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Jesus left behind a close circle of dear ones who mourned his death, but his spirit lived on. These followers and friends were empowered to continue his revolutionary work of caring and healing. We will honor and celebrate this path of Light.
“Following the Light – Easter Sunday”
with Rev. Telos Whitfield
Click right here Sunday shortly before 10:00 AM to join our online service.
Order of Service
Sunday, April 4, 2021
Welcome Rev. Telos Whitfield
Announcements
Prelude: Song without Words, Op.30:3 Felix Mendelssohn
(melody for “Still, still with thee,” a hymn by Harriet Beecher Stowe)
Peter Gibbons; viola; Eva Greene, piano
Chalice Lighting Elizabeth Lewis
O night, o sky, o sea o shores, o mountains,
Who so often hear me call out to death,
O valleys, o forests, o woods, o rivers, o springs,
Who were my faithful companions to my life,
O simple friends, who with happy faces,
Have gone forth with joyful fate,
We light our chalice flame in gratitude
to be part of this, our eternally abundant universe, here and now.
Opening Words Rev. Telos Whitfield
Opening Hymn There Is a Balm in Gilead
trad. African American spiritual, arr. by Peter Amidon (permitted use)
Janis Chaillou, Robert Wyckoff, Steve Squires & Eva Greene
Sharing A Story – “My Heart” by Cornna Luyken
“Morning Poem” by Mary Oliver
offered by Bev Miller
“Every morning
the world
is created.
Under the orange
sticks of the sun
the heaped
ashes of the night
turn into leaves again
and fasten themselves to the high branches–
and the ponds appear
like black cloth
on which are painted islands
of summer lilies.
If it is your nature
to be happy
you will swim away along the soft trails
for hours, your imagination
alighting everywhere.
And if your spirit
carries within it
the thorn
that is heavier than lead–
if it’s all you can do
to keep on trudging–
there is still
somewhere deep within you
a beast shouting that the earth
is exactly what it wanted–
each pond with its blazing lilies
is a prayer heard and answered
lavishly,
every morning,
whether or not
you have ever dared to be happy,
whether or not
you have ever dared to pray.”
Anthem When the Daffodils Arrive
words by Carl G. Seaburg, music from a Hasidic tune, arranged by Tom Baehr
sung by All Souls Choir, Tom Baehr, director
Sermon – “Following the Light” Rev. Telos Whitfield
Hymn #273 Immortal, Invisible
words: Walter C. Smith (1824-1908); melody: Welsh ballad, St. Denio,
in J. Roberts’ Caniadau y Cyssegr, 1835
Catie Berg, soprano
Offering shared with Theatre Adventure
Offertory Amazing Grace (excerpt)
words: John Newton (1725-1807); melody: New Britain, 1831
performed by Sarah Lott and Hilary Menegaz-Weitzner
Blessing the Candles of Joys ands Concerns
Closing Hymn #61 Lo the Earth Awakes Again
Samuel Longfellow (1819-1892); music: Lyra Davidica, 1708
Christina Gibbons, soprano
Extinguishing the Chalice Elizabeth Lewis
We extinguish our flame, but we will continue to honor and follow the Light, wherever it may lead us, and know that we are always held in the embrace of this community.
Closing Circle
Carry the flame of peace and love
Until we meet again. (2x)
Conversation and Coffee Hour