Uploaded March 2025 | Updated September 2026, 13 hours ago
March 2, 2025 service for the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City.
Lay minister Melinda Pettingill-Patterson recounts her journey of spiritual discovery after leaving the LDS Church. Through a deep relationship with a sycamore tree and the philosophy of the Honorable Harvest, she found a sense of divine connection in nature, discovering that reciprocity, gratitude, and stewardship are sacred acts that sustain both the earth and the human spirit.
Rev. Monica Dobbins' meditation voices a heartfelt plea for solace amid overwhelming injustice, seeking strength to persist in rebuilding a broken world with love.
Guest speaker Ana Covington introduces Comunidades Unidas, a local non-profit that aims to empower Utah’s Latinx and immigrant communities by advocating for their rights, providing essential social services, and fostering self-determination. More info about Comunidades Unidas here: cuutah.org/mission
Rev. J Sylvan's sermon, "The Power of Tears", draws on Sailor Moon as a metaphor for the power of emotions, arguing that embracing traditionally feminine traits like empathy, vulnerability, and connection is a vital form of strength and resistance against a culture that equates power with aggression. They challenge the devaluation of softness in favor of toxic masculinity and urge us to reclaim the "soft power" of love and community as a force for justice and change.
ORDER OF SERVICE
00:00 🎵 Introduction: "We Will Go Out In The World" by David Owens
00:58 🎵 Prelude: "Arietta" by Leroy Anderson (American, 1908-1975) – David Owens, piano
03:15 🎵 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
04:05 Welcome & Announcements – Rev. Monica Dobbins
06:18 Chalice Lighting – Rev. Monica Dobbins
07:34 🎵 Opening Hymn: # 1002, "Comfort Me" – words and music by Mimi Bornstein-Doble (American, b. 1964)
11:57 Lay Minister: Melinda Pettingill-Patterson
20:04 🎵 Interlude: "Time Goes On" by David Owens (American, b. 1961) – David Owens, piano
22:58 Meditation – Rev. Monica Dobbins
25:57 🎵 Meditation Response: "Jazz Waltz" by Catherine Rollin (American, b. 1952) – David Owens, piano
28:10 🎵 Song of Gratitude: # 1010, "We Give Thanks" – words & music by Wendy Luella Perkins (Canadian, b. 1966); led by Rev. J Sylvan
29:28 Share the Plate: Comunidades Unidas (Guest speaker: Ana Covington)
32:02 Offertory – Rev. J Sylvan
32:28 🎵 Doxology: "From All that Dwell Below the Skies" – words: composite based on Isaac Watts (English, 1674-1748); melody: "Old Hundredth" from Genevan Psalter (1551)
33:36 Sermon: "The Power of Tears" – Rev. J Sylvan
48:58 🎵 Ritual: Tears Made Whole; music: "Forgotten Dreams" by Leroy Anderson (American, 1908-1975) – David Owens, piano
53:33 🎵 Closing Hymn: # 95, "There Is More Love Somewhere" – African American hymn
56:02 Benediction – Rev. J Sylvan
56:44 Postlude: "Smile" by Charles Chaplin (British, 1889-1977) – David Owens, piano
58:23 Closing Words – Rev. J Sylvan
58:38 🎵 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.breezechms.com/give/online
🎬 Related video topics from First Unitarian Church
→ youtube.com/playlist?list=PLouELW-J6FZbbZvVRdb9M9HKzqT9D3pFC
March 2, 2025 service for the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City.
Lay minister Melinda Pettingill-Patterson recounts her journey of spiritual discovery after leaving the LDS Church. Through a deep relationship with a sycamore tree and the philosophy of the Honorable Harvest, she found a sense of divine connection in nature, discovering that reciprocity, gratitude, and stewardship are sacred acts that sustain both the earth and the human spirit.
Rev. Monica Dobbins' meditation voices a heartfelt plea for solace amid overwhelming injustice, seeking strength to persist in rebuilding a broken world with love.
Guest speaker Ana Covington introduces Comunidades Unidas, a local non-profit that aims to empower Utah’s Latinx and immigrant communities by advocating for their rights, providing essential social services, and fostering self-determination. More info about Comunidades Unidas here: cuutah.org/mission
Rev. J Sylvan's sermon, "The Power of Tears", draws on Sailor Moon as a metaphor for the power of emotions, arguing that embracing traditionally feminine traits like empathy, vulnerability, and connection is a vital form of strength and resistance against a culture that equates power with aggression. They challenge the devaluation of softness in favor of toxic masculinity and urge us to reclaim the "soft power" of love and community as a force for justice and change.
ORDER OF SERVICE
00:00 🎵 Introduction: "We Will Go Out In The World" by David Owens
00:58 🎵 Prelude: "Arietta" by Leroy Anderson (American, 1908-1975) – David Owens, piano
03:15 🎵 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
04:05 Welcome & Announcements – Rev. Monica Dobbins
06:18 Chalice Lighting – Rev. Monica Dobbins
07:34 🎵 Opening Hymn: # 1002, "Comfort Me" – words and music by Mimi Bornstein-Doble (American, b. 1964)
11:57 Lay Minister: Melinda Pettingill-Patterson
20:04 🎵 Interlude: "Time Goes On" by David Owens (American, b. 1961) – David Owens, piano
22:58 Meditation – Rev. Monica Dobbins
25:57 🎵 Meditation Response: "Jazz Waltz" by Catherine Rollin (American, b. 1952) – David Owens, piano
28:10 🎵 Song of Gratitude: # 1010, "We Give Thanks" – words & music by Wendy Luella Perkins (Canadian, b. 1966); led by Rev. J Sylvan
29:28 Share the Plate: Comunidades Unidas (Guest speaker: Ana Covington)
32:02 Offertory – Rev. J Sylvan
32:28 🎵 Doxology: "From All that Dwell Below the Skies" – words: composite based on Isaac Watts (English, 1674-1748); melody: "Old Hundredth" from Genevan Psalter (1551)
33:36 Sermon: "The Power of Tears" – Rev. J Sylvan
48:58 🎵 Ritual: Tears Made Whole; music: "Forgotten Dreams" by Leroy Anderson (American, 1908-1975) – David Owens, piano
53:33 🎵 Closing Hymn: # 95, "There Is More Love Somewhere" – African American hymn
56:02 Benediction – Rev. J Sylvan
56:44 Postlude: "Smile" by Charles Chaplin (British, 1889-1977) – David Owens, piano
58:23 Closing Words – Rev. J Sylvan
58:38 🎵 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.breezechms.com/give/online
🎬 Related video topics from First Unitarian Church
→ youtube.com/playlist?list=PLouELW-J6FZbbZvVRdb9M9HKzqT9D3pFC
