Uploaded November 2024 | Updated September 2026, 35 minutes ago
November 10, 2024 service for the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City, with a homily by lay minister Brandon Checketts, a ceremony welcoming new members into the congregation, and a post-election sermon by the Reverend J Sylvan, centering themes of justice, compassion, clear-eyed realism, mutual support, and collective local action.
Reverend J Sylvan’s sermon addressed the grief, fear, and confusion following the recent presidential election, encouraging the congregation to acknowledge these emotions as valid while focusing on collective action and resilience. They emphasized the importance of protecting vulnerable communities, working with the reality of the current political landscape, and engaging in meaningful, hyper-local efforts toward change. Through historical perspective and a call for compassionate community care, Reverend Sylvan urged listeners to remain hopeful, connected, and active in building a just world, beginning with their immediate neighborhoods.
ORDER OF SERVICE
00:00 🎵 Introduction: "We Will Go Out In The World" by David Owens
00:56 🎵 Prelude: "Rendez-vous manqué" ("The Meeting We Missed") by Michel Block (Belgian, 1937-2003) – David Owens, piano
03:16 🎵 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
04:09 Welcome – Rev. Monica Dobbins
05:45 Chalice Lighting – Rev. Monica Dobbins, with reading from Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer
08:40 🎵 Opening Hymn: # 1009, "Meditation on Breathing" – words & music by Sarah Dan Jones (American, b. 1962); led by David Owens
14:35 Introduction of the Lay Minister – Rev. J Sylvan
15:08 Lay Minister: Brandon Checketts
22:58 🎵 Interlude: "Prelude…" by Peggy Glanville-Hicks (Australian, 1912-1990) – David Owens, piano
24:57 New Member Ceremony – Rev. Monica Dobbins; covenant read by Kim Grob
33:01 🎵 Response: "Pie Jesu" by Karl Jenkins (Welsh, b. 1944) – David Owens, piano
35:17 Announcements – Rev. Monica Dobbins
38:38 🎵 Song of Gratitude: # 1010, "We Give Thanks" – words & music by Wendy Luella Perkins (Canadian, b. 1966); led by Rev. J Sylvan
39:13 Offertory – Rev. J Sylvan
40:40 🎵 Doxology: "From All that Dwell Below the Skies" – words: composite based on Isaac Watts (English, 1674-1748); melody: "Old Hundredth" from Genevan Psalter (1551)
41:45 Sermon: "Now What?" – Rev. J Sylvan
1:02:28 🎵 Closing Hymn: # 123, "Spirit of Life" – words and music by Carolyn McDade (American, b. 1935)
1:04:56 Benediction – Rev. J Sylvan
1:05:36 🎵 Postlude: "Tango" Op. 165, No. 2, by Isaac Albéniz (Spanish, 1860-1909) – David Owens, piano
1:07:23 Closing Words – Rev. J Sylvan
1:08:21 🎵 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
Kristina Pappas, Audiovisual Technician
🌎 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-J6FZYHuPiX5mNS_-rmW49aZ-Rc
November 10, 2024 service for the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City, with a homily by lay minister Brandon Checketts, a ceremony welcoming new members into the congregation, and a post-election sermon by the Reverend J Sylvan, centering themes of justice, compassion, clear-eyed realism, mutual support, and collective local action.
Reverend J Sylvan’s sermon addressed the grief, fear, and confusion following the recent presidential election, encouraging the congregation to acknowledge these emotions as valid while focusing on collective action and resilience. They emphasized the importance of protecting vulnerable communities, working with the reality of the current political landscape, and engaging in meaningful, hyper-local efforts toward change. Through historical perspective and a call for compassionate community care, Reverend Sylvan urged listeners to remain hopeful, connected, and active in building a just world, beginning with their immediate neighborhoods.
ORDER OF SERVICE
00:00 🎵 Introduction: "We Will Go Out In The World" by David Owens
00:56 🎵 Prelude: "Rendez-vous manqué" ("The Meeting We Missed") by Michel Block (Belgian, 1937-2003) – David Owens, piano
03:16 🎵 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
04:09 Welcome – Rev. Monica Dobbins
05:45 Chalice Lighting – Rev. Monica Dobbins, with reading from Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer
08:40 🎵 Opening Hymn: # 1009, "Meditation on Breathing" – words & music by Sarah Dan Jones (American, b. 1962); led by David Owens
14:35 Introduction of the Lay Minister – Rev. J Sylvan
15:08 Lay Minister: Brandon Checketts
22:58 🎵 Interlude: "Prelude…" by Peggy Glanville-Hicks (Australian, 1912-1990) – David Owens, piano
24:57 New Member Ceremony – Rev. Monica Dobbins; covenant read by Kim Grob
33:01 🎵 Response: "Pie Jesu" by Karl Jenkins (Welsh, b. 1944) – David Owens, piano
35:17 Announcements – Rev. Monica Dobbins
38:38 🎵 Song of Gratitude: # 1010, "We Give Thanks" – words & music by Wendy Luella Perkins (Canadian, b. 1966); led by Rev. J Sylvan
39:13 Offertory – Rev. J Sylvan
40:40 🎵 Doxology: "From All that Dwell Below the Skies" – words: composite based on Isaac Watts (English, 1674-1748); melody: "Old Hundredth" from Genevan Psalter (1551)
41:45 Sermon: "Now What?" – Rev. J Sylvan
1:02:28 🎵 Closing Hymn: # 123, "Spirit of Life" – words and music by Carolyn McDade (American, b. 1935)
1:04:56 Benediction – Rev. J Sylvan
1:05:36 🎵 Postlude: "Tango" Op. 165, No. 2, by Isaac Albéniz (Spanish, 1860-1909) – David Owens, piano
1:07:23 Closing Words – Rev. J Sylvan
1:08:21 🎵 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
Kristina Pappas, Audiovisual Technician
🌎 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-J6FZYHuPiX5mNS_-rmW49aZ-Rc
