Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 4 hours ago
February 2, 2025 service for the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City, with music performed by the Junior Singers, David Owens, and Matthew Esko.
Lay minister Melinda Pettingill-Patterson reflects on her deep connection with her late father, recognizing how his strengths and struggles are interwoven into her own life and identity. Through the story "Information, Please," she illustrates the power of human connection and support, concluding that healing is a shared process — one that links us to those we love, even beyond their lifetime.
Amanda Esko leads the congregation in a meditation, inviting them to embrace vulnerability by making eye contact with one another and recognizing the shared humanity in each person — reminding them that in a world that seeks to divide, there is no "other," only "us."
Rev. Monica Dobbins' sermon confronts the misuse of scripture to justify hatred, in particular a recent tweet from an Ogden, UT church leader calling empathy a sin and urging "proper hate." Reminding us that every human being — regardless of gender identity, immigration status, or any other characteristic — is fully worthy of love, Rev. Monica argues that any God advocating hate is too small to be worthy of worship. She urges us to "commit to being sinners of empathy. Err on the side of extravagant love, welcome every stranger. Ask people how you can help. Take time to look people in the eye. Listen to their story without hurrying. Let them know that their feelings are valid, and that you care about them. Push back the fear and hate, and let love flood in."
YOU ARE INVITED TO LEND YOUR SUPPORT TO THE PINK HAVEN COALITION, a network of organizers helping trans folks and families with trans kids living in unsupportive states move to places where they are safe and can access resources. pinkhaven.org
ORDER OF SERVICE
00:00 🎵 Introduction: "We Will Go Out In The World" by David Owens
00:57 🎵 Choral Prelude: "Sisters and Brothers" – words by Bruce Hart (American, 1938-2006); music by Stephen Lawrence (American, 1939-2021); presented by the Junior Singers; Nikki Blackburn Fuller, conducting
02:52 🎵 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
03:46 Welcome & Announcements – Amanda Esko
07:19 Chalice Lighting – Amanda Esko
08:31 🎵 Opening Hymn: # 1012, "When I Am Frightened" – words & music by Shelly Jackson Denham (American, 1950-2013); arr. Jeannie Gagné (American, b. 1960)
12:10 Lay Minister: Melinda Pettingill-Patterson
20:57 🎵 Interlude: Improvisation by David Owens, piano
22:31 Meditation – Amanda Esko
26:36 🎵 Meditation Response: "May All Children" – words & music by Kenneth K. Guilmartin (American, b. 1946); presented by the Junior Singers; Iris Lander, soloist; Nikki Blackburn Fuller, conducting
29:24 🎵 Song of Gratitude: # 1010, "We Give Thanks" – words & music by Wendy Luella Perkins (Canadian, b. 1966); led by Rev. Monica Dobbins
30:26 Share The Plate: Wasatch Community Gardens – Katie Dwyer, Director of External Relations
33:14 Offertory – Rev. Monica Dobbins
33:47 🎵 Offertory Music: "It’s a Small World (After All)" by Robert Sherman (American, 1925-2012) and Richard Sherman (American, 1928-2024); presented by the Junior Singers; Nikki Blackburn Fuller, conducting
35:28 🎵 Doxology: "From All that Dwell Below the Skies" – words: composite based on Isaac Watts (English, 1674-1748); melody: "Old Hundredth" from Genevan Psalter (1551)
36:31 Sermon: "If Love Is Wrong, I Don’t Want to Be Right" – Rev. Monica Dobbins
49:09 Benediction – Rev. Monica Dobbins
50:36 🎵 Postlude: "Canción del Pastorcito" (The Little Shepherd’s Song) by Martín Cuéllar (b. 1959) – Matthew Esko & David Owens, 4-hand piano duet
52:20 Acknowledgments – Rev. Monica Dobbins
53:04 🎵 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 entirely on the generous contributions of our members and friends.
→ Donate: slcuu.org/give
🎬 Related video topics from First Unitarian Church
→ youtube.com/playlist?list=PLouELW-J6FZbbZvVRdb9M9HKzqT9D3pFC
→ youtube.com/playlist?list=PLouELW-J6FZadLpXCUu0oNB7nCDmj-7IG
February 2, 2025 service for the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City, with music performed by the Junior Singers, David Owens, and Matthew Esko.
Lay minister Melinda Pettingill-Patterson reflects on her deep connection with her late father, recognizing how his strengths and struggles are interwoven into her own life and identity. Through the story "Information, Please," she illustrates the power of human connection and support, concluding that healing is a shared process — one that links us to those we love, even beyond their lifetime.
Amanda Esko leads the congregation in a meditation, inviting them to embrace vulnerability by making eye contact with one another and recognizing the shared humanity in each person — reminding them that in a world that seeks to divide, there is no "other," only "us."
Rev. Monica Dobbins' sermon confronts the misuse of scripture to justify hatred, in particular a recent tweet from an Ogden, UT church leader calling empathy a sin and urging "proper hate." Reminding us that every human being — regardless of gender identity, immigration status, or any other characteristic — is fully worthy of love, Rev. Monica argues that any God advocating hate is too small to be worthy of worship. She urges us to "commit to being sinners of empathy. Err on the side of extravagant love, welcome every stranger. Ask people how you can help. Take time to look people in the eye. Listen to their story without hurrying. Let them know that their feelings are valid, and that you care about them. Push back the fear and hate, and let love flood in."
YOU ARE INVITED TO LEND YOUR SUPPORT TO THE PINK HAVEN COALITION, a network of organizers helping trans folks and families with trans kids living in unsupportive states move to places where they are safe and can access resources. pinkhaven.org
ORDER OF SERVICE
00:00 🎵 Introduction: "We Will Go Out In The World" by David Owens
00:57 🎵 Choral Prelude: "Sisters and Brothers" – words by Bruce Hart (American, 1938-2006); music by Stephen Lawrence (American, 1939-2021); presented by the Junior Singers; Nikki Blackburn Fuller, conducting
02:52 🎵 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
03:46 Welcome & Announcements – Amanda Esko
07:19 Chalice Lighting – Amanda Esko
08:31 🎵 Opening Hymn: # 1012, "When I Am Frightened" – words & music by Shelly Jackson Denham (American, 1950-2013); arr. Jeannie Gagné (American, b. 1960)
12:10 Lay Minister: Melinda Pettingill-Patterson
20:57 🎵 Interlude: Improvisation by David Owens, piano
22:31 Meditation – Amanda Esko
26:36 🎵 Meditation Response: "May All Children" – words & music by Kenneth K. Guilmartin (American, b. 1946); presented by the Junior Singers; Iris Lander, soloist; Nikki Blackburn Fuller, conducting
29:24 🎵 Song of Gratitude: # 1010, "We Give Thanks" – words & music by Wendy Luella Perkins (Canadian, b. 1966); led by Rev. Monica Dobbins
30:26 Share The Plate: Wasatch Community Gardens – Katie Dwyer, Director of External Relations
33:14 Offertory – Rev. Monica Dobbins
33:47 🎵 Offertory Music: "It’s a Small World (After All)" by Robert Sherman (American, 1925-2012) and Richard Sherman (American, 1928-2024); presented by the Junior Singers; Nikki Blackburn Fuller, conducting
35:28 🎵 Doxology: "From All that Dwell Below the Skies" – words: composite based on Isaac Watts (English, 1674-1748); melody: "Old Hundredth" from Genevan Psalter (1551)
36:31 Sermon: "If Love Is Wrong, I Don’t Want to Be Right" – Rev. Monica Dobbins
49:09 Benediction – Rev. Monica Dobbins
50:36 🎵 Postlude: "Canción del Pastorcito" (The Little Shepherd’s Song) by Martín Cuéllar (b. 1959) – Matthew Esko & David Owens, 4-hand piano duet
52:20 Acknowledgments – Rev. Monica Dobbins
53:04 🎵 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 entirely on the generous contributions of our members and friends.
→ Donate: slcuu.org/give
🎬 Related video topics from First Unitarian Church
→ youtube.com/playlist?list=PLouELW-J6FZbbZvVRdb9M9HKzqT9D3pFC
→ youtube.com/playlist?list=PLouELW-J6FZadLpXCUu0oNB7nCDmj-7IG
