Judy Fjell's Service of Minstrel Ministry

(Why "Minstrel Ministry?"  See below•)

Over the course of her calling as a musician and activist, Judy has presented many sermons, services, workshops and concerts for churches and fellowships, particularly Unitarian Universalists.  A Unitarian Universalist herself, she has been especially active in the Mountain Desert District since returning home to south central Montana in 1997. 

Judy's current worship presentation is a highly participatory service entitled "Putting Our Whole Selves In."  As you might suspect from its name, dancing the "Hokey Pokey" is how the service begins.  From there, Judy explains the song's roots in the American folksong "Looby Loo," which is a musical ritual of the Saturday night bath.  Over the course of the hour she invites all to consider the process of preparation for the Sabbath, how we test the waters and decide in our own lives when to "put our whole selves in."

Judy has been musician-in-residence at the Russell Lockwood Leadership Institute for the UU Mountain Desert District since 2005, writing many songs for UUs, including the "Seven Principles of Unitarian-Universalism." which has enabled many (including Judy) to commit the principles to memory.  That lead sheet is available free under "Library of Songs" on this website.  Also available free for use by UU congregations are two songs which she has dedicated to her friend the late David Roberts of First Unitarian Society of Denver.  Those songs, "Love Is the Spirit of This Church" and "As We Leave This Place" may also be downloaded from "Library of Songs."

Judy has led many UU Music Empowerment Fests - at South Valley Unitarian Universalist in Salt Lake City; in Pocatello, Idaho; and in the Colorado cities of Denver, Pueblo, and Fort Collins.  She is committed to empowering the singing abilities and confidence of UUs by leading worship and workshops wherever she travels.

She continues her collaboration with the Rev. Lois Van Leer of UUFB (Bozeman) on words and songs of assurance for UUs, songs of meal blessings and gratitude, and songs of UU identity.  In 2008 she released "Same Old Slippers," a collection celebrating Unitarian, pluralistic beliefs.  (The CD, leadsheets, and choral arrangements can be purchased through the store on this website)   "This Chalice I Wear," which Judy wrote at Russell Lockwood Leadership School in 2009 testifies to the deep meaning of the UU chalice symbol (Lyrics available in Library of Songs, leadsheet available through the store). 

If you’d like to hear Judy in musical service to Unitarian-Universalists, check out http://www.firstunitariandenver.org/ListenCss.aspx.  Select 2008-2-17

* Judy's friend Paul Phillips (of Romanovsky & Phillips) once pointed out to Judy the etymological similarity of the words "minstrel" and "minister."  For the past thirty-five years she has felt a calling to write and sing music from her soul and her true self.  This is the same music to which her audiences have responded with their souls and fullest selves.  In the spirit of this communication and service, she has chosen to call her work in religious and spiritual contexts "Minstrel Ministry." 

*Minstrel - ORIGIN Middle English : from Old French menestral ‘entertainer, servant,’ via Provençal from late Latin ministerialis ‘servant’

*Minister - ORIGIN Middle English : from Old French ministre (noun), ministrer (verb), from Latin minister ‘servant’