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It has been a year since the invasion of Ukraine, and we will honor the resilience and perseverance of the Ukrainian people, and the Russian people who have resisted this war. We will explore and celebrate the importance of music to one’s homeland, the power that music has to encourage peace, connect and sustain people through incredible challenges.
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Order of Service
Sunday, February 26, 2023
Worship Leader: Rev. Telos Whitfield
Greeter: Lois Reynolds
Music For Gathering: “I Love My Country”
Greeting Rev. Telos
Board Welcome & Announcements Carla Fogg
Prelude: Ukrainian Dance by Mykola Lysenko (1842-1912), a major Ukrainian conductor, pianist and composer.
Peter Gibbons, viola; Eva Greene, piano
Chalice Lighting Trish Murtha
Each of us has a light within us and we kindle our common flame. There is power in this flame and we seek to share its courage and healing. We send our light to the people of Ukraine defending their homeland, to the people of Russia resisting this war, to all those who are in conflict, displaced and struggling. May we all find moments of peace and healing this day.
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 #112 “Do You Hear?”
Time For All of Us: The Day War Came by Nicole Davies
The Making of Tenderness by Luba Yakimchuk
Anthem: “If I Knew You”
words by Nixon Waterman,music by Mary Lynn Lightfoot
All Souls Choir, Tom Baehr, Director
Poem: Pieced Cores Hold Together by Kiyanovska
“Strong Enough” for Ukraine by Chevron Kalyna. Trish Murtha
Song: “Oi u luzi Chervona Kalyna” – “Red Viburnum in the Meadow”
“In the meadow the red viburnum has bent down low
Our glorious Ukraine has been troubled so
And we will take that viburnum and we will raise it up
And we, our glorious Ukraine shall, hey – hey – rise up and rejoice.”
Sermon: “This Is My Song” Rev. Telos
Hymn #159 “This Is My Song”
Offering shared with The Minister’s Discretionary Fund
Offertory: Prayer for Ukraine Mykola Lysenko
Eva Greene, piano
Our Candles of Joys and Sorrows
Extiinguishing the Chalice by Maureen Killoran Trish Murtha
This is the message of our faith
To act with passion in the face of injustice.
To love with courage in the midst of life’s pain.
This is the meaning of our chalice flame.
May it empower our hearts until we are together again.
Closing Circle: “Carry the flame of peace and love until we meet again.” (sung two times)
Benediction Rev. Telos