Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 5 hours ago
November 30, 2025 service for the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City. Rev. Monica Dobbins reflects on Advent as a season of hope, encouraging us to acknowledge the mixture of joy and struggle in our lives rather than rush into consumer-driven holiday busyness. She critiques the cultural pressure for 'more' – more stuff, more productivity, more consumption. Inviting us to practice consciously cultivating contentment, gratitude, and presence, she cites the words of Robin Wall Kimmerer: "In a consumer society, contentment is a radical proposition."
ORDER OF SERVICE
00:00 🎵 Introduction: "We Will Go Out In The World" by David Owens
00:58 🎵 Prelude: "Sunrise Over Reykjavik" by Wynn-Anne Rossi (American, b. 1956) – David Owens, piano
03:44 🎵 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
04:32 Welcome & Announcements – Rev. Monica Dobbins
07:53 Chalice Lighting – Rev. Monica Dobbins
09:30 🎵 Opening Hymn: # 83, "Winds Be Still" – words: Richard S. Kimball (American, 1934-2007); music: Samuel Sebastian Wesley (English, 1810-1876)
12:07 Meditation – Rev. Monica Dobbins
17:07 🎵 Meditation Response: "Let Me Fall" by Jim Corcoran (Canadian, b. 1949) and Benoit Jutras (Canadian, b. 1963) – piano interpretation: David Owens
20:26 🎵 Song of Gratitude: # 1010, "We Give Thanks" – words & music by Wendy Luella Perkins (Canadian, b. 1966); led by Rev. Monica Dobbins
21:11 🎵 Doxology: "From All that Dwell Below the Skies" – words: composite based on Isaac Watts (English, 1674-1748); melody: "Old Hundredth" from Genevan Psalter (1551)
22:15 Sermon: "Less" – Rev. Monica Dobbins
37:44 🎵 Closing Hymn: # 352, "Find a Stillness" – words: Carl Gerrard Seaburg (American, 1922-1998), based on a Unitarian Transylvanian text; music: Transylvanian hymn tune
39:50 Benediction – Rev. Monica Dobbins
40:29 🎵 "Tango" by Timothy Brown (American, born c. 1967) – David Owens, piano
42:52 Closing Words – Rev. Monica Dobbins
43:13 🎵 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
🌎 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 30, 2025 service for the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City. Rev. Monica Dobbins reflects on Advent as a season of hope, encouraging us to acknowledge the mixture of joy and struggle in our lives rather than rush into consumer-driven holiday busyness. She critiques the cultural pressure for 'more' – more stuff, more productivity, more consumption. Inviting us to practice consciously cultivating contentment, gratitude, and presence, she cites the words of Robin Wall Kimmerer: "In a consumer society, contentment is a radical proposition."
ORDER OF SERVICE
00:00 🎵 Introduction: "We Will Go Out In The World" by David Owens
00:58 🎵 Prelude: "Sunrise Over Reykjavik" by Wynn-Anne Rossi (American, b. 1956) – David Owens, piano
03:44 🎵 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
04:32 Welcome & Announcements – Rev. Monica Dobbins
07:53 Chalice Lighting – Rev. Monica Dobbins
09:30 🎵 Opening Hymn: # 83, "Winds Be Still" – words: Richard S. Kimball (American, 1934-2007); music: Samuel Sebastian Wesley (English, 1810-1876)
12:07 Meditation – Rev. Monica Dobbins
17:07 🎵 Meditation Response: "Let Me Fall" by Jim Corcoran (Canadian, b. 1949) and Benoit Jutras (Canadian, b. 1963) – piano interpretation: David Owens
20:26 🎵 Song of Gratitude: # 1010, "We Give Thanks" – words & music by Wendy Luella Perkins (Canadian, b. 1966); led by Rev. Monica Dobbins
21:11 🎵 Doxology: "From All that Dwell Below the Skies" – words: composite based on Isaac Watts (English, 1674-1748); melody: "Old Hundredth" from Genevan Psalter (1551)
22:15 Sermon: "Less" – Rev. Monica Dobbins
37:44 🎵 Closing Hymn: # 352, "Find a Stillness" – words: Carl Gerrard Seaburg (American, 1922-1998), based on a Unitarian Transylvanian text; music: Transylvanian hymn tune
39:50 Benediction – Rev. Monica Dobbins
40:29 🎵 "Tango" by Timothy Brown (American, born c. 1967) – David Owens, piano
42:52 Closing Words – Rev. Monica Dobbins
43:13 🎵 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
🌎 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
