In honor of Mother’s Day, we explore what we have learned from our mothers, those who nurtured, supported and challenged us, and what the Earth teaches every day. Let us deepen into the practice of nurturing and strengthening each other and responding to Mother Earth’s call.

“Responding to Her Call – All That Nurtures and Strengthens”
with Rev. Telos Whitfield

Greeters: Carla Fogg & Ed Burke

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, May 14, 2023

Greeting                                                                       Rev. Telos

Board Welcome & Announcements                       Leslie Kinney

Prelude      Songs My Mother Taught Me            Antonin Dvořák
Tom Baehr, flute; Eva Greene, piano

Chalice Lighting                                                          Christina Gibbons
With the kindling of our flame, we honor and embrace the intimate relationship of one to another, of mother, parent and child; we honor what we have learned and offered in times of great joy and sorrow, pain and inspiration. Our flame is also a beacon, reminder of our deep relationship with our Mother Earth, giving of herself and holding us in the embrace of 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                                                   

Opening Hymn #163   For the Earth Forever Turning   

Story For All of Us: Big Momma Makes the World by Helen Oxenbury and Phyllis Root

“Calling Her Name – A Ritual of Celebration!” 

                                                                  
Sharing Readings

Anthem: “Let All the Beauty We Have Known” words by Dana McLean Greeley, music:
an English melody, adapted and harmonized by Ralph Vaughan Williams
All Souls Choir, Tom Baehr, director

Lyrics:
Let all the beauty we have known illuminate our hearts and minds.
Rejoice in wonders daily shown, in faith and joy, and love that binds.

We celebrate with singing hearts the loveliness of sky and earth,
the inspiration of the arts, the miracle of every birth.

Life’s music and its poetry surround and bless us through our days.
For these we sing in harmony, together giving thanks and praise.

Sermon: “Responding to Her Call”

Music:     Pure Imagination                Leslie Bricusse                     
sung by Eden Gorst

Offering shared with Planned Parenthood

Offertory: Your Mother and Mine          Sammy Cain
Eva Greene, piano

Our Candles of Joys and Sorrows

Hymn #126:  Come Thou Fount of Inspiration

Extiinguishing the Chalice  by Diana Craig                    Christina Gibbons 
“A mother, a parent, a caregiver, “a friend is one to whom one may pour out the contents of one’s heart, chaff and grain together, knowing that the gentlest of hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping and with a breath of kindness, blow the rest away.”
 
Closing Circle: “Carry the flame of peace and love
Until we meet again.” (sung two times)

Benediction                                                                            Rev. Telos