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.
Earth Day is a time when we focus our attention on the natural forces that shape our lives. We seek a balance between praising the beauty of our biodiversity and the call to fortify and protect fragile habitats of vulnerable species. In this lay-led service, coordinated by Maisie Crowther, some members of the congregation will share their favorite written passage or picture of Earth.
Sunday, April 24, 2022
Order of Service
“Earth Day Service”
“The one who plants trees knowing that he will never sit in their shade, has at least started to understand the meaning of life.” African Proverb
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.
ASC Board Greeting & Announcements Cathie Creed
Prelude: “You Must Believe in Spring” Michel Legrande
Eva Greene, Piano
When lonely feelings chill the meadows of your mind
just think if winter comes, can spring be far behind?
The frozen mountain dreams of April’s melting streams.
How crystal clear it seems: You must believe in spring.
When angry voices drown the music of the spheres
and children face a world that’s far beyond their years
above the vaulted sky, the far horizons lie
with all the reasons why you must believe in spring.
So in a world of change, of things that come and go,
where what you think you know, you can’t be certain of,
just as a tree awaits its crown of leaves above,
you must believe in love and trust it’s on its way.
You must believe in spring and love.
Holding us, at an uncertain distance,
Turning us from sun to moon,
In a slow curve, the shapes of our
Hearts, one heart.
A convergence of heart energy.
No less do we stand for,
No less do we call for here;
and seek to manifest
with the lighting of this flame.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.
Introduction to Global Theme “Invest in the Earth”-our voices Maisie Crowther
Opening Words: From “Unbowed” by Wangari Maathai Maisie Crowther
Story For All Ages: “The Water Princess” by Susan Verde
Opening Hymn # 207: “Earth Was Given as a Garden”
Poem, Roberta Bard; Melody, Hyfrydol
Led by Marie Gorst
“Maple Sugaring at Nature’s Whim” Steve Squires
“Trekking in Nepal” Anne Hier
Special Music: “Through All the World Below” Jeremiah Ingall’s (1790)
Music: Southern Harmony, sung by Ed McCurdy
Smithsonian Folk Music, CC-A, permission granted
Search hills and valleys through, there he’s found.
The growing of the corn, the lily and the thorn,
The pleasant and forlorn, all declare God is there.
In meadows dressed in green, God is seen.See springing waters rise, fountains flow, rivers run.
The mist that veils the sky hides the sun.
Then down the rain doth pour, the ocean it doth roar,
And beat upon the shore, and all praise, in their ways,
The God who ne’er declines his designs.
The sun, with all his rays speaks of God as he flies:
The comet in her blaze God she cries;
The shining of the stars, the moon when she appears
His awful name declares. See them fly through the sky
And join the solemn sound all around.
“Earth is What We Have Now” Maisie Crowther
Distribution of Birch Bark and Pencils
Offering shared with The Minister’s Discretionary Fund
Offertory: ” Mazurka in C Major, Op. 67:3″ Frédéric Chopin
Eva Greene, piano
Honoring the Candles of Joys and Concerns
Reading the “Messages to Earth”
Closing Hymn #331: “Life is the greatest gift of all”
Words: William E. Oliver, music” James Leith McBeth Bain
Eva Greene, piano
Extinguishing the Chalice Elizabeth Lewis
As the flame withdraws from our sanctuary,
it does not abandon or disconnect us.
But rather holds us and all akin to us,
in its clear and sincere intention to be good,
to be at peace, to create peace;
to be strong, satisfied and grateful;
to embrace and contribute to this ever-widening
actmosphere of awareness, empathy,
and radical generosity.
Listen to the planet
In Your Voice. You ARE the planet. (Earth)
Closing Circle
“Carry the flame of peace and love until we meet again.” (2X)
Blessing the Planet
“We all share one planet and are one humanity; there is no escaping this reality.”
― Wangari Maathai, The Challenge for Africa
A Toast Gesture: To Earth-Our Home!”
Community Conversation
ASC 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.*
[adopted on April 17, 2001]