Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 5 hours ago
November 9, 2025 service for the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City.
The Salt Lake Strummers, a sing-along band of ukulele players, join the congregation in singing and playing a nostalgic collection of popular 20th-century songs.
Lay minister Lee Shuster reflects on a lifetime of constant change – some chosen, some painful – and how each stage, from military service to divorce to reconnecting with his first love, shaped his resilience, humility, and capacity for grace. He concludes that while change is inevitable, we grow by how we respond to it, especially when we face it with humor and in community.
Rev. J Sylvan argues that "cringe" is simply earnestness made visible, and that embracing this vulnerable sincerity is an antidote to the nihilism, loneliness, and distrust eroding our society. By choosing connection, trust, and shared truth-seeking over self-protection and cynicism, communities like the church can become a quiet countercurrent of courage and humanity – even if it looks a little cringe.
ORDER OF SERVICE
00:00 🎵 Introduction: "We Will Go Out In The World" by David Owens
00:56 🎵 Prelude: "The Times They Are a-Changin’" by Bob Dylan (American, b. 1941) – Salt Lake Strummers & Congregation
04:47 🎵 Introit: # 188, "Come, Come, Whoever You Are" – words adapted from Rumi (1207-1273); music by Rev. Lynn Ungar (American, b. 1963); led by Rev. J Sylvan
05:33 Welcome & Announcements – Rev. J Sylvan
10:08 Chalice Lighting – Rev. J Sylvan
12:09 🎵 Opening Song: "Time After Time" by Cyndi Lauper (American, b. 1953) – Salt Lake Strummers & Congregation
16:26 Introduction of the Lay Minister – Rev. J Sylvan
17:16 Lay Minister: Lee Shuster
23:18 🎵 Interlude: "9 to 5" by Dolly Parton (American, b. 1946) – Salt Lake Strummers & Congregation
26:45 Meditation – Rev. Monica Dobbins
29:08 🎵 Meditation Response: "Moon River" – words by Johnny Mercer (American, 1909-1976); music by Henry Mancini (American, 1924-1994) – Salt Lake Strummers & Congregation
31:38 🎵 Song of Gratitude: # 1010, "We Give Thanks" – words & music by Wendy Luella Perkins (Canadian, b. 1966); led by Rev. J Sylvan
32:23 🎵 Doxology: "From All that Dwell Below the Skies" – words: composite based on Isaac Watts (English, 1674-1748); melody: "Old Hundredth" from Genevan Psalter (1551)
33:36 Sermon: "Cringe" – Rev. J Sylvan
51:30 🎵 Closing Song: "The Rose" by Amanda McBroom (American, b. 1947) – Salt Lake Strummers & Congregation
54:42 Benediction – Rev. J Sylvan
55:21 🎵 Postlude: "500 Miles" by The Proclaimers (Charlie and Craig Reid, Scottish, b. 1962) – Salt Lake Strummers & Congregation
59:15 Closing Words – Rev. J Sylvan
1:00:12 🎵 End Credits
Rev. J Sylvan, Senior Minister
Rev. Monica Dobbins, Assistant Minister
Amanda Esko, Director of Religious Education
David Owens, Director of Music
Stefanie Park, Administrator
Tristan Moore, Audiovisual Director
🌎 First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City
→ Website: slcuu.org
→ Facebook: facebook.com/firstuuslc
→ Instagram: instagram.com/firstuuslc
→ YouTube: youtube.com/FirstUUSLC
🙏 All of First Unitarian Church's programs depend on the generous contributions of our members and friends.
→ Donate: slcuu.breezechms.com/give/online
🎬 Related video topics from First Unitarian Church
→ youtube.com/playlist?list=PLouELW-J6FZZLSGAsaNRV_DKPrN2PUh8g
November 9, 2025 service for the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City.
The Salt Lake Strummers, a sing-along band of ukulele players, join the congregation in singing and playing a nostalgic collection of popular 20th-century songs.
Lay minister Lee Shuster reflects on a lifetime of constant change – some chosen, some painful – and how each stage, from military service to divorce to reconnecting with his first love, shaped his resilience, humility, and capacity for grace. He concludes that while change is inevitable, we grow by how we respond to it, especially when we face it with humor and in community.
Rev. J Sylvan argues that "cringe" is simply earnestness made visible, and that embracing this vulnerable sincerity is an antidote to the nihilism, loneliness, and distrust eroding our society. By choosing connection, trust, and shared truth-seeking over self-protection and cynicism, communities like the church can become a quiet countercurrent of courage and humanity – even if it looks a little cringe.
ORDER OF SERVICE
00:00 🎵 Introduction: "We Will Go Out In The World" by David Owens
00:56 🎵 Prelude: "The Times They Are a-Changin’" by Bob Dylan (American, b. 1941) – Salt Lake Strummers & Congregation
04:47 🎵 Introit: # 188, "Come, Come, Whoever You Are" – words adapted from Rumi (1207-1273); music by Rev. Lynn Ungar (American, b. 1963); led by Rev. J Sylvan
05:33 Welcome & Announcements – Rev. J Sylvan
10:08 Chalice Lighting – Rev. J Sylvan
12:09 🎵 Opening Song: "Time After Time" by Cyndi Lauper (American, b. 1953) – Salt Lake Strummers & Congregation
16:26 Introduction of the Lay Minister – Rev. J Sylvan
17:16 Lay Minister: Lee Shuster
23:18 🎵 Interlude: "9 to 5" by Dolly Parton (American, b. 1946) – Salt Lake Strummers & Congregation
26:45 Meditation – Rev. Monica Dobbins
29:08 🎵 Meditation Response: "Moon River" – words by Johnny Mercer (American, 1909-1976); music by Henry Mancini (American, 1924-1994) – Salt Lake Strummers & Congregation
31:38 🎵 Song of Gratitude: # 1010, "We Give Thanks" – words & music by Wendy Luella Perkins (Canadian, b. 1966); led by Rev. J Sylvan
32:23 🎵 Doxology: "From All that Dwell Below the Skies" – words: composite based on Isaac Watts (English, 1674-1748); melody: "Old Hundredth" from Genevan Psalter (1551)
33:36 Sermon: "Cringe" – Rev. J Sylvan
51:30 🎵 Closing Song: "The Rose" by Amanda McBroom (American, b. 1947) – Salt Lake Strummers & Congregation
54:42 Benediction – Rev. J Sylvan
55:21 🎵 Postlude: "500 Miles" by The Proclaimers (Charlie and Craig Reid, Scottish, b. 1962) – Salt Lake Strummers & Congregation
59:15 Closing Words – Rev. J Sylvan
1:00:12 🎵 End Credits
Rev. J Sylvan, Senior Minister
Rev. Monica Dobbins, Assistant Minister
Amanda Esko, Director of Religious Education
David Owens, Director of Music
Stefanie Park, Administrator
Tristan Moore, Audiovisual Director
🌎 First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City
→ Website: slcuu.org
→ Facebook: facebook.com/firstuuslc
→ Instagram: instagram.com/firstuuslc
→ YouTube: youtube.com/FirstUUSLC
🙏 All of First Unitarian Church's programs depend on the generous contributions of our members and friends.
→ Donate: slcuu.breezechms.com/give/online
🎬 Related video topics from First Unitarian Church
→ youtube.com/playlist?list=PLouELW-J6FZZLSGAsaNRV_DKPrN2PUh8g
