Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 7 hours ago
May 3, 2026 service for the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City, with a sermon by Rev. Monica Dobbins and a homily on truth by lay minister Hana Harper. In her sermon, Rev. Monica Dobbins reflects on her conflicted response to Americaβs upcoming 250th anniversary, expressing skepticism about patriotic celebration in light of injustice, inequality, and unmet national ideals. Drawing on voices like Vincent Harding and Langston Hughes, she urges listeners to see the United States not as a finished reality but as an unfinished promise β one that calls for active work toward justice, belonging, and a more compassionate future.
ORDER OF SERVICE
00:00 π΅ Introduction: "We Will Go Out In The World" by David Owens
00:54 π Ringing of the Bell
01:18 π΅ Prelude: "America the Beautiful" β music by Samuel A. Ward (American, 1848-1903); words by Katharine Lee Bates (American, 1859-1929); David Owens, pianoΒ
04:47 π΅ Introit: # 188, "Come, Come, Whoever You Are" β words adapted from a poem by Rumi (1207-1273); music by Rev. Lynn Ungar (American, b. 1963); led by David Owens
05:39 Welcome & Announcements β Rev. Monica Dobbins
09:41 Chalice Lighting β Rev. Monica Dobbins
10:55 π΅ Opening Hymn: # 1051, "We Are..." β words & music by Ysaye M. Barnwell (American, b. 1946); David Owens, piano
14:09 Introduction of the Lay Minister β Rev. Monica Dobbins
14:28 Lay Minister: Hana Harper
20:13 π΅Interlude: "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Paul Simon (American, b. 1941) β David Owens, piano
22:28 π΅ Song of Gratitude: # 1010, "We Give Thanks" β words & music by Wendy Luella Perkins (Canadian, b. 1966); led by Rev. Monica Dobbins
23:38 Share the Plate: Savannah Pearson, La Red de Solidaridad
28:20 π΅ Doxology: "From All that Dwell Below the Skies" β words: composite based on Isaac Watts (English, 1674-1748); melody: "Old Hundredth" from Genevan Psalter (1551)
29:26 Reading: "Let America Be America Again" by Langston Hughes (American, 1901-1967) β Rev. Monica Dobbins
36:04 π΅ Response: "Mood Indigo" by Duke Ellington (American, 1899-1974), Barney Bigard (American, 1906-1980), and Irving Mills (Ukrainian-American, 1894-1985) β David Owens, piano
39:21 Sermon: "What America Will Be" β Rev. Monica Dobbins
50:26 Ritual: Designing Flags
52:00 π΅ Closing Hymn: # 159, "This Is My Song" β words by Lloyd Stone (American, 1912-1993); music by Jean Sibelius (Finnish, 1865-1957); David Owens, organ
54:37 Benediction β Rev. Monica Dobbins
55:34 π΅ Postlude: "This Is My Country" β music by Al Jacobs (American, 1903-1985); words by Don Raye (American, 1909-1985); David Owens, piano
59:00 π΅ 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 Technician
Palmer Pattison, Video Editor
π First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City
β Website: slcuu.org
β Facebook: facebook.com/firstuuslc
β Instagram: instagram.com/firstuuslc
β YouTube: youtube.com/FirstUUSLC
π All of First Unitarian Church's programs depend on the generous contributions of our members and friends.
β Donate: slcuu.breezechms.com/give/online
π¬ Related video topics from First Unitarian Church
β youtube.com/playlist?list=PLouELW-J6FZZLSGAsaNRV_DKPrN2PUh8g
May 3, 2026 service for the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City, with a sermon by Rev. Monica Dobbins and a homily on truth by lay minister Hana Harper. In her sermon, Rev. Monica Dobbins reflects on her conflicted response to Americaβs upcoming 250th anniversary, expressing skepticism about patriotic celebration in light of injustice, inequality, and unmet national ideals. Drawing on voices like Vincent Harding and Langston Hughes, she urges listeners to see the United States not as a finished reality but as an unfinished promise β one that calls for active work toward justice, belonging, and a more compassionate future.
ORDER OF SERVICE
00:00 π΅ Introduction: "We Will Go Out In The World" by David Owens
00:54 π Ringing of the Bell
01:18 π΅ Prelude: "America the Beautiful" β music by Samuel A. Ward (American, 1848-1903); words by Katharine Lee Bates (American, 1859-1929); David Owens, pianoΒ
04:47 π΅ Introit: # 188, "Come, Come, Whoever You Are" β words adapted from a poem by Rumi (1207-1273); music by Rev. Lynn Ungar (American, b. 1963); led by David Owens
05:39 Welcome & Announcements β Rev. Monica Dobbins
09:41 Chalice Lighting β Rev. Monica Dobbins
10:55 π΅ Opening Hymn: # 1051, "We Are..." β words & music by Ysaye M. Barnwell (American, b. 1946); David Owens, piano
14:09 Introduction of the Lay Minister β Rev. Monica Dobbins
14:28 Lay Minister: Hana Harper
20:13 π΅Interlude: "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Paul Simon (American, b. 1941) β David Owens, piano
22:28 π΅ Song of Gratitude: # 1010, "We Give Thanks" β words & music by Wendy Luella Perkins (Canadian, b. 1966); led by Rev. Monica Dobbins
23:38 Share the Plate: Savannah Pearson, La Red de Solidaridad
28:20 π΅ Doxology: "From All that Dwell Below the Skies" β words: composite based on Isaac Watts (English, 1674-1748); melody: "Old Hundredth" from Genevan Psalter (1551)
29:26 Reading: "Let America Be America Again" by Langston Hughes (American, 1901-1967) β Rev. Monica Dobbins
36:04 π΅ Response: "Mood Indigo" by Duke Ellington (American, 1899-1974), Barney Bigard (American, 1906-1980), and Irving Mills (Ukrainian-American, 1894-1985) β David Owens, piano
39:21 Sermon: "What America Will Be" β Rev. Monica Dobbins
50:26 Ritual: Designing Flags
52:00 π΅ Closing Hymn: # 159, "This Is My Song" β words by Lloyd Stone (American, 1912-1993); music by Jean Sibelius (Finnish, 1865-1957); David Owens, organ
54:37 Benediction β Rev. Monica Dobbins
55:34 π΅ Postlude: "This Is My Country" β music by Al Jacobs (American, 1903-1985); words by Don Raye (American, 1909-1985); David Owens, piano
59:00 π΅ 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 Technician
Palmer Pattison, Video Editor
π First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City
β Website: slcuu.org
β Facebook: facebook.com/firstuuslc
β Instagram: instagram.com/firstuuslc
β YouTube: youtube.com/FirstUUSLC
π All of First Unitarian Church's programs depend on the generous contributions of our members and friends.
β Donate: slcuu.breezechms.com/give/online
π¬ Related video topics from First Unitarian Church
β youtube.com/playlist?list=PLouELW-J6FZZLSGAsaNRV_DKPrN2PUh8g
