Uploaded February 2024 | Updated September 2026, 15 hours ago
February 18, 2024 service for the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City, presented by guest minister Reverend Susan Allman and lay minister Lissa Lander.
Lissa Lander reflects on her journey from being a church assistant to reinventing online programming during the COVID pandemic, highlighting her struggles with ego and self-importance.
Rev. Allman shares two poems by Mary Oliver and reflects on certain past experiences, including her transformative time at a cabin in Brian Head, Utah, where she found solace in nature. Her sermon considers the significance of myth and the importance of sharing personal stories, emphasizing the value of living with ambiguity, paradox, and mystery.
Rev. Susan Allman moved to Salt Lake City 2½ years ago from Cedar City, UT, where she was Vicar at St Jude’s Episcopal Church. She was a high school English teacher for 34 years at Dos Pueblos High School in Goleta, CA, and at Millcreek High School, Washington County’s alternative school, in St George, UT.
*ORDER OF SERVICE*
00:00 🎵 Introduction: "We Will Go Out In The World" – music by David Owens
01:00 🎵 Prelude: "Watchman's Song" (Op. 12, No. 3) by Edvard Grieg (1843-1907); presented by the Bell Ensemble at First Church
04:27 🎵 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 and the Bell Ensemble
05:29 Welcome & Announcements – Lissa Lander
09:24 Chalice Lighting – Rev. Susan Allman, reading: "Walking Home from Oak-Head" by Mary Oliver
11:56 🎵 Song: "No Day but Today" from the musical 'Rent' by Jonathan David Larson (American, 1960-1996) – sung by the Congregation; led by David Owens
15:57 Lissa Lander, Lay Minister
24:34 🎵 Interlude: "Distant Bells" by Louis Streabbog (Belgian, 1835-1886); presented by the Bell Ensemble at First Church
26:34 Reading: "Messenger" by Mary Oliver – Rev. Susan Allman
29:36 🎵 Response: Variation on theme from "No Day but Today" – David Owens, piano
31:36 🎵 Song of Gratitude: # 1010, "We Give Thanks" – words & music by Wendy Luella Perkins (Canadian, b. 1966); led by Lissa Lander
32:16 Offertory – Lissa Lander
32:27 🎵 Doxology: "From All that Dwell Below the Skies"
33:52 Sermon: "Life As Myth" – Rev. Susan Allman
52:13 🎵 Hymn: # 1003, "Where Do We Come From?" – words by Paul Gauguin (French, 1848-1903) and Brian Tate (Canadian, b. 1954); music by Brian Tate (Canadian, b. 1954)
56:28 Benediction – Rev. Susan Allman
56:57 🎵 Postlude: "Ubi Caritas" / "Gloria" from 'The Songs of Taizé' by Jacques Berthier (French, 1923-1994); presented by the Bell Ensemble at First Church
58:43 Closing Words – Rev. Susan Allman
59:27 🎵 End Credits
Rev. J Sylvan, Senior 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
🙏 We are supported by the financial contributions of our members and friends.
→ Donate: slcuu.org/give
🎬 Related video topics from First Unitarian Church
→ 2023-2024 Church Season: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLouELW-J6FZbDnrbE194WlV7b_q-9iZs0
→ Guest Ministers: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLouELW-J6FZboHlAYU1n82mgW4-RzmtpO
February 18, 2024 service for the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City, presented by guest minister Reverend Susan Allman and lay minister Lissa Lander.
Lissa Lander reflects on her journey from being a church assistant to reinventing online programming during the COVID pandemic, highlighting her struggles with ego and self-importance.
Rev. Allman shares two poems by Mary Oliver and reflects on certain past experiences, including her transformative time at a cabin in Brian Head, Utah, where she found solace in nature. Her sermon considers the significance of myth and the importance of sharing personal stories, emphasizing the value of living with ambiguity, paradox, and mystery.
Rev. Susan Allman moved to Salt Lake City 2½ years ago from Cedar City, UT, where she was Vicar at St Jude’s Episcopal Church. She was a high school English teacher for 34 years at Dos Pueblos High School in Goleta, CA, and at Millcreek High School, Washington County’s alternative school, in St George, UT.
*ORDER OF SERVICE*
00:00 🎵 Introduction: "We Will Go Out In The World" – music by David Owens
01:00 🎵 Prelude: "Watchman's Song" (Op. 12, No. 3) by Edvard Grieg (1843-1907); presented by the Bell Ensemble at First Church
04:27 🎵 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 and the Bell Ensemble
05:29 Welcome & Announcements – Lissa Lander
09:24 Chalice Lighting – Rev. Susan Allman, reading: "Walking Home from Oak-Head" by Mary Oliver
11:56 🎵 Song: "No Day but Today" from the musical 'Rent' by Jonathan David Larson (American, 1960-1996) – sung by the Congregation; led by David Owens
15:57 Lissa Lander, Lay Minister
24:34 🎵 Interlude: "Distant Bells" by Louis Streabbog (Belgian, 1835-1886); presented by the Bell Ensemble at First Church
26:34 Reading: "Messenger" by Mary Oliver – Rev. Susan Allman
29:36 🎵 Response: Variation on theme from "No Day but Today" – David Owens, piano
31:36 🎵 Song of Gratitude: # 1010, "We Give Thanks" – words & music by Wendy Luella Perkins (Canadian, b. 1966); led by Lissa Lander
32:16 Offertory – Lissa Lander
32:27 🎵 Doxology: "From All that Dwell Below the Skies"
33:52 Sermon: "Life As Myth" – Rev. Susan Allman
52:13 🎵 Hymn: # 1003, "Where Do We Come From?" – words by Paul Gauguin (French, 1848-1903) and Brian Tate (Canadian, b. 1954); music by Brian Tate (Canadian, b. 1954)
56:28 Benediction – Rev. Susan Allman
56:57 🎵 Postlude: "Ubi Caritas" / "Gloria" from 'The Songs of Taizé' by Jacques Berthier (French, 1923-1994); presented by the Bell Ensemble at First Church
58:43 Closing Words – Rev. Susan Allman
59:27 🎵 End Credits
Rev. J Sylvan, Senior 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
🙏 We are supported by the financial contributions of our members and friends.
→ Donate: slcuu.org/give
🎬 Related video topics from First Unitarian Church
→ 2023-2024 Church Season: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLouELW-J6FZbDnrbE194WlV7b_q-9iZs0
→ Guest Ministers: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLouELW-J6FZboHlAYU1n82mgW4-RzmtpO
