Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
February 9, 2025 service for the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City.
Lay minister Brandon Checketts recounts his experience of of buying and renovating a house to rent out, illustrating how his discomfort with purely transactional relationships led him to create a more meaningful, interdependent arrangement with a family in need.
Rev. Monica Dobbins' meditation reminds us that we must deliberately create moments of rest in our lives – spaces akin to "green pastures and still waters" – where our bodies and spirits can find true restoration.
Jessica and Jim French share why they pledge to the church, aiming to support its role in fostering an ethical and spiritually nurturing community, with the hope that it will remain a thriving place for future generations.
Reverend J Sylvan's sermon challenges overused phrases like “unprecedented,” “the new normal,” and “in these uncertain times,” contending that there is nothing new or extraordinary about uncertainty – people have always lived with plagues, wars, factionalism, and ever-shifting realities. Using examples ranging from the 2016 election to quantum mechanics, Rev. J argues that striving for stasis and false certainty denies the inevitability of change and the growth that can come from it.
ORDER OF SERVICE
00:00 🎵 Introduction: "We Will Go Out In The World" by David Owens
01:00 🎵 Prelude: Prelude in C Major, BWV 846 by Johann Sebastian Bach (German, 1685-1750) – David Owens, piano
03:17 🎵 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
04:06 Welcome & Announcements – Rev. Monica Dobbins
08:04 Chalice Lighting – Rev. Monica Dobbins
9:00 🎵 Opening Hymn: # 1009, "Meditation on Breathing" – words & music by Sarah Dan Jones (American, b. 1962); led by David Owens
12:02 Lay Minister: Brandon Checketts
18:42 🎵 Interlude: "The Leopard on the Seesaw" by Aram Khachaturian (Armenian, 1903-1978) – David Owens, piano
20:32 Meditation – Rev. Monica Dobbins
27:15 🎵 Meditation Response: 'Credo', No. 2: "I Believe" by Margaret Bonds (African-American, 1913-1972) – David Owens, piano
29:13 Pledge Drive Update – Rev. J Sylvan
31:00 Why We Give – Jessica and Jim French
33:42 🎵 Song of Gratitude: # 1010, "We Give Thanks" – words & music by Wendy Luella Perkins (Canadian, b. 1966); led by Rev. J Sylvan
34:25 Offertory – Rev. J Sylvan
34:35 🎵 Doxology: "From All that Dwell Below the Skies" – words: composite based on Isaac Watts (English, 1674-1748); melody: "Old Hundredth" from Genevan Psalter (1551)
35:40 Sermon: "Into the Unknown" – Rev. J Sylvan
54:49 🎵 Closing Hymn: # 123, "Spirit of Life" by Carolyn McDade (American, b. 1935)
56:27 Benediction – Rev. J Sylvan
57:02 🎵 Postlude: "Between Dawn, Noon and Midnight" (excerpt) by Mai Fukasawa (Japanese, b. 1977) – David Owens, piano
59:40 Closing Words – Rev. J Sylvan
1:00:24 🎵 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.org/give
🎬 Related video topics from First Unitarian Church
→ youtube.com/playlist?list=PLouELW-J6FZbbZvVRdb9M9HKzqT9D3pFC
February 9, 2025 service for the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City.
Lay minister Brandon Checketts recounts his experience of of buying and renovating a house to rent out, illustrating how his discomfort with purely transactional relationships led him to create a more meaningful, interdependent arrangement with a family in need.
Rev. Monica Dobbins' meditation reminds us that we must deliberately create moments of rest in our lives – spaces akin to "green pastures and still waters" – where our bodies and spirits can find true restoration.
Jessica and Jim French share why they pledge to the church, aiming to support its role in fostering an ethical and spiritually nurturing community, with the hope that it will remain a thriving place for future generations.
Reverend J Sylvan's sermon challenges overused phrases like “unprecedented,” “the new normal,” and “in these uncertain times,” contending that there is nothing new or extraordinary about uncertainty – people have always lived with plagues, wars, factionalism, and ever-shifting realities. Using examples ranging from the 2016 election to quantum mechanics, Rev. J argues that striving for stasis and false certainty denies the inevitability of change and the growth that can come from it.
ORDER OF SERVICE
00:00 🎵 Introduction: "We Will Go Out In The World" by David Owens
01:00 🎵 Prelude: Prelude in C Major, BWV 846 by Johann Sebastian Bach (German, 1685-1750) – David Owens, piano
03:17 🎵 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
04:06 Welcome & Announcements – Rev. Monica Dobbins
08:04 Chalice Lighting – Rev. Monica Dobbins
9:00 🎵 Opening Hymn: # 1009, "Meditation on Breathing" – words & music by Sarah Dan Jones (American, b. 1962); led by David Owens
12:02 Lay Minister: Brandon Checketts
18:42 🎵 Interlude: "The Leopard on the Seesaw" by Aram Khachaturian (Armenian, 1903-1978) – David Owens, piano
20:32 Meditation – Rev. Monica Dobbins
27:15 🎵 Meditation Response: 'Credo', No. 2: "I Believe" by Margaret Bonds (African-American, 1913-1972) – David Owens, piano
29:13 Pledge Drive Update – Rev. J Sylvan
31:00 Why We Give – Jessica and Jim French
33:42 🎵 Song of Gratitude: # 1010, "We Give Thanks" – words & music by Wendy Luella Perkins (Canadian, b. 1966); led by Rev. J Sylvan
34:25 Offertory – Rev. J Sylvan
34:35 🎵 Doxology: "From All that Dwell Below the Skies" – words: composite based on Isaac Watts (English, 1674-1748); melody: "Old Hundredth" from Genevan Psalter (1551)
35:40 Sermon: "Into the Unknown" – Rev. J Sylvan
54:49 🎵 Closing Hymn: # 123, "Spirit of Life" by Carolyn McDade (American, b. 1935)
56:27 Benediction – Rev. J Sylvan
57:02 🎵 Postlude: "Between Dawn, Noon and Midnight" (excerpt) by Mai Fukasawa (Japanese, b. 1977) – David Owens, piano
59:40 Closing Words – Rev. J Sylvan
1:00:24 🎵 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.org/give
🎬 Related video topics from First Unitarian Church
→ youtube.com/playlist?list=PLouELW-J6FZbbZvVRdb9M9HKzqT9D3pFC
