Liberate Truth - Radiate Kindness - Love Courageously

Sunday Worship

Upcoming Services

Services begin at 11:00 AM.
Hearing assistance receivers are available.

August 29, 2010

The Good News
Reverend Bill Neely
As we begin our year of transition ministry together, let's recall and envision the good news of our faith. What does First Church bring to life in Detroit? How is our faith a blessing in this world?

September 5, 2010

Many Rivers, One Water
Reverend Bill Neely
While taking many different forms, Water Communion is a common Unitarian Universalist ritual that honors the diversity and unity of our religious communities. For this service, all are encouraged to bring a small sample of water representative of your home or travels to merge in our common bowl. As many, and as one, we’ll join together in the spirit of our faith.

September 12, 2010

A Mosque in America
Reverend Bill Neely
The plan to build a mosque in New York City near the site of one of the 9-11 attacks has garnered considerable attention. What does this controversy say about the religious climate of America, and how can our faith help shape the discussion?

September 19, 2010

Leading Spiritually
Reverend Bill Neely
Leading in churches, either professionally or as a volunteer, requires not simply leadership skills, but skills in spiritual leadership. How does one lead spiritually? How is spiritual leadership different from other types?

Previous Services

Note: Audio recordings of many recent services are available here.

August 22, 2010

Come Sing a Song With Me
Todd Ballou, Gwen Foss

August 15, 2010

Appreciating Ambiguity
Cassandra Hartley

August 8, 2010

Expect Nothing, Live Frugally on Surprise
Kathleen Jacobs Johnson

August 1, 2010

Unitarian Universalism, What's It All About?
Robert Johnson, Katherine Maurer, Dan Secrest

July 25, 2010

Celebrating the Small Stuff
Julie Brock

July 18, 2010

Appreciate The Commons
Reverend Lynda Smith

July 11, 2010

Celebrating Uppity Women
Mary Lou Malone

July 4, 2010

Slender Threads: God's Will vs I Will
Brad Rutledge

June 27, 2010

Social Forum, UU's, & Connectivity
Robert Johnson, Linda Darga, and Danny Rebb

June 20, 2010

Who's Your Daddy?
Al Acker and Julie Brock

June 13, 2010

Another Threshold
Reverend Drew Johnston

June 6, 2010

Integrity, Hope, & Pride
Reverend Drew Johnston

May 30, 2010

The Beauty of Letting Go
Stephanie Chang, Dessa Cosma, Robert Johnson

May 23, 2010

Reclaiming Religion
Reverend Doug Gallager and Celia Thurston

May 16, 2010

To Tell the Truth
Reverend Drew Johnston

May 9, 2010

She Made Me
Reverend Drew Johnston

May 2, 2010

Point of Origin
Reverend Drew Johnston

April 25, 2010

Still In Orbit
Reverend Drew Johnston

April 18, 2010

Conundrum, Koan, Puzzle
Reverend Drew Johnston

April 11, 2010

The Question of Evil
Reverend Lynda Smith

April 4, 2010

Easter
Reverend Drew Johnston

March 28, 2010

Putting It In Order
Reverend Drew Johnston

March 21, 2010

To Be, . . . or not
Reverend Drew Johnston

March 14, 2010

An Examined Faith
Reverend Lynda Smith

March 7, 2010

Our Ancient Emotional Souls
Jim Moir

February 28, 2010

Greater Hope
Reverend Drew Johnston, with Robert Johnson

February 21, 2010

Public Transportation and Rosa Parks
Lee Gaddies and Dan Jones

February 14, 2010

Radical Hospitality
Written by Reverend Marilyn Sewell, Delivered by Mary Lou Malone

February 7, 2010

Labor of Love
Reverend Drew Johnston

January 31, 2010

Telling Church
Reverend Drew Johnston

January 24, 2010

Freefall
Reverend Drew Johnston

January 17, 2010

Ministers, Ministry, and Movin' On
Reverend Nana Kratochvil

January 10, 2010

It's Nothing Personal
Reverend Drew Johnston
(Congregational Meeting Following the Service)

January 3, 2010

Future Memories
Julie Brock and Robert Johnson

December 27, 2009

Embracing Change
Lencha Acker and Julie Brock

December 24, 2009
6:30 PM

Christmas Eve
Reverends Drew Johnston and Lynda Smith

December 20, 2009

A Winter Solstice
Rev. Lynda Smith

December 13, 2009

Surprise Packages
Rev. Drew Johnston

December 6, 2009

Becoming Who We Are
Rev. Lynda Smith and Dessa Cosma

November 29, 2009

Bringing Hope Where Hope is Hard to Find
Worship Committee

November 22, 2009

Deep Gratitude
Reverend Drew Johnston & Reverend Lynda Smith

November 15, 2009

Fire of Thought
Reverend Drew Johnston

November 8, 2009

Gratuitous Good
Reverend Drew Johnston

November 1, 2009

A Family of Saints
Reverend Lynda Smith

October 25, 2009

Where Fear Lurks
Reverend Drew Johnston

October 18, 2009

Sit Down and Stand Up
Reverend Drew Johnston

October 11, 2009

Coming Out, Coming Home
Reverend Lynda Smith

October 4, 2009

Life Stages
Reverend Drew Johnston

September 27, 2009

Indirectly
Reverend Drew Johnston
with special music by Roy Zimmerman.

September 20, 2009

Highly Holy
Reverend Drew Johnston

September 13, 2009

Boundary Water
Reverends Drew Johnston and Lynda Smith

September 6, 2009

Water Ceremony
Reverend Drew Johnston

August 30, 2009

Playful and Determined
Reverend Drew Johnston

August 23, 2009

The Cool Congregation
Alicia Biggers

August 16, 2009

Having Plenty
Reverend Drew Johnston

August 9, 2009

The Labyrinth
Reverend Lynda Smith & Friends

August 2, 2009

Darwin
Len Zettel

July 26, 2009

Do No Harm
Randy Block

July 19, 2009

Do No Harm
Mary Lou Malone

July 12, 2009

OMG! An Atheist Evolves
Jim Moir

July 5, 2009

Fearless Change
Brad Rutledge

June 28, 2009

Fear and Choice
Reverend Lynda Smith

June 21, 2009

Seeds of Freedom
Reverends Drew Johnston & Lynda Smith

June 14, 2009

Oh, The Places You'll Go
Reverend Drew Johnston

June 7, 2009

What Have You Done Lately?
Reverend Drew Johnston

May 31, 2009

Evolving
Reverend Drew Johnston

May 24, 2009

Honoring Memories
Reverend Lynda Smith & Members of the Congregation

May 17, 2009

Why You Matter
Reverend Drew Johnston

May 10, 2009

What Momma Said
Reverend Drew Johnston

May 3, 2009

A Question of Normal
Reverend Lynda Smith

April 26, 2009

Collaborative Justice
Reverend Drew Johnston

April 19, 2009

Gifts of Gender - Male, Female, and the Rest of Us
Reverend Drew Johnston

April 12, 2009

Easter
Reverends Drew Johnston and Lynda Smith

April 5, 2009

Justice in Action
Reverend Lynda Smith

March 29, 2009

Church: The Musical
Todd Ballou

March 22, 2009

Metaphors Be With You
Reverend Drew Johnston

March 15, 2009

March Freely
Reverend Lynda Smith

March 8, 2009

The Next Knot
Reverend Drew Johnston

March 1, 2009

Marching On
Reverend Drew Johnston

February 22, 2009

Loving the Night
Reverend Lynda Smith

February 15, 2009

Loving Anyway
Reverend Drew Johnston

February 8, 2009

Love and the Other
Reverend Drew Johnston

February 1, 2009

Love, Learn, Repeat
Reverend Drew Johnston

January 25, 2009

On a Clear Day
Reverend Lynda Smith

January 18, 2009

A New View
Reverend Drew Johnston

January 11, 2009

Bright Ideas
Reverend Drew Johnston

January 4, 2009

Matters of Fact
Reverend Drew Johnston

December 28, 2008

Celebrating Kwanzaa
An Act of Self-Empowerment for African Americans
Dr. Amorie Robinson

December 24, 2008
6:30 PM

Christmas Eve
Reverends Drew Johnston and Lynda Smith

December 21, 2008

Waiting for Love
Reverend Drew Johnston

December 14, 2008

Waiting for Kindness
Reverend Lynda Smith

December 7, 2008

Waiting for Truth
Reverend Drew Johnston

November 30, 2008

Comfort Food, Comfort Faith
Jim Moir

November 23, 2008

To Receive is to Give
Reverend Lynda Smith

November 16, 2008

Ready for Grace
Reverend Drew Johnston

November 9, 2008

New Prospects
Reverend Drew Johnston

November 2, 2008

Matters of Consequence
Reverend Drew Johnston

October 26, 2008

An Agent for Change
Guest Speaker: Dr James Robinson
with Reverend Drew Johnston

October 19, 2008

Our Liberal Tradition
Reverend Lynda Smith
Our enduring legacy has both religious and cultural lessons. From the great theologian, James Luther Adams, till today, liberalism affirms basic values of democracy.

October 12, 2008

What Could Be Better?
Reverend Drew Johnston

October 5, 2008

Ultimate Value
Reverend Drew Johnston

September 28, 2008

Gratitude: for the beautiful and the difficult.
Reverend Lynda Smith

September 21, 2008

Transcending Faith
Reverend Drew Johnston

September 14, 2008

New Rhythm
Reverend Drew Johnston

September 7, 2008

Next Steps
Reverend Drew Johnston

August 31, 2008

Mingling Waters
Reverend Drew Johnston

August 24, 2008

Age is Not A Disease
Averil Spence-Clarke, Windsor UU Church
We react to aging, perceive it as a loss of central core skills and thought patterning in our lives. What if we change how we think about aging and life? What would be the impacts?

August 17, 2008

Water Ceremony
Wherever You Go

August 10, 2008

Environmental Justice in Southeast Michigan
Reverend Lynda Smith
Global warming, sustainability, urban agriculture, buy local--the issues are compelling and contentious. Environmental justice calls for public policy that promotes environmentally safe livelihoods and neighborhoods for all people. It demands an economic and cultural liberation that will change us all.

August 3, 2008

Justice in the Middle East
Sarah Smith-Redmond
She reports on her trip last fall, with 9 other U.U.s, to Israel/Palestine to observe first-hand.

July 30, 2008

Candlelight Vigil in Solidarity with Knoxville UU Church
Rev. Drew Johnston
A candlelight vigil was held at 7pm on Wednesday, July 30, at First Unitarian Universalist Church of Detroit in solidarity with a community near Knoxville, Tenn. that was violently attacked in an apparent anti-gay shooting. The gunman opened fire during a youth service at Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in part, police said, because he opposed the church's gay-friendly stance. FBI officials are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime.

July 27, 2008

Say Nice!
S'eri U'elz
"Love thy neighbor as thyself,” a check-up and tips on how to do both better for a better community.

July 20, 2008

The Gospel of Thomas
Jim Moir
The Gospel of Thomas was unearthed in 1945 near Cairo. It is not a narrative like the established gospels; rather, it is a collection of sayings and quotations attributed to Jesus. There is controversy about the age and the reliability of this gospel, issues which Jim Moir will address. This book reinforced Jim's interest in the life and teachings of Jesus. He hopes to show how Thomas can give us a new perspective on Christian scriptures.

July 13, 2008

Enoch: The Green Prophet of the Abrahamic Religions and Vegetarianism
Felice Rizzo

July 6, 2008

Spiritual Politics
Reverend Olaf Lidums

June 29, 2008

Wired but Not Connected
Brad Rutledge
"Geeks" welcome. Is communication technology increasing or decreasing the distance between us?.

June 22, 2008

Juneteenth
Reverend Drew Johnston, with Dr. James Robinson
With the theme "Never Give Up" on ourselves and in working to build a more just society, we consider Julius Waites Waring (1880-1968) who was a distinguished American lawyer and jurist who played an important role in the early legal battles of the American Civil Rights Movement.

June 15, 2008

Father Knows What?
Reverend Drew Johnston

June 8, 2008

Wile E. Coyote, My Minor Deity
In describing Wile E.'s divine qualities, I will show why coyotes in nature are such attractive models as spiritual beings
Jim Moir
Jim has completed three years at Meadville Lombard Theological School and is preparing for his internship in UU ministry. He is a lifelong UU who attended 1st Unitarian in Detroit as a child. Jim recently lost his wife Robin to cancer. He is working as a Youth Librarian in Dearborn Heights until he can resume his education.

June 1, 2008

Embracing Change
Reverend Lynda Smith
Change is a process that does not depend on luck or willpower. Understanding the stages of change can help you make positive changes in your life.

May 25, 2008

The Challenge of Democracy
A Panel of Speakers

May 18, 2008

Life Tidings
Reverend Drew Johnston

May 11, 2008

Everyone's Mother Love
Reverend Drew Johnston

May 4, 2008

The Struggle for Peace and Social Justice in an Era of War and Inequality
Abayomi Azikiwe

April 27, 2008

A UU Community Ministry
Reverend Lynda Smith

April 20, 2008

Pray Without Apology
Reverend Drew Johnston

April 13, 2008

Being Useful
Reverend Drew Johnston

April 6, 2008

The Question of Race
Reverend Harold Beu

March 30, 2008

For Dear Life
Reverend Drew Johnston

March 23, 2008

Everday Ascension
Reverend Drew Johnston

March 16, 2008

On Healing Our isms
Reverend Olaf Lidums

March 9, 2008

Creativity: Living the Dream of the Universe
Brad Rutledge

March 2, 2008

Getting Close
Reverend Drew Johnston

February 24, 2008

Compassion
Reverend Lynda Smith

February 17, 2008

Loving Wildly
Reverend Drew Johnston

February 10, 2008

Return to Love
Reverend Drew Johnston

February 3, 2008

Loving Courageously
Reverend Drew Johnston

January 27, 2008

Greater Hope
Reverend Drew Johnston

January 20, 2008

Dreaming a World
Reverend Drew Johnston

January 13, 2008

Ever/Never New
Reverend Drew Johnston

January 6, 2008

We're All in the Same Boat
Bill Secrest -- Professor of World Religion, Environmentalist

December 30, 2007

KWANZAA -- Unity in Community
Dr. James Robinson

December 24, 2007-- 6:00 PM

Christmas Eve
Reverend Drew Johnston

December 23, 2007

The Pause that Refreshes
Reverend Drew Johnston

December 16, 2007

Faith, Hope, & Love
Reverend Drew Johnston

December 9, 2007

Waiting and Faith
Reverend Drew Johnston

December 2, 2007

Waiting and Hope
Reverend Drew Johnston

November 25, 2007

To Be in Balance
Reverend Lynda Smith

November 18, 2007

To Be Grateful
Reverend Drew Johnston

November 11, 2007

To Be of Use
Reverend Drew Johnston

November 4, 2007

To Be Proud
Reverend Drew Johnston

October 28, 2007

Enough
Reverend Drew Johnston

October 21, 2007

Dismantling Fear
Reverend Drew Johnston

October 14, 2007

Somewhere Out Here
Reverend Drew Johnston

October 7, 2007

From Repression to Freedom: One Woman’s Journey
Cynthia Khan

September 30, 2007

Dawn of the Space Age
Reverend Drew Johnston with Len Zettel

September 23, 2007

Radiating Kindness
Reverend Drew Johnston

September 16, 2007

Being and Relatedness
Reverend Drew Johnston
We will explore Transcendentalism, the over-soul, and similar Emersonian ideas - and apply them to the ways we are in relationship, using a metaphor of islands.

September 9, 2007 We Have a Plan
Reverend Drew Johnston
Reverend Lynda Smith
Reverend Athena Kolbe

Return to 11:00 AM start time
September 2, 2007

Water Ceremony -- Reverend Drew Johnston
Worshipful Music -- Michael Krieger

Last Summer Service

August 26, 2007

Notes from Eagle Lake
Reverend Drew Johnston

August 19, 2007

Dialogue About Justice -- Call to Action
Randy Block, Michigan UU Social Justice Network

August 12, 2007

If I Dream Alone
Michael Ohlrogge

August 5, 2007

On Prophetic Consciousness
Reverend Olaf Lidums
What is this distinctive mode of thinking?
What are the key grounding and foundational components?
What are the implications for how one relates to the current cultural scene?
W
hat are some challenging existential, emotional and spiritual dynamics?
What are the hoped for outcomes and effects for our human community?

July 29, 2007

A Declaration of Religious Freedom
Reverend Larry Hutchison, Minister Emeritus
Freeing us from Metaphysical Dogmatism
Freeing us to love life and care for others
Freeing Religion for dialogue

July 22, 2007 Spirituality and Consciousness
Reverend Olaf Lidums
Consciousness isa wonderfully complex, mystical, and distinctive capacity, which is far-reaching for human beings. There are levels of consciousness, and different types, such as sense-based processing, memories and images, abstract reasoning, intuitions ("6th sense"), and the capacity for a "7th sense" - spirituality.
July 15, 2007

The Power of Imagination
Reverend Olaf Lidums
"Philosophy stirs the intellect; religion stirs imagination." [James Cone]
Imagination is fundamental to our human capacity to be creative, to project possibilities, to dream dreams, and to dare to venture forth, as Star Trek says, "where no human has gone before." In terms of personality development, the fostering of the child's imaginative capacity is fundamental to solid socialization, because imagination is the precursor of empathy and compassion
.

July 8, 2007

Unitarian Universalist Buddhism: Relevant in This Moment
Rev. Lynda Channa Smith,
UU minister and Buddhist teacher ordained in the Zen tradition
Pacifism as a process and as a deep value will be explored. Comparing the Buddhist precepts with our UU principles, the sermon will propose similarities and differences between UU religious beliefs and Buddhist teachings.

July 1, 2007

Unitarian Universalist Buddhism: A Historic Meeting
Rev. Lynda Channa Smith,
UU minister and Buddhist teacher ordained in the Zen tradition
The shared history of our UU religious tradition and the teachings of Buddhism will be highlighted. What makes us different and keeps us separate and what connects us? What is the larger context of the meeting of Eastern and Western spiritual traditions?

June 24, 2007

Lebanon-A Multi-Cultural Country
Rima Abou Mrad, Rotary International Student from Lebanon
First Summer Service -- 10:00 AM.

June 17, 2007

Juneteenth Emancipation Celebration
Dr. James Robinson
Potluck Picnic on the Church Grounds Following the Service

June 10, 2007

Leap Forward into Mystery
Reverend Drew Johnston, Reverend Lynda Smith

June 3, 2007

Staring Back ~Reverend Laurie Thomas

May 27, 2007

New and Old Remembering ~Reverend Drew Johnston

May 20, 2007

What DO UU's Believe? ~Randy Magner
Intergenerational

May 13, 2007

Universal Mothers ~Reverend Drew Johnston

May 6, 2007

From Many Sources ~Reverend Drew Johnston
On Universalism

April 29, 2007

Out of the Waste Land ~Reverend Drew Johnston

April 22, 2007

Embracing Life - Fully, Deeply, Richly ~Reverend Olaf Lidums
Life within the framework of Earth-Human Community.

April 15, 2007

A Radical Yes! ~Reverend Drew Johnson
We have the chance to say yes or no to various parts of life and our answers can come from outside influences or a deeper, personal place. How can we risk a radical "Yes"?
Potluck Sunday

April 8, 2007

Rising Hope ~Reverend Drew Johnston
While we explore the meanings of Easter, we will be joined by the Singers of United Lands. Four professional singers from four different continents join us for the purpose of developing international and cultural relationships.
Easter breakfast at 9:00

April 1, 2007

Queer Thinking ~Reverend Drew Johnston
One of the opportunities (and obligations) offered by a non-dogmatic religion is the expectation that we are interested in thinking "outside the box." Cultural norms limit our thinking and we might benefit from understanding where these norms originate. Both queer theory and gender theory can aid our understanding.

March 25, 2007

The Once and Future Church ~Reverend Drew Johnston
Program of Russian Music ~Todd Ballou
Meeting After Church to Discuss Appreciative Inquiry Results

March 18, 2007

UUs as Truth Speakers to the Religious Right
Michael Whitty, Professor of International Management at the University of
Detroit Mercy College of Business Administration
Potluck Sunday

March 11, 2007

You Catch What You Catch
There are expectations in life and there are inevitabilities. Sometimes we confuse the two.
Reverend Drew Johnston

March 4, 2007

Responsibilities of Privilege
Reverend Drew Johnston

February 25, 2007

Love and the Soul
So much gets in the way of reaching the thing called soul! How do we allow ourselves to perceive the essence of our selves and each other? Is our soul really ours, or part of something larger?
Reverend Drew Johnston

February 18, 2007

Sticking with Love
It's not just about candy.
Reverend Drew Johnston

February 11, 2007

Love in Bloom--
What are the roots of love and how do they thrive? As Valentine’s Day approaches we will look deeper than gifts and candy for the origin of love.
Reverend Drew Johnston

February 4, 2007

Another World is Possible--
A Report from the 2007 World Social Forum in Nairobi, Kenya

Frank Joyce

January 28, 2007

How We Speak.
Reverend Drew Johnston

January 21, 2007

Dream Big.
Can we find a collective, collaborative dream for this congregation?

Reverend Drew Johnston

January 14, 2007

Thoughts on Morality and Justice
inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Reverend Drew Johnston

January 7, 2007

Five Christianities
Reverend John Weston
Unitarian Universalist Association
Discussion of Ministerial Search Process Following Service

December 31, 2006

Transitions
Reverend Olaf Lidums

December 24, 2006 -- 6:00 PM Reflections on the Season
Reverend Lynda Smith
December 17, 2006

We're All in This Together
Reverend Drew Johnston
Our Full Time Minister effective January 2007

December 10, 2006 American Culture and Post-Apocalyptic Thinking
Dr. Charles Mabee
Ecumenical Theological Seminary
December 3, 2006 Community of Life
Dr. Linda Schweitzer
Associate Professor of Environmental Sciences
Oakland University
November 26, 2006 Healing Systemic Dynamics -- Features of Positive Change
Dr. Olaf Lidums
Adjunct Professor, Ecumenical Theological Seminary
November 19, 2006 Healing Relational Dynamics -- Reconciliation
Dr. Olaf Lidums
Adjunct Professor, Ecumenical Theological Seminary
November 12, 2006 Healing Internal Dynamics -- Emotional Healing
Dr. Olaf Lidums
Adjunct Professor, Ecumenical Theological Seminary
November 5, 2006

Frank Joyce
Michigan Coalition for Human Rights

Affirmative Action Revisited

Plus

Lencha Acker
El Dia de Los Muertos

October 29, 2006

Rev. Harold Beu
Emerson UU Congregation of Troy
On Patriotism

October 22, 2006

Rev. Dr. Olaf Lidums
Adjunct Professor, Ecumenical Theological Seminary

On Our Earth-Human Community

October 15, 2006

Rev. Dan Krichbaum
CEO National Conference for Community and Justice

Forgiveness... the Greatest Gift

Potluck Sunday

October 8, 2006

Rev. Emmy Lou Belcher of the DuPage UU Church In Naperville, IL

Alex Darr, Outreach Minister for the Faithful Fools Street Ministry in San Francisco

The End of the Homeless Problem

October 8, 2006 (4:00 PM) Ordination of Rev. Lynda Smith
October 1, 2006 Religion in the United States, the Case for Bypass Surgery
Reverend Larry Hutchison, Minister Emeritus
September 24, 2006 A Sermon on Things on Things I Don't Really Know About
Michael Ohlrogge, UU Minister in Training (extraordinaire)
September 17, 2006 “The Wisdom of Dr. Seuss”
Randy Magner, Emerson Church
September 10, 2006 “Homecoming Water Ceremony”
Lynda Smith
September 3, 2006 “Labor Day Song Fest”
David Robinson & Jonathan Schultz
August 27, 2006 “Holy Conversations”
Lencha Acker
August 20, 2006 Congregational Meeting
August 13, 2006 “Walking the Talk”
Rev. Lynda Smith
August 6, 2006 Rev. Hanna Wells – Guest Speaker
July 30, 2006 “Interfaith Conversations”
Rev. Daniel Krichbaum
National Conference Community & Justice
July 23, 2006 Michael Ohlrogge
July 16, 2006 “Intelligent Design”
Dr. Linda Darga
July 9, 2006 Future Facilities Task Force
Congregational Meeting following the service
July 2, 2006 Michael Ohlrogge

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