Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 35 minutes ago
Rev. J Sylvan recalls how they came to admire Buffalo Bills fans for their unwavering loyalty and communal spirit – even in perpetual defeat. Through stories of family, fandom, and their child's lesson in sportsmanship, Rev. J illustrates how steadfast love and commitment matter more than success or perfection. They urge us to bring that same faithfulness to our relationships and communities – to love not for gain, but for love’s own sake, standing by one another through both triumph and loss.
Lay minister Lee Shuster reflects on how everyday decisions, from trivial choices to life-changing ones, shape who we become. Drawing from his own difficult decision to leave college and enlist in the Air Force, he reminds us that true freedom comes not from avoiding uncertainty, but from making choices guided by our core values: justice, equity, transformation, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and above all, love.
ORDER OF SERVICE
00:00 🎵 Introduction: "We Will Go Out In The World" by David Owens
00:58 🎵 Prelude: "Afro Blue" by Mongo Santamaria (Cuban, 1917-2003); presented by Nicole Pinnell, cello
03:48 🎵 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
04:42 Welcome & Announcements – Rev. Monica Dobbins
08:52 Chalice Lighting – Rev. Monica Dobbins
10:09 🎵 Opening Hymn: # 346, "Come, Sing a Song with Me" – words & music by Carolyn McDade (American, b. 1935)
13:18 Introduction of the Lay Minister – Rev. J Sylvan
13:40 Lay Minister: Lee Shuster
19:49 🎵 Interlude: "Remembering You" by Eugene Friesen (American, b. 1952) & Paul Halley (English, b. 1952); Nicole Pinnell, cello; David Owens, piano
22:56 Meditation – Rev. Monica Dobbins
26:54 🎵 Meditation Response: Improvisation by Nicole Pinnell, cello
29:05 🎵 Song of Gratitude: # 1010, "We Give Thanks" – words & music by Wendy Luella Perkins (Canadian, b. 1966); led by Rev. J Sylvan
29:48 🎵 Doxology: "From All that Dwell Below the Skies" – words: composite based on Isaac Watts (English, 1674-1748); melody: "Old Hundredth" from Genevan Psalter (1551)
30:58 Sermon: "Through Thick and Thin" – Rev. J Sylvan
51:21 🎵 Closing Hymn: # 131, "Love Will Guide Us" – words by Sally Rogers (American, b. 1954); traditional melody, arr. Betty A. Wylder (American, 1923-1994)
52:48 Benediction – Rev. J Sylvan
53:32 🎵 Postlude: "Allegro vivace" from 'Six Studies in English Folk Song' by Ralph Vaughan Williams (English, 1872-1958); presented by Nicole Pinnell, cello & David Owens, piano
54:38 Closing Words – Rev. J Sylvan
55:12 🎵 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
Rev. J Sylvan recalls how they came to admire Buffalo Bills fans for their unwavering loyalty and communal spirit – even in perpetual defeat. Through stories of family, fandom, and their child's lesson in sportsmanship, Rev. J illustrates how steadfast love and commitment matter more than success or perfection. They urge us to bring that same faithfulness to our relationships and communities – to love not for gain, but for love’s own sake, standing by one another through both triumph and loss.
Lay minister Lee Shuster reflects on how everyday decisions, from trivial choices to life-changing ones, shape who we become. Drawing from his own difficult decision to leave college and enlist in the Air Force, he reminds us that true freedom comes not from avoiding uncertainty, but from making choices guided by our core values: justice, equity, transformation, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and above all, love.
ORDER OF SERVICE
00:00 🎵 Introduction: "We Will Go Out In The World" by David Owens
00:58 🎵 Prelude: "Afro Blue" by Mongo Santamaria (Cuban, 1917-2003); presented by Nicole Pinnell, cello
03:48 🎵 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
04:42 Welcome & Announcements – Rev. Monica Dobbins
08:52 Chalice Lighting – Rev. Monica Dobbins
10:09 🎵 Opening Hymn: # 346, "Come, Sing a Song with Me" – words & music by Carolyn McDade (American, b. 1935)
13:18 Introduction of the Lay Minister – Rev. J Sylvan
13:40 Lay Minister: Lee Shuster
19:49 🎵 Interlude: "Remembering You" by Eugene Friesen (American, b. 1952) & Paul Halley (English, b. 1952); Nicole Pinnell, cello; David Owens, piano
22:56 Meditation – Rev. Monica Dobbins
26:54 🎵 Meditation Response: Improvisation by Nicole Pinnell, cello
29:05 🎵 Song of Gratitude: # 1010, "We Give Thanks" – words & music by Wendy Luella Perkins (Canadian, b. 1966); led by Rev. J Sylvan
29:48 🎵 Doxology: "From All that Dwell Below the Skies" – words: composite based on Isaac Watts (English, 1674-1748); melody: "Old Hundredth" from Genevan Psalter (1551)
30:58 Sermon: "Through Thick and Thin" – Rev. J Sylvan
51:21 🎵 Closing Hymn: # 131, "Love Will Guide Us" – words by Sally Rogers (American, b. 1954); traditional melody, arr. Betty A. Wylder (American, 1923-1994)
52:48 Benediction – Rev. J Sylvan
53:32 🎵 Postlude: "Allegro vivace" from 'Six Studies in English Folk Song' by Ralph Vaughan Williams (English, 1872-1958); presented by Nicole Pinnell, cello & David Owens, piano
54:38 Closing Words – Rev. J Sylvan
55:12 🎵 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
