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.
We have encountered individual and collective challenges in this past year and have shown our resilience and creativity, caring and resolve to strengthen and sustain our community.
“A Community of Resilience–Celebrating Our Year Together“
Order of Service
Sunday, May 22, 2022
Greeting Rev. Telos Whitfield
Board Welcome & Announcements Ron Niswander
Prelude: “Largo” from the New World Symphony
Antonín Dvořák; arrangement by Fritz Kriesler (1924)
Peter Gibbons, viola; Eva Greene, piano
Chalice Lighting by Eric A. Heller-Wagner Bob Wyckoff
Blessed is the fire that burns deep in the soul. It is the flame of the human spirit touched into being by the mystery of life. It is the fire of reason and the fire of compassion; the fire of community and the fire of justice; the fire of faith. It is the fire of love burning deep in the human heart, the divine glow in every life.
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.
Call to Worship Rev. Telos Whitfield
Opening Hymn #347: “Gather the Spirit” Jim Scott
Sharing Our Covenant Christina Gibbons
“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.”
(Covenant adopted on April 17, 2001)
Story For All of Us Rev. Telos Whitfield
Singing Together #118: “This Little Light of Mine”
trad. African-American hymn
Sharing A Poem: “Gravel and Pine” by Maisie Crowther
Anthem: “Barter” poem by Sara Teasdale, music by Tom Baehr
All Souls Choir, Tom Baehr, director
Sermon: “A Community of Reslience” Rev. Telos Whitfield
Offering shared with Unitarian Universalist Service Committee Emergency Fund for Ukraine
Offertory: “Cembalo solo” from 5th Brandenberg Concerto J.S. Bach
Eva Greene, piano
Blessing Our Candles of Joys and Sorrows
Our Circles of Gratitude
Lighting New Flames of Inspiration
Closing Hymn STLT #155: “Circle Round For Freedom” Linda Hirschorn
Extinguishing the Chalice by Elizabeth Tarbox [adapted] Bob Wyckoff
As we extinguish our flame, let us be gentle with ourselves and one another. Let us listen more than we speak and accept more than we judge. Let our open, outstretched hands reach and touch that we may walk along together in friendship and trust until we meet again.
*Closing Circle: “Carry the Flame of Peace and Love” (sung two times)
*Please join in standing as you are able.
Benediction Rev. Telos Whitfield
**Today, we will hold our Annual Meeting at 11:30 A.M. following our service. Please plan to stay and attend!