Our dear friend Amer Latif returns to the pulpit this morning to tell us about the essence of meditation and worship within the Islamic contemplative tradition of Sufism.  His talk will focus on how accepting and attending to the moment opens us to freedom and joy.  Amer taught comparative religion at Marlboro College and is now at Emerson College in Boston.  He has promised to bring his flute!

We anticipate that this service will be both in-person and on Zoom. Click right here Sunday shortly before 10:00 a.m. to join via Zoom. Click here to read our protocols for in-person attendance.When attending in person, please completely power off your cell phone during the service to preserve the Church’s WiFi bandwidth for our Zoom attendees.

Order of Service 

       Sunday, October 16, 2022   

     

Greeting to congregants online and in person                   Christina Gibbons

ASC Board Greeting and Announcements                          Elizabeth Lewis

Prelude: Sarabande from Partita in A minor, for solo flute   J.S. Bach
Tom Baehr, flute
                    
Chalice Lighting by Rumi
“Do not feel lonely, the entire universe is inside you.  Stop acting so small.  You are the universe in ecstatic motion.  Set your life on fire.  Seek those who fan your flames.”

Lighting our Children’s Chalice
We light this chalice to celebrate Unitarian Universalism. We are the church of the open minds. We are the church of the helping hands. We are the church of the loving hearts.
                                                                                 
Covenant
We build our church on a foundation of love and covenant with one another

• to freely explore our values and honor our diversity as a source of communal strength
• to accept responsibility for our individual acts and promote justice and peace
• to celebrate the joys of discovery, embracing the fullest measure of our humanity
• to communicate with kindness and support
• to serve with compassion and commitment
• to openly share our laughter and tears and
• to show reverence for the divine in all that is.

 

Story for All Ages:  “I Am Peace”     read by Karen Tyler
written by Susan Verde, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds                                                

Anthem: “Hands Across the Aisle” words and music by Georgeann Weaver
                         All Souls Choir, Tom Baehr, Director

Reading: From Rumi
“Do not say that this moment is a branch:
take it to be the root,
So that you may always attain your goal;
For if you take it to be a branch and harmful,
Your eye will keep on waiting to see the root.
Waiting to see is poison to tasting and knowing:
Waiting and waiting, you will keep dying non-stop.
Recognize it as the root, hold it in embrace,
Be forever free from the death of waiting.”

Reflections                                           Amer Latif

Meditation with flute

Offering shared with Brattleboro Area Hospice

Offertory:  Cavatina   Stanley Myers
                          Eva Greene, piano

Acknowledging the Candles of Joys and Concerns                                

Closing Hymn #12: “O Life That Maketh All Things New”

Extinguishing the Chalice by Amy Zucker Morgenstern
We extinguish this flame,
But the sparks within us remain alight.
From each of us, in our supposed solitude,
The signals buzz and hum, sparkling through space one to another,
Connecting us invisibly
But palpably.

Closing Circle: “Carry the Flame of Peace and Love” (sung two times)

Benediction 

Coffee Hour and Conversation