Join us for our Ingathering Service where we will come back together again, share stories of summer, time spent near and far from home. We will hold our Water Ceremony so bring water from your travels or your own dear tap so we may fill our common bowl. Welcome Home again!
“Returning Home-Our Ingathering Service”
Order of Service
Sunday, September 11, 2022
Greeting Rev. Telos
Board Welcome & Announcements Ron Niswander
Prelude: Ashokan Farewell Jay Ungar
Eva Greene, piano
Chalice Lighting by Katie Gelfand Jody McAssey
We light this chalice as a symbol of reunion.
We reunite in this sanctuary to share the flow of our hearts with one another.
We gather together in ritual
to celebrate our fountains of joy
to hold each other through storms of grief
to guide one another through rapids of transformation
to rest together on ponds of stillness.
Together, we honor the spirit of water, its many forms, and its life-giving essence.
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.
Anthem “Jubilation” words and music by Tom Baehr
“Let our voices ring in jubilation/Make a joyful noise in celebration”
All Souls Choir, Tom Baehr, director
Call to Worship Rev. Telos
Opening Hymn #361 “Enter, Rejoice and Come In”
Story For All of Us: “We Are Water Protectors” by Carole Windstorm, Illustrated by Michaela Goade
Sharing Our 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.”
(Covenant adopted on April 17, 2001)
Sharing A Reading Elizabeth Lewis
Our Water Ceremony
Story of Our History Rev. Telos
Sharing a Reading Jody McAssey
Filling Our Common Bowl-Sharing Our Stories
Blessing Our Water-Responsive Reading Jody and Telos
As we have shared our stories of water, gathered from many journeys this past year, let us share in the blessing of this water.
May we remember that we, like water, can be both gentle and strong.
May we remember that we, like drops of water, come together and form a community that is life-giving and sustaining.
May we draw on the energy of water to inspire connection and transformation.
May this water and this community be transformed and blessed.
Hymn #1028 “The Fire of Commitment“
Offering shared with Edible Brattleboro
Offertory: Folkesang, Op. 38:2 Edvard Grieg
Eva Greene, piano
Blessing Our Candles of Joys and Sorrows
Closing Hymn #163: “For the Earth Forever Turning”
Chalice Extinguishing Jody McAssey
As we extinguish our chalice, we hold the flame of this community, the stories we have shared, and the water we have blessed, in love and care.
*Closing Circle: “Carry the Flame of Peace and Love” (sung two times)
*Please join in standing as you are able.
Benediction Rev. Telos