Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
October 5, 2025 service for the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City. Rev. J Sylvan reflects on the pervasive instability of modern life – political unrest, climate crisis, violence – and how such uncertainty can leave us paralyzed and afraid to act. They recount how, after 9/11, their anxiety and OCD made even small decisions feel world-altering, until they learned to reject the illusion of control and accept life’s unpredictability with humility and faith. Rev. J calls on us to release our old, fear-based narratives, act even when nothing feels certain, and make choices grounded in love rather than fear.
Lay minister Hana Harper shares her family’s story of resilience after her Japanese American grandparents lost everything to WWII internment, describing how they chose hope and renewal instead of bitterness. Drawing on Viktor Frankl’s idea that "between stimulus and response there is a space," she teaches that true spiritual freedom lies in pausing within that space to choose love, presence, and a better legacy over mere reaction or conditioning.
ORDER OF SERVICE
00:00 🎵 Introduction: "We Will Go Out In The World" by David Owens
00:58 🎵 Prelude: "Autumn Lullaby" by James Michael Stevens (American, b. 1961) – Matthew Esko and David Owens, Yamaha C-5 piano and Jaymar toy piano
02:11 🎵 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
03:00 Welcome & Announcements – Rev. Monica Dobbins
07:11 Chalice Lighting – Rev. Monica Dobbins
08:57 🎵 Opening Hymn: # 315, "This Old World" – words adapted from American folk tune; melody from 'The Southern Harmony' (1835)
11:04 Introduction of the Lay Minister – Rev. J Sylvan
11:35 Lay Minister: Hana Harper
16:57 🎵 Interlude: Two Variations and Theme from the "Sarabande" from Suite No. 11 in D minor, HWV 437, by George Frideric Handel (German/British, 1685-1759) and David Owens – David Owens, piano
19:06 Meditation – Rev. Monica Dobbins
23:23 🎵 Meditation Response: "Courante" (excerpt) from Suite No. 11 in D minor, HWV 437, by George Frideric Handel (German/British, 1685-1759) – David Owens, piano
24:43 🎵 Song of Gratitude: # 1010, "We Give Thanks" – words & music by Wendy Luella Perkins (Canadian, b. 1966); led by Rev. J Sylvan
26:15 Share the Plate: Eric Peterson from the Utah Investigative Journalism Project
30:26 🎵 Doxology: "From All that Dwell Below the Skies" – words: composite based on Isaac Watts (English, 1674-1748); melody: "Old Hundredth" from Genevan Psalter (1551)
31:35 Sermon: "Nothing Feels Right" – Rev. J Sylvan
47:17 Ritual – Amanda Esko, Director of Religious Education
52:51 🎵 Closing Hymn: # 1012, "When I Am Frightened" – words & music by Shelly Jackson Denham (American, 1950-2013); arr. Jeannie Gagné (American, b. 1960)
55:47 Benediction – Rev. J Sylvan
56:21 🎵 Postlude: "Prelude" and "Allemande" from Suite No. 4 in A minor by Henry Purcell (English, c. 1659-1695) – David Owens, Kurzweil Mark 10 Digital Piano
58:52 Closing Words – Rev. J Sylvan
59:13 🎵 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
October 5, 2025 service for the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City. Rev. J Sylvan reflects on the pervasive instability of modern life – political unrest, climate crisis, violence – and how such uncertainty can leave us paralyzed and afraid to act. They recount how, after 9/11, their anxiety and OCD made even small decisions feel world-altering, until they learned to reject the illusion of control and accept life’s unpredictability with humility and faith. Rev. J calls on us to release our old, fear-based narratives, act even when nothing feels certain, and make choices grounded in love rather than fear.
Lay minister Hana Harper shares her family’s story of resilience after her Japanese American grandparents lost everything to WWII internment, describing how they chose hope and renewal instead of bitterness. Drawing on Viktor Frankl’s idea that "between stimulus and response there is a space," she teaches that true spiritual freedom lies in pausing within that space to choose love, presence, and a better legacy over mere reaction or conditioning.
ORDER OF SERVICE
00:00 🎵 Introduction: "We Will Go Out In The World" by David Owens
00:58 🎵 Prelude: "Autumn Lullaby" by James Michael Stevens (American, b. 1961) – Matthew Esko and David Owens, Yamaha C-5 piano and Jaymar toy piano
02:11 🎵 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
03:00 Welcome & Announcements – Rev. Monica Dobbins
07:11 Chalice Lighting – Rev. Monica Dobbins
08:57 🎵 Opening Hymn: # 315, "This Old World" – words adapted from American folk tune; melody from 'The Southern Harmony' (1835)
11:04 Introduction of the Lay Minister – Rev. J Sylvan
11:35 Lay Minister: Hana Harper
16:57 🎵 Interlude: Two Variations and Theme from the "Sarabande" from Suite No. 11 in D minor, HWV 437, by George Frideric Handel (German/British, 1685-1759) and David Owens – David Owens, piano
19:06 Meditation – Rev. Monica Dobbins
23:23 🎵 Meditation Response: "Courante" (excerpt) from Suite No. 11 in D minor, HWV 437, by George Frideric Handel (German/British, 1685-1759) – David Owens, piano
24:43 🎵 Song of Gratitude: # 1010, "We Give Thanks" – words & music by Wendy Luella Perkins (Canadian, b. 1966); led by Rev. J Sylvan
26:15 Share the Plate: Eric Peterson from the Utah Investigative Journalism Project
30:26 🎵 Doxology: "From All that Dwell Below the Skies" – words: composite based on Isaac Watts (English, 1674-1748); melody: "Old Hundredth" from Genevan Psalter (1551)
31:35 Sermon: "Nothing Feels Right" – Rev. J Sylvan
47:17 Ritual – Amanda Esko, Director of Religious Education
52:51 🎵 Closing Hymn: # 1012, "When I Am Frightened" – words & music by Shelly Jackson Denham (American, 1950-2013); arr. Jeannie Gagné (American, b. 1960)
55:47 Benediction – Rev. J Sylvan
56:21 🎵 Postlude: "Prelude" and "Allemande" from Suite No. 4 in A minor by Henry Purcell (English, c. 1659-1695) – David Owens, Kurzweil Mark 10 Digital Piano
58:52 Closing Words – Rev. J Sylvan
59:13 🎵 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
