lighting β Nancy Moos
09:17 π΅ Opening Hymn: # 318, "We Would Be One" β music by Jean Sibelius (Finnish, 1865-1957); words by Samuel Anthony Wright (American, 1919-2016); David Owens, organ
11:58 Meditation β Rev. J Sylvan
16:58 π΅ Choral Anthem: "Thankful" β words and music by Carole Bayer Sager (American, b. 1944), David Foster (Canadian, b. 1949) and Richard Page (American, b. 1953); arranged by Mark Hayes (American, b. 1953); performed by the Chancel Choir; David Owens, piano
22:15 Introduction of the Pledge Committee Chairs / Update on the Growth of the Church β Rev. J Sylvan
26:42 Pledge Committee Update β Henry Whiteside, Becky Heal, Sue Geary
32:53 π΅ Song of Gratitude: # 1010, "We Give Thanks" β words & music by Wendy Luella Perkins (Canadian, b. 1966); led by Rev. J Sylvan
33:30 Offertory β Rev. J Sylvan
33:59 π΅ Doxology: "From All that Dwell Below the Skies" β with the Chancel Choir, Holly Stuart conducting
35:13 Sermon: "What Is Our Covenant?" β Rev. J Sylvan
57:33 π΅ Closing Hymn: # 1021, "Lean on Me" β words and music by Bill Withers (American, 1938-2020); David Owens, piano
1:00:41 Benediction β Rev. J Sylvan
1:01:26 π΅ Choral Postlude: "Go Make a Difference" β words and music by Steve Angrisano (American, b. 1965) and Tom Tomaszek (American, b. 1950); performed by the Chancel Choir; David Owens, piano
1:03:59 Closing Words β Rev. J Sylvan
1:04:24 π΅ End Credits
Rev. J Sylvan, Senior Minister
Amanda Esko, Director of Religious Education
David Owens, Director of Music
Stefanie Park, Administrator
Tristan Moore, Audiovisual Director
π First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City
β Website: slcuu.org
β Facebook: facebook.com/firstuuslc
β Instagram: instagram.com/firstuuslc
β YouTube: youtube.com/FirstUUSLC
π We are supported by the financial contributions of our members and friends.
β Donate: slcuu.org/give
π¬ Related video topics from First Unitarian Church
β Recent Services (2023-2024): youtube.com/playlist?list=PLouELW-J6FZbDnrbE194WlV7b_q-9iZs0
β Celebration Sunday Services: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLouELW-J6FZaeRXEMQcTr-dM2GLJrjAr_
