Order of Service, January 12, 2020

THE LIGHT OF COMMUNITY

Rachel Melcher

Daniel Melcher, Service Assistant

Prelude: Winter Light (L. Ronstadt)

Welcome, Announcements & Introduction of Visitors

Opening Reading: River Call, by Rev. Manish K. Mishra-Marzetti

Lighting the Chalice Flame:   
Come, come, whoever you are. 
Wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving.
Ours is no caravan of despair.
Come, yet again come.

Affirmation: Love is the spirit of this Congregation and service is its law. This is our great covenant to dwell together in peace, to seek the truth in love and to help one another. 

Responsive Reading: We Travel this Road Together, by Tess Baumberger
From the busy-ness of everyday we gather once a week to remember who we are, to dream of who we might become.
We travel this road together.
As companions on this journey, we share the milestones we meet along the way.
Individual moments of joy and sorrow become shared moments of comfort and celebration.
We travel this road together.
We share this journey across differences of belief and opinion
Because we value diversity and because we care for one another.
We travel this road together.
Today as we take the next steps, let us notice our fellow travelers:
The burdens that they carry, the songs that inspire their hearts.
We travel this road together.
As we gather in beloved community, let us open the holy havens of our hearts,
Let us share the sacred places of our souls
For we are pilgrims who share a common path.
We travel this road together.

Hymn: #121 We’ll Build a Land

Children’s Faith Development Program:  Ten Million Stars, by Nancy Wood
Go now in peace, go now in peace; may the spirit of love surround you everywhere, everywhere you may go.

Meditative Moment and Candle Lighting

Social Justice Minute

Offertory: The Light That Has Lighted the World (G. Harrison)

Sermon: The Light of Community, Rachel Melcher

Hymn: #346 Come, Sing a Song with Me

Extinguishing the Chalice Flame:
We extinguish this flame, but not the light of truth, the warmth of community, or the fire of commitment.  These we carry in our hearts until we are together again.

Closing Words: We Pledge to Walk Together, by Alice Blair Wesley

Postlude: I Saw the Light (H. Williams)

Order of Service, January 5, 2020

CHRISTIANITY AND YOU YOU 

Pete (Noel) Kersey, Speaker

Bob Burns, Service Leader

Prelude: Brand New Day (V. Morrison)

Welcome and Announcements

Lighting the Chalice Flame: Let the lighting of this flame rekindle in us the inner light of love, of peace, of joy and of hope. And as one flame lights another, we pledge ourselves to be the bearers of the light wherever we are.

Affirmation: We, the members of this Congregation, covenant to affirm and promote these Seven Principles
1. The inherent worth and dignity of every person
2. Justice, equity and compassion in human relations
3. Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our Congregation
4. A free and responsible search for truth and meaning
5. The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregation and in society at large
6. The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all
7. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part

Hymn: #188 Come, Come, Whoever You Are

Story for All Ages: From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea by Kai Cheng Thom

Children & Youth Check-In & Send-Off: Go now in peace, go now in peace; may the spirit of love surround you everywhere, everywhere you may go.

Reading: A Poem by Ann Hillman

Quiet Time/Meditation/Prayer/Candle Lighting  Love is the spirit of this congregation and service is its law. This is our great covenant – To dwell together in peace, to seek the truth in love, and to help one another.

Offertory: Can’t Smile Without You (C. Arnold, D. Martin & G. Morrow)  

Hymn: #23 Bring Many Names

Sermon: Christianity and You You, Pete (Noel) Kersey

Hymn: #123 Spirit of Life

Extinguishing the Chalice Flame: We extinguish this flame, but not the light of truth, the warmth of community, or the fire of commitment. These we carry in our hearts until we are together again.

Benediction

Postlude: Joy to the World (H. Axton) 

Order of Service, December 29, 2019

INFINITE POSSIBILITIES

Guest Speaker: Rev. Al Boyce

Service Assistant: Nickie Albert

Prelude  

Welcome and Announcements

Introduction of Visitors

Opening Words: As We Gather Together This Morning, by Bets Wienecke

Lighting the Chalice Flame:   
Come, come, whoever you are. 
Wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving.
Ours is no caravan of despair.
Come, yet again come.

Affirmation: Love is the spirit of this Congregation and service is its law. This is our great covenant to dwell together in peace, to seek the truth in love and to help one another. 

Hymn: #346 Come Sing a Song with Me

Children’s Faith Development Program: David Traupman
Go now in peace, go now in peace; may the spirit of love surround you everywhere, everywhere you may go.

Ancient Reading: Genesis 15, excerpts

Moment of Silence and Candle Lighting

Modern Reading: Your Beliefs Become Your Thoughts, by Mahatma Ghandi

Offertory  

Sermon: Infinite Possibilities, Rev Al Boyce

Hymn: #368 Now Let Us Sing

Extinguishing the Chalice Flame: We extinguish this flame, but not the light of truth, the warmth of community, or the fire of commitment.  These we carry in our hearts until we are together again.

Closing Words: When All Is Quiet and We Are Small and the Night is Dark, by Jane Rezepka

Postlude

Order of Service, Christmas Eve

THE MESSAGE OF CHRISTMAS

Rev. Carole Yorke: Service Leader

David Traupman: Worship Associate

Lynn Tomlinson & Bob Tomlinson: Ushers

Logan Bell & Faith Walters: Sharers of the Flame

Prelude: My Grown-Up Christmas List (D. Foster) 

Welcome   

Lighting the Chalice Flame: (in unison)
As we kindle this flame, a symbol of the warmth of this community, We kindle too a vision of hope, of gifts longed for,  of gifts offered and of gifts received. May this season, this night, remind us that it is always the season of miracles.

*Affirmation: (in unison) Love is the spirit of this Congregation and service is its law. This is our great covenant to dwell together in peace, to seek the truth in love and to help one another. 

Call to Worship: Why Are We Celebrating Christmas?

*Opening Hymn: #253 O Come, All Ye Faithful

Responsive Reading: #616 For So the Children Come

Reading: Luke 2:1-5 

Hymn: #246 O Little Town of Bethlehem

Reading: Luke 2:6-9 

Hymn: #231 Angels We Have Heard on High

Reading: Luke 2:10-14

Hymn: #237 The First Nowell

Reading: Luke 2:15-20 

Hymn: #245 Joy to the World!

Message: The Meaning of Christmas

Hymn: #244 It Came upon the Midnight Clear

*Candle Lighting

*Closing Hymn: #251 Silent Night, Holy Night

*Benediction

Postlude: Feliz Navidad (J. Feliciano) 
Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad
Prospero año y felicidad

I want to wish you a Merry Christmas
I want to wish you a Merry Christmas
I want to wish you a Merry Christmas
From the bottom of my heart

Post-Service Reception

Order of Service, December 22, 2019

CHANUKAH, WINTER SOLSTICE

Service Leaders: Barbara Hatzfeld

& Rachel Melcher

Prelude: Carry Your Candle (K. Troccoli)

Welcome and Announcements

Introduction of Visitors

Opening Words

Lighting the Chalice Flame:  
Let the lighting of this flame rekindle in us the inner light of love, of peace, of joy and of hope. And as one flame lights another, we pledge ourselves to be the bearers of the light wherever we are.

Hymn: Come, come, whoever you are,
Wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving.
Ours is no caravan of despair.
Come, yet again come.

Affirmation: Love is the spirit of this Congregation and service is its law. This is our great covenant to dwell together in peace, to seek the truth in love and to help one another. 

Quiet Time/Meditation/Prayer/Candle Lighting

Hymn: #221 Light One Candle

Offertory: Walking in the Air (H. Blake)

Homily #1: Chanukah, Barbara Hatzfeld

Homily #2: Winter Solstice, Rachel Melcher

Closing Hymn: #55 Dark of Winter

Extinguishing the Chalice Flame: 
We extinguish this flame, but not the light of truth, the warmth of community, or the fire of commitment. These we carry in our hearts until we are together again.

Closing Words

Postlude: Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head (H. David & B. Bacharach)

Order of Service, December 15, 2019

ARE THE TRINITY AND CHRIST RELEVANT TO UNITARIANS? (PART 2)

Guest Speaker: Canon Thomas O’Brien

Service Leader: Barbara Hatzfeld

Prelude: Dance Lesson (Billiam Bennett)

Welcome and Announcements

Introduction of Visitors

Opening Words

Lighting the Chalice Flame: Let the lighting of this flame rekindle in us the inner light of love, of peace, of joy and of hope. And as one flame lights another, we pledge ourselves to be the bearers of the light wherever we are.

Hymn:
Come, come, whoever you are, 
Wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving.
Ours is no caravan of despair.
Come, yet again come.

Affirmation: Love is the spirit of this Congregation and service is its law. This is our great covenant to dwell together in peace, to seek the truth in love and to help one another. 

Story for All Ages: Give Love: An Emerson Family Story 
From the collection Stream of Living Souls

Children & Youth Check-In & Send-Off:
Go now in peace, go now in peace; may the spirit of love surround you everywhere, everywhere you may go.

Quiet Time/Meditation/Prayer/Candle Lighting

Hymn: #32 Now Thank We All Our God

Social Justice Minute

Offertory: At This Table (I. Menzel)

Reading

Sermon: Are the Trinity and Christ Relevant to Unitarians? (Part 2) Canon Thomas O’Brien

Closing Hymn: #29 Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

Extinguishing the Chalice Flame: We extinguish this flame, but not the light of truth, the warmth of community, or the fire of commitment.  These we carry in our hearts until we are together again.

Closing Words

Postlude: Do They Know It’s Christmas (B. Geldof & M. Ure)

Order of Service, December 8, 2019

MY FIRST CHALICA, A REFLECTION

Guest Speaker: Joe Donatone

Service Leader: Linda Hartley

Our task is to be who we are, in every way we can be; our salvation proceeding in putting ourselves back together after each tumble. We irridesce, shine, and radiate. We exclaim and roar: we are. -- Kenneth L. Patton

Introduction

Hymn: #349 We Gather Together

Prelude: One World (S. Healy)

Welcome and Announcements

Lighting the Chalice Flame:  
Come, come, whoever you are,
Wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving.
Ours is no caravan of despair.
Come, yet again come.

Affirmation: Love is the spirit of this Congregation and service is its law. This is our great covenant to dwell together in peace, to seek the truth in love and to help one another. 

Time for All Ages: Excerpt from Flame of Learning, Chalice of Love by Janeen K. Grohsmeyer

Children & Youth Check-In & Send-Off:
Go now in peace, go now in peace; may the spirit of love surround you everywhere, everywhere you may go.

Hymn: #123 Spirit of Life

Quiet Time/Candle Lighting/Meditation:
The Moment of Magic by Victoria E. Safford

Offertory: From a Distance (J. Gold)

Responsive Reading: #441 To Worship

Sermon: My First Chalica, A Reflection, Joe Donatone

Hymn: #318 We Would Be One

Closing Words: You Are the Holiday Miracle by Gwen Matthews

Chalice Extinguishing: It Becomes More by Amy Zucker Morgenstern

Postlude: Top of the World (R. Carpenter & J. Bettis)