Uploaded March 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
March 9, 2025 service for the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City.
Lay minister Brandon Checketts reflects on his father’s effusive sociability and generosity of spirit around strangers, a trait that once embarrassed him but later influenced his own journey. He recalls a chance conversation with a flight attendant during a difficult period in his life, a conversation that left a lasting impact on him, reaffirming his appreciation for the power of being open and present with strangers in a world too often steeped in isolation.
Rev. Monica Dobbins' meditation reflects on the profound and lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; she urges us to acknowledge our grief and gratitude and consider how we have changed.
In her sermon, Rev. Monica Dobbins asks how Unitarians of the 21st century might look to our history to help us imagine how to live in rapidly changing times. She draws on the history of the transcendentalist movement — particularly its often-overlooked women — to illustrate how even nonconformists need community, collective engagement, and accountability. Citing Christine Rosen's book "The Extinction of Experience," Rev. Monica suggests that as our experiences continue to become increasingly digitally mediated and fed to us by ever-attentive algorithms, there is a need for a new humanism that prioritizes direct, unmediated experiences beyond the risk-free, curated world of the virtual – the kinds of direct experiences that the transcendentalists were seeking and advocating almost 200 years ago.
ORDER OF SERVICE
00:00 🎵 Introduction: "We Will Go Out In The World" by David Owens
01:05 🎵 Bell Ensemble Prelude: "Time Chimes" by David Owens (American, b. 1961); presented by the Bell Ensemble at First Church
03:10 🎵 Introit: # 188, "Come, Come, Whoever You Are" – words adapted from Rumi (1207-1273); music by Rev. Lynn Ungar (American, b. 1963); led by David Owens
04:10 Welcome & Announcements – Rev. Monica Dobbins
05:50 Chalice Lighting – Rev. Monica Dobbins
06:31 🎵 Opening Hymn: # 108, "My Life Flows On in Endless Song" – words: traditional, verse 3 by Doris Plenn (American, 1909-1994); music: American gospel tune
09:45 Lay Minister: Brandon Checketts
17:42 🎵 Interlude: "A Hermit Thrush at Morn" Op. 92, No. 2 by Amy Marcy Cheney Beach, aka Mrs. H.H.A. Beach (American, 1867-1944) – David Owens, piano
20:52 Meditation – Rev. Monica Dobbins
25:50 🎵 Bell Ensemble Response: "Étude" – attrib. John Thompson (American, 1889-1963); presented by the Bell Ensemble at First Church
28:04 🎵 Song of Gratitude: # 1010, "We Give Thanks" – words & music by Wendy Luella Perkins (Canadian, b. 1966); led by Rev. Monica Dobbins
28:38 Offertory – Rev. Monica Dobbins
29:38 🎵 Doxology: "From All that Dwell Below the Skies" – words: composite based on Isaac Watts (English, 1674-1748); melody: "Old Hundredth" from Genevan Psalter (1551)
31:06 Sermon: "Frailty, Thy Name Is Man" – Rev. Monica Dobbins
50:41 🎵 Closing Hymn: # 346, "Come, Sing a Song with Me" – words and music: Carolyn McDade (American, b. 1935)
53:44 Benediction – Rev. Monica Dobbins
54:14 🎵 Postlude: "Scottish Legend" Op. 54, No. 1 by Amy Marcy Cheney Beach (American, 1867-1944) – David Owens, piano
56:55 Closing Words – Rev. Monica Dobbins
57:13 🎵 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
Kristina Pappas, Audiovisual Technician
🌎 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 entirely 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-J6FZbbZvVRdb9M9HKzqT9D3pFC
March 9, 2025 service for the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City.
Lay minister Brandon Checketts reflects on his father’s effusive sociability and generosity of spirit around strangers, a trait that once embarrassed him but later influenced his own journey. He recalls a chance conversation with a flight attendant during a difficult period in his life, a conversation that left a lasting impact on him, reaffirming his appreciation for the power of being open and present with strangers in a world too often steeped in isolation.
Rev. Monica Dobbins' meditation reflects on the profound and lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; she urges us to acknowledge our grief and gratitude and consider how we have changed.
In her sermon, Rev. Monica Dobbins asks how Unitarians of the 21st century might look to our history to help us imagine how to live in rapidly changing times. She draws on the history of the transcendentalist movement — particularly its often-overlooked women — to illustrate how even nonconformists need community, collective engagement, and accountability. Citing Christine Rosen's book "The Extinction of Experience," Rev. Monica suggests that as our experiences continue to become increasingly digitally mediated and fed to us by ever-attentive algorithms, there is a need for a new humanism that prioritizes direct, unmediated experiences beyond the risk-free, curated world of the virtual – the kinds of direct experiences that the transcendentalists were seeking and advocating almost 200 years ago.
ORDER OF SERVICE
00:00 🎵 Introduction: "We Will Go Out In The World" by David Owens
01:05 🎵 Bell Ensemble Prelude: "Time Chimes" by David Owens (American, b. 1961); presented by the Bell Ensemble at First Church
03:10 🎵 Introit: # 188, "Come, Come, Whoever You Are" – words adapted from Rumi (1207-1273); music by Rev. Lynn Ungar (American, b. 1963); led by David Owens
04:10 Welcome & Announcements – Rev. Monica Dobbins
05:50 Chalice Lighting – Rev. Monica Dobbins
06:31 🎵 Opening Hymn: # 108, "My Life Flows On in Endless Song" – words: traditional, verse 3 by Doris Plenn (American, 1909-1994); music: American gospel tune
09:45 Lay Minister: Brandon Checketts
17:42 🎵 Interlude: "A Hermit Thrush at Morn" Op. 92, No. 2 by Amy Marcy Cheney Beach, aka Mrs. H.H.A. Beach (American, 1867-1944) – David Owens, piano
20:52 Meditation – Rev. Monica Dobbins
25:50 🎵 Bell Ensemble Response: "Étude" – attrib. John Thompson (American, 1889-1963); presented by the Bell Ensemble at First Church
28:04 🎵 Song of Gratitude: # 1010, "We Give Thanks" – words & music by Wendy Luella Perkins (Canadian, b. 1966); led by Rev. Monica Dobbins
28:38 Offertory – Rev. Monica Dobbins
29:38 🎵 Doxology: "From All that Dwell Below the Skies" – words: composite based on Isaac Watts (English, 1674-1748); melody: "Old Hundredth" from Genevan Psalter (1551)
31:06 Sermon: "Frailty, Thy Name Is Man" – Rev. Monica Dobbins
50:41 🎵 Closing Hymn: # 346, "Come, Sing a Song with Me" – words and music: Carolyn McDade (American, b. 1935)
53:44 Benediction – Rev. Monica Dobbins
54:14 🎵 Postlude: "Scottish Legend" Op. 54, No. 1 by Amy Marcy Cheney Beach (American, 1867-1944) – David Owens, piano
56:55 Closing Words – Rev. Monica Dobbins
57:13 🎵 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
Kristina Pappas, Audiovisual Technician
🌎 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 entirely 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-J6FZbbZvVRdb9M9HKzqT9D3pFC
