People Said

Thanks to you and Peter for the amazing evening at First Universalist of Mpls. You have a wonderful gift to share. I’m glad that our atoms crossed paths 😎
Bill L.  Minneapolis, MN
 
It was a pleasure to work with you and to help support this event! My husband tuned into the live stream and he said it was fabulous.
R.R.  Los Angeles CA
 
Hi you two!! The show last night was fantastic!! Loved the talk and slides and Peter’s songs. I’m inspired!! ♥️♥️
S.G.R.  Mt. Vernon, OH
 
Thank you, JD and Pete, for such a lovely show! Folks were really moved by it’s depth and artistry – Louisa (my 11 year old you met) kept looking at me saying “wow!” about all the facts, and the music – thank you! Wishing you well as you start this new venture together, and glad it worked out to be here!
Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer Rochester MN
 
Oh my, this was absolutely amazing! The words, the music, the videos, everything! Thanks for sharing it with us. Nice job, folks – beautifully inspired everything! Thanks for this!
J.K.H. & M.V.H.
 
It was fantastic!!! You guys knocked it out of the park!
Fred D.  Rochester, NY
 
I relished every moment of your event on Saturday night in Minneapolis. I’ve followed Peter for many years as well as Brian Swimme. I also met Michael Dowd and Connie Barlow through my late friend, J… I would love to bring the show to [my town] … Thanks for the brilliant work….you’re a fine “preacher.”
Barbara M. 
 
I also want to say what a remarkable evening this was.  Both Peter and JD stunned us into a standing ovation.  I do not know their plans for more.  I kept thinking this needs to be on PBS.  What a combination of lecture, science, photos, and music! Amazing.  Frankly, if they did it again, even next week, I think we would both want to see it again! 😊
Barbara K.
 
I [watched] your program, and it was incredibly moving. [JD is] an astounding teacher and preacher all rolled into one.  And that night, as I understand it, for a wonderful cause.  Very grateful to you. I especially appreciated the atom as square dance analogy.
B.W.J. 
 
Thank you, thank you for an amazing and inspiring evening. Folks are still talking about what a beautiful and meaningful experience it was, and how good it was to be together that night. I know I’m still drawing on that evening in my memory, too, for connection and solace. Thank you both for bringing your gifts and creativity to our congregation and the community. We need each other always, and especially now.
Rev. Jennifer Crow Minneapolis MN
 

Portrait of Glen Thomas Rideout, a young Black man with a broad smile, short black hair, a black sleeveless top, and a colorful bracelet. On Saturday night, over 300 people filled our sanctuary—some for the first time, some longtime members returning home—drawn by music, wonder, and shared experience. Peter Mayer, JD Stillwater, and Ann Stillwater wove together song and reflection, science and spirit, inviting us to stand in awe of both the vastness of the universe and the intimacy of human connection. 

 

They reminded us that we are stardust and soil, fleeting and infinite, held in the grand arc of time and in the smallest, most ordinary moments of being alive.

 

This night came to life through the dedication, generosity, and hard work of my colleagues and our incredible volunteers and leaders. I deeply appreciate what you gave to make this night what it was. And to Peter, JD, and Ann, my deepest thanks. You offered us something far greater than a performance. You opened a way of seeing—through the vastness of creation, through the patterns of galaxies and the fragile beauty of this life. You invited us to hold paradox—to stand between knowing and mystery, between the infinite and the immediate. Your gifts landed here, in this space, and in the hearts of this community.

 

And what a result. Over $10,000 was raised to support the work of this church, ensuring we continue to be a home for transformation, justice, and love. But the real impact of the evening wasn’t measured in numbers. This is what I imagine for the near future of our community. A church alive with art, music, and spirit. A place where we gather—not for ourselves alone, but for each other. A place where beauty is honored, where inspiration is shared freely, where doors open wider to welcome neighbors and seekers, all of us searching for something meaningful, something real.

 

This is what happens when we bring our best selves forward, when we create something larger than ourselves, when we trust that the work of love, connection, and hope matters in ways we can’t always measure.

 

[3 weeks later]    I can’t thank you both enough for the beautiful and deeply moving evening you created. People are still reflecting on it, and I keep hearing how much it meant to them. Your music and presence brought such a sense of connection and meaning—what a gift to our community.  

 

Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, First Universalist Church of Minneapolis, MN