Belonging to a community can offer support and inspiration, vision and comfort. There is a yearning to belong, to feel connected, and understood by the people around us. What does it mean to belong?
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.
“What Does It Mean To Belong”
with Rev. Telos Whitfield
Order of Service
Sunday, September 25, 2022
Greeting Rev. Telos
Board Welcome & Announcements Ron Niswander
Prelude: Ave Maris Stella medieval chant; music by Edvard Grieg
Hail, star of the sea, make safe our journey.
Establish us in peace, that we may rejoice.
Eva Greene, piano
Chalice Lighting Maisie Crowther
We kindle our flame in honor of belonging – belonging to each other, to this community and to the world. Each of us has a unique place within the fabric of light and sound, creativity and healing that we create and make whole, together.
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 #131: “Love Will Guide Us”
Story For All of Us: “Be You” by Peter H. Reynolds
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)
Anthem: “Hallelujah”
Words and Music by Leonard Cohen, arr. by Mac Huff
All Souls Choir, Tom Baehr, Director
Sharing a Reading: Ed Burke
Hymn #4: “I Brought My Spirit to the Sea”
Sermon: “What Does It Mean To Belong?” Rev. Telos
Offering shared with Edible Brattleboro
Offertory: Arietta, from Lyric Pieces, Op. 12 Edvard Grieg
Eva Greene, piano
Blessing Our Candles of Joys and Sorrows
Closing Hymn #1057: “Go Lifted Up”
Chalice Extinguishing Maisie Crowther
It is our work, shared with each other in covenant,
That creates and sustains this beloved community.
We extinguish this chalice, but its light lives on
in the directions we have chosen today.
The light of this faith lives on in us, together,
in our hearts, minds, bodies and spirits.
Amen and Blessed Be.
*Closing Circle: “Carry the Flame of Peace and Love” (sung two times)
*Please join in standing as you are able.
Benediction Rev. Telos