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“COMING HOME””

Click right here Sunday shortly before 10:00 AM to join our online service.

Order of Service
Sunday, December 6, 2020

Board Greeting & Announcements

Prelude no. 2     George Gershwin
Eva Greene, pianist

Chalice Lighting: Until “All” Means All   by Erika A. Hewitt   

The chalice arose as a sign of promise
that the marginalized would neither be forgotten nor ignored,
because they are beloved and precious from the perspective of the Holy.
This morning, we remember all of the people
who have been told explicitly—
or implicitly, through police violence or government policy;
through derision or dehumanization;
that they’re anything less than whole; anything less than beloved.
As we each light a chalice in our homes,
may we make of our lives a beacon:
a symbol of our promise to draw the circle wide;
a sign that we will not rest until “all” means all.

Opening Words

Opening Song –  “The Solstice Song” 
composed and led by the songwriter, Alouette Iselin

CHORUS
Let me come in and share your light,
For I’m without a friend tonight,
Let me come in and share your light,
And a warm place by your fire.

It looks so golden warm within,
Sheltered from the winter wind,
Songs and laughter, friends and kin
Have brought me to your door.

Open your door, for here I stand,
My only gift is my empty hand,
And empty heart and broken plans,
This dark day of the year.

I am without a home today,
And soon I will be on my way,
I only ask you to let me stay,
For an hour by your fire.

 Reading  “Coming Home”  by Mary Oliver

When we are driving in the dark,
on the long road to Provincetown,
when we are weary,
when the buildings and the scrub pines lose their familiar look,
I imagine us rising from the speeding car.
I imagine us seeing everything from another place–
the top of one of the pale dunes, or the deep and nameless
fields of the sea.
And what we see is a world that cannot cherish us,
but which we cherish.
And what we see is our life moving like that
along the dark edges of everything,
headlights sweeping the blackness,
believing in a thousand fragile and unprovable things.
Looking out for sorrow,
slowing down for happiness,
making all the right turns
right down to the thumping barriers to the sea,
the swirling waves,
the narrow streets, the houses,
the past, the future,
the doorway that belongs
to you and me.

Unison Affirmation

“Love is the spirit of this congregation and
service is its call. Let this be our covenant:
to dwell together in peace,
to seek the truth in love,
and to help one another.”

Special Music “There But For Fortune” by Phil Ochs
Performed by Beth and Michael McKinney

Story       “December”   by Eve Bunting

Guest Speaker
Josh Davis, Executive Director, Groundworks Collaborative

Offering shared with Groundworks Collaborative

Offertory     “Winter” from El quattro stagione       Antonio Vivaldi
Early Music Ensemble

Candles of Joy and Concern

Closing Song       “Until the Dark Time Ends”
composed and led by the songwriter, Alouette Iselin

Now is the dark time and the cold time too,
(Gather round, circle of friends)
The comfort of singing voices will see us through,
(Until the dark time ends).

CHORUS:
Until the dark time ends,
Until the dark time ends.
We need the comfort of singing voices,
Until the dark time ends.

We give each other company,
(Gather round, circle of friends)
Singing in sweet harmony,
(Until the dark time ends).

CHORUS

In a cage of bone we keep our wings,
(Gather round, circle of friends)
If we would fly, then we all must sing,
(Until the dark time ends).

CHORUS

Extinguishing Our Chalice

Closing Circle and song

      “Carry the flame of peace and love until we meet again” (sung 2 times)

Benediction

Conversation and Coffee Hour